NRL Newsletter: Warbrick In The Air, Harrison In The Clutch & Round 17 Notes

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NRL Film Room - Round 16 Highlights

Quick Hits

The Feature Reel: Try of the Week

Kick the ball to Will Warbrick on the last tackle.

You don’t need to be a genius to come up with this plan.

However, the devil is in the detail. What happens before the kick and the shape the Melbourne Storm use to setup Warbrick is how they’re able to get him the best possible look at a catch. They did it multiple times throughout the game.

I’ve covered how teams try to defend attacking kicks in the past. While the referees now have a more keen eye for escorts, the players are still trying to clog up the space. If a centre can run the attacking player slightly off the ball or hold up their run, they provide the defensive catcher with a much easier attempt.

To counter this, the Storm have Warbrick on the touchline with almost 20 metres between him and his nearest teammate. That teammate running the lead inside Matt Timoko in the centres is how Warbrick is presented with a clean run to the spot and jump for the ball.

Timoko doesn’t have time to check the lead and get around the ball to where it will likely land. By the time he turns and tracks towards the corner, it’s too late.

Warbrick is a weapon in the air on the wing, but simply kicking him the ball isn’t always enough. Here, the Storm planned and executed on the play to give him the best shot against a winger who has often struggled to defend in these positions.

Round 16 NRL Notes

The Bulldogs Spine

With “taking a little bit of responsibility off him for a bit and just allow him to just enjoy his footy” in mind, Cameron Ciraldo made a change to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs spine.

It wasn’t what I had in mind, though…

You could hear the Eels defence name dropping “Galvin!” in the broadcast throughout their Round 14 game. He’s recording the most touches per game of any halfback in the competition. Where Galvin goes, you can trust that the ball is going there more often than not. - The Indicator To The Bulldogs Attack

Instead, he moved Stephen Crichton to the centres for Matt Burton.

I considered the idea that less might be more for Galvin; allow him to use more of his best skills by doing less of the traditional halfback role. That isn’t to say ‘move him to five-eighth’. Just perhaps don’t play with him leading the NRL is touches per game among all non-hookers.

Still, Galvin finished with 69 touches for the match - roughly his average for the season - and the Bulldogs again struggled to penetrate the defence.

It’s only one game with the new-look halves pairing and they’ve been named to run out again in Round 17, but there is still room to find a better balance.

Titans v Panthers

Harrison Under The Radar: The Gold Coast Titans aren’t known for their development of halfbacks. Plenty have come through the system and quickly exited. Some, like Tanah Boyd, Jamal Fogarty and Toby Sexton, have left and kicked on elsewhere. The lack of expectation that has created for those wearing #7 at the club might be working in Zane Harrison’s favour at the moment.

There will be no hiding from the hype following his match winning field goal to beat the top-of-the-table Penrith Panthers on Saturday night.

But I want to roll it back 11 minutes to when Harrison played a leading role in putting the Titans in front to really highlight his role in the win.

The smarts and composure he showed down the shortside is particularly encouraging for a 20-year-old halfback with the game on the line.

Jayden Campbell’s carry generates the momentum for the Titans to play behind while also bringing Dylan Edwards into the tackle to further scramble the defensive line. The Panthers are one of the better teams in the NRL at getting their fullback out of the tackle and into the line, but it cost them here as the markers and A around the ruck are scrambling.

Where some young halves might get a bit too excited here, Harrison holds his nerve. He takes the ball flat and fast over the advantage line, holds his line for long enough to engage Nathan Cleary at marker and Izack Tago at A, but most importantly, preserves the space on the edge. Rather than taking space away and bringing the sideline into play as a defender, Harrison forces Paul Alamoti into a decision.

It’s a lovely try assist in a clutch moment, but how he did it will leave Josh Hannay hopeful that he’s found his #7 of the future.

Stadium Chat

I’ve not clicked on a speculative expansion article for a very long time - they’re boring. However, having spent Sunday at Christchurch’s brand new One NZ Stadium, it’s safe to assume that it will be factor in any expansion decisions.

It’s incredible.

