Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cI think he\u2019s a really good player, and I am not saying he\u2019s not the answer but they\u2019ve gone full circle if they go to Sean,\u201d Anasta said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSexton was a very similar player so the experiment hasn\u2019t really worked if they go back to Sean, but that\u2019s not to say they can\u2019t be better with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Flip the coin around, and you have Cooper Cronk\u2019s opinion \u2014 he believes there\u2019s zero cause for concern in Belmore.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be worried about the Dogs attack if I was Cameron Ciraldo, I\u2019ve seen glimpses that says this team can put it together,\u201d Cronk said on the Matty and Cronk podcast.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think it says anything other than Matt Burton might have had an injury or something like that, it\u2019s not something to look into.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the Bulldogs are going to play finals and have a chance, Burton is your five-eighth, Galvin is your halfback.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead, he believes Ciraldo\u2019s spine reshuffle simply came down to Matt Burton misfiring against the Knights.<\/p>\n
Once he was moved, he then scored two tries, but that was only a temporary measure in an attempt to spark something, according to Cronk.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s more is the role of Crichton, who could act as a third playmaker of sorts moving forward \u2014 a role that was spot-tested against Newcastle.<\/p>\n
As Tom Trbojevic has previously done for NSW, Latrell Mitchell does for the Rabbitohs and Joey Manu was renowned for doing with the Roosters, Crichton should be given a license to roam.<\/p>\n
\u201cStephen Crichton is the best centre in the world, you start moving him around permanently, I think that throws him out,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think he can definitely be the kind of centre that Joey Manu was at the Roosters and roam around.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regardless of each pundit\u2019s stance, Ciraldo has stuck solid with Galvin and Burton in the halves in Round 5 as his side prepare to take on the Rabbitohs.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an interesting match-up considering Souths have in the past been leaky defensively, but can pile points on with potent attacking weapons across the park.<\/p>\n
If Canterbury struggle for points again, it will only further highlight their issues \u2014 but Round 5 shapes as a huge opportunity to silence the critics.<\/p>\n
Is Lachlan Galvin under pressure to keep his spot with Sean O\u2019Sullivan waiting in the wings?Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
SEVERAL STORM CONCERNS RAISED AS DATE WITH 4-0 PENRITH AWAITS<\/p>\n
Panthers vs. Storm, Friday 3rd of April @ 8.00pm<\/p>\n
If this game was held a fortnight ago, the build up for it would be unmatched for an early regular season fixture. <\/p>\n
It would have been two unbeaten teams who have been the benchmark of the competition over the past decade coming together after two thumping wins in the opening two rounds.<\/p>\n
However, the game has lost just that little bit of lustre since the Storm have dropped their past two matches after beginning 2026 hot.<\/p>\n
Because the Panthers have maintained their outstanding start and are the only unbeaten team, they\u2019ll enter the Good Friday blockbuster as clear favourites.<\/p>\n
The Storm\u2019s recent form does raise some alarm bells for club great Cooper Cronk.<\/p>\n
He believes both losses \u2013 a 18-14 defeat to Brisbane and a 28-24 upset by the Cowboys \u2013 were completely unavoidable. <\/p>\n
In both games, the Storm coughed up big leads and were run down.<\/p>\n
Storm fans don\u2019t have to be reminded of the 10 point lead they choked away in last year\u2019s grand final.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have the ability to rattle up scores so quick. They are capable of scoring 40 in a half but when you are looking to play that type of football, you\u2019re going to get errors and it\u2019s going to take a bit of gas out of your defensive tank,\u201d Matty Johns said on Matty and Cronk.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey aren\u2019t that grafting, grinding side that Melbourne are famous for.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey should be though,\u201d Cronk responded emphatically.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Storm have the best players arguably in their position, one of the best coaches and they should not give up leads, particularly in big games.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not saying it\u2019s ok it\u2019s drop a game against the Cowboys on a Saturday night but they\u2019ve done it against the Broncos twice now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cronk says it\u2019s clear what the Storm fail to do well when they fall into a hole and let teams back into it.<\/p>\n
Storm rally behind Tui after stroke | 01:57<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can talk about the ability to soar high and rattle off a score but I can almost guarantee it\u2019ll be ill-discipline in terms of penalties and set restarts and then the kicking game becomes under pressure and when you do that with a lead, the other team win the field position battle,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not the skill of Grant and Munster and that, it\u2019s the discipline of their team, a little bit of complacency but then when they are defending their goaline, the inexperience of the Storm\u2019s edges are being found out in big moments.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, can the Storm turn things around against Penrith?<\/p>\n
