NRL Talking Points, Round 18, analysis, Brisbane Broncos, Michael Maguire, Penrith Panthers, news, videos, highlights

The Broncos have been handed a huge reality check from a rugby league great, while an surprise call from Ivan Cleary has opened a can of worms.

Meanwhile, a Knights recruit is living up to his mammoth price tag and a veteran five-eighth’s actions have come under the microscope.

Read below for all the biggest talking points after Round 18!

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SURPRISE CLEARY CALL OPENS CAN OF WORMS

The Panthers have opened a can of worms – what do they do with Blaize Talagi?

The young gun had worn the No.6 all-season in the lead up to Penrith’s clash with the Rabbitohs in Round 18, but switched to the centres with Jack Cole starting at five-eighth.

For Fox League’s Michael Ennis, the switch could simply have been made as a stop gap while the Panthers are missing Nathan Cleary and Casey McLean.

There’s no argument that Penrith’s best backline includes Paul Alamoti and McLean as the centres, with Tom Jenkins and Brian To’o on the wings.

“I think it’s opened up a bit of a conversation to be fair. Casey McLean comes back in a couple of weeks and is world-class,” Ennis said.

“He can’t (stay there) because McLean goes straight back into that left centre position. I found it interesting that in such a big game Ivan moved his five-eighth to bring Cole in.

“It could be as simple as needing to get a win. Lost two games, best players in the positions that he feels can get the result.”

But, as Braith Anasta put it: “Does that say that he’s not happy with how he’s been playing at five-eighth?”

Not exactly, as Ivan explained in his post-match press conference.

“Coley’s been playing well. He’s sort of been in the 19 almost the whole year. I just felt like that was the best move for tonight,” he said.

But that doesn’t exactly rule it out either, especially when you consider there is only two options for Talagi moving forward for the remainder of the year.

The 21-year-old either wears the No.6 jersey or plays off the pine as a backline utility, with Jack Cogger the next in line to replace him if Cleary deems Talagi needs a breather.

However, one thing is certain. Talagi’s switch to the centres worked because it simplified his role.

“The fact he didn’t feel like he had to create. He just used his running game and his simple decision making is to do I pass and unlock my winger or do I run,” Ennis said.

Meanwhile, Panthers legend Greg Alexander explained the rising star was able to have a clearer mind in the outside backs, as opposed to the tough role of being a playmaker.

“It’s not do I take the ball to the line and then either hitting a flat runner or some out the back or going across the face of the fullback and hitting the outside man,” he explained.

“Sometimes you’ve got three decisions and three players you can pull the trigger on. I think at times Blaize has struggled to work out who is in space.”

Above all, Talagi is still at the early stages of what could become a seriously impressive career – but his current issues are solved, in part, by reducing his role.

His running game too is the most important part of his game, even when the No.6 is on his back, and there’s no doubts the Panthers will attempt to harness the best of that ability moving forward.

And as Luke Keary put it, all of these things are to say he is “still trying to figure out his own game” and the Panthers still have a big decision to make.

“There are games when he’s really involved early, gets his hands on the ball, and there are others where he’s not as involved, but that’s pretty normal for that kind of five-eighth,” Keary said.

“I’ve played a similar role where you’ve got to pick and choose your times when you’re not the dominant one. You’ve got to kind of get the feel of the game.”

‘EMBARRASSING’ WALKER ACT EXPOSES BIG BUNNIES ISSUE

As Cody Walker admitted in his post-match press conference, the Rabbitohs five-eighth had a colossal brain snap against the Panthers.

The experienced playmaker kicked Jack Cogger after playing the ball, earning himself a sin bin and also denying his side a try scored from that very play.

It was a scene that left anyone watching bewildered and exposed a genuine issue with South Sydney’s discipline.

“If the discipline is letting them down and their captain goes out and does that… that doesn’t set the tone,” Braith Anasta said.

The Rabbitohs gave away six set restarts on Friday night, double that of the Panthers, while both teams gave away four penalties.

While they beat the Eels, Souths still gave away more penalties than their opponent in Round 17.

