NRL ROUND SEVEN HIGHS AND LOWS
THEY SAID IT: “It takes some of the yuckiness out of the game.” BRAD FITTLER on the NRL’s move to ban criticism of the bunker.
MAN OF THE ROUND: ANTHONY MILFORD. The Broncos playmaker scored three tries and notched up a try assist, seven tackle breaks, three linebreaks, one linebreak assist and an offload in Brisbane’s 53-0 defeat of Newcastle.
STAT THAT MATTERS: JOHNATHAN THURSTON scored his 1007th point at 1300 Smiles Stadium in North Queensland’s 44-18 thrashing of Souths on Friday night to move alongside Andrew Johns as just the second person in Australian rugby league history to notch 1000 points at a venue.
MAGIC MOMENT: Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Cooper Cronk slotted an 85th minute field goal to guide Melbourne to a 19-18 win over Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
TALKING POINT: The Bunker. Actually it is the non-talking point after the NRL issued its `no talkies’ edict on the central command centre. Coaches, officials and players who dare to criticise the technology, now do so with the threat of a $20,000 fine hanging over their heads.
JUDICIARY WATCH: Cowboys – Matt Scott (high tackle); Rabbitohs – Hymel Hunt (high tackle); Titans – Ryan James (dangerous contact); Dragons – Gareth Widdop (high tackle); Korbin Sims (high tackle); Storm – Nelson Asofa-Solomona (tripping).
CASUALTY WARD: Sea Eagles – Jorge Taufua (collarbone); Eels – Tepai Moeroa (shin); Rabbitohs – Greg Inglis (concussion); Warriors – Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (knee); Knights – Jarrod Mullen (concussion); Titans – Eddy Pettybourne (hand), Leivaha Pulu (ribs);
UNDER PRESSURE: The Knights are showing little sign of improvement and their 53-0 monstering at the hands of Brisbane will only increase the pressure being felt by coach Nathan Brown.