Another weekend of NRL action? That means another edition of The Repeat Set, who is is here to deliver rugby league insight to your door.
Read on for all the info.
Tallis: Shane Flanagan should move on Paul Gallen and Luke Lewis
Big Gordy Tallis reckons if Wayne Bennett was in charge of the Sharks, he would have already tapped Paul Gallen and Luke Lewis on the shoulder and moved them on for young players.
Speaking before Cronulla’s gritty Good Friday win over Melbourne, Tallis believes Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan’s failure to make the tough calls on the veteran pair could come back to bite him.
“Wayne Bennett – love him or hate him – he knows how to make a tough decision,” Tallis said on Fox Sports.
“Someone like Luke Lewis and Paul Gallen…as sad as it is, if it’s for the good of the club they get moved on so the young kids keep coming through.
“I think Cronulla’s (premiership) window’s closed (and) if they miss the finals this year and next year, that’s when he (Flanagan) is going to be under the pump.
“I don’t care how good you are. We’ve watched it with Michael Maguire, we‘ve watched it with Dessie Hasler.”
Mark Gasnier, never one to miss a free hit at the Sharks, added: “I think the pressure’s going to come on Flanagan because of the recruitment decisions.
“(He) let Jack Bird go (and) brings Josh Dugan in when he already had a fullback.
“He brings Matt Moylan in when you already have two fullbacks….that’s when you get certain anger from the fans.”
Lewis (34) and Gallen (36) were two of Cronulla’s best in the 10-point victory over Melbourne and will be allowed to leave the game on their terms.
Skull tackles salary cap drama head on
You can always trust Kerry O’Keeffe to bring levity to the most serious of topics.
Speaking on Fox Sports’ Back Page, Skull had this to say about Manly’s salary cap rorting: “Their supporters were going to march on NRL headquarters in protest until they found out it was over the bridge.”
Gold.
Brisbane may green light big move for Paul Green
The deep divide between Paul Green and the Cowboys appears to be widening – and the Broncos are watching with much interest.
Those close to the situation say Green and chairman Laurence Lancini aren’t even in the same hemisphere, let alone postcode, when it comes to the terms of the new deal being put to the premiership-winning coach.
The Broncos want Green to succeed Wayne Bennett after the master coach’s reign comes to an end at the end of 2019 and are keeping close tabs on the situation.
The original three-year deal North Queensland put to Green was not to the coach’s liking and if the Cowboys don’t budge, the premiership-winning coach won’t be afraid to move.
Brisbane may consider ‘warehousing’ Green for a year if it means he takes over from Bennett in 2020.
Winless Eels can’t catch a break
Already staring at an 0-4 start to the season, the Eels will have every right to believe the rugby league gods are against them when they look up to see what awaits them in round five.
Parra play western Sydney rivals Penrith, but it’s the break between games that will have Eels fans up in arms.
Penrith will enjoy 10 days’ rest – yes, 10 – compared to Parramatta’s six thanks to the inequitable NRL draw.
The Panthers played on Thursday night and don’t suit up again until they meet Parra on Sunday week.
The Eels, of course, still have to play the Tigers on Easter Monday before getting ready for Penrith.
Talk about kicking a man while he’s down.