Those figures aren’t exactly glaring, but a portion of these are avoidable, especially the one made by Walker on Friday.

What makes the decision even more puzzling is just how important Walker is to his team, being their dominant playmaker and arguably one of the best five-eighths the club has ever seen.

However, his reputation as a player who can lose his temper precedes him and often lets the Rabbitohs down.

“We spoke before the game about how good he has been for the last three weeks… Cody’s attacking numbers were sensational,” Greg Alexander said.

“That was embarrassing. For your captain to be sin-binned for that when you’ve got the ball and your team has scored a try.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Walters added: “You can see the disappointment with Wayne because he’s been banging on about their discipline for three months now.

“He knows until they get that right these results are going to continue to flow and they won’t be able to match it with bigger teams at the end of the year through finals.

“He knows they are a better side than what they are throwing up.

“You could see Cody’s disappointment in the press conference. He was pretty humbled by his actions in the game, which were pretty costly.”

Michael Ennis agreed with Walters’ assessment that Walker’s actions would frustrate Bennett to no end, especially when his star five-eighth earned himself a one-game suspension for a completely avoidable moment.

“Souths at their best are a top-four side. But when they dish up what they did in the second half, it must drive him mad,” Ennis said.

“They were just simple, fundamental errors that put them under unnecessary pressure.”

Maybe, according to Ennis, Walker needs an experienced figure to pull him into line instead of being the captain his team looks to.

“They were times when I skated a fine line. All it would take would be for someone like Luke Lewis to say, ‘Mick we don’t need that’,” he said.

“But at South Sydney, you think of young Ward he’s only 22 years of age sitting inside him. Jye Gray is only young as well. No Cameron Murray tonight.

“Is Cameron Murray the bloke that says we don’t need that? The personalities in the side, someone needs to say, ‘We know how important you are to us’, because when he’s been in the form he has been in previous weeks they’re a top-four side.”

HOLMES SILENCES CRITICS AS TIGERS FINALS HOPES END

Two months after being axed by the Queensland Maroons, Valentine Holmes has silenced his critics with a vintage display as he produced his best performance of the season.

The Dragons star was at his best over the weekend with 177 running metres, six tackle busts and a double to help inspire them to victory against the Wests Tigers.

Looking dangerous every time he touched the ball, he consistently threatened the defence line and looked revitalised.

It was the type of showing that reminded everyone of the quality that has made him a premiership winner, an Australian representative and a former Origin stalwart.

“He did deliver. He’s had a bit of an indifferent season, Valentine, but terrific tonight for the Dragons,” Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters said on Fox League’s Super Saturday.

“He showed real class both in the first half and the second half. When he’s on song, he’s such a good player.

“Just being stuck on this Dragons side this year, he’s struggled at different times throughout the season, but tonight he was back to his brilliant best.

“Try-scoring, goal-kicking (and many other things he did well) which just shows what a classy player he is.”

Looking rejuvenated over the past few weeks, Homes has been able to rediscover the form that made him one of the game’s most damaging outside backs.

And the strong endorsement from Walters comes after sections of the rugby league world questioned his future at the Red V.

This prompted some critics to call for the club to grant him an early release from his contract, as he has failed to live up to expectations since arriving from the North Queensland Cowboys on a near $2.5 million deal.

“I thought Val Holmes was outstanding,” former New Zealand international Jared Waerea-Hargreaves said on Sunday Night with Matty Johns.

“It’s been two weeks on the wing for Val, and it seems to have rejuvenated him. It gets him moving.”

Matthew Johns added, “Val Holmes on the wing. I thought he was exceptional.”

Meanwhile, NRL great Cooper Cronk believes that the Tigers won’t be able to end their finals drought in 2026 after co-captain and star hooker Apisai Koroisau went down with a pec injury.

Koroisau has been instrumental to the club’s resurgence this season with his ability to control the ruck speed and leadership on and off the field.

“That game I thought was a must-win for the Tigers,” Cronk said on Fox League’s Super Saturday.

“I think they’re going to struggle to play finals.

