Luai circus exposes transfer farce; Gus’ fingerprints all over Bulldogs debacle — Crawls

How can you not feel for Wests Tigers fans?

In the week Jarome Luai announced he’ll be joining the PNG Chiefs on a mega deal in 2028, the Tigers produced their worst performance of the season in a 52-10 capitulation against the Sharks.

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So of course Luai’s decision became a major talking point after the game.

But anyone saying what the Tigers dished up on Sunday was Luai’s fault are kidding themselves.

Sure, when your star playmaker signs elsewhere, years in advance, on tax free dollars that blows every other club’s salary cap out of the water, it’s only human nature that it creates distraction and uncertainty.

But here’s the reality: the problem isn’t Luai.

It’s the transfer system that allows players to sign long-term deals with rival clubs well before their current contracts expire.

And this is exactly the fallout that comes with it.

It puts players in impossible positions, fuels the constant speculation, and leaves clubs trying to worry about today while the future is already determined.

But blaming Luai is missing the point.

Yes, Luai’s decision obviously had an impact on the Tigers.

But context also matters.

And don’t forget the Tigers were also without star fullback Jahream Bula and hooker Api Koroisau.

In-form halfback Adam Doueihi then dislocated his shoulder scoring a try in the opening 10 minutes.

That’s three-quarters of the Tigers’ spine out of action.

Throw in that gun back-rower Samuela Fainu limped off with an ankle injury.

Then there’s some key stats to consider.

Just 25 per cent of second-half possession. The Tigers forced to make 151 more tackles. A completion rate of just 66 per cent compared to Cronulla’s 85.

Factor in that rookie Faaletino Tavana, in just his third game, was targeted relentlessly. And the 21-year-old simply didn’t handle the occasion. It happens.

But again, don’t hang this on Luai.

He’s simply operating within a system that allows, even encourages, these early deals.

The Tigers now head to Melbourne to take on the Storm on Sunday, and they’ll still missing Koroisau and Bula, while Doueihi is awaiting scans but highly unlikely to play.

Fainu could also be missing.

But guess what — that’s not Luai’s fault either.

GUS’ FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER BULLDOGS’ DEBACLE

We all know Phil Gould is a genius when it comes to rebuilding rugby league clubs and shaping premiership rosters.

But there’s also no denying the biggest knock on Gus is that sometimes he can be guilty of outsmarting himself.

And right now, that criticism is again gaining momentum on the back of the Bulldogs slumping to their fifth defeat in six games.

The 28-12 loss to the Cowboys highlights a problem that’s been building ever since Canterbury made the call to get rid of Reed Mahoney and Toby Sexton last year.

What we’re witnessing isn’t bad luck, it’s a problem of Gus’s own making.

There is just no debate that the current spine simply isn’t working — and Gus’s fingerprints are all over it.

On a night where Mahoney came back to haunt his former club, the contrast between the Cowboys’ attacking flair, and the Bulldogs’ lack of it, was evident for all to see.

Mahoney controlled the game from dummy half with two try assists, his sharp service and constant probing.

He created the try for Scott Drinkwater with a clever shift across the ruck, then sealed the match when regathering his own grubber to set up Jake Clifford.

Mahoney even found time to rack up 52 tackles that included two key moments when forcing turnovers on Stephen Crichton and Leo Thompson.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs looked clunky and predictable.

Lachlan Galvin tried hard as he always does — with 14 runs for 99 metres that included a try and a try assist.

But effort isn’t the issue with Galvin.

The reality is Galvin’s been rushed into a role that he’s just not ready for, or naturally suited to, and it sticks out like a dog’s who-know-whats.

Alongside him, Matt Burton remains inconsistent and even looks confused at what his role is.

Bailey Hayward is also clearly struggling at dummy half.

Against the Cowboys, Hayward finished without a single run or a key attacking stat recorded against his name.

And when you put that all together that’s why the alarm bells are ringing at Belmore.

The Bulldogs let Mahoney go. They let Sexton go.

Now they’re scrambling for answers in the two key positions Mahoney and Sexton capably filled last year when the Dogs were leading the comp.

That’s not misfortune — that’s roster management.

And the buck stops with Gus.

Compounding the issue is that the game has sped up dramatically this year due to the surge in six-again calls.

And while Cameron Ciraldo is obviously a tremendous defensive coach, his team is struggling to adapt with its attack to the changes in the game.

The stats on Friday night told the story.

The Dogs had 43 red-zone play-the-balls for just two tries, despite dominating penalties (6-3) and set restarts (6-2).

They now take on the Dolphins on Thursday night, another team who love to chance their hand with so much attacking flair.

