Round 25 talking points and analysis, why Michael Maguire snapped in Brisbane Broncos press conference, Blaize Talagi dropped, Braydon Trindall injury

The Brisbane Broncos have been on the slide for weeks now but up until last round’s loss to the Warriors, Michael Maguire had been surprisingly calm and up-beat.

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Then that suddenly changed. Why, and what does it mean for the Broncos moving forward?

There is one theory.

Plus, Matty Johns has made a surprise call on a Panthers “experiment” while one of the potential premiership contenders is facing an “earth-shattering” blow.

Read on for Round 25 Talking Points!

BIG CALL ON PANTHERS ‘EXPERIMENT’

Penrith Panthers v Melbourne Storm, Thursday 8pm, AAMI Park

Matty Johns believes Penrith’s “experiment” with Blaize Talagi at five-eighth could be nearing an end as the Panthers prepare for a crucial Thursday night clash against the Storm.

Talagi has once again been named on the extended bench, with no guarantee that the dynamic five-eighth will return to Penrith’s starting line-up for the finals.

Jack Cogger has been solid since filling in for Talagi and is a definite improvement in defence, although Penrith’s uninspiring performance in attack last week had potentially opened the door for coach Ivan Cleary to look for spark and recall Talagi.

That will not be the case and in many ways it would have been an over-reaction given Penrith’s clunky execution last week may have said more about Isaah Yeo’s absence rather than Cogger, while you also have to give plenty of credit to the Roosters’ defence.

“I thought their attack lacked variation when they were attacking the line,” Johns said on ‘Matty and Cronk’.

“There is no doubt he (Nathan Cleary) missed Isaah. He’s got to because they’ve worked as a partnership for just so long, right through the run of success.”

One of the notes Johns had coming out of the game was that Cogger needed to offer Cleary more, which prompted Cooper Cronk to question whether his co-host had changed his mind after initially saying he thought Penrith were better suited with a steady hand at five-eighth ahead of Talagi.

Cronk did admit he “expected a more significant impact” from Talagi when he was injected into the game late for Freddy Lussick, with the 21-year-old throwing an errant pass that was intercepted as Penrith attacked the line.

Johns though questioned if the Panthers are realising, even early in Talagi’s career, that five-eighth may not be the position for him.

“I sort of get the feeling, and look I’m only guessing here, I’m starting to get the sense that the Blaize at six experiment — if you want to call it that or the want to turn him into a top-class six — is evaporating,” Johns said.

“I think they’re starting to think we might not get there, and they might be sitting on a bloke who is a world-class fullback or centre or somewhere else and maybe now it’s start time to push him somewhere else.”

That may not happen this year, especially with Casey McLean returning this week which means the Panthers don’t need to find a replacement elsewhere for the injured Paul Alamoti.

But it is an interesting subplot to monitor as Penrith looks to bounce back from two-straight losses to the Roosters and Warriors this week.

The Panthers will be better for the run without Yeo, and both Cronk and Johns agreed his replacement Lindsay Smith really warmed into last week’s game against the Roosters during his second stint.

“Although Lindsay won’t give the same service and doesn’t quite have the same vision of Isaah, I think he showed enough the other night to show he can play a role similar,” Johns said.

“I thought his first stint was pretty good. I thought his second stint was just outstanding.”

“His first stint was probably too pass-centric… he took the game on that second stint,” added Cronk.

Either way, there will continue to be more attention on halfback Nathan Cleary in Yeo’s absence, and that had Cronk wondering if the Panthers will keep an extra trick or two up their sleeve for the finals.

“It is one thing when you are so automated in the way you play, it makes you a little bit predictable,” Cronk said.

“So there is a little bit for next time, and this is the thing about Penrith and the Roosters and the Warriors playing so close together, it is great for the confidence of the Warriors and the Roosters, but the bad side is that Ivan and Nathan will sit through every bit of vision and they will go, ‘This is what they did to us. So, here comes the variation in preliminary final week’.

“… I think Nathan is going to get zeroed in on with no Isaah. I remember in 2016 with no Billy (Slater) playing the Cronulla Sharks, my biggest regret of that Grand Final was not coming up with a play that I was a decoy for.

“What I mean by that is the tension’s on you to come up and make the play so you keep trying but if you just sit somewhere and have another player come up with a play, it just might be the X-Factor or the difference that you need.”

