3 minute read
All the key details of round 10 of the NRL, including injuries, players on report and the man of the round.
WHAT HAPPENED IN ROUND NINE OF THE NRL
* QUOTE OF THE ROUND: "It's a tough, brutal, contact sport. So if we want to take that away, let us know, I'll start recruiting different types of players" - Ricky Stuart fears the NRL's attempt stamp out high contact is denying it of its greatest attributes.
* STAT THAT MATTERS: Three send-offs and 14 sin-bins across the round was the most dismissed in the NRL era, beating the 14 sin-bins and one send-off in round 11, 2018.
* MAGIC MOMENT: Jakob Arthur was hugged by his father and Parramatta coach after his late solo try capped a fine debut and iced a tense clash with the Warriors.
* MAN OF THE ROUND: Nathan Cleary put on another masterclass, scoring a hat-trick of tries and setting up three others against Gold Coast. While the Titans were down to 12 men for half the game, it looked as if 15 would have struggled to silence the Panthers halfback at times in the 48-12 win.
* TALKING POINT: The NRL's crackdown dominated the post-game discussions, with some coaches lamenting the demise of rugby league as we know it and others pleading for patience as the NRL aims to stamp out high contact.
* JUDICIARY WATCH: Broncos - Jordan Riki (crusher tackle), Canberra - Jack Wighton (dangerous contact), Josh Papalii (careless high tackle), Josh Hodgson (dangerous contact), Bulldogs - Ava Seumanufagai (dangerous contact), Dragons - Tyrell Fuimaono (high tackle), Josh McGuire (dangerous contact, high tackle), Penrith - Moses Leota (high tackle), Gold Coast - Herman Ese'ese (high tackle)
* CASUALTY WARD: Newcastle - Hymel Hunt (hamstring), Manly - Kieran Foran (hand), Warriors - Josh Curran (elbow), Dragons - Matt Dufty (shoulder), Storm - Tyson Smoothy (knee), Ryan Papenhuyzen (concussion),
* UNDER PRESSURE: Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien admitted his men were "beaten up and man-handled", suggesting roster changes may be needed to weed out a culture problem that's left them needing to learn how to win again.