Gould and Ciraldo have understandably earned goodwill among Bulldogs supporters given where the club was before they arrived.

But it’s fair to say the patience is wearing thin.

SLATER FACING HUGE MUNSTER ORIGIN CALL

A big call is looming for Queensland coach Billy Slater — and it centres on his captain, Cameron Munster.

At his best, Munster is Origin’s ultimate big-match player.

The man the Maroons have learned to trust when everything is on the line.

But this season that version of the now 31-year-old is nowhere to be seen.

And with the Origin opener on May 27 fast approaching, Munster’s form must be a massive headache for Slater.

The Storm’s 28-10 loss to the Dolphins made it seven straight defeats for the once mighty club, and once again Munster struggled to impose himself on the match.

He finished with five runs for 36 metres and offered no real spark.

Across the season, his numbers are just as concerning.

No tries, one line break, and only four try assists in total.

For a player of Munster’s class, the stats are hard to comprehend.

And the concern for Queensland is that it isn’t just Munster who is struggling, but Harry Grant as well.

While Grant is trying his heart out, the effort just isn’t being rewarded.

Grant made some huge defensive plays against the Dolphins, but he only had five runs for 32m and had no real impact.

If the Storm’s form doesn’t turn quickly, Slater may be forced into a tough balancing act.

Can he carry both Munster and Grant into Origin if the Storm spine continues to misfire?

There are other options available for Queensland in the halves.

Ezra Mam is knocking on the door.

Sam Walker could also come into calculations, but would Slater even contemplate potentially shifting Tom Dearden to five-eighth?

Even Daly Cherry-Evans remains a fallback option _ but that would be a huge call for Slater to go back to the captain he dropped last year.

Let’s be clear, there’s not a chance in the world Grant or Munster will be dropped for Origin one.

But Slater showed last year he’s not afraid to make the ruthless call when he axed DCE.

If Munster doesn’t fire, could the same scenario unfold again?

For all his brilliance, Munster’s form has turned from a strength into the major storyline in the countdown to Queensland’s Origin campaign.

WALSH AND PONGA ON A QUEENSLAND COLLISION COURSE

There’s been plenty written and said about the fight for the NSW fullback spot this year between the in-form James Tedesco and Blues incumbent Dylan Edwards.

But just as fascinating will be the late charge to wear the Queensland No 1 jumper _ with Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga both back from injury and now on a collision course.

Despite a quiet first half in his return from a facial fracture, Walsh produced some inspirational moments to lead the Broncos’ courageous second half fightback against the Roosters.

Walsh came up with a huge defensive play to save a certain try to Hugo Savala.

He also scored a crucial try to spark the Broncos’ after they had trailed 30-0 early in the second half, before Walsh laid on another try with a touch of class for Jordan Riki.

Meanwhile, Ponga was super impressive in his first game back from a hamstring injury in the Knights’ heart-stopping 42-38 win over the Rabbitohs.

The way he can turn an opposition defence line inside out in the blink of an eye never ceases to amaze you.

And the way the Newcastle skipper put his body on the line in what was ultimately an unsuccessful attempt to stop a rampaging Latrell Mitchell from scoring late also highlighted Ponga’s underrated tougness.

No doubt if they both stay fit Walsh will and thoroughly deserves to start the series on the back of leading the Broncos to last year’s premiership.

But having Ponga available and in form will not just keep Walsh hungry and honest, it will potentially provide Slater with serious X factor off the bench.

LATRELL’S FLASHBACK TO GI

On a weekend when some of the game’s biggest stars stood up and delivered, none were better than big Latrell Mitchell despite the Rabbitohs’ gut-wrenching defeat.

Latrell caused havoc pretty much every time he touched the ball as the Rabbitohs staged a thrilling fightback from 22-0 down.

And that barnstorming power play when Latrell steamrolled Ponga to score in the corner in the final 10 minutes was a fair dinkum flashback of Greg Inglis at his rampaging best.

Then for Latrell to calmly nail the sideline conversion with the Newcastle fans absolutely giving it to him to claim the lead just showed incredible mental strength and focus.

Unfortunately for Rabbitohs it was in all in vain as the Knights swooped on the Euan Aitken’s loose carry, which opened the door for Dylan Brown’s show-and-go to lay on the match-clinching try for young Trey Mooney.

Latrell had one last crack to save the game but couldn’t keep control of the ball as he attempted to fight off five Knights defenders in a desperate finish.

Latrell’s form has been getting better by the week this season, and in the countdown to Origin it’s an ominous sign.

Both teams should be proud of putting on what was one of the most exciting games seen in years.

