Flanno\u2019s big call, Tiger\u2019s shock return as injury chaos sparks big Rd 6 changes<\/a><\/p>\nClint Gutherson.Source: AFP<\/p>\n
ANSWER TO BENJI\u2019S HALVES HEADACHE<\/p>\n
How good to see Wests Tigers up near the top of the NRL ladder.<\/p>\n
And with Jarome Luai hoping to return from injury in Sunday\u2019s top four showdown with the rejuvenated Newcastle Knights, Benji Marshall will face a tough decision with what to do with the rejuvenated Jock Madden.<\/p>\n
On Madden\u2019s form in the back-to-back wins over the Warriors and Eels, it will be close to impossible to drop him.<\/p>\n
By the same measure, Adam Doueihi has also been in tremendous form wearing the No.7 on his back, and Luai just has to be in the team at five-eighth.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the answer for Benji would be to play Madden at halfback and move Doueihi into the centres.<\/p>\n
Regardless of how it plays out, it\u2019s a great problem for the Tigers to have.<\/p>\n
Who could have imagined at the start of the season the Tigers would be siting second on the ladder and the Knights third going into this round six showdown?<\/p>\n
Madden ices it in golden point | 00:38<\/p>\n
It\u2019s just great seeing these two traditional battlers turn the 2026 NRL season upside down.<\/p>\n
While the Tigers took down the Eels 22-20 in an absolute thriller in, the Knights were equally inspirational in their dominant 32-12 win over last year\u2019s minor premiers, the Raiders.<\/p>\n
To think they are doing it without the injured Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown is just astonishing.<\/p>\n
Justin Holbrook is obviously doing a fantastic job.<\/p>\n
WHY MUST BURTON CONTINUE TO PLAY SECOND FIDDLE TO KEEP GALVIN HAPPY?<\/p>\n
What are the Bulldogs\u2019 possibly hoping to achieve by the continued disrespect being shown to Matt Burton?<\/p>\n
In the wake of Burton again being shifted to the centres in the loss to Souths to cover for the injury to Stephen Crichton, coach Cameron Ciraldo explained his reasoning for bringing Sean O\u2019Sullivan into the game ahead of Bronson Xerri, which could have kept Burton at five-eighth.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously Bronson was there covering wing and centre, but when you lose your best communicator (Crichton), I needed to get another communicator out there and Sean is one of the best at that,\u201d Ciraldo said post match.<\/p>\n
But that explanation has since been shot down by Phil Gould who has revealed Ciraldo was only in fact trying not to disrespect the club doctor with initial hopes Crichton could return to play.<\/p>\n
Ciraldo addresses confusing Xerri call | 03:51<\/p>\n
Now we\u2019re told Xerri will be back in the starting side for this Thursday\u2019s huge clash against the Panthers.<\/p>\n
Regardless of whether you believe Gus or Ciraldo\u2019s version of the truth, it sure doesn\u2019t give Burton or Lachlan Galvin much credit for their own on-field communicating skills, or dummy half Bailey Hayward for that matter.<\/p>\n
Burton also has a bigger reason to be upset with all this continued speculation that he could end up being forced out of the club.<\/p>\n
I have no doubt if you asked every NRL coach who they would pick out of Galvin and Burton to play five-eighth right now, Burton would be the runaway winner.<\/p>\n
There is no doubt Galvin has a stack of potential, but at this stage Burton is clearly the better player.<\/p>\n
So why does he always have to play second fiddle to keep Gavlin happy?<\/p>\n
You wouldn\u2019t blame him for wanting to explore his options at the end of the season, although you get the feeling that could be what the club is hoping for.<\/p>\n
JAKE TRBOJEVIC PROVES THERE IS STILL LIFE IN HIS OLD LEGS<\/p>\n
It\u2019s only one game.<\/p>\n
But the transformation of Manly under Kieran Foran was extraordinary in their 52-18 demolition of the Dolphins.<\/p>\n
It would have been gut-wrenching for Anthony Seibold if he was sitting back watching that.<\/p>\n
Haumole Olakau\u2019atu was enormous with 23 runs for a whopping 243m, while even Jake Trbojevic looked reborn in the first half with seven runs for 58m.<\/p>\n
I reckon it\u2019s a fair debate if Manly fans would consider Jake still washed up given his output in this game?<\/p>\n
Before the game most would have agreed Jake was going to be lucky to play out this season, let alone the term of his contract with the option in his favour next year.<\/p>\n
But after what we witnessed in Redcliffe, I can\u2019t wait to see what Jake and the Sea Eagles deliver against the Dragons this round.<\/p>\n
Jake Trbojevic.Source: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n
Tom Trboejvic was also outstanding before he left the field late after a head knock.<\/p>\n
And arguably the best of the three Trbojevics was younger brother Ben who has really came of age as an edge backrower this year.<\/p>\n
We\u2019d heard how the Sea Eagles players were constantly at odds with Seibold over the game plan he had them playing, with the players wanting to play more direct.<\/p>\n
On the back of this performance, I\u2019d go as far as to say the Sea Eagles\u2019s season is not dead yet.<\/p>\n
