2013 NRL Discussion

Ferguson backs Dugan for Blues call up

By By David Barbelar
AAP
Tue 11th June, 2:04pm


St George Illawarra's Josh Dugan scored a second-half double against the Knights


Canberra centre Blake Ferguson has thrown his support behind close friend and former teammate Josh Dugan to step up for NSW in the next State of Origin match.

The once-troubled duo were creating headlines for all the wrong reasons at the start of the NRL season until Dugan was sensationally sacked by Canberra in March for disciplinary breaches.

Ferguson - who was lucky to escape the same fate - hasn't looked back since, his sensational form for the Raiders leading to a State of Origin debut in last Wednesday's game one victory.
And, after three long months and some time out of the game, Dugan is being strongly tipped for a Blues recall, with fullback Jarryd Hayne in serious doubt because of his hamstring injury.

Dugan boosted those chances when scoring 14 second half points on Friday night to help his new NRL club St George Illawarra beat Newcastle.

Speaking after another stand-out performance in the Raiders' 30-18 win over Brisbane on Monday night in his 100th NRL match, Ferguson said it would be good to see Dugan play for NSW again if Hayne was unavailable.

"Mate it would be good, it's good to see Dougie playing some good footy," Ferguson said.

"I'm very happy for him. He's one of my best mates.

"If that happens, it happens. It would be good."

However Ferguson emphasised he hadn't even locked in a spot himself yet for the next Origin match on June 26 despite an impressive debut when targeted by the Maroons.

"I'm not counting my eggs," he said.

"I'm not going to say I'm going to be in the team yet but I'm going work my butt off to get back in there."

Meanwhile, Ferguson's Raiders teammate Josh Papalii can breathe a sigh of relief after the match video review committee cleared him on Tuesday over a lifting tackle in Monday's game which was put on report.

Named as the 19th man for Queensland for game one, many believe Papalii's aggression is just what the Maroons need to get them back into the series in game two in Brisbane.
 
South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback Greg Inglis maintains lead at top of Dally M rankings






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South Sydney's Greg Inglis has maintained his lead at the top of the Dally M rankings. Picture: Mark Evans Source: The Daily Telegraph


​
SOUTHS fullback Greg Inglis is still top of the Dally M rankings despite the Rabbitohs having a bye at the weekend.


Inglis is on 15 points but Storm halfback Cooper Cronk, who scored two Dally M points in Melbourne's big win over Cronulla on Sunday, is just one point behind him.Josh Dugan scored three points for his starring role in the Dragons' win over the Knights while Tim Simona earned the three points for his part in the Wests Tigers' victory over the Panthers.