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NRL GREAT’S BLUNT MADGE VERDICT… AND THEORY ON WHY HE SNAPPED

Canberra Raiders vs Brisbane Broncos, Friday 6pm @ GIO Stadium

Braith Anasta has delivered a brutal assessment of Michael Maguire’s time as coach of the Brisbane Broncos, admitting the club’s dramatic slide has reached the boiling point.

After going from premiership winners to battling at the bottom of the ladder, Maguire’s position has come under increasing scrutiny amid the club’s dramatic form slump and failure to reach expectations.

Despite previously backing Maguire, Anasta has conceded the Broncos’ results have made it impossible to ignore the growing questions surrounding the coach.

“It’s a hard one because I’ve supported Madge and I rate him as a coach and as a bloke as well,” Anasta told foxsports.com.au.

“I know how hard he works, and I see him work hard himself in the gym.

“He trained at the same gym as me there for a number of years, and I see him every time he comes to Sydney in the gym, and I know the work ethic he’s got and I know the commitment he’s got to any team that he coaches.

“But then the realist in me looks at it and goes, ‘Well, it’s not working’.”

Believing that Brisbane’s roster is simply too talented for the club’s current results, the former Blues star questioned whether they could realistically overhaul their playing group.

“You can’t have the roster they’ve got and get the results they have without there being a problem,” he continued.

“I’ve tried to sort of tippy toe around it but I can’t. I just can’t understand it and it doesn’t make sense and something’s got to give.

“I don’t see how they’re going to completely overhaul a roster that I think has the capability of making the finals to appease the coach.

“So, it’s like — what’s it going to be? Is it going to be the coach, or is it going to be a lot of players? I don’t know what they’re going to do there.”

Anasta’s comments come after the former NSW Blues coach appeared to abandon his more measured approach in last week’s fiery press conference, with Maguire expressing his frustration after another lacklustre performance.

According to the NRL 360 co-host, the outburst reflected Maguire returning to his natural coaching style after attempting to tone down his intensity amid constant criticism.

“He was trying to be someone he’s not. Madge wears his heart on his sleeve,” Anasta elaborated.

“Everyone was hammering him over how intense he was so he was like, ‘OK, I’ll take it backseat and I’ll talk the boys up and I’ll tell everybody how hard they’re working and we can see success around the corner’.

“Then they put in a performance like they did on the weekend and he’s like, ‘F*** that?’.

“No, that’s not me and that’s not us and that’s not what I want. I think enough was enough for him. Whether he gets a response or not, who knows?”

Maguire will find out on Friday when the Broncos face the Raiders in a rematch of last year’s epic qualifying final, where Brisbane pulled off a miraculous escape in golden point.

It will be yet another reminder of how far both sides have fallen.

THE PROOF THAT THE WARRIORS ARE A DIFFERENT FORCE

South Sydney Rabbitohs v NZ Warriors, Saturday 5:30pm @ Accor Stadium

Andrew Webster’s coaching credentials have been given a huge tick of approval, with two NRL icons declaring that the New Zealand Warriors are now a different force as they charge towards the finals.

Since Webster took over the head coaching reins at the club, the Warriors have emerged as one of the competition’s most impressive sides.

Former premiership-winner Cooper Cronk was particularly impressed by the culture the coach has helped build in New Zealand.

“The Warriors are a damn good coached team,” Cronk said on Fox League’s Matty & Cronk Show.

“I keep saying this about Andrew Webster, with respect to all the other Australian coaches that have gone over there, he’s an Australian coach that has gone over and the Warriors’ culture has significantly gone up.

“This is a non-Kiwi guy that’s got this Maori culture that’s bubbling along and it is stronger than ever.”

Cronk then highlighted a moment involving captain James Fisher-Harris as the perfect example of the Warriors togetherness.

After Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad left the field after being sin-binned for a tackle on Reece Walsh, the skipper gathered his teammates together in a huddle as the Warriors dealt with the setback.

“There was a moment when Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, James Fisher-Harris if he does not win Captain of the Year, I’m not here.

“He got the team in together in a huddle, Nicoll-Klokstad is gone, Reece Walsh is bouncing around on an injured ankle and he’s got the team in together… I don’t know what he said.

“Alofiana-Khan Pereira intercepts Reece Walsh and runs to the other end. The Sharks dropped their game.

“That was probably game for the Warriors to go, ‘You know what? We could just cruise here a little bit’ but they put the cleaners on, strangled them into submission and put 40 points on them.”

