From The Couch: Round 20

From The Couch: Round 20

Mitchell Pearce, Your 2020 Willie M Medal Winner: Congratulations to Newcastle captain Mitchell Pearce for claiming the 2020 Willie M Medal. Pearce did not poll for the first four rounds but was fairly horrific since. He plays like a robot and that robot is now malfunctioning. His kicking game is awful. He misses a lot of tackles. His running game is now non-existent. He probably didn’t reach the highs of ineptitude we saw from top challenger Corey Norman but we also saw very little brilliance either. He joins the likes of Chris Sandow, Aidan Sezer, Mitchell Moses and Blake Ferguson in winning the gong. 

The 2020 Willie M Team of the Year

1.Dallin Watene-Zeleziak (Bul – 17)

2.Blake Ferguson (Par – 12)

3.Darius Boyd (Bri – 13)

4.Peta Hiku (War – 11)

5.Reuben Garrick (Man – 11)

6.Corey Norman (Dra – 22)

7.Mitchell Pearce (New – 25)

8.Adam Blair (War – 8)

9.Ben Hunt (Dra – 16)

10.Russell Packer (Tig – 7)

11.Coen Hess (Cow – 10)

12.Bryce Cartwright (GC – 12)

13.Tyrone Peachey (GC – 7)

Farewell and Goodbye: The game said farewell to a number of players over the weekend. 

Of the six big names who played, Gavin Cooper was the one I had the most affection for. He was a wonderful player who rightly represented Queensland late in his career as well as win a premiership. He was a tremendous edge runner who formed a wonderful combination with Johnathan Thurston. 

Chris Lawrence and Joel Thompson were two others in  a similar mould though not as talented. Both were fine clubmen who gave their all. They just toiled away with total aplomb. 

Darius Boyd, Adam Blair and Kerrod Holland also all hang up the boots. The former two were highly decorated but really struggled towards the backend of their careers. Holland played more first grade than probably even he thought he was entitled to. 

Prayers for the Astute Punter: Please send a little love for those who got one on the bookiers and loaded up on the Sharks at $3.80 late last Tuesday afternoon. They jumped $1.50. And got beat. The overs gods are cruel beasts. 

No Kyles Allowed: If you have a penchant for betting Kyles in long-term NRL futures bets, it was not a good weekend. Kyle Feldt looked to have the tryscoring title wrapped up after scoring three on Thursday night only to get run down by Alex Johnston on Friday night, who scored five tries including one passed to him over the line in the most unlikeliest of routs. That match also saw Adam Reynolds sweep home to win the pointscoring title over Kyle Flanagan, who looked all but home after starting the year at monster odds. 

Boyd Gender Reveal Sums Up Boyd and Broncos: The Broncos managed to round out their most humiliating season with, astonishingly, more ridiculousness. After a horrific loss at home to the Cowboys, the Broncos did not retreat to the dressing rooms embarrassed and with their tail between their legs. They decided to pull a stunt that further damaged the club. They stood around laughing as Darius Boyd performed some strange gender reveal. It is hard to know what is wrong with Boyd or the Broncos. There are few who have much positive to say about the Broncos playing group. It is easy to see why. The club completely deserved the wooden spoon and all the humiliation that went their way. 

Well Done Warriors: It will long be remembered as one of the game’s most selfless acts. A group of men who spent time away from their families in a foreign land amid much instability to fight their way to 10th. Once they sacked Stephen Kearney, the club gave absolutely everything. It was a stellar performance and one the NRL needs to seriously look at honouring. 

Trial Rules a Mixed Bag: The NRL decided to trial four new rules in a couple of games over the weekend. One was total stupidity in making only forwards play in scrums. It, of course, will never be introduced. The tap replacing touch scrums is a good rule worth further exploration. The offside set restart is worth continued exploration. The Bunker now has the power to review every try. This in theory should be good until it is examined who is actually put in The Bunker. The one rule the NRL should have experimented with is stopping the clock in every dead-ball situation. 

Farewell Kicks: It was wonderful to see the farewell kick not forgotten over the weekend. Adam Blair put in a shocker. Gavin Cooper had one. Kerrod Holland put a farewell kick-off out on the full. 

2020 Field Goal Update – 17: No field goals over the last two weeks in what has been an abject disgrace. The NRL must change the rule about seven tackle sets from attempted field goals. 

Fun Fact #1: The Sydney Roosters had not conceded 60 points from the time Sonny Bill Williams left the Roosters. They have now done so just three games after his return. 

Fun Fact #2: No team who has conceded 50 and has Sonny Bill Williams in their team has won a premiership. 

Fun Fact #3: The Roosters have conceded an average of 30 points per game in Williams’ three games with the club. They had not conceded 30 once prior to his arrival. 

Betting Market of the Week: Did Wayne Bennett deliberately sabotage the Rabbitohs’ hopes against the Bulldogs to ensure the Broncos won the wooden spoon? 

$1.10: Yes
$8.00: No

Rumour Mill: Kevin Walters is believed to have all but secured the Broncos coaching job bar for the fact those interviewing are unsure if he can coach. Kieran Foran has signed with Manly for next season and is expected to play hooker. Tristan Sailor has been linked to a move to the North Queensland Cowboys though that has been scuppered by Dean Young heading up to assist Todd Payten. 

Moronic Coaching Decision of the Week: John Morris should be sacked for clearly not understanding his team or his situation. The Sharks needed to hit the finals with some momentum. Losing to a Raiders reserve grade side was disastrous. Making late “restings” was about as stupid as it comes. They are the worst team in the finals and deserve to be thrashed in week one after that kind of clownish thinking. 

The Coaching Crosshairs: It has become fairly apparent over the last week that Craig Bellamy will not be the head coach of the Melbourne Storm beyond 2021 … at this stage. Bellamy said he does not want the job. At this stage after a long and arduous season he probably doesn’t. It would not surprise to see him stick on. It would also not surprise to see him become coaching director … of the Storm. He will not become coaching director of the Brisbane Broncos with the Storm likely to craft something for Bellamy that he wants. As for the Storm head coaching job, the early guess … and this is purely a guess … is that Michael Maguire would be attractive to both parties. 

Beard Watch: Jai Arrow shaving off his dreadful mullet was a real treat. 

Watch It: This week we bid farewell to a number of players. One of those was Chris Lawrence. Touted as a future rep player, injuries and a lack of speed curtailed his upside. He remained a great clubman. Few Tigers fans will ever forget his debut though. Watch it here.