A pair of legends have floated two big solutions for the Panthers after losing a key star until at least the start of the finals series.
Meanwhile, a shock role has been floated for Latrell Mitchell while the Dogs’ halves revolution has been put under the microscope.
Read below for the biggest talking points ahead of all the NRL’s Round 24 action!
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HOW PANTHERS CAN FILL YEO HOLE
How do the Panthers fill their gaping Isaah Yeo hole?
Ivan Cleary’s side were handed a hammer blow when their star lock grabbed at his arm during a tackle in Penrith’s loss to the Warriors.
Initial fears were he’d suffered a season-ending injury, but it was later confirmed he would not require surgery and could return in four to six weeks.
It’s a risky return window, according to Cooper Cronk — who still believes the Panthers have what it takes to win the premiership without the Kangaroos skipper.
“Without him, they can still win. Four to six for a pec… for a position that he plays in, it’s going to be dodgy whether it gets back to full strength,” Cronk said on the Matty and Cronk podcast.
“But you know what, have a throw at the stumps. Have a crack, he is professional and he just might be able to do it.”
But the question still remains — how can Penrith make up for losing one of the NRL’s elite players?
When their teamsheet was unveiled on Tuesday afternoon, talented middle forward Lindsay Smith was named at lock, with Jack Cogger at five-eighth.
Blaze Talagi has shuffled down the pecking order under Cleary’s tutelage due to his perceived defensive issues, with Jack Cole starting over him in Round 23.
However, Cronk urged the Panthers to take a different approach and instead keep Cogger on the bench.
“They can still win it, but they came back to the field a little bit… the combination is like clockwork with Yeo and Cleary,” he explained.
“You can’t replace Isaah but Lindsay Smith for me has been doing a little bit of it, that means Jack Cogger starts on the bench for me. Cogger is the type of player who comes on and replaces him and does a little more Isaah-type stuff.
“But he’s not the big physical one. That means Talagi is now the six, and I feel like that’s going to be their rotation… Jack is a damn good player, we’ve seen him attack really well.
“But you will have Jack and Freddy Lussick defending together in the middle. They are more vulnerable to the power game now.”
Isaah Yeo suffered a serious injury.Source: FOX SPORTS
However, Matty Johns had a different opinion and believed it’s time for the Panthers to change their style of play.
Instead of their superstar halfback being a second receiver, and playing off the back of Yeo, Johns believed their marquee man must have ball in hand and take on the defensive line.
“Let’s pretend he’s gone for a period, I think it’s a mistake to try and play the same way,” Johns said.
“Given the fact it is very easy to look at Isaah’s role and say ‘let’s bring Lindsay in’ because he can do that role.
“But the quality of Isaah’s pass selection and his vision, you just can’t put that into another player. What I am looking for is Nathan, instead of playing on those sweep shapes, playing more flat and square on the advantage line.”
He even went as for as saying that Cleary can play the first receiver role and instead put Cogger into space to come up with the pointscoring opportunities.
“I’d bring Cogger in… I think what we saw in that grand final is that when Cogger is there, Nathan can step back and become second banana for a little while,” Johns explained.
“I just don’t think you can play the same style of football without Isaah there.”
But that’s where Cronk disagreed, calling on Talagi to lift and be the dynamic attacking threat the Panthers now need without the probing Yeo testing the line.
“(Cleary) is going to need someone a bit more dynamic out the back of shape, he can create shape for anyone,” Cronk said.
“Talagi needs to get his defensive game on… I think this is all on Talagi. For me, at his best he is the six for Penrith. Defensively he has some issues.”
READ MORE
Season over for Souths star in double blow; exiled wonderkid nearing shock NRL return
Twist in No.1 race; Dogs’ season on thin ice in four-team finals fight — NRL Run Home
Massive Dogs blow after star’s shock contract call; Penrith poach young gun — Whispers
Jett Cleary Seeks Warriors Release | 01:43
LATRELL’S NEW ROLE… AS SHOCK CALL FLOATED
Over the last month of the regular season, four teams will battle it out for the final two finals spots.
