NRL Repeat Set: Round 4

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 4 of the 2021 NRL season:

• Reliving Papenhuyzen’s night
• The new big man
• A round to remember for…Sam Walker
• A round to forget for…Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles & Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
• Play of the Round: Melbourne Storm
• Graham Annesley’s Briefing Summary

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Reliving Papenhuyzen’s night

Just as the Brisbane Broncos looked to be hanging with the Melbourne Storm through to halftime, Ryan Papenhuyzen went bang, bang, bang and bang.

Four tries in 11 minutes put the game beyond doubt and printed another magnificent Melbourne moment in the memory bank.

Papenhuyzen is the headline. His support play is up there with James Tedesco, he can’t be far behind Josh Addo-Carr in the speed stakes, and his motor rivals the always-moving Clint Gutherson. Together, they make Papenhuyzen one of the best fullbacks in the world.

However, I want to highlight the work of his teammates in the lead up to Papenhuyzen’s four tries. It’s not to take anything away from the fullback’s performance. Rather, to show why Melbourne are always so good and so easy for a supporting fullback to play well behind.

25th Minute – Subtle Smith and Olam’s offload

It doesn’t look like much at first, but it’s Brandon Smith’s little skip to the right that opens up the space for Olam and Addo-Carr on the edge. As Smith takes that step to the right, Tom Dearden (at 3-defender) starts to angle in-field with a gap opening up between himself and Tesi Niu. Niu is an excellent attacking player but anybody that has seen him so far this year knows he struggles in one-on-one defence.

As Smith sends the ball to the left edge, the Broncos defence is already behind and sliding. Cameron Munster with Papenhuyzen on his inside shoulder occupies Dearden giving Olam room to move. His superb offload sends Addo-Carr down the sideline and the Storm speed finishes the job started by Smith and Olam.

29th Minute – Barnstorming Olam

Papenhuyzen’s second comes as a direct result of Patrick Carrigan failing to tackle a brick wall that can run and pass.

The Broncos lock bounces off Olam who puts his foot down, draws in Jamayne Isaako, and releases a lovely pass to Papenhuyzen in support.

An excellent individual play.

34th Minute – Asofa-Solomona’s second-phase

Oscar was a week early on this one, but he did see it coming after Nelson Asofa-Solomona managed to get his arms free in Round 2 to release an offload to nobody.

“You can bet Craig Bellamy picked this one out in Monday’s video review. Asofa-Solomona puts on a bit of late footwork to poke his nose through the line and gets his arm free to pop up the offload, but there was no one in support and the Storm waste an opportunity. Expect to see support players buzzing around Asofa-Solomona like flies when he carries the ball on Thursday night.” – Heads In! – Round 3 Preview

A fortnight later in exactly the same place on the field, Asofa-Solomona had a player sniffing around in support.

36th Minute – Asofa-Solomona at it again

This one here is my favourite because something so simple as a giant holding the ball in two hands created a gap for Melbourne to score.

Asofa-Solomona keeps the defence on their heels with the ball out in front and shaping to pass, allowing him to run directly at Anthony Milford. That forces Alex Glenn and Jake Turpin into the tackle. Still able to offload the ball, Herbie Farnworth is dragged into the play leaving space out wide.

Smith is again involved and quickly sends Jahrome Hughes through the gap Farnworth should be filling. As usual, there’s Papenhuyzen in support ready to provide the finishing touches.

Papenhuyzen is the man of the moment and this game will always be remembered for his four tries. However, you can bet he dished out plenty of credit to his teammates when pouring over the video post-match.

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The new big man

The NRL introduced their rule changes to “bring back the little man” among other things, but it’s the big fellas that have really caught my eye in 2021. They’re filling roles typically prescribed to little blokes while running around at 110kg.