The mood around the Rugby League World Cup took a turn this week. After an outstanding opening round, blowouts defined Round 2 and has prompted a barrage of commentary and suggested fixes. For me, the cause and solution is very simple.

I had high hopes for the Lebanon attack in this tournament, but they’ve struggled to get their danger-men clean ball. Fiji, on the other hand, are out here throwing cut-out passes and playing out career-best games.

Despite the predictability of some of the results, there has been some movement in the Power Rankings this week. There isn’t likely to be a change for France any time soon, though. They face an uncertain future captured well in another article linked below.

Kurt Donoghoe finished Round 2 of the Rugby League World Cup as the talk of the tournament. Still, I’m always reluctant to react too quickly to single events, particularly in the world where social media likes to be first rather than right.

Despite the conversation around him as the Dolphins five-eighth for 2027, he’s a developing lock forward and that is still his future in first grade for me. However, this performance did unlock more potential in him as a distributor. His peak can look a lot like Erin Clark right now where he’s a power runner and ball-player, but has the smarts and skill to take on cues in the defensive line other middle forwards miss.

The cut-out pass he threw for Sunia Turuva to score their opener is a beauty, but the most encouraging part comes before the pass².

His ability to see the pass before throwing it is where he can excel as a ball-playing lock. Being a run-threat first with the ability to move the ball on would make him a particularly dangerous 13 in a side with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at the back, in particular.

*Somebody is making it especially difficult to breakdown the details of the game without easily accessible full match replays… For a start, the action two plays before the pass - absent from any highlights I can find - is where the cue comes from.

On a shift to the left, Donoghoe plays Solomone Saukuru into Kotoni Staggs. With Staggs and Sam Walker in the tackle and at marker, the Kangaroos line changes. Notably, David Fifita is at two-man down the short side.

We need to start putting some respect on play-the-ball’s leading to points, because there is little evidence in the highlights to capture just how good Emosi Ravosai’s carry was in the build up. He split Keaon Koloamatangi and Cameron Murray to poke his head through and generate a quick play-the-ball. The benefits of that carry allowed Donoghoe the opportunity to make the play.

Again, we’re limited in the available vision but you can just see Fifita and Walker getting tangled up on the line. They’re trying to get home in defence but Ravosai’s carry doesn’t give them time. Noticing what is in front of him, Api Koroisau’s influence here can’t be understated. Unlike others who might premeditate their deception and overplay, he’s lightning quick in getting the ball to Donoghoe off the ground.

Skipping across a late Fifita and into Walker with a lead inside Staggs, the decision is an easy one for Donoghoe who ices the pass to produce one of the best moments of the Rugby League World Cup so far.

He did it all wearing #6, but I have his ceiling at NRL level in a #13 jersey. Still, we can continue to learn about his possible future as he takes on the Kiwis this week.

Tactics, highlights and genuine footy chat is what makes this newsletter different from a lot of other rugby league content. I tend to steer clear of controversy and talking heads hot takes. However, when it directly impacts my ability to talk tactics, highlights and genuine footy, it has to be covered.