Torrid test as Eels grind out victory
Brisbane skip out for two months V’landys could send scrums packing
IT WASN’T pretty, but Parramatta did what needed to be done to earn a grinding 10-4 win over Newcastle and remain at the top of the NRL ladder – and hand Brad Arthur bragging rights in his first clash with former Cairns Brothers teammate Adam O’Brien.
The torrid and testing clash in the Hunter had little of the attacking adventure that has characterised the Eels’ rise in 2020, but coach Arthur would be delighted with his side’s defensive resolve.
The Knights were willing, but a lack of polish in the attacking 20 proved to be their Achilles heel. Despite a wealth of possession, especially in the second half, they simply could not unlock the gritty Eels.
BULLDOGS winger Reimis Smith is facing just a one week ban for his dangerous tackle on Broncos captain Alex Glenn during Saturday night’s clash at Suncorp Stadium.
Glenn is now facing up to two months on the sideline with an MCL (medial cruciate ligament) injury to his knee after Smith attacked the legs in a “cannonball” tackle.
The injury to the skipper was the only blight to Brisbane’s happiest evening in contested a bomb early in the second and was penalised again for a high tackle on the Newcastle fullback.
Ponga passed an HIA following the first incident – not before taking a shot at goal, however – and despite looking dazed after the second, he was not tested again. It was a gritty effort from the 22-year-old to play on. He appeared to have set up the equalising try in the final minutes with an inch-perfect kick for Tex Hoy, but the rookie was ruled offside.
JUST getting on the field was a victory for Knights centre Tautau Moga, who has been ravaged by knee injuries throughout his career. Despite debuting back in 2012, this was just his 71st NRL game and his first since August last year.
It was an unhappy return for the Queenslander – his carries were strong but he dropped the ball over the line twice and was caught out by Gutherson for Sivo’s try. In a match where points were so hard to come by, it proved to be a fatal blow.
Moga will be better for the run, but it was a tough outing for the 26-year-old. more than three months as they ended their six-game losing streak with a 26-8 victory over the Bulldogs.
It is Glenn’s third injury so far this season, having pulled his hamstring during the preseason and a calf niggle ruling him out of the opening rounds of the competition.
The luckless 31-year-old had scans on Sunday with results revealing a high-grade MCL injury.
“Unfortunately Alex sustained a high-grade MCL injury confirmed by an MRI this morning (Sunday),” Broncos Head of Performance Paul Devlin said.
“He is now in a knee brace to allow the ligament to heal and will be out of action for around six to eight weeks.”
Anthony Seibold said on Saturday night it would be a big loss for the club without Glenn.
“He is not real good,” Seibold said.
“It‘s his MCL (medial cruciate ligament) so he will be in brace and miss a period of footy.” to relax and regain their breath. Its only purpose in the modern game is a restart of play.
Already the English Super League has scrapped scrums for its competition restart as part of a COVID-19 risk assessment.
There will be a play-the-ball instead.
“The scrum today is a joke,” V’landys said on Sunday.
For nearly 40 years, scrums haven’t been scrums in rugby league. These days we even have halfbacks packing into the front-row.
Steve “Blocker” Roach sent me a text message earlier in the season when Kyle Flanagan packed in at prop. “How dare Trent Robinson embarrass our game by putting a halfback in the front-row,” Roach said.
V’landys is deadly serious about fixing it, unconcerned about a possible backlash. He’s even keen to investigate the return to proper scrums, with referees feeding the ball into the tunnel instead of halfbacks.
Sounds crazy? Of course it does but who can knock anything the ARLC chairman wants to consider.