Plus, they won\u2019t have to make it for at least another week but an awkward call looms at Parramatta.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776909012_441_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Jason Taumalolo makes history and two teams have been singled out as the biggest winners from the NRL\u2019s rule changes.<\/p>\n
Read on for the Talking Points for Round 10. <\/p>\n
DOGS\u2019 BIGGEST ISSUES LAID BARE<\/p>\n
Dolphins v Bulldogs, Thursday 7:50pm @ Suncorp Stadium<\/p>\n
A lot has been made of the Bulldogs\u2019 halves pairing, with both Lachlan Galvin and Matt Burton\u2019s form in 2026 in the spotlight.<\/p>\n
But are Canterbury\u2019s woes actually that duo\u2019s fault?<\/p>\n
Speaking on NRL 360 on Wednesday night, host Braith Anasta revealed the Bulldogs have the \u201cslowest play-the-ball in the competition in good field positions\u201d.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s one of the simplest concepts in rugby league.<\/p>\n
The faster your play-the-ball, the harder it is for a defensive line to get set and therefore any team\u2019s attack will likely benefit.<\/p>\n
Throw in the speed of the modern game, and an effective ruck has never been more important \u2014 which could be the reason behind a \u201cmonotonous\u201d Dogs attack.<\/p>\n
Connor Tracey\u2019s role in the Bulldogs attack has come under fire.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
After nine rounds, the Bulldogs have only 145 points, the second least of any team, with only the Dragons trailing Cameron Ciraldo\u2019s side.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s their power game, their big men draw attention with their runs,\u201d Anasta said.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould be getting quick play-the-balls and then play off the back of that… but they actually have the slowest play-the-ball in the competition in good field position.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo they rarely get a quick play-the-ball so they aren\u2019t really running the ball hard enough, fighting enough in the ruck or isolating defenders.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey aren\u2019t denting oppositions, getting a quick play-the-ball and then playing. That\u2019s why it looks so monotonous when you\u2019re watching and so repetitive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe defence is coming up quicker and they have to get better at that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Can Ciraldo turn the Dogs form around? | 07:19<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, beyond Galvin and Burton \u2014 another spine member\u2019s involvements have been questioned.<\/p>\n
Having an attacking fullback is crucial for every team to have a premiership push, with the likes of Dylan Edwards and Reece Walsh, the last two title-winning No.1s, consistently producing in good ball positions.<\/p>\n
Connor Tracey, meanwhile, seems to be locked in to one role according to The Daily Telegraph\u2019s Michael Carayannis, which means the Bulldogs rarely have an extra man sweeping around the back.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of the pressure has fallen on their six and seven, but I find Connor Tracey\u2019s role at fullback a little bit confusing in a way,\u201d Carayannis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look at most fullbacks, they play on both sides of the field. Tracey was parked on the right hand side of the field predominantly in all the good ball sets.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know Stephen Crichton sometimes swings from the right to the left to create that extra number, but on plenty of occasions they were both on the right hand side of the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are not getting enough out of any of their spine positions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tracey has just one try assist and three linebreak assists this season, even though his 113 general play passes rank tied for fourth most among fullbacks, which speaks to the fact he is getting his hands on the ball plenty but isn\u2019t being used on the final touches to set up points.<\/p>\n
Ciraldo backs Dogs culture amidst slump | 06:24<\/p>\n
THE TEAM BEST ADAPTED TO THE MODERN GAME<\/p>\n
Roosters v Titans, Friday 6pm @ Allianz Stadium<\/p>\n
The game has evolved in 2026.<\/p>\n
Speed is king this season with the expansion of the set restarts rule being awarded from the 20-metre line, not the 40-metre allowing for more free-flowing football.<\/p>\n
Momentum has never been more important, and when teams get on a roll \u2014 they can seriously pile on the points.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not that there\u2019s been a huge shift in play-the-ball speeds, or time with the ball in play, it\u2019s simply the momentum teams can achieve by piling up tackles with set restarts, tiring the defensive line.<\/p>\n
