Take the Repeat Set: Finals Week 2 Review

Jason and Oscar are linking up to combine Repeat Set and Take the Two to recap an exciting Week 2 of the NRL Finals.

Here’s your Repeat Set for Week 2 of the 2021 NRL season:

• Manly in the Middle
• Finals Footy: Good, bad & predictable
• There’s always next season for…
  • 5th – Sydney Roosters
  • 6th – Parramatta Eels
• Play of the Round
  • Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

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Manly in the Middle

I said this about the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Sydney Roosters elimination final on Friday night:

“Sydney are going to be marking up on T.Trbojevic whenever he drifts wide looking to challenge an edge. Backrowers and halves in particular will be on high alert to contain him on the end of backline shifts and [Dylan] Walker will be on high alert for any holes Sydney might leave back on the inside as a result.” – Sea Eagles v Roosters Preview

Dylan Walker then did this in the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Sydney Roosters elimination on Friday night:

It’s pretty rare for things to fall in your lap like this (it is for me, anyway!) so I thought I’d run with it this week. 

The Sea Eagles have been tearing teams apart with sweeping backline movements early in yardage sets all season but equally as dynamic has been the ballplaying across their forward pack. We know Jake Trbojevic can throw a pill (see my Play of the Round, below) but the injection of Walker into Des Hasler’s forward rotation this season has been as surprising as it has been effective. Walker has great footwork and is strong enough through contact to be a serviceable runner of the ball through the middle but it is his passing game that has taken Manly’s pack to another level in the back end of this season. 

In the action above, Kieran Foran and Tom Trbojevic are arranged in shape out to the left as Walker gets the ball at first receiver in the middle of the field. Roosters’ backrower Sitili Tupouniua and halfback Sam Walker only have eyes for Tom as they shoot off the line to leave Victor Radley isolated back on the inside, and Walker spots it. He has the vision to read how the defence is moving and the skills to react to those movements, and in this instance he throws a split-second pass to Jake who pushes into the fractured defensive line before linking back up with Walker in support. 

It’s a credit to Hasler’s coaching that he has created situations in Manly’s attacking systems for Walker to positively involve himself like this. Jake shifting to prop not only accommodates Walker in the lock position but also provides Walker with a mobile and effective line runner to link up with as he does in this action. Walker is also one of only a few lock-forwards quick enough to support Jake here and very nearly streaks away to score himself. 

Radley does a remarkable job to reel him in but with a quick play-the-ball and Sydney on their own line, it wasn’t hard to imagine what was coming next. 

The thing I love most about Walker’s involvement in this Manly side however is his willingness to not only fill a playmaker role but a support player role too. He passed a teammate into space to set up a try in this action but in the following set it was Walker supporting as a running forward and breaking into space himself. 

Just as Jake pushed up on Walker in the previous action, this time it’s Walker running off Martin Taupau as he takes the ball into the line. Taupau’s threat as a ball runner attracts the attention of three Roosters defenders who aren’t expecting a pass from the front rower, but pass he does. Walker beats an arms tackle from Lachlan Lam before selling a dummy of the ages to James Tedesco in the backfield. 

The variation Manly are presenting to defensive lines through the middle with Jake Trbojevic, Walker and even Taupau makes it so difficult for defenders to commit on the ball carrier and win the tackle. It means Manly are getting quicker play the balls as a result, which only brings Tom Trbojevic into the game more. It’s an attacking model that only Melbourne have been good enough to contain so far and it’s an area of the game South Sydney need to win if they’re to avoid a fourth consecutive preliminary round exit next weekend.

~ Oscar

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Finals Footy: The Good, bad & predictable

It’s not a good game of rugby league in 2021 if the referees aren’t the main point of conversation after the final whistle is blown.

The Penrith Panthers snuck past the Parramatta Eels in a thriller to remind the powers at be that we don’t need 50+ points scored for a good game of footy. However, you wouldn’t know that a lot of people enjoyed an epic battle between two strong defensive teams on Saturday night given the headlines that have followed.

“Why are we writing about referees after such a wonderful game of rugby league?”

It’s what the people want, unfortunately. News is measured in clicks and nothing gets a mouse tapping more than something that will fire up emotions. Nothing fires up the rugby league public more than an emotional response to a handful of decisions made by one person across 80 minutes in which 34 other people also influence the result.

“Were the Eels dudded?”

No, not really. They were on the wrong end of a couple of calls but the Panthers dealt with a few themselves. Depending on the colour of your laundry, the team you put a punt on or the fan base that winds you up the most on social media, you’ll see one decision in a different light to somebody else.

