5 Big Things: Everything we learned in Round 22

After 22 weeks of action, the top eight sides are looking nearly set, however, the race for top four spots and home finals are heating up as we approach the final three weeks of the regular season. Here are 5 Big Things we learned in Round 22.

Melbourne come away with statement victory

A clinical Storm outfit held the Panthers scoreless for the first time in over seven years on Thursday night in a major statement win at the foot of the mountain. The Panthers were last held scoreless in Round 13, 2015 when fullback Cameron Munster put on a show to help the Storm motor to a 20-0 victory. On Thursday night in the six jersey but playing fullback, Munster ran for a game-high 196 metres from 22 carries, broke nine tackles, and kicked for 489 metres as Melbourne’s premiership pedigree was on full display. With Ryan Papenhuyzen, Jahrome Hughes, Christian Welch and Reimis Smith all sidelined for Melbourne and Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, James Fisher-Harris and Dylan Edwards out for Penrith, it was a difficult match to get a read on, however, Melbourne’s resolve impressed for the full 80 as they kept their top four hopes well and truly alive. Brandon Smith enjoyed one of his best outings of 2022 running for 151 metres from 13 carries, breaking five tackles, making 44 tackles and scoring a hell of a solo try. Penrith were more dominant in possession and yardage but did not have the class in the spine to rack up points. There were some eye-popping tackle counts in the Melbourne side too; Harry Grant made 68, Tui Kamikamica made 53, and Kenny Bromwich made 43.

Mitchell helps Souths motor to sixth win from past seven

Another scintillating display courtesy of Latrell Mitchell propelled South Sydney to a 26-0 win over Parramatta on Friday night. Mitchell ran for a game-high 211 metres from 14 carries with three line breaks, a try assist and nine tackle breaks as the Bunnies outclassed a Mitchell Moses-less Eels outfit. Cameron Murray was also brilliant for Souths running for 189 metres from 22 carries, assisting on a pair of line breaks, and making 42 tackles without a miss whilst Cody Walker and Alex Johnston each crossed for doubles. Tevita Tatola’s red-hot month of form continued with the Tongan prop leading all forwards with 208 run metres from 19 carries and making 23 tackles without a miss. Now with six wins from their past seven, South Sydney are looking to cause a major shakeup come finals time and find themselves only two points out of the top four. Rookie head coach Jason Demetriou would be pleased by the fact that Souths managed to hold their opponents to under 10 points for the first time this season as they prepare to face Penrith, North Queensland, and Sydney in their run home. If they can make it to September in one piece, they will be a fearsome foe for whoever they face.

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Roosters peaking at the ideal time

At the conclusion of Round 16, the Sydney Roosters were riding a four-game losing streak and were sitting 10th on the competition ladder. Fast forward to the end of Round 22, however, and they are fresh off a five-game win streak including back-to-back wins over Brisbane and North Queensland and are firming as daunting challenge come finals time. On Saturday afternoon, they handed the Cowboys just their third loss in 16 games behind a Sam Verrills double. Veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves led from the front with a game-high 180 metres in just 35 minutes whilst Joseph Suaalii scored a try and ran for 160 metres of his own. The Cowboys’ middle forwards had a difficult time containing their opposites and struggled to build any momentum as a result. In every match he has been on the field for at least 40 minutes this season, Jason Taumalolo has cracked at least 110 run metres in every game; the Roosters held him to just 70. Reece Robson bagged himself a try and made a game-high 57 tackles for the Cows whilst Jordan McLean ran for 100 metres in just 26 minutes in his first game in six weeks but it was not enough to beat a sizzling Roosters unit. Like South Sydney, the Roosters may well prove a handful should they make it to September in one piece.

Raiders outlast Dragons to keep finals dream alive

A desperate Raiders outfit managed to outlast a pesky Dragons squad 24 points to 22 in the nation’s capital to keep their finals hopes alive. Junior Amone’s maiden career hat-trick was not enough to propel the Dragons to a come-from-behind victory as their faintest of finals hopes were dashed. With Joseph Tapine and Nick Čotrić missing, Xavier Savage and Josh Papali’i were among the names that stood up for the green machine. Savage assisted on two tries and ran for 159 metres whilst Papali’i led all Canberra forwards with 150 metres from 16 carries and 25 tackles. The Dragons let themselves down over a seven-minute period either side of halftime in which they allowed Ryan Sutton to score off a charge-down before kicking the ball dead to start the second half and allowing Albert Hopoate to score off a grubber in the subsequent set. Amone put together the best 80 minutes of his NRL career crossing for three tries and breaking eight tackles before throwing a crisp cut-out to Tautau Moga for their fourth try. Mathew Feagai ran for a game-high 169 metres from 14 carries whilst Blake Lawrie ran for 160 metres from 17 carries and made 25 tackles.

Titans snap 10-game skid, climb off bottom

Following 10 weeks of a heartache, the Titans gave their fans something to smile about as they blew past Manly 44-24 on the Gold Coast to jump the Wests Tigers and release their grip on the wooden spoon ever-so-slightly. A.J. Brimson was excellent for the Gold Coast scoring a try, assisting on another, and running for 153 metres with eight tackle breaks whilst Beau Fermor bagged himself a double and ran for 154 metres. David Fifita managed one of his trademark individual efforts to cross for a try whilst Moeaki Fotuaika ran for 170 metres from 16 carries and made 23 tackles. Manly, on the other hand, slumped to their fourth loss in-a-row and looked woeful in what was close to their worst effort of the season. Haumole Olakau’atu was their only forward to reach triple-digit run metres whilst the back five combined for seven of the team’s 17 errors. Any momentum Manly had built a month ago has quickly evaporated with the side now set to finish outside the top eight for the fifth time in eight years. The win for the Titans, however, was a massive one with the Wests Tigers now the favourites to take out the spoon with three rounds left.

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