NRL Round-Up: The Storm win 'ugly' again, Nicho Hynes struggles and a round-the-world trip to watch a debut pays off
Former Great Britain player Leon Pryce and his family made the 17,000km trip to watch son Will make his debut — and the youngster scored a try to reward them.
Meanwhile, Nicho Hynes' struggles continue and the Storm, somehow, still win, even if they do it "ugly".
Here's this week's NRL Round-Up.
1. Sharks-Hynes slump a concern
Pre-game, Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said there was nothing for Nicho Hynes to prove after he was dropped from the New South Wales Origin squad.
However, for the second-straight match in Cronulla's blue, his star halfback failed to perform.
A blown field goal attempt to win the game was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of his disappointing performance — the halfback missed two set kicks at goal that would have given the Sharks the win.
The Sharks are still sitting in third place on the ladder, but have the joint-worst form of anyone in the eight.
The latest defeat was the Sharks' fourth in their last five matches.
With upcoming games against the wildly inconsistent Titans and the bottom-placed Wests Tigers, the Sharks need to get back to winning ways urgently.
ABC player of the year votes:
3. Matt Burton (Bulldogs)
2. Viliami Kikau (Bulldogs)
1. Siosifa Talakai (Sharks)
(Votes are compiled by the ABC Sport radio commentary team after each match)
2. No Shaun Johnson, no problem?
Warriors fans might have been worried after hearing that Shaun Johnson was going to be out for at least the next month after the 33-year-old suffered an Achilles injury last weekend.
However, without the veteran half, Te Maire Martin played halfback with Chanel Harris-Tavita taking over at five-eighth — and they both excelled.
"SJ is a big legend at our club … but the next man stepped up and Chanel did a great job," said Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
The pair combined for three tries, had a linebreak each, while Martin had three try assists.
That being said, Martin was still pretty harsh on his own performance.
"[It was] Good in patches," he told Fox Sports.
"There's a lot that I need to learn … [but] I'm having fun."
ABC player of the year votes:
3. Te Maire Martin (Warriors)
2. Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors)
1. Mitch Barnet (Warriors)
3. GB international Leon Price flies half-way around the world for his son's debut
The Knights-Eels game was a genuine thriller, with Mitch Moses showing off all his skills fresh from a player of the match performance for the Blues midweek, while Bradman Best ran for a career-high 354 metres, helped by his two, length-of-the-field tries.
But there was just as much joy for a youngster from England, Will Pryce, who scored a try in debut, while being watched in the stands by his family.
That included dad Leon, who Newcastle fans may remember from the Bradford Bulls team that beat them in the 2002 World Club Challenge match.
"It means everything," Will Pryce said of having his family there for his debut.
"The past seven months without them have been the toughest part."
However Leon, who played over 400 games in the Super League, winning four titles and six Challenge Cups, said watching his son was "horrific".
"It was so nerve wracking," the 17-time capped Great Britain international said while laughing.
"So happy that it's gone well for him."
ABC player of the year votes:
3. Bradman Best (Knights)
2. Mitch Moses (Eels)
1. Regan Campbell-Gillard (Eels)
4. 'Ugly' Storm get it done
It wasn't pretty and it wasn't particularly enjoyable for coach Craig Bellamy judging by his demeanour in the box.
But the Storm, once again, got the job done on a soggy, error-strewn night in Melbourne.
"I can't remember too many pretty wins we've had this year," Bellamy said on Saturday night.
"They've just hung in and got the job done.
"It's hard to believe we are where we are on the table with some of the games we've played.
"Some have been ugly but we've found a way."
The injuries continue to mount for the Storm, who were missing Harry Grant, Cameron Munster, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nick Meaney already, before Xavier Coates was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
ABC player of the year votes:
3. Josh King (Storm)
2. Bronson Garlick (Storm)
1. Kaeo Weekes (Raiders)
5. Su'A stands up for Saints
The Origin series is a heavy-duty time for some of the game's best players as they grapple with the extra workload that comes with playing on rugby league's biggest stage.
Backing up after an Origin game isn't easy, especially for forwards given the physical nature of the interstate series, but it's a mark of a quality player when they can still get the job done with only a few day's rest.
Maroons backrower Jaydn Su'A got through 60 minutes at the MCG on Wednesday and while Queensland went down, he wasted no time in getting back to work with the Dragons.
Their clash against the Dolphins was played in cold and blustery conditions, and in matches like that, physicality and second efforts win the day.
Su'A had plenty of both as he produced an enormously tough display to lead the way for the Red V's victory and showed some fine skill with a clever flick pass for Tyrell Sloan's second half try.
It was made all the more impressive given he deputised at centre for much of the match after winger Mat Feagai went down with a shoulder injury.
ABC player of the year votes:
3. Jadyn Su'A (Dragons)
2. Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Dragons)
1. Jacob Liddle (Dragons)
6. Why the Cowboys should make the top eight
North Queensland showed some fine defensive resolve in their win over Penrith but given both sides were missing nearly all their Origin players there's a temptation to discount the result.
But the Cowboys could be on the start of something big. Despite rarely reaching the limits of their considerable ability this season, they are in the box seat to bolt from the quicksand and claim a spot in the top eight.
They're already in a good spot — right now, the only teams with more wins are those in the top four. This victory is the last time they'll play one of the competition heavyweights until the end of August.
They also have a run of home games coming up that means they'll leave Townsville just twice more in the regular season — through July they have three home games and a bye.
With such a logjam of teams in contention for spots in the eight — only one win separates 5th from 13th — having so much time without travel is a massive boost.
North Queensland will still need to sharpen up if they're to take advantage of this run, but it's a tremendous opportunity for Todd Payten's side.
ABC player of the year votes:
3. Kyle Feldt (Cowboys)
2. Braidon Burns (Cowboys)
1. Daine Laurie (Panthers)
7. Teddy on song for rampant Roosters
The Roosters were absolutely sensational against the Tigers, belying the wet weather to put on a masterclass of running football.
Sam Walker pulled the strings superbly at halfback, but James Tedesco was front and centre of the show.
Playing his 150th game for the Roosters against the only other club he has played for in the NRL, Tedesco ran for a game-high 286 metres, scored a try, set one up and had two linebreaks.
His flick on for Daniel Tupou's try was magnificent, a sleight of hand that deserved a place on stage at a magic show rather than a rugby league contest.
There has been a lot written about Tedesco since he was originally snubbed for an Origin berth, only to earn a last minute call up.
But where Nicho Hynes has struggled since (and indeed before) that Sydney Origin defeat, Tedesco has gone from strength-to-strength in the tricolour jersey.
ABC player of the year votes:
3. James Tedesco (Roosters)
2. Connor Watson (Roosters)
1. Angus Crichton(Roosters)
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