But honestly, that sort of thing bores the shit out of me…

(Andrew Webster covered it all off better than I ever could in his piece this week: The referees will always be in crisis — but let’s stop moaning about them)

We saw one of the best games of the 2021 NRL season on Saturday night, so I’m going to talk a little bit about it.

Dylan Brown’s try-saver

This game could have looked a lot different had Dylan Brown not chased down Nathan Cleary for the Panthers halfback to fall inches short of the line in the 6th minute. Give Penrith an early lead and they’re one of the toughest teams in the competition to chase down.

With Marata Niukore left on the ground and Junior Paulo unable to get square at marker, Api Koroisau takes his chance to run the ball. Nathan Cleary saw the opportunity at the same time Koroisau did and pushed up in support. With the ball out in front and the option to pass to Cleary, Koroisau stands up Nathan Brown who didn’t get off the line square.

Cleary looks in for all money but there is Brown who has to make up some distance following Koroisau’s break. A desperate legs tackle stops Cleary just short before the defence forced Matt Burton over the sideline on the next play. It’s the sort of effort that would go on to define Parramatta’s performance.

Waqa Blake’s try

A fine example of the good Eels playing patient football, Paulo played short to Niukore on 4th tackle despite the option to feed Mitchell Moses out the back of shape. We’ve seen this side shift the ball and force themselves to the side line late in a set time and time again this season. This time, they played for the kick and Moses nailed it.

This is an absolute beauty.

Collecting the belly of the ball on contact, Moses sent this one into orbit before it wobbled its way back to earth. The movement of the ball didn’t allow Dylan Edwards to set himself and he chose to risk a bouncing ball over throwing his hands out and hoping for the best.

The risk didn’t pay off and Waqa Blake was rewarded for his enthusiastic chase with a try that only confirmed Parramatta’s patient game plan was one worth sticking to for the full 80 minutes.

Kurt Capewell’s try

Cleary is the best halfback in the game right now and he came up with an outrageous play when his team needed it most.

The Panthers struggled with the ball early. Even throughout the set leading to Kurt Capewell’s try the ball didn’t move as well as it has done throughout the year. Parramatta’s rushing defence on the edges worked well in shutting down the link between Isaah Yeo and Jarome Luai so Cleary took it upon himself to make the play.

I’d assume this is a miss-kick for most other players. It is incredibly difficult to put through such a delicate grubber at that speed and under pressure, but Cleary has it in his bag. He has put that on a plate for Capewell barely five metres in front of where he kicked it for the Panthers to finally turn their territory advantage into points.

Stephen Crichton’s leap

Stephen Crichton’s leap and finger-tip catch of the ball almost certainly saved his side from conceding four points and the lead in the 51st minute.

In a game that is being dissected by individual moments – both good and bad – this turned out to be a crucial play.

Special Mentions

James Fisher-Harris: He didn’t finish up with the sort of numbers he often has done this year but Fisher-Harris was once again fantastic. Always active around the ball, the big prop forward contributed a lot more to Penrith’s yardage game than his 105 running metres suggest. His 48 tackles and the force behind each and every one is where he really made his mark, though.

Marata Niukore: His battle with Fisher-Harris early set the tone for the physical nature of the contest. He copped a couple of penalties for high shots but did enough outside of those two indiscretions to still comfortably be a net-positive player on the day.

Dylan Brown: I’ve already highlighted his defensive effort in the opening moments of the match. Overall, he commanded the left edge in defence and consistently made the right read when Penrith explored down the right side. He kept a lid on Dylan Edwards, in particular.

Tevita Pangai Jr: He only played 32 minutes but Pangai Jr’s work rate ensured he made a big mark on the contest. Isaah Yeo (typically magnificent in this one as well) is the only Panthers forward to run for more than Pangai’s 137 metres. The former Bronco looked especially dangerous when getting his arms free close to the line.

Nathan Cleary: The Eels won the running metre battle by over 200 metres but Cleary’s boot made up the difference. Whenever the Panthers looked in trouble working out of their own end, the 23-year-old sent the ball spiraling up the field to the tune of 807 kicking metres. The only game he finished up with more this season came against the Rabbitohs in Round 23 (844m).

Junior Paulo: He seemed to be in everything the whole night despite not playing the full game. His work rate and the way he moves around the field at his size continues to amaze me. One of Parramatta’s best on the night, it was sad to see him forced into handling a poor pass to spill their chances of a late victory.

~ Jason

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Always Next Season For…

5th – Sydney Roosters

The Sydney Roosters deserved better than to be blown out in the final match of the 2021 NRL season.

Battling through injuries and suspensions all year to reach Week 2 of the finals is an impressive achievement and one that shouldn’t be overlooked because of how it ended. It’s one that is likely to be referenced as a learning curve when the Roosters are inevitably among the premiership contenders in 2022.