Two of those teams are the Rabbitohs and Bulldogs, who sit seventh and ninth respectively, so, it’s reasonable to say that their clash on Friday night is probably the most consequential fixture left on the schedule when it comes to the top eight race.
According to the Fox Sports Lab, the Bunnies are the most likely of the four to progress.
If they’re able to get Latrell Mitchell back on deck at some stage, it’d be a massive boost, but his return is uncertain at best as he deals with a nerve-related issue stemming from a leg injury.
Foxsports.com.au’s Paul Crawley suggested that if Mitchell is able to return by the end of the season, he could be given a new role.
“They’re looking at a couple of weeks but it’s like, how long is a piece of string?” Crawley said on NRL360.
“It’s nerve-related but I don’t have the finer details. The problem is that Souths have is because it’s been in his leg, he hasn’t done much training so when he comes back, is fitness may be a concern
“The talk may be is that he might have to play off the bench. I guess a little bit of Latrell is better than no Latrell.”
Regardless of whether their superstar returns this season, there are several issues with Souths that will leave them vulnerable late in the season.
According to ex-NRL star Braith Anasta,
“I’m watching that game thinking, well, maybe they can limp in but even if they get Latrell back, I think they’ll struggle if they get to the finals if I’m honest,” Anasta said.
“There’s no denying they’ve done well with the injuries to key positions but if you look at it for what is it and where they sit, are they likely to make the finals? I don’t know. It’s going to be touch and go without Latrell and even if they do, I think they’re in trouble.
“It makes this weekend’s game so important. It’s huge. They’ve got to win.”
“Wayne’s pointed out the fact that this year, their discipline has let them down countless times and it did again in the Eels game,” Crawley added.
They were impeccable in the first half but in the second, they made mistake after mistake as they’ve done on countless occasions and that’s why I agree with you Braith.
“They haven’t shown all year that they can put together consistent, disciplined performances for 80 minutes.”
Souths have been struck hard by injury again for the second straight season.
Several stars have missed considerable time at different stages of the year.
Halfback Ashton Ward is the latest casualty. He’s been ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.
There’s no doubt that with a fully healthy line up, this is a team that could challenge for a title.
The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio believes that Souths have done well to be seventh but he too has concerns with their inconsistency within games.
“I’m stunned where they are. The amount of games their roster misses, to be in this position is extraordinary,” Riccio said.
“Jack Wighton, Latrell, Cam Murray, Dave Fifita, Campbell Graham have all missed time but they’re inconsistent.
“If they were a racehorse, you wouldn’t back it.”
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Mitchell pushing to be back for finals | 00:47
BULLDOGS’ HALVES UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
If the Bulldogs are going to make the top eight this season and have a crack at a premiership they’ll have to do it with a halves pairing that’s learning on the run.
Canterbury’s halves pairings have chopped and changed a lot in the past 18 months but coach Cameron Ciraldo looks set to stick with Lachlan Galvin and Stephen Crichton for the rest of the season.
Since Ciraldo moved Crichton from the centres to five-eighth in Round 16, the Bulldogs have won five of seven matches.
Crichton is still viewed as a centre, long-term, while Galvin is a natural No. 6 but is trying to run the team from halfback as a 21-year-old.
Most premiership teams not only have genuine halves in those positions, but they’ve played plenty of games together and have an understanding of how to control a game.
While Crichton and Galvin have combined well, they got a reality check against the Roosters last week.
The Bulldogs had a 10-point lead with 14 minutes to go, but the halves couldn’t steer the team home.
Speaking on NRL 360 on Tuesday night, journalist Paul Crawley highlighted Crichton and Galvin’s combination as they tried to close the game out.
“The Bulldogs’ halves, and not having to crack them, they’re doing a damn good job, but just the finesse of game management… (they) still the lack a true seven,” Crawley said.