The detail throughout the stadium is well thoughtout. Unlike others where the facilities for players and staff have been an afterthought as though they aren’t a key part of the game day experience, the One NZ Stadium has been designed with the players in mind. None will have been left wanting from either team before or after the game with warmup and recovery areas all top-shelf.

For the fans, the location is excellent for pre- and post-game festivities and once you’re inside, the noise doesn’t stop. It took a Warriors win to reach the pinnacle, but a full-house stadium singing the team song is a memory that will last a long time. The gate of the grandstand leaves everybody inside close to the action, too.

A flash stadium isn’t all that will be considered, but with the time zone on offer for broadcasters and the hype around the country for rugby league in New Zealand, Christchurch has to be in the running.

Round 17 Notes

Seigwalt & Duncan: I obviously need to pay closer attention to the South Sydney Rabbitohs centres. Tallis Duncan needs to be in the team, but I’m surprised to see Moala Graham-Taufa continually being named in the extended squad, but failing to make it on game day.

Joash Papalii: He’s unlucky not to be in the 17 every week. His work rate at fullback was superb and I think he’s strong enough defensively to be in the front line. Still in the 19 for this week, I’m curious to see how he’s used, if at all.

Galvin’s Touches: As covered last week and above here, his touch count is a focus as well as the effectiveness.

Tom Trbojevic Trick Shot: The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles captain returned in Round 16, but at times looked like a player who’d been out for two months. He will be better for the run and needs to be against an improving Melbourne Storm side. The positive for the Sea Eagles is how well they played without Trbojevic. To add him to the side without the need for being the standout focal point will allow Kieran Foran to cook up a few trick shots, like we’ve seen a few times already in his stint as head coach.

Sasagi Returns: Ricky Stuart hinted at injuries being a major issue for the Canberra Raiders following their loss to the Storm last week¹ . While they don’t help, and Simi Sasagi was one of the form players in the NRL before going down, it’s only a valid excuse if you come out and perform when healthy. Given the trajectory of the Raiders and recent improvements out of the St George Illawarra Dragons, this bottom-of-the-table clash could be a ripper.

Doueihi Returns: Similar to Sasagi at the Raiders, the Wests Tigers are desperate for Adam Doueihi to have an instant impact. Was their early-season form a blip, is Doueihi really that impactful, and can they restart their season before finals football starts to slip away?

Player Spotlight - Kodi Nikorima

It doesn’t feel like Kodi Nikorima gets the credit he deserves over the time he’s been at the Dolphins.

The 2026 NRL season has been stop-start for the 32-year-old, but there is little doubt that the Dolphins have been at their best with him on the field.

He’s the perfect partner for Isaiya Katoa in the halves. Where Katoa will fix defenders and use changes in tempo to engage the line through the middle, Nikorima flies onto it on the edge.

He can take the ball as speed on the second layer, and unlike other speedsters around the competition, can make the pass without slowing down.

Nikorima is 13 seasons and 233 matches into his NRL career but doesn’t seem to be losing anything physically. If anything, the game is slowing down around him and allowing him to play a leading role in one of the most dangerous attacking outfits in the competition.

The Pipeline - Riley Pollard, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Looking beyond the bright lights of the NRL to the lower grades, one player caught my eye this week.

The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks might have a decision to make in the near future.

Niwhai Puru jumped up to make his NRL debut in the absence of Nicho Hynes in recent weeks. In his place for the Newtown Jets, Riley Pollard has put his hand up.

The 20-year-old knows how to get a team around the field and make the right pass. His running game is dangerous and links up well with Liam Ison floating around from fullback. Pollard is gutsy in defence, too.

On the occasions the Newtown Jets have wanted Pollard, Puru, Ison and Taj Ford all on the field, Pollard has been trusted to defend in the middle where he didn’t look out of place.

Puru is the first drop halfback at the moment, but Pollard might have a case for the spot next season if he continues on his current trajectory.

Member Mailbag

1  Not only is every team dealing with injuries, the Raiders seem to be one of the healthiest teams in the NRL? At the time, only Simi Sasagi and Josh Papalii displayed on the Casualty Ward.