5 Big Things: Everything we learned in Round 16

A monster round of football saw some intense top eight battles, questions raised for some of the premiership’s floundering sides, and a homecoming for the ages. Here are 5 Big Things we learned in Round 16.

Koula announces himself

Manly teenager Toluta’u Koula enjoyed his most productive NRL game since debuting earlier this year in his side’s 36-30 triumph over Melbourne on Thursday night. Less than a week after making his international debut for Tonga, Koula scored the first double of his career, ran for a season-high 195 metres from 10 carries, made two line breaks and broke seven tackles against an undermanned but lethal Storm outfit. Since earning his first career start against Canberra in Round 4, Koula has gone from strength-to-strength and has shown a tonne of class and maturity throughout his short stint in the top grade. With Tom Trbojevic, Brad Parker, and Morgan Harper all having missed time this season, Koula’s ascension has come at the perfect time for the Sea Eagles and, at just 19, appears to be a tremendous player of the future. Manly are still within reach of the top eight, despite Tom Trbojevic’s season-ending injury, but whether they qualify for the postseason or not, the development of players like Koula, Christian Tuipulotu, and Ben Trbojevic gives plenty of reason for optimism on the northern beaches.

Cows earn bragging rights

The Brisbane-North Queensland rivalry is like few others in Australian rugby league and 23,531 fans were on hand for another clash between the bitter foes on Saturday evening. The Cowboys came away with a 40-26 win and subsequent bragging rights behind a dominant display from their outside backs and some clinical spine work. They are now tied with the 2nd-place Storm in the loss column and only eight points behind on for-and-against in what has been an astounding season for the Cowboys. Wingers Murray Taulagi and Kyle Feldt combined for 343 metres from 27 carries and three tries, whilst fullback Scott Drinkwater ran for 125 metres of his own and assisted on a pair of four-pointers. Jason Taumalolo led the forwards with 162 metres from 16 carries, five tackle breaks and 20 tackles, whilst hooker Reece Robson’s breakout season continued with the 24-year-old crossing for a try, assisting on another, running for 88 metres and making 33 tackles. For Brisbane, Selwyn Cobbo scored a try, made three line breaks and nine tackles breaks and ran for a game-high 188 metres in a losing effort.

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Mitchell’s big return

In his first appearance since injuring his hamstring in Round 5, South Sydney fullback Latrell Mitchell enjoyed a bumper return to the NRL, running for 145 metres from 17 carries, breaking four tackles, assisting on two line breaks and kicking all five of his goals as his Rabbits outlasted an inconsistent Parramatta outfit 30-12. Much has been made of Mitchell’s journey back onto the field and South Sydney looked a completely different side with him at the back. Winger Alex Johnston was also superb, running for a game-high 274 metres from 16 carries, making two line breaks, and crossing for his fourth double of the year as he closes in on another Ken Irvine Medal. Thomas Burgess was big off the bench, running for 184 metres from 19 carries and making 36 tackles, whilst late inclusion Isaiah Tass ran for 194 metres at centre and came up with an incredible try assist. Parramatta had an opportunity to extend themselves six points ahead of the seventh-place Rabbitohs on the league table but came up short in what was a disappointing effort. Whilst they have come up with big wins against Penrith and Melbourne this season, questions surrounding their ability to win multiple games come finals time are valid.

Auckland, you were missed

New Zealand’s 1,038-day NRL hiatus concluded on Sunday afternoon when over 26,000 fans packed into Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium for the Warriors’ homecoming. The Kiwi fans were treated to a dominant 22-2 victory over the Wests Tigers which saw the Warriors make a mini-climb up the table and decrease their spoon odds. The scenes at Mount Smart were brilliant and emotional as a number of players played their first game in Auckland in Warriors colours. Wily skipper Tohu Harris crossed for the opening try of the match off a peach of a ball from Wayde Egan before Chanel Harris-Tavita cleaned up a loose cross-field bomb to stretch the lead to 14. A Jesse Arthars try put the cherry on top as the Warriors came away with their first win on home soil since Round 21, 2019. Addin Fonua-Blake was huge for the Warriors, running for a team-high 163 metres from 13 carries, whilst Tohu Harris ran for 137 metres of his own and made 37 tackles. Euan Aitken put in a tradesman-like performance in his first game as a Warrior in New Zealand, making a team-high 49 tackles and running for 105 metres. Unfortunately for the Wests Tigers, their day was not as pleasing. They failed to score a try, despite completing at 86 per cent and forcing four dropouts.

Dragons’ big win in wet, windy Wollongong

Monsoon-like conditions in Wollongong dampened 40-year anniversary celebrations for the Illawarra Steelers, however, the Dragons were able to out-jostle a Canberra side also vying for a spot in the top eight 12-10. Raucous winds and peltering rain wrangled in any hints of attacking football but a gutsy St. George Illawarra outfit managed to hang on against a strong but at times injudicious Raiders side. The Dragons finished with 10 errors and the Raiders 15 as the wind wreaked havoc for kickers and catchers for much of the afternoon. Junior Amone plucked off a ricocheted short drop-out for the opening points of the contest for the Dragons before Raiders speedster Xavier Savage answered with a try of his own off some sharp backline play. A damaging effort courtesy of Moses Suli saw the Dragons extend their halftime lead to eight, which they were able to hang onto against a fast-finishing Raiders side. Ben Hunt kicked for a game-high 416 metres and popped up everywhere for his Dragons, whilst Mikaele Ravalawa’s thankless work out of the backfield also proved instrumental. Jack Wighton had a tough outing for the Raiders finishing with six errors, however, Joseph Tapine’s insane form continued with the prop forward running for a game-high 156 metres and making 46 tackles.

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