WHAT HAPPENED IN ROUND 10 OF THE NRL
* QUOTE OF THE ROUND: “You play against a club that didn’t want you, there is certainly a bit more of an incentive.” – Shaun Johnson after setting up two tries and scoring 18 of Cronulla’s 46 points in their mauling of the Warriors at Gosford.
* STAT THAT MATTERS: Michael Jennings went equal-10th on all-time try-scorers list with his 153rd and 154th four-pointers in Parramatta’s loss to Manly.
* MAGIC MOMENT: Josh Papalii made the most of a rare opening in the Sydney Roosters’ defensive line to give injury-ravaged Canberra an unlikely 24-20 win in Thursday night’s grand final rematch.
* MAN OF THE ROUND: Kalyn Ponga was criticised as stale in attack before Newcastle’s win over South Sydney but he showed why he earned a rich contract extension. He set up a brilliant try for Bradman Best and danced through defence to score his own, while his defensive positioning on the line saved points.
* TALKING POINT: Will the NRL players who refused the flu shot get immunised to play in Queensland? Manly’s Addin Fonua-Blake is due to play there next week, while Josh Papalii and Joseph Tapine are due there the week after for Canberra. They can only play if they are vaccinated.
* JUDICIARY WATCH: Brisbane – Issac Luke (dangerous throw); St George Illawarra – Tariq Sims (dangerous contact), Euan Aitken (dangerous contact); Warriors – Jack Hetherington (dangerous contact).
* CASUALTY WARD: Sydney Roosters – Angus Crichton (knee); Brisbane – Corey Oates (leg); Canterbury – Kieran Foran (toe); Parramatta – Maika Sivo (knee), Nathan Brown (hip cork); Cronulla – Scott Sorenson (knee); Penrith – Dean Whare (thigh), Dylan Edwards (hamstring).
* UNDER PRESSURE: Can the pressure intensify any further on Anthony Seibold before it reaches breaking point? The Broncos’ 48-0 flogging from the Wests Tigers was easily their worst performance of the year.