Hunt’s ill-timed horror as Broncos star returns; Cleary’s painful change — Furnace
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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This week we have a focus on the players under pressure at each club for a variety of reasons heading into Magic Round.
Read on for The Furnace for Magic Round 9!
FRIDAY MAY 2
Cronulla Sharks v Parramatta Eels, Suncorp Stadium, 6pm
Sharks’ burning question: Can Braydon Trindall snap form slump amid Sharks’ consistency woes?
Last year Braydon Trindall was on fire and Nicho Hynes was struggling, but the pair seem to have switched places in 2025.
Hynes had 26 run metres, two linebreak assists and two try assists against the Tigers, while Trindall had just six metres, zero try or linebreak involvements and two errors.
Trindall’s form has mirrored the Sharks so far this season in that they have been hot and cold with four wins and four losses and the five-eighth has been inconsistent.
Coming up against a resurgent Eels team and Mitchell Moses is a big opportunity for Trindall to step up and have a big game in Magic Round or the Sharks could slip out of the top eight.
However, former Sharks playmaker Shaun Johnson believes Trindall can turn things around and has a big future in the game.
“Tricky is one of the more enjoyable halfbacks to watch play,” Johnson told foxsports.com.au.
“He is almost cheeky with some of the things he does. I think he plays a style, that’s going to inspire a lot of kids to chase the dream to play in the NRL.”
Matty Johns believes the Sharks lacked game management in their 20-18 golden point loss to the Tigers at the death.
“The Sharks lacked that composure in the last 10 minutes,” Johns said.
Cooper Cronk believes the Sharks over-complicated their field goal set-up against the Tigers.
“I feel like Fitzy and the Sharks in terms of that spine, I don’t know why you pass the ball one way and then pass it the other way and put yourself under more pressure,” Cronk said on Matty and Cronk.
“Rule number one, if you are in the best position to take a shot, back yourself and knock it over.
“Don’t worry about the result. Focus on technique and the best course for victory is to give the ball to your best kicker and kick the ball.”
Eels’ burning question: Can Dylan Brown deliver as a playmaker rather than just be a Mitchell Moses sidekick?
It was no coincidence that Dylan Brown’s best game of the season came in Mitchell Moses’ return to the team in the win over the Tigers.
Brown has had a poor season since signing a record $13 million deal with the Knights, but had 164 run metres, six tackle busts and a linebreak as Moses unlocked his running game against the Tigers.
However, both the Eels this season and the Knights for the next 10 seasons need Brown to do more than just run the ball and he still needs to lift in the playmaking department.
The Sharks will be a huge challenge in Magic Round and Brown can’t rely on Moses to do all the playmaking if the Eels are to make it back-to-back wins and climb out of the bottom two on the ladder.
Brown’s former Kiwis halves partner Johnson, however, believes Brown just has to work well in a partnership with Moses while he is still at the Eels.
“He’s always been elite,” Johnson said.
“I think having Moses back, you’re just going to see him elevate his game, having someone to share that load with.
“Moses is almost like his Batman type thing. Moses came back and it’s no coincidence that Dylan had his best game of the season.
“Just gets back to what he does best, running the footy, taking the line on, so awesome to see that.”
Sydney Roosters v The Dolphins, Suncorp Stadium, 8pm
Roosters’ burning question: Can Spencer Leniu step up and be the Roosters’ main enforcer?
Spencer Leniu has been solid for the Roosters this season, but in the absence of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Lindsay Collins through injury, the team needs more from him.
The stage was set for Leniu to take Warea-Hargreaves’ mantle as the chief enforcer in the Roosters’ pack, but he hasn’t quite lived up to the hype this year.
Leniu made 93 metres from nine runs and nine tackles in a solid outing against the Dragons in the starting role, but he needs to go looking for more work on both sides of the ball.
The Roosters haven’t won back-to-back games this season and Leniu needs a big game against the Dolphins at home if they are to keep in touch with the top eight.
Cronk sees a young Munster in Galvin | 02:31
Dolphins’ burning question: Can Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and the Dolphins find some consistency?
The Dolphins’ 40-28 loss to the Raiders was a microcosm of their inconsistent season and was mirrored by the performance of their fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
The Dolphins led 28-10 and Tabuai-Fidow had a try and a try assist in the first half, but they then lost the second half 30-0.
Tabuai-Fidow wasn’t the only Dolphins player to go missing in the second half, but he has been hot and cold this season, scoring a hat-trick one week, only to be barely sighted the next.
It is up to the Dolphins to unleash their best attacking weapon against the Roosters and Tabuai-Fidow needs to relish the challenge as he does at Origin level and take it to Tedesco and the Roosters, in order to keep the Dolphins in touch with the top eight.
SATURDAY MAY 3
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Newcastle Knights, Suncorp Stadium, 3pm
Rabbitohs’ burning question: Can Jayden Sullivan lead Souths to a drought-breaking win as the chief playmaker?
Jayden Sullivan may not have been brought to Souths by Wayne Bennett to be their chief playmaker, but that is the position he now finds himself amid an injury crisis.
With Jamie Humphreys and Latrell Mitchell not back until Round 10 and Cody Walker sidelined until Round 13, it is up to Sullivan to take control of the team.
Souths fought hard in their 24-16 loss to the Storm, but they have now lost three on the trot to slip to 11th.
Given the Knights’ horror season, Sullivan needs to step up and lead the 11th place Souths to victory in Magic Round or they could lose touch with the top eight.
Knights’ burning question: Can Kalyn Ponga get back to his best amid Knights’ horror attacking woes?
The Knights have been woeful in attack, but where Kalyn Ponga’s brilliance has papered over the cracks in the past, the star fullback has been down on form himself this season.
The Knights definitely need more from Jack Cogger, Fletcher Sharpe and Phoenix Crossland in the spine, but Ponga is their highest paid