3 minute read
A snapshot of round seven of the NRL as the Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra scored important wins.
SNAPSHOT OF ROUND SEVEN OF THE NRL
MAN OF THE ROUND: Siosifa Talakai. Has a centre ever produced a more damaging display? In 40 minutes of Thursday night madness Talakai busted eight tackles, broke the line three times, scored two tries and set up three others to have Cronulla leading Manly 32-0 at halftime.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Melbourne's stunning 54-point second half-haul helped them to a 70-10 win over the Warriors and equalled their biggest ever tally.
MAGIC MOMENT: Luke Brooks' match-winning field goal in the final minute against South Sydney. No player cops more scrutiny than the Wests Tigers halfback and his ability to bounce back from a poor opening to the season showed a stack of resilience.
QUOTE OF THE ROUND: "The whipping boy has just been the tag he has got year after year. If you actually go look at his numbers, which I have, and you stack them up against the best halves in the comp, he is always up there." - Jackson Hastings makes an impassioned and unprompted defence of Luke Brooks, after his match-winning field goal against South Sydney.
TALKING POINT: What has happened to the NRL's hard-line stance on foul play? Even CEO Andrew Abdo admitted that Daniel Tupou should have been sin-binned for his high shot on Mikaele Ravalawa in the Sydney Roosters' Anzac Day loss.
CASUALTY WARD: Sea Eagles - Dylan Walker (knee), Taniela Paseka (knee), Andrew Davey (shoulder); Sharks - Will Kennedy (shoulder); Titans - Jaimin Jolliffe (calf); Rabbitohs - Hame Sele (concussion), Jacob Host (shoulder), Jai Arrow (leg); Tigers - Daine Laurie (knee); Knights - Brodie Jones (elbow), Hymel Hunt (cheek); Dragons - Jack Bird (arm), Jaydn Su'A (leg).
JUDICIARY WATCH: Rabbitohs - Taane Milne (high tackle); Cowboys - Jeremiah Nanah (dangerous throw); Sea Eagles - Haumole Olakau'atu (high tackle); Dragons - Zac Lomax (dangerous contact); Roosters - Daniel Tupou (high tackle).
UNDER PRESSURE: Newcastle. Their 39-2 loss to Parramatta was their worst result at home under Adam O'Brien and made it five straight defeats. They have Melbourne next week, and are at every risk of seeing their season slip away completely before the halfway point.