ROUND 13 votes

Roosters v Eels - Judge: Brad Fittler

3 Daniel Tupou
2 Martin Kennedy
1 Jacob Loko

Knights v Dragons - Greg Alexander

3 Josh Dugan
2 Jarrod Mullen
1 Nathan Fien

Cowboys v Bulldogs - Ben Ikin

3 Michael Ennis
2 Josh Reynolds
1 Aidan Tolman


Panthers v Wests Tigers - Andrew Johns

3 Tim Simona
2 Nigel Plum
1 Aaron Woods

Warriors v Sea Eagles - Daryl Halligan

3 Glen Fisiiahi
2 Peter Hiku
1 Ben Matulino

Storm v Sharks - Gary Belcher

3 Gareth Widdop
2 Cooper Cronk
1 Ryan Hoffman

Raiders v Broncos - Greg Alexander

3 Terry Campese
2 Shaun Fensom
1 Justin Hodges


DALLY M LEADERBOARD ROUND 13

15 G Inglis (SOU)
14 C Cronk (MEL)
12 T Carney (CRO)
12 J Sutton (SOU)
12 J Mullen (NEW)
11 S Burgess (SOU)
11 J Reynolds (CBY)
10 R Farah (WTI)
10 J Maloney (SYD)
10 A Woods (WTI)
9 A Watmough (MAN)
9 D Cherry-Evans (MAN)
9 J Waerea-Hargreaves (SYD)
9 M Scott (NQL)
9 D Boyd (NEW)
8 S Johnson (NZL)
8 J Thurston (NQL)
8 J Hayne (PAR)
8 S Thaiday (BRI)
7 T Campese (CAN)
7 J Jackson (CBY)
7 Andrew Fifita (CRO)
7 B Cordner (SYD)
7 C Smith (MEL)
7 A Sezer (GCT)
7 S-B Williams (SYD)
7 T Mannah (PAR)
7 C Parker (BRI)
7 J Tamou (NQL)
6 F Mateo (NZL)
6 J Idris (GCT)
6 K Foran (MAN)
6 Blake Ferguson (CAN)
6 A Reynolds (SOU)
6 L Lewis (CRO)
6 G Bird (GCT)
6 B Slater (MEL)
6 L Walsh (PEN)
6 A Kelly (GCT)
6 Gareth Widdop (MEL)
5 J Hodges (BRI)
5 J Nightingale (SGI)
5 P Gallen (CRO)
5 S Matai (MAN)
5 T Roberts (NEW)
5 A Uate (NEW)
5 Michael Ennis (CBY)
4 I Luke (SOU)
4 G Burgess (SOU)
4 J Dugan (SGI)
4 M Gillett (BRI)
4 J Soward (SGI)
4 J Croker (CAN)
4 N Myles (GCT)
4 W Chambers (MEL)
4 J Segeyaro (PEN)
4 Matt Moylan (PEN)
4 Aiden Tolman (CBY)
3 S Fensom (CAN)
3 D Taylor (GCT)
3 W Zillman (GCT)
3 Joel Romelo (CBY)
3 Matt Ballin (MAN)
3 Jason Ryles (MEL)
3 Kevin Kingston (PEN)
3 I John (PEN)
3 Adam Docker (PEN)
3 Simon Mannering (NZL)
3 M Morgan (NQL)
3 J Smith (NEW)
3 A McCullough (BRI)
3 J McCrone (CAN)
3 J Lyon (MAN)
3 R Hoffman (MEL)
3 C Sandow (PAR)
3 L Coote (PEN)
3 D Hunt (SGI)
3 M Pearce (SYD)
3 T Merrin (SGI)
3 M Jennings (SYD)
3 D Tilse (CAN)
3 M Aubusson (SYD)
3 Brett White (CAN)
3 N Fien (SGI)
3 Kevin Kingston (PEN)
3 Nigel Plum (PEN)
3 Daniel Tupou (SYD)
3 Josh Dugan (SGI)
3 Michael Ennis( CBY)
3 Tim Simona (WTI)
3 Glen Fisiiahi (NZL)
2 J Bukuya (CRO)
2 Elijah Taylor (NZL)
2 Tim Grant (PEN)
2 S Williams (CAN)
2 D Shillington (CAN)
2 C Norman (BRI)
2 R Robinson (CAN)
2 J De Belin (SGI)
2 W Graham (CRO)
2 J Bromwich (MEL)
2 T Symonds (MAN)
2 B Stewart (MAN)
2 K Linnett (NQL)
2 Ngani Laumape (NZL)
2 S McKendry (PEN)
2 T Moltzen (WTI)
2 B Marshall (WTI)
2 A Minichiello (SYD)
2 J Horo (MAN)
2 J Morris (CBY)
2 Russell Packer (NZL)
2 Martin Kennedy (SYD)
2 B Matulino (NQL)
2 Peter Hiku (MAN)
1 K Locke (NZL)
1 Kurt Gidley (NEW)
1 Luke Bailey (GCT)
1 Josh Papalii (CAN)
1 Frank Pritchard (CBY)
1 Kade Snowden (NEW)
1 James Graham (CBY)
1 T Leuluai (NZL)
1 B Hannant (BRI)
1 G Eastwood (CBY)
1 M Gordon (CRO)
1 J Taufua (MAN)
1 G Cooper (NQL)
1 B Morris (SGI)
1 N Merritt (SOU)
1 T Frizzel (STI)
1 B Goodwin (SOU)
1 J Reithmuller (NQL)
1 R Rochow (NEW)
1 J Robson (CRO)
1 Joseph Paulo (PAR)
1 Beau Falloon (GCT)
1 M Robinson (PEN)
1 Jacob Loko (PAR)
1 Nathan Fien (SGI)
1 Ryan Hoffman (MEL)



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...dally-m-rankings/story-fni3fbgz-1226661935781

- - - Updated - - -

Tough action is needed to deal with two time alcohol offender James Tamou








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North Queensland prop James Tamou was allegedly caught driving by police at 3.30am with a blood alcohol level of 0.197. Picture: Harding Fiona Source: The Courier-Mail




FOR the sake of rugby league's image, James Tamou must be stood down by North Queensland or the NRL today.

