Round 17 analysis; why NRL must pull Reed Mahoney into line; Brisbane Broncos form, Daley Cherry-Evans future as Maroonas halfback, Paul Crawley column – MASHAHER

Like it or lump it, NRL players are role models and supposed to set an example for players at every level.

For that reason, the NRL has a responsibility to pull Reed Mahoney into line and stop allowing him to get away with behaving like an A grade mug.

Mahoney was up to his usual tricks against the Sharks as he tried to get under Nicho Hynes’ skin when the players headed to halftime.

Bulldogs’ supporters will point out that it probably worked because Hynes ended up missing the field goal before Matt Burton iced the win.

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That might be the case, but the NRL has a responsibility not to allow it.

There is no doubt the niggling tactics Mahoney employs almost every week are a rotten look for the game.

Or does the governing body want to encourage Mahoney’s bully boy antics to be replicated in junior and school footy?

What kids see their heroes doing always gets fed back into grassroots.

Mahoney is also doing his own reputation no favours.

You’d argue he’s now taken over from Jarome Luai as the game’s biggest pest – and it’s nothing to be proud of.

It’s such a shame because when you meet Mahoney he comes across as a likeable and humble young bloke.

But if he keeps this up, I have no doubt one day he will look back with regret.

You also can’t put it down to white-line fever because Mahoney never carried on this way at Parramatta.

Mahoney supporters try to fob it off as gamesmanship.

It’s not gamesmanship, its unsporting and grubby.

Imagine if Mahoney tried this stuff back when Tallis was at his raging best?

The problem now is that the punch has been outlawed, so it’s up to the game to put a stop to it.

WHEN DOES WALKER CHALLENGE DCE FOR QLD NO 7 JUMPER?

Mitchell Moses’ man of the match performance in Origin II sparked a debate about the mouthwatering showdown it sets up for the Blues No 7 jumper when Nathan Cleary is back playing.

With that theme in mind, Sam Walker’s game is developing so rapidly that you’d go as far as to say if Queensland don’t aim up in the Origin decider, Walker will be making a fair dinkum challenge for Daly Cherry-Evans’ job next year.

DCE will be 36 in 2025, while Walker just turned 22.

We’re not forgetting how outstanding the Queensland skipper was to claim man of the match honours in Origin one.

But you can only hold back the tide for so long, and Walker’s time is fast approaching.

If he continues to surge like he is and aims up in the big end of season games, it will set up a hell of a battle next year in both states.

Meanwhile, Walker’s partnership with Luke Keary is a world away from where it was last year, when people were saying Walker and Keary were too small and too similar to play together.

They looked so in touch in the big 40-6 win over the Tigers, and the way the Chooks are travelling they are up alongside the Panthers and Storm as the teams to beat.

It was an awful loss to see Joey Manu leave the field with a suspected hand fracture.

But they still have so much power, size, skill, athleticism and depth across the park to give any team nightmares.

MOST CONFUSING RULE IN NRL HISTORY?

The six again restart rule has descended into one the most confusing and least transparent rules in the game’s history.

When it was first implemented, I was among many who thought it was a great innovation because almost overnight it eliminated the wrestle.

But it has now got to the point where the frustration and lack of understanding of what constitutes a six again and what doesn’t has made it almost as big a blight on the game as the wrestle was previously.

Either the refs need to come up with a way of making calls more consistent, or the rule should be scrapped.

Ricky Stuart and Craig Fitzgibbon have become the latest coaches to speak about their annoyance.

Stuart called it a “guessing game” after the Raiders’ loss to the Storm, while Fitzgibbon labelled them “head scratchers” after the Sharks’ controversial one point defeat to the Bulldogs.

Some might say this is just another example of two losing coaches having a whinge.

But on NRL 360 last Thursday night Gorden Tallis also spoke for the majority when he explained how he called his first State of Origin in Melbourne on Triple M and had no idea about some of the six again calls.

It’s become so incredibly frustrating why some are called and others aren’t, especially when every call can have such a massive influence on momentum swings.