“But they definitely will struggle big time if there’s no Api Koroisau for an extended period of time because a pec injury is delicate to manage.”

SHARKS SURGE AS NICHO LEADS SPINE REVIVAL

The Cronulla Sharks have surged into the middle of the top eight, climbing to sixth place on the ladder after winning five of their past six matches.

Pushing towards the NRL Finals series, their latest victory over the Broncos continued a sharp turnaround in form, with the Sharks starting to find consistency on the back of a simplified game plan – something they have lacked in previous seasons.

After a period of inconsistency earlier in the year, the Sharks have rediscovered their identity by returning to basics and taking a more direct approach in attack.

This has allowed playmakers Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes to operate with greater confidence as they steer the side around the park.

“We just sort of simplified things,” Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes said on Fox League after the side’s win against the Broncos.

“We were a little bit off in all areas against the Roosters and they showed us a bit more of an aggressive mindset.

“We didn’t really get out of our own end against the Roosters, so it’s all about the laws of the game.

“Run hard (and) tackle hard. When we do that well, we can play some good footy off the back of it.”

Going back to the basics under Craig Fitzgibbon, the combination of Trindall and Hynes has become a key driving force in their mid-season surge.

That growing connection in the spine (fullback, halves and hooker) has been crucial to the club’s recent improvement as they look to finally reach the grand final this year after multiple exits in the preliminary final

“It’s something that we’re continuing to build and we’re still finding our feet,” Hynes added.

“It’s just about staying consistent now. Some weeks we’re up and other (times) we can have a bad game.

“We want to just keep going on that upward trajectory.”

Meanwhile, former NRL player Jared Waerea-Hargreaves highlighted the importance of Hynes who is setting the tone for the club’s performances.

“It was really good seeing their spine combine and having Nicho stand up in that first set and have that carry and it just set his game up,” Waerea-Hargreaves said on Sunday Night with Matty Johns

“He set that try up in the corner by kicking and these guys played physical, bashed them and it’s good to see that style of footy.”

BRONCOS’ REALITY CHECK AND KEY DIFFERENCE FROM TITLE SURGE

There’s one distinct difference between the Broncos in 2025 and 2026 — and one similarity that is the cause for concern.

NRL legend Cooper Cronk summed up Brisbane’s woes perfectly.

Errors and discipline issues have plagued Michael Maguire’s side this season, often leaving them trailing and having to conjure mammoth comebacks to win.

Remind you of anything?

The Broncos did the exact same to close out the year in 2025, but had a crop of players in red-hot form and Reece Walsh was simply unstoppable.

“When the Broncos were behind last year, why were they behind? Because they made these basic errors, because they weren’t good enough defensively,” Cronk said.

“They did things that put themselves under pressure. But then they caught up, Reece Walsh made the big plays and did things.

“These things are still in their kit bag, and they are not able to catch up and do the big play. That error from Kotoni Staggs with the game in the balance at 22-16.

“That leads directly to Trindall’s matchwinning try.”

Michael Maguire was resolute in his post-match press conference when speaking on his side’s finals chances, asking “why not” when asked if his team could make an unlikely surge.

That led Cronk to put the red line through the Broncos this season — and deliver a reality check to a side that climbed to the top of the mountain not even 12 months ago.

“They will say that they can win those games, but no, they can’t,” he said.

“I thought they were gone a couple of weeks ago. The only other team that’s lost more (games in a row) is the Dragons and that says something about the Broncos and the way they’re playing.

“Yes they’ve had injuries. Yes they’ve got Origin players out. But there are other teams that have had injuries and Origin players out that are less talented than their list.

“It’s been a poor year on the back of a premiership last year.

“While there is hope and they should say they can make it because you never give up, I don’t think they’re winning all their games from here on in.”

He also explained, as touched on above, the Broncos aren’t willing to do the simple parts of the game and instead rely on their star-studded roster to find points.

But that doesn’t work when the momentum is against you as a team.

“For me, the Brisbane Broncos last year caught fire and were unbelievable to watch, the way that Reece Walsh was able to do what he did,” Cronk said.