This is one of those tough situations where you fear the club's on-field desperation could outweigh its obligation as role models in the community.
The Cowboys need a win this week to save their season and Tamou is vitally important to that cause, but it should not be at the expense of their reputation.
Tamou should be banned by his club and one week may not be enough.
The courts can decide what further punishment he faces and I'd suggest driving almost four times over the legal limit when you don't even hold a licence is a fair case for a judge to throw the book at him.
Everyone makes mistakes and at 24 Tamou is almost certainly going to make a few more.
He was allegedly caught driving by police at 3.30am with a blood alcohol level of 0.197. For a 113kg man, that is a huge amount of alcohol.
The Cowboys don't allow players to consume alcohol until midnight the day after a game, so it is a fair assumption that he got a headstart and broke those rules too.
In 2011 Tamou and a teammate were stood down for a week for breaching the club alcohol policy. While he may have been a model citizen since, it is still his second strike.
He needs to be taught a lesson and a substantial one.
A club fine is not enough.
He pocketed $30,000 for NSW's Origin I win at ANZ Stadium and by the end of this year his rep payments alone could be $180,000.
Peter Sterling said on radio that Tamou should face a ban of "six or eight weeks" combined with community work in North Queensland.
Being forced to watch from the sidelines as his mates try to salvage the season is the punishment that stings.
Knowing he let the team down when it needed him most hurts more than losing disposable income. That punishes the club and its supporters too, but that was a minor consequence among the possible outcomes when Tamou got behind the wheel.



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...nder-james-tamou/story-fni3fh9n-1226662122320

- - - Updated - - -

Parramatta Eels drop Jacob Loko to reserves for missing a training session







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Jacob Loko in action for the Eels during the round 13 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Sydney Roosters at Parramatta Stadium. Source: Getty Images


​
YOUNG sensation Jacob Loko has become the latest victim of Parramatta's hardline stance on player performance and discipline.


The Daily Telegraph can reveal Loko was yesterday dropped to NSW Cup for missing Monday morning's ballwork session at Parramatta Stadium.The 20-year-old's axing comes on the back of a stand-out performance against the Roosters last Friday night, when he clearly trumped Kiwi International Shaun Kenny-Dowall on the left hand edge.But in his drive to overhaul the struggling club - highlighted by last Wednesday's landmark meeting where 12 players were told to find new homes next year - coach Ricky Stuart made no apologies for the zero tolerance approach."One of these days the penny is going to drop that the old days are over,'' Stuart said last night.Instead of lining-up against Cronulla at Shark Stadium on Saturday evening, Loko will now feature in the curtain-raiser for NSW feeder club Wentworthville.

Stuart declined to reveal why Loko - who earned selected in the NSW Emerging Blues sqaud in January - missed an entire training session."The easiest thing for me to do would be to pick Jacob to help us beat the Sharks,'' Stuart said. "He's going to be a great loss."But if I did that, I'd be doing an injustice to the re-building process that's happening here and the fact we're making the long-term future of the team our priority.''The Eels demonstrated a similar attitude during the off-season when two Holden Cup players - Jamil Hopoate and Shaun Anderson - were sacked for off-field indiscretions.Ironically Cheyse Blair - one of the 12 players who's services are no longer wanted at Parramatta - will replace Loko in the centres.The Eels are now looking closely at recruits from rival clubs who can fill the gap that will remain after the record exodus.

The Daily Telegraph understands Roosters back-rower Frank Paul Nuuausala is on their radar, along with out-of-favour Tigers forward Adam Blair.The Roosters have made an offer to keep Nuuausala, but may not be able to compete with Parramatta, particularly given the Eels will enjoy plenty of cap space after releasing so many current players.Having failed to make an impact after signing-on as a $550,000 marquee player, Blair has been given the green light to look for a new club.



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...training-session/story-fni3ga7r-1226662085501
 
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Doesn't surprise me about Tamou, he doesn't seem to have a lot going on upstairs. Four times over the limit is putting lives in danger, so I agree with Sterling's calls for a substantial ban.
 
The Lurker has reported the following....

* Dragons in severe financial trouble

* Wests Tigers may chase Ben Barba

* Newcastle players are not buying into Wayne Bennett's "ideals" and Everbody's Frustrated

* Salary Cap Auditor Ian Schubert may be on his way out after getting on the wrong side of many club CEO's with his hardline approach

* Broncos want Cameron Smith but he has concerns over where the Broncos are heading, Also Anthony Griffin may be sacked if the Broncos don't make the finals this year

http://www.sportal.com.au/league-news-display/the-lurkernrl-rumour-filewednesday-239142
 
Finally, the Knights players are standing up to say something to Bennett. I don't hate Wayne, but his coaching style is not suited for the players.
 
