Innholdsfortegnelse for 2020 - Round 02 i Big League Weekly Edition

CANTERBURY skipper Josh Jackson has spoken about his desire to make Bulldogs fans proud again following last week’s drama involving Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera. The duo have indefinitely been stood down for breaching the NRL’s code of conduct after allegedly bringing schoolgirls to the team hotel. The actions of the two players have reportedly cost the club a $2 million major sponsorship. The Bulldogs have worked hard over the past few seasons to change the image of the club, but a couple of off-field dramas have tarnished their reputation. It’s also been a tough time on the field with the club missing the finals for three consecutive seasons. Although Bulldogs fans have had a rough trot, Jackson is thankful the fans have stuck by them and said the club…

For those who don’t know you so well, tell us a little bit about yourself… I was born over in Auckland and I moved over to Sydney when I was a toddler. I grew up around the Marayong/Blacktown/Quakers Hill area. I started off playing rugby union until I was 14, and then I made the switch to league. I played in the development squads for Parramatta and transitioned into SG Ball, Harold Matts, under-20s and first grade. Having played a handful of NRL games now, what has been you career highlight so far? Other than my debut, it would have to be when I scored my first NRL try at the opening of Bankwest Stadium on Easter Monday. It was such a big game for the club and I was…

IT’S typically considered foolish to use labels like ‘try of the year’ when you’re just one week into the season, but there’s little doubt that David Fifita’s stunning effort for the Broncos in Townsville will still be on highlight reels at the end of the season – whether that’s in October or as soon as next weekend. It was a rampaging solo effort from one of the game’s most exciting young stars, securing two valuable points in the derby for Brisbane. @NRL…

PLENTY of players enter the NRL with potential, but only a handful of them realise and then exceed those expectations. It can be a difficult task for a youngster cutting their teeth in the game, but Broncos prop Payne Haas has made it look frighteningly easy. Big things were expected of him when he made his debut against the Rabbitohs in 2018 as an 18-year-old, but a total of 97 running metres from just three appearances that season left some judges on the fence. He then missed the start of the 2019 campaign due to suspension which only added to the speculation, but a ferocious return to action ended the debate as he produced numbers usually reserved for the best in the business. The reigning Dally M Rookie of the…

PANTHERS STAR recruit Api Koroisau was arguably the best player across the entire competition in Round 1. Despite kicking the ball out of the full from the opening kick-off, Koroisau starred for Penrith with 59 tackles (only one missed tackle), 110 running metres and six tackle-breaks in an 80-minute performance. His performance may have shocked some pundits but Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai saw it coming. “I knew he was going to play like that because he’s been like that for the whole pre-season,” Luai told Big League. “He broke a lot of tackles with his little duck-and-weave. “It’s awesome to have Api out there. He controls the ship and he’s a real calming influence.” With a zippy dummy-half controlling the ruck, Luai knows he needs to be more alert. “If…

Game preview: Crowd or no crowd, this will be one for the ages if their Round 23 meeting last year is anything to go by. Both teams are coming off solid first round wins and will be desperate to extend that streak. The Broncos’ big men justified their hype against the Cowboys, while Brodie Croft looks like a great pick-up. The Rabbitohs survived a late comeback by the Sharks and got the job done thanks to their forwards. With some exciting match-ups across the park, South Sydney’s elite spine may be the difference. Best bet? Look for the Rabbitohs to leave Brisbane with a narrow 1-12 victory. Money spinner: Corey Oates loves Suncorp and is a great shout for first tryscorer, while Cody Walker is good value for the Bunnies.…

