2012 NRL Results – Round 6
Friday
Rabbitohs 20 – 10 Bulldogs
Tigers 14 – 18 Broncos
Saturday
Titans 12 – 18 Roosters
Dragons 0 – 12 Sharks
Sunday
Raiders 32- 12 Warriors
Knights 14 – 6 Eels
Cowboys 18 – 42 Storm
Monday
Sea Eagles 30 – 0 Panthers
2012 NRL Review – Round 6
Rabbitohs v Bulldogs
The Bulldogs looked like dark horses for this years premiership but 2 losses out of their last 3 matches now has them tied in 3rd with the Roosters and Sharks on 8 points. They led the match twice but 2 tries to Everingham just before and just after the break and a dogged defensive display from the Rabbitohs kept them at bay.
The Rabbitohs defence was outstanding on the line and this is something that we’re not accustomed to with Rabbitohs sides in recent years. This is the area that Michael McGuire no doubt has placed plenty of emphasis on in training.
The Bulldogs were a bit hard done by in the penalty count, they weren’t as bad as the 7-2 count would have you think and a few of those I would call soft at best. Back to the drawing board for the Doggies and the Rabbitohs move themselves into the top 8.
Tigers v Broncos
The Tigers didn’t turn up for this one to be honest, and they were lucky the scoreline was not worse for them, they could have gone in at half time down by 20 but managed to only be trailing by 6. The Broncos were not clinical enough and blew at least 2 easy tries in the first half.
What can you say about the Tigers….they look bereft of ideas, short on confidence and a team that wants the season to end! The Dragons are probably thanking their lucky stars that they got screwed on the Moltzen deal, he has been a shadow of himself along with most of his Tigers teammates!
Where to here for the Tigers, well they have the Panthers, Eels and Titans in the next 3 weeks. 3 winnable games but on this form could you really back them? Broncos just keep marching on backed by their Friday night lights, it will be interesting to see how they go in the light of day!
Titans v Roosters
The Titans season just goes from bad to worse with an 18-12 loss to the Roosters where they were never really in the contest despite a late comeback. The Roosters should have put them away earlier in the match but could not capitalise on their field position and bombed a few chances.
The referees did their best to give the Titans a late shot with some decisions that looked dodgy at best in the dying minutes, but the Roosters managed to hold on for the win. That makes it 4 wins for the season and has them firmly entrenched in the 8 although the season is only young. They did it with a player down for pretty much the entire match with big Frank Paul copping a broken jaw in the first tackle.
The Titans had a few players who played well despite the loss though, Nate Myles was a workhorse and Jamal Idris showed the sort of form that almost justifies his high salary. They’ll be doing well to avoid the wooden spoon this year though, such is the quality of the other teams in the competition.
Sharks v Dragons
The Sharks were outstanding in defence on Saturday night, the Dragons tried their best to cross the line, but the Sharks were resolute and did enough in attack to take the match 12-0. It was a tough match and there were a couple of incidents of note. Firstly, the Sharks could be without Nathan Gardener for the remainder of the season after he suffered a serious knee injury.
The referees had what could only be described as a shocker in this one. The Sharks had a deadset try disallowed and the referee did not even take it upstairs, next play, the Dragons score what looked like a try to Nightingale, it should have been given just because it was spectacular. However, the video ref ruled it a no try. While the count was evened up as each side was disallowed what looked legitimate tries, the referees should have given both of them. You can only conclude that the Dragons no try may have been a get square for the one they missed up the other end.
The first two names I’d have in my Origin side this year are Carney and Gallen, they are carrying the team and the Sharks are genuine top 8 contenders on the back of their performances so far. Combine that with a solid Jeff Robson and there’s no surprise that the Sharks are moving up the ladder!
Raiders v Warriors
Well it looks like staying in Australia didn’t help the Warriors over the weekend, despite not going home and having to endure the travel, they were just as bad against the Raiders as they were against the Roosters! They have the wayward boot of Jarrod Croker to thank for the scoreline not blowing out.
The Raiders led 16-6 at halftime but that could easily have been 24-0 had Croker been on target from close range and the Warriors not scored right on halftime. The second half was more of the same. At one point the Raiders were cruising and then they flicked a switch and you could see their intensity increase, the Warriors couldn’t go with them for the last 20.
The Warriors have plenty of work to do, and the Raiders will be dark horses once they get some of their troops back from injury.
Knights v Eels
This was not a pretty game of football to watch, the Eels were back to their worst, and the Knights weren’t too much better to be honest. Poor discipline from the Knights meant that the score remained close but really, the Eels were never in the contest.
Akuila Uate didn’t do his chances of Origin any harm with a brace of tries, and Jarrod Mullen also put his hand up for selection with some key plays when the Knights needed them. His 40/20 in the second half led to the Knights second try and put the game beyond doubt.
Stephen Kearney has every right to be livid with his players after that display, there is only so much a coach can do. Once the players get out on the field it is up to them to get the job done and the Eels didn’t look interested at all. They have plenty of work to do to get their season back on track.
Cowboys v Storm
This was a game of 2 halves. The Cowboys challenged the Storm in the first, going to the break down just 16-12, but after the break the NRL leaders turned it on, running in 5 tries to the Cowboys 1.
Cooper Cronk once again starred for the Storm, all but securing an Australian jersey for the Anzac test in a few weeks time. Billy Slater failed to score a try for the first time this season, but was solid at the back and his teammates made up for it with some outstanding tries.
The Cowboys now sit in 8th spot on 6 points and have had an indifferent start to the season. Thurston can’t carry the team to the finals on his own so it will be up to others to find more consistency and help him out. One highlight for the Cowboys was the form of young prop James Tamou, a second half barnstorming try showing why there is so much hype about this kid. Origin surely beckons for him if not this year, then definitely in the near future!
Sea Eagles v Panthers
What a performance from the reigning premiers, after a shocking start to the season they’ve finally found some form and the rest of the competition would have sat up and took notice after that win. However, while the scoreline was a blowout, for the first 60 minutes the Sea Eagles could not put a disappointing Panthers side away.
The return to Brookvale Oval had all the earmarks of a return to form, they’ve been nowhere near their best all season and it seems that a home game was all that was required to turn it around. The controversies are a thing of the past now, Des Hasler, Tony Williams, the Cherry-Evans saga, they’ve gotten through it all and there is now light at the end of the tunnel.
That win gets the Sea Eagles back into the top 8 and gives them a 3-3 record. For the Panthers, they’ve slumped to 2 wins and 4 losses, just one better than the struggling Eels, Tigers and Titans.
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