“But there’s one thing I think they haven’t figured out this year. The last month they have had to fight really hard, and they have stood tall and fought but haven’t had the wins.

“But they don’t do the fundamentals first, they look for the exciting thing first instead of defending for long periods. Discipline, completion rates.

“All those things that Penrith do every time they play so it’s a bit of work for the Broncos, because yes they have tried hard, but trying hard is not good enough when you are the defending premiers.”

‘AMAZING’ EDWARDS BACKED TO RETURN TO REP ARENA

Penrith Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards has delivered a timely reminder to NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley after being overlooked for the entire 2026 State of Origin series.

Back to his brilliant best, the former Clive Churchill Medal winner produced one of his strongest performances of the season in the club’s commanding victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday night.

Racking up 219 running metres, a line-break, seven tackle busts and a try, Edwards reminded everyone why he is regarded as one of the game’s elite fullbacks and why his Origin omission sparked plenty of debate.

Dropped in favour of James Tedesco, don’t be surprised if he is back in the Blues jersey sooner rather than later and also makes a case to represent Australia at the Rugby League World Cup, which will take place later in the year.

“He led from the front… particularly in that first half when they needed someone to stand up and show some leadership,” Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters said on Fox League.

“He was in everything good about the Panthers. His fitness levels are amazing”

Speaking after the match, Panthers head coach Ivan Cleary echoed Walters’ praise and backed Edwards to force his way back into the representative arena sooner rather than later.

“An enormous first try (and) even the last couple of weeks where we haven’t been great, he’s been one of our best again,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said.

“I kind of say it all the time, (but) he’s just been so consistent.

“He is an inspiration and although I’m super disappointed for him to miss the Origin series, it’s pretty cool to have him with us and I’m not sure we would have got the results without him.

“It’s definitely mixed feelings. I’d love all of them to be in there, but selfishly it was definitely an addition that we could well use, but he’ll be back, no doubt.”

KNIGHTS’ $13M MAN STANDS TALL

$13 million across 10 years.

Almost anyone in the world would put pen to paper on a contract of that size, and salary.

That includes Dylan Brown, who was handed the mega deal to join the Knights in 2026 – a contract that came with a wave of criticism.

Criticism of his ability to be a chief playmaker, criticism of his decision to walk away from the Eels and criticism of the Knights for going all in on a player yet to fully prove himself.

And while he is potentially yet to fully live up to his mammoth salary, Brown is doing everything he can to prove his worth – evidenced by his crucial field goal on Sunday night.

With the game in the balance, and Sandon Smith slipping over the play before, Brown showed his calmness under pressure to slot it between a wave of blockers and secure a win.

“He’s just paid for himself,” Matty Johns said following the clash, while Bryan Fletcher said in unison: “He just paid for his $1.3 million”.

The pair may have said that in gest, referencing the aforementioned criticism, but it’s a sign that there’s a positive air surrounding Brown’s move and the Knights as a whole this season.

Not only because of Brown, but also because of their coach Justin Holbrook.

After his time at the Titans came to an end, the experienced mentor found himself at the Roosters as an assistant to Trent Robinson, largely working on their attack.

No surprises the Tricolours were lethal with ball in hand, albeit inconsistent.

And that’s exactly why veteran enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves believes Holbrook has been the perfect mentor for a team stacked with attacking talent.

The likes of Kalyn Ponga, Brown, Fletcher Sharpe, Sandon Smith, Dominic Young and Bradman Best all can produce points, and that’s exactly the aspect of their game Holbrook has been able to harness.

“He’s fantastic, he has a great understanding of the attacking side of things and I feel like he is perfect up there,” Waerea-Hargreaves said.

“Those guys would suit the way he coaches, he did okay at the Titans but what he is doing at the Knights, he is doing great things.”

All of this isn’t to say the Knights are going to win the premiership — but they are certainly in the hunt.

Which is made all the more impressive considering many were tipping the side from the Hunter to be fighting it out for the wooden spoon once again.