3 minute read
All the highlights and lowlights from round 12 in the NRL, including talking points and the man of the round.
WHAT HAPPENED IN ROUND 12 OF THE NRL
* QUOTE OF THE ROUND: "Forceful contact with the head, that's (meant to be) a sin bin and they didn't get sent to the sin bin ... If we're going to go down this track we need to be consistent." - Des Hasler becomes the latest coach to question the consistency of referees and sin-bins amid the crackdown on foul play.
* STAT THAT MATTERS: Melbourne have now won nine straight games by 13 points or more, continuing their record run of floggings with a 40-12 defeat of Brisbane.
* MAGIC MOMENT: Valentine Holmes' booming 39-metre field goal to kick North Queensland to a thrilling 29-28 win over the Warriors. Holmes struck it so well that he could well have nailed it from his own end it flew that far.
* MAN OF THE ROUND: Cody Walker produced his best performance of the year to help South Sydney claim their biggest scalp of the season in Parramatta. The Rabbitohs five-eighth had a hand in five tries as their left-edge ran riot.
* TALKING POINT: Would it be fair for Queensland to host the first two games of the State of Origin series? Melbourne is looking less likely to have Game I at the MCG by the day and Townsville looms as the most likely option. But that would make for the first time in history a state hosts Game I and II.
* JUDICIARY WATCH: Sea Eagles - Martin Taupau (high tackle), Lachlan Croker (crusher), Sean Keppie (dangerous contact), Tevita Funa (dangerous contact); Knights - Tyson Frizell (dangerous contact); Sharks - Will Chambers (high tackle), Aaron Woods (tripping), Jesse Ramien (high tackle); Titans - Mitch Rein (dangerous throw), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (dangerous throw), Moeaki Fotuaika (dangerous tackle); Bulldogs - Jack Hetherington (high tackle), Will Hopoate (contrary conduct); Panthers - Isaah Yeo (high tackle), Moses Leota (high tackle); Eels - Ryan Matterson (high tackle); Raiders - Jordan Rapana (high tackle), Ryan James (contrary conduct); Warriors - Jazz Tevaga (dangerous contact), Reece Walsh (striking) Adam Pompey (crusher); Cowboys - Mitch Dunn (dangerous contact); Dragons - Tariq Sims (dangerous contact); Wests Tigers - Luciano Leilua (shoulder charge); Storm - Felise Kaufusi (trip).
* CASUALTY WARD: Broncos - Payne Haas (knee); Bulldogs - Bradley Deitz (hamstring); Sydney Roosters - Isaac Liu (eye), Nat Butcher (ankle); Raiders - Corey Horsburgh (shoulder), Bailey Simonsson (concussion); Titans - Beau Fermor (hamstring), AJ Brimson (knee); Sea Eagles - Zac Saddler (skull); Knights - Lachlan Fitzgibbon (concussion), Tyson Frizell (ankle).
* UNDER PRESSURE: The NRL's top brass after a Sydney Morning Herald report detailed a push from some senior players to have Peter V'landys removed as ARL Commission chair over the implementation of the game's crackdown.
