Round 22 produced more referee chat than any other of the 2021 NRL season so far which can only mean one thing: close and entertaining games. Although, the Eels and Titans may not think the same following heavy defeats.
Raiders Remain In The Hunt
The Canberra Raiders fell to the Melbourne Storm in Round 22, but everybody is losing to the $2.20 premiership favourites. The encouraging element is the manner in which the Green Machine hung around in the game. Defending well, the Raiders did enough to be confident in winning at least two of their last three games (Sea Eagles, Warriors, Roosters) to be a chance of cracking the Top 8.
They will have the benefit of playing a Sea Eagles side without Tom Trbojevic. He has been ruled out with an injured cheekbone and we’ve seen how much this Manly side can suffer without their main man at the back. Another strong defensive performance might be enough for the Raiders to pinch an unlikely two competition points next week.
Panthers & Roosters Pick Up W’s
The Penrith Panthers weren’t asked to work too hard for their 34-16 win over the St. George-Illawarra Dragons. Nathan Cleary looked good in his first game back in the #7 jersey while Brent Naden and Dylan Edwards both scored doubles around him. Meanwhile, the Dragons attack looks set to struggle for the remainder of the NRL season should Ben Hunt not return before Round 25.
It all kicked off later on Friday night, though. A buoyant Brisbane Broncos once again proved that the talent is there to compete if they can get out of their own way. In a tit for tat battle with the Sydney Roosters, Kevin Walters’ Broncos carried a lead into the last four minutes of the match before Adam Keighran kicked a controversial penalty goal on the stroke of fulltime. The NRL does have some explaining to do when it comes to the manner in which the penalty was handed out, though. When does a play end and remove the right to challenge? Should a tap across the face decide a game?
Still, the Broncos will be encouraged by this one and confident ahead of their Round 23 fixture against the Warriors.
Rabbitohs Running Wild
Another week, another 30 points on the board for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
First time since 1908 a team has scored 30 points 8 games in a row 🤯
Souths – 30
Titans – 0#GoRabbitohs ❤️💚#NRLSouthsTitans— South Sydney Rabbitohs 🐰 (@SSFCRABBITOHS) August 14, 2021
Their 36-6 win over the Gold Coast Titans makes it 10 wins on the bounce with their price to win the NRL Grand Final all the way into $5.
Meanwhile, the Titans confidence has taken a hit having won three in a row before the heavy defeat on Saturday. They’re now massive $8.10 and -21.5 underdogs against the Storm in Round 23.
More Bad News For Parra
“The Eels are hanging onto 4th for dear life but could drop to 6th by the end of Round 22.” – NRL Bunker Review – Round 22
The Parramatta Eels were outsiders to beat the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles on Saturday night, but few predicted they would concede 56 points in another thrashing that has, in fact, dropped them down to 6th on the NRL ladder.
It was Junior Paulo sending out a letter to Eels fans last week. The CEO has done the deed after their latest defeat but it will do little to release the pressure on the side. Their attack is predictable and not improving. Meanwhile, their defence has now been exposed after finally being put under some pressure without the ball. Once talked about as a premiership contender, the Eels are now irrelevant at $67. The Top 4 is now unlikely with their $13 to finish towards the top of the ladder behind the Sea Eagles ($1.80) and Roosters ($2.25).
Top 8 Shuffle
The Newcastle Knights have gone a long way to securing finals football with their 16-14 win over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Now 7th on the ladder and two points clear of 8th, the Knights should keep their place in the Top 8 through to the end of Round 25.
Earlier in the day, the New Zealand Warriors kept their hopes of a Top 8 spot alive by beating the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24-10. Trent Barrett embarrassed himself in the post-match press conference. His side struggled throughout the match and a clear high shot on Edward Kosi which took away a Bulldogs try isn’t why Barrett’s side lost for the 19th time in 2021.
https://twitter.com/JasonNRL/status/1426781046016602115?s=20
NRL Against The Spread Standings
It goes from bad to worse for Parramatta fans if they’re also Parramatta punters. Their thrashing at the hands of the Sea Eagles makes it four games in a row that they’ve failed to cover the spread.
After Round 22
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| Top 8 |
Bottom 8 |
|
| Storm (17-4) | Dragons (10-11) | |
| Eels (14-7) | Panthers (10-11) | |
| Sharks (13-8) | Knights (9-12) | |
| Rabbitohs (13-8) | Roosters (9-12) | |
| Sea Eagles (12-9) | Cowboys (8-13) | |
| Tigers (12-9) | Bulldogs (7-14) | |
| Broncos (10-11) | Warriors (7-14) | |
| Titans (10-11) | Raiders (7-14) | |
