5 Big Things: Everything we learned in NRL Round 14

A long weekend of football saw a plethora of action which saw some premiership heavyweights flex their muscles and a major Monday afternoon upset. Here are 5 Big Things we learned from Round 14.

The plummeting Titans

For the first time this season, the Gold Coast Titans find themselves sitting 16th on the premiership ladder with just a trio of wins from 14 outings. Their 14-point loss to South Sydney on Saturday was far from a disaster but it was their eighth loss in nine games after starting the season 2-2. Pressure is beginning to mount on head coach Justin Holbrook who helped guide them to the postseason in 2021, albeit with just 10 wins from 24 games, but has failed to nail down a winning formula with this season’s playing group. The Titans are in possession of the premiership’s second-worst defence and have conceded almost 1,000 more run metres than any other side. They have shown a little more promise in attack, having hit the 20-point mark on six occasions, but their porous defence has proven vulnerable all across the park and they are languishing as a result. 22-year-old skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has been a rare bright spot for the Titans this season, averaging 14 carries this season for 134 metres and 27 tackles. A forward pack consisting of Fa’asuamaleaui, David Fifita, Moeaki Fotuaika and Isaac Liu should be more than enough to lift this side off the bottom of the ladder but too many of their teammates have struggled with the week-to-week rigors of an NRL season. They will face the Sharks this Saturday afternoon in Coffs Harbour with hopes of passing the ominous 16th-placed baton elsewhere.

Brisbane extend winning streak at a cost

The Brisbane Broncos have won their past seven games by an average of nearly 20 points to solidify themselves in the top four. Their first seven-game winning streak since mid-2015, however, came at a cost with several of their stars going down injured in their 24-18 win over Canberra on Saturday night. Herbie Farnworth is expected to miss the remainder of the season after rupturing his bicep, a rib complaint is set to sideline Adam Reynolds for a short period, Corey Paix strained his MCL and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks and Payne Haas is touch-and-go for this Friday night’s thriller in Melbourne after picking up a shoulder injury. In brighter news, Kotoni Staggs is expected to return this weekend, whilst Ezra Mam, Te Maire Martin, and Corey Oates have also been cleared. Brisbane’s medical department have certainly had their plate full this week but all of the side’s focus will shift towards upsetting Melbourne this weekend. Patty Carrigan backed up a superb Origin debut with a 15-carry, 155-metre effort in their win over Canberra, whilst Thomas Flegler’s 174 metres off the bench also proved pivotal. Few expected Brisbane to be in this position mid-way through the season but Kevin Walters’ men have played with confidence and poise all season long and are reaping the rewards.

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Olakau’atu’s fine form

Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu has proven to be an out-an-out wrecking ball on the right edge and has shot into Origin contention in recent weeks. The 23-year-old stood up for the Sea Eagles in their 30-4 win over the Wests Tigers on Sunday, running for 177 metres from 17 carries with an absurd 103 of them post-contact, with eight tackle busts, three line breaks and a try. This season, Olakau’atu is averaging 107 run metres per game, which is sixth among all edge forwards, is first in tackle busts, first in line breaks, and second in tries for his position. He has rapidly developed into one of the world’s elite edge forwards and provided an added wrinkle to Manly’s already damaging attack. Whilst he is expected to opt to play for Tonga over NSW in a fortnight’s time, there is no doubt Brad Fittler has been keeping a close eye on the Manly phenom and may look to him for Game III. Whilst the absence of Tom Trbojevic for the remainder of 2022 dashes any premiership hopes Manly had, the hulking Olakau’atu will certainly be a major part of their future moving forward and is signed through to the end of 2024. The size and skill has always been there for Olakau’atu, but his effort areas and defensive work has improved this season as he begins putting it all together.

Cleary, Luai put Origin disappointment behind them

After underwhelming displays against Queensland on Wednesday night, Penrith halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai stole the show in their side’s 42-6 win in Newcastle on Sunday afternoon as the Panthers continued their winning ways. Many critiques were tossed the way of the two after NSW’s 16-10 Game I loss, prompting Cleary to declare he had to make improvements. On Sunday, however, the duo combined for a try, three try assists, two line break assists, a line break and seven tackle busts in their side’s dominant 36-point victory over the Knights. They were not alone, however; fellow NSW star Brian To’o ran for a game-high 239 metres from 23 carries, with nine tackle busts, and a try double, whilst Stephen Crichton also put a frustrating Origin debut behind him to run for 162 metres, break five tackles, score a try and assist on one. The Panthers have won 13 of their first 14 this season and sit four points clear of Melbourne on top of the ladder. They are currently short-priced favourites to repeat as premiers, with Parramatta the only side to have troubled them this season. Isaah Yeo was their only Origin star to be rested on Sunday but that may change in coming weeks as their performance staff look towards another deep postseason run.

The Dogs!

Canterbury have struggled through a frustrating few seasons but their 34-4 upset over Parramatta on Monday was their best win for some time. It was their highest points total of the season and equal-lowest number of points conceded, which had the Bulldogs faithful delirious with joy at Accor Stadium. To come away with such a convincing and surprising win against arch-rivals Parramatta may prove a turning point for the lowly Bulldogs, who climbed their way off the bottom of the ladder with the win. Josh Addo-Carr responded to his shock Origin omission with a hat-trick of tries and 170 run metres, whilst Jake Averillo scored himself a double and ran for 118 metres in his second game at the back. Rookie Jacob Kiraz was sensational as well, running for a game-high 207 metres from 18 carries to go along with eight tackle busts and a try, whilst Tevita Pangai Jr. ran for 142 metres from 14 carries and did a terrific job of unsettling Parramatta’s forwards in the early stages with his aggression and hostility. The loss was an eye-opener for Parramatta who have muscled past Melbourne and Penrith this season but lost to the Wests Tigers and Bulldogs. Questions surrounding their attitude have risen in recent days, with the loss perhaps best summed up in the final stages when a desperate Matt Burton dislodged the ball out of the lackadaisical arms of Mitchell Moses as he was attempting to put the ball down for a consolation four-pointer.

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