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Matthew Johns believes the strongest evidence of Webster’s coaching ability lies in the dramatic individual turnarounds he has produced.

This led him to single out Chanel Harris-Tavita and Tanah Boyd as examples of players transformed under Webster.

“You judge coaches on wins and losses primarily, but also a huge one — probably the best evidence — of it a guy is really a great coach,” Johns added.

“The very essence of coaching is not just improving the team, but improving the individual.

“What he has done for Chanel Harris-Tavita and what he did for Tanah Boyd was remarkable. It’s the biggest turnaround I’ve ever seen in careers.”

A Samoan international, Harris-Tavita had previously stepped away from the NRL after the pressure of the game became too much, but has returned and rediscovered his best football under Webster.

“A few years ago, it had just got all too much for Chanel, and I get it. He’s a young guy,” Johns continued.

“There’s a lot of pressure… and then he’s come back and Andrew Webster has just taken charge of his game and he’s playing great.”

The Warriors have a tricky challenge this week against the Rabbitohs and are now down three of their first-choice halves but if there is anything the rugby league world has learned this year it is a Webster-coached team can overcome adversity.

BULLDOGS SLAMMED OVER ‘BAND-AID’ SPINE

St. George-Illawarra Dragons v Canterbury Bulldogs, Saturday 7:35pm @ Allianz Stadium

The Bulldogs’ decision to continually tinker with their spine has been labelled a “band-aid” solution.

Former club great Braith Anasta has declared the Bulldogs have overcomplicated their halves dilemma and moved key players out of position in a bid to find an answer.

This included shifting star centres Stephen Crichton into the halves and moving Matt Burton out of the No.6 jersey and into the outside backs.

Although they have shown glimpses of their potential throughout this year’s campaign, Canterbury have struggled to find the consistency required to establish themselves as a genuine finals threat.

That has left Anasta adamant the Bulldogs have the squad to be playing finals football but believes their constant tinkering has ultimately held them back.

“I’ve been saying this for a while. I just feel like they’ve shown glimpses again, but it’s all been a bit of a Band-Aid. They’ve got a squad that should be playing finals,” Anasta told foxsports.com.au.

“I think they’ve over-analysed and over-complicated things. Really, just the crux of all of it all is they’ve just needed to play a seven in seven.

“You don’t need a superstar seven. Look at the Warriors. I played with Brent Sherwin and we won a competition. Shane Perry did it with the Broncos as well back in the day.

“If you’ve got superstars around the seven, all the seven’s got to do is execute a game plan. That’s all he’s got to do.

“He doesn’t need to set up four tries and kick field goals and 40-20s. He’s just got to execute the game plan and really just compliment the guys around you.

“I think they’ve just over-analysed it and still been really stubborn with it and even moved some of the best players in the world out of position, who have done a magnificent job, but it’s a quick.

“Now they’ve probably gone a few steps back instead of going forward.”

CODE Sports reporter Dean Ritchie echoed Anasta’s concerns, arguing the Bulldogs have failed to settle on a consistent spine since moving away from Toby Sexton at halfback.

“They were winning the comp last year when Sexton was the halfback and since that moment he was dropped, they haven’t settled on their spine,” the veteran journalist said on NRL 360.

“He’s not going to win player of the year but he was doing the job.”

Anasta then doubled down on his criticism of the Bulldogs current spine.

He declared that Galvin should be locked into the No.6 jersey while they keep looking for the right solution at fullback and dummy-half.

“The whole world agrees on this right now but Galvin is a six,” Anasta continued.

“Bailey Hayward isn’t creative at half and doesn’t run the ball. Connor Tracey, who they’ve re-signed, isn’t creative either and is battling.

“You move your six to centre and you bring one of the best centres in the game to five-eighth who does a wonderful job initially because he’s an outstanding athlete but it’s a band-aid and it’s caught up to them in the last couple of weeks.

“We wondered if it would work and be the long-term solutions, and it isn’t. There’s more questions than answers.”

That will remain the case for the Bulldogs entering 2027, although they still remain a slim hope of making the finals this year.

That will be extinguished, however, if they can’t get past the Dragons this week.

CAN SHARKS BOUNCE BACK FROM ‘EARTH-SHATTERING’ BLOW?

Gold Coast Titans v Cronulla Sharks, Sunday 2pm @ Cbus Super Stadium

The Sharks’ premiership hopes took a major hit when Braydon Trindall left Shark Park on Saturday with a dislocated shoulder.

