The greatest game of all has settled into normality after a crazy start to the regular season.
The increased ruck speeds and fatigue to kickoff NRL season 2026 saw tries scored from anywhere and everywhere on the field as even the best defensive systems crumpled under pressure.
But as clubs catch up and the ruck slows down, we’re beginning to see more defensive resilience and more attacking nous as a result.
Wayde the wizard
North Queensland presented some new defensive combinations down their left edge in NRL Round 16 with Jaxon Purdue moving to five-eighth and Zac Laybutt shifting into left centre.
As it turned out though, the Warriors clearly had a different plan to breakdown the Cowboys defence.
In a week where NSW are apparently looking for more creativity out of dummy-half, New Zealand hooker Wayde Egan clocked 126m and two assists in 60 minutes to make a mockery of the Cowboys ruck defence.
Big bodies like Jason Taumalolo, Griffin Naeme, Coen Hess and Thomas Mikaele were a spot early on for Egan in yardage; forced into repeat efforts until they were late into position at marker or filling up in the line. From there, Egan would pounce and either go himself or bring a teammate onto the ball, targeting the spaces in behind the ruck to drag more defenders in towards the ball and create space elsewhere…
The flow-on effect of Egan’s involvements reads most clearly on the scoreboard. New Zealand cashed in five times on the wings as North Queensland’s edges were left isolated by their folding middle.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was the major beneficiary of Egan’s work in NRL Round 16.
By winning the ruck and getting out beyond the markers, Egan was able to consistently engage the A-defender and force Heilum Luki (the four-man; four defenders in from the wing) to sit on his heels.
Like dominos falling, the rest of the Cowboys right edge repeatedly folded in towards the ball as Egan played to Te Maire Martin over the advantage line; Luki checked Martin, Jake Clifford checked Jacob Laban and Tom Chester turned in on Chanel Harris-Tavita to leave Braidon Burns with Adam Pompey & Nicoll Klokstad coming at him… try time.
Folding rucks and leaky middle defence is usually an indicator of a poor defensive team, but the speed of the ruck to begin the year made even the best defensive systems appear brittle.
As the NRL settles back into a more familiar rhythm though, we should start seeing a little more clearly where a game is being won and lost. In the case of the Warriors v Cowboys on Sunday afternoon, it all started with Wayde Egan.
Let’s hope Laurie was watching…
Zane clutches up
The Gold Coast Titans were another beneficiary of the steadying ruck speeds last week; afforded the chance to go toe-to-toe with a far more fancied opposition and providing Zane Harrison with a coming-of-age moment.
With the game on the line and the Gold Coast in need of points, the young Titans halfback produced two beautiful – and importantly, repeatable – attacking actions to break down the Panthers defence and set himself up for the match winning field goal.
If there’s a spot in Penrith’s line this year, it’s the space around Blaize Talagi on their left edge.
Harrison and the Titans knew it and played to it perfectly with a period of possession on the Panthers line, waiting for a cue (a Klese Haas quick play-the-ball) before pulling the trigger.
As Penrith scramble to reset, Harrison is already running over the advantage line and arrow-straight at Isaiah Papali’i, inviting Talagi to turn in ever so slightly, one channel wider. The instant Talagi takes the bait, Harrison throws the pass across the Panthers five-eighth to Arama Hau running a wonderful line at Talagi’s outside shoulder.
The next was even better.
Playing with a maturity and awareness beyond his years, Harrison passes Kurtis Morrin into Liam Martin in yardage to force a Panthers middle (Billy Phillips) to ‘flip’ and replace Martin down the short side.
Harrison goes straight back to the well; this time playing an out-in shape through Beau Fermor to get at Phillips in an unfamiliar position and almost send Jayden Campbell through the line.
With Dylan Edwards now caught at marker and the rest of Penrith’s line struggling to get onside, Harrison ices the look he’s just created.
Doubling down a short left side, he swings late around the ruck to create the numbers advantage and throw long to Philip Sami before Penrith can reset.
The post-match will make a highlight of the 79th minute field goal but the involvements of Harrison in all three of the Titans tries was the difference in NRL Round 16.
Thank the footy gods that the game has slowed down enough that we can appreciate moments of tactical brilliance like this rather than losing it in the speed and chaos of another cricket score!