Bulldogs younger gun Karl Oloapu has justified his price ticket and appears to be the way forward for the membership alongside Matt Burton.
A rugby league legend has warned there’s extra hip-drop drama to come back after extra suspensions had been handed out.
Meanwhile, the NRL’s most closely criticised participant delivered in an upset for the agesin Bathurst.
Read on for the entire largest speaking factors out of Round 9.
Watch each recreation of each spherical of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
BULLDOGS FUTURE HALVES PAIRING EMERGES
The Bulldogs discovered their “identity” and coach Cameron Ciraldo discovered his future halves after a powerful NRL debut from teenager Karl Oloapu.
Matt Burton and veteran Josh Reynolds performed the primary half-hour within the halves earlier than Oloapu was injected in a gutsy win in opposition to the Dragons on Sunday.
The 18-year-old, who the Bulldogs paid $500,000 to the Broncos to land, didn’t look misplaced and saved busy to complete with 61 run metres from eight carries, two sort out busts and a linebreak.
Ciraldo confirmed Oloapu could be again in first-grade subsequent week, the one query that is still is whether or not he begins.
“I’m really happy for Karl that he got to have his debut and experience a win and a really special win at that,” Ciraldo mentioned.
“I think he did pretty well tonight and I’m keen to keep exploring that with him, we were never going to throw him in for one week.
“He’s come here to have a journey with us and we’re excited as to where that journey can go.
“But he’s going to learn a lot out of tonight as well, we’re going to help him through that process and it’s going to be a roller coaster for him but we’ve got a good club and good people around him to support him.”
Burton switched from five-eighth to halfback two weeks in the past in bid to take extra possession of the outcome. Ciraldo mentioned that may solely be additional emphasised taking part in alongside a rookie within the halves.
“Burto has grown in that role more every week,” Ciraldo mentioned.
“The way Grub (Reynolds) started the game for us and the way he set up the game for us, he knew he was only going to play that first 30 minutes in the halves and he was really unselfish about that and he understood it was his job to get the game turned into a Bulldogs sort of game for us and he definitely did things to help that.
“That’s the first time Karl and Burto have ever played together so they were a little rusty at times but they’ll get better with every game they get but I enjoyed how it went tonight.
“We found our identity a bit tonight on both sides of the ball and that’s what pleased me the most.”
MORE NRL NEWS
‘IT GOT UGLY’: Manly gun’s teammate scrap a ‘punches were exchanged’ at coaching
‘BULLS**T I HIT HIM’: Dogs veteran explodes at ref after controversial penalty
CASUALTY WARD: Roosters celebrity hospitalised post-match; Sharks prop blow
‘NO EXCUSES’: Webster’s elegant shoulder cost response after shock Bunker name
Reckless Waddell BINNED v. Dragons | 00:44
NO END IN SIGHT TO HIP-DROP DRAMA
Cooper Cronk has warned there’s extra hip-drop drama to come back as groups are slowly coached to vary their tackling method.
Cowboys winger is dealing with a four-game ban after he was charged for a hip-drop sort out on Braden Hamlin-Uele that has sidelined the Sharks prop for a month.
Panthers hooker Soni Luke then grew to become the sixteenth participant charged with the offence for his sort out on Wests Tigers ahead Alex Twal.
Cronk mentioned there was nothing new in regards to the interpretation of the hip-drop however mentioned the NRL is clearly cracking down on the sort out and it’s as much as the golf equipment to stamp it out.
“The fact is there is now a punishment for a player getting a hip-drop wrong in a game,” Cronk mentioned on Fox League.
“Ivan Cleary said ‘what do you want the player to miss?’ Well no, you need a technical change.
“At the moment that’s the issue, they brought in (the crackdown) in Round 8 with sin bins, suspensions. You’ve got to give coaches time to technically change that tackle.
“Because now they’re going to have to fall side on without trying to roll around the back and that’s going to take time to adjust and the only way you can do that is through practice.
“So with confusion and not understanding it, unfortunately this is going to be around for another couple of weeks until repetitions at training get done.”
NRL head of soccer was adamant final week that there is no such thing as a crackdown in place however conceded the numbers had been heading within the unsuitable path.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary blew up at full-time over the incident in his recreation which noticed Luke solely fined as Twal wasn’t injured.
“I hear the same questions each week and no one has got the answers,” Cleary mentioned.
“hip-drops are a bit like crusher tackles, when they were first introduced they look a lot different to what they look now.
“Somehow we blend them all in together as the same, I don’t know how you tell a player to let go deliberately, it’s just not in any players makeup and it’s just not an instinctive thing to do.
“I feel for the referees actually and whoever is making these calls because they’ve been told and they’re doing it.”
