A very special day
The NRL has a habit of making a mess of the simplest things. There are more ham fists at NRL HQ than there are ham legs in the coolrooms of most butchers. But they absolutely nailed Anzac Day this year, providing a wonderful tribute to those that have served on the 100-year anniversary of Gallipoli.
Much has been made of the commercialisation of Anzac Day in some quarters – and rightly so – but the NRL hit the correct balance between paying homage to Australia’s diggers and not leeching off the Anzac brand.
Particularly impressive was the pre-game at each match. Players walked out side-by-side and formed a guard of honour for servicemen and women. Both the Australian and New Zealand national anthems were played, a fine gesture that not only highlights how many Kiwi players now make up the NRL but the close ties between the two nations across both battle and sporting fields. Anybody who had served was given free entry into any game.
The players also deserve to be applauded for the respect they displayed pre-game. It was an emotional weekend for Australia and the NRL contributed the very best way they could.
Richards launches rocket
Penalty goals are a rarity in rugby league these days and those from beyond 40 metres are almost non-existent in the modern game. So when Pat Richards landed one from 54 metres on the stroke of half-time in the Tigers’ big win over the Bulldogs on Friday night, few had seen a goal from such a distance. There was a mention of a Ross Conlon kick in the 1980s and Keith Barnes famously landed one from near 60 metres in the 1960s, just to put in context what a rare feat had just been achieved.
Richards has contributed so much since returning from the Super League with his incredible field goals, his soaring drop outs, his short kick-offs and now his long-range penalty goals. Unique characteristics are rarely embraced – or exploited – by coaches who are more concerned with systems and structures. Hopefully Jason Taylor continues to use Richards’ monster boot in interesting and smart ways, as was the case on Friday.
He is also a player who could well be on the radar of NFL teams. Few kickers in the NFL have Richards’ length and in that position players can go until they are 40. If Richards was to try his hand in the US he could have an immediate impact.
Kane is able
Gold Coast half-back Kane Elgey is set to become the hottest target on the NRL open market after a devastating performance against the Warriors that sparked an epic comeback at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday.
In just his fifth top grade game, the 21-year-old scored two tries and set up another two in a performance that has him marked as a future international No7. He showed outstanding poise to lead – and that is what he did, very much from the front – the Titans to their fourth win in their last five games since Elgey’s debut.
A winning mentality is as important as any quality a half can bring and Elgey appears to have just that. Ironically, his performance is likely to ensure he is forced out of the Titans. The club is desperate to re-sign the boom youngster to partner Daly Cherry-Evans in 2016 but is now likely to be out of the Gold Coast’s price range with the exciting playmaker likely to end up at Manly as, funnily enough, Cherry-Evans’ replacement.
Roosters sink as halves struggle
It seems incredible that Roosters halves pairing Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney are now the favourites to play in the No6 and No7 jerseys for NSW in Origin I after the Chooks fell to their fourth straight loss.
The Roosters could not find a way to crack the Dragons on their way to another loss. And the problem has been with the attack of the pre-season title favourites. After scoring 18 tries in the opening month, the Roosters have managed just nine four-pointers in their last four outings. The Roosters’ attack has become too predictable and the speed and size of their back five is being wasted.
Pearce has had ample opportunities for the Blues and has rarely produced. Laurie Daley cannot go back to the past, particularly with a No7 who is not in good form.
Shark in strife
Cronulla workhorse Chris Heighington will enjoy next weekend off with the rest of the premiership but his stint on the sidelines will likely continue long after the resumption of the home and away season after a shocking spear tackle on Penrith’s Jeremy Latimore.
While the tackle was entirely accidental, Heighington lifted Latimore above the horizontal and dumped the Penrith prop on his head in what was a most dangerous position.
Considering how vigilant the NRL have been on dangerous tackles, Heighington could be looking at six weeks on the sideline, something the Sharks can ill afford over the Origin period with as many as four forwards in line for a Blues jersey.
