Payne Haas was considered one of a lot of gamers charged over hip drops once more in Round 8, whereas the Titans blew an unlosable sport.
Meanwhile, Manly and Blues coach Brad Fittler can be sweating on the health of Tom Trbojevic after the star fullback was injured once more.
Read on for the entire large speaking factors out of Round 8.
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‘WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO JENNINGS?!’ | 01:12
TITANS BLOW IT AS UGLY ACHILLES HEEL EMERGES
The Titans regarded like a premiership contender within the first half in opposition to the Dolphins just for their Achilles heel to rear its ugly head in an all-time fade out within the second half.
The Titans led 26-0, however their horror defensive file got here again to chew them as they conceded 28 unanswered factors to show a close to sure win into an unfathomable loss.
Matty Johns believes the Titans have been responsible of attempting to defend their lead moderately than proceed to play footy after dominating the primary half.
“Sweet baby Jesus 28-26 the Dolphins over the Titans, 26-0 the Titans led and were flying and then were beaten,” Johns mentioned on Sunday Night with Matty Johns.
“It is one of those things and I know it is easy to say, but when you get 26 points clear and you walk in there at half-time you have just got to keep playing.
“We have all learnt the lesson that if you try to defend a lead it is very dangerous.”
Bryan Fletcher believes the Titans have a psychological concern by way of defence after being burned so many occasions previously.
“The Titans have one of the worst defences in the competition,” Fletcher mentioned.
“When the Dolphins got those two tries in the second half mentally that is what let the Titans down because they have been here before and they have let big leads go.
“They have got to get that through their head and not get spooked.”
Nathan Hindmarsh believes the Titans management have to step up when they’re in match successful results in assist ice the sport.
“That comes down to your leadership,” Hindmarsh mentioned.
“You have got to try and bring the team together and just calm everyone down.”
A dejected Titans coach Justin Holbrook admitted his facet’s capitulation was simply not adequate, significantly given how nicely they have been enjoying.”
“I’m extremely disappointed,” Holbrook mentioned.
“We came out ready to go and got a terrific lead and then just completely got dominated in that second half.
“We got camped down on our try line and then did a few reckless things ourselves and it cost us.
“That is the area we have got to fix because we put ourselves in a great position and then during the game we are getting things wrong.
“It is going to be a collective effort from the whole team to turn it around because we just can’t have that.
“We have got to change momentum when things aren’t going our way. We are very good when they are and we couldn’t do it.”
Dolphins Press Conference | 06:35
DOUBTS PERSIST OVER TRBOJEVIC’S FITNESS AS ORIGIN LOOMS
Manly is perhaps eager to maintain a lid on Tom Trbojevic’s newest damage scare and truthful sufficient, however there isn’t any doubt he’s under his peak health and there are doubts he can get there in time for Origin.
Trbojevic went off with a groin damage in Manly’s win over the Tigers and whereas the membership have been fast to minimize the priority, the actual fact is Turbo is nowhere close to the health ranges of his Dally M Medal wining marketing campaign in 2021.
That was the identical 12 months Trbojevic received Man of the Series for the Blues and it stays to be seen if he can attain peak health in time for a possible Blues recall.
Matty Johns believes Trbojevic is so essential to Manly’s premiership aspirations, however he clearly wasn’t proper in opposition to the Tigers earlier than going off within the second half.
“Every side has got someone who is crucial to their campaign and for Manly that is Tom Trbojevic,” Johns mentioned on Sunday Night with Matty Johns.
“At the moment there are a lot of nervous fans out there and certainly Anthony Seibold would be.
“You saw him pull up with a groin injury against the Tigers. I presume he will have some scans and see how serious it is.”
Nathan Hindmarsh questioned if the most recent Trbojevic damage was coming, with the Manly star wanting ginger and tentative at occasions in most video games this season.
“Have we been kind of waiting for this to happen?” Hindmarsh requested.
“We have been watching him the last eight weeks and it doesn’t look like he is at his fastest or at his best.
“He doesn’t look like he wants to stride out.”
Former Blues centre Josh Morris believes Trbojevic is barely operating at about 70 per cent of his capability.
“The first game of the season he really didn’t look like he was at full pace,” Morris mentioned.
“Then the week after he looked really good, but since then it almost looks like he is running at 70 or 80 per cent.”
Johns agreed Trbojevic is struggling for confidence to check his full velocity in mild of his damage historical past.
“I thought he was really good against the Storm last week, but with groin injuries and particularly with hamstring injuries you can see at times he hasn’t got the confidence to squeeze,” Johns mentioned.
Even a 70 per cent Trbojevic is a handful, however it stays to be seen if Brad Fittler and even Anthony Seibold can hold choosing him under peak health earlier than the chance of one other critical damage turns into a actuality.
Trbojevic says he empathizes with Tigers | 00:47
WIGHTON COULD BE SOUTHS’ MISSING TITLE LINK
Jack Wighton might be the participant to take Souths excessive of their bid to win a primary title since 2014 after years of close to misses.
Souths beat the Panthers 20-18 in a Round 8 thriller, however it’s Penrith who’ve haunted the Rabbitohs within the large finish of season video games lately.