Soni Luke in scorching water over hip drop | 03:00
BROOKS’ BRILLIANCE BREAKS DROUGHT
Luke Brooks comprehensively outclassed Nathan Cleary on Saturday evening — now there’s a sentence we didn’t anticipate to write down this season.
Brooks was sensible because the Wests Tigers sprung the most important upset in years and the 28-year-old can lastly breathe a sigh of aid.
The 2018 Dally M Halfback of the Year is among the NRL’s most closely criticised gamers and has struggled in a faltering Tigers outfit lately.
The merger membership received their first picket spoon in 2022 and began their 2023 marketing campaign with seven losses, trying the favourites to take residence the imaginary prize.
Coming into Round 9 the Tigers got Buckley’s likelihood of beating the back-to-back premiers.
But rugby league is the present that retains on giving and the gods had different plans.
The Tigers’ celebrations post-match had been a very long time coming and followers can lastly rejoice two competitors factors, with their final win coming in Round 20 final season in opposition to the Broncos.
Brooks was glorious in Bathurst and led his ahead pack across the park in spectacular vogue, recording a attempt help and two essential 40/20s to go along with 4 tackles breaks.
As the playmaker was being interviewed post-match by Fox League, English import John Bateman interjected.
“Put some respect on this guys name,” he mentioned.
Brooks lower a relieved determine after the emphatic victory.
“Yeah it was good, it was a long time coming. I feel like we haven’t been playing too bad, we’ve been close and we were confident coming into the game today,” Brooks mentioned.
“It was a tough one, we knew they have been the benchmark over the last few years, but it is just great to get a win.
“Especially in these conditions, that was our focus we just wanted to kick early and complete our sets then back our defence. I thought we did that throughout the whole 80.”
Skipper Apisai Koroisau additionally praised his halfback within the post-match press convention.
“Luke Brooks played incredible. His kicking game was A1 today,” Koroisau mentioned
“I couldn’t be happier for him. He was really good for us, especially in that second half.”
Brooksy magic places Tigers in to attain | 00:46
HYNES BUILDING IRRESISTIBLE ORIGIN CASE AS SHARKS SOUND WARNING
The Sharks began the 12 months slowly, however on the again of three straight wins they’re beginning to his their straps and Nicho Hynes is making it very troublesome for Origin selectors to disregard him.
The Sharks thrashed the Cowboys 44-6 in a replay of their first last final 12 months and Matty Johns believes Cronulla are lastly reaching their peak efficiency this season.
“The Sharks were terrific to start as they have been all year, but they haven’t been able to go on with the job,” Johns mentioned.
“On what we have seen this year the Sharks were shot out of a gun. They played great early and then they conceded a try and you thought here we go again. But they went on with the job.”
Nathan Hindmarsh believes the Sharks lastly put an 80-minute efficiency collectively in 2023 to sound an ominous warning to the remainder of the NRL.
“The first try the Sharks scored was just off a scrum and Nicho just got outside Chad Townsend and he creates an around the corner pass for his centre there and that was it,” Hindmarsh mentioned.
“It was like Chad Townsend didn’t know what sort of player Nicho was and didn’t give him the respect he deserved with his pace and he skipped across two players.
“It was probably the first complete game of footy I’ve seen the Sharks play all year and they stuck to their guns. But it all comes off the back of Nicho Hynes.”
Johns believes Hynes is taking part in so effectively that he must be within the Blues’ 17 at both five-eighth or on the bench, however he would choose him to accomplice Cleary within the halves.
“Like you say he just skips across the ground and his cruising speed is so fast,” Johns mentioned.
“He just did whatever he wanted. His running game is magic.
“What an advantage it is for a playmaker to have a fullback’s athleticism. It makes you a triple threat.
“The big question is at the moment it is him or Jarome Luai. Now I understand that Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai have got the great combination and I understand they are incumbents.
“But they did lose last year. Incumbency carries a lot of merit when you come off a winning series.
“Nicho Hynes if he is not No.6 he has to be No.14, but I think you pick him at No.6.”
Queensland legend Gorden Tallis is aware of who out of Hynes and Luai, the Maroons would quite play much less.
“I wouldn’t want to play against Nicho,” Tallis mentioned.
“He is a big body. He can beat you with his running game. He can beat you with his passing game. He has the kicking game and plus if a fullback gets injured he can slot in there.”
However, Hindmarsh believes Luai ought to get first crack to maintain combos robust and Hynes ought to debut off the bench for the Blues in recreation one.
“I know if he continues playing like that it is going to be very hard not to pick him,” Hindmarsh mentioned.
“He will be in the squad somewhere no doubt. For me it is probably No.14.