History suggests they certainly can.<\/p>\n
Melbourne have won their past four regular season matches against the Panthers.<\/p>\n
Both teams have proven they have plenty of points in them, but are sides that in recent years, focus on winning the physical battle and completing high.<\/p>\n
When asked by Johns if the Storm can win an \u201carm-wrestle\u201d against Penrith despite their suspect form defensively, Cronk said his former side can.<\/p>\n
\u201cArm-wrestle is different because your talking about back-and-forth and grinding away. I think they have the firepower to beat Penrith in an arm-wrestle,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have to play a high percentage game and fight Penrith with what they\u2019re great at and I think Munster is the key for the Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johns is electing to ride the hot hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m still going Penrith. There is no team at the moment I have contemplated beating Penrith but if I\u2019m a Storm fan thinking how can my team win this, well if it\u2019s 16-16 with ten to go, that\u2019s the way it has to be,\u201d Johns opined.<\/p>\n
CAN NEW DRAGONS HALVES LIFT AS PRESSURE HEATS UP ON FLANNO<\/p>\n
Dragons vs. Cowboys, Saturday 4th of April @ 5.30pm<\/p>\n
Step on up Lyhkan King-Togia. <\/p>\n
The Dragons young gun will have to be important this Saturday afternoon if the Red V are to end their season drought against North Queensland.<\/p>\n
Selected at five-eighth following the nasty concussion to Kyle Flanagan, King-Togia will likely have two games to show his coach Shane Flanagan that he deserves a consistent first grade opportunity.<\/p>\n
Like many Dragons last season, King-Togia mixed his form. <\/p>\n
In attack, he\u2019s a game-breaker, but defensively, he proved to be a bit of a turnstile.<\/p>\n
To stay in Flanagan\u2019s good graces, you have to be able to tackle. <\/p>\n
With another pre-season under his belt, it\u2019ll be interesting to see if the 20-year-old has improved that part of his game.<\/p>\n
If this is the case, NRL360 host Braith Anasta says King-Togia can be the right option for the Dragons, who are in dire need of a spark after four losses to start the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe brings a lot in attack. He came on against the Titans and didn\u2019t do too much but didn\u2019t get much of an opportunity there. He hasn\u2019t had much of an opportunity if any at all this year,\u201d Anasta said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got really got footwork and speed. He\u2019s the most creative half in the team I believe.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe question mark has always been his defence. His defence was poor last year but they need points and if you are looking for points, King-Togia is their biggest threat so I think it\u2019s good in that regard.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity for him given the way they\u2019re going and how poor they\u2019ve started the year and their inability to create opportunities. He has some x-factor but he has a challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lyhkan King-Togia is set to make his first NRL start of the year against the Cowboys.Source: AFP<\/p>\n
BRONCOS \u2018BLUEPRINT\u2019 EMERGES BUT SPOTLIGHT SHINED ON STAR\u2019S FLAW <\/p>\n
Titans vs. Broncos Saturday 4th of April @ 7.35pm<\/p>\n
It was a tough start to the season, but the Broncos have been clicking on all cylinders since being down 14-0 against the Storm in Round 3.<\/p>\n
In three halves of footy since, Brisbane have outscored two high quality opponents 44-12. <\/p>\n
During that span, a common theme has emerged. <\/p>\n
In the second forty against the Storm, Brisbane completed high (20\/22). They did the same against the Dolphins last weekend, completing 34\/38 sets.<\/p>\n
As NRL legend Cooper Cronk noted, the Broncos are the league\u2019s most dangerous team when they \u201cget the fundamentals right\u201d, labelling that style of play as \u201ctheir blueprint\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was one of the better and wholehearted performances I\u2019ve seen from the Broncos in some time,\u201d Cronk said, referring to the 26-12 win over the Dolphins.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have talent to burn but when they get the fundamentals right, they are a premiership team. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey defended the goal line for a long period of time in that second half which got them the victory then their best players in Reece Walsh, Kotoni Staggs and Adam Reynolds hit the scoreboard. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat is their blueprint moving forward. They\u2019ve got their season back on track.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hunt frustration over positional change | 02:21<\/p>\n
When the Broncos can put together sets, tackle well and be disciplined, rewards generally come. <\/p>\n
Momentum builds, which means they can wear the opposition down before their star players come to the fore. <\/p>\n
That\u2019s exactly what happened against the Dolphins, with the Broncos scoring two late tries to put the game to bed after a gritty second half battle. <\/p>\n
While two straight wins has led to the pressure valve releasing at Red Hill for now, there are a few kinks to work out. <\/p>\n
Five-eighth Ezra Mam, who had a chequered season in 2025 before finishing in a blaze of glory, has been underwhelming so far this season.<\/p>\n
Cooper Cronk says there\u2019s one flaw of Mam\u2019s game which has the potential to curtail a promising play or thwart Brisbane\u2019s momentum.<\/p>\n
Mam is vital to the Broncos success after signing a $4 million extension in 2024.<\/p>\n
