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Just the five NRL games over the weekend, with some atrocious weather and some disgraceful performances from two teams who had everything to play for and yet produced nothing.
Read on as ESPN takes a look back over the weekend at some of the biggest hits and misses.
Awful efforts from two teams that should be so much better
The Warriors need to have a good hard look at themselves after their disgraceful effort against the Titans on Saturday afternoon. Just about back to full strength, they were expected to rebound following their hard-fought loss to the Storm at home the week before. The Titans were beaten by the Tigers last start and thumped by the Rabbitohs the week prior. With the Top 8 drifting away from the Warriors, after showing so much promise, it was seriously time for the players to show up and put in the effort their fans deserve. What they served up in conceding 66 points was an embarrassment to themselves and their proud club.
Just as my neck was recovering from the head shaking, the Raiders asked the Warriors to hold their beers. They travelled to Campbelltown in a similar situation, just inside the Top 8, up against a struggling club, and they too rolled over.
It wasn't just the countless errors from both teams, or the missed tackles, it was the fact that they were both out-enthused by teams that seemingly have a lot less to play for and inferior line-ups, at least on paper. Coaches Andrew Webster and Ricky Stuart have monumental tasks in front of them, with both teams now out of the Top 8 and playing as though they just don't care.
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Shaun Johnson of the Warriors looks dejected after another Titans try. |
New and old, Tigers roar at Campbelltown
Just 10 minutes into his debut appearance, 18-year-old Tigers winger Luke Laulilii scooped the ball up from dummy half, 10 metres out from the Raiders' line. The Raiders' defence was in disarray after fullback Jordan Rapana had once again spilt a high ball. With the Tigers lined out and calling for the ball, young Laulilii would have been expected to pass it, but his instincts took over as he noticed that the Raiders players were flat-footed on their line.
Laulilii charged directly at the biggest forward on the field in Josh Papalii. He burrowed through at knee height and somehow managed to ground the ball. It was a great start to the young man's career. A section of the Campbelltown crowd were friends and relatives and they jumped and screamed for joy, as he gathered himself and walked wearily back to a team huddle near halfway.
With the Tigers leading 18-2 at the break, the Raiders needed a perfect start to the second half. Following the kick-off, the Tigers spread the ball deep inside their own territory with Jahream Bulla accelerating through a gap, before finding winger Solomona Faataape as they approached halfway. He was was able to hit Adam Doueihi on the chest on the inside, who took off for the corner, drew fullback Rapana and fired a pass infield to Lachlan Galvin who was supporting down the middle. It was a brilliant try, rich in the influence of coach Benji Marshall.
It was a great afternoon for the Tigers as they recorded back-to-back victories to move away from the bottom of the ladder.
Pap is back and at his best
Ryan Papenhuyzen didn't take long to make his mark on his return from another lengthy injury absence. In the 12th minute of the clash with the Dolphins, with the Storm trailing 6-0, he started a move deep in his own half. Eighty metres and a couple of passes later, Papenhuyzen was there on the inside to take an awkward ball and crash through a couple of defenders to score.
Sixteen minutes into the second half he chased Jamayne Isaako the length of the field after the Dolphins winger came down with an errant Jarome Hughes crossfield kick. Papenhuyzen caught Isaako before the line, but was unable to stop him from sliding over for the four-pointer. He was still going to the very last minute of the game, at the bottom of the pile stopping Isaako from scoring a crucial try.
The Storm have been doing well enough without him, but Papenhuyzen's return spells trouble for opposition sides in the run to the finals.
AJ can't get it right every time
South Sydney's Alex Johnston may be the NRL's second greatest try-scorer of all time, but he does occasionally get one wrong. After the halftime siren had sounded the Rabbitohs spun the ball to the left, 30 metres out from the Sea Eagles' line.
Cody Walker threw a perfectly weighted balloon pass which hit Johnston on the chest. He hit full stride heading towards the corner post, where he famously works so much of his magic. With the cover defence closing in, he thought the wet conditions would allow him to dive early and slide in under the tacklers. Unfortunately the ball dug into the ground and put a handbrake on his ambitions. Still, the Bunnies went in for oranges with an 8-0 lead and would eventually add another important victory to their revival.
Hot dogs early, before mistakes prove costly
With the rain pelting down in Gosford, you could well have expected both teams to tuck the ball under their arms and play conservative football, kicking for field advantage and waiting for opposition errors. But the Bulldogs were having none of that early, offloading at every opportunity and looking for ways through the Roosters' defence. Their first try in the 17th minute was an exhibition of hot potato football that most teams would hesitate to play in perfect weather.
The ball was kept alive near halfway, with offload after offload, as Bulldogs runners probed for a defensive weakness. The ball found centre Jacob Kiraz who accelerated and put a massive fend on a Roosters defender before cutting through the line. He quickly found Jeral Skelton on the outside and Skelton streaked away, before drawing the attention of James Tedesco and passing to Jaeman Salmon supporting well inside. Dominic Young came across in cover and brought Salmon to the ground, but he slid off and the Bulldogs back-rower scrambled over for a great try.
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Blake Steep celebrates a try with teammates. |
Pinged for not watching the ball?
Storm halfback Jarome Hughes had a brilliant game against the Dolphins, but there was one embarrassing moment. With 18 minutes to go the Dolphins put up a towering kick from halfway. Hughes turned his back on the play, expecting to see the ball find his fullback, but it was falling straight for him.
Sensing he was about to be hit, he bent forward, and the ball bounced off his back towards the Dolphins, who were inexplicably awarded six more tackles. Hughes, the commentators and fans, all struggled to understand how he had been deemed to have played at the ball, usually a prerequisite for a tackle restart.