Finals Week 1 analysis; Reed Mahoney penalty costs Bulldogs, what happened, Kalyn Ponga, should Roosters replace Sandon Smith, Nathan Cleary, rugby league news #adessonews

Reed Mahoney has been pushing the boundaries all season with his niggling tactics to try and get under the skin of his opponents.

Well, this time it backfired badly when rugby league karma came back to bite the Dogs at the worst possible time when Daly Cherry-Evans finally said enough was enough.

I have no doubt the flashpoint moment early in the second half ignited by Mahoney turned this game on its head in Manly’s favour.

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With just under 30 minutes left on the clock the Dogs looked in complete charge leading 22-12.

There was absolutely no need for Mahoney and Josh Curran to carry on like they did after a tackle on Reuben Garrick.

Not content winning the tackle, Mahoney got up and stood face-to-face with Garrick, then chest to chest.

Curran then decided he wanted to be a part of it as he stepped in and pushed Garrick.

But in a swift reaction, DCE grabbed Curran in a head lock and threw him to the ground.

Manly was then awarded the penalty.

From that moment on it was like the Sea Eagles lifted to another level.

DCE scored soon after from a scrum.

The rest is now history.

It was a brave and brilliant performance from both teams with so many memorable moments, including that spectacular try from Tolu Koula that capped off a remarkable comeback.

You also had to admire Tom Trbojevic playing under such obvious pain after having two painkilling injections.

For the Dogs Stephen Crichton was again enormous, while Viliame Kikau and Jacob Preston weren’t far behind.

Haumole Olakau’atu was also sensational for the Sea Eagles.

But for mine, DCE’s line in the sand was the major turning point.

Who would have thought at the start of his career this once polarising Manly player would turn into such an inspired leader?

Meanwhile, you can only wonder if Mahoney had his time over would he have done things differently?

BRANDY’S BIG CALL TO DROP NICHO

If you thought the pressure was huge on Nicho Hynes going into week one of the finals, a bombshell comment from Greg Alexander just made sure it will go next level ahead of Craig Fitzgibbon naming his team on Tuesday.

Alexander said on Fox League’s pre-match coverage on Sunday that if he was coaching the Sharks he would drop Hynes and play Braydon Trindall and Daniel Atkinson in the halves against the Cowboys.

It came after Hynes produced another extremely concerning performance in the 37-10 loss to the Storm.

Alexander explained: “I really don’t know if the Sharks go in with the same side. I think Daniel Atkinson might deserve a go, I think Trindall and Atkinson. It might be time just to shake it up. I probably would (drop him).”

It would be one of the biggest selection gambles in recent history if Fitzgibbon took Brandy’s advice and dumped his $1 million halfback.

Although few would argue with Alexander’s view given Hynes just looked so far down on confidence against the Storm it is hard to imagine he can turn it around in one week.

ROBBO’S BIG CALL ON YOUNG HALF COULD HAVE MAJOR IMPLICATIONS

Trent Robinson is also facing one of the toughest and potentially most important selection decisions of his time in charge at the Roosters.

Does he back Sandon Smith to stay at five-eighth for the do-or-die showdown with the Sea Eagles, or does he move Joey Manu to six?

It would take an Olympic class backflip from Robinson to drop Smith after one bad game given the glowing reference Robinson gave his young half before the Panthers game.

Robinson told the media last week: “I don’t think I have wavered at all on Sandon.

“Right back when Luke (Keary) made his decision maybe five months ago I have been very clear with Sandon about his role in the team and his development and it wasn’t even a question about the belief I have in him and his role he is going to play.

“He is ready.”

But that was before Smith had a night to forget in the 30-10 loss to the Panthers, where pretty much everything that could go wrong did go wrong for the 21-year-old.

Make no mistake, dropping Smith won’t be just a story for one week if it does eventuate.

This could also cast a huge cloud over the Roosters’ entire pre-season given Smith has been identified as Sam Walker’s long term halves partner.

What doesn’t make it any easier is that Walker will miss a chunk of the season after recently undergoing surgery on his ACL knee injury.

The Roosters have also constantly denied they are chasing another playmaker to fill the void Luke Keary’s exit will leave, and Manu is of course heading to Japanese rugby.

