There’s three weeks left as we come into Round 23 with several clubs, players and coaches feeling the pinch as we run into finals.
Check out who SEN’s Matt White and Tom Costigan consider most under the pump heading into this weekend.
Jarome Luai
Penrith Panthers
“Some people may be surprised by this, but I think Luai is under pressure,” Costigan said on SEN 1170 Mornings.
“After Origin - as with a lot of players in their first series – I think he’s petered off a bit.
“His partner in crime Nathan Cleary hasn’t been there as well.
“He hasn’t had a try assist since Round 11, and that was in that 56-12 demolition of South Sydney.
“Funnily enough, they’re playing the Rabbitohs on Friday night, and I think the pressure has been put on him because of Matt Burton’s form.
“When Burton played five-eighth he had three tries and five try assists in about three games.
“This game, with Nathan Cleary back, he’s got to step up to reach the heights he was at in the first eight to nine weeks of the season.”
Nicho Hynes
Melbourne Storm
“I’m going to throw in Nicho Hynes,” White said.
“He’s been one of my favourite players all season, but now he gets the number seven jersey in a ‘must-win’ match for the Storm.
“The record (for most consecutive wins) is on the line here, to make it 19 wins straight to equal Jack Gibson’s Eastern Suburbs team.
“With Jahrome Hughes out, Hynes goes into the halfback role.
“He (Hynes) has been outstanding with Ryan Papenhuyzen out, but now he’s back in at fullback.
“There’s going to be pressure on him to continue in the type of form he’s in.
“The way he’s been so dominant on the ball…I think he’ll be up to the occasion.
“But it’s a lot of pressure to put on someone who doesn’t wear the number seven a lot.”
Luke Brooks
Wests Tigers
“I’m going to go with the much-maligned Luke Brooks,” Costigan said.
“The halfback for the Wests Tigers, and they’re currently in 13th position they play Cronulla this week.
“They’ve got the Sharks, Panthers and Dogs in the last three weeks.
“Can he lead the Wests Tigers to their first finals series in 10 years?
“It’s been since 2011, I don’t think then they would have said they would miss finals for 10 years.
“I don’t think they’ll beat the Panthers, but can they win two out of three to catapult the Tigers into the finals? It’s going to be tough.”