Even if you don’t enjoy the big scoring results that are dominating the 2026 NRL season, that was unbelievable entertainment.

BUNKER HOWLER OVERSHADOWS MANLY’S YOUNG GUN’S ARRIVAL

It is just astonishing how much Manly has improved under the coaching of Kieran Foran.

And wasn’t it great to see young Joey Walsh finally get a start in the absence of Jamal Fogarty.

It’s going to leave Foran with a big decision to make moving forward with Luke Brooks when Fogarty returns.

But taking nothing away from Walsh’s dazzling arrival in the hard fought 18-16 loss to the Panthers, the Bunker had an absolute howler when awarding the Lehi Hopoate try despite a clear obstruction on Nathan Cleary.

It’s just farcical when a former champion playmaker the calibre of Cooper Cronk looks at that and says it’s “100 per cent no try”.

But the ‘try confirmed’ still goes up.

If Cronk as well as Nathan and Ivan Cleary don’t understand the decision, what hope do fans have?

HUMBLE RAMSEY ‘AN INCREDIBLE HUMAN’

There was no more touching moment over the round than seeing Cody Ramsey back in the NRL after a four-year absence due to a life-threatening bowel illness.

And the former Dragon tugged at the heartstrings of everyone watching on Fox League as Ramsey spoke with raw emotion after the Roosters’ win about his inspirational comeback journey, while he also choking back tears.

It just showed what an incredibly humble young human this bloke is as the now 26-year-old thanked the Roosters and the Dragons for their support during his comeback.

ANOTHER DRAGON WHO GOT AWAY

Another comeback worthy of a mention was that of young Jack Bostock in his first game back in the NRL after knee surgery last year.

The former Illawarra junior was outstanding scoring two tries playing in the centres in the Dolphins’ win.

We’ve known for some time Bostock has some serious talent.

But at 22, he looks ready to take his game to the next level, especially if he gets to stay in the centres.

Unfortunately for the Dragons it’s just another local junior who got away.

WARRIOR THE BLUES CAN’T IGNORE

If Laurie Daley is serious about picking his NSW team on form, how in the hell do you leave out Jackson Ford?

Look at what Ford has been churning out week in week out for the Warriors this year compared to Cronulla’s Addin Fonua-Blake, who everyone seems to think should be a shoo-in to be in the Blues starting team after the change to the Origin eligibility rules.

A third of the way through the season and Ford is second on the Dally M Medal count on 31 votes just behind Nathan Cleary (33).

WEBSTER PUTS FORM AHEAD OF REPUTATION

It was another impressive overall win from the Warriors who beat a brave but understrength Eels 36-14.

And I loved the comment from coach Andrew Webster who vowed that he would continue to pick his team on form, even with star halfback Luke Metcalf sitting on the extended bench.

As long as Tanah Boyd and Chanel Harris-Tavita continue to play as well as they are, Metcalf will need to be patient.

The Warriors now have the bye before they take on the Broncos at Magic Round in front of what will be a Suncorp Stadium sellout on the Sunday afternoon.

NRL’S POUND-FOR-POUND TOUGHEST DESERVES SHOT AT ORIGIN

In the debate about who is the NRL’s pound-for-pound toughest player, I was stunned when Blayke Brailey came into NRL 360 last week and told us that he only weighed 82kg.

For a little bloke by NRL standards, Brailey sure packs a punch with some of the hits he can produce.

And while Blues incumbent hooker Reece Robson is starting to find his form with the Roosters, the Cronulla captain was again terrific in the Sharks’ thumping win over the Tigers.

I know there’s talk the Blues will choose two hookers this year.

But Brailey surely deserves to be the starting No 9.

Don’t forget the Blues didn’t win last year so any talk of loyalty to incumbents should be redundant.

BEST GAME OF YOUNG RAIDERS’ CAREER

A week ago young Canberra halfback Ethan Sanders was looking like he needed a rest after struggling in the Raiders’ loss to the Tigers.

But in the absence of Ethan Strange against the Titans, Sanders responded with what was without doubt the best game of his NRL career so far.

Still only 21, Sanders took charge with a classy halfback’s performance.

It can be a long and grinding season for young playmakers and it’s not uncommon for coaches to give them a rest from time-to-time.

But so far Sanders hasn’t missed a game and he’s doing a pretty good job after taking over from Jamal Fogarty.

Sanders is certainly not a flashy halfback but he obviously has a good footy IQ and a quality kicking game to go with it.

Simi Sasagi was also terrific in his return from injury playing in the backrow as the in-form Raider finished with two more tries from his 18 runs for 142m.

There isn’t a more improved player in the competition than Sasagi who is still only 25.