3 minute read
All the highs and lows of round 20 of the NRL season, where Nathan Cleary copped a five-week ban for a dangerous throw and blew the competition back open.
SNAPSHOT OF ROUND 20 NRL ACTION
MAN OF THE ROUND: Hudson Young. Starred in the middle for Canberra as the Raiders claimed a crucial 36-24 win over Gold Coast to keep themselves in the hunt for the top eight. The second-rower scored a vital second-half try, bust six tackles, had three offloads and set up two other four-pointers in a dominant afternoon.
QUOTE OF THE ROUND: "Yes, but we've got a bit of work to do, I am just being honest." Des Hasler on whether Manly's gutsy 20-10 loss to Sydney Roosters was a show of unity after seven players stood down over the club's rainbow inclusion jersey. The group are all due to return on Friday against Parramatta, with all eyes on how they are received.
CONUNDRUM: How will Manly's seven boycotting players fit back into the Sea Eagles' team for their crucial clash with Parramatta next week? With seven players refusing to wear the rainbow inclusion jersey on religious, cultural and family grounds, Manly were beaten 20-10 by the Sydney Roosters to leave their season in serious trouble.
STATS THAT MATTER: North Queensland have now had seven successful road trips this year, as many games as the Cowboys won in total last season with most of the competition in Queensland.
MAGIC MOMENT: Nicho Hynes' golden-point field goal that helped boost Cronulla's top-four hopes against South Sydney. After Latrell Mitchell missed three attempts for the Rabbitohs and Matt Moylan two for the Sharks, Hynes nailed his shot from 20 metres out to keep Cronulla third.
TALKING POINT: How will Penrith fare without Nathan Cleary? The Penrith half's five-week ban for a dangerous throw leaves the minor premiers-in-waiting without either of their two playmakers until the start of the finals, with Jarome Luai also injured. Parramatta also face a tough run with Mitchell Moses injured, while Brisbane are set for a stint without Patrick Carrigan as the competition opens back up.
CASUALTY WARD: Roosters - Lindsay Collins (head knock); Storm - Nick Meaney (shoulder); Warriors - Chanel Harris-Tavita (knee); Eels - Mitchell Moses (finger); Adam Elliott (hip); Tigers - Jackson Hastings (ankle); Cowboys - Kyle Feldt (hamstring).
JUDICIARY WATCH: Roosters - Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (dangerous contact), Egan Butcher (high tackle); Sea Eagles - Alfred Smalley (high tackle); Warriors - Jackson Frei (dangerous contact); Panthers - Nathan Cleary (dangerous throw); Raiders - Joseph Tapine (contrary conduct); Rabbitohs - Tom Burgess (high tackle); Broncos - Patrick Carrigan (dangerous contact); Knights - Phoenix Crossland (high tackle); Cowboys - Jason Taumalolo (shoulder charge).
UNDER PRESSURE: The NRL's match review committee and judiciary. They are already under fire for failing to charge Nelson Asofa-Solomona for dangerous contact and, after a controversial night at the judiciary last week, Brisbane's Patrick Carrigan has now been referred straight to the panel for a hip-drop tackle that has ended Jackson Hastings' season.