If they can continue what they did against the Dolphins against the Dragons it will also make it difficult to ignore Foran as a serious contender for the head coaching position on a fulltime basis.<\/p>\n
IS LATRELL ANOTHER OF THE NRL\u2019S PROTECTED SPECIES?<\/p>\n
Latrell Mitchell showed again in Souths\u2019 win over the Bulldogs why he is the player capable of making the Rabbitohs a serious threat in 2026.<\/p>\n
That try he scored when he scooped up a Cody Walker grubber at full pace and then somehow touched down after a Connor Tracey knock on was a remarkable show of athleticism, speed and acrobatic skill all in one.<\/p>\n
The speed to score off another kick in the first half when he beat other Bulldogs players in a sprint to the ball was also super impressive.<\/p>\n
But between the brilliance he still had a couple of moments we\u2019ve just become accustomed to seeing from Latrell.<\/p>\n
There was the silly tap on that led to a Bulldogs try in the first half.<\/p>\n
And Latrell was lucky he didn\u2019t end up in strife for another brain fade late in the game when he dived dangerously at the back of Tracey\u2019s leg when chasing after a kick on goal.<\/p>\n
How he wasn\u2019t penalised for that is a mystery.<\/p>\n
We had a crack at Stephen Crichton in this column last week labelling him a protected species for how the Bulldogs skipper sometimes appears to get preferential treatment from the refs.<\/p>\n
Latrell is another player who seems to get away with more than other players normally would.<\/p>\n
But he also needs to put the team first and just get this rubbish out of his game because otherwise it will end up costing the Rabbitohs a big game at some point.<\/p>\n
HIGH TACKLE FARCE<\/p>\n
Rugby league is a contact sport.<\/p>\n
And while we all understand why dangerous high tackles need to be stamped out for player welfare, it is an absolute farce that some of the penalties being awarded for so-called high shots are now deciding games.<\/p>\n
What we saw late in the Tigers\u2019 win over the Eels on Easter Monday was a fair dinkum joke.<\/p>\n
My phone lit up the moment the Eels were awarded a penalty for Samuela Fainu\u2019s \u2018love tap\u2019 on Mitchell Moses that allowed Moses to slot a conversion to put the Eels 20-18 up with three minutes to play.<\/p>\n
But moments later it was Eels fans in uproar when Fainu was on the receiving of an even more laughable decision that allowed Jock Madden to set up the grandstand finish.<\/p>\n
I feel for the refs because they are between a rock and a hard place on this because this has become the reality in the modern game where player welfare is paramount.<\/p>\n
But seriously, these tackles aren\u2019t dangerous, and they don\u2019t deserve to be penalised.<\/p>\n
While it was all great theatre on Monday, imagine seeing a grand final, or a State of Origin, decided on one of these calls.<\/p>\n
Panel argue over controversial calls | 04:49<\/p>\n
LATEST COACHING TACTIC THAT NEEDS TO BE STAMPED OUT<\/p>\n
The NRL also needs to get on top of this new tactic where some teams are intentionally giving up penalties to avoid a scrum.<\/p>\n
You can understand why they do it to avoid having six players taken out of their defensive line, especially when the opposition is attacking their tryline.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s just not in the spirit of the game and I\u2019d love to see a player sin binned for this because it is the definition of a professional foul.<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs did it in the game against the Rabbitohs late in the first half after a dropped ball from Stephen Crichton close to their own tryline.<\/p>\n
While the Rabbitohs landed a penalty goal, teams might be less reluctant to do it if they risk losing a player for 10 minutes.<\/p>\n
RAIDERS HAVE ONLY THEMSELVES TO BLAME<\/p>\n
You need a packet of Panadol handy watching the Raiders in 2026.<\/p>\n
They have gone from being the NRL\u2019s most exciting team to the most frustrating on the back of some shocking discipline.<\/p>\n
And it is getting worse by the week.<\/p>\n
When are the Raiders going to learn you can\u2019t give the opposition as many leg ups as they are and expect to win NRL games?<\/p>\n
Unless Ricky Stuart can turn things around fast the Raiders could be in for a long year.<\/p>\n
They currently sit 16th on the ladder with only the Dragons below them heading into Saturday\u2019s game against the Rabbitohs in Perth.<\/p>\n
Watch every game of every round of the NRL Premiership LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\nRicky’s blunt reaction to Raiders defeat | 04:25<\/p>\n
TITANS ROBBED BY A SHOCKER OF A CALL<\/p>\n
Josh Hannay had every right to be filthy at the forward pass call that denied the Titans a vital try in the 26-12 loss to the Broncos.<\/p>\n
While the reigning champs looked to get away with a comfortable win, it could have been a very different scoreline had a legitimate Lachie Ilias pass to AJ Brimson not been called forward.<\/p>\n
It would have made it 12-all at the time.<\/p>\n