According to one of rugby league\u2019s most astute minds, Cooper Cronk, no team has adapted better to the new face of the game than the Roosters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Roosters the last two weeks have sort of got the blueprint of how to handle the new game,\u201d Cronk said of the Tricolours\u2019 win over the Broncos.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are not finessing the ball sideways too often, what they are doing is centralising their attack and when they find a crack or a quick play-the-ball, they are staying there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey aren\u2019t shifting the ball away because the way the game is, the longer the set goes, the quicker the play-the-ball gets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reece Robson is dominating the ruck for the Roosters.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Their first half display in Round 9 saw the Roosters take a 24-0 lead, consistently putting a decimated Broncos defence on the back foot.<\/p>\n
While Michael Maguire\u2019s side scored four second-half tries inside 15 minutes to get themselves back into the contest, that also highlights how momentum shifts within games this season.<\/p>\n
Brisbane gave the Roosters a taste of their own medicine, and it took a Kotoni Staggs sin bin for that momentum to come to a halt.<\/p>\n
Within the Roosters\u2019 new style, Cronk also believed one man has been a central figure, both in the areas he dominates and his importance to this side \u2014 Reece Robson.<\/p>\n
\u201cReece Robson was outstanding… he sets the target, plays straight and direct and the quick play-the-ball gets bigger and bigger as the set goes on,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Reece Robson was one of the more influential players on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n
\u2018GOT IT WRONG\u2019: Bulldogs blasted for \u2018clanger\u2019 call as \u2018kicked out\u2019 star haunts them<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018NUTS\u2019: Manly urged to lock up Foran after crazy turnaround before rivals circle<\/a><\/p>\n CRAWLS: Munster mystery sparks Origin dilemma; Gus\u2019 fingerprints on Dogs debacle<\/a><\/p>\n League legend Matty Johns was also of the belief Robson\u2019s performance against the Broncos sealed his No.9 jersey for the Blues.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that performance cemented his spot in State of Origin, my thing was there was three man we talk about. Reece Robson, Api Koroisau and Blayke Brailey,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cRobson is tough and rugged, make his tackles and has the toughness.<\/p>\n \u201cThe thing about Brailey, defensively he might have a little shortcoming but he can give so much in attack.<\/p>\n \u201cI was leaning to Koroisau because he can do a little bit of both.<\/p>\n \u201cBut what we saw there from Reece Robson, he was showing us \u2018hey, I can attack\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n ‘Walsh can chase down almost any score’ | 04:34<\/p>\n ACCIDENTAL MAGIC BEHIND STUNNING COWBOYS TURNAROUND<\/p>\n Cowboys v Eels, Friday 8pm @ QLD Country Bank Stadium<\/p>\n While the Roosters may have adapted best, there\u2019s another team benefiting from the changes to the NRL this season.<\/p>\n That team is the Cowboys, who started their season off with two losses to the Knights and Tigers.<\/p>\n At the time, those games looked to be very winnable for a dangerous North Queensland side, but fast forward seven rounds and both those teams are flying high.<\/p>\n But from there, Todd Payten\u2019s side have been simply excellent, going on to win six of their next seven appearances with a free-flowing, entertaining brand of football.<\/p>\n Legendary halfback Cooper Cronk made an interesting observation about the North Queensland squad \u2014 which seems to be tailor made for a faster competition.<\/p>\n Jason Taumalolo has been one of the form forwards of the competition, with his dangerous running style that won him a Dally M Medal on full display.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the likes of Tom Chester and Jaxon Purdue, who are both \u2018smaller\u2019 centres, have been electric on the edges.<\/p>\n Throw in the mix running halves like Tom Dearden and Jake Clifford, as well as a scheming Reed Mahoney and the Cowboys have built a squad primed for the modern game.<\/p>\n Payten credits sides improved resilience | 04:05<\/p>\n Whether they knew what they were doing or not is irrelevant, because Payten has his side humming according to Cronk.<\/p>\n \u201cI think they are accidentally well built for the new rule, and I don\u2019t think too many teams had recruited this way,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have big, powerful, physical middle forwards that can bend the line and create momentum.<\/p>\n \u201cReed Mahoney has had an impact, but as soon as that line is disconnected they have got running halves.<\/p>\n \u201c(Tom) Chester and (Jaxon) Purdue that as soon as there is a break in play or someone stepped back, that gap is big enough for them to slip through.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if they meant it, but they have accidentally fell into the prototype. It\u2019s a bit like what we highlighted with the Roosters.