New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\nMeanwhile, a premiership winning halfback believes there will be some growing pains for a young Manly playmaker, who has been tasked to fill the boots of the injured Luke Brooks for the rest of the season.<\/p>\n
PENRITH\u2019S DELICATE BALANCING ACT WITH YOUNG HALF<\/p>\n
Penrith Panthers vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs, Friday 8pm @ CommBank Stadium<\/p>\n
The Penrith Panthers are still premiership favourites, there is no questioning that.<\/p>\n
Even after back-to-back losses to the Titans and Cowboys, this feels like the usual blip on the radar around Origin time before they come back full-strength near the end of the season and time their run to perfect all the way to another premiership.<\/p>\n
If there is one question mark over Penrith\u2019s title credentials though, it centres around five-eighth Blaize Talagi.<\/p>\n
After all, as much as the Panthers could have come from the clouds to win an unlikely premiership last year, they didn\u2019t. They lost to the Broncos and while that defeat was not solely on Talagi, it was a game where you felt the difference at five-eighth.<\/p>\n
When it was Jarome Luai or even Jack Cogger filling in to free up Nathan Cleary, there was always a confidence \u2014 externally not internally \u2014 that both halves could contribute.<\/p>\n
Right now, that isn\u2019t always the case with Penrith, and that\u2019s totally fine. Talagi is still just 21 years old and only a few seasons into his career and finding his way in first grade.<\/p>\n
Another big name Panther leaving? | 06:13<\/p>\n
Defence is still his biggest question mark, not so much in his decision-making but his pure physicality and that is something that should naturally improve with time as he grows into his body more. <\/p>\n
In attack, though, Talagi\u2019s involvement has been up and down. He has been more confident running the ball and taking the line on while he is adding another kicking option alongside Cleary, which is important to keep the defence guessing on last tackles.<\/p>\n
However, his ball-playing hasn\u2019t quite developed yet to the point where he is enough of a multidimensional threat.<\/p>\n
It is an interesting dilemma for a Panthers side that has premiership ambitions and experience across the park in almost every other position, whereas Talagi is in some ways on his own journey while also still trying to help Penrith back to a premiership.<\/p>\n
Former two-time premiership winner Luke Keary went on a similar journey at times in his career and can appreciate the challenge Talagi has, even playing in such a dominant team where he has the benefit of not being relied on to produce right away.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can tell he\u2019s still trying to figure out his own game,\u201d Keary told foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA \u2013 MAY 03: Blaize Talagi of Penrith Panthers scores a try during the round nine NRL match between Penrith Panthers and Manly Sea Eagles at CommBank Stadium, on May 03, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ayush Kumar\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are games when he\u2019s really involved early, gets his hands on the ball, and there are others where he\u2019s not as involved, but that\u2019s pretty normal for that kind of five-eighth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve played a similar role where you\u2019ve got to pick and choose your times when you\u2019re not the dominant one. You\u2019ve got to kind of get the feel of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Talagi\u2019s form has been inconsistent at times, Keary said he has overall been \u201creally impressed\u201d with the 21-year-old, but added Penrith\u2019s left edge defence remains its one potential question mark ahead of another premiership push.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been really impressed. I think he\u2019s a great player,\u201d Keary added.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s just got to keep finding his way into games. You can easily get lost as a five-eighth sometimes. Defensively, obviously that left side will get targeted. <\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t say it\u2019s a weakness, but it\u2019s one area you can target with Penrith, and you may find a chink or two there. So him and Casey McLean will get targeted a fair bit, which he\u2019s got to learn to deal with, but they\u2019ve set himself up perfectly to go after it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cleary’s frosty presser after defeat | 01:33<\/p>\n
TIGERS ENTER MUST-WIN TERRITORY TO KEEP FINALS HOPES ALIVE<\/p>\n
St. George Illawarra Dragons vs. Wests Tigers, Saturday 5.30pm @ Jubilee Stadium<\/p>\n
It has been 15 long years since the Wests Tigers played their last NRL Finals series, but that drought could finally be coming to an end.<\/p>\n
On the verge of ending its lengthy September drought, the Tigers have transformed from perennial cellar-dwellers to genuine final contenders.<\/p>\n
However, their destiny remains firmly in their own hands and there is no room for error.<\/p>\n
A victory over the last-placed St George Illawarra Dragons this weekend is all but essential if the Tigers are to keep their finals hopes alive.<\/p>\n
Sitting in 11th place on the ladder with seven wins and trailing the top eight by four competition points, the joint venture faces a tough final two and a half months of the season.<\/p>\n
With little separating the teams battling for a spot in the final, a slip-up against the wooden spooners could prove costly.<\/p>\n