“I do like combinations. I like the Luai and Cleary and Yeo combination. They have been there.”
Hynes masterclass compromises Cowboys | 02:17
‘PHENOMENAL’ EELS DUO PUT COMPETITION ON NOTICE
Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses produced what Michael Ennis believes was probably the greatest performances from a halves pairing all season.
The Eels demolished the Knights in a 43-12 massacre at CommBank stadium after coach Brad Arthur had harassed how necessary it was to start out effectively.
It took only one minute for Brown to stamp his mark on the sport when he scored his first attempt of the season. Moses then adopted eight minutes later.
The two additionally arrange a attempt every and their operating video games tore Newcastle to shreds.
Moses completed with a attempt, a attempt help, 4 linebreaks, a linebreak help, six sort out busts, an offload and 135 operating metres. He additionally nailed seven targets from seven makes an attempt and slotted a subject purpose within the last minute.
Brown was equally spectacular with a attempt, a attempt help, two linebreaks, a linebreak help, three sort out busts, three offloads and 148 operating metres, whereas making 27 tackles with zero misses.
It was simply Brown’s finest recreation of the season and he revealed afterwards it was sparked from an trustworthy dialog with Arthur.
“It’s more of a knowing how you can play and staying to your expectations,” he advised Fox League.
Brad’s been my coach for 4 years and he is aware of what works for me and is aware of after I’m not doing the correct factor.
“A simple call into his office a couple of weeks ago and just telling me ‘you’re not where you need to be.’ He kicked me up the arse and I’ve just got to perform.”
Ennis was requested post-game if Brown and Moses had delivered one of the best efficiency from a six and 7 this season and he mentioned “absolutely.”
“The fact they were able to capitalise on the damage that was done in the middle — and that’s what great halves do,” Ennis added.
“When you’ve got momentum and the ruck speed is up and you can get flat over the advantage line in attack, that’s where the modern game is at — you need running halves that can capitalise on the momentum.
“They were phenomenal tonight the two halves from Parramatta, absolutely outstanding.”
Skipper Clint Gutherson additionally had an evening to recollect, bagging his first profession hat-trick, whereas a number of of Parramatta’s forwards stepped as much as cowl the absence of Reagan Campbell-Gillard (groin) and Ryan Matterson (sickness).
Arthur challenged Junior Paulo to paved the way and the highly effective prop barged over for a attempt within the 69th minute.
Wiremu Greig acquired a chance to start out in Campbell-Gillard’s spot and introduced himself to the NRL with 128 operating metres and 28 tackles with zero misses.
Bryce Cartwright changed Matterson within the second row and Arthur known as his “best” efficiency of the season, whereas bench ahead Makahesi Makatoa pushed out 184 metres and 21 tackles in 39 metres.
Then there was workhorse J’maine Hopgood, who performed 74 minutes. He completed with a attempt help, a linebreak help, 160 operating metres, three sort out busts, 4 offloads and a staggering 41 tackles with zero misses.
But the scariest factor in regards to the Eels’ efficiency is Arthur believes they nonetheless haven’t “found their groove.”
“I knew we were close but we were not close enough,” he mentioned after the sport.
“We didn’t want to panic and we still knew that we hadn’t lost our ability or talent we just hadn’t found our groove. I still don’t think we have but that’s the pleasing thing for us.
“We had a good discussion this week about what we look like and the boys owned it.”
Gutho baggage career-first hat-trick | 00:48
CALLS FOR TRANSFER SYSTEM OVERHAUL GROW
Calls are rising louder for the NRL to revamp the switch system within the wake of Jack Wighton’s transfer to the Rabbitohs in 2024.
In the center of the 2023 season the Raiders, Ricky Stuart and Jack Wighton have been the main focus of scrutiny and stress surrounding the gun playmaker’s choice.
Three golf equipment had been within the race for Wighton’s signature and the 30-year-old’s South Sydney contract was introduced forward of Canberra’s conflict with the Dolphins.
Speaking post-match Ricky Stuart mentioned NRL gamers shouldn’t be put ready the place they need to make such a giant choice while nonetheless making an attempt to ship for his or her present golf equipment.
“I’m okay with the decision, there’s a lot of excuses going around about why Jack is leaving and they are all crap,” Stuart mentioned.
“Jack wants a bit of a change, he’s been here a long time and I get that and he’s the least of my worries in regards to turning up every week and playing football.
“But he shouldn’t be put in that position, the way the system is at the moment it is hard on those players to make their decision on their futures.
“Hard for our fans, hard for players who are put into a position when you have got to make those calls.
“All the innuendo, the criticism Jack has got, it is rotten… we need to make it a better system to make it better for the teams and the players making those decisions.”
