5 Things to Watch: Everything to keep an eye on in NRL Round 9

Rugby league fans will be treated to a weekend full of action and excitement, with several grudge matches set to be played out and a number of big names set to make returns. Here are 5 Things to Watch in Round 8.

Reynolds’ Rabbitohs reunion

Favourite son Adam Reynolds was slated to face his beloved Rabbitohs for the first time in Broncos colours in a Round 1 blockbuster but was sensationally ruled out after contracting the virus. Fast forward to Round 9 and the sides will again do battle – this time at Homebush. The 31-year-old has enjoyed many memorable moments at what is now known as Accor Stadium, none more so than his second-half four-pointer in the Rabbitohs’ 2014 Grand Final win. History aside, this Thursday night’s matchup shapes as a key one for both outfits. Both sides currently are sitting on four wins and have their eyes on moving up the ladder and solidifying themselves in the top eight. Brisbane are fresh off an upset victory over the Sharks, whilst South Sydney outlasted a 12-man Manly side on the Central Coast. The Broncos will, however, be without star forwards Payne Haas and Kurt Capewell after suffering injuries in the win over Cronulla. The Broncos have lost their past three games against South Sydney at Homebush by a combined score of 101-22 and have not cracked the 12-point mark in their past four meetings against the Rabbitohs. Noted try-scorer Alex Johnston also looks to be coming into some try-scoring form, having scored four tries over his past three games after coming up with just two over his first five.

Battle of the West

The bi-annual Parramatta versus Penrith clash has come to life over the past several seasons and preparations are underway for the always spiteful meeting this Friday night at the foot of the mountain. Penrith sit atop the competition ladder with eight wins from their first eight outings and look primed to defend their title. They are also a chance of welcoming back star winger Brian To’o after a six-week injury layoff, as well as explosive prop Moses Leota, with the pair being named among the reserves. Parramatta, meanwhile, are sitting at fifth on the ladder with five wins from their first eight matches and are fresh off a shock 31-point defeat at the hands of the high-flying Cowboys. Penrith have come out on top in the past four meetings between the sides, including a two-point semi-final victory which ended Parramatta’s season in Mackay last year. Penrith will be desperate to continue their winning ways against their Western Sydney neighbours and extend their winning streak to 12, whilst Parramatta will be hoping to spoil the party in front an expected sell-out crowd and get their season back on track.

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The return of Tom Trbojevic

Reigning-Dally M Medallist Tom Trbojevic is set to return from a knee injury that kept him sidelined for a month for Manly’s Saturday afternoon clash against the Wests Tigers at Brookvale. The Sea Eagles won their first two without their star fullback before dropping games against Cronulla and South Sydney over the past two weeks. They actually averaged 25 points per contest in the four games without Trbojevic in the lineup, compared to 14 in the four games he appeared in. There is no questioning, however, the impact he has on their side, having produced one of the great, season-long carry jobs that the NRL has seen last season en route to a shock preliminary finals appearance. Manly will also welcome Haumole Olakau’atu and Josh Aloiai back into the forward pack as they look to snag their fifth win of 2022. The Wests Tigers, meanwhile, have turned a page since their 0-5 start and came within inches of a third-straight win on Sunday afternoon in Wollongong. Jackson Hastings’ return has added some much-needed spark and direction to a side desperate for it, with Luke Brooks perhaps the primary beneficiary.

Knights desperate for points

After failing to score a try in their past 180 minutes of football, the Newcastle Knights will be anxious to find some points when they face the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday night. Only the Panthers, however, have conceded less points this season than the Cowboys, who have won five of their first eight to leap into the top four. Todd Payten’s men are riding a three-game win streak in which they have only conceded an average of less than seven points per game. Newcastle will welcome in a new-look halves pairing consisting of Tex Hoy and Phoenix Crossland in place of Jake Clifford and Adam Clune, whilst Dom Young and Lachlan Fitzgibbon will make their return to the side. Currently in possession of the premiership’s worst defence and second-worst attack, the last-placed Knights need to turn a corner quickly if they are to have any hope of resurrecting their season. With the likes of Kalyn Ponga, Bradman Best, Tyson Frizell and Daniel Saifiti all on deck, there is no reason why Newcastle should be anywhere near the bottom of the premiership in attack or defence and, whilst injuries have undoubtedly cruelled them, excuses are running out for Adam O’Brien’s men.

Dragons’ Melbourne hoodoo

The St. George Illawarra Dragons have made a run up the competition ladder on the back of a trio of consecutive wins but will face their toughest test yet – a Melbourne side who have scored 120 points over their past two games. Perhaps even more daunting for the Dragons is that they have to travel to AAMI Park – a venue they have never won at – in Melbourne – a city they have not won in since 1999. In fact, Melbourne are the only club that St. George Illawarra has not beaten on at least a dozen occasions. In all fairness, they certainly are not the only team that Melbourne have the wood on and have managed three wins from their past seven encounters with the Storm, but the numbers do not make for pretty viewing. The Dragons will welcome Jack Bird back into the six jumper after he sat out Sunday’s win with a forearm issue, with Junior Amone reverting back to the interchange. They will be eager to have wiped last year’s clash against Melbourne from their memories – a 44-18 Magic Round defeat which saw Tyrell Fuimaono sent off and Josh McGuire sin-binned. The Storm should be a good gauge for a Dragons side with finals aspirations.