Recap and review NRL action as it happens as Rugby League Writers hand out Round 4 scores and grades for all 16 teams.
While not every game of every round throughout the 2023 NRL season is hyped up as a blockbuster, there is always something to take away from the 80 minutes.
Here, we’re summing up every Round 4 game before digging into the biggest moments of the round on Monday and Tuesday.
Note: The grades are relative. NRL results don’t always paint an accurate picture of what happened on the field. An A grade for The Dolphins in 2023 will look a lot different to an A for, say, the Penrith Panthers. It’s a moving scale for each team as expectations and goals change throughout the year.
Thursday
Parramatta Eels 17 def. Penrith Panthers 16
Parramatta Eels: A-
What a way to register your first two points of the year. The Eels slogged it out in slippery conditions to steal another regular season win over the defending premiers, just as they did twice in the 2022. It mightn’t have worked out in last years grand final, but Parramatta have Penrith figured out better than most. Went punch-for-punch through the middle of the field and relied on Mitchell Moses’ boot (game-high 975 kicking metres) to keep them in the yardage battle. Far from clinical in attack, but did enough in key moments. The two-pass kick for Bryce Cartwright was clutch and the sleight of hand from Brendan Hands at dummy-half is an action we’ll be talking about again this season. Earned the ‘A-’ Grade due to some questionable game management in the final minutes of regular time. Conceding the tackle instead of forcing a drop-out invited Penrith back into the contest with seconds to go. That could’ve been the moment Moses iced the game, but as we know now that moment came a few minutes later with a winning field-goal in golden point.
Penrith Panthers: B
Still plenty of positives to take from this loss. Dominated early just as they did in last year’s grand final, building pressure through the boot of Nathan Cleary and the work of their back five in yardage. Injecting pressure and fatigue into the defence, Isaah Yeo finally found space around the ruck with a trademark run to set up Dylan Edwards for the opener. It would be 38 minutes until they scored again, though. Cleary stood tall in the clutch moments. It took big you-know-whats to play short to Zac Hosking on fifth tackle in the 71st minute, and even bigger ones to nail an outrageous, buzzer beating two-point field-goal to send the game to golden point. It felt like there was another classic Panthers win coming, but it wasn’t to be. Ill-discipline from the Eels gifted Cleary that shot at goal, and it was ill-discipline that gifted the Eels one straight back when Mitch Kenny hit Waqa Blake high in Parramatta’s first set of extra time. Dylan Edwards was everywhere to arguably be best on ground and Hoskings was impressive filling in for Liam Martin.
Friday
Melbourne Storm 24 def. Wests Tigers 12
Melbourne Storm: B-
Cameron Munster inspired a significant improvement out of the Melbourne Storm this week. His presence provided the sort of calm in attack they didn’t play with last week. Jonah Pezet ended up as the spine player most involved in their try scoring actions, though. His offload triggered the first try before half a break created a second only five minutes later. With Jahrome Hughes out another week, there is a good chance Pezet plays himself into a bench spot for Round 6 onwards. Craig Bellamy won’t be too happy with the errors in the second half. The scoreboard shouldn’t have finished quite this close. Where Storm teams of the past have built a lead and looked comfortable through to the end, that’s two weeks in a row we’ve been left stratching our head at uncharacteristic errors. Still, the Storm will take all of the competition points they can get on the back of two consecutive losses and a few injuries.
Wests Tigers: D
More of the same from the Wests Tigers this week. They showed moments of promise and individual efforts provided points. John Bateman, who spent time at lock in this one, bounced out of three tackles before offloading the ball for the left edge to score their first. In the second half, Api Koroisau followed his grubber into the in-goal and scored an opportunistic try to add some respectability to the scoreboard. There will be days that it all sticks for the Tigers. They played out a promising period in the second half to stress the Storm defence. However, Luke Brooks’ continued struggles and regular reshuffles to the spine (Adam Doueihi started at fullback but finished the game in the centres) make developing any consistency even more difficult on both sides of the ball.
Brisbane Broncos 18 def. The Dolphins 12
The Dolphins: B
The Dolphins confirmed their identity against one of the best teams in the NRL tonight: Tough, prepared to grind, resilient, and built on effort. As they have done all season so far, they adopted a simple game plan that revolved around plugging the middle and being patient with the ball. They worked up the field, kicked well, and forced the Broncos to do the same in response. The attack is still a little bit clunky in good ball. It’s the area where the lack of cohesion and experience playing together is most noticeable. Nonetheless, it took two try savers in the corner to stop them from scoring in the first half. They issues in attack aren’t likely to come good any time soon. Sean O’Sullivan, who again played well to move the Dolphins around the field, suffered a pec injury that could keep him out for an extended period.
