By Bo Nicholson – Managing Director
We take a look at the Above The Horizontal Awards for Round 10, 2022.
Match of the Round
While the Titans and Dragons played out a Golden Point thriller and the Warriors staged a huge comeback against the Rabbitohs to almost clinch victory, the best standard of match was the Roosters v Eels.
Pre-season, Trent Robinson did say it would take about 10 weeks for their halves pairing to really click – well, it might have been 9, but he wasn’t far wrong. It’s really nice to see Sam Walker starting to flourish again, including that wonderful solo try. The Roosters didn’t have it all their way, though, with Mitchell Moses and Isaiah Papali’i staging a second-half comeback that had the Roosters a little worried for a while. Both teams will feature heavily in finals football this year.
Try of the Week
Is it really a choice? The answer is clearly Scott Drinkwater for the Cowboys against the Wests Tigers. But honestly, all the credit has to go to Murray Taulagi, who seemed to defy gravity, despite the best efforts of Jackson Hastings, to get a 1-handed offload in-field to his fullback from well outside the field of play. The word gets thrown around a fair bit…but that was phenomenal.
Haven’t seen it yet? Check it out. Then watch it again. And Again.
The ‘From Bolter To Certainty’ Award – Reuben Cotter
I mean, it’s happening…right? What felt like a hot-take 5-6 weeks ago is now an absolute certainty, injury/suspension allowing; Reuben Cotter will be lining up for Queensland in Game 1. Further to that, though, they’d be crazy not to start him in jersey 13. Yes, Fa’asuamaleaui has claims to that jersey (not to mention the impressive Pat Carrigan), but the simple solution to this problem is using Tino as a prop alongside Big Papa, and then Queensland have some options for the middle rotation on the bench, including Arrow, Carrigan, Fotuaika, Collins. With his leg-speed and competitiveness, it needs to happen. Cotter for 13.
The ‘Worst Hospital Pass You Could Ever Want’ Award – Bulldogs/Mick Potter
3 coaches sacked in 5 years at the once proud club, with Trent Barrett following Des Hasler and Dean Pay down the path to unemployment. Sorry, he quit, didn’t he?
*eye roll*
Mick Potter has attained the poisoned chalice. He’s a good coach who couldn’t make much of a difference to the Tigers’ misfortunes when he had a crack there. We keep hearing about the Bulldogs getting their culture back, and Potter, being a Bulldogs great, has a chance, at least in his interim role. This club feel like they are still very far from greatness, and their next permanent coach is probably the most important decision they’ve had to make in the last couple of decades.
Who should the Bulldogs hire as their coach for 2023 and beyond? Let us know in the comments!
Bo Nicholson is a Managing Director at The Pioneer Australia. He is also the Host of Above The Horizontal, a rugby league podcast dealing in equal parts fun and analysis. Listen Here.
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