Dragons crisis deepens as Tigers, Knights and Manly shine in wild Easter round
James Hooper was joined by Darcy McDonald and Brandon Savage on Rugby League Insider for a wide-ranging Easter review episode that covered the Tigers’ stunning comeback over the Eels, Newcastle’s continuing rise, Cronulla’s evolving attack, Brisbane’s injury-hit resilience, and the deepening crisis engulfing Shane Flanagan and the Dragons.
Tigers turn the tide
The episode opened with the Wests Tigers’ remarkable Easter Monday comeback over Parramatta, a match Hooper said had “everything” and delivered the kind of chaos that only the Easter Monday fixture seems to produce. The Tigers trailed early and were forced to absorb plenty of pressure, but Jock Madden again proved a steady hand as the side clawed its way back into the contest.
Hooper was full of praise for the way Madden has handled his opportunity in the halves, especially with Jerome Luai due to return soon. “He’s been steering the Tigers to victory playing off the back foot,” Hooper said. “I think he’s going so well now that you have to keep him in the team,” he added, suggesting Madden could eventually fill a bench role if Luai slots straight back in.
McDonald said Madden’s role had become increasingly valuable because of the way he changes the feel of the Tigers’ attack. “He’s the kind of person that can kind of change up their attack when he does come on the field,” she said. “He straightens it up and then just the way he digs into the line and then throws the ball out the back. It’s just crazy.” Savage agreed, comparing Madden’s impact to a genuine tactical weapon rather than just a fill-in.
The panel also revisited the Tigers’ broader improvement, with McDonald saying the side now looks genuinely connected. “They look like they’re playing like they’re so connected,” she said. “They look like a completely different side to what we’ve seen in previous years.” Hooper echoed that optimism, saying the club’s energy and cohesion had lifted them into surprise finals contention.
Knights keep rolling
Newcastle’s strong form remained one of the most impressive storylines of the season, particularly given the injury toll the club is carrying. Hooper said the Knights’ win over Canberra underlined just how good the coaching has been, especially with so many key players out of the side. He noted the team has been missing its best playmakers, yet still keeps banking wins and building belief.
McDonald highlighted the scale of the absentees, saying Newcastle are missing “their two best playmakers” and then lost Bradman Best as well, leaving more than $3.5 million worth of talent sidelined. Even so, the Knights have found a way to keep performing. “They absolutely put Canberra to the sword,” Hooper said. “And the Raiders, to be brutally honest about it, should have won that game given who Newcastle were missing.”
Savage said the side appears to be feeding off adversity. “It’s probably inspired the players to go, you know what, let’s make a statement,” he said. “They’re just overflowing with confidence at the moment.” The panel also wondered whether Newcastle’s cohesion might be tested when their stars return, given the way the current group is functioning so well together.
Sharks find balance
Cronulla’s win prompted a discussion about how the Sharks are now structuring their attack, with Braydon Trindall increasingly taking the lead and Nicho Hynes operating in more of a support role. Hooper said Trindall’s emergence has been one of the more interesting developments in the club’s early-season form. “It definitely looks from an outside point of view that Braden’s now the primary playmaker,” he said.
McDonald said that when the Sharks are at their best, their spine is usually the reason why. “Their spine in particular were really good, and that’s what you want,” she said. “You want your spine firing. You want your star players doing their job.” Savage agreed the pairing of Trindall and Hynes is working well enough that the club can afford to keep building around it.
Will Kennedy’s future also came into focus, with the panel noting he is off contract and has been linked to Perth. Hooper said he expects the club to make some hard decisions if they are serious about pushing toward a grand final, while Savage pointed out that there are a number of possible replacement options if Kennedy does move on. The feeling was that the Sharks are in a good spot, but roster management will become increasingly important as the season goes on.
Broncos absorb the hits
Brisbane’s win over the Titans was framed as a victory achieved through grit rather than perfection, with the club dealing with multiple injuries during the game. Hooper said the Broncos were happy to bank the two points and move on after what he described as a messy afternoon on the casualty front. Reece Walsh’s cheekbone injury was the most concerning, joining Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds on the sideline.
McDonald said the Titans were better than the score suggested and have clearly improved under Des Hasler. “I feel like they’re building,” she said. “They’re improving and I thought they put their gloves up particularly in the first half against the Broncos.” Savage added that the Broncos’ depth and experience should help them survive the next few weeks, even if the reshuffle is far from ideal.
The panel also discussed who might step in. Tom Duffy was flagged as a player who could get an opportunity in the halves, while Jesse Arthars was mentioned as someone who has already shown he can handle an expanded role. Hooper said the situation gives others a chance to step up. “This could be a great opportunity for whoever comes in and replaces these guys,” he said.
Dragons under siege
The harshest criticism of the episode was reserved for the Dragons, whose fifth straight loss has pushed Shane Flanagan firmly into the spotlight. Hooper said the side looked like it didn’t know each other, and that their attack was well below NRL standard. “They were putrid,” he said bluntly.
McDonald said Flanagan looked like a broken man in the post-match press conference. “It was one of the hardest kind of four minutes I’ve watched in a long time in rugby league because he looked like a broken man,” she said. Savage agreed the club’s halves strategy has become a glaring issue, saying, “Every other aspect of his recruitment he’s nailed. But just the lack of halves signatures is very concerning”.
Hooper argued the pressure now extends well beyond the coach himself. He said the decision-makers at the club appear to have lost faith in the direction of the roster, particularly the persistence with Kyle Flanagan in the halves. “I think the power brokers have realised that it was an error to give him the extension when they did,” he said. The panel also pointed to the number of young playmakers who have been moved on in recent seasons as part of the broader problem.
Manly’s reset
The episode closed with Manly’s bounce-back performance under Kieran Foran, which the panel treated as the clearest example of the impact a new voice can have on a playing group. Hooper said the Sea Eagles looked energised and committed, with the entire side responding to the change in coaching direction. “They showed up,” he said. “They wanted to play well for each other. They wanted to play well for their coach”.
McDonald said the Dolphins were simply off their game, guilty of poor discipline and execution when it mattered most. Savage added that the fresh energy around Manly was obvious early, with the side’s attitude and connection noticeably improved. The panel agreed Foran’s debut as coach had provided an instant lift, and one that could shape the rest of their season.