Ezra Mam lacked touch on a couple of passes against the Dolphins which thwarted a pair of Broncos backline plays. It’s a recurring theme according to Cooper Cronk.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n
Cronk noted a couple of instances against the Dolphins where a good-looking Broncos backline play was coughed up due to Mam\u2019s passing. <\/p>\n
\u201cEzra Mam is an athletic player. He\u2019s got that running game, but there\u2019s a bit of work to do with Ezra\u2019s ball-playing because when he moves fast like a run, his hands aren\u2019t soft,\u201d Cronk said on Fox League.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were a couple of errors where he tries to run, but he then rushes the pass when the defence reacts. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe needs a bit of an evolution.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the Matty and Cronk show, Cronk then highlighted examples of how much better a backline play resulted in when it was Reece Walsh making the key pass. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Reece Walsh was carving teams up last year, we spoke about him being two passes wide, a bit of space when the wingers and centres are detached,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTeams will start rushing him as they do at different stages, but he still has that pass to get away which he does.\u201d<\/p>\n
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 14: Adam Doueihi has been a standout for the Tigers.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
HOW STAR BOUNCED BACK FROM \u2018DARK MOMENT\u2019 FOR RESURGENT TIGERS<\/p>\n
Eels vs. Tigers Sunday 6th of April @ 4.05pm<\/p>\n
The NRL\u2019s yearly Easter Monday fixture brings painful memories for Adam Doueihi.<\/p>\n
In was in this clash three years ago when playing at five-eighth for the Tigers against the Eels when Doueihi suffered a catastrophic knee injury.<\/p>\n
It was Doueihi\u2019s third ACL injury \u2013 all on the same leg \u2013 but this one appeared to be the worst.<\/p>\n
Speaking this week to Andrew Voss on SEN, Doueihi labelled the injury as the darkest moment of his career.<\/p>\n
I was doing some research and no one had really done three on the same leg before,\u201d Doueihi said.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust the thoughts afterwards and the recovery process I had to go through was tough but I got through it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Doueihi spent over 14 months on the sideline with the ruptured ACL before returning in June of 2024<\/p>\n
Thankfully, despite three ACL ruptures in six years, the versatile Tigers star has been able to not only return to the field, but become a crucial cog to a burgeoning side. <\/p>\n
Doueihi was terrific in patches last season but he\u2019s lifted his game to a new level in 2026.<\/p>\n
Being tasked with the main playmaker duties in the No. 7 jersey to allow Jarome Luai to play his natural game at five-eighth, Doueihi has been the Tigers\u2019 best player through three games.<\/p>\n
Without Luai last week against the Warriors, the 27-year-old ran for 222 metres (second most ever by a halfback), set up two tries and had two line breaks in an upset win across the ditch.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis performance on the weekend, if that\u2019s Nathan Cleary, you walk away thinking he\u2019s a deadset immortal,\u201d foxsports.com.au\u2019s Paul Crawley said on NRL360 before host Braith Anasta added: \u201cI\u2019ve never seen him play better. He was Superman.\u201d<\/p>\n
Doueihi is just one of several impressive aspects of the Tigers this year, who are 2-1 heading into their Easter Monday clash against the Eels at CommBank Stadium. <\/p>\n
The job Benji Marshall has done with his side\u2019s defence is one of those.<\/p>\n
As journalist David Riccio noted on NRL360, the Tigers<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a coming of age season for the Tigers and Benji Marshall,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are conceding 16.7 points per game. That\u2019s their best ever in Wests Tigers history. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a small sample size but very, very promising signs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anasta added that in his opinion, a reason for the sharply improved defensive showing is due to the close bond the playing group has. <\/p>\n
He pinpointed Marshall as the reason behind this.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know what I love the most, it\u2019s the connection they have,\u201d Anasta said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what the coach provides. That\u2019s what he tries to set up for his group is a bond that these players play for each other and loves each other.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Broncos have relieved the pressure thanks to two straight wins but there is still a concerning flaw…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":579783,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,763,761,762,158,85,7663],"class_list":["post-579782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-fox-league","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-nrl","tag-sports","tag-talking-points"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/579782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=579782"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/579782\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/579783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=579782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=579782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=579782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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