DCE stat that will leave Sea Eagles sickened

It's the statistic that should make Manly's entire forward pack hang their heads in shame - the team's highest tackler in the disastrous 32-6 loss to the Broncos was halfback Daly Cherry-Evans.While the Sea Eagles' forwards were being trampled by their Brisbane counterparts, DCE - one of the smallest men on the field - did his best to stem the tide.He made 36 tackles in the 80 minutes on the likes of giants Payne Haas and Thomas Flegler … little wonder he was too exhausted to have much impact in attack.Coach Anthony Seibold needs to sit his big men down this week and tell them to pull the finger out in defence, take the heat off DCE and let him do what he does best - run the offence!

Young Burgess etching his own Souths legacy

Thomas Burgess began his career at the Rabbitohs very much in the shadow of brothers Sam and George.But the big Englishman has outlasted his more illustrious brothers and in the win over the Storm on Saturday night, became the third most-capped Rabbitoh of all time.Burgess played his 219th game for the club to overtake Nathan Merritt (218) as third on the club's list behind John Sutton (336) and Adam Reynolds (231).And Burgess celebrated the occasion by making more metres than any forward on the field - despite starting on the bench.After struggling in his early days in the NRL, Thomas is now one of the game's elite front-rowers and still has plenty of petrol in the tank.

Young Tiger continues to draw rave reviews

Last week I was chatting with Tigers coach Tim Sheens about Jahream Bula and he cautioned me (saying), "You haven't seen anything yet - wait until the kid plays on a dry track".Sheens pointed out that the youngster's two NRL games to date were in wet and slippery conditions, making it hard for him to shine.Well, Bula got his dry track in Magic Round yesterday - and was dynamic.The promising fullback ran for 180 metres but his defence was the real eye-catcher - he produced three try-saving tackles and was the difference between the Tigers and a sloppy Dragons side.Bula looks a real prospect and is one of a host of youngsters Sheens and Benji Marshall have pencilled in for NRL in the next couple of seasons.The Tigers have now recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since April 2022 - and things are suddenly looking much rosier at Concord.

Nikorima's new lease on life under Bennett

There have been many success stories at the Dolphins this season - none more so than Kodi Nikorima.In and out of first grade in recent season, Nikorima was signed by Bennett's boys almost as an afterthought.Sean O'Sullivan was designated for the playmaking role but when he went down injured a few weeks ago, the spotlight fell upon the 29-year-old journeyman, currently at his fourth club.Nikorima was dynamic in the Dolphins' stunning 36-16 win over the Sharks on Saturday night, producing two try assists and making three line break assists.He's playing the best football of his nine-year NRL career - a testament to Bennett's magnificent man-management skills.

Edwards' Origin drought set to continue

Is Dylan Edwards destined to go down as one of the best players never to play representative football?With so many great fullbacks around, Edwards can't get a look-in for the Blues in Origin or for Australia - even though he is good enough.The flying fullback has played over 100 games for the Panthers - few better than Saturday's effort against the Warriors.Edwards ran for 237 metres, scored a try, produced a try assist, two line-breaks and a try saving tackle.Yet with Origin just a few weeks away, there's no way his name will even get a mention in passing.

Raiders star flying under the radar

When it comes to under-rated players, few are going better this season than Raiders centre Matt Timoko.The hard-running Kiwi rarely gets a mention in the headlines but has been superb in the Raiders' recent four-match winning run.In the 34-30 defeat of the Bulldogs on Friday night, he ran for more metres than any player on the field, scored one try and created two others.It's a pity there is no mid-season Test against the Kangaroos this season because if there was, he'd be among the first Kiwis picked.

Bulldogs' Brisbane hoodoo continues

Gus Gould has plenty of pull in the NRL - and maybe he needs to lobby to move Magic Round away from Suncorp Stadium in 2024.His Bulldogs have now lost 12 straight games at the home of football in Brisbane and the arena has become something akin to a graveyard for the boys from Belmore.The injury-hit Dogs actually played pretty well against an in-form Raiders outfit, but clearly their Suncorp hoodoo was too much to overcome.

Warriors continue to gain fans despite loss

They came away with no points, but the Warriors were as impressive as any of the 16 teams on show in Magic Round.The Warriors had some tough calls go against them, lost winger Ed Kosi, second-rower Jackson Ford and prop Bunty Afoa to injury and twice had players in the sin-bin against dual premiers Penrith.But the Warriors refused to surrender and were right in the game until a late Spencer Leniu try gave the Panthers an 18-6 win.It's been said many times over the opening 10 rounds - this Warriors side has more grit and resolve than Kiwi teams of the past and Andrew Webster and his men lost no friends at Suncorp.

Titans' Foran cleared, Brimson out for a least a month

Gold Coast veteran Kieran Foran has been cleared to line up against Parramatta in Magic Round despite suffering hand, knee and toe injuries in last week's upset defeat of Manly.The 32-year-old required six stitches in his finger, a pain-killing needle in his toe and strapping on his knee to make it through the 26-10 win over his old side but was named in the team list on Tuesday afternoon.Foran was still a chance of dropping out of the squad pending the results of scans, but on Wednesday morning, was cleared of serious injury.He needs only to pass a fitness test on Friday to line up against the Eels, another of his former clubs.Foran's speedy recovery comes after he spent only two weeks out with a calf injury earlier this season.That Foran's body is holding up so well comes as a welcome surprise given his extensive injury history; between 2015 and 2020, Foran did not play more than 20 games in any season.His availability is a huge boon for the Titans given fellow playmaker AJ Brimson's recent hamstring injury.Brimson left the field in the 41st minute against the Sea Eagles and the Titans confirmed on Wednesday morning he had suffered a grade-two left hamstring tear that would rule him out for between four and six weeks.The injury pushes Jayden Campbell from the bench to the starting side to face Parramatta.