There’s no question it makes the game more exciting because it’s faster and with less stoppages.

But I reckon the majority of fans would rather know what a penalty was awarded for, even if it slowed down the game.

It would certainly make refs more accountable for some baffling inconsistencies.

BRONCOS’ D-DAY HAS ARRIVED

D-Day has arrived for the Broncos in the grand final rematch.

The Broncos have now lost four on the trot on the back of their 32-16 defeat to the Warriors to drop out of the top eight.

Even taking into account the fact they were without Origin stars Payne Haas, Reece Walsh and Pat Carrigan (on top of the injured Adam Reynolds), the Broncos were terribly disappointing again.

Cooper Cronk made a fantastic point on Fox League on Sunday.

“They are super talented, and talent will help,” Cronk said.

“They are letting bad habits, particularly defensively, creep into their game.

“And if Adam Reynolds comes in with those bad habits still existing he is not going to be able to change all that much.

“The example is Penrith (without) Nathan Cleary. With Nathan out, they are still the best defensive team.”

FLANNO REVIVES DRAGONS’ PRIDE

What a turnaround for the Dragons under Shane Flanagan.

This time last year the Dragons were dead last on the ladder after 17 rounds.

Now they have fought their way into the top eight on the back of a gutsy 26-6 win over the Dolphins.

That came after five unanswered second half tries after trailing 6-4 at the break.

Jaydn Su’a was huge backing up after a disappointing performance in Queensland’s Origin loss, charging for 183m off 22 runs including a try assist.

But Flanagan deserves most credit for getting this club back on track.

At the start of the year many experts thought the Dragons would be battling to avoid the wooden spoon on last year’s form.

The way they’re playing at the moment, you’d have to give them every chance when they front up against the Roosters on Sunday in what should be a belter.

Remember the Dragons were humiliated 60-18 on Anzac Day.

They won’t need any more motivation to get up for this one.

NRL’S BEST KEPT SECRET

Jahrome Hughes is the NRL’s greatest example of out of sight, out of mind down in Melbourne.

This bloke rarely gets the accolades of the game’s biggest stars.

But if the unassuming Storm halfback was playing for a Sydney club or the Brisbane Broncos, he’d have a second home on the back page of the papers.

The Kiwi turned on another class performance in the Storm’s win over the Raiders where his kicking game in the slippery conditions caused all sorts of dramas.

There’s also not a better running halfback in the game, and he’s also developing into one of the game’s best leaders who can almost always find a way to inspire his team when they need him most.

It’s unbelievable how the Storm roll along at the top of the NRL ladder despite playing without Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen, while Harry Grant and Nick Meaney were also missing against the Raiders.

BEST AN UNLUCKY ORIGIN CASUALTY

There’s no chance Michael Maguire will make any unforced changes to his NSW team for the Origin decider.

But if anything was to happen to either Latrell Mitchell or Stephen Crichton, Bradman Best would be a tremendous replacement.

The barnstorming Newcastle centre had a dream debut for the Blues last year.

But after being unavailable due to injury for the start of this series, the 22-year-old has been outstanding since his return with another powerhouse effort in the win over the Eels.

What a great game it was if you can forget a couple of dodgy no try decisions that went against Parra.

That Blaize Talagi decision when he was said to have knocked on short of the line had everyone bar the Bunker confused.

While Maika Sivo also had a try disallowed even though the ball looked to have been grounded on its point.

Regardless, the Knights deserved their win, and Best was a weapon.

Mitchell Moses also had a great game backing up from Origin II.

It just makes it even more mind boggling to see Parramatta equal last with the Tigers on competition points.

COWBOYS PROVE THEY ARE A LIVE THREAT

Just when you thought the Cowboys were gone, they have stormed into the top eight.

After five wins in their last six games, that gutsy 16-6 victory over the Panthers will send notice to every team that they are in this not just to make up the numbers.

This is one team that definitely has the talent to challenge for the top four.

Better still, any team that holds the Panthers to one try, regardless of who is playing, has done an incredible job.

That was also the first time this season they have held the opposition to less than 10 points