Nathan Cleary made a powerful statement to the competition with a comeback victory over the Eels, setting the stage for an exciting Round 24 matchup. The Sharks also sent a clear message at a critical time, while the Broncos moved closer to a surprising finals appearance. Meanwhile, the Knights may have found stability in their halves pairing, and the Bulldogs have unveiled a secret weapon. The Bulldogs are now just one win away from securing their first finals spot since 2016, with their star halves crediting new assistant coach Jason Taylor for the team’s resurgence.
After the Bulldogs’ victory over the Dragons on Saturday night, both Matt Burton and Toby Sexton praised Taylor, a former head coach of the Eels, Rabbitohs, and Tigers, for his impact on the team. Taylor joined Cameron Ciraldo’s Bulldogs as the attack coach this season, and while Sexton initially found Taylor’s old-school approach challenging, it has started to pay off.
Sexton expressed his gratitude for the confidence the coaching staff has placed in him and noted that Taylor’s integration into the team took time, but it has made a significant difference. “The coaches have instilled a lot of confidence in me,” Sexton told Fox League. “Cameron and Jason Taylor have both played a big role in that, and it’s been a process to adjust to Jason’s methods, but it’s working.”
Burton echoed Sexton’s sentiments, emphasizing Taylor’s meticulous approach as a key factor in the Bulldogs’ success this season. “We’ve put in a lot of effort on defense, but Jason Taylor’s work with our attack has been incredible,” Burton said. “His attention to detail is remarkable, and it’s making a difference for me and Toby. We just need to keep improving from here.”
Burton also praised the leadership of their young captain, Stephen Crichton, and the emerging forward pack. “Stephen’s influence is huge,” Burton said. “The confidence and belief he brings to the team are amazing, especially considering how young he is. Having him on our side is fantastic, and this is just the beginning for him.”
Burton also acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the team’s young forwards, who consistently give their all on the field. “Our forwards are relentless,” he said. “They work incredibly hard every week, and their commitment to not letting the team down is impressive.”
The Bulldogs are on the verge of an unlikely top-four finish, a position that head coach Cameron Ciraldo admits they would love to achieve. However, Ciraldo attributes the team’s success to their ability to stay focused on the present moment. “This group is mentally strong,” Ciraldo said. “They can enjoy a good performance but quickly move on and focus on getting better the next day. Despite being one of the least experienced teams in the competition, they show a level of maturity beyond their years by staying present, working hard in training, and executing game plans.”
Ciraldo added that while the team would love to secure a top-four spot, their primary focus is on staying grounded and taking each game as it comes. “We’d love to be in the top four, but we’re focused on enjoying each game as it comes,” he said. “It’s important to stay in the moment and not look too far ahead.”
In other news, Melbourne’s narrow victory over Penrith in the 2020 grand final solidified both teams as the best in the NRL, and four years later, they remain at the top. Over the weekend, both clubs secured hard-fought wins, setting the stage for a highly anticipated clash on Thursday night that could determine the minor premiership. If the Panthers win by three points or more, they will overtake the Storm at the top of the ladder for the first time in three months, with only three games remaining in the regular season.
Penrith’s superstar Nathan Cleary has been in outstanding form since returning from an extended injury layoff last month, while his Kangaroos teammate Cameron Munster has been pulling the strings for Melbourne. Munster’s halves partner, Jahrome Hughes, is the frontrunner for the Dally M Medal, and the reigning premiers’ fullback, Dylan Edwards, is expected to return from a knee injury for this pivotal clash.
The Panthers are aiming for their fourth minor premiership in five years, and head coach Ivan Cleary was asked about the significance of winning the J.J. Giltinan Shield. “Anytime we play the Storm, it’s exciting,” Cleary said. “For almost 20 years, they’ve been at the top, and they’re there again now. It’s always a great challenge, and everyone is looking forward to this game.”
Cleary also emphasized that while winning the minor premiership is a significant achievement, it doesn’t necessarily translate to an advantage in the finals. “The minor premiership is a major achievement, but it doesn’t really affect the finals,” he said. “Whether you finish first or second, it doesn’t make much difference in terms of hosting finals. We’re not focused on that right now. We’re just taking it one game at a time and making sure we’re playing well heading into the finals.”
The Sharks, who suffered a shocking defeat to the Titans just a month ago, have bounced back in a big way. After starting the season with a 9-1 record, Craig Fitzgibbon’s men had fallen to fourth place, putting their finals spot in jeopardy. When they faced the Titans again on Friday night, the Sharks were not the favorites, but they responded with an emphatic 44-0 victory, sending a clear message that they are far from finished in 2024.
What made the Sharks’ performance even more impressive was that they achieved it without several key players, including Nicho Hynes, Braydon Trindall, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Teig Wilton, and Braden Hamlin-Uele. “We’ve had a lot going on lately,” Fitzgibbon said. “We didn’t want to make excuses, but we were hanging in there in most games and not giving ourselves a good shot. But tonight, everything came together.”
Fitzgibbon noted that the team’s effort and defense have been strong for some time, and it was only a matter of time before they put together a complete performance. “I’ve been saying for a month that our effort and defense have been good, and sooner or later, we would hold the ball and make it tough for someone,” he said. “Tonight was that night. It was a good time to have a performance like that, especially with a 44-0 scoreline, but the zero was the result of hard work.”
Fitzgibbon was particularly pleased with the Sharks’ ability to adapt their defense and frustrate the Gold Coast players, who struggled to find gaps. “Our defense was strong,” he said. “It wasn’t always pretty, but we found a way to show up, and that was the most pleasing part. When the system breaks down, you want to see jerseys in the frame, and that was good. We took a lot of energy out of their tank early. There’s still more to come, and we can get even better than that.”
Captain Cameron McInnes added that the team’s performance was the first time they had truly put everything together in a long time. “We’ve had some good wins this season, but this was the first time we put it all together in a long time,” McInnes said. “It was pleasing to see.”
The Broncos, meanwhile, are on a mission. After celebrating their victory in Townsville on Saturday night as if they had won a knockout match, it’s clear that Brisbane is already playing finals football. Their 42-18 win over the Cowboys keeps their finals hopes alive, and they are now just one win away from the top eight.
Despite losing eight of their previous nine matches leading into the Queensland derby, Kevin Walters’ team managed to shut out the outside noise and turn the volume back up in the locker room after the game. With the Dragons’ loss to the Bulldogs later on Saturday night, the Broncos’ path to the finals is now clear: win the remaining games, and they should secure a spot in the 2024 finals.
Given how tight the middle of the ladder is, 12 wins should be enough to make the finals, a feat last achieved in 2021 when the Titans made it with just 10 wins. Of the six teams vying for the final top-eight spot this season, Brisbane has the second-best for-and-against record, behind only the Dolphins. However, this could change when the two teams face off in the penultimate round.
After the win over the Cowboys, Walters acknowledged the immense pressure his team has been under in recent months but insisted they have not given up on their finals hopes. The Broncos now have a bye before facing the Eels, Dolphins, and Storm—all at Suncorp Stadium—in what will be crucial matches.
Last year, the Broncos came agonizingly close to breaking their premiership drought before losing in the grand final, thanks to Nathan Cleary’s heroics. If they can fight their way back into the top eight this season, they could face the Bulldogs, Sea Eagles, or Cowboys in the first week of the finals.
Should Brisbane enter that knockout match on the back of four consecutive wins, other teams will be desperate to avoid them. Additionally, injured stars Payne Haas and Ezra Mam could potentially return if the Broncos are still in the competition in late September.
