Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

Newcastle Herald

National

Josh Callinan

7 Days In League: Records tumble and fall as Guerra feels like a 'wounded antelope'

THURSDAY

While many at Red Hill were left lamenting and laying low after a club-record defeat, did the scoreline actually produce another type of rugby league first?

Two-time defending premiers the Chooks ran riot over the Broncos at an empty Suncorp Stadium as the NRL entered week two of the post-pandemic-break era, but has the unusual 59-0 result ever been posted previously?

It's a fairly difficult thing to do - racking up that many in the for column and also keeping your opponents scoreless. Plus there's also the uneven number caper based on the modern-day configuration of points allocation.

The Sydney Roosters crossed for 10 tries, kicked nine conversions and potted a completely unnecessary field goal on the brink of half-time. But there's seemingly endless possibilities such as: 14 tries, one lot of extras and the solo pointer; 29 penalties and a drop kick; or even just 59 field goals.

Stats guru David Middleton was unavailable for 7 Days In League, but an unsubstantiated rumour is circulating that the once-great Tenambit Tigers knocked off the Metford Magpies by the same margin when halfback Billy Graff opened the team's account with a field goal before guiding his troops around the park at almost a point-per-minute.

It may have hurt at the time, but Brisbane can take solace out of the fact they weren't Canterbury losing to St George by 85 in 1935 or Cronulla downed by 70 at the hands of the Eels in 2003 or Serbia smashed up 120-0 by France at the Mediterranean Cup 17 years ago.

Mind you, it was only about nine months prior that the Queensland capital kids were eliminated from the title race following an unprecedented 58-0 finals rout by Parramatta at Bankwest Stadium.

FRIDAY

World War I, the Spanish Flu and Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes all have 1918 in common.

It's also the last time Newcastle Rugby League didn't run a top competition.

One century on, add another two years, and history has repeated with the implications of the global coronavirus outbreak proving too great a hurdle.

An alternative open grade option is being proposed to accompany potential under 19s and women's league tag games, but the main prize won't be up for grabs in 2020.

As they say on Sale of the Century, looks likes Wests return next year as the carryover champions.

SATURDAY

Much to the delight of Manly coach Des Hasler, shortly after full-time NRL head of football and former whistle blower Graham Annesley admits to a last-minute mistake on a forward pass decision that cost the Sea Eagles a match-winning try against Parra.

"The forward pass call was incorrect," Annesely said.

"But it was called by the touch judge just as it would have been last year. A second referee would have had no impact on that decision."

On the topic of wrong calls - how bad are some of the haircuts getting around at the moment and what's doing with all the bleached out tops?

Self isolation, social distancing and hand hygiene tests the best of us.

SUNDAY

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says last year's grand finalists "played like children", but the Knights don't seem to mind as the Novocastrians continue their unbeaten streak with a 34-18 victory over Canberra.

Elsewhere, the Titans break an almost year-long drought and players struggle to remember the team song after edging out the Tigers in Bris-Vegas.

MONDAY

In what appears an ominous sign for Mary, Dragons captain Cameron McInnes shakes hands with coach Paul McGregor in the dressing sheds following a 22-2 loss to the Bulldogs that leaves the Red V winless and anchored to the bottom of the competition ladder.

TUESDAY

McGregor is deemed safe and supported by the St George Illawarra board, however, Benji Marshall is dropped by Tigers coach Michael Maguire.

Probably not the axing anticipated by the NRL world.

Elsewhere, the NRLW is a confirmed starter later this year and Knights forward Aidan Guerra reflects on why he remains on the "nudie run" after managing to lose the ball within sight of the tryline against the Green Machine over the weekend.

"Yeah they did [my eyes light up] but my ears were lighting up too because I could hear his footsteps right behind me and I could hear him coming," the former Maroons and Kangaroos representative said via the Zoom zone. "I felt like a wounded antelope with a cheetah behind me."

It means Guerra's backline bid might be put on hold despite five-eighth Kurt Mann being in doubt for Saturday's clash against the Melbourne Storm at Central Coast Stadium.

"I've put my hand up for six but Adzy [coach O'Brien] laughed me out of his office," the current Newcastle No.11 admitted.

WEDNESDAY

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it fans back at McDonald Jones Stadium for round nine?

The Knights are bidding for that to happen when they host the also undefeated Eels on July 12. The game was initially scheduled for Gosford.

Meanwhile, the NSW government gave community sport for seniors the green light to return from July 1 and, less than 24 hours after being dropped, Benji greeted a television reporter with a kiss on the cheek and now has to quarantine until COVID-19 tests return.

Depending on how things work out over the next month, Marshall might end up being picked for the Leichhardt Lizards before Madge gets a chance to break his playmaker back into the biosecurity bubble.

IN THE NEWS: