Welcome to The Furnace!
In this weekly preview, foxsports.com.au dissects every game by looking at each team’s burning question.
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Read on for The Furnace for Round 13!
FRIDAY
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Newcastle Knights, 8pm AEST at Jubilee Stadium
Dragons’ burning question: Can the Dragons fill cover for their forward crisis?
The Dragons must have killed a black cat or something because their forward stocks have been severely tested this season.
Francis Molo left without playing a game, Ryan Couchman suffered a season-ending injury and now Dylan Egan is out for the year with an ACL.
Remarkably, the Dragons have over-achieved and sit 10th on equal points with the eighth place Broncos, despite an inferior points differential.
Jack de Belin is back in the front row with Blake Lawrie recalled to the bench after being dropped twice, while young gun Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga’s development has been fast-tracked.
A win over the Knights could see the Dragons break into the top eight if other results go their way, which would be massive given the forwards they have sidelined.
Knights’ burning question: Do the Knights consider a Ponga halves switch?
It is interesting that the Knights’ best attacking performance all season came with Fletcher Sharpe at fullback, with Kalyn Ponga on Origin duty.
Matty Johns questioned if the Knights need to move Ponga to the halves to take control of their attack.
“The Knights’ best player this year has been Fletcher Sharpe,” Johns said on Matty and Cronk.
“Dylan Lucas as well. Fletcher at five-eighth and Kalyn at fullback the formula wasn’t quite working.
“They put Fletcher back to his preferred position playing fullback. They experimented a couple of years ago with Kalyn at No.6 and it didn’t work. Is it worth having a look at again?”
However, Cooper Cronk believes Ponga doesn’t need the No.6 on his back to run their attack and called on Adam O’Brien to simplify the game plan to get him the ball in his key areas.
“No, I think Kalyn is a fullback,” Cronk said.
“The Knights are a good defensive team. They need to win games while they are going through this period on the back of their defence.
“One simple solution for their attack and Kalyn is the big piece of this. His best position is four vs four down a wide short side.
“He has the footwork to carve up anyone. So as simple as it is I am playing to that position and giving Kalyn four on four.
“Now if they give four defenders, Kalyn take it. If they put five on Kalyn because they are worried, the rest of you take it. That’s as simple as I can help them out with their attack.”
SATURDAY
Gold Coast Titans vs Melbourne Storm, 3pm AEST at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans’ burning question: What is wrong with the Titans given the quality of their pack?
It is astounding that the Titans are coached by Des Hasler and are so bad in defence despite boasting one of the best packs in the NRL.
Johns noted the Titans have three Queensland Origin forwards and should be a lot better team with that kind of platform up front.
“They deserve brutality in opinion,” Johns said.
“If you look at the Queensland pack they have Tino, Fermor and Fotuaika. That’s a great pack and they have three of the Titans there.”
Cronk believes the Titans are headed for a spoon and pointed the finger at some of their stars for a lack of consistency and ability to stay composed and execute.
“I think they are going to get the spoon,” Cronk said.
“Tino is their best player by a country mile. The one thing that I think is hurting the Titans is Des has been a defensive coach for a long time and history says he gets it right when he has a good team.
“The disconnect between them doing it and his message. One thing that is hurting them is their top end talent minus Tino are either injured or they look lost on the field.
“They are not consistent and they don’t feel like they are on the same page all the time and they are just in and out of 80 minute performances.
“It’s bad and I don’t think it is going to get any better. I am worried about the Titans.”
Storm burning question: Can the Storm find some consistency?
It is widely regarded the Storm are competition favourites, but they haven’t managed to play like it consistently this season.
Before their bye last week the Storm were upset 31-26 by the Sharks following a pattern of dropping games after playing really well, like they did in their 64-0 thrashing of the Tigers the previous week.
The Storm have a few players backing up from Origin but on paper they should dominate the Titans, who have been woeful this season.
But Craig Bellamy will be looking for some consistency from his team because not many sides have won the premiership playing hot and cold in the regular season.
Bulldogs sign Galvin on three year deal | 01:07
North Queensland Cowboys vs Wests Tigers, 5.30pm AEST at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys’ burning question: Is Jaxson Purdue and Tom Dearden the halves pairing to lead the Cowboys to the finals?
Todd Payten was bullish on his decision to start Jaxson Purdue at five-eighth and shift skipper Tom Dearden to halfback, despite a rough start against Manly.
Payten is adamant No.6 is Purdue’s best position and is committed to the halves pairing going forward, despite Jake Clifford’s strong form before he was dropped.
If the Cowboys can’t beat the Tigers and Purdue has another quiet game, the pressure will grow on the rookie five-eighth and the coach.
The Cowboys sit seventh, but will slip out of the top eight with a home loss to the Tigers, who will have plenty to play for as the post Lachlan Galvin era begins.
Tigers’ burning question: Can the Tigers put the Galvin saga behind them?
Lachlan Galvin has played his last game for the club and while he is a quality player, the Tigers need to fill his position and move on quickly.
It is obvious the Galvin saga created a divide in the playing group and his departure has the potential to galvanise the team for a push to end the longest finals drought in the NRL stretching back to 2011.
However, replacing Galvin’s skill and impact in the halves will take time, with fullback Heath Mason given first crack at the No.6 jersey, with Latu Fainu still out injured.
Now it is time for $6 million man Jarome Luai to earn his money, take control of the team and lead them to a new era minus their teenage playmaker, who embarks on a new chapter with the Bulldogs after the bye.
Manly Sea Eagles vs Brisbane Broncos, 7.35pm AEST at 4 Pines Park
Sea Eagles’ burning question: Can they win without Turbo?
Manly are trying to bounce back from a poor loss to Parramatta last week and statistically their chances plummeted when superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic was scratched with a corked thigh this week. The Sea Eagles’ win percentage falls off a cliff when Turbo doesn’t play. Since 2020, they’ve won 60 per cent of their games with him in the side and just 35 per cent without him. Making matters worse, his older brother Jake Trbojevic is also out, with the inspirational middle forward given another week to recover from a heavy concussion. Excitement machine Lehi Hopoate will wear the No. 1 jersey while Jazz Tevaga will start at lock for another week in the absence of Jurbo.
Broncos’ burning question: Can Jesse Arthars’ positional switch reignite Brisbane’s season?
Fullback is arguably the most important position on the field in the modern game as their communication has a huge impact on how well the defensive line operates, while they can pick and choose when to insert themselves to spark the attack. Reece Walsh (knee) is still a week away but coach Michael Maguire has axed Selwyn Cobbo from the No. 1 jersey after a month at the back. Instead he’s gone with Queensland squad member Jesse Arthars as the Broncos look to end a slump that has seen them lose six of their past seven games. Arthars has never played fullback in his 91-game NRL career but he’s impressed on the wing this season, scoring 11 tries in 11 games, and went extremely close to cracking the Maroons 17 for the Origin series opener.
Best of the Westpac Red Zone: Round 12 | 01:57
SUNDAY
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs New Zealand Warriors, 2pm AEST at Accor Stadium
Rabbitohs’ burning question: Can Latrell inspire Souths to a win over a big top four scalp?
The Rabbitohs have been brave this season to be in sixth place, but they haven’t beaten a top four side and need to if they want to be considered title contenders.
Souths are starting to get their troops back with Jamie Humprheys back at No.7 and Cody Walker and Jack Wighton due back next week.
But if Wayne Bennett’s side could somehow ride Mitchell to an upset win over the Warriors, before their big guns get back, they can make a charge at the top four.
Much will depend on Mitchell’s ability to back up from Origin and continue his hot form of late, but while ever he is in the team, Souths are a chance of pulling an upset, especially at home.
Warriors’ burning question: Can the Warriors surge to second in their bid for a maiden title?
The Warriors are third heading into Round 13 and if they can beat Souths and the Raiders lose to the Roosters they will be outright second.
For a team that is chasing its first ever title, it is crucial that they finish in the top two and get two home finals in New Zealand for a shot at the Grand Final and a first ever premiership.
James Fisher-Harris and Rocco Berry return this week meaning they are at full strength if Mitch Barnett backs up from Origin, which is a great place to be with just one Origin representative.
