No Inglis, big worries
Defending premiers South Sydney will attempt to hang onto a top four spot against Brisbane without Greg Inglis. Hope remains high at Redfern because of the return of Issac Luke but despite Luke being arguably the hooker of 2015, Inglis remains a more important cog in the Rabbitohs machine. Since 2013 the Rabbitohs are 6-6 when Inglis is absent from the cardinal and myrtle.
By contrast, Souths are 7-5 without Luke, winning last year’s grand final without the talented No9 who leads all rakes in running metres. The Rabbitohs looked lifeless when Inglis hurt himself late in last week’s loss to the Bulldogs and were soundly beaten by also-rans Wests Tigers and Penrith in their last two games sans their skipper.
With the Broncos fit and firing – and the Roosters on the slate for the final round – the Bunnies are staring down the barrel of finishing in the bottom half of the eight with their star player unlikely to be at full fitness if available at all.
Last chance saloon
Manly’s season – and the Sea Eagles coaching career of Geoff Toovey – likely ended in inglorious circumstances with a shock loss to Parramatta. Two wins – combined with two losses by St George Illawarra – is all that will see the Sea Eagles play finals football for the 11th straight season.
That immense task begins on Friday and comes against current premiership front-runners and title favourites the Sydney Roosters. And the Sea Eagles have been handed a dose of good fortune by the injury crisis that has swept the Chooks with halfback Mitch Pearce and prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves out hurt to go with the suspension-enforced absence of centre Michael Jennings.
The Sea Eagles have the slightest of chances of playing finals football for the 11th straight season. The Sea Eagles have a fabulous record against the Roosters and could keep themselves in the playoff hunt – and potentially cost the Roosters a third straight minor premiership in the process.
Farah farewells faithful
The Wests Tigers decision to sensationally dump hooker and captain Robbie Farah this week means the 13-year veteran will run out in front of his home crowd for the final time this Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers tackle the Warriors at Campbelltown and it will be fascinating to see how the club responds to the news that Farah has been told to either find another club in 2016 or settle into reserve grade. Farah seems destined to move on with South Sydney his most likely destination.
The skipper is regarded as a prickly character who has been alleged to play a role in the downfall of two coaches but new mentor Jason Taylor pulled the ultimate power play in bringing an end to the Tigers career of Farah.
Wests are a young team, with the likes of James Tedesco, Luke Brooks, Aaron Woods and Mitch Moses seen as the future, and the players seem to be behind the coach’s call.
With this game likely to decide if Farah leaves the Tigers with a wooden spoon or a home farewell win, his level of influence and popularity will be laid bare with the efforts of his team-mates on Sunday afternoon.
Penalty goals back in vogue
Penalty goals have found their way back into rugby league with 173 penalty shots through 24 rounds, up 31% on 2014. It is the most penalty, up 31% on 2014. It is the most penalty kicks attempted over the last eight years in a season with still two rounds remaining as teams become ever-more conservative.
The Dragons and Sharks – is there something in the water down the south of Sydney? – lead the way with 22 attempts each. Only the 2008 Broncos – who took 24 shots at the two – have attempted more penalty goals over the last eight years.
With the Sharks fighting for a top four spot against the Eels and the Dragons clinging onto eight spot and away to the Titans, expect both to again take the conservative approach early in games and look for the two points when available.
Tryscoring race down to the wire
With Alex Johnston, James Roberts and Brett Stewart shaken off, the battle to become the NRL’s top tryscorer is a race in two between Parramatta’s Semi Radradra and Canterbury’s Curtis Rona.
The Eels flanker has the edge by one four-pointer despite Parramatta being out of finals contention, compiling his 21 tries in just 16 games. If he holds on he will become the second Parramatta player on the trot to win the honour after emerging NFL superstar Jarryd Hayne topped the tally last year.
Rona, in his first year with the Bulldogs, has 20 tries and has three tries across the last two weeks. He has been one of the buys of the year. Seeing these two score has been a highlight of 2015 and watching this battle will be a highlight over the last fortnight of the regular season.
