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Hits and Misses: Player welfare seemingly takes a back seat

The 2024 NRL season is well an truly underway now, with some surprise results over the weekend and some concerning incidents.

Read on as we take a look back over the weekend at some of the biggest hits and misses.


MISS

Dangerous incidents allowed to pass

Apparently concern for player welfare is taking a holiday this year with a number of alarming incidents given the all clear recently. Following on from Taylan May receiving no charge after caving Reece Walsh's face in, we saw some dangerous play from Canberra's Jordan Rapana with six minutes remaining in the game against the Warriors in Christchurch.

With the Raiders desperate for possession trailing 18-10, they lobbed up a short goal-line drop-out. Warriors utility Chanel Harris-Tavita positioned himself and perfectly executed his vertical leap to catch the ball. As he reached his apex, Rapana jumped through his legs causing Harris-Tavita to cartwheel to the ground landing dangerously on his neck and shoulder. To his credit the referee awarded the Warriors a penalty, but the Raiders challenged the call. Remarkably the bunker looked at a couple of replays and cancelled the penalty, claiming that Rapana was contesting the ball.

On Sunday we saw a similar incident when Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen's legs were taken out from under him as he leapt for a high ball. He also flipped and landed dangerously on his head and neck. Knights forward Leo Thompson never left the ground as he ran through the Storm fullback's legs. He was penalised and placed on report for a dangerous tackle and will receive a one match suspension if he pleads guilty.

A leaping player can't be allowed to be wiped out by a player who is "contesting" the ball, just because that player can't jump as high. It's not a contest for the ball if they are just taking out legs. Rugby league is a physical sport, but the NRL needs to take a closer look at how seriously it is looking out for player's welfare.


HIT

Warriors prop needs full defensive attention

When Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake is charging at your line, you need two or three defenders in front of him to make a well-timed committed group tackle. Any half-hearted attempt and the big man will cut through like the proverbial hot utensil through the refrigerated dairy spread. What you absolutely cannot do is be distracted at all by a decoy runner, which was the fatal mistake Raiders' five eighth Ethan Strange made early in their clash in Christchurch.

The well-worked Warriors move saw Fonua-Blake stroll over untouched from 10 metres out, with defenders fooled by the decoy. Strange had a nightmare day as Fonua-Blake targeted him all game with his bullocking charges. He has become the league's premier prop and the source of much financial joy for anytime try scorer punters.


MISS

Fa'asuamaleaui's injury results from illegal contact

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is unquestionably the Titans' best player, a dominating forward who has also been a mainstay of the Maroons' Origin success in recent years. He does carry a reputation for raising his forearms into defenders as he makes his charges and we saw it again on Saturday against the Bulldogs.

It may seem inappropriate to mention this after the Titans captain ruptured his ACL at Belmore, but a close inspection of that very tackle will show you exactly why it is a factor. Fa'asuamaleaui charged into the thick of the Bulldogs defence in the 66th minute with prop Max King taking the brunt of the impact. As King was attempting to wrap Fa'asuamaleaui up high, he copped the infamous forearm to the throat and chin and reeled back out of the contact. King then slid down the side of Fa'asuamaleaui to refocus his efforts on the legs.

It was an innocuous and totally legal legs tackle by King, which in concert with Jacob Preston, who remained high, caused a twisting motion that unfortunately tore Fa'asuamaleaui's ACL. It was a freakish incident, but Fa'asuamaleaui must take a look at his "bumper up" running style before he makes his return to the NRL.


HIT

Teddy puts on a display of fullback brilliance

Don't let anyone tell you that James Tedesco is nearing the end of his career, with his best football behind him. The piece of magic he produced with 11 minutes remaining in the first half against the Rabbitohs was jaw dropping in its audacious simplicity.

He received the ball in a simple backline passing movement near halfway, stutter stepped, dummied, froze Jack Wighton and turned Alex Johnston outwards to cover Dominic Young. In that split second Tedesco floated a pass just over the head of Johnston which hit Young square on the chest in full stride. Young burnt Johnston, drew Latrell Mitchell and passed it inside where he found Sam Walker who crossed for his second try of the night. Tedesco's pass was so expertly timed and positioned that had Johnston seen it coming he could have just about caught it in his mouth.