<\/p>\n Reed Mahoney has been a revelation for the Cowboys.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cWhen they find a crack through Taumalolo, I\u2019m telling Dearden, Clifford and Purdue, as soon as Taumalolo runs, you should think run next.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause there is just chaos and a disconnected defensive line, you should go through the front door.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s more is the impact of fullback Scott Drinkwater, who is the best try-assisting No.1 in the NRL.<\/p>\n If he spots even an inch of space, Drinkwater is willing and able to take the opportunity and as such North Queensland have high-scoring games.<\/p>\n They beat the Sharks 46-34 and put 35 points on the Broncos, while the Dragons simply couldn\u2019t keep up and went down 32-0.<\/p>\n Mahoney gets last laugh against Bulldogs | 01:48<\/p>\n EELS\u2019 AWKWARD PEZET CALL LOOMING<\/p>\n Cowboys v Eels, Friday 8pm @ QLD Country Bank Stadium<\/p>\n Could we end up seeing another awkward situation play out at Parramatta this season when it comes to Jason Ryles\u2019 make up of his side?<\/p>\n To jog some memories, last season, the outgoing Dylan Brown was left out of the first grade side during the back-end of the year. <\/p>\n Star playmaker Jonah Pezet is at the Eels on a one-year bridging deal before he heads to Brisbane. <\/p>\n Pezet was injured before, interestingly returning via NSW Cup last weekend. Pezet was suspended for one match for a hip drop in reserve grade.<\/p>\n It means that Ronald Volkman keeps his spot next to Mitch Moses in the halves.<\/p>\n Volkman has been solid enough at five-eighth, keeping Pezet out of the side last weekend. <\/p>\n It led to Matty Johns draw parallels to the Brown situation of last season.<\/p>\n \u201cReally interesting is Ronald Volkman in the six. Jonah Pezet played NSW Cup on the weekend. I wonder if that\u2019s got more to do with form or it\u2019s similar to the Dylan Brown situation of last year where he (Ryles) says \u2018you know what, he\u2019s not going to be here next year\u2019,\u201d Johns wondered out loud on Matty and Cronk.<\/p>\n Ryles leaves after officiating call out | 03:28<\/p>\n Cronk could only chuckle when Johns said this before stating he had been surprised by Pezet\u2019s underwhelming season so far.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Pezet thing is interesting because at the start of the year, and even I said it, I thought Mitch Moses was going to have a great year because of Pezet\u2019s influence,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, Pezet\u2019s defence has let him down.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he improves his defence, he\u2019ll be in the side. But it doesn\u2019t matter who you are or any halfback in the comp, if you can\u2019t tackle, you won\u2019t make it in first grade.\u201d<\/p>\n How the Eels play against the Cowboys on Friday night will go a long way in determining Ryles\u2019 side for next week, but with Pezet available, many will be wondering what the <\/p>\n Eels coach decides to do with Parramatta\u2019s 2026 stop-gap playmaker.<\/p>\n Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n Mitch Moses and Jonah Pezet.Source: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n REVITALISED TAUMALOLO\u2019S LONG ROAD TO HISTORY<\/p>\n Cowboys v Eels, Friday 8pm @ QLD Country Bank Stadium<\/p>\n He may be in his 17th NRL season, but Jason Taumalolo is ageing like fine wine and has been a standout performer for the North Queensland Cowboys after a rough few years.<\/p>\n Limited to only ten matches last season, Taumalolo has seemingly rediscovered the form that made him a weapon on both ends of the field and doesn\u2019t look like slowing down anytime soon.<\/p>\n Now, he will become the most capped player for the Cowboys when he runs out against the Parramatta Eels on Friday night.<\/p>\n \u201cI reckon in all the time that I\u2019ve worked on or watched rugby league. I\u2019d have Jason Taumalolo and Bradley Clyde as the two greatest locks I\u2019ve seen,\u201d foxsports.com.au\u2019s Paul Crawley said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s an absolute champion player and what\u2019s been so good about this season so far is five years ago when Todd Payten arrived and cut his minutes back I don\u2019t think he\u2019s been the same since.<\/p>\n \u201cBut this year he\u2019s rediscovered. I\u2019m not saying his greatest, but he\u2019s been bloody good.\u201d<\/p>\n North Queensland Cowboys star Jason Taumalolo will become the club’s most-capped player. Picture: Alix SweeneySource: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n While he was a key reason behind the club making the Grand Final in 2015 and 2017, reports surfaced in 2022 – and again in 2024 – that he came close to departing the club due to the rocky relationship between him and coach Todd Payten.<\/p>\n This stems back to over five years ago, when Payten publicly accused him of cutting corners in defence and limiting the number of minutes he played.<\/p>\n