Is Dodd the odd man out at Rabbitohs?
South Sydney took a leap of faith by signing St Helens halfback Lewis Dodd to a lucrative three-year deal, but the 23-year-old import now faces the prospect of kicking off his NRL career in reserve grade.
Dodd accepted a one-game ban for a careless high tackle on St George Illawarra winger Sione Finau during Saturday’s Charity Shield clash, and he will miss the season-opening showdown with the Dolphins in Brisbane.
In his absence, Souths coach Wayne Bennett has Jamie Humphreys and Jayden Sullivan as potential options to partner Cody Walker in round one.
Humphreys has only one NRL game to his name, but it was an impressive one. He scored a try and kicked three goals in a 44-6 trouncing of Newcastle while he was a Manly Sea Eagles player last year.
In the Charity Shield, the 23-year-old stated a case that Bennett may find hard to ignore, coming off the bench to score a fine solo try and produce two try assists.
Rabbitohs recruit Lewis Dodd.Credit: Steven Siewert
If Humphreys starts the season as Souths’ No.7, he might take some shifting. One way or the other, we’ll soon find out how good the Englishman is.
Leniu adds to Roosters’ prop woes
The Roosters fielded one of the NRL’s most formidable engine-room rotations last season when coach Trent Robinson was able to roll Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Lindsay Collins, Spencer Leniu and Terrell May on and off the field.
Spencer Leniu is set to be suspended for a high shot against the Knights.Credit: Getty Images
Waerea-Hargreaves (Hull KR) and May (Wests Tigers) have since moved on, and Leniu is now facing a suspension for the first two rounds, unless the Roosters challenge his careless high-tackle charge arising from Sunday’s loss to Newcastle.
That leaves Queensland and Kangaroos enforcer Collins as the last senior front-rower on Robinson’s team sheet, and he is likely to have his work cut out in their round-one clash with Brisbane at Allianz Stadium against Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan, Marty Taupau and company.
Robinson is hoping Leniu can make the transition from impact player to starter. He loves the intensity and aggression he brings, which makes him a like-for-like replacement for Waerea-Hargreaves.
But, as was the case with JWH throughout his career, those who consistently play with fire inevitably end up nursing burnt fingers at various points.
Deep and meaningful
With their entire NRL squad and coaching staff more than 12,000 kilometres away in Las Vegas, four-time premiers Penrith sounded an ominous warning in their trial against Manly on Friday.
Manly were not at full strength, but they still fielded familiar faces including Reuben Garrick, Tolutau Koula, Nathan Brown, Corey Waddell, Toafofoa Sipley, Ethan Bullemor, Jake Arthur and Siosiua Taukeiaho.
Penrith celebrate a Trent Toeleu try against Manly on Friday.Credit: Getty Images
Yet, the Sea Eagles, so impressive a week earlier in beating Souths, were no match for the second-string Panthers, who won 38-22.
It was a reminder of the talent Penrith’s production line keeps churning out, which has underpinned their remarkable dynasty.
Each year, Penrith lose top-end players to rival clubs, but their junior development system keeps producing ready-made replacements. That’s why they remain the team to beat.
At sixes and sevens
It’s been the main topic of conversation surrounding the Newcastle Knights all off-season, and coach Adam O’Brien is sick of it.
Who is O’Brien going to pair up in the halves this year? Last season he rotated Jackson Hastings, Jack Cogger, Tyson Gamble, Will Pryce and Phoenix Crossland with great regularity.
Fletcher Sharpe has impressed at five-eighth for Newcastle.Credit: Getty Images
Now young tyro Fletcher Sharpe, who scored 11 tries in 12 games last year as fullback and winger, appears to have leapfrogged them all and claimed the five-eighth role after crossing for a double in Sunday’s 48-10 thrashing of the Roosters.
Who partners Sharpe remains to be seen. Jack Cogger would appear to have his nose in front after playing half in both of Newcastle’s trials. Whatever transpires, O’Brien apparently can’t understand why it remains a talking point.
“Everyone’s fixated with ‘pick and stick’, but what if they’re not getting the job done?” O’Brien said. “Then everybody wants to win games. Well, hang on, which is it? Which is it?
“What do you want me to do? I can’t win at both, if you want me to have an each-way bet. Just leave the halves to me. Lay off it.”
A price too high
It might be widely renowned as the “eighth wonder of the world”, but fans are entitled to be disappointed about the top-dollar ticket prices charged for the pre-season double-header at Leichhardt Oval on Friday.
Who would pay top dollar to watch a trial match at Leichhardt?Credit: Getty Images
Stinging adults $42.65 to stand on the hill, $102.50 for a seat in the stand, or $114.75 for a family of four (general admission pass), is bordering on tone-deaf.
Not only are many households struggling to make ends meet, but drawcard players – the main reason punters fork out their hard-earned at the turnstiles – were few and far between.
Trial matches are a necessary evil, but they should be played in regional areasand at more affordable prices.
Surely that’s the least NRL officials, who last week were spruiking their most profitable year in history, can do to promote the game.
Storm warming to the task
They will still kick off the season as premiership favourites and coach Craig Bellamy has been around long enough not to lose any sleep over trial matches.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck scores in the Warriors trial match against Melbourne.Credit: Getty Images
But losses to the Warriors (36-10) and North Queensland (36-24) were out of character for Melbourne, even though they fielded under-strength sides.
It’s not often the Storm lose back-to-back games, regardless of who runs onto the field. They’ll undoubtedly be a different proposition with Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen back on deck.
Perhaps the best indication of how the Storm are travelling was the 75th-minute try from new signing Stefano Utoikamanu against the Cowboys.
There could be plenty more where that came from.
A nice little earner
Brisbane emerged with $100,000 in prizemoney for winning the pre-season challenge, after victories against Gold Coast (50-12) and Canterbury (30-14).
It’s an ideal start for new coach Michael Maguire, but the Brisbane faithful might be advised not to get too carried away.
After all, they won the same title last year and proceeded to limp home in 12th position during the season proper, costing coach Kevin Walters his job in the process.
Up and Adam
If anyone in rugby league is entitled to a change of luck, it’s Wests Tigers utility Adam Doueihi.
Adam Doueihi will be hoping for a big season after shining in the trials.Credit: Getty Images
Doueihi has endured a cruel run of major injuries that have restricted him to just 24 games over the past three seasons.
After the arrival of Jarome Luai, who appears certain to partner Lachlan Galvin in the halves, Doueihi might find himself in the centres this year, or as a bench utility.
But he’s still only 26 and his form in Friday’s 30-18 win against Parramatta, when he started as halfback, suggested he’s intent on making up for lost time.
On a wing and a prayer
He finished the game prematurely courtesy of a Lewis Dodd swinging arm, but before that Dragons winger Sione Finau was living the dream.
Having played only twice previously in the NRL, the 22-year-old scored four tries in the first 29 minutes of the Charity Shield win against South Sydney to put his hand up for round-one selection.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has alternative options in Tyrell Sloan, Mikaele Ravalawa and Corey Allan, but Finau might well have locked himself in for the season-opening clash with Canterbury.