Trindall has been the main man for Cronulla’s improved attack this season.

For no better insight into his importance, you just have to look at the try assist numbers. Trindall’s 30 leads the league and is six more than the second-placed Nathan Cleary.

Hall-of-Famer Cooper Cronk believes the injury is “earth-shattering” for Cronulla.

“He’s been their MVP. He’s been the guy that has come up with big plays,” Cronk said.

“I think they’ll bounce back and win a couple of those and play finals, but if you’re asking me can they go past what they’ve done in the last couple of years and make a prelim? I don’t think so, because Trindall is going to try and get that shoulder right in four weeks.

“He’s got four weeks to rehab that thing to make it strong.

“Maybe they can win week one without him, but they can’t go past week two of the finals without Trindall.”

The Sharks are guaranteed a finals spot but could finish as low as 7th if they struggle over the final three weeks.

Trindall isn’t expected back until the finals.

The Sharks are a well-balanced side but Trindall’s absence will require Nicho Hynes to be the chief playmaker — a role he has never really mastered in the NRL.

Cronk says that in order to help Hynes, hooker Blayke Brailey will have to assume more control.

“Nicho tried on the weekend, and he just didn’t come up with enough with Trindall off the field,” he said.

“Maybe Brailey needs to step up and become that main ball player through the middle and really control things like he was doing through the middle part of the year in Origin.”

What is in the Sharks’ favour is their draw.

Over the final three games, they play teams all outside the eight: the Titans, Eels and Storm.

Hynes won’t have to be perfect for the Sharks to win those, but it’ll be important that he steps up in Trindall’s absence to give Cronulla some versatility and a different look if needed as the finals approach.

Additionally, you want to be entering the finals with momentum and having lost their last two games, this is a side that needs to get back on track or their September will be short.

HOW ROOSTERS’ MALIGNED SIGNING TURNED INTO ‘MASTERSTROKE’

Sydney Roosters v Wests Tigers, Sunday 4pm @ Allianz Stadium

Entering the 2026 season, there were many who wondered how a halves combination of Daly Cherry-Evans and Sam Walker would work.

The pair are both instinctive, off the cuff players. Would they get in each other’s way? Who would take control?

And what about their defence? It’s fair to say that part of the game was considered suspect at best.

In the early part of the season, the doubts around the pair intensified as the partnership didn’t appear all that smooth, especially after a 40-4 thrashing by the Panthers in Round 3.

Thankfully for Chooks fans, the Roosters overcame an ugly start to the year to sit top of the table with three rounds left.

They were able to exact revenge on Penrith last weekend – a gritty 12-6 win.

The best player on the field? Cherry-Evans.

The 37-year-old scored two tries in the win, with DCE and Walker complimenting each other beautifully like they often have in recent weeks.

Importantly, the pair made their tackles.

A major concern at the start of the year, Walker and Cherry-Evans measured up on defence, combining for 49 tackles (three missed). As a team, it was one of the better defensive efforts of the season.

While it’s been a career year for Walker, Cherry-Evans has been solid at best in what will be his final season in the NRL.

But as Matty Johns noted, he’s doing all he needs to in order to open up Walker’s game.

“There were mixed reviews on whether they should have signed him. It’s proven a masterstroke because it’s worked out a really terrific combination,” Johns said on ‘Matty & Cronk’.

“They’re not dissimilar in the way they play. They are very instinctive and reactive players. But the last couple of weeks DCE has guided the ship home.”

Johns says that Cherry-Evans’ big-game experience will be “invaluable” for Walker and the Roosters.

Walker got a taste of it in the Origin arena this year but has only played a handful of finals games.

Cooper Cronk agreed with Johns’ sentiment.

“He’s played a lot of big games in his career. He last played in a grand final in 2013 against the Roosters Hasn’t played in too many prelim finals in between that and now but has played a lot of Origin games,” Cronk said.

“Against Penrith, that’s his best performance in a few years. Running the football, taking the line on twice for two tries against Penrith, kicking, managing, decision making.

“He’s had some up and down (performances) particularly last year at Manly, he wasn’t running the football and all the commentary around the signing was fair because there weren’t the signs that he was going to go to the next level.

Cronk also believes his former coach Trent Robinson deserves plenty of credit for the role he’s played.

“Whatever he’s done to coach Daly the person, he’s starting now to get the performance because it was always he’s going there for the experience to help Sam, he’s now actually contributing in the performance part,” Cronk said.