NRL 360 host Braith Anasta, who won a premiership at the Bulldogs in 2004 playing five-eighth, said the current pair will be up against it as the games continue to matter more.
“They’re still both learning. You’ve got Galvin learning on the run, and he’s done a magnificent job and got better,” Anasta said.
“Then you’ve got Crichton learning too. Even though he’s been amazing playing six, he’s still learning how to be a six.
“And you’re coming into the back end of the year when it matters the most, under pressure, big games, big moments. That’s where you can be a little bit vulnerable.”
While the pair is skilful, it’s not that which they need to improve if they’re to lead the Bulldogs deep into the finals.
They need more game time together to become a force as a halves pairing, but time is not on their side with just four rounds to go before the finals.
“They were good, but that lack of finesse and intent and knowing exactly where they need to get to execute exactly what they need to beat the Roosters, and they had their opportunities as well,” Anasta said.
“The kicking game, I mean, they’re going to start putting pressure on Crichton. He looks like he has all day to kick most of the time.”
The Bulldogs face off this week against Souths in a must-win game.
PNG Interest in Walker & Cleary | 01:50
THE METCALF DILEMMA
Despite saying he has “no opinion” on who his halves pairing will be ahead of the finals, Warriors coach Andrew Webster has one of the biggest calls of his career to make.
Regular halfback Te Maire Martin is out until Round 26 with a hamstring injury and his replacement on the weekend, Luke Metcalf, starred in the big win over Penrith.
When a regular starter is out injured they generally come straight back into the line-up when fit.
But this situation is different.
While Martin has been playing well for the Warriors, he’s not seen as a world-class No. 7.
Metcalf, on the other hand, was leading the Dally M Medal race last season until he went down with an ACL injury.
He’s been out of favour at the Warriors as Tanah Boyd came in to replace him while he was on the sidelines.
When Boyd did his own ACL this year Martin came in to replace him while Metcalf was forced to stay in reserve grade after being told he could move on to another club if he wished.
He might be on the move to the Dragons in 2027 but it’s looking like he’ll challenge Martin for the starting No. 7 spot.
After Metcalf’s stunning return two premiership-winning halves have disagreed over what Warriors coach Andrew Webster will do when Te Maire Martin returns from injury.
Cooper Cronk doesn’t think he’ll hold the spot once Martin returns while Matty Johns thinks Metcalf is a better fit than Martin in this particular Warriors team.
“I think there are some areas he’s got to tidy up, mainly his defence, but I back him to do that,” Johns said of Metcalf on the Matty and Cronk podcast.
“For me, Chanel (Harris-Tavita) and Te Maire Martin play similar games, but Metcalf gives them something a little bit different.
“Because the Warriors are so good in yardage and can really bend the line, his run-first style really works.
“Wayde Egan is doing a lot of that finessing in the middle of the field and I think Metcalf’s running game supports that.”
Cronk acknowledged Metcalf’s stunning game on the weekend but has argued that Martin had done enough in his time playing halfback to earn his spot back when he’s fit to play.
“I think we get romantic too quickly,” Cronk said.
“The Warriors have been a damn good team all year. Who have been the halves combo? Martin and Harris-Tavita right? They’ve done a great job and until they prove they can’t, I think Metcalf is on the bench.
“He’s got impact off the bench, so why move him? I think Martin and Harris-Tavita deserve it (when healthy).
“Let’s give the Warriors a big rap here because when the Metcalf situation was going on Andrew Webster said they’re in the premiership window this year. Clubs wanted him earlier and other clubs would’ve said to Metcalf, ‘get out of here’ but Webster has managed this kid to a point that he delivered on the weekend and he will deliver for the Warriors in the next six weeks. He will be needed at some stage.”
After the win on the weekend Webster was asked if Metcalf’s form meant he would keep the halfback jersey for the rest of the season.