Meh, our culture stinks and players are frustrated because they're the reasons for it.

Only they can change it, Bennett is just putting to procedures into place.
 
I'm not sure how big of a thing it could be since most of our players now are guys who previously played under Bennett but for the guys who are like that, they need to grow up. Just because in the past things weren't as strict & they had a say in what the gameplan was doesn't mean it was right & they need to knuckle down or get out.
 
relicorange94 said:
Like I Said, Wayne Bennett was not the right man to coach the Knights.
Click to expand...

We can say that now, but who else would they have picked?

Do you blame the Knights for choosing Bennett over 0 NRL matches - Maquire?

I think ask anyone who they would have gone for in that instance and it would have been Bennett.

He was coming off a premiership & a team that made semi finals and finished 5th - hardly a bad record.
 
AFL scouts raiding rugby league carnivals in Queensland








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Lachlan Keeffe of Collingwood was spotted during a Queensland talent search. Picture: Hamish BlairSource: Herald Sun




A NEW threat has emerged in the battle for the most prized junior rugby league players in Queensland: AFL clubs.

Essendon, Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions have begun exploiting a loop hole in their code's draft system by targeting the best athletes in the mid-teens from rival codes.The last thing the struggling Brisbane Broncos need is more competition for young talent.It is understood that before the recent under-18 state league carnival in Kingaroy, several player managers received calls out of the blue from AFL development officials insisting they would be able to offer better contracts for the best talent available.One of those clubs interested in the carnival's talent was the Lions.AFL clubs are heavily restricted in how they can develop and monitor the best Aussie rules talent and there are tight laws regarding contact between club and player before the national draft.However, those rules only apply to registered Aussie rules players.

If a gun athlete is a league player then the likes of the Lions can sign him immediately and begin training him up in their academy.Brisbane Broncos talent Joseph Forrester is set to switch to the AFL for next season with several clubs circling the rangy 20-year-old centre.Velocity Sports is one of a handful of management companies linking league juniors to AFL clubs."We have been told by a few AFL clubs to pass on information and contact details of league athletes who may be suited to AFL,'' Velocity's Shaun Pyne said."They are targeting carnivals now which is a new step. They want the best athletes full stop and in Queensland that means targeting the carnivals.''An AFL club scout who asked not to be named said the move was designed to flout draft rules.The scout said in the future the best teenage AFL prospect may not be found in the draft."There's a lack of talent coming through the traditional AFL states and in Queensland league is the number one code with most of the best athletes,'' the scout said."They sign a 14-year-old league star who is long and athletic, let him keep playing league but also bring him into their academy for opposed sessions and training in Aussie rules."Essendon are doing it best at the moment through their James Hird Academy."This way they have kids signed without needing to worry about the draft.''

Ex-Gympie soccer star and now Collingwood player Lachlan Keeffe is so far the best example of the new system.Keeffe is regarded as Collingwood national recruiting manager Derek Hine's greatest success story.Spotted during a Queensland talent search, Keeffe had barely watched AFL or touched a Sherrin before joining Collingwood and he eventually debuted in 2011.



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ls-in-queensland/story-fni3fbgz-1226662753520
 
David Furner running a well-oiled Green Machine at Canberra Raiders







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Canberra Raiders coach David Furner. Picture: Ray Strange Source: The Daily Telegraph



CANBERRA coach David Furner must feel as though he is in foreign waters.


Calmer waters.For the first time in his four-year tenure, the head of the Raiders boss is not seemingly on the chopping block as we go into the second half of the season.While Canberra still have plenty of work to do to ensure finals football, they are much better placed than usual at this time of year - which has deflected the heat elsewhere in relation to coaches.Heat being the operative word now that things have reached boiling point for Neil Henry in Townsville.I must admit that if I had been told at the beginning of the season that one team would be in eighth position at the end of round 13 and the other 15th, I would have mixed up the Raiders and Cowboys.Hopefully for Henry's sake his North Queensland team can come home with the kind of wet sail that we have become used to associating with the Green Machine.

While the general consensus has Melbourne, Manly, Souths and the Roosters as a standout top four, the Raiders again shape as a team that can have everyone looking nervously over their shoulders.Credentials have already been somewhat established with them being the only side to have knocked over both the Storm and the Roosters this season.They continue to build an imposing record on home soil, having now won their past nine in a row in the national capital. It's the kind of stat that hasn't been seen since their great sides of the late 1980s and early '90s.

