The Notepad identifies one key player, stat, trend or talking point for every team, every round of the 2021 NRL season.
Thursday
Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are a top four or five team in the NRL when Tom Trbojevic is in the 17. They have been one of the worst in NRL history for four of the six he has missed, though. Without their main man and with Daly Cherry-Evans also out of the side, I’m curious to see how this group responds.
One-man bands might be able to drag a team up the ladder during the regular season, but the deeper teams that have reliable performers across the park are those that end up winning premierships.
The back line for this week still looks relatively no frills on paper while they have a centre playing halfback and a hooker in the backrow.
Manly are still lagging behind the Storm and Panthers in the premiership race, but another good performance here without their superstars might be enough to put them alongside the Eels and Rabbitohs as smokey premiership contenders.
Raiders
I’ve not seen a lot of Xavier Savage outside of his unofficial debut in Round 15 so I’ve gone to where I always go for Raiders gear, Sportress.
“If there’s a talent in the squad that can overcome these challenges it’s Savage. He introduces pace into a back five that has lots of stuff, but almost none of that.” – The Challenge of Xavier Savage
It didn’t take long to find an example of that speed…
This is a tough spot for Savage. He is coming into a difficult position in what is a bad team right now, and will no doubt be a target for the opposition. Still, I’m excited for his debut and eager to see whether or not the Raiders work towards putting the 19-year-old into situations to use his speed, or play it safe and just look to get him through the 80 minutes unscathed.
Friday
Rabbitohs
Another game, another young fella looking to make a mark in first grade.
It’s Blake Taafe that will be front and centre for me this week.
I’m still shocked that the Rabbitohs have allowed Adam Reynolds to leave. Their premiership window is wide open at the moment, but allowing their halfback to head to the Broncos starts to close it. By how much depends on the succession plan at #7. A plan of which Taafe is a part of at this stage.
While he is lining up at fullback for this one, we’re still going to get some idea of his abilities as a ball-player given how often the Rabbitohs use their #1 out the back of shape in good ball and exit sets.
Cowboys
In a similar vein to Oscar’s preview for this one, Tom Dearden is on my list on Friday night.
The Knights hit him hard last week with the Cowboys half making a career-high 30 tackles. Up against the best left-edge attack in the NRL this week, Dearden can expect a lot of traffic again.
Keaon Koloamatangi will be a key feature to the Rabbitohs attack. I expect to see Cody Walker looking to isolate a Koloamatangi overs line onto Dearden’s outside shoulder. However, this is one play I’d like to see them try with Braidon Burns running the lead (sorry Tom).
It hasn’t been an easy introduction to the NRL for Dearden. His switch to the Cowboys has been too good so far either. However, he is a defence defensive halfback and can prove it tonight.
MORE: “Heads In” – Rabbitohs v Cowboys Preview
Saturday
Bulldogs
I’m going back to the Round 16 Notepad and Oscar’s Round 16 Review for this one.
First, Kyle Flanagan.
I want to see how he tries to impact the Bulldogs attack after being dropped earlier in the season. Unfortunately, when you lose 66-0 and only touch the ball 28 times, there isn’t much to take away from 80 minutes of football. Although, the Bulldogs going scoreless with 48 tackles inside the opposition 20-metre line is another worry.
Second, edge defence.
The Sea Eagles flew down the outside of the Bulldogs defence in exit sets far too easily last week.
Time and time again, the Bulldogs defensive line compressed through the middle and left space out wide for the speedsters to burn. They can’t allow the Roosters to do the same if this game is going to be close.
Roosters
The Notepad has been Sam Walker and Victor Radley heavy already this year, but we’re going back to the well for more.
Sam Walker burst onto the NRL scene in Round 4 and looked right at home in first grade. He played with a lot of time, threw that superb long ball of his while also growing into more of a running game every week. However, he hasn’t looked quite so effective in his last two games.
Interestingly enough, Walker’s downturn in form coincides with Radley’s suspension. Another point worth noting, Kyle Flanagan’s form took a dive to the point he was dropped after Radley suffered an ACL injury last year.
Is it a coincidence or does Radley’s ball-playing at pivot have that much of an impact on his halfback?
I want to start answering that this week.
Sunday
Sharks
Connor Tracey has been given the nod at five-eighth beside Shaun Johnson this week.
I’m somewhat surprised by the move. Braydon Trindall has displayed some promising signs over the last 18 months and didn’t play poorly last week.
Also really liked this from Trindall.
— Jason Oliver (@JasonNRL) July 4, 2021
I still think the Moylan/Johnson combo is their best for 2021 but crowbarring Trindall into the side where possible right now will be a big benefit for them in 2022.
Shown some really nice signs the last 18 months.pic.twitter.com/bpI339yRXM
But Tracey has been excellent wherever he has been put so far this season, and with the backline finally healthy, Tracey at five-eighth and Trindall on the bench might be the only way for Hannay to get both in the side.
With Johnson leaving at the end of 2021 and Nicho Hynes on his way for 2022, there is a #7 spot available at the Sharks. Trindall and Tracey are being given the first crack to claim it while Moylan sits on the sideline with yet another injury.
Warriors
This was my immediate reaction to the last game Kodi Nikorima and Sean O’Sullivan played in the halves together…
That was one of the worst attacking performances I’ve seen from the Warriors in a very long time.
— Jason Oliver (@JasonNRL) June 19, 2021
Spine particularly poor.
Brown did nothing new to bring RTS into the game off the wing either.
Tohu once again the rock of this side. He deserves better.#NRLKnightsWarriors
They are back in the #6 and #7, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is back on the wing, and, quite worryingly, Tohu Harris is out of action on Sunday.
It surely can’t get any worse, but any improvements that don’t involve a fresh take on Tuivasa-Sheck on the wing will be largely dismissed. If Tuivasa-Sheck isn’t getting his hands on the ball in different positions on the field, the Warriors attack won’t improve to a Top 8 calibre before the end of the season.
New South Wales have provided Nathan Brown with a blueprint for some variation. Even the Raiders and how they use Jack Wighton (a former fullback himself) sweeping to the right side is something to consider.
It’s always the hope that kills a Warriors fan. Their attack is so far away from it’s peak that there is still a teeny tiny bit of hope left heading into the final third of the season.