The Rabbitohs have made 5 straight preliminary finals and one grand last since 2018, however have did not recover from the premiership hump, with the Panthers typically the crew to finish their title dream.
Wighton is ready to go away the Raiders after knocking again a $4.4 million four-year deal from Canberra to pursue his dream of successful a title earlier than he hangs up the boots.
Matty Johns believes Wighton’s future can be determined by the Rabbitohs and the Dolphins’ bids for his companies.
“Word went around that Jack Wighton was going to sign with South Sydney on a four-year deal,” Johns mentioned on The Late Show with Matty Johns.
“But James Hooper reported he caught up with Wayne on Thursday to see what the Dolphins had to offer.
“Apparently by all reports the Dolphins will match the Canberra offer of $4.4 million for four years.
“Hoops spoke to the Dolphins and they confirmed they caught up with him.”
However, Johns believes Souths are higher positioned to win a title within the subsequent 4 years than the Dolphins, which might put them within the field seat within the race for Wighton’s signature.
“If I had to pick a side, my gut feel is that he will be at Souths,” Johns mentioned.
“He apparently is meeting with Souths on Friday.
“My gut feel is that he is at a point in his career where he is best suited to play in and around the middle with his speed and mobility and know how.
“If I was Jack and I’m not going to stay at my home town club and I’m leaving then I go to South Sydney. It is a great club.”
Gorden Tallis agreed Souths are the higher alternative if Wighton needs to win, however revealed his spouse’s shut hyperlinks to Brisbane might give the Dolphins, who’ve extra money to supply an actual likelihood.
“I know that his wife is from Brisbane and the Dolphins are desperate for a big signing,” Tallis mentioned.
“I think he would suit that. But if he wants to win a competition you would say Souths.
“They say he is really good friends with Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker. He is going to go there and play centres. Is that a kick in the butt for him?
“Then they say Cody leaves after two years and then he can play No.6. Of course if you want to win a competition you would go to Souths.”
Bryan Fletcher can’t see the Dolphins having a greater likelihood than Souths to win a title, however nonetheless feels Bennett will be the drawing card that lands Wighton.
“The fact that he wants to leave Canberra is about winning a premiership, but I don’t see the Dolphins winning a premiership in the next three or four years,” Fletcher mentioned.
“But I think he will go to the Dolphins. A bit of Wayne magic.”
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Rabbitohs rally late to defeat Panthers | 02:34
THE BIGGEST ISSUE IN THE GAME
The greatest concern within the sport reared its ugly head a number of occasions in Round 8 and the main target narrowed on hip drop tackles after the Broncos and Eels’ conflict.
Ezra Mam and J’maine Hopgood have been binned for hip drops, whereas Payne Haas was fortunate to not observe them after injuring Eels ahead Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
Mam and Haas have been subsequently hit with one sport suspensions if the duo took the early responsible plea.
The trio of tackles sparked a heated debate and Fox League’s specialists referred to as for a “black and white” ruling to be made.
Rugby league legend Greg Alexander, who performed 265 first grade video games, believes the hip drop began injuring gamers when a number of defenders started tackling directly.
“There would’ve been 1000 accidents over the last 50 years where players have just ended up on the backs of legs,” Alexander mentioned.
“It wasn’t until around 2019 and 2020 where we saw the three-man tackle with the hip drop coming in as the third man… It was an intentional lift of the body and legs. That was the tackle where everyone went ‘that’s not right.”
He additionally believes in some circumstances gamers are merely making an attempt to tug the attacker down.
“Now we’re into this, little players being dragged along doing their best and ending up on the back of the legs of bigger players,” Alexander added.
A hip drop sort out at present ends in an automated sin bin and talking on Triple M, Adam Reynolds mentioned the enjoying group agree there’s a “duty of care”.
However, the veteran halfback additionally made it clear no participant is deliberately making an attempt to injure their opponent and officers are “overreacting”.
“Anytime they send it upstairs you think the player is going to go to the bin,” Reynolds mentioned.
“There’s an over-reaction on it. Sometimes attackers and defenders can get caught in awkward positions and come down funny.
“It’s not always the attacker that gets caught in awkward positions, the defender can be as well.
“Last night was harsh on both teams. The one from Hopgood, there was no malice in that, likewise on our side.
“There’s never any malice from any player. There’s a duty of care amongst us players to look after each other. Remember, it’s a contact sport.”
Alexander additionally emphasised the hip drop isn’t a brand new tackling method and previously, gamers weren’t sin binned.
However now, the NRL has set a precedent and received’t be capable to “backtrack”.
“I don’t know if there is one (solution) – and I don’t know how you backtrack now,” Alexander mentioned.
“So what do they say: ‘Hang on the sin bin is getting ludicrous, how do we peel it back and get to where we were last year?’ This isn’t a rush of players now having a new way to tackle people.”
Legendary hooker Michael Ennis additionally signalled how he thinks the NRL can be encouraging gamers to sort out their opponents.
He thinks the easy legs sort out is ready to make a comeback.
“I think a couple of weeks ago we look at it and go ‘that’s a bit tough’ … from what we’ve seen the last couple of weeks, that is a sin bin offence. It might look light, but that’s where the game’s going,” Ennis mentioned.
