The Premiership contenders have shifted gears. Penrith remain the team everyone must catch
The Warriors are built for September
The Warriors are genuine premiership material, and their demolition of the Titans was the response of a serious football side rather than one bruised by a bad afternoon. Canterbury’s defence had rattled them a week earlier, but they started fast this time, led 26-6 at halftime and reduced the contest to target practice.
Seven forwards ran beyond 100 metres, Wayde Egan controlled the tempo and Erin Clark again looked like a Dally M Team of the Year player. Andrew Webster revealed Clark is a former halfback, which explained the composure behind his deliberate kick, while Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad seamlessly replaced Taine Tuaupiki and ran more than 200 metres. Riley Price was flown over after a late withdrawal and debuted despite having been at the club only a few weeks. That is depth, not luck.
The next examination against Penrith is enormous because a top-two finish could give the Warriors a home qualifying final and potentially keep them in New Zealand until the grand final. The Roosters have consolidated second after dismantling the Cowboys, while Canterbury have won six of seven. Nobody is clearing a path for the Warriors. They must take it.
Cogger has won the jumper; Canberra have lost their season
Jack Cogger should remain Penrith’s starting five-eighth. Ivan Cleary did not make this change five weeks from September as a motivational trick, and Cogger justified it by tightening the left-edge defence, going deep into the line and allowing Nathan Cleary to operate at second receiver.
Blaize Talagi is only 21 and remains an X-factor option, particularly from the bench if Penrith need points, but his defence had become a target. There is no shame in serving an apprenticeship away from the glare; there would be madness in changing a combination that has just helped dismantle Canberra. Penrith are outright first, already humming without Dylan Edwards and Mitch Kenny, and still searching for improvement. That ruthless discomfort is why they remain the competition’s best side.
Canberra, meanwhile, are finished. They needed to win after a strong month but, aside from the opening try, were miles off in the first half as Liam Martin scored twice and Nathan Cleary ran the match. I reckon the scars of last year’s straight-sets finals exit lingered, while injuries, questionable early selections and being short through the middle compounded the damage. The minor premiers missing the finals is failure, full stop.
Newcastle ended Brisbane — then the officials lost the plot
Newcastle have transformed from wooden-spoon eyesores into one of the competition’s most entertaining teams, and Justin Holbrook deserves enormous credit. Without Dylan Brown and Dylan Lucas, they attacked Brisbane through both edges, penetrated the middle and officially ended the defending premiers’ season.
Their recruitment has created genuine depth: Sandon Smith brought NRL experience, Fletcher Sharpe again proved he can play wherever required, and Francis Manuleleua influenced both sides of the ball. Dominic Young supplies speed and an aerial threat, while Greg Marzhew is in career-best form. Three consecutive losses by a combined five points had threatened to derail them, yet this was a gutsy circuit-breaker that left them sixth and two points clear of the Bunnies.
The officials still managed to wander into the circus. Reece Walsh kicked a goal from directly in front, both touch judges kept their flags down and Walsh had to protest before the points were awarded. Maybe lights can complicate a difficult sideline attempt, but from under the posts there is nowhere to hide.
Walsh’s sin-binning for grabbing Young’s dreadlocks was less outrageous because the referee probably had no alternative once the precedent was set, although there was little force in it. Champion forwards from previous generations would be rolling their eyes. Hair today, gone for ten.
Cronulla have run out of excuses
Cronulla are ready to challenge the September sceptics because their improvement is built on cohesion rather than a fleeting patch of form. Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes are combining with confidence, the forwards are in career-best form and the back five give them enormous yardage and threat.
The old criticism is familiar: decent side, capable of reaching a preliminary final, unable to climb the final step. I’m no longer buying it. This squad has been together long enough that combinations are instinctive, and the pack attacks every effort area as one unit.
South Sydney can be dangerous in patches, but injuries have made an 80-minute performance elusive. More concerning is the repeated soft-tissue trouble since training shifted from Redfern to Heffron Park — hamstrings, calves, the whole miserable catalogue. From what I can gather, various tests have been conducted, but recurring patterns demand answers, not shrugs.
Doueihi must repay Benji with actions
Adam Doueihi now owes Benji Marshall and the Tigers a commanding performance. Sitting out because he did not want to play lock helped ignite a week of arguments about respect, attitude and culture, and no club repairs that damage with 48 hours of smiles at training.
Marshall was trapped whichever way he moved: send Doueihi to reserve grade and prolong the war, or restore him at halfback and be accused of surrendering authority. He chose reconciliation. Doueihi must make it worthwhile, especially on Api’s 250th appearance.
On Monday night, I definitely thought the mail pointed towards Doueihi going to Perth after someone from his camp — not his agent — contacted Mal Meninga to explore whether communication with the Bears might be possible. After Doueihi faced the cameras and I spoke to others around the game, my impression changed: I think he realises he made the wrong call, genuinely cares about the Tigers and wants to help repair them. At this stage, I reckon he probably remains next year. But the Tigers cannot keep issuing statements about unity while playing disjointed football. Walk it, don’t workshop it.
PNG’s advantage is legal — and still unfair
Wayne Bennett is right about the competitive imbalance created by Papua New Guinea’s tax-free player payments, but this is not salary-cap cheating. PNG are operating under rules approved for them; Melbourne broke the rules and were stripped of two trophies. Conflating the two weakens an otherwise compelling case.
The unfairness is obvious. PNG have the same nominal cap while their players avoid tax, giving them purchasing power Perth does not possess as it struggles to attract marquee talent. Jarome Luai and Connor Watson illustrate the question clubs will ask: without the tax advantage, would relocation remain as attractive?
The clubs cannot pretend they were ambushed, either. They accepted an additional $4 million grant and signed off on the arrangement, effectively selling their right to outrage before discovering the true price. Yet I know these conversations are happening privately, and Bennett going public will embolden others.
The NRL cannot preach equalisation while legislating a substantial advantage for one entrant. It may be legal, it may be politically convenient and it may help establish PNG, but fair it isn’t. This is heading for the Wild Wild West.
