NRL Repeat Set: Round 18

Repeat set

Recap the latest round of NRL action with the Repeat Set: Talking points, highlights, lowlights and the Play of the Round.

Here’s your Repeat Set for Round 18 of the 2021 NRL season:

  • Six Again: Six examples to expose the flaws
  • Things I Liked
  • A round 25 minutes to remember for…North Queensland Cowboys
  • A round to forget for…Lachlan Lewis
  • Play of the Round: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
  • A prayer to the Footy Gods

Six Again: Six examples to expose the flaws

“I’m not being critical of coaches, their job is to win. Teams are always going to try that sort of stuff. But the rules have to be flexible enough to make sure that the team that hasn’t offended doesn’t get disadvantaged by the situation, so we have to stay ahead of that.”Graham Annesley – June 1, 2020

After what we saw in State of Origin III and across a handful of games in Round 18, I think it’s fair to say that the NRL hasn’t made sure that the team that hasn’t offended isn’t disadvantaged by being awarded six again.

Unsurprisingly, a close game in which almost every footy fan has some sort of allegiance has generated the most negative attention – for ten-metre infringements at the very least – since the rule was introduced. Fans and media members blew up deluxe throughout State of Origin III. Supporters on both sides thought they’d been hard done by when, in fact, both made sure to use the new rules to their advantage.

We then saw one of the more entertaining rounds of the NRL season over the weekend. While seven of the eight games were decided by double figures, most carried an element of intrigue through to the final siren. That hasn’t always been the case this season.

Is it just a coincidence that an entertaining round of football coincides with the loudest cries against the six-again rule all season?

We caught a few examples in Round 18 to confirm Annesley’s comments back in June last year haven’t come to fruition. Most notably, in the Roosters 34-18 win over the Cowboys.

The Cowboys manage to break down the left edge following a Jason Taumalolo offload in this case. Scott Drinkwater puts Jake Granville into space and the Cowboys are on the charge.

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Drinkwater is again involved as he steams onto the ball before throwing an offload out the back to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. The Hammer goes close, but not close enough. Meanwhile, the Roosters defence is cramped over on their right side. Only three players are defending from the right post and out. A shift through the hands would do it for the Cowboys here. Instead, Angus Crichton gets off his line early and takes that option away.

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Jordan McLean’s settler puts the Cowboys in position to attack again. When Reece Robson goes close, Isaac Liu takes his time getting to his feet – he’s quite happy to concede six again to allow the Roosters defensive line to reset.

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Sam Walker sees Jason Taumalolo out the back of a block and in position to head straight for him if the Tongan was ready for it. The young half flies out of the line to once again shut down the attack to concede a third set restart in 20 seconds.

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Drinkwater’s double movement ends the play and the Cowboys come away with nothing despite repeated Roosters infringements. Funnily enough, the Roosters are awarded a full penalty for Drinkwater’s double movement, they kick the ball upfield and score 20 seconds later to ice the game.

The Bulldogs put in an impressive effort in keeping close with the Rabbitohs on Sunday evening. While they have improved in recent weeks, they made sure to use the new rules to their advantage in this one. They shot off their line on the right side to help shut down the scintillating Rabbitohs left edge. Trent Barrett had clearly instructed his side to concede a set restart at scrum time, too.

Lachlan Lewis doesn’t give Damien Cook a chance to start sending this ball wide by leaving the line early.

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Later, Corey Waddell stays on top of Blake Taafe to give the Bulldogs defensive line time to reset following the scrum.

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A third example in the first half alone came just before the break. Adam Reynolds and Ben Cummins saw the defence leave the line early before resetting the scrum. Warning them to stay back, the Bulldogs fly out at Cody Walker and force him to cut back into the waiting defence in the middle of the field.

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Make no mistake, these are all smart plays by the defensive teams. We all knew coaches would adjust and find a loophole – that is their job, after all. However, the NRL introduced these rules while saying the attacking team wouldn’t be disadvantaged. It’s quite clear based on these examples – and countless others throughout the season so far – that teams aren’t getting bang for their buck when the defensive team infringes in the ruck or at the ten metre line.

So, here we go again 13 months later…

“We have seen an increase in six agains. We’ve seen an increase in six agains early in the tackle count and in particular field positions. So, referees are being reminded, and will continue to be reminded, that they have that [sin bin] as an option.” Graham Annesley – July, 2021


Things I Liked

That’s enough moaning…

Back to the good stuff.

Reed Mahoney

I highlighted Reed Mahoney in the Notepad this week. Primarily, I wanted to see how he looked after some time on the sideline and start to get an idea of how much he might be able to add to the Parramatta Eels attack in September. I’m sure even the most rusted on Eels fans still have some doubts over how Mitchell Moses and the Parramatta attack will go against the top teams after Round 25.

This try is one example of Mahoney’s influence. Nathan Brown tips the ball onto Reagan Campbell-Gillard before Mahoney shapes to pass right. You can see Erin Clark anticipate the shift to the right as he sneaks closer to the ruck, increasing the gap between himself and Jamal Fogarty at B defender. It’s simple, but Mahoney sells it to perfection.

With Clint Gutherson sweeping around the back to take Brian Kelly’s attention, Mahoney isolates big Shaun Lane onto the much smaller Fogarty. This is a try ten times out of ten.

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Haumole Olakau’atu

This dude is a beast.

I can’t decide whether or not Des Hasler should be given credit for unleashing him on the NRL, or questioned as to why it took until Round 9 for him to start…

There is nothing on here. The 22-year-old catches the ball flat-footed with a relatively well-set defensive line in front of him.

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Get off him Corey Norman. Try and stop him, Tariq Sims and Brayden Wiliame. You’re too late, Tyrell Sloan. Take that meat pie, Morgan Harper.

Olakau’atu is the real deal.

Adam Doueihi

I’m an Adam Doueihi guy from way back and I was glad to finally see him back in the #6 jersey again this week. It was hardly a surprise to see him dominate the game and finish up with five try assists. This one here is my favourite, the most encouraging, and the reason why he can become one of the better five-eighths in the NRL if he’s given time.

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He’s an excellent runner of the football. Here, he gets to the outside of Brodie Croft before straightening and digging deep into the line. Doueihi is going to be bigger and stronger than his opposite almost every week so playing at the line will be a hallmark of his play moving forward. By getting deep in this one he forces Herbie Farnworth to bite on Tommy Talau’s lead line which allows Daine Laurie to scoot through to score.

Doueihi, Laurie and Luciano Leilua has the potential to be a very, very good attacking combination.


A round 25 minutes to remember for…

The North Queensland Cowboys don’t seem to have 80 minutes in them. They’ll sometimes have 40, but never 80. They were the better side throughout the first 25 minutes on Saturday afternoon as they built a handy 12-0 lead over the Sydney Roosters.

Todd Payten’s side looked like the Top 8 team they should be.

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