3 minute read
A snapshot of round nine of the NRL which saw contenders Melbourne and Sydney Roosters produce statement wins.
SNAPSHOT OF ROUND NINE OF THE NRL
MAN OF THE ROUND: Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco scored a hat-trick, made 10 tackle busts and ran for 226 metres in a dominant display against Gold Coast, notching his 100th NRL career try in the process.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Cronulla's win after having a player sent off marked the first time since 2008 a side has won after having a player dismissed in the first half.
MAGIC MOMENT: As if seeing three brothers - Jake, Tom and Ben Trbojevic - start for the same team wasn't special enough, watching younger, less-heralded Ben upstage his older siblings with a double was magical. The 20-year-old said he'd never seen brother Jake run as fast as he did to celebrate one of his tries.
QUOTE OF THE ROUND: "Collectively, we've let ourselves down. We were narrowing it down to just winning key moments in games and things like that over the last seven or eight rounds and tonight we got beaten everywhere - on attitude, on effort, on execution." - Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook after the Titans' 44-16 loss to the Roosters.
TALKING POINT: How much impact will Melbourne's injuries have? The Storm looked as dangerous as ever after Ryan Papenhuyzen and Reimis Smith left their contest with the Dragons, but can the machine keep rolling without those important players, particularly on Saturday in a top-of-the ladder clash with Penrith?
CASUALTY WARD: Raiders - Jarrod Croker (shoulder), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (leg); Tigers - Thomas Mikaele (head knock), Ken Maumalo (head knock); Knights - Jack Johns (arm), Edrick Lee (head knock); Panthers - Scott Sorensen (illness); Roosters - Sam Verrills (collarbone); Storm - Reimis Smith (pectoral), Ryan Papenhuyzen (hamstring).
JUDICIARY WATCH: Roosters - Lindsay Collins (high tackle); Cowboys - Tom Gilbert (high tackle); Bulldogs - Tevita Pangai Jnr (contrary conduct), Jeremy Marshall-King (dangerous conduct), Joe Stimson (dangerous conduct); Eels - Ryan Matterson (contrary conduct); Sharks - Will Kennedy (high tackle), Jesse Ramien (high tackle).
UNDER PRESSURE: Where to now for the Titans? A fifth loss in a row has last year's finalists 2-7 and with their season hanging by a thread. The young spine Justin Holbrook backed going into the season has seemingly been abandoned and the coach admits further personnel changes are inevitable after a performance he labelled unacceptable.