Rugby league is taking New Zealand by Storm and if Luke Metcalf can lead the Warriors to a top two finish, they are a massive chance of breaking their 30 year title drought.
Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels, 4.05pm AEST at CommBank Stadium
Panthers’ burning question: Can Panthers finally make a charge for the eight?
The Panthers may sit dead last heading into the Origin period, but a look at their soft draw shows they have a legitimate chance of making a charge for the finals.
Cronk believes the Panthers can slip into the eight given they are only three points off eighth place currently.
“They are in 17th on nine points and the Broncos are in eighth on 12 points,” Cronk said.
“In the next period of time they play the Eels twice, the Tigers twice, they have two byes, they have the Titans, Knights and Souths.
“There is a couple of big games against the Warriors and Bulldogs. I have them here finishing eighth.
“I think they slip into the eight, but their fuel tank will be empty.”
Johns agreed the Panthers will make the finals, but they will spend too much energy trying to get there to defend their title.
“Usually with the bottom teams, they are having a bludger of a year and they are not going to make the finals, but one of them is Penrith,” Johns said.
“I think they are going to creep in. If they can creep into the eight they can win the comp.
“My prediction is they will creep into the eight, but it will be similar to Brisbane in 1999 when they spent their pennies getting there.
“On top of the players playing Origin and everything else, I have them reaching the second week of the finals.”
Eels’ burning question: Is Isaiah Iongi the buy of the year?
Given the form of Clint Gutherson and the uproar around his departure from the Eels it is amazing that Isaiah Iongi is playing so well to narly make that argument redundant.
Not only is Iongi dominating with ball in hand, Matty Johns noticed a series of defensive plays in a set against the Sea Eagles that shows how good he is off the ball.
“I want to give the young fullback at Parramatta a wrap Iongi,” Johns said.
“This bloke is a really special player and we are seeing it more and more every week.
“In a really important part in the game, he comes up with a great chase and hits Turbo. Then he gets to first marker and makes another tackle and shows real physicality. Then he goes for another tackle and fullbacks usually send the winger back, but he goes all the way back to protect the 40/20 and then takes it and shows great physicality in the run again.
“That’s the stuff you don’t pick up in a game. You pick up the flash stuff, but that says a lot about that kid.”
Cronk agreed that Iongi’s is the complete package and at such a young age he is only going to get better with more experience.
“He has already got the X-factor, so I love that he is underpinning that footwork and the speed that he has got with that hard-nosed approach,” Cronk said.
“He was brilliant on the weekend. What he delivered for that team, toughness, safety, try-scoring, smarts. He was very good.”
Sydney Roosters vs Canberra Raiders, 6.15pm AEST at Allianz Stadium
Roosters’ burning question: Will they experience an Origin hangover?
The Roosters have the largest Origin contingent of any NRL team, with five of their biggest name stars featuring in the series opener.
Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton, Connor Watson, Rob Toia and Spencer Leniu all took the field at Suncorp Stadium but have been named to back up on Sunday.
However, there’s undoubtedly going to be some level of Origin hangover for those players, some more than others dependent on minutes played.
But in a huge boost, Trent Robinson’s side have the longest possible turnaround and feature in the final game of Round 13.
While having a large contingent of representative players is generally a positive, the Origin period can often have a significant impact on teams and Robinson will be desperate his stars stay fit.
Raiders’ burning question: When do the Raiders become genuine premiership threats?
Ricky Stuart loves his side having the ‘underdog’ tag – but is it time for the NRL to wake up and realise the Raiders are genuine premiership contenders?
Canberra sit in second place after 12 rounds, are yet to have a bye and have only lost three games with a points differential of 70.
GIO Stadium has long been a fortress, and it still is with five wins from six games, but the Raiders have previously struggled away from the nation’s capital.
In 2024 they were five from seven away from home, and in the two years before that they won only 50 per cent of the time.
However, this year their away record sits at four wins from six games.
With the likes of Joe Tapine, Josh Papalii and Corey Horsburgh running rampant and young guns Ethan Strange, Xavier Savage and Savelio Tamale shining – it’s time for the Raiders to be put alongside the big hitters of the 2025 competition.
Bye: Bulldogs, Dolphins, Sharks