Averillo joins Tigers on four-year deal | 00:39<\/p>\n
But to make matters even tougher, they will have to do it without injured stars Samuela Fainu, Taylan May and co-captain Jarome Luai. <\/p>\n
This means the younger players in their squad will need to stand up and deliver alongside experienced halfback Adam Douehi.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve had a lot of injuries. They lost their whole back row, they lost their halfback for most of the year. Taylan May won\u2019t be there anymore,\u201d Luke Keary told foxsports.com.au. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been a lot of young guys that played well. Benji won\u2019t be thinking like this, but you want to compete, you want to be in every game, you want to be fighting for that eight at the end.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether they make it or not, I don\u2019t think that\u2019s probably the barometer for them, but you can tell they\u2019ve improved as a club and a team. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re a lot better than what they were.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jarome Luai is out this week because of concussion protocols.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n
While injuries threaten to derail their charge towards the finals at the worst possible time, the experience gained by the club\u2019s younger squad members could prove invaluable \u2013 not only for 2026 but in the years ahead.<\/p>\n
If Benji Marshall is able to navigate his side through the coming weeks and keep them within striking distance of the top-eight, the return of several key players could provide the spark needed to complete one of the NRL\u2019s most remarkable turnarounds, which would see them go from three consecutive wooden spoons to making the finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they get everyone fit and healthy, I think they\u2019ll be there or thereabouts,\u201d Keary added.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think if you\u2019re Benji, you just want to see them compete like they did on the weekend. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey played a pretty good Newcastle side, and they were right there up until the end. So if they can do that all year, they\u2019ll probably win more than they lose.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schuster looks to get back on the field | 00:48<\/p>\n
MADGE\u2019S \u2018MIND GAMES\u2019 NOT FOOLING ANYONE<\/p>\n
Brisbane Broncos vs. Cronulla Sharks, Saturday 7.35pm @ Suncorp Stadium<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been another tumultuous week for the Broncos.<\/p>\n
Any club around the league is going to be subject to criticism and placed under the blowtorch when in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, but when it\u2019s happening to a club like the Broncos, the attention is on a whole other scale.<\/p>\n
So much so that just nine months after winning a premiership in his first year at the helm, there is speculation that coach Michael Maguire\u2019s future at the club is uncertain. <\/p>\n
Some players are rumoured to be waiting to see what the club do with Maguire before recommitting.<\/p>\n
The coach is contracted until the end of 2027 and there have been calls the club don\u2019t re-sign Maguire until the Broncos start to show signs of life again on the field.<\/p>\n
Injuries have played their part this season no doubt, but in foxsports.com.au\u2019s Paul Crawley\u2019s opinion, 2026 has been an abject failure for Brisbane.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis season has been a disaster for a reigning champion,\u201d he said on NRL360 this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re going to miss out on the finals. No grand final winner has missed the playoffs since 2006 so it\u2019s been a disaster.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can see it in their performance. There\u2019s effort on occasions but it\u2019s not an 80 minute effort.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following losses, Maguire has been asked ad nauseam by reporters on the club\u2019s dwindling finals chances.<\/p>\n
The Broncos coach has been steadfast in his belief though that he has the team to pull off the impossible. For what it\u2019s worth, Brisbane need to win eight from nine to progress to September.<\/p>\n
Crawley says Maguire is playing \u201cmind games\u201d when he tells the media Brisbane can still play finals this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s playing mind games there. I was watching his press conference the other day and to me, it came across as a coach that for some reason, is trying to show his players that he believes in them. It doesn\u2019t come across as real what I\u2019m seeing the press conferences,\u201d Crawley said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMadge is saying they can come back from this but they\u2019ve got to win eight from nine and they\u2019ve lost their last seven.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look at their defeats. They\u2019ve lost to the Dragons, Titans, Souths who were undermanned. That\u2019s where their finals hopes disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n
Assuming the Broncos miss the eight, how should their season be graded?<\/p>\n
There have been some mitigating factors. The injury toll has been horrific while several of the club\u2019s stars have been underwhelming.<\/p>\n
