3 minute read
All the talking points from round nine of the NRL.
WHAT HAPPENED IN ROUND 9 OF THE NRL:
* QUOTE OF THE ROUND: "I don't give a s***" - Canberra coach Ricky Stuart's response when asked whether people would write off his injury-ravaged side for the NRL premiership this year.
* STAT THAT MATTERS: Cameron Smith became the first player to record 300 NRL wins when Melbourne defeated Canberra on Saturday.
* MAGIC MOMENT: Rooster Matt Ikuvalu equalled a 65-year record with five tries against the Cowboys, matching the haul achieved by Brian Allsop against Parramatta in 1955.
* TALKING POINT: The bunker's second blunder in as many weeks for a similar incident - with opposite outcomes. The decision to sin-bin Canberra's Bailey Simonsson for foul play was a result of "over-analysing" according to the NRL's head of football Graham Annesley, who was forced to admit the error on Sunday.
* MAN OF THE ROUND: Penrith rookie Charlie Staines for scoring four tries in his NRL debut in Saturday's 56-24 blitzing of Cronulla, becoming just the seventh player to do so.
* JUDICIARY WATCH: Rabbitohs - Latrell Mitchell (striking), Mark Nicholls (dangerous contact); Bulldogs - Reimis Smith (dangerous contact); Tigers - Josh Reynolds (dangerous contact).
* CASUALTY WARD: Broncos - Alex Glenn (knee); Raiders - Josh Hodgson (knee), Bailey Simonsson (shoulder); Storm - Jesse Bromwich (knee),Tom Eisenhuth (hamstring), Felise Kaufusi (knee); Sharks - Andrew Fifita (hamstring); Souths - Liam Knight (ankle); Cowboys - Valentine Holmes (ankle); Tigers - Tommy Talau (hamstring); Roosters - Brett Morris (groin); Knights - Daniel Saifiti (knee)
* UNDER PRESSURE: Canterbury coach Dean Pay after the Bulldogs lost their eighth game of the season - their worst start (1-8) since 1964.
