As we head into NRL Round 7, here’s a new addition to our NRL previews – an analysis of each team’s strengths and weaknesses from the previous round with our NRL Round 7 Teams Strengths & Weaknesses.
NRL Round 7 Teams Strengths & Weaknesses
Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm
EASTS
STRENGTHS: Defied some big omissions for an important away win.
STRENGTHS: Joseph Manu was immense: running for 350 metres.
WEAKNESSES: 31 missed tackles and 12 ineffective tackles.
WEAKNESSES: Made more errors than Newcastle (7-5).
MELB
STRENGTHS: Even though they’re not at their best, they’re still finding ways to win.
STRENGTHS: Harry Grant is a machine, with another 50+ tackle game.
WEAKNESSES: 28 missed tackles, 21 ineffective tackles, and 10 errors.
WEAKNESSES: Will Ryan Papenhuyzen be in trouble for his sin binning?
St George Illawarra vs NZ Warriors
STGI
STRENGTHS: While they’re inconsistent, the Dragons are better than the wooden spoon finish that a lot of people predicted.
STRENGTHS: 42 tackles for Raymond Faitala-Mariner.
WEAKNESSES: 31 missed tackles and 13 errors.
WEAKNESSES: Only a 78% completion rate.
NZW
STRENGTHS: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad had one of his best games since returning to New Zealand, with over 300 run metres.
STRENGTHS: Shaun Johnson scored 10 points (a try and three goals) and nearly got the Wahs home in Golden Point.
WEAKNESSES: Once again they conceded a big early lead.
WEAKNESSES: 41 missed tackles and 13 errors.
Parramatta vs The Dolphins
PARRA
STRENGTHS: Good bounceback from the big Canberra loss.
STRENGTHS: A fine game from Clint Gutherson: 164 run metres and five goals.
WEAKNESSES: 33 missed tackles.
WEAKNESSES: Matched the Cowboys with 11 errors.
DOL
STRENGTHS: Trailing 28-4 with 20 minutes left, they could have been embarrassed, but they got two late tries back.
STRENGTHS: 41 tackles for Euan Aitken.
WEAKNESSES: 36 missed tackles and 16 errors.
WEAKNESSES: They’ll be bitterly disappointed to lose such a big game so convincingly: they were blown away in a seven-minute period in the second half.
Penrith vs Wests Tigers
PEN
STRENGTHS: Have won 25 out of 40 against the Wests Tigers.
STRENGTHS: Penrith have been inconsistent by their high standards, so their
first bye probably came at a good time.
WEAKNESSES: They lost to the Tigers at Bathurst last year – albeit in horrible conditions.
WEAKNESSES: This is a game Penrith will expect to win comfortably: even this super-professional side will need to be guard against
complacency.
WTIG
STRENGTHS: Had a better completion rate (79%) than the Dragons.
STRENGTHS: 212 run metres for Jahream Bula.
WEAKNESSES: The Tigers would be disappointed they didn’t make the most of the return to Campbelltown.
WEAKNESSES: Once the Dragons got ahead, the Tigers never looked like getting back into the game.
Gold Coast vs Manly Warringah
GCT
STRENGTHS: Probably their best performance of 2024 and they were unlucky to lose.
STRENGTHS: Alofiana Khan-Pereira’s try double kept the Titans in the game when Canberra should have shut it down.
WEAKNESSES: 31 missed tackles and 15 ineffective tackles.
WEAKNESSES: Poor goalkicking (2/4) let them down, despite Brian Kelly’s excellent sideline conversion to take the game into Golden Point.
MANLY
STRENGTHS: Daly Cherry-Evans backed up last week’s milestone game with two tries and three goals.
STRENGTHS: While they didn’t close out the game (leading 16-0 and 22-10), Manly already look better than the past couple of seasons and could be a finals contender.
WEAKNESSES: Tom Trbojevic ran for 241 metres.
WEAKNESSES: 46 missed tackles and 12 errors.
Brisbane vs Canberra
BRIS
STRENGTHS: Breathe easy, Broncos fanStrengths: Reece Walsh is back, scoring a long-range try.
STRENGTHS: Selwyn Cobbo was excellent: two tries and 221 run metres. And 46 tackles for Patrick Carrigan.
WEAKNESSES: Only a 67% completion rate.
WEAKNESSES: Would be disappointed not to run up a score in the XXXX Derby – leading 28-4 with 20 minutes left.
CBR
STRENGTHS: 303 run metres for Joseph Tapine.
STRENGTHS: While it was ugly, Canberra found a way to hang in there and escape with the win.
WEAKNESSES: Outscored four tries to three by the Titans.
WEAKNESSES: 13 errors summed up a below par performance.
Canterbury-Bankstown vs Newcastle
CBY
STRENGTHS: Josh Addo-Carr dragged Canterbury back into the game with his second half hat-trick.
STRENGTHS: Again, they competed with a top side: the 2024 Bulldogs have more heart and determination than the last few years.
WEAKNESSES: Their attack still needs work: went scoreless in the first half against Melbourne after only scoring four points in the second half against the Roosters.
WEAKNESSES: Their discipline was poor, with a 69% completion rate, 40 missed tackles, and 15 penalties.
NEWC
STRENGTHS: A brave performance from Ponga, playing 80 minutes despite picking up a hip injury midway through the first half.
STRENGTHS: Bradman Best ran for 252 metres and scored a try.
WEAKNESSES: Will be disappointed to drop a home game: they’re 2-2 at McDonald Jones Stadium so far.
WEAKNESSES: 44 missed tackles against the Roosters.
Cronulla-Sutherland vs North Queensland
CRO
STRENGTHS: Top of the ladder with four wins and one loss.
STRENGTHS: Two tries to Ronaldo Mulitalo was the difference.
WEAKNESSES: Would be disappointed to let Souths back into the game after opening up a 16-point lead.
WEAKNESSES: Conceded six penalties to two.
NQC
STRENGTHS: That last-tackle ad-lib try to Scott Drinkwater could be an early contender for try of the year.
STRENGTHS: 190 run metres for Murray Taulagi.
WEAKNESSES: 39 missed tackles and 22 ineffective tackles.
WEAKNESSES: Have a 2-2 record away from Townsville.
NRL Round 7 Teams Lists
Want the actual Team lists for this weekend? Follow the link below to Nothing But League website for more.
