3 minute read
A snapshot of round five of the NRL where Sam Walker starred as the Sydney Roosters downed Brisbane.
MAN OF THE ROUND: Sam Walker continues to impress and it's hard to believe the Sydney Roosters halfback is still just 19. Walker scored a try, set up the winner with a deft kick and nailed a clutch conversion to help the Chooks defeat Brisbane 24-20 at Suncorp Stadium.
QUOTE OF THE ROUND: "It was a bit of a horror show unfolding in slow motion ... I think we gift-wrapped the game and handed it to the Warriors" - Coach Todd Payten after North Queensland went 18-6 up to lose 25-24 on Friday.
STAT THAT MATTERS: If the pressure wasn't already cranking up on Michael Maguire, the fact the Wests Tigers have now suffered their worst start in the club's history will add to the noise surrounding his future. The Tigers' 30-4 loss to Cronulla was their fifth on the trot.
MAGIC MOMENT: South Sydney's opening try in their win over St George Illawarra was vintage Damien Cook, with the hooker taking off from dummy-half on his 40-metre line, breaking three tackles and linking up with Campbell Graham. The rangy centre then found Latrell Mitchell who crashed over in the corner.
TALKING POINT: The captain's challenge is under the microscope after the Gold Coast deliberately gave away penalties to challenge the previous play in their loss to Parramatta. In his weekly briefing, NRL football boss Graham Annesley said players cannot stop play to challenge. Despite Annesley's edict, referee Peter Gough allowed the Titans to challenge and they were able to win back possession and score twice.
CASUALTY WARD: Rabbitohs - Latrell Mitchell (hamstring); Knights - Dominic Young (ankle), Jirah Momoisea (elbow); Manly - Martin Taupau (neck); Chanel Harris-Tavita (face laceration); Broncos - Adam Reynolds (knee), Corey Oates (ankle); Roosters - Nat Butcher (concussion); Raiders - Matt Timoko (back), Eels - Waqa Blake (knee).
JUDICIARY WATCH: Eels - Junior Paulo (high tackle); Roosters - Jared Warea-Hargreaves (dangerous contact), Warriors - Marcelo Montoya (contrary conduct).
UNDER PRESSURE: Kalyn Ponga. The longer the Newcastle captain dithers over his future with a move to the Dolphins on offer, the more it's going to become a sideshow. The Knights No.1 batted away questions about his plans for 2023 in the press conference after a loss to Manly and while the club say it isn't a distraction, the issue is only going to snowball.