Game preview: It took Cronulla a while to warm up against South Sydney last weekend, and they’ll know they’ll need to start fast against Melbourne on Saturday night. You simply can’t give up leads against the Storm. Sharks halves Shaun Johnson and Chad Townsend will need to be at their best if they are to upset the Storm, who were brilliant against Manly last Sunday. Cameron Smith continued his dominance as he pulled the strings at Lottoland, while Jahrome Hughes and Suliasi Vunivalu also combined well. Best Bet? Melbourne are the obvious picks here, however there’s always plenty of feeling when these sides clash. Storm in a close one. Money-spinner: Josh Addo-Carr didn’t score last week, so consider him to make up for it with a double. DATE: SATURDAY, MARCH…

THE competition may be on hiatus for a few weeks, but there is still plenty to look forward to when the Canterbury Cup returns. Newtown kicked off their premiership defence with a 32-12 victory over a strong South Sydney side. After his surprise omission from Cronulla’s Round 1 line-up, Billy Magoulias staked his claim for a recall with a man-of-the-match performance for the Jets. A Brendan Elliot hat-trick was not enough for Blacktown as they were downed by Mounties in a 14-try thriller. It was a high-scoring and see-sawing encounter that could have gone either way, until Mounties came charging home in the second half. Parramatta celebrated their Canterbury Cup debut with a 24-16 win over the Bulldogs. The Eels, led by NRL regulars Daniel Alvaro, David Gower, Will Smith…

THE Queensland Rugby League has confirmed the Hastings Deering Colts – as well as the other local competitions – will not go ahead this weekend as the game looks after the welfare of the players, coaching staff and officialdom. The competition has been suspended until June 5 as the world continues to lock itself down in an attempt to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The news comes on the back of a sensational opening to the season in which the Townsville Blackhawks flexed their muscles with a crushing 54-0 win over the Jets. It mirrors how the teams finished 2019, with Townsville claiming the minor premiership while Ipswich were rooted to the foot of the table. Winger Dylan White was the chief destroyer with four tries and five goals…

EELS v BULLDOGS PARRAMATTA 8 (Reed Mahoney 66’ try; Mitchell Moses 2 goals) D. CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN 2 (Brandon Wakeham 1 goal) Half-time: 2-all Crowd: 21,363 Scrums: Parramatta 9-8 Penalties: Parramatta 10-6 Sin Bin: Nil Sent Off: Nil Referee: Grant Atkins Assistant Referee: Peter Gough Touch Judges: Todd Smith, Nick Beashel Goalkickers: Mitch Moses (Eels) 2 from 2, Brandon Wakeham (Bulldogs) 1 from 2 Completion Rates: Parramatta 28/39, Canterbury-Bankstown 26/37 Big 3: 3 Watene-Zelezniak; 2 Jackson; 1 Gutherson – MB RAIDERS v TITANS CANBERRA 24 (Jack Wighton (2) 3’ 14’, Emre Guler 30’, Elliott Whitehead 66’ tries; Jarrod Croker 4 goals) D. GOLD COAST 6 (Anthony Don 45’ try; Ash Taylor 1 goal) Half-time: Canberra 18-0 Crowd: 10,610 Scrums: Gold Coast 9-8 Penalties: Canberra 7-6 Sin Bin: Nil Sent Off: Nil Referee:…

ROUND 1 March 12-15 Eels v Bulldogs 8-2Raiders v Titans 24-6Cowboys v Broncos 21-28Knights v Warriors 20-0Rabbitohs v Sharks 22-18Panthers v Roosters 20-14Sea Eagles v Storm 4-18Dragons v Wests Tigers 14-24 ROUND 2 March 19-22 Bulldogs v Cowboys Thu, ANZ, 8.05pmDragons v Panthers Fri, Netstrata Jubilee, 6pmBroncos v Rabbitohs Fri, Suncorp, 8.05pmWarriors v Raiders Sat, Cbus Super, 3pmRoosters v Sea Eagles Sat, Leichhardt, 5.30pmSharks v Storm Sat, Netstrata Jubilee, 7.35pmWests Tigers v Knights Sun, Leichhardt, 4.05pmTitans v Eels Sun, Cbus Super, 6.15pm ROUND 3 March 26-29 Raiders v Dragons Thu, GIO, 8.05pmSea Eagles v Warriors Fri, Lottoland, 6pmRabbitohs v Roosters Fri, ANZ, 8.05pmSharks v Knights Sat, Netstrata Jubilee, 3pmStorm v Panthers Sat, AAMI, 5.30pmCowboys v Eels Sat, Qld Country Bank, 7.35pmWests Tigers v Bulldogs Sun, Campbelltown, 4.05pmTitans…