“I’ve got no opinion on that at all. I just thought he (Metcalf) was good and I want to celebrate Luke,” Webster said.
Aiken set for 50th NRLW game | 03:36
FORAN’S SQUAD PREDICAMENT
Despite calls for a player clean-out at the under-siege Manly club, coach Kieran Foran may be stuck with his current squad for some time yet.
That’s the opinion of Fox League commentator Luke Keary who says there’s no reason why Foran can’t turn the current group around.
Earlier this week Fox League journalist Paul Crawley said Foran had some tough decisions to make in terms of his playing personnel.
The squad was assembled by sacked coach Anthony Seibold and naturally, the new coach would want to tinker with it.
They won eight of their first 10 games with Foran in charge, many without star fullback Tom Trbojevic.
Last weekend’s loss was their fifth in a row.
How has a side all of a sudden had such a fall from grace with the same playing personnel?
“I don’t know what they are yet,” Keary said.
“They were really bad at the start, and then they went really good with the same roster and then really bad again.”
If they’re going to get out of the hole they’re currently in this year and succeed in 2027, they’ll have to do it themselves.
“There’s no roster calls to make. There’s no-one off contract. I don’t think there’s tough roster calls,” Keary said.
“I don’t think it’s a roster problem because that same roster won, I think eight out of 10.”
Manly has signed boom forward Kayliss Fatialofa but he’s yet to make his NRL debut so it won’t be up to him to get them out of trouble when he arrives next year.
Foran said in his post-game press conference that his side needed to find a “harder edge”, which Keary agreed with.
“He’d still be trying to install his values and work ethic and little things like that,” Keary said.
“It will be about how he installs that toughness and hardness to go with those top eight teams a bit longer and a bit more consistently.
“I can tell you one thing, there’s nothing you can really do other than ask them to perform for the last four weeks.”
Robbo talks Walker future, NRL expansion | 12:10
WHY SHARKS DEFEAT COULD SPELL THE END OF TITLE HOPES
Some said it was the loss they had to have, but not many eventual premiers lose to the last-placed team a month before the finals.
The rugby league community was stunned when the Dragons won only their third game of the season against a red-hot Sharks on Sunday.
Cronulla was flying high heading into the game, on a five-match winning streak and with a soft draw ahead, many predicted they could win all their remaining games before the finals.
That would mean they would head into the finals on a 10-match winning streak.
All that would have meant was that they were closer to a loss and Craig Fitzgibbon naturally didn’t want it to happen in the finals.
A loss in Round 23 and the world wouldn’t end, but three-time premiership winner Luke Keary said the circumstances surrounding it are concerning.
“There’s good losses sometimes where you learn a lot about yourself and when you get a team that’s really good, you’re like ‘okay, we’re not there yet, we’ve got a lot of work to do’,” Keary said.
“That one was a complacent loss. They’re not very good losses. They’re not ones you need to have.
“They’re a very mature team that’s been together for a long time, but that’s not a loss you need to have.
“If that was a Penrith or the Roosters and they got beat, then they can go back and go, ‘okay, we know where we need to get to now when we meet in the finals’.
“Whereas, the top-two (spot) was sitting right there for them, so Fitz would be really disappointed.”
Then there’s the other school of thought that the Sharks won’t be battle-hardened heading into the finals given their soft draw.
Coaches of top four sides, the main title contenders, don’t want an overly tough, sapping run leading into the finals, but they generally would like to play a good side in the weeks leading into the finals.
Six of the seven teams Cronulla play heading into the finals aren’t in the top eight.
So will that soft preparation make them finals ready?
“There’s always that risk. You have those games and then you got to run into the Panthers or Warriors week one and you go, ‘wow, we haven’t felt this in a while’,” Keary said.
“That is definitely a thing. But as I said, it’s not a new team. This is a team that’s played finals for the last five years. They know what’s coming.
“They should know what’s coming and they should be pretty well prepared for it.”