Brisbane Broncos: B
The Brisbane Broncos threatened down the right edge early. Walsh managed to get the outside of the two in defender and went close to sending the winger over twice in the first 20 minutes. They went away from it, though. A lot of that has to do with how well the Dolphins handled the Broncos through the middle. The Dolphins made the most of the minutes Payne Haas sat on the bench to play themselves back into the game. Still, it felt like a matter of time before Walsh would send Selwyn Cobbo over in the corner if they set up for the shift more often. They were running at Tesi Niu running around on one leg, too. The Broncos were made to work hard for the win and will be encouraged by winning ugly, but they’ll recognise that they left a few points out there on review.
Saturday
North Queensland Cowboys 24 def. Gold Coast Titans 12
North Queensland Cowboys: B
A scrappy and much-needed win for the Cowboys. Their trademark grit and resilience of 2022 was on show as North Queensland absorbed some early pressure before clawing their way back into the game. Tom Dearden was a clear standout, making three clean linebreaks and threatening with every energetic run in attack. Reece Robson continued to ask questions around the ruck to get his teammates playing at speed over the ad line, and the Titans struggled to contain North Queensland when they flooded the middle. Opportunistic tries to Valentine Holmes and Tom Chester in the final quarter weren’t pretty but were reward for effort on both sides of the ball. To navigate injuries to Gehamat Shibasaki and Murray Taulagi is credit to the Cowboys resilience.
Gold Coast Titans: B+
An incredibly brave effort. Made the most of some early field position to score through Alofiana Kahn-Pereira in the opening minutes, continuing what is a promising run of form for David Fifita on the left edge. The variety Gold Coast are using Fifita with – thanks largely to the lead up work of Kieran Foran – is unlocking the strike backrower in attack. Crucial injuries to Foran and AJ Brimson midway through the first half blunted an increasingly expansive attack, but to their credit the Titans did not go away. Tannah Boyd kicked smartly to keep Gold Coast in the yardage battle and Jayden Campbell had some exciting involvements from fullback. Ultimately didn’t have the class to go with North Queensland through to the 80th minute, but lost no supporters with their effort.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 13 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 12
South Sydney Rabbitohs: B-
The South Sydney Rabbitohs still can’t produce a polished performance but will take a lot out of this one. They’re not healthy and Keaon Koloamatangi was forced to play in the middle, weakening their greatest strength of the first three weeks, but still managed to get the result. A poor first half completing at only 61% promoted a relatively no-frills style of play in the second half as they managed to bump the completion rate up to 75% by full time. The lack of points is a slight cause for concern with this one making it three consecutive games they’ve failed to crack 20 points, albeit against quality sides. The Manly defence successfully slid across the field to shut down the edges and the crash-and-bash approach around the post didn’t work for Damien Cook and the Bunnies pack. Nonetheless, it’s two competition points against a good side as they battle a tough draw to start the season.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles: B-
More encouraging signs for the Sea Eagles as they work their way into the Anthony Seibold era. They worked hard through the middle to beat the Rabbitohs in yardage; Haumole Olakau’atu, Kelma Tuilagi and Josh Aloiai all finished up with over 100 running metres while Tom Trbojevic, Christian Tuipulotu, Tolutau Koula and Reuben Garrick did the same to start their sets. Tom Trbojevic is chimming in with the ball and popping up a little bit close to the ruck this year. As a result, Manly haven’t been quite so wide-ranging in yardage but he is still a threat on the edge in good ball. While they ended up on the wrong side of the result, the Sea Eagles are ironing out the kinks and did so in a position to win this one. They’ll be encouraged by their performance in defence at the very least.
