NRL Round 7: What we liked and disliked from every game

Joshua Mayne

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Mark Molyneux

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Kye Kuncoro

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NRL Round 7: What we liked and disliked from every game image

Brisbane resumed their winning ways and solidify top spot, Manly and the Warriors find themselves in the top four and the Dogs injury woes worsen.

Round 7 is in the books and competition continues to take shape.

Here's how we saw the latest round of action.

MORE: NRL Judiciary Round 7: Olam and Kamikamica late hits infutriate Bellamy

Here's what we liked and disliked from every game of Round 7. 

Dolphins 14-36 South Sydney Rabbitohs

What we liked: Cody Walker orchestrates second half scoring blitz

Cody Walker, like the rest of his South Sydney teammates, struggled to impose himself on the game in the first half as the metronomic grind of the Dolphins rendered them almost obsolete.

Yet, in the second period, when his side lifted their intensity and started to punch holes through the defence, Walker came into his own.

There aren't many teams better to watch than the Bunnies when they gave gained the momentum and are in full flow with Walker acting as the orchestrator. 

“I’ve said it before, when he gets into the game the way he does, he’s the best five-eighth in the game,” Jason Demetriou beamed after watching his side pile on 30 unanswered points in the second half.

Walker finished with a try, three assists and two linebreak assists as his red-hot recent form continued. 

What we disliked: Kenny Bromwich sin bin costs his team big time

There is no doubt that the Dolphins were already flailing when Kenny Bromwich badly mis-timed his kick chase and collected Taane Milne high. 

The backrower was promptly sent to the sin bin and from that moment the wheels well and truly came off. 

South Sydney scored in three straight sets while Bromwich was off the field to ruthlessly rip the game away from them in a quick burst. 

By the time the Kiwi international returned, the game had long since been over and he has since been issued with a one-match ban for the hit. 

Cronulla Sharks 22-12 Sydney Roosters

What we liked: Nicho Hynes propels Cronulla to first home win of the year

Whatever Cody Walker can do, Nicho Hynes can, too. 

In an otherwise pretty dour game, Hynes came out in the second half and took the game on to spark the Sharks into snapping a seven-game losing streak against the Roosters. 

The halfback was in pretty much everything in the second stanza, floating around the pitch and conducting attacking raids down a short side before whipping over to the other side of the field and attacking the opposite edge in the next play. 

The Roosters simply could not contain Hynes as he set up the match-breaking try for Blayke Brailey, made two linebreaks and had a linebreak assist to go with over 100 running metres and four tackle busts. 

What we disliked: Mouth-watering clash fails to live up to expectations

Every game can’t be a classic despite the best efforts from clubs this season to put on spectacle after spectacle.

The clash between the Sharks and Roosters promised more of the same yet was strewn with errors, penalties, captain’s challenges and very little individual quality even though there was plenty of it out on the field.

The Roosters conceded seven penalties and made two errors inside the first 25 minutes to set the tone for a scrappy match, while the Sharks looked a shadow of their usual selves until Hynes kicked into overdrive. 

Notable mention also to Victor Radley who once again got sent to the sin bin late on in what is quickly turning into a weekly occurrence. 

Manly Sea Eagles 18-8 Melbourne Storm

What we liked: Manly's bounce back

There was plenty to like about Manly's response to their woeful drubbing against Penrith last weekend. 

In pretty much every conceivable area they were leaps and bounds better than they were against the Panthers. 

Haumole Olakau’atu set the tone early with a crunching tackle on Justin Olam.

Tom Trbojevic looked like his usual self when he carried the ball more times in the opening 10 minutes or so than he did in the whole game last week.

Meanwhile, Daly Cherry-Evans seemed intent on inflicting as much damage as possible on the Storm's defensive line in his own unique way. 

The game-sealing try for Lachlan Croker off a Taniela Paseka offload was a thing of pure beauty in a game which traded in very little of that in favour of dishing out the tough stuff. 

What we disliked: Justin Olam earns Craig Bellamy's wrath 

Perhaps Olam was still a bit off kilter after tasting some of his own medicine in the first half. Whatever the reason was for his late hit on DCE after Adam Gee had literally just read both sides the riot act only moments earlier, it remains a mystery. 

“I don’t know what planet they’re on,” Craig Bellamy said afterwards while bundling Tui Kamikamica's sin bin in with Olam's. 

“You just can’t do that these days. You can’t hit playmakers or halves late or with any sort of force at all and that’s what it is.

“So, to do that and play half of the second half with 12 men – that’s hard work.

“We didn’t play smart, at all.”

New Zealand Warriors 22-14 North Queensland Cowboys 

What we liked: Warriors utilise home ground advantage

Had this game been played anywhere in Australia, it is possible that the Warriors wouldn't have won.

A concerning 10 errors and five ruck infringements saw Andrew Webster's team on the back foot for good chunks of the match, but their home crowd pushed them to victory. 

Mount Smart Stadium is a special venue since its full-time return to the NRL, and the Warriors will need to continue to take full advantage of the atmosphere in 2023.

What we disliked: Cowboys still struggling to score

The Cowboys have only scored 20+ points on two occasions this season. That's worrying.

Despite a multitude of opportunities (that came from the Warriors' 10 errors), Todd Payten's side simply weren't threatening enough with the ball in hand.

