5 Things to Watch: Everything to keep an eye on in NRL Round 11

Sides are now preparing for the final fortnight of games unaffected by Origin and hoping to set themselves up for the second half of 2022. As always, we have some massive matchups this week, including a pair of top-four showdowns and a “Spoon Bowl” for the second week in-a-row. Here are 5 Things to Watch in Round 11.

Milford’s return

After somewhat of a rugby league hiatus, Anthony Milford has been named to make his Newcastle Knights debut this Thursday night when they take on his former-side Brisbane. The Knights are still in possession of the premiership’s second-worst attack and will welcome any sort of direction and creativity in their halves. The Knights will also welcome back veteran edge forward Tyson Frizell, whilst Dane Gagai and Jake Clifford have been named among the reserves. Milford has 193 NRL games under his belt and seven Origin appearances and was close to the best on ground in Brisbane’s 2015 Grand Final loss to North Queensland. The 27-year-old last played in Round 25 of last year in Brisbane’s 13-point win over Newcastle. Milford scored two tries and assisted on nine in his 13 appearances for Brisbane in 2021 and will be eager to put on a strong showing against the club that opted not to offer him a contract renewal. Milford had originally agreed to a deal with South Sydney before an off-field legal issue derailed his offseason and had the contract deregistered. At his best, Milford is a ball-playing six with silky feet and brilliant attacking instincts, however, there has been some margin between his best and worst performances in recent years. He will provide a foil for halfback Adam Clune, who should benefit from playing alongside a veteran five-eighth.

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Canterbury’s response

Much was made of head coach Trent Barrett’s departure from Belmore this week and their response against the Wests Tigers on Friday evening Leichhardt Oval will be telling. For the second consecutive week, the 15th and 16th-placed sides will face off, after Newcastle got the better of Canterbury to open Magic Round. Brent Naden is a chance at making his club debut for the Wests Tigers after his shock mid-week defection from Canterbury, whilst Luke Brooks will miss the clash with a hamstring issue. 20-year-old Jackson Topine will make his season debut for Canterbury having been named to start on an edge, whilst Jake Averillo will slot back in at right centre. The Dogs embarrassed the Wests Tigers 38-0 in the final round of 2021, with Averillo crossing for a double. The Wests Tigers are fresh off a 36-12 defeat at the hands of North Queensland and are still without key personnel. Adam Doueihi, David Nofoaluma, Daine Laurie, Zane Musgrove, Tommy Talau and Oliver Gildart are among the names still in the casualty ward, as they look to make a climb back up the ladder. Josh Addo-Carr has scored six tries over his past five games and will be eager to add to that tally against the side he made his NRL debut for. Murray Taulagi crossed for a double against the Wests Tigers at Magic Round, whilst Reuben Garrick bagged two four-pointers of his own down the left flank the week prior, so expect the Dogs to send plenty of Addo-Carr-led traffic at the Wests Tigers’ new-look right edge.

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Matterson an Origin smokey?

Eels back-rower Ryan Matterson has enjoyed a bumper start to 2022 and has been named to start at lock this Friday night against foes Manly. Matterson is one of just eight forwards this season averaging at least 14 runs per game and 8 metres per run, all whilst averaging 25 tackles per game at 91% efficiency. His ball-playing and offloading ability has added an extra wrinkle to the Eels’ attack, which is ranked third in the league going into Round 11. With incumbent forwards Cameron Murray, Daniel Saifiti, Dale Finucane, Angus Crichton, and Tariq Sims all injured or playing below their best, Matterson may find himself in the frame for a debut NSW jumper in just a few weeks. His ability to play multiple positions and big minutes surely entices head coach Brad Fittler, who is aiming to win his fourth series in five years. Matterson has spent time at NRL level in the halves and the centres, as well as in the middle, on an edge, and even at hooker at a pinch. He will not be the only player vying for potential vacancies; Haumole Olakau’atu, Keaon Koloamatangi, Liam Martin, David Klemmer and Reagan Campbell-Gillard are among the New South Welshman in a rich vein of form with their eyes on a Blues’ jumper.

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Cowboys’ next test

The North Queensland Cowboys have enjoyed a dream start to 2022 but will face their biggest test over the next fortnight, beginning with Melbourne this week before traveling to Penrith the following Friday. This will be somewhat of a litmus test for the flying Cowboys, who have proven to be a class above the bottom-eight sides at this stage of the season. Melbourne will still be without Ryan Papenhuyzen and Reimis Smith due to injuries sustained against St. George Illawarra, whilst Nelson Asofa-Solomona will miss the clash after picking up a knee issue in their loss to Penrith. Melbourne are more vulnerable than usual and the Cowboys should be prepared to take full advantage of it. Rookie Tyran Wishart had a forgettable night in the number-one jumper against Penrith but has been named there again, whilst Marion Seve could be an attacking target for the Cowboys at right centre. Brandon Smith has been named alongside skipper Jesse Bromwich up front, whilst they have named an inexperienced bench consisting of Alec MacDonald, Dean Ieremia, Trent Loiero and Tui Kamikamica. The Cowboys have, however, lost their past dozen matchups against the Storm and have not beaten them in Townsville since early-2015. The Cowboys will be desperate to enter the Origin period with as much momentum as possible, will Kyle Feldt, Valentine Holmes, and Reuben Cotter all under serious consideration for spots in the Queensland 17, whilst the likes of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Murray Taulagi, and Jeremiah Nanai are all chances to spend time with the squad. Head coach Todd Payten deserves a tonne of credit for the role he has played in the Cowboys’ turnaround, after the side ran second-last in 2021.

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Roosters looking to build momentum against heavyweights

The Sydney Roosters will be eager to build off an impressive seven-point victory over Parramatta at Magic Round when they face the premiership-leading Panthers this Saturday night at the SCG. The Roosters got off to a flying start and led 27-6 early in the second half before letting Parramatta back in it. They did, however, manage to hang on and now sit in the top-four heading into a difficult month of football. Teenager Joseph Suaalii is coming into his own in the NRL and has made the right wing spot his own in recent weeks. Among wingers who have appeared in at least five games this season, Suaalii averages the seventh-most run metres (133) and is tied-seventh for most total offloads (5). He has scored five tries over his past three games and has made eight tackle breaks and four line breaks in that same stretch. The Roosters will be without Victor Radley for up to eight weeks after he suffered a syndesmosis issue against the Eels, however, they will welcome back the suspended Lindsay Collins. Nat Butcher has been named at 13 in Radley’s absence with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Siosiua Taukei’aho up front, with both the veterans enjoying a strong run of form. The Roosters will face the Sharks next week before they come up against the Raiders in Origin-affected Round 13. They will be without James Tedesco for the Raiders clash, whilst the likes of Lindsay Collins and Angus Crichton may also be unavailable. They will also face the Storm just three nights after Origin I. Head coach Trent Robinson will be searching for ways to help keep his side afloat during what projects to be a difficult stretch, with the Roosters still seemingly a ways off their best football.

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