A snapshot of round 17 of the NRL season including man of the round, injury news and who’s under pressure.
PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Scott Drinkwater. With a game-high 216 run metres, the North Queensland fullback was in everything as the Cowboys defeated South Sydney – their third premiership heavyweight scalp in a row. Drinkwater’s line break through the middle sparked the first of four second-half tries for the Cowboys and was one of his three try assists.
QUOTE OF THE ROUND: “Do you think he’d want to come to the club after watching that? I wouldn’t have thought so.” Disgruntled St George Illawarra captain Ben Hunt has been linked with a mid-season switch to Brisbane, but coach Kevin Walters questioned whether Brisbane were up to his standard after losing 18-12 to Gold Coast.
TALKING POINT: Gold Coast’s decision to sack Justin Holbrook on the eve of round 17, despite sitting in ninth spot on the ladder. With ex-Manly boss Des Hasler landing on the Glitter Strip from 2024, can the Titans finally become the premiership force their fans have hoped?
MAGIC MOMENT: Filling in for Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster, rookie Jonah Pezet turned the ball into a boomerang when he bent it along the ground with a kick that bamboozled Manly’s Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega. The Manly winger fumbled the footy, which was claimed by Xavier Coates for one of his two tries.
STAT THAT MATTERS: With five State of Origin stars rested and Nathan Cleary injured, only five members of the starting Panthers side that won the grand final last year were on deck to face Newcastle. But the Knights never troubled second-string Penrith, who were in control all day to win 20-12.
CASUALTY WARD: Storm – Aaron Pene (ankle); Cowboys – Jason Taumalolo (hamstring); Raiders- Josh Papalii (hamstring); Roosters – Egan Butcher (concussion/facial), Angus Crichton (knee)
JUDICIARY WATCH: Warriors – Marata Niukore (high tackle)
UNDER PRESSURE: After starting the season with so much promise, the Dolphins have conceded a staggering 106 points across their last two games – 70 of those in the first half of their games. Things won’t be any easier with Brisbane and Penrith awaiting in the next month.