Ex-NRL star Luke Keary believes that even though they won\u2019t be defending their title, how the club finishes the season is important for not only the club but Maguire\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously coming off a premiership, everything\u2019s a failure. I guess they just want to win some games \u2026 it\u2019s a tough one because they\u2019re a great team and a great club, so there\u2019s obviously some stuff going on there,\u201d Keary told foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey just need to figure all that stuff out first, they\u2019ve had a lot of injuries too \u2026 it\u2019s pretty common, all those teams with injuries have struggled this year. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think Madge just needs just to get through the year and get some wins, get some pride back, and then get into pre-season again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Haas ready for Suncorp atmosphere | 00:13<\/p>\n
THE JOEY WALSH ERA IS HERE!<\/p>\n
Parramatta Eels vs. Manly Sea Eagles, Sunday 2pm @ CommBank Stadium<\/p>\n
Joey Walsh\u2019 promotion to Manly\u2019s starting halves marks the beginning of his biggest challenge yet, but Luke Keary has urged fans to temper their expectations around the highly touted teenager.<\/p>\n
The former premiership-winning half believes Walsh has all the makings to become a long-term NRL star, but warned that the 19-year-old will need time to adjust after being thrust into the starting side following Luke Brooks\u2019 season-ending ACL injury.<\/p>\n
Although the former Junior Wallabies captain has produced plenty of highlights and shown glimpses of his potential in his four NRL matches, he now faces the challenge of delivering on a consistent basis as Manly\u2019s full-time five-eighth for the remainder of the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a tough one because he\u2019s only played the couple of games in there at half. So I actually don\u2019t know what to expect,\u201d Luke Keary told foxsports.com.au. <\/p>\n
As Walsh prepares to slot into the halves alongside Jamal Fogarty for the first time, Keary said it was important not to place unrealistic expectations on the youngster, stressing that it will take time for him to develop.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith these young guys, you want them to go and obviously play well, but it\u2019ll take him some time,\u201d Keary added. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe might have a few games where they aren\u2019t great. He\u2019ll have a few really good ones. It\u2019ll be tough at the start. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not going to be coming in shooting the lights out every single week, but because they\u2019re going well, he\u2019ll be able to just fit in, do his job, play on that left side.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rather than judging Walsh on whether he can immediately replace the influence that Brooks brings, the former NRL great believed the club should focus on allowing him to build confidence in the role over the coming months.<\/p>\n
This would see him take a secondary role in attack with Fogarty directing traffic as the lead option.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see him just playing a really similar role to Brooks. Jamal will control the game for him. We see what Kieran\u2019s done for Luke,\u201d Keary continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought Brooks was playing probably the best footy of his career. So, it\u2019s probably perfect for Joey that he gets Kieran there to help him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Joey Walsh era at Manly begins this weekend.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
HOW WILL THE PHINS FAIR WITHOUT KATOA?<\/p>\n
Newcastle Knights vs. Dolphins, Sunday 4.05pm @ McDonald Jones Stadium<\/p>\n
The Dolphins were able to pull off a gripping, come-from-behind win against the Warriors last Saturday when star half Isaiya Katoa left the field injured, but it\u2019s a new challenge when the opposition has all week to prepare for a new-look halves combo.<\/p>\n
Brad Schneider and Kodi Nikorima performed very well to get the Dolphins home and will be tasked with leading the side for the next six weeks with Katoa out of action.<\/p>\n
Nikorima has been sensational in recent weeks and he\u2019s been the main playmaker on several occasions throughout his decorated career.<\/p>\n
Schneider meanwhile has often been used in relief, especially playing behind Nathan Cleary at Penrith. <\/p>\n
Schneider isn\u2019t Katoa, but he has his own strengths which can help this Dolphins side at least hold solid as the finals approach.<\/p>\n
According to Luke Keary, Schneider doesn\u2019t have to deviate from his natural game for the Dolphins to hold their form.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it was going to be a big loss during the game because obviously you lose your halfback, but Schneider was there the week before, which helped him a little bit. <\/p>\n
And then Nikorima is in as good as form as I\u2019ve ever seen him,\u201d Keary told foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo he\u2019s kind of, not carrying them, but he\u2019s a big focal point for them. They\u2019ll miss Katoa over the next couple of months. Schneider will be a good replacement. He\u2019s done it for Nathan too, so that that helps. But they\u2019re going to need him back. They\u2019ve just got to hold it down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Woolf unpacks CLUTCH final 4 minutes | 06:36<\/p>\n
While Katoa\u2019s loss is a blow for their exciting attack, the reason why the Dolphins are genuine premiership threats this season is due to their sharply improved defence. <\/p>\n
