Do we hear five when East meets West?
If you had to put a positive spin on the Sydney Roosters’ four-straight defeats you could do so by looking at the margins – 8, 4, 1 and 2 points. So while the net effect of these losses (against, respectively, Cronulla, Brisbane, Melbourne and St George Illawarra) may be the same, Trent Robinson can find consolation in his team’s effort against these well-travelling opponents, if not their execution and ability to get over the line in the tight ones (which one might say is ammunition for the Anti-Mitchell Pearce Collective currently sourcing pitchforks and torches in the event a march on NSW HQ is needed). How far such consolations can sustain Robinson is another thing, particularly if the Roosters keep misfiring. This week’s opportunity to return to the winner’s list comes against the Wests Tigers, a young team that exudes both the exuberance and flightiness of youth. One minute they’ve got it together and can burn you with speed and derring-do, the next they’re struck down by growing pains and the world of distractions over the fence. But regardless of what Tigers team turns up it could be that the return of the reliable Mitch Aubusson and Aidan Guerra tilts the scales in the Roosters’ favour.
Barba’s chance
He was once hotter than the tomato in a toasted sandwich fresh off the Breville but so far this season, showing how sporting fortunes can change as abruptly as the weather, Ben Barba has failed to command a starting berth at the Sharks. Instead the 2012 Dally M winner and former Prince Regent of Belmore has watched on from the interchange bench as rookies Jackson Bird and Valentine Holmes have produced the goods at five-eighth and fullback respectively. Their form has left coach Shane Flanagan in the somewhat bizarre position of having to find a spot for one of his marquee players and Flanagan has resorted to shoehorning him onto the interchange bench despite the fact he’s only suited to two back-line positions. But this week an injury to winger Sosaia Feki sees Holmes shift to the flanks giving Barba a chance in his preferred position for the first time since leaving Brisbane. Considering the form Holmes has been in it’s a gamble from Flanagan but it’s given Barba’s the opportunity he’s been waiting for. Can he give his coach a massive headache by turning back the clock?
The effects of the break
The representative weekend saw the NRL put its feet up last weekend and the effects of that break will be seen this round. I wonder, for instance, how the St George Illawarra Dragons will fare. Given their six-match winning streak the weekend’s rest, rather than rejuvenate them, could act like a circuit breaker, giving them time to look down from the high wire they are on and see Manly — like ants!— scurrying way, way below them. Though they welcome back Tyson Frizell and Eto Nabuli there will be some element of starting from scratch this weekend, of renewing the attitude that has taken the competition by surprise: as Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard famously cried last year (ahead of slipping over against Chelsea), ‘We go again!’. The Dragons’ opponents South Sydney, on the other hand, would have welcomed the break after four losses from their past five. They needed the head space to take stock and although they’ll front up on Monday night without the injured Glenn Stewart, John Sutton will make his return at five-eighth and there’s some talk that Adam Reynolds could be a late inclusion. That said, one player who could have the biggest effect on the game is one who didn’t have a rest last weekend: Greg Inglis. Criticised by many for his efforts in the Anzac Test Inglis may just be in the mood to answer his critics.
Manly’s ability to measure up
It still looks odd seeing Manly at the foot of the ladder although the Sea Eagles’ gallant win over the Storm last start might just indicate that we’ve no need to get used to it. But the challenge for Manly is not to climb the ladder — for that requires long term thought which is anathema to the footballer trained from birth to ‘just take it one week at a time’ — but simply to win this week. In that endeavour they’ll be happy to be at Brookvale and happier still to see Jamie Lyon back in the centres. Unfortunately for Manly, however, Steve Matai is suspended (just like old times) so their 2015 record of not having managed to get Brett Stewart, Lyon, Matai, Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans on the field at the same time continues. If it pleases Manly to have Lyon back on deck it will please them less so to run their eyes over Newcastle’s team sheet. If this game is to be won in the forwards (and aren’t all games won in the forwards?) Newcastle appear to have a distinct edge. However you parse it, Kade Snowdon, Korbin Sims, Tariq Sims, Beau Scott (returning from injury) and Jeremy Smith look like too much meat tray for Jake Trbojevic, Luke Burgess, Tom Symonds, Justin Horo and Dunamis Lui. Manly do have the excellent hooker Matt Ballin in their midst, but it’s at times like this the loss of Glen Stewart, Anthony Watmough and Jason King cuts deeply.
Has the Test turned the Warriors’ tide?
Since winning their opening two games the New Zealand Warriors have won just one from five and it’s easy to see why. For all the talk of Shaun Johnson’s ordinary form and his struggles to ignite the Warriors’ backs it’s the Warriors’ defence which has gone on a long lunch. After conceding just six and then 16 points in rounds 1 and 2, the Warriors have undone their belts a couple of notches and let it all hang out to the tune of 24, 30, 22, 28 and 32 points. That’s diabolical and unless they do something about that they may as well not bother. What inspiration, then, can the Warriors take from the New Zealand Test team who, in the Anzac Test, had the bloodlust of mad spot-lighters, cutting down Kangaroos as soon as they stuck their heads above the scrub. Five of the Warriors played in that game (Johnson, Manu Vatuvei, Thomas Leuluai, Ben Matulino and Simon Mannering) so perhaps they can bring last week’s mentality into this week and spread the word among their clubmen. Tackling wins matches, ay?
Round nine fixtures
Friday
Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 735pm
Sydney Roosters v Wests Tigers, Allianz, Sydney, 735pm
Saturday
Canberra Raiders vs Gold Coast Titans, GIO Stadium, Canberra, 3pm
Cronulla Sharks vs New Zealand Warriors, Remondis Stadium, Cronulla, 530pm
North Queensland Cowboys vs Canterbury Bulldogs, 1300 Smiles, Townsville, 730pm
Sunday
Manly Sea Eagles v Newcastle Knights, Brookvale Oval, Manly, 2pm
Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm, Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta, 4pm
Monday
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs St George Illawarra Dragons, ANZ Stadium, 7pm
