The 2014 Willie M Medal: Round 9

Just as Bill Tupou announced himself as a true force to be reckoned with in the race for the 2014 Willie M Medal with another horror outing for the Raiders, Joey Leilua reasserted his position as the man to beat with a performance that was spectacular in its ineptitude. Admittedly, Leilua offers the Knights far more upside than Tupou offers the Raiders – he is a strong ball runner who can break the line when he’s on song. However, his downside is as bad as anyone currently playing first grade. Five errors against the Panthers were ‘highlighted’ by a flick pass that would have been reckless in dry conditions and nothing short of moronic given the rain in Newcastle. Unsurprisingly, it bobbled along the ground before being swept up by Dean Whare, who raced 65 metres the other way to score under the posts for Penrith. With apologies to Blake Ayshford, it appears that only a stint in New South Wales Cup for both men can prevent this year’s title from becoming a two-horse race.

 

Sydney Roosters v Wests Tigers

3 – Blake Austin (Tig)

2 – Cory Paterson (Tig)

1– Mitchell Pearce (Roo)
Judge: Brett Oaten

North Queensland v Brisbane
3 – Jack Reed (Bri)
2 – Dale Copley (Bri)
1 –  Jason Taumalolo (Cow)
Judge: Cliff Bingham

New Zealand  v Canberra
3 – Bill Tupou (Can)
2 – Jarrod Croker (Can)
1 – Jack Wighton (Can)
Judge: Matt Tedeschi

Gold Coast v South Sydney
3 – Greg Bird (GC)
2 – Aidan Sezer (GC)
1 – Ryan James (GC)
Judge: Cliff Bingham

Melbourne v Manly
3 – Tom Symonds (Man)
2 – Sisa Waqa (Mel)
1 – Jason King (Man)
Judge: Cliff Bingham

Newcastle v Penrith
3 – Joey Leilua (New)
2 – Beau Scott (New)
1 – Jarrod Mullen (New)
Judge: Cliff Bingham

St George-Illawarra v Canterbury
3 – Garreth Widdop (Dra)
2 – Ben Creagh (Dra)
1 – Jack Stockwell (Dra)
Judge: Cliff Bingham

Parramatta v Cronulla
3 –  Jeff Robson (Cro)
2 –  Beau Ryan (Cro)
1 –  Corey Norman (Par)
Judge: Cliff Bingham

Leaderboard

14: Joey Leilua (New)

10: Blake Ayshford (Cro), Bill Tupou (Can)

9: Jack Wighton (Can)

7: James Maloney (Roo), Manu Vatuvei (War), Ben Barba (Bri)

6: Daniel Holdsworth (Cro), Jonathan Wright (Cro), Todd Carney (Cro), Peta Hiku (Man)

5: Sam Burgess (Sou), Kyle Feldt (Cow), Ben Hampton (Mel), Simon Mannering (War), Lote Tuqiri (Sou), Akuila Uate (New), Tariq Sims (Cow), Robert Lui (Cow), David Mead (GC), Adam Docker (Pen), Jamie Soward (Pen), Cory Paterson (Tig), Jack Reed (Bri), Dale Copley (Bri)

4: Will Chambers (Mel), Mahe Fonua (Mel), Dane Gagai (New), Anthony Minichiello (Roo), Sonny Bill Williams (Roo), Daniel Vidot (Bri), Kenny Edwards (Par), Josh Dugan (Dra), Dane Nielsen (War), James Segeyaro (Pen), Kurtis Rowe (Tig), Braith Anasta (Tig), Tom Symonds (Man)