Instead the Broncos scored up the other end soon after and from there never looked back.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s fair to say the call was a shocker.<\/p>\n
“I wish that moment was different” | 06:37<\/p>\n
THE ONLY THREAT TO THE MIGHTY PANTHERS<\/p>\n
Can anyone beat the Panthers this year?<\/p>\n
Perhaps the Maroons may have the best chance when State of Origin rolls around.<\/p>\n
But I certainly can\u2019t see any of the other NRL teams challenging them on what we\u2019ve seen so far.<\/p>\n
It is just extraordinary that they have now piled on 190 points while only conceding 40 in five games.<\/p>\n
And to account for the Melbourne Storm 50-10 is just astonishing.<\/p>\n
Especially when you factor in that the Storm completed at 94 per cent for the game.<\/p>\n
The way they\u2019re travelling the only thing that could possibly bring the Panthers undone will be Origin, or injury.<\/p>\n
‘Who can actually beat Penrith?’ | 01:23<\/p>\n
They could have as many as 10 players in contention for the NSW squad this year with seven legitimate starting contenders.<\/p>\n
If the Blues were naming their team tomorrow Dylan Edwards would have to be fullback, Brian To\u2019o on one wing and Tom Jenkins deserves to be the other.<\/p>\n
Casey McLean would start in the centres, Nathan Cleary at halfback, Isaah Yeo at lock and Liam Martin in the backrow.<\/p>\n
You could also make a case for Lindsay Smith as part of the front row rotation, Scott Sorensen the backrow, and Mitch Kenny in the debate to be the dummy half.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Shane Flanagan has received a lot of support and sympathy from his allies in the media in recent…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":590231,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[288293,288285,8082,64,63,20211,15909,9421,18887,4428,7618,4438,288206,288289,1653,50270,12116,259444,17343,4437,28814,44328,288280,33217,4591,108404,52605,130925,288278,18664,37293,11288,68534,69447,73355,5096,288284,5094,4552,21384,29043,18387,72590,4484,1082,4434,33215,288283,288277,288286,4466,4605,22326,48819,4495,288291,71118,9112,20429,11396,7680,4598,288287,123400,46025,48277,85467,7291,100733,288282,159,4476,285939,4583,62647,4439,85,4563,4546,288279,288290,288281,288288,44869,11737,288292,262936,26121,4515,80792],"class_list":{"0":"post-590230","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-absolute-farce","9":"tag-absolute-thriller","10":"tag-anthony-seibold","11":"tag-au","12":"tag-australia","13":"tag-back-to-back-wins","14":"tag-ben","15":"tag-benji-marshall","16":"tag-brain-fade","17":"tag-brisbane-broncos","18":"tag-cameron-ciraldo","19":"tag-casey-mclean","20":"tag-club-doctor","21":"tag-coaching-tactic","22":"tag-cody-walker","23":"tag-collateral-damage","24":"tag-comfortable-win","25":"tag-crunch-game","26":"tag-daily-telegraph","27":"tag-daniel-atkinson","28":"tag-dean-ritchie","29":"tag-defensive-line","30":"tag-dragons-pause","31":"tag-dressing-room","32":"tag-dylan-edwards","33":"tag-fall-guy","34":"tag-fantastic-job","35":"tag-front-row-rotation","36":"tag-fulltime-basis","37":"tag-game-plan","38":"tag-golden-point-period","39":"tag-grand-final","40":"tag-grandstand-finish","41":"tag-halves-headache","42":"tag-head-coaching-position","43":"tag-head-knock","44":"tag-injury-chaos","45":"tag-isaah-yeo","46":"tag-jake-trbojevic","47":"tag-jock-madden","48":"tag-jonah-glover","49":"tag-josh-hannay","50":"tag-justin-holbrook","51":"tag-kieran-foran","52":"tag-latrell-mitchell","53":"tag-lindsay-smith","54":"tag-lord-gould-of-brookwood","55":"tag-love-tap","56":"tag-mail-turns","57":"tag-media-weeks","58":"tag-melbourne-storm","59":"tag-mitch-kenny","60":"tag-mitchell-moses","61":"tag-multiple-people","62":"tag-newcastle-knights","63":"tag-on-field-communicating-skills","64":"tag-outside-looking","65":"tag-parramatta-eels","66":"tag-pass-call","67":"tag-paul-crawley","68":"tag-penalty-goal","69":"tag-penrith-panthers","70":"tag-player-sin","71":"tag-player-welfare","72":"tag-professional-foul","73":"tag-protected-species","74":"tag-real-issue","75":"tag-ricky-stuart","76":"tag-rickys","77":"tag-rock-dressing-room","78":"tag-rugby-league","79":"tag-scott-sorensen","80":"tag-sensitive-information","81":"tag-shane-flanagan","82":"tag-sides-loss","83":"tag-south-sydney-rabbitohs","84":"tag-sports","85":"tag-st-george-illawarra-dragons","86":"tag-stephen-crichton","87":"tag-suspended-contract-negotiations","88":"tag-tackle-farce","89":"tag-tackle-sets","90":"tag-team-bus","91":"tag-team-captain","92":"tag-team-tips","93":"tag-the-mighty","94":"tag-tino","95":"tag-tom-jenkins","96":"tag-wests-tigers","97":"tag-young-halfback"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/590230","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=590230"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/590230\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/590231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=590230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=590230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=590230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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