“The game has evolved into that where you can get beaten for footwork and strength – then all of a sudden, as that player accelerates through to and you end up behind the player and you’re trying to bring them to the ground.
“I think the game wants you to use your arms to slide down in that old conventional tackle and wrap your legs.”
The NRL will doubtless take a concrete stance on what does and doesn’t represent a hip drop sort out after the conclusion of Round 8.
But for now, followers and gamers alike are scratching their heads.
Broncos star hit with hip drop cost | 00:34
JURY OUT ON BULLDOGS HALVES SWITCH
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo pulled a giant change forward of his facet’s Round 8 conflict, shifting Matt Burton to halfback as a substitute of his pure five-eighth position.
Ciraldo mentioned he needed his marquee man to ball in hand extra typically, hoping to spark the Bulldogs’ lacklustre assault.
As it stands, Canterbury-Bankstown have solely scored extra factors than the Tigers and Roosters with 127.
However, Ciraldo thought his crew have been “dangerous” at totally different factors regardless of happening 33-20 in opposition to the Sharks.
“I thought we looked good at times, I thought we looked dangerous, every time we got the ball in Matt’s hands we looked dangerous,” Ciraldo mentioned.
“We are still a work in progress there. The spine has played eight games together so we are still trying to work it out and we are missing some players.
“I thought it was an improvement in the last couple of weeks.”
Burton additionally echoed his coach’s opinion however defined his crew lack the killer blow.
“I just wanted to get the ball in my hands a bit more, I thought we just lacked in periods of the game when we could have gone after it,” Burton mentioned.
Ciraldo’s late change might sign a shift within the halves, with Burton’s halves associate Kyle Flanagan underneath strain.
There have been rumblings younger gun Karl Oloapu was set to make his NRL debut in Flanagan’s place, nevertheless Ciraldo determined in opposition to unleashing the 18-year-old.
Rugby league supremo Phil Gould poached the promising playmaker from the Broncos, paying a $500,000 switch charge to safe his companies.
Flanagan’s present contract expires on the finish of the 2023 season and the Bulldogs have reportedly made makes an attempt to maneuver the halfback on previously.
The 24-year-old’s contract is reportedly value $450,000 per-season and the Belmore-based membership might use these funds to hit the open market to discover a suited halves associate for Matt Burton.
If Ciraldo perseveres with Burton’s halfback change long-term, Gould might go after a five-eighth.
However not many appropriate gamers can be found for 2024 and Oloapu might be the Bulldogs’ most suitable choice.
Across the NRL, playmakers Shaun Johnson, Jayden Nikorima, Kaeo Weekes, Adam Clune and Jack Cogger are with no contract for 2023.
Meanwhile, Tigers outcast Daine Laurie’s contract additionally expires and the previous Panther performed as a five-eighth throughout his junior profession.
Kennedy picks up hat trick in Sharks win | 02:04
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PONGA ‘CONFIDENT’ IN RETURN – BUT IS QLD JERSEY STILL HIS?
Who can be operating onto Adelaide Oval with the Maroons no.1 jersey in State of Origin Game 1? That is one a burning query for Queensland followers.
It seems to be a race in two between the incumbent Kalyn Ponga and Broncos fullback Reece Walsh, who has been in electrifying kind in 2023.
Ponga would have been Winx-like odds at first of the season to retain his spot, however his worrying sample with concussion has once more reared its ugly head and he’s missed 5 video games.
That, coupled with Walsh’s excellent begin to the 12 months, and the hole between the pair’s probabilities for the Maroons fullback jersey has grow to be smaller.
Ponga returned for the Knights on Saturday and got here off the bench, enjoying 53 minutes within the loss 18-16 loss to the Cowboys.
Understandably hesitant in his opening couple of minutes, he steadily stamped his mark on the sport because it progressed.
In the second half alone, Ponga recorded 72 operating metres, three sort out busts, two line break assists and a strive help.
Walsh, in the meantime, did his Origin hopes no hurt, enjoying a key position in Brisbane’s 26-16 win over the Eels on Friday evening.
Fox League’s Mal Meninga and Cooper Cronk each mentioned post-game that they have been impressed with Ponga’s return.
“He grew as the game went on and you could see he became more and more confident,” Meninga mentioned.
“When they needed him he became more involved.
“He’s hard to contain when he’s running, just look at his movement, he’s got great feet and speed and puts defences under pressure, much like Reece Walsh.”
“He was hesitant just before half time that but after that his touches, his impact, his adrenalin, played a big part in their comeback,” Cronk added.
“He’s in a very good spot for someone who has had a bit of time off.”
Meninga mentioned Ponga “will only get better” after that hit-out, which he’ll, as he will get extra minutes into his leg after a sideline stint.
When it got here to if he ought to maintain his spot within the Origin facet, Cronk was emphatic in his help for Ponga.
“Absolutely no hesitation for Origin,” he mentioned.
“What he has done at that level and for that Queensland jersey is elite.”
Cowboys defeat Knights in overdue win | 03:02
Source: www.foxsports.com.au