The cricket has started and the festive period has begun. The NRL news is at its most tedious and clicky-baity. Therefore, we’re going to sift through as much as we can and read it so you don’t have to waste your precious time. We’re updating the NRL 2023 Live Blog throughout the week before packing it all in here for those that want to sip on their Friday morning coffee catching up on the week that was in footy.
So, here we go…
Broncos: Kobe goes down
Kobe Hetherington has undergone surgery today after rupturing his biceps during training activities on Tuesday.
Broncos Head of Performance Dave Ballard said: “The surgery went well and Kobe is now recovering.
“He will be out for an extended period but is receiving the best quality care, and the club will be providing all the support that Kobe needs during that period.”
NRL Offseason: Favourite Plays in 2022
Adam Reynolds was a new piece of the puzzle at the Brisbane Broncos for the 2022 NRL season but they went back to a classic in Round 7. We’ve seen the Broncos pull this one off a few times over the years. The first one I had noted down came in 2019. This is another beauty.
This is a lovely try.
From the scrum and worked to the spot on the field Adam Reynolds wants it, Corey Oates swings into action and arrives from the wing to fly onto a short ball from the halfback.
NRL Offseason: Favourite Plays in 2022 – Rugby League Writers
Sea Eagles: Tom’s terrible luck
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles full-back Tom Trbojevic today underwent scans on a hamstring injury suffered at pre-season training on Wednesday.
An MRI confirmed a Grade 2 hamstring with an expected recovery time of 6-8 weeks.
Worth the listen:
TWL PODCAST 2023 FEAT. FONZIE: EP 1 – WEBSTER MASH
The Bye Round with James Graham: Cameron Ciraldo Interview
Eels: Hodgson into full training
In welcome news for Eels fans, the club’s highest-profile recruit Hodgson is in full training after the former Canberra hooker missed the bulk of last season with an ACL injury. – Daily Telegraph
A handful of Eels players have responded to talk about the premiership window during the week. The fellas over at The Cumberland Throw have also talked about ‘that premiership window‘.
The doubters do so to generate conversation. The passionate responses then return the other way to keep that conversation going. I, for one, don’t think the premiership window has been totally jammed shut. Although, I don’t have the same confidence TCT do in the replacements for Isaiah Papali’i and Marata Niukore.
Josh Hodgson is the underrated aspect in all of this, though. A veteran hooker that, at his best, is still one of the craftiest in the game. He can manipulate defensive lines with the best of them and there is a world where he is an upgrade on Reed Mahoney in attack, even if only for a year.
I can’t see the collection of players picking up the slack left behind by Papali’i, in particular. However, if Hodgson can produce some good footy and make things easier for those new backrowers, then the Eels should be in with a sniff of the premiership towards the pointy end of the 2023 NRL season.
More good NRL reads:
Six months on a creaky float: How footy changed the Abbott twins’ lives
Canterbury’s cross-code signing ready to unleash at Belmore
New Warriors coach Andrew Webster leading the charge to reconnect Warriors to their roots
Bulldogs: Keeping an eye on Jeral Skelton
A new era is dawning at Belmore under rookie coach Cameron Ciraldo but amongst the hype of several marquee signings, a cross-code star is flying under the radar. – NRL.com
I’ve not seen much of Jeral Skelton, but from what I have seen, he’s another young player to keep an eye on over the summer.
He’s a big unit with a dangerous left-foot step. He has a solid right-hand carry and left fend, too. But it’s little things like being able to switch the ball between hands and fend off two players while keeping his speed and balance that is particularly exciting.
Tigers: 4 players primed to return
The Wests Tigers have received a four-pronged, pre-Christmas boost on the injury front with Shawn Blore, Tommy Talau, Alex Seyfarth and Ken Maumalo all on track for the season opener against the Gold Coast. – Daily Telegraph
The Wests Tigers are putting together an improved squad through some handy signings but the return of Shawn Blore and Tommy Talau, in particular, can be what sees them exceed expectations.
Most anticipate an improvement from the Tigers following the arrival of Api Koroisau and Isaiah Papapli’i. Although, it remains to be seen whether or not the David Klemmer/Jackson Hastings swap ends up as a net positive. Nonetheless, Blore and Talau returning from respective ACL injuries can further help Wests improve in 2023.
Blore is an exciting talent. He loves contact and is a hard-nosed forward that can add some starch to what has been a flimsy Tigers defence in recent years. In case you forgot, he played out a debut to remember by going toe-to-toe with Nathan Brown back in 2020.
His post-match quote is still one of my favourites:
“I’m honoured he even wanted to run it straight at me.”
Blore is one to watch in 2023.