Away from home their record is nowhere near as impressive and that is something they will need to come to grips with. But as an emerging side, I like what I see and that can be attributed to the man in charge.David Furner was a no-nonsense player with a calm demeanour and I see the same kind of approach now that he carries a clipboard.He won't cop what he sees as unfair treatment in any part of the game but expresses his displeasure in an obvious but measured manner.

On Monday night his team put paid to another high-profile club in the Brisbane Broncos and in doing so passed a couple of telling tests.Firstly, they were able to take advantage of establishing early pressure and turn that into a 24-point lead.The bulk of these points came from long-range efforts and were triggered by some wonderfully talented players.The likes of Blake Ferguson, Edrick Lee, Jack Wighton and Reece Robinson are outstanding athletes who are capable of producing the spectacular and that makes them very dangerous.However, what I found more impressive was that when the Broncos mounted a comeback and started to dominate possession, the home side hung tough enough.Brisbane ran in the first two tries of the second half and went close on another couple of occasions. But in the end Canberra won comfortably and at no time did it appear that it would be any different.I'll need to see much more of it because there is still a part of me that looks at the Raiders knowing they can rack up 30 on the scoreboard but unsure that they won't concede 32.

Apart from playing exciting football, the thing that really appeals is that the Canberra squad is full of country-born products mixed with imports who have established themselves after not playing in the NRL elsewhere.Centres such as Goulburn, Crookwell, Cootamundra, Temora, Forbes, Leeton and Cooma are all represented, giving them a real home-town appeal.Jarrod Croker, Shaun Fensom and Jarrad Kennedy were all members of their victorious 2008 Toyota Cup team. So was Josh Dugan, whose departure following that of Todd Carney took away plenty of class and potential strike power that the club would have enjoyed.

This is the team that will break an unusual run come September by being the first in the past decade to play finals football in consecutive years.It is a bizarre-looking roller-coaster run during that time with five finals appearances separated by 14th, 14th, 13th and 15th placings.In fact, they are the only club in the competition not to have missed the finals two years in a row since 1987.The Raiders' last first-grade premiership title was in 1994 when a star-studded outfit containing Brett Mullins, Mal Meninga, Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart, Brad Clyde and Steve Walters defeated Canterbury 36-12.Best on ground that day in such illustrious company and awarded the Clive Churchill medal was second-rower David Furner. There would be a certain symmetry if he was the man to lead them to their next grand final success.



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...canberra-raiders/story-fni3fh9n-1226662739068
 
The Mole from RLW Has reported the following....

* Shattered Penrith rookie Matt Moylan has offered to play for free in a bid to get back into the Penrith NRL team. He was axed recently due to salary cap restrictions

* Cronulla's Nathan Gardner picked up a grade 2 hamstring tear at training this week and is set to miss 4-6 weeks

* Wayne Bennett said it only took 1 phone call to convince him Craig Gower still had the passion and hunger to play in the NRL again....The London Broncos first game without Craig Gower was terrible, they lost 82-10

* SBW is looking to postpone his boxing post season because he wants to concentrate on New Zealand's world cup campaign

* Peter Wallace will play for Scotland in this years world cup along with James McManus

* Last week in England Lower Grades Gateshead racked up 52 points....and lost to London Skolars who managed 55 points !!


Source - RLW Mole
 
Exiles coach puts faith in Aussies



By Ian Laybourn
AAP
Thu 13th June, 10:42am


Exiles coach Brian McClennan has chosen an all-Australia-born back division for Friday's international origin match against England.
It includes skipper Brett Hodgson, one of three players from Super League side Warrington who will be appearing on their home ground, and Wigan's goalkicking winger Pat Richards, who represents Ireland through his Dublin-born father.
St Helens second rower Sia Soliola is the Exiles' only ever-present going into the fourth match between the sides while six players are set to make their debuts, including Hull KR halfbacks Michael Dobson and former Penrith NRL utility Travis Burns.
Dobson, who has been unfortunate to miss out in the previous two years, was set for a reunion with his old Rovers half-back partner Blake Green, now at Wigan, but he is sidelined through injury.
"It's my first one so I'm looking forward to it," Dobson said.
"I was 19th man for the second game last year.
"It's disappointing for Blake but it gives Travis the opportunity to play and hopefully we both do well.
"It is going to help having played at club level together. We've both been injured at different times so we're still a work in progress. We're getting there but we're definitely not the finished article."
The other new faces are forwards Mickey Paea (Hull KR), Zeb Taia (Catalan Dragons), Harrison Hansen (Wigan) and Chris Bailey (London Broncos).
St Helens second rower Willie Manu and Widnes fullback Rhys Hanbury were the players omitted by coach McClennan from his 19-man squad.
The former Leeds and New Zealand Warriors coach said: "Our preparation has been good, the spirit's excellent, confidence is high and we've got the players to do the job.
"England have got a very tough task ahead of them.
"We really want to produce a style of rugby that does the Exiles brand proud - the kind of rugby the Warrington fans are used to.
"I really hope they come out and support the match in huge numbers - even if they are supporting England."


