Quite a bit happened during NRL Round 11 this weekend. It’s left us with a huge amount of talking points to get through – so rather than just focusing on three of four major things, let’s rip in and lay everything on the board.
(Note – This piece was written before Queensland announced their team.)
– Don’t pay any mind to the New South Wales squad announced on Sunday night – with the amount of injuries to potential front rowers including Payne Haas, there’s no way it ends up as advertised.
– Whoever leaked the ‘everyone told Laurie Daley Terrell May was rubbish’ story to the press may have been feeling some nerves as prop after prop went down hurt… but it seems clear Laurie Daley won’t pick May under any circumstances.
– Never mind May though, Canterbury prop Max King deserves a shot at Origin. He’s been remarkable all season in the team that’s the best of the bunch. A premier forward in 2025.
– Injury chaos up in Queensland too, this time all over the outside backs. Billy Slater is running out of eligible wingers, let’s see if Robert Toia, Jesse Arthars or Xavier Savage get a look, or if Valentine Holmes goes to the wing and Slater looks for cover in the centres.
– Why did it take Tallis Duncan’s 68th-minute sin bin for the Wests Tigers to spark up against South Sydney? The (still) undermanned Rabbitohs played with the heart they’d been showing early in the season and well deserved the 22-12 win.
– Mind you, it sure did look like Lachie Galvin had scored a sloppy but legitimate try with four minutes left… but that’s life. Incredible last gasp defence by Campbell Graham.
– I’ve just about had my fill of these Brisbane Broncos, done 30-26 at home by St George Illawarra in a good fun afternoon outing. The Dragons were great value in an entertaining game but if Brisbane are half serious about making noise this year, that’s a game you must win. Their finals hopes at the edge of the cliff.
– At least the Broncos spent the week getting rid of part-time prop Marty Taupau for the egregious crime of liking an Instagram post about how hard the coach works the team. Compare that to what Ezra Mam was guilty of, and marvel at yet another showcase of rules for some, and rules for others.
– Seems the NRL have had their fill of North Queensland coach Todd Payten’s constant complaining about the referees, issuing a statement during the week that he’s on a final warning before fines come into play. Payten can’t help himself – he swings away at the refs every week, mostly without justification, so the NRL can likely rely on a few thousand from him before too long.
– Payten’s Cowboys were once again incredibly disappointing, dropping 24-6 to a Manly Sea Eagles who are able to be gotten. North Queensland are just not showing up when it matters this year.
– A belter of a game at the construction pit in Cronulla as the Sharks withstood all Melbourne put to them to take the win. When Xavier Coates scored his incredible leaping try to make it 31-26 with 13 to go, it set the scene for a traditional Storm late win but Cronulla defended brilliantly and forced the Storm into a bunch of errors.
– The Sharks are back on track for a run at the top four and haven’t had a bye yet.
– If we’re going to bag players like Reed Mahoney for on-field shithousery, we can’t let what Ronaldo Mulitalo is doing pass us by. The Sharks winger is regularly in the face of opponents who make errors, mouthing off when he had nothing to do with what happened.
– Ronny sure does talk big for a dude who has a grand total of five tries this year and leads the league for errors with 24. At least Mahoney makes a positive impact for his team…
– The Dolphins continue to disappoint, downed 16-12 in another close win for New Zealand. Scoreless until the 71st minute, needing Warriors prop James Fisher-Harris to be sin binned to score two late tries for scoreboard credit.
– New Zealand have won five in a row by a total of 25 points. Is that sustainable? Does it matter? They’re a game clear in second and have two byes in hand.
– Canterbury have been scoreless at half-time in their last two games, and have still won both games with irresistible second-half play.
– The Roosters were far from disgraced though, the Bulldogs’ eventual 24-20 win had much merit as the Chooks fought to their limit. I’m on board with the Roosters playing finals football.
– Parramatta looked light years ahead of Newcastle, who again looked horrible in attack as the Eels lifted to a 28-6 win, conceding only on full-time. Parra have won the same number of games as Penrith and are gradually coming together as a team, which is the complete opposite of the Knights as they sharpen for wooden spoon calculations.
– Canberra beat the Gold Coast 40-24 and sent the Titans to the bottom of the ladder, lifting Parramatta to 16th for the first time this year. It’s odd to say with a scoreline like that, but the Raiders were’t really world beaters on a freezing Sunday afternoon in the capital. They were just much better than Des Hasler’s squad. Titans are in all sorts.
– To finish, let’s just revel in the fantastic try scored by Wallaby convert Mark Nawaqanitawase. Unbelievable skill, balance, speed and nous to make sure he scored.
What lies ahead
Round 12 is when the State of Origin sideshow starts to really mess with the regular season.
With seven teams on a bye week we only get five games to enjoy, starting Thursday when Canterbury host the Dolphins at Homebush Stadium.
Friday night it’s off to Parramatta Stadium and a genuinely interesting clash between long-time rivals the Eels and Sea Eagles. What will we get in this one?
Penrith are back in action after a bye, hosting a twilight kickoff against Newcastle at Bathurst’s Carrington Park. The late game is another beaut, with the Roosters and Sharks at Gosford.
One game Sunday arvo and it’s 2nd v 3rd as New Zealand welcome Canberra, looking to reverse the belting the Raiders handed out in Las Vegas in Round 1.
Phew! That’s quite the list of talking points to work though… what did you make of round 11, Roarers?