WOW. I must admit, a couple of months ago when I first heard of COVID-19, I didn’t really think much of it. In fact, I teased my husband when he suggested we should slowly build on our pantry staples just in case. While I might hold on a little bit longer before I admit to him that I was wrong, the ever-changing situation with the virus and its impact on the NRL has been staggering. Around the world, other sporting codes have shut down to try and stem the impact for those who who have compromised immune systems, and in the NRL we’ll see games played without fans in attendance in Round 2. We go to print on Tuesday night and I’m sure the situation has changed once again by…

LOSING in the opening round has never really been a problem for the Roosters and they have no reason to panic following their loss to Penrith last Saturday night. The Tri-colours have now lost six of their past eight opening round matches – including their past three seasons, after which they were able to recover to finish inside the top two. Their past three premiership years (2019, 2018 and 2013) all started with first round losses. “It would’ve been nice to win from the start, but we’ve been in this position before and we know we can turn it around quickly,” Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (pictured)told BigLeague. “We haven’t started well in previous years but have been able to bounce back, so the boys will have the confidence they can do it…

THE NSW Physical Disability Rugby League is celebrating 10 years of competition and a decade of positively impacting lives along the way. The new season is scheduled to commence this Saturday at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence, depending on whether the governing body will still run games in the current uncertain times. “To celebrate 10 years is an incredible achievement and something we’re all very proud of,” NSWPDRL board member Josh Maxwell tells Big League. “It’s grown from enough players to fill one team when it first kicked off. Now we have enough players to fill six, and we’re continuing to grow. “We’re proud of everything we’ve achieved but this is just the beginning. We can’t wait to start the next 10 years.” 2020 is an exciting time for the…

Game preview: Round 2 kicks off with a clash between two sides desperate to bounce back from week one losses. The Bulldogs were valiant against the Eels but their attacking woes continued as they failed to score a try at Bankwest Stadium. It was a different story for North Queensland as they took their chances but had no answers for Brisbane’s pack as they piled on 28 points. The safe bet is to go with the visitors given their ability to score out of nowhere, but you can never discount the blue and whites, who always lift a notch at ANZ Stadium when their backs are against the wall. Best bet? It won’t be a walk in the park, but the Bulldogs can easily win this 1-12. Money spinner: Kyle…

Game preview: It’s not often we tell you to ignore previous editions of the magazine, but please take no notice of the previous venue for this match (Eden Park, Auckland). The coronavirus pandemic has forced this game to the Gold Coast after the Warriors agreed to stay in Australia for the week. How they go on the back of a disrupted preparation remains to be seen, but they’ll be hoping for a response following a lacklustre display in the Hunter. Things won’t get any easier against a Raiders side flying high following their win over the Titans. Best bet? If they settle early, look for the Raiders to go 13+. Money spinner: Canberra’s left edge is their strength so look for Jarrod Croker or Elliott Whitehead to score the first…

Game preview: Leichhardt Oval is normally a fortress for the Wests Tigers but with no fans allowed to attend this match, it evens out the playing field for the Knights. The Tigers will be without Luke Brooks for the next month due to a calf injury, but it made Benji Marshall go to the next level against St George Illawarra last Sunday. The Knights will be looking to open a season with two wins from as many attempts after they thumped the Warriors 20-0 in Round 1. David Klemmer, Kalyn Ponga and Mitchell Pearce played well and will be looking for a similar performance this week. Best Bet? This match is a flip of a coin but we’ve got the Knights winning by 1-12. Money-spinner: It’s going to be a…