Exiles team:

B Hodgson (Warrington, Aus, capt)
J Monaghan (Warrington, Aus)
S Menzies (Catalan Dragons, Aus)
J Moon (Leeds, Aus)
P Richards (Wigan, Ire)
T Burns (Hull KR, Aus)
M Dobson (Hull KR, Aus)
K Leuluai (Leeds, Samoa)
H L'Estrange (Bradford, Aus)
T Puletua (St Helens, Samoa)
S Soliola (St Helens, Samoa)
T Waterhouse (Warrington, Aus)
H Hansen (Wigan, Samoa).

Interchange:

L Hohaia (St Helens, NZ)
M Paea (Hull KR, Tonga)
Z Taia (Catalan Dragons, Cook Islands)
C Bailey (London Broncos, Aus).


http://www.nrl.com/exiles-coach-puts-faith-in-aussies/tabid/10874/newsid/72867/default.aspx

Match will be televised live at 5:00am Saturday Morning on Eurosport (Channel 511)
 
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jamesgould said:
I miss watching Lance Hohaia play ... no idea why the Warriors let him go!
Click to expand...

One of the better utilities in modern times, right up there with Kurt Gidley as far as versatility goes. Played Fullback, Hooker, 5/8, Halfback think I even saw him play lock a few times !!

Quality and experience 2 things the Warriors could really do with this year....

Despite their good form at the moment I still think they will miss the finals...

Great to see Beaver Menzies still playing too, Champion player and Champion Guy :)
 
Buzz Rothfield's mid-season report card of all 16 NRL teams







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Source: The Daily Telegraph




SOUTH Sydney to win their first premiership in 42 years and Parramatta to collect their second wooden spoon in two years.


These are the key forecasts to emerge from half-yearly reports on the 16 NRL clubs.Despite a terrible record against Melbourne Storm (three wins from 21 games), the Rabbitohs are on track to win their first premiership since 1971.Led by superstars Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess and skilfully steered by Adam Reynolds and John Sutton, the Rabbitohs will be hardened for finals football with a tough draw in the final five weeks of the competition.But it’s all bad news for Dragons, Knights and Broncos fans with their clubs looking unlikely to make the finals. Here is what I think the ladder will look like at the end of the regular season.

1st (predicted finish): Rabbitohs - 22 points (1 bye remaining)

Draw: Only four home games because of matches in Perth, Cairns and Gosford. No top four sides until Round 22. Tough run in against Storm, Manly, Bulldogs and Roosters in last five weeks.
Positive: The Rabbitohs have their attack on song in 2013, scoring the most points (25.2 per game), busting the most tackles (32.3 per game) and making the third most linebreaks (5 per game). Their defence has also improved from last season – they have conceded 12 points or less on seven occasions, already more times than the six last year.
Negative: Weight of expectations – the “this is the Rabbitohs' year” call will only grow louder the deeper into the season we go. Also have a terrible record against Melbourne, winning just three from 21 matches, but will have to beat them at some stage.
The star: Greg Inglis – 11 tries, 9 linebreaks, 74 tackle busts and averaging 168 metres.

2nd: Storm - 21 points (1 bye)

Draw: Six home games left and have tough matches against Bulldogs, Souths and Manly. Play the Knights and Titans twice.
Positive: The most consistent team for the better part of the past decade, they are once again performing at a high level in attack and defence scoring the equal most tries (4.3 per game).
Negative: Melbourne’s edge defence could prove an issue come finals time; they have conceded 22 tries in total down the far left and far right defensive channels, easily the highest percentage of any of the contenders.
The star: Cooper Cronk – 17 try assists, 10 linebreak assists, 8 forced drop outs and two 40/20s.

