Round 3 Wrap Up

Round 3 threw up a few shocks and plenty of talking points. Some teams looked sharp and settled while others were exposed by injuries or sloppy play. A lot of noise came around the six again decisions which felt like they were killing the competitiveness of the games rather than letting teams build pressure. On top of that the refereeing was pretty average overall and forward passes were all over the shop.

The season is still young but the early trends are clear. A few teams are starting to set the pace while others have plenty to fix if they want to stay competitive.

Image: Courier Mail

Despite recent criticism from Gorden Tallis, the Brisbane Broncos responded with an upset win over the Melbourne Storm that not many saw coming.

Sua Faalogo looked dangerous in attack but was exposed in defence a few times. Rising talent Moses Leo did not look ready for NRL level this round. He was targeted and played a role in all three Broncos tries, including a double to Jordan Riki in a must deliver performance.

Reece Walsh was sharp with the boot, going perfect off the tee and landing a big 40/20 to shift momentum.

Still work to do for Brisbane if they want to stay consistent, but this win relieves some of the unwarranted pressure on reigning premiership coach Michael Maguire.

Image: ESPN

The Knights were missing key playmakers and it showed on both sides of the ball. Gaps in attack and defence allowed the Warriors to control the game, with Tanah Boyd standing out as the orchestrator, creating opportunities and directing play.

Newcastle struggled to find any rhythm, and the Warriors capitalised on every mistake to secure a convincing win.

Image: The Canberra Times

For the Tigers, it was a night to forget. Jarome Luai went down with an injury early, and Adam Douehi also limped off, leaving the team with no recognised halves. The absence of their spine was painfully obvious, and the Tigers struggled to create any meaningful attack.

The Rabbitohs held on for a narrow win in a match that, on paper, they should have dominated. Jye Gray was one of the standout performers, putting in a strong shift and helping his side stay in control at key moments.

Latrell Mitchell’s shift to fullback did not pay off. He looked lazy at times and made a string of poor decisions, one of which allowed a cheap high shot right on the try line. Cody Walker, meanwhile, was underwhelming in defence, letting gaps appear that could have been costly.

Despite the win, the Rabbitohs did not look anywhere near the dominant unit their lineup suggests. There are serious questions about their decision making. On paper this team looks incredible, but on the field they feel like they are just holding it together. It is a squad full of talent, but there are signs that without improvements they are a ticking time bomb waiting to fail.

Image: ABC News

The Bulldogs edged out the Raiders in a tight contest that neither team fully dominated. Both sides showed plenty of effort, but handling errors and disrupted sets made it hard for either to build sustained pressure.

One of the odd talking points from the night came off the field when Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo cut his hand after a glass panel in the coaching box shattered late in the game, an incident that drew the ire of Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, who labelled the facilities at GIO Stadium “a shithouse” and said the people in charge of decisions don’t seem to care about the venue’s condition.

For Canberra, moments of promise came through their forwards and Savelio Tamale, but they couldn’t turn their chances into points when it mattered.

The Bulldogs’ defence stood firm late, and a late try from Jacob Preston proved the difference.

It was a scrappy game with plenty of stops and starts, but both teams showed commitment. Canberra will be frustrated they couldn’t take control, while the Bulldogs will take confidence from grinding out the win.

Image: The Sydney Morning Herald

Bronson Xerri made a big statement in the NSW Cup against the Raiders, showing exactly the kind of form that had people talking. He scored a try on his first touch of the ball, reminding everyone of his attacking threat and sharp finishing ability.

Although his management have turned down the idea of him leaving the club, it was clear that Xerri was unsettled by not being a regular starter in the NRL. If he carries this form, other clubs will take notice, and we could easily see this story come up again before long.