THE Intrust Super Cup will be paused until June 5 to limit the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in Queensland. The competition has been halted after just one round with Easts Tigers sitting atop the ladder following their 44-4 triumph over CQ Capras last weekend. Tigers winger Curtis Dansey-Smaller bagged a first-half double before six team-mates also grabbed four-pointers. Aaron Booth kicked four conversions before Caleb Daunt took over for two more goals. Maika Tudravu scored the only try for the Capras, who will be indefinitely last on the ladder while the competition takes a break. Townsville travelled to Ipswich last Saturday for the season opener and left with two competition points following their 16-10 win against the Jets. The Blackhawks failed to score a try in the first half…

THE Kaiviti Silktails’ inaugural season is off to a flying start, after smashing Windsor 40-16 in their first-ever match. The Fijian side bounced back from an early 16-6 deficit, scoring 34 unanswered points to secure victory in front of their passionate home fans in Lautoka. Ratu Timoci Namotukola finished with 16 points for the home side courtesy of a try and six goals in a near-perfect day with the boot. Wentworthville’s title defence began with an 18-14 win over Cabramatta, courtesy of a late try by Ethan Parry, while St Marys scored a big comeback over Asquith in a high-scoring thriller. The Saints trailed by 14 points early in the second half, before scoring five consecutive tries in just over 20 minutes to run away with the win. In contrast…

THE coronavirus pandemic has rightly dominated the news cycle for weeks, but lost in the crisis was a round of rugby league in which the NRL’s new rules came into effect. The captain’s challenge was always going to be the most scrutinised innovation, and while the players struggled, the added scrutiny on decisions was a huge win for on-field officials who often had their original decisions supported by the Bunker. It’s hard to see Parramatta’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard making a captain’s challenge plea again after he became the first player to come up with an incorrect challenge, while the Warriors at least had something to celebrate during a tough week as they became the first team to successfully review a decision. Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett isn’t a fan of the rule,…

THESE are extraordinary times my friends, and I certainly don’t envy any person in a position of ‘power’ or decision-making as is the case for the likes of Peter V’landys and Todd Greenberg. In my opinion, it is not a time to be hot-headed or confrontational. Sure, ask questions; but keep things as rational discussions rather than full-blown arguments. None of us have been in this position before, so calculating the consequences of whatever is put in place would be incredibly difficult. What seemed right today could change by tomorrow, such has been the rate of keeping up with the news and developments – but we have to do our best to stay united. We are all in this together, and the sport of rugby league is part of that.…

The video frame rates are too slow to judge ball touches in general play. It’s just blurry in most cases, so no point doing a challenge. Prefer to see referees clamp down on players moving or walking off the mark to play the ball and trying to get the tackling player offside at marker defence. Marco Sivis Like when the DRS came into cricket it will take captains time to work out when to use it. It wasn’t used wisely on the weekend but give it a few rounds and you’ll see more captains get challenges right. LeRoy Murray Great for the game. It will show its worth soon when a team wins a blatant bad call and takes pressure off refs. Chris Jones No because most of them were…

HE was the strike signing who was meant to take the Knights into the top eight, but for one reason or another, Jesse Ramien simply didn’t fit into the Newcastle system and it showed in his performances. Fresh from a breakout 2018 campaign that saw him narrowly pipped for the Dally M Rookie of the Year award, Ramien made the move north expecting to settle down in the Hunter. But after just two tries in 17 games, he and the club parted ways after a public falling out with then-coach Nathan Brown. He’s now back where it all began at the Sharks, ready to return to the form that made him one of the best centres in the league just 12 months ago. “I don’t regret leaving at all,” he…