Sunday
New Zealand Warriors 16 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 14
New Zealand Warriors: B+
Another improved performance from the Warriors. Cheap penalties gave Canterbury an early head start but the Wahs showed great resilience to absorb the pressure and slowly work themselves back into the game. Stuck to their plan with the ball and were patient to work to their kicks and wait for attacking field position. Once they got there, the Warriors middles moved the ball smoothly across-field as they have done to start the season. Navigated an injury to Tohu Harris without skipping a beat to win the ruck in the second half, allowing Shaun Johnson and Te Maire Martin to play over the ad line. Martin in particular was consistently dangerous down the Warriors left edge, while centres Viliami Vailea and Adam Pompey made the most of the spaces created to threaten on either edge in attack. Won the grind with some strong goal-line defence and then won the crucial moments in attack. A compelling win.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: C+
The Bulldogs are still building into the season but hit a speed bump in Round 4. Dominated possession and territory early to take an 8-0 lead inside 10 minutes, when Kyle Flanagan and Jake Averillo put on a lovely short-side trick shot on fifth tackle for Jacob Kiraz to score the opener. The Warriors ill-discipline gifted them another two points shortly after, but at the time it felt like Canterbury needed to do more with the field position they enjoyed early. New Zealand defended well but the Dogs will rue a few missed opportunities in the first half. Flanagan was involved in another trick shot in the second forty, linking with Hayze Perham from the scrum to send Josh Addo-Carr 80 metres upfield to score. Tried to grind their way to the win from there, but couldn’t stay with a Warriors side that came home strongest. Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau had some nice involvements early on but struggled to make an impact as fatigue set in.
Newcastle Knights 24 def. Canberra Raiders 14
Newcastle Knights: B+
There were signs of an improving Knights attack this week with Jackson Hastings, Lachie Miller and Tyson Gamble linking effectively at times. Throw Kurt Mann into that mix and Newcastle have four ballplayers capable of engaging the line before throwing out the back. They did exactly that for Greg Marzhew to score twice on the right wing, the second courtesy of a lovely floating cut-out from Gamble. Bradman Best was dangerous on the other side of the field but the Knights can still improve how they bring him into the game. Looked at their best when generating some second-phase play and allowing Hastings’ vision and Miller’s speed to dictate terms. Miller in particular had arguably his best game in first-grade to have three try involvements in a ballplaying role. Ultimately played out a mature and resilient 80 minutes, jumping out to a 10 point lead midway through the second half and either kicking or defending their way home from there.
Canberra Raiders: C-
The Raiders are still working through some teething issues in attack and Jamal Fogarty watching from the sidelines didn’t help. Instead of manufacturing points, Canberra relied on some individual brilliance from Matt Frawley and Jack Wighton to trouble the scoreboard. A lovely offload through the line from Frawley put Hudson Young over before Wighton did it all himself to score their second. Finished the first half on top but ill-discipline invited Newcastle back into the game. A sinbin to Wighton quickly turned into six points for Newcastle when Tyson Frizell picked out Tom Starling defending in Wighton’s position on an edge. Canberra’s inability to absorb pressure and defend their mistakes eventually gifted Newcastle too much possession and field position, and without a long kicking game the Raiders faded. Their effort areas can’t be critiqued but Canberra are still searching for control and execution in attack. This was perfectly summed up when a good kick chase by Young earned a fresh attacking set, only for Canberra to let the ball bounce and concede 60 metres from the drop-out.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 40 def. St George Illawarra Dragons 8
St. George Illawarra Dragons: C-
An expansive and energetic Dragons outfit clearly had a plan to work Cronulla across-field and test them back against the grain early on. Ben Hunt was typically involved to pass St George down both edges in yardage, and their switch-happy playing style eventually bore fruit when Hunt sold Hynes a dummy and snuck through the line in good-ball. A clever short side movement through Jayden Sullivan netted Jaydn Su’A their second, but as fatigue set in the Dragons pace slowed. The coast-to-coast attack went away as St George slogged it up through the middle and into an aggressive and dominant Sharks pack. Did well to make the most of their chances early but couldn’t stay with Cronulla when their opposition held the ball. Poor execution cruelled a few chances in attack but over the course of 80 minutes they just didn’t have the firepower to match the Sharks around the ruck or on the edges.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks: B+
Cronulla looked dangerous in attack right from the kick-off with Nicho Hynes getting busy on both sides of the ruck. He took his opportunities to run when Cronulla flooded the middle and threw some classy passes on either edge, one of which led to Will Kennedy’s opening try. Errors in yardage and penalties in defence prevented them from maintaining momentum and pressure, though. They went from looking most likely in possession to defending their mistakes for most of the first half, conceding two tries as they gave away cheap field position. Managed to take a lead into the break thanks to Jesse Ramien, but that lead should’ve been larger. Fixed up their discipline in the second forty and immediately took control of the contest. Hynes was everywhere to finish with three try assists and five linebreak assists, helping Cronulla’s right edge of Briton Nikora, Ramien and Sione Katoa to a feast of attacking opportunities. We’ve still not seen the best of the Sharks in 2023 but this was as close as they’ve been so far this year.