A snapshot of round 19 of the NRL season

Joel Gould and Jasper Bruce | July 10, 2023

PLAYER OF THE ROUND: New Zealand Warriors No.6 Luke Metcalf had the best game of his career in the 46-10 win over Parramatta. Metcalf scored two tries, had two line break assists and a try assist to allow half Shaun Johnson to play the conductor role with no pressure to perform miracles himself. Metcalf’s running game was superb. He picked his moments well and showed brute strength and sublime footwork for his two tries.

QUOTE OF THE ROUND: “Toby did a lot of the organising and took pressure off Burto. Really happy with what he did today”. Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo was rightfully delighted with new No.7 Toby Sexton’s club debut. Sexton’s organising ability allowed five-eighth Matt Burton to run the ball and back his skill in the upset 36-32 win over South Sydney.

TALKING POINT: Former NRL star and ABC commentator Clinton Schifcofske is tipping the Warriors to win their maiden title this year in Andrew Webster’s first season as coach. Their 46-10 win over the Eels was against an understrength outfit but it is the input of all their players across the park that has impressed this year. Forward Mitch Barnett is on fire and his two tries and three line breaks capped a great game.

MAGIC MOMENT: Canberra’s 36-26 win over St George Illawarra featured a classic try celebration with a cricket theme. After winger Jordan Rapana crossed for the first score of the night, the Raiders positioned themselves around the corner-post to recreate Australia’s infamous dismissal of England’s Jonny Bairstow in last week’s second Ashes Test. Born in Bradford, the same English city as Bairstow, Raiders captain Elliott Whitehead assumed the role of the wandering batter, with hooker Zac Woolford moonlighting as Alex Carey behind the ‘stumps’

STATS THAT MATTER: The defensive record of the Rabbitohs in the past two months will be a worry for coach Jason Demetriou. After 11 rounds the Rabbitohs had conceded 150 points at an average of just 9.4 per game. In their past seven games the Rabbitohs have conceded 206 points. That’s an average of 29.4 per match.

CASUALTY WARD: Dragons – Ben Murdoch-Masila (knee), Jacob Liddle (head knock), Jayden Sullivan (hamstring), Paul Turner (back). Bulldogs – Ryan Sutton (back). Titans – Joe Stimson (head knock).

UNDER PRESSURE: South Sydney were on top of the table after round 11 but making the top eight is now no certainty. The Rabbitohs will finish round 19 in eighth position after losing five of their past seven games. With North Queensland now joining them on 22 competition points, the match against Brisbane after their round 20 bye is going to be a pivotal one in their season.