They enjoyed 57 per cent possession and had a tidy completion rate of 85 per cent, but failed to exhibit cutting-edge play near the try line. A major concern to address for the season ahead.

Newcastle Knights 15-16 Penrith Panthers

What we liked: Cleary delivers ... again

Nathan Cleary is a serial winner, and he proved it again on Saturday night.

Whilst he was quieter and less influential than usual for the majority of the match, the Kangaroos No. 7 delivered when it mattered most.

He calmly slotted a field goal to tie the game with three minutes remaining, before confidently hitting a long-range field goal after the opening set in golden point.

The Panthers never particularly looked like winning, but Cleary pulled his team over the line in typical fashion.

What we disliked: Late Knights heartbreak

It's hard not to feel for an underdog after they lose a game in the dying stages.

The Knights stunned the Panthers with three first-half tries, and nearly managed to hold on.

When Tyson Gamble slotted a field goal in the 76th minute, Newcastle were on the verge of recording a stunning upset.

Whilst their second-half attack was lacklustre, their resolve was impressive nonetheless, despite the disappointing ending.

Gold Coast Titans 26 - 43 Brisbane Broncos

What we liked: Reece Walsh keeps delivering

Reece Walsh's talent was clear to see at the Warriors, but it is fair to say he has exceeded early expectations at the Broncos.

The young fullback was at the heart of the action again against the Titans, linking up play with his speed and creativity.

He made the most line breaks (2) on the field, picking up a try, a try assist and 117 run metres for good measure.

The No. 1 jersey is in good hands at Red Hill.

What we disliked: Titans blow promising lead

Playing in front of a full-capacity home crowd, the Titans put in a very strong first-half performance.

They led 14-6 just before half-time but conceded a length-of-the-field try right before the whistle.

The Broncos used this momentum and never looked back, piling on the points in the second stanza to thoroughly defeat the Titans.

Captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui's sin bin also opened the floodgates further, capping off an inexperienced loss.

Canberra Raiders 20-14 St George Illawarra Dragons

What we liked: Canberra are resilient once again

It was not pretty, at some points just outright ugly but the Raiders managed to hold on.

A combination of sheer determination on the defensive end, and individual pieces of brilliance by the Raiders managed to get them home.

The Raiders were not fluid in attack having 14 errors, luckily for them the Dragons were incapable of threatening their defence as the Green Machine forced errors of their own.

The Raiders responded spectacularly to the sinbinning of Nick Cotric, after conceding a try a man down they held onto possession and kicked well killing any Dragons momentum.

The 80-minute try-scoring run off the strip by Hudson Young was the difference maker, as he puts his name forward towards Origin selection.

That’s the first time this season the Raiders have won back-to-back games and they will be hoping a winning run can propel the club into the top 8.

What we disliked: Dragons defeat themselves

For the second consecutive week, the Dragons would have felt they let another winnable game slip.

With more possession, a man advantage, and the lead at halftime the Dragons had their opportunities.

They continued to shoot themselves in the foot though simple errors, a 63 per cent completion rate won’t you very many games.

They were very impatient in an attack and played sideways for the majority of the game, outside of Tautau Moga and Tyrell Sloan the team lacked any spark.

It’s the second week they have lost by a converted try or less and only eight rounds into the season the Dragons finals hopes are in trouble.

Parramatta Eels 30-4 Canterbury Bulldogs

What we liked: Parramatta finally dominate

It wasn’t perfect, but it was their most convincing display of 2023.

The Eels were yet to win by more than six points prior to this game and have been on a consistent run of close finishes.

They pinned the Dogs in their own end for most of the match, with the Eels having most of the possession.

They won every attacking statistic as Reagan Campbell-Gillard tore through the Bulldogs' middle with 198 run metres and a try of his own.

Will Penisini and Maika Sivo made the most of an injured Bulldogs backline, as they wreaked havoc in attack scoring three tries between them.

It was their first dominant performance of the year and Parramatta fans will hope it is a sign of what is to come for the remainder of 2023.

What we disliked: Bulldogs injury woes only get worse

Although the scoreline may not show it, the Bulldogs fought valiantly against the Eels.

With the loss of Jacob Kiraz to what looks like an MCL injury and with Jacob Averillo playing through injury, the Bulldogs were wounded.

Kiraz has been one of their best in 2023 leading the league in numerous categories and now the Bulldogs face a reality without both Josh Addo-Carr and Kiraz for an extended period.

The Bulldogs now have the largest injury list in the NRL, which is unfortunate considering how good they looked earlier in the year.

Joshua Mayne

Joshua Mayne Photo

Joshua Mayne is a content producer for The Sporting News Australia based in Sydney, Australia. He has previously worked as a newsreader at 2SER and journalist at Ministry of Sport. While Joshua’s main passions are football, rugby league, basketball and F1, he will watch any sport that's on. He is still waiting for Arsenal to win the Premier League again. 

 

Mark Molyneux

Mark Molyneux Photo

Mark Molyneux is a freelance writer covering the NRL and UFC for Sporting News Australia. He has previously worked in the music industry and as a teacher around the world.

Kye Kuncoro

Kye Kuncoro Photo

Kye is a content producer for Sporting News Australia.