As it stands, gamers are free to barter with rival golf equipment once they enter the ultimate 12 months of their contract on November 1.
If they signal with a brand new membership, the participant then has to spend a complete season with their present teammates realizing they’ll depart on the 12 months’s finish.
The latest CBA is but to be introduced and the switch system was mentioned to be a sticking level in negotiations, however Andrew Abdo has supplied an enormous replace.
He revealed he additionally felt sorry for Wighton through the contract circus and mentioned the NRL had been contemplating a tiered method permitting senior gamers to have an extended negotiation interval.
“I understand that as a player you have a limited playing career and you want to try and maximise the certainty that you can get … so yes that is a major issue,” Abdo mentioned to WWOS.
“(We’re) looking at tenure so that more senior players have a longer period of time to negotiate and contract and perhaps more junior players having a later window.”
Ricky Stuart additionally labelled the present system as “flawed” in an announcement after Wighton’s announcement.
Abdo additionally shut down requires a draft to be launched with no central junior growth system presently in place.
“We’ve been primarily focused on a transfer window and a contracting model, a draft is a complex matter, that’s more of a long-term issue because a draft only really works when you have a centralisation of pathway development,” he mentioned.
“The way our game structurally is at the moment, a draft doesn’t work, we would need to change how pathways happen because you have some clubs structurally based on where they’re located, investing significantly in pathway programs and others not so much.”
He mentioned a draft may very well be launched in years to come back, however for now adjustments have to be made to the switch window.
Sydney Roosters Press Conference | 05:37
Get all the newest NRL news, highlights and evaluation delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
WALKER’S RETURN DELAYED
Rooster halfback Sam Walker seems set for an prolonged interval in reserve grade based mostly on Joseph Manu’s current efforts within the quantity six jersey.
Alongside Luke Keary, Manu performed a key function in maintaining a gutsy Warriors aspect scoreless at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday afternoon, because the Tricolours took residence an necessary two competitors factors with a 14-0 win within the moist.
The victory despatched the Roosters into the highest 4 on the ladder and made one thing of an announcement after what has been an detached begin to the season. The ANZAC Day win in opposition to the Dragons and the victory throughout the Tasman abruptly have the Chooks again within the body, with troops nonetheless to return and a halves mixture that seems to be working effectively regardless of having solely been lately fashioned.
Manu has clearly improved the steadiness. Keary steers the Rooster ship tactically and skilfully with each palms and ft and Manu performs an necessary supporting function, providing a decisive and efficient operating possibility.
Defensively, Manu is among the strongest and harmful five-eighths within the NRL; bringing his centre attributes nearer to the center of the sphere and including starch on an edge that Walker has by no means supplied.
It was a transfer that introduced some criticism to teach Trent Robinson, but additionally one which after simply a short while, has paid instant dividends. Once once more, the revered Rooster mentor has been validated, with a change to the mix unlikely within the brief time. exterior of damage or unavailability.
It was an appalling day in Auckland for the conflict and the Warriors misplaced no pals. They had been merely floor into the dust by a staff effectively versed in getting the job carried out in lower than excellent circumstances. Brandon Smith performed 52 robust minutes and is starting to construct into his work as a Rooster, with the coach particularly noting his involvement and affect within the win.
“He has brought a lot of energy to us, each game he has gotten better. It takes a lot to understand a new club’s system. The boys enjoy running around and playing off him, he is starting to imprint his runs and kicks into our game”, Robinson mentioned.
Yet it was the problem of the halves, the current dropping of Walker and what the long run plan is for a staff that appears a heck of so much higher with Manu as a foil to Keary, that merely needing probing.
Robinson was coy and clearly not eager to supply a definitive response when requested to touch upon Manu and his potential long run function as five-eighth for the Roosters. “He is a long term option as a player for us, but (from a positional perspective) that’s more of a week to week option. I’ve got three really good halves there, we’ll see”.
There was an awkwardness in regards to the remark and it was a far cry from the positivity Robinson expressed regarding the win on the street in Auckland.
“It was really satisfying, conditions dictated what style of game it was going to be. We wanted to improve our work in defence and to hold them to zero was really pleasing. It takes a good group of players to go out there and forget all the pretty stuff and dig in and do it until we get an opportunity. And that is what they did, I’m really proud of the players”, Robinson mentioned.
Whether Robinson is completely satisfied that his new halves pairing is the one to take the membership ahead and into the 2023 finals with an opportunity to compete in opposition to the would possibly of the Panthers and Bunnies is but to be seen. However, within the brief time period, it does seem that Joseph Manu could effectively have established himself as an NRL quantity six and Sam Walker might be sniffing round for different alternatives ought to that type proceed.
Source: www.foxsports.com.au