As we head into NRL Round 9, here’s a new addition to our NRL previews – an analysis of each team’s strengths and weaknesses from the previous round with our NRL Round 9 Teams Strengths & Weaknesses.
NRL Round 9 Teams Strengths & Weaknesses
S = Strength W = Weakness
South Sydney:
S: Showed some fight in the second half.
W: Taane Milne has a couple of weeks off for his unnecessary and bone-headed tackle on full-time. But it should be more.
W: This loss has put the spotlight back on Jason Demetriou’s future. Surely it’s only a matter of time before he’s sacked?
W: 42 missed tackles against Melbourne.
Penrith:
S: Defended themselves into the ground against North Queensland – a big effort in hot and humid Townsville.
S: Nathan Cleary proved how classy he was after a few weeks away: 428 kicking metres and five goals from five.
S: Brian To’o celebrated his 100th game with the opening try and 227 run metres.
W: Made 13 errors and had 47 missed tackles and 25 ineffective tackles.
Manly Warringah:
S: Manly are looking like they’ll play finals again after a couple of tough and controversial seasons.
S: 20 points for Reuben Garrick. And he showed composure to score two tries after being roughed up by Sivo.
S: While their defence has been poor at stages this season, they only conceded one second half try and held out Parramatta in the last 10 minutes to put the game away.
W: Possible bans for Haumole Olakau’atu and Daly Cherry-Evans could weaken Manly in the short term.
Canberra:
S: Matt Timoko was one of the few Raiders to show some fight: 209 run metres and 89 post contact metres.
W: Easily their worst performance in a long time. Buckle up Raiders fans: reality has hit and it could be a long season.
W: 64 missed tackles and 18 ineffective tackles.
W: Danny Levi’s inexcusable drop – with the tryline in sight – was the turning point. A potential 12-6 scoreline became 18-0 to Cronulla and it was game over.
Brisbane:
S: Adam Reynolds had a fine return: five goals and 328 kicking metres.
S: Brisbane are starting to warm up after a slow start to the season.
S: Another great game from Reece Walsh (two tries and 185 run metres).
W: Just like against Canberra, Brisbane would have been disappointed conceding late tries against the Tigers.
Sydney Roosters:
S: Sam Walker was a deserved winner of his second Ashton Collier Spirit of Anzac Medal: he scored a try (penalty try), kicked 10 goals from 10 attempts, had 354 kicking metres, and two try assists.
S: Easily their best performance of 2024.
S: The Roosters’ biggest win and highest score in ANZAC Day games.
W: Had more errors than the Dragons (8-6).
Canterbury-Bankstown:
S: Canterbury-Bankstown’s patience is starting to be rewarded with big results like the Newcastle win: they may not make the finals, but they’re definitely building to something.
S: Unlike the Roosters game, this time Canterbury went on with it against Newcastle.
S: Matt Burton had another excellent game, with 383 kicking metres and six goals from six attempts.
W: While they won easily against Newcastle, they still had 35 missed tackles and 21 ineffective tackles.
Wests Tigers:
S: At least their discipline was good, only conceding four penalties.
W: Samuela Fainu had a brain explosion: you can’t tackle players while they’re taking a 20 tap.
W: With four straight losses, the rot is starting to set in after a bright start to the season.
W: While Brisbane won easily, Api Koroisau was robbed of a try due to the ‘separation’ ruling.
Gold Coast:
S: Deserved that win after fighting efforts against Canberra and Manly.
S: Once again, Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored a crucial try – this time to open the second half.
S: An excellent 92% completion rate against the Warriors.
W: Conceded two tries in five minutes to give the Warriors a sniff after half-time.
Melbourne:
S: Now this was the clinical Storm we’re used to – easily their best performance of 2024.
S: Xavier Coates only played 34 minutes and still scored a hat-trick. But he’ll miss the Titans game.
S: 234 kicking metres for Jahrome Hughes and 187 for Cameron Munster.
W: Craig Bellamy won’t be happy the Storm let in three tries in nine minutes to give Souths a sniff.
North Queensland:
S: Picked themselves up in the second half to make a game of it.
W: But a poor first half allowed Penrith to build what should have been an insurmountable lead.
W: Crucial errors let them down in the second half.
W: Tom Chester could be out for a month with his hamstring injury.
The Dolphins:
S: 240 run metres for Trai Fuller and 53 tackles for Jeremy Marshall-King.
S: Gave themselves a chance with two late tries.
W: Are 1-3 at their second home at Lang Park.
W: 46 missed tackles and 15 errors against Newcastle. A disappointing loss after the huge Darwin win.
Newcastle:
S: While losing Kayln Ponga is devastating, David Armstrong looks to be a decent replacement at fullback.
S: Dane Gagai scored 10 of Newcastle’s 18 points.
S: 53 tackles for Jayden Brailey.
W: Would be disappointed to give The Dolphins a late sniff at sending the game into Golden Point.
NZ Warriors:
S: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad had a brilliant 100th game: the opening try, 289 run metres, and 94 post-contact metres.
S: Shaun Johnson did his best to keep the Warriors in the game: 644 kicking metres and four goals from four attempts.
W: A disappointing loss considering it was their first home ANZAC Day game in a decade: they’re 2-2-1 in New Zealand this season.
W: 43 missed tackles against the Titans.
Cronulla-Sutherland:
S: The Sharks are in first place for a reason – aside from the shock Tigers loss, they’ve been brilliant.
S: Nicho Hynes scored 16 points against Canberra as the Sharks did as they pleased.
S: Canberra’s hoodoo over Cronulla is done now: the Sharks have won the last three convincingly.
W: Nine errors against Canberra, but this is nitpicking in an almost perfect performance.
St George Illawarra:
S: An 88% completion rate was decent despite the heavy loss.
W: The Dragons continue to be consistently inconsistent.
W: Losing Moses Suli on the first tackle was a bad omen.
W: 50 missed tackles and 27 ineffective tackles against the Roosters.
READ MORE: NRL Current Round Tips
READ MORE: NRL Previous Round Stats
READ MORE: NRL Previous Player Stats & Team of the Week
NRL Round 9 Teams Lists
Want the actual Team lists for this weekend? Follow the link below to Nothing But League website for more.