It followed on from an earlier Tedesco pass from a scrum set play which led to the Roosters' first try of the game to Young.

Tedesco wasn't finished however, scoring his first try with eight minutes remaining after chasing through a Young kick ahead. Staying calm he toed the ball just before the try-line, pouncing on it before it rolled dead. With just over three minutes remaining he ran onto a long ball from Brandon Smith to crash over under the posts to complete his double. It was quite the night for the fullback who was supposed to be set for a battle to retain his Blues jersey this year.


MISS

Awful afternoon for Titans after butchered try

Titans centre AJ Brimson absolutely butchered a try against the Bulldogs in the opening minutes of their clash at Belmore on Saturday. Chasing through on a high kick Brimson out-leapt fullback Blake Taafe to take the ball ten metres out. He landed with only Taafe scrambling to stop him from crashing over, but for some reason thought he'd pass it to Kieran Foran who was nearby in support. Foran didn't expect it and it bounced off his shoulder on the try line.

It was all down hill from there for the Titans, with halfback Tanah Boyd having a particularly poor day as Viliame Kikau singled him out for special attention. The much-maligned Bulldogs pack outmuscled the Titans and the backs ran riot through some flimsy defence. Those who tipped Des Hasler to be the saviour for the Gold Coast team must be re-evaluating that call.


HIT

Sea Eagles and Eels continue the entertainment feast

The Eels' clash with Manly in Parramatta on Sunday was always going to be special, and both teams didn't let the fans down, with plenty of big hits and slick passing movements and spectacular tries. The first of which was a stand-out for the visitors.

After kicking an early penalty goal the Sea Eagles were pinned deep inside their own territory by a series of ground shaking hits, led by Eels forward Bryce Cartwright. Daly Cherry-Evans decided he had seen enough and spread the ball to his right where the ever-dangerous Tom Trbojevic threatened to cut the defence open, but instead timed his pass perfectly to put Ruben Garrick outside Eels winger Morgan Harper.

Harper took off down the sideline leaving Harper in his dust before kicking ahead as Eels fullback Clint Gutherson neared in cover. The majority of chasers were wearing maroon and white, and Trbojevic led the pack. He dived over for the first try of the game, but it would be far from the last with both teams playing exciting up-tempo football in a game which saw the lead change hands multiple times before the Eels were declared victorious.


MISS

Dragons causing Flanagan nightmares

It has been said before, but seriously, who would be a coach. Shane Flanagan must have been wondering at halftime in the Dragons game against the Cowboys, why he returned to the caper. His Dragons conceded the first try in the fifth minute of the game before absolutely dominating the next 20 minutes, running in three tries while bombing several other opportunities. They were up 18-4 when Raymond Faitala-Mariner fumbled a grubber kick blowing a certain try in the 23rd minute.

With Flanagan preparing his halftime message of praise, the momentum swung towards the Cowboys and they ran in three unanswered tries to go to the break with an unlikely 22-18 lead. The Kogarah grand stand shook from inside as Flanagan pointed out a few home truths to his players for their defensive effort.

They blew their first opportunity of the second half with Kyle Flanagan kicking ahead after a break, unaware that Tyrell Sloan was looming in support on his inside shoulder. The Cowboys marched down the field and scored another try. Not long after that Zac Lomax dropped a high ball over the line which would have resulted in a Dragons four-pointer. Again the Cowboys marched down the field to score again. The score blowing out to 33-18 at this point. The Dragons were dropping their heads at every blown opportunity and only exacerbating the problem with woeful defence.


HIT

The magic of Leichhardt is infectious

The Tigers can be a different team at a packed Leichhardt Oval, but few expected them to trouble the Sharks on Saturday night going on the form of both clubs so far this season. With the hill side of the ground covered in fans, the Tigers came out fired up to put on a show which might at least put a pause on the constant media criticism.

Apisai Koroisau was brilliant, leading his team from the front and through the middle. Justin Olam was impressive on debut for the Tiger, making the kind of destructive runs at centre that made him a Storm crowd favourite. Fullback Jahream Bula continued his impressive career with two tries, proving to be a danger whenever he touched the ball.

It was a performance that suggested that the Tiger won't be easy-beats this season and it sent the Shark back to Sutherland questioning their own premiership credentials. Tigers coach Benji Marshall will surely enjoy his three rounds of golf this week.