3rd: Roosters - 21 points (1 bye)

Draw: Only five home games left. The positive is they don’t play Melbourne Storm again. Tough matches against Manly, Bulldogs and Souths.
Positive: After finishing 2012 as one of the worst defensive teams the Roosters have turned it all round this season, conceding the least points (12 per game), the least linebreaks (1.9 per game) and missing the least tackles (20.2 per game).
Negative: Discipline is still a problem for the Roosters. They are conceding 7.9 penalties per game, the equal most of any team, Martin Kennedy the worst offender with 10.
The star: James Maloney – 4 tries, 9 try assists, 6 linebreaks, 48/55 goals (87.3%).

4th: Sea Eagles - 17 points (1 bye)

Draw: Seven games at home but tough draw with games against the Bulldogs, Roosters, Souths and Storm. The bonus is playing Parramatta twice and the Tigers once.
Positive: Have struggled in attack at times but still have their defence in order; conceding the least tries (1.9 per game), and the second least linebreaks (2.8 per game).
Negative: Yet to defeat to any of the top four this season, losing to the Roosters and Rabbitohs and holding on for a draw against Melbourne. Their goal kicking could also be an issue with Jamie Lyon kicking just 28 of 45 goals (62.2%). Discipline also a problem, conceding the equal most penalties (7.9 per game).
The star: Jorge Taufua – 8 tries, 14 linebreaks and averaging 143 metres per game.

5th: Bulldogs - 14 points (2 byes)

Draw: Have got Manly away but then at home all the way through to Round 21. Play all the top four sides – Storm, Roosters, Souths and Manly in the run home.
Positive: Essentially the same squad that stormed to the Minor Premiership and Grand Final last season and are back in winning form, winning six of their past seven games after starting the season 1 and 5. Trent Hodkinson’s goal kicking has also been a revelation, nailing 28/30 (93.3%).
Negative: Have won just one from five against teams currently in the top eight and have had trouble breaking the line this season, averaging the equal third least linebreaks (3.3 per game).
The star: Ben Barba – 5 linebreaks, 4 linebreak assists and 35 tackle busts.

6th: Raiders - 14 points (1 bye)

Draw: Eight home games and a soft draw against Panthers, Tigers and Eels in the next four weeks. No top four side until Round 21 when they meet Storm. Three of last four at home.
Positive: Have been unbeatable at home this season, winning five from five by an average score-line of 30-17. Discipline has been good, conceding the second least penalties (5.7 per game).
Negative: Perfect at home, terrible away! The Raiders have won just one from seven on the road this season, conceding 27 points per game on average and scoring over 12 points just twice.
The star: Blake Ferguson – 7 tries, 6 linebreaks, 37 tackles busts and 3 try assists.

7th: Sharks - 14 points (1 bye)

Draw: Six home games in the run home and no games left against Storm, Souths, Manly or Bulldogs. The bad news is they play the Roosters twice.
Positive: Have won four from five at Shark Park this season, conceding an average of just 14 points per game there. Also the least penalised team, conceding just 5.2 per match.
Negative: Make more errors than any other team (12.8 per game) and have completed 80% of their sets just once this season; Todd Carney the prime culprit with 14 errors, although Jonathan Wright has 13 with almost 400 fewer possessions.
The star: Andrew Fifita – Averaging 17.2 runs, 154 metres and 32.7 tackles per game, mostly from the bench.

8th: Titans - 16 points (1 bye)

Draw: Only five home games left and four of the last five are away. Have the toughest draw playing Storm twice plus Souths, Manly, Roosters and the Bulldogs
Positive: The emergence of Albert Kelly and Aiden Sezer. Written off at the start of the season, they have combined nicely to have the Titans sitting in fifth position at the half way point of the season. Attack – The Titans are making the most linebreaks (5.5 per game), the most offloads (13.9 per game) and busting the second most tackles (29.9 per game). Goal Kicking – Sezer is kicking at over 90% (36/39)
Negative: Have won just two of five away matches this season, and have a very tough draw to finish the season. Also conceding the fourth most penalties per game (7.6)
The star: William Zillman – 15 linebreaks, 55 tackle busts and 4 try assists

9th: Dragons - 10 points (2 byes)

Draw: Seven home games and don’t have to play Storm or Manly. Great run in with Tigers, Warriors and Parramatta in the last three games.
Positive: The acquisition of Josh Dugan should make the Dragons a much more dangerous team, so far in four matches for the Dragons, he has scored four tries, made five linebreaks and is averaging 198 metres per game.
Negative: Their point scoring ability has come into question the past two seasons with the Dragons scoring less than 20 points in 27 of 37 matches, more than any other team in this period. This season they have broken the least tackles of any team (21.5 per game) and made the equal least linebreaks (3.2 per game).
The star: Trent Merrin – Has made 30 offloads and is averaging 16.3 runs, 140 metres and 32.5 tackles per game

