| NRL round four review | | Print | |
| Tuesday, 07 April 2009 08:43 | |||
 ONE SportWarriors remember Sonny Fai 1. A tipsters' nightmare Who'd have picked it? Well it seems not a lot at all. Round four was a horror week for most tippers, especially TVNZ Virtual League users. It was a round of upsets with underdogs prevailing in seven of the eight games. St George Illawarra, Sydney Roosters, Penrith, Gold Coast, South Sydney, Newcastle and Canberra all won against the book makers. 2. South Sydney Rabbitohs - The NRL's best? That's the question going around the league this week after the Bunnies rocketed to the top of the table by beating the Warriors. With three wins and one loss so far the Rabbitohs need to be given some respect. If the South Sydneysiders keep playing the way they are right now they will go far. The best thing about them in round four - their defence. 3. Stacey proves his worth In his first start since coming out of retirement for the Warriors the Little General looked in top form. Sure he's lost some speed, but with all the skill and experience Jones possesses, who really cares. He's a difference maker, and can make 2009 a success if he remains healthy. 4. No more injuries Despite losing their second game of the season to the Rabbitohs, one crucial positive came out of round four for the Warriors. With eight players sidelined through injury, Ivan Cleary would have been breathing a sigh of relief on Sunday night with all his men coming through unscathed. Furthermore, several players are due back very shortly - notably captain Steve Price who should be back in round five and Lance Hohaia who is close to full running on his knee. 5. Panic stations for Manly One loss - acceptable. Two losses in a row - a worry. Three losses in a row - a big worry. Four losses in a row - time to panic. The reigning premiers are staring in the face of five consecutive losses this weekend when they host the Wests Tigers at Brookvale Oval. Going on recent performances, they are a good bet to go 0-5. Manly have been embarrassing and have yet to even look like winning a game. Only one team in the history of the competition has ever come back from 0-4 to win the premiership. SPECIAL MENTION to fallen Warrior Sonny Fai who was remembered in a memorial day at Mt Smart Stadium.
THEY SAID IT: "It's a different jumper but the same job." St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett talks down the presence of emotion after his new side beat his former club of 21-years 25-12 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night. STAT THAT MATTERS: St George Illawarra extend their winning streak over Brisbane to eight games. But this time master coach Wayne Bennett was on the victorious team. MAN OF THE ROUND: Penrith skipper Petero Civoniceva. Coming off the shortest turnaround in the NRL the 32-year-old showed no signs of fatigue from a Monday night win in the wet to lead his side to a Saturday afternoon 42-22 victory over Wests Tigers. Petero topped the tackle count (30) and hit ups (14) and was second in metres gained (139m). MAGIC MOMENT: South Sydney winger Fetuli Talanoa out-leaps a pack to catch the ball high above his head and then run 90 metres to score and pull the Rabbitohs level with the Warriors. Chris Sandow's conversion then gave Souths the lead as they go on to win the game. JUDICIARY WATCH: Brisbane: Ben Te'o (high tackle); Wests Tigers: Chris Lawrence (grapple tackle); Sydney Roosters: Frank-Paul Nuuausala (grapple tackle); Cronulla: Luke Covell (tripping). UNDER PRESSURE: Manly. The reigning premiers are winless and bottom of the table after four rounds. Worse yet, they don't look like winning. Only one team in rugby league history - Newtown in 1933 - have won the premiership after starting a year with four losses. KEY INJURIES:
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