It’s the statistic that should make Manly’s entire forward pack hang their heads in shame – the team’s highest tackler in the disastrous 32-6 loss to the Broncos was halfback Daly Cherry-Evans.
While the Sea Eagles’ forwards were being trampled by their Brisbane counterparts, DCE – one of the smallest men on the field – did his best to stem the tide.
He made 36 tackles in the 80 minutes on the likes of giants Payne Haas and Thomas Flegler … little wonder he was too exhausted to have much impact in attack.
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Coach Anthony Seibold needs to sit his big men down this week and tell them to pull the finger out in defence, take the heat off DCE and let him do what he does best – run the offence!
Young Tiger continues to draw rave reviews
Last week I was chatting with Tigers coach Tim Sheens about Jahream Bula and he cautioned me (saying), “You haven’t seen anything yet – wait until the kid plays on a dry track”.
Sheens pointed out that the youngster’s two NRL games to date were in wet and slippery conditions, making it hard for him to shine.
Well, Bula got his dry track in Magic Round yesterday – and was dynamic.
The promising fullback ran for 180 metres but his defence was the real eye-catcher – he produced three try-saving tackles and was the difference between the Tigers and a sloppy Dragons side.
Bula looks a real prospect and is one of a host of youngsters Sheens and Benji Marshall have pencilled in for NRL in the next couple of seasons.
The Tigers have now recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since April 2022 – and things are suddenly looking much rosier at Concord.
Young Burgess etching his own Souths legacy
Thomas Burgess began his career at the Rabbitohs very much in the shadow of brothers Sam and George.
But the big Englishman has outlasted his more illustrious brothers and in the win over the Storm on Saturday night, became the third most-capped Rabbitoh of all time.
NRL Highlights: Storm v Rabbitohs – Round 10
Burgess played his 219th game for the club to overtake Nathan Merritt (218) as third on the club’s list behind John Sutton (336) and Adam Reynolds (231).
And Burgess celebrated the occasion by making more metres than any forward on the field – despite starting on the bench.
After struggling in his early days in the NRL, Thomas is now one of the game’s elite front-rowers and still has plenty of petrol in the tank.
Nikorima’s new lease on life under Bennett
There have been many success stories at the Dolphins this season – none more so than Kodi Nikorima.
In and out of first grade in recent season, Nikorima was signed by Bennett’s boys almost as an afterthought.
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Sean O’Sullivan was designated for the playmaking role but when he went down injured a few weeks ago, the spotlight fell upon the 29-year-old journeyman, currently at his fourth club.
Nikorima was dynamic in the Dolphins’ stunning 36-16 win over the Sharks on Saturday night, producing two try assists and making three line break assists.
He’s playing the best football of his nine-year NRL career – a testament to Bennett’s magnificent man-management skills.
Edwards’ Origin drought set to continue
Is Dylan Edwards destined to go down as one of the best players never to play representative football?
With so many great fullbacks around, Edwards can’t get a look-in for the Blues in Origin or for Australia – even though he is good enough.
The flying fullback has played over 100 games for the Panthers – few better than Saturday’s effort against the Warriors.
Edwards ran for 237 metres, scored a try, produced a try assist, two line-breaks and a try saving tackle.
Yet with Origin just a few weeks away, there’s no way his name will even get a mention in passing.
Broncos star ‘a player made for Origin’
Selwyn Cobbo made a solid debut for Queensland last season – but he is now set to dominate the State of Origin arena for the next decade.
Cobbo destroyed a plodding Manly outfit on Friday night, scoring three tries and running for nearly 200 metres.
Broncos hit milestone as Cobbo bags hat-trick
He’s a better – and bigger – player than last season, adding seven kilos to his frame but not losing any speed.
Cobbo has now scored 16 tries in his past 12 games at Suncorp Stadium and with his cool temperament, is a player made for Origin footy.
Raiders star flying under the radar
When it comes to under-rated players, few are going better this season than Raiders centre Matt Timoko.
The hard-running Kiwi rarely gets a mention in the headlines but has been superb in the Raiders’ recent four-match winning run.
NRL Highlights: Bulldogs v Raiders – Round 10
In the 34-30 defeat of the Bulldogs on Friday night, he ran for more metres than any player on the field, scored one try and created two others.
It’s a pity there is no mid-season Test against the Kangaroos this season because if there was, he’d be among the first Kiwis picked.
Bulldogs’ Brisbane hoodoo continues
Gus Gould has plenty of pull in the NRL – and maybe he needs to lobby to move Magic Round away from Suncorp Stadium in 2024.
His Bulldogs have now lost 12 straight games at the home of football in Brisbane and the arena has become something akin to a graveyard for the boys from Belmore.
The injury-hit Dogs actually played pretty well against an in-form Raiders outfit, but clearly their Suncorp hoodoo was too much to overcome.
Warriors continue to gain fans despite loss
They came away with no points, but the Warriors were as impressive as any of the 16 teams on show in Magic Round.
The Warriors had some tough calls go against them, lost winger Ed Kosi, second-rower Jackson Ford and prop Bunty Afoa to injury and twice had players in the sin-bin against dual premiers Penrith.
NRL Highlights: Warriors v Panthers – Round 10
But the Warriors refused to surrender and were right in the game until a late Spencer Leniu try gave the Panthers an 18-6 win.
It’s been said many times over the opening 10 rounds – this Warriors side has more grit and resolve than Kiwi teams of the past and Andrew Webster and his men lost no friends at Suncorp.
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