10th: Knights - 12 points (2 byes)

Draw: Only five home games left and have to play Melbourne Storm twice. No Souths or Manly is the only positive.
Positive: Have made the second least errors of any team this season (9.5 per game), completing at over 75% in seven of their matches this season.
Negative: With the signing of Craig Gower they have 9 players in the squad over 30, including the two oldest players in the competition, Danny Buderus and Gower.
The Star: Jarrod Mullen – 10 try assists, 7 linebreak assists, 14 forced drop outs and three 40/20s

11th: Broncos - 10 points (2 byes)

Draw: Eight home games and don’t have to play Manly or the Roosters. The two byes help plus three of the last four games at home
Positive: The Broncos ball control has been very good this season, they are averaging just nine errors per game, the fewest of any team and have completed 75% or more of their sets in nine matches.
Negative: Have missed more tackles than any other team (30.8 per game), Matt Gillett and Alex Glenn the main culprits missing 42 and 39 tackles respectively. In the past three weeks they have conceded 110 points. Their form at home is also proving a worry, winning just two from six this season.
The star: Josh Hoffman – 10 tries, 10 linebreaks and 46 tackle busts.

12th: Cowboys - 8 points (2 byes)

Draw: Eight home games in the run home and the two byes will help. Only travel twice in the next nine weeks. No Storm or Roosters in the run home.
Positive: Although they are struggling at the moment they still have the roster to turn things around, boasting Australian Test players Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott and James Tamou
Negative: The Cowboys struggle to win away from Townsville and especially in NSW, since the beginning of the 2009 they have won just nine of 34 matches in NSW, the worst record of any team in this period.
The star: Matt Scott – Averaging 16.2 runs, 148 metres and 23.1 tackles per game

13th: Warriors - 10 points (2 byes)

Draw: Face lots of travel with only five home games and have to play the entire top four - Roosters, Souths, Manly and Storm.
Positive: Have shown what they are capable of in the past three weeks and while they have struggled to win away from Mt Smart Stadium this season (1 and 7), their form at Mt Smart has been good winning four of five matches, with their only loss coming to South Sydney by just two points.
Negative: The Warriors have had trouble winning close matches in the previous two seasons, winning just four of 15 matches decided by eight points or less and in this same period losing nine of 18 matches when leading at half-time, the most losses of any team when leading in this period.
The star: Shaun Johnson – 9 try assists, 6 linebreak assists, and four 40/20s

14th: Panthers - 12 points 1 bye

Draw: Only five home games left and have to play Roosters, Bulldogs and Manly in the last six weeks.
Positive: Have already overachieved this season, bouncing back from a terrible 1 and 5 start to win four of past six matches. Showed in big wins over Parramatta and Warriors that their attack can fire.
Negative: Have won just three of past 15 matches away from Centrebet Stadium, seven of those losses by 18 points or more.
The star: David Simmons – 9 tries, 12 linebreaks, 27 tackle busts and 6 try assists.

15th: Tigers - 10 points 1 bye

Draw: Six home games and also have to play the entire top four - Roosters, Souths, Manly and Storm in the run home.
Positive: With a long list of injuries the Tigers have been forced to blood some youngsters, such as Curtis Sironen, James Tedesco, David Nofoaluma, Sauaso Sue and Ava Seumanufagai which should hold them in good stead for the future
Negative: The Tigers usual dangerous attack seems to be lacking this season, they are scoring the fewest points (13.8 per game), tries (2.5 per game) and are making the fewest run metres (1211 p/g).
The star: Robbie Farah – 12 try assists, 9 linebreak assists, 4 linebreaks and 13 forced drop outs.

16th: Parramatta - 8 points 1 bye

Draw: Have only three home games left because two have been switched to ANZ Stadium. Play Manly twice plus big guns Souths, Bulldogs and Storm once.
Positive: Their performance at Parramatta Stadium, they have won three of five matches this season and over the past two seasons seven of their nine wins have come at Parramatta Stadium.
Negative: Their defence has been horrible at times, they have conceded the most points (27.8 per game) and tries (4.9 per game) this season as well as the second most linebreaks (5.5 per game).
The star: Jarryd Hayne - 8 tries, 8 linebreaks, and 57 tackle busts.




http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...all-16-nrl-teams/story-fni3fbgz-1226663153421
 
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