Pretty much since they\u2019ve entered the comp, the Dolphins have been able to score points, but it\u2019s their evolved versatility that have many observers believe they are the biggest threat to Penrith this year. <\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone is talking about their attack. I think their defence is the thing that (has impressed me the most). I don\u2019t even worry about their attack,\u201d Keary said. <\/p>\n
\u201cTheir defence, they went from having 50 put on them three or four times at the back end of last year. They had Manly put 50 on them in Kieran\u2019s first game, and since then I think they\u2019re second best behind Penrith. That\u2019s been the difference, not their attack. Their attack hasn\u2019t got any better. It\u2019s just purely they\u2019ve become a gritty, tough defensive side.<\/p>\n
\u201cKristian Woolf obviously has put a system in there that they are buying into. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think the pack is one of the better packs in the competition. Plath, Stone and Knowles as your three middles are just built on hard work and defence, and then the two back rowers give them that power and that punch out wide, and they both knock out 80 minutes every week which is huge, and then they\u2019ve got the tough front row. <\/p>\n
\u201cTheir pack is a big part of it and they\u2019ve fixed up their edge defence. I think they leaked the most tries through the middle of the field at the start of the year. But they fixed that, and then their edge defence has stiffened up a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Dolphins enter Round 18 in third on the ladder but they are one of four teams on 24 points and those sides are only four points ahead of the ninth-placed Cowboys.<\/p>\n
It means that while they\u2019re travelling nicely at the minute, a hiccup or two in the next few weeks could see them free fall down the ladder.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve got to try and make that four. They\u2019re in a great spot. The Warriors, Roosters, and Dolphins I think are the three that\u2019ll fight it out,\u201d Keary said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Knights are there, but they\u2019ve got a tough run. It\u2019ll be interesting. I think two of those three will probably kick on. One of them will have a really tough period. I can\u2019t tell you who though.\u201d<\/p>\n
WHY RYLES SHOULD BE FEELING THE PRESSURE<\/p>\n
Eels v Sea Eagles, 2pm Sunday @ CommBank Stadium<\/p>\n
Are the Eels and coach Jason Ryles being let off the hook this season?<\/p>\n
You can make a strong case that the Eels aren\u2019t fielding the level of criticism they deserve to be given where they sit on the ladder. <\/p>\n
Entering Round 18, the Eels\u2019 finals hope are shot with just five wins from 15 games. They\u2019re 14th. <\/p>\n
When Jason Ryles was named as Parramatta\u2019s coach from the 2025, he wasn\u2019t necesarily expected to turn the club into grand final contenders within two years, but third last this late into his second season wasn\u2019t envisaged either.<\/p>\n
No team has been hit harder than injuries in the past two seasons and much has been made about Mitch Moses\u2019 availability or lack thereof.<\/p>\n
However, it can\u2019t be used as the only excuse for what has been a regression from year one to year two of the Ryles era. <\/p>\n
The Eels were travelling so-so before a disappointing loss to Rabbits last weekend – a team missing a few of their best players.<\/p>\n
What it showed is that their worst football is very, very poor and there\u2019s been too many instances of it this season. <\/p>\n
Jason Ryles.Source: The Courier Mail<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought that was a really disappointing performance last week. The effort has been there but you can\u2019t just keep talking about effort. At some point, you have to talk about performance,\u201d foxsports.com.au\u2019s Paul Crawley said.<\/p>\n
Crawley continued that Ryles isn\u2019t feeling the heat he probably should.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Former coach) Brad Arthur was let go, what, two years after a grand final. Jason Ryles came in last year and while they finished strongly when Moses returned, they\u2019ve fallen in another hole.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no way they\u2019re reaching the expectations that they should be and it\u2019s turning into a really disappointing year for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ryles deserves at least another season at the helm but a poor end to this season parlayed into a slow start to 2027 could leave Eels brass in an awkward situation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Stop the mind games Madge. That\u2019s the opinion of one pundit who believes Michael Maguire is kidding himself…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":775156,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":["post-775155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-nrl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/775155","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=775155"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/775155\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/775156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=775155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=775155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=775155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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