FOR some, the first week of Fantasy turned out better than they could have ever imagined. For others, buyer’s remorse hit harder than those who invested in pumpkins on November 1 as established stars and cheapies fell flat in Round 1. Potential cash cows Caleb Aekins, Jamil Hopoate, Brandon Wakeham and Joe Stimson all failed to fire, while expensive guns Tom Trbojevic, Latrell Mitchell and Andrew Fifita produced underwhelming scores. Coaches may be tempted to panic sell these players, but consider this – there’s a reason you bought these guys in the first place so patience could pay off. It wasn’t all doom and gloom as popular picks Payne Haas, Jason Taumalolo and Cameron Smith flourished, with the reliable captaincy options all justifying the faith shown in them. Incredibly, Haas…

Game preview: Having knocked over the defending premiers last week, the Panthers will be keen to slay the Dragons at a venue they’ve always struggled at. Penrith have managed just four wins at Netstrata Jubilee Oval but they’ll fancy their chances having come from behind to down the Roosters. Api Koroisau and Nathan Cleary were brilliant but they’ll be tested by a Dragons pack smarting from a home loss. St George Illawarra bombed countless tries and really should have won, making this week’s clash all the more important as they look to kick-start their campaign. Best bet? Look for the Dragons to lead at half-time but the Panthers to get the win. Money spinner: With Tariq Sims missing, back Viliame Kikau to score at any stage. DATE: FRIDAY, MARCH 20…

Game preview: Both sides will be desperate for victory after suffering losses in the opening round. This match was set to be played on the Central Coast but has been shifted to Leichhardt Oval following the NRL’s announcement that all Round 2 games will be played behind closed doors. Returning back-rower Angus Crichton (illness) will be a boost for the Roosters as they try to avoid back-to-back losses to open the season. The Sea Eagles are still hunting for their first four-pointer of the year after the Storm kept them tryless at Lottoland. Best Bet? It’s hard to see the defending premiers losing two from two to start the year, but this could be close. Roosters 1-12. Money-spinner: Dally M medallist James Tedesco was quiet last week and will be…

signs in the second half. Parramatta got the win over the Bulldogs but they weren’t at their best and coach Brad Arthur wasn’t impressed. The Eels will be disappointed if they don’t win this one but they can’t afford to be complacent. Game preview: New coach Justin Holbrook will be looking for an improved performance from his players after they suffered an 18-point loss to Canberra in the opening round. Ash Taylor looked rusty on his return but showed positive Best Bet? The Eels should win this one if they start well. Consider taking them to cover the line and go overs with total match points. Money-spinner: Consider backing Blake Ferguson for first tryscorer. DATE: SUNDAY, MARCH 22 VENUE: CBUS SUPER STADIUM KICK-OFF: 5.15PM (Qld); 6.15PM (AEDT) REFEREE: HENRY PERENARA…

THOUGH the competition has been paused due to the pandemic, Round 1 wasted no time whetting the appetite of league fans who’ll now have to savour that feeling for an unknown length of time. Reigning premiers South Sydney secured an incredible 32-30 comeback win over Cronulla in an enthralling battle between two of the competition heavyweights. Lachlan Ilias was the hero, kicking a penalty goal from the sideline to win it for Souths after the full-time siren. The Rabbitohs had trailed 18-0 after 16 minutes before rallying. Cronulla looked to have salvaged a draw after Franklin Pele’s late try was converted by Kai Broadhurst, but there was still one last twist in store as Ilias kicked Souths to victory with the final play of the game. Elsewhere, the Dragons survived…

Since Round 15, 2019, the Bulldogs have the third-best defence in the NRL. Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has won all four games against teams coached by Anthony Seibold. Manly have lost seven of their past eight games at Leichhardt. Benji Marshall needs five points to reach 1,200 points. The Warriors have won three of their past four games against the Raiders. Anthony Don has scored nine tries in eight games against the Eels. The Dragons have won only two of their past seven games at Netstrata Jubilee. Corey Oates has scored 12 tries in 11 games against South Sydney.…