With less than ten weeks of the NRL regular rounds remaining, we’re rapidly heading towards the business end of the season.

As the home stretch begins for teams looking to confirm their place in finals footy, injuries continue to take their toll. Meanwhile, Origin Three looms large, big club announcements continue and the NRLW heads towards their kick-off.

Sliding or Rising?

The old mid year form slump has reared its ugly head for a couple of clubs with huge finals aspirations.

Last year’s grand finalists, the Broncos, have hit the wall in a big way, losing five consecutive matches to drop to 11th of the ladder. The injury to Adam Reynolds and the usual Origin load haven’t helped their cause.

Losing Reynolds has been a blow for the Broncos

As far as losing form is concerned, they aren’t on their own. The Sharks are in all sorts, dropping five of their last six matches, with victory only coming against the Broncos.

The Raiders have also won just one game from their last six, that being a one point escape against the Dolphins.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are on a streak, tasting victory in five of the last six rounds and climbing to fifth on the ladder. The Bunnies are the other club to turn their season around. In the lead up to round 19, Souths have won five on the trot and picked up two points from the bye. They now sit just two points out of the eight.

Dare they dream? Perhaps.

Origin 3

Will the home ground advantage be the deciding factor in this year’s Origin decider?

Queensland fortress, Suncorp Stadium, will host Game 3, and those Cane Toad supporters will be baying for Blues blood.

On a positive note, how good is it to have a live rubber for the final game of the series!

With a new look team, the Blues produced a brand of footy in Melbourne which blew the Maroons off the park in the first half. Eels star Mitchell Moses was in rare touch and retains the 7 jersey for his state, while Parra supporters will also focus on the performance of future Eel, Zac Lomax.

Lomax and Moses

Newcastle back Bradman Best joins the side following the withdrawal of Latrell Mitchell, though he could also be in some doubt to take the field. Jake Trbojevic controversially returns as captain, a selection which has puzzled many supporters given the minimal minutes he’s been given.

In contrast, a couple of powerhouses will start from the bench. Expect Spencer Leniu and Mitchell Barnett looking to add the drama when they enter the fray.

The Maroons field a side similar to the one that took the field in the last Suncorp decider.

Kalyn Ponga, Kurt Capewell and Dane Gagai all return as Billy Slater opts for a classic Queensland side, with speedy backs with crafty ball-playing forwards. Dane Gagai, Kalyn Ponga, Reece Walsh, Valentine Holmes and Hamiso Tabuai – Fidow form a backline that would be any New South Welshman’s nightmare. 

In contrast, the Blues fear factor is provided by Payne Haas, Angus Crichton, Spencer Leniu, and Mitch Barnett. And if the NSW backs can produce similar performance to their first half in Melbourne, then there’s every chance that the home ground advantage will be null and void.

Eels Coach

There was finally some positive news out of Kellyville when the Parramatta Eels confirmed that Jason Ryles would join the Eels as head coach for the next four seasons.

Currently in a coaching co-ordination role at the Storm, and with previous assistant coach stints at Melbourne and the Roosters, Ryles has long been touted as a star coach in waiting.

Jason Ryles

The new Eels coach will have the services of superstar flyer Zac Lomax when he takes the reins, but expectations are high that a roster revamp is also on the cards.

The decision about assistant coaches should be interesting, with the players expressing their desire to keep Trent Barrett on board. Will the former Dragons team mates join forces again to guide the Eels?

Vegas Bound

This week the NRL confirmed the four clubs that will take to Las Vegas to open the 2025 NRL season. The Panthers, Sharks, Warriors and Raiders will all head across the Pacific for the NRL’s second U.S spectacle.

But the NRL has doubled down, literally, in 2025.

The now annual Rugby League showcase will feature four matches by including a match between the Jillaroos and England, and a Super league clash between the Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors.

It will be an on-field extravaganza for the locals and the tourists. Let’s hope the NRL power brokers can negotiate better a USA broadcast platform to improve on the negligible viewing numbers of 2024.

NRLW Looms

With the wrap up of the Womens State of Origin series, all eyes now turn to the beginning of the NRLW season this month.

The season will begin following a series of trial matches, including the Eels vs Dragons match at Eric Tweedale Oval this Saturday at 1pm.

Round one kicks off on Thursday July 25th where back-to-back champions Newcastle face premiership heavyweights, the Roosters. Winger Jasmin Strange has moved from the Steel City to the Eastern Suburbs, reuniting with her father, Roosters head coach John Strange.

Elsie Albert and Rachael Pearson

The Eels start their season two days later in a huge Suncorp Stadium clash against the Broncos at 12:45pm. The Blue and Gold girls will aim to perform much better than last year’s spoon season. Rachael Pearson returns healthy from her Origin campaign, whilst Co-Captain Kennedy Cherrington will be looking to lead the pack alongside the powerhouse Elsie Albert, another player returning from an injury riddled 2023.

With expansion looming as the Warriors return and the Bulldogs enter an inaugural team, and Warriors prepare to join and rejoin the competition, there is much to be excited for in the Womens rugby league space.

Enjoy your Round 19 footy and bring on Origin 3.

Go the Blues!

Nat.

If you liked this article, you might consider supporting The Cumberland Throw.