Aside from signing Chad Townsend as a back up to Walker and Smith, the Roosters have been adamant Smith is their man for the future.

‘NITPICKING’ FORWARD PASS ROBS ROOSTERS

The Roosters had every right to be filthy at Ashley Klein’s controversial forward pass call that denied a crucial try.

You could watch that replay over and over and it is impossible to be 100 per cent certain if that pass from Daniel Tupou to James Tedesco was forward or not.

So why not allow the advantage to go to the attacking team?

It was just a classic case of nitpicking as far as I’m concerned.

No doubt the NRL and plenty of others will say the fact most see it as a 50/50 call vindicates Klein’s decision.

My issue is we’ve all seen a stack worse go through to the keeper.

Just watch the Sea Eagles’ crucial try awarded before halftime to Ethan Bullemor off a dodgy pass from Lehi Hopoate.

In the context of the Roosters/Panthers game it was huge.

At 24-10, that would have pulled the margin back to eight points with about a quarter of the game to go.

It was also one of several dubious calls that went against the Roosters.

WHY WAS TAUMALOLO HIGH SHOT NOT A SIN BIN?

On the topic of inconsistency, why was Jason Taumalolo not sin binned for his high shot on Knights prop Leo Thompson?

We knew the finals would be refereed differently.

But the impact here was so brutal it’s an absolute mystery why the Bunker wouldn’t have at least had a quick look to check the contact wasn’t high.

During the regular season that is a sin bin and a suspension.

In the finals it doesn’t warrant a penalty.

Go figure.

DON’T BLAME PONGA FOR KNIGHTS FALLING SHORT

Kalyn Ponga must be the first player picked for Mal Meninga’s end of year Kangaroos team.

No question, it’s a hot field of fullbacks with James Tedesco, Dylan Edwards, Tom Trbojevic and Ryan Papenhuyzen all still in finals contention.

Edwards was outstanding for NSW this year in a winning series, while Tedesco is the Test incumbent and captain.

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But Ponga is on another level to even those great players the way he finished off the season for the Knights.

Every time he touched the ball in the 28-16 loss to the Cowboys would have given Todd Payten heart palpitations.

Ponga was understandably upset with himself for the pass he threw to Dane Gagai that was a touch low that cost his team a try.

He should remember if it wasn’t for him the Knights wouldn’t have got to where they did this season.

COWBOYS’ UNSUNG HEROES

Speaking of inspirational leadership, what about the Cowboys’ co-captains Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden.

Yet again the two came up with some massive plays in the win over the Knights.

Cotter once again emerged the unlikely hero with his match clinching try that ricocheted off two legs before he grounded it.

While Dearden also scored a crucial try and produced some incredible defensive moments.

Knocking the ball dead when Tyson Frizell was centimetres from scoring just sums this bloke up perfectly.

You’d give the Cowboys a massive chance of upsetting the Sharks on Friday.

PANTHERS EDGE OUT STORM FOR NRL’S BEST SPINE

Who has the NRL’s best spine – the Storm or Panthers?

It’s almost impossible to separate them.

Melbourne boast Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant.

For the Panthers it’s Dylan Edwards, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary and Mitch Kenny.

Of those eight names Kenny is probably considered not quite in the elite class as yet.

But his performance in the win over the Roosters showed yet again how underrated this fella is.

If you had to chose, I’d probably go the Panthers simply because of the Cleary factor and the fact Isaah Yeo just adds another dimension to their play.

Cleary was unbelievable yet again in his return from a serious shoulder injury, while Yeo is having an incredible season.

Hughes was also exceptional in the Storm’s big win over the Sharks, while Grant grabbed a hat-trick and Munster didn’t stop running the ball all night.

MARTIN A MAN ON A MISSION

While Nathan Cleary’s unbelievable return from injury stole the headlines in the Panthers’ big win over the Roosters, Liam Martin was a man on a mission.

All week a lot of the talk centred around how Angus Crichton would be the player to go out and rough up Cleary to test his dodgy shoulder.

Martin obviously took it as a personal challenge because he looked so fired up as he reminded everyone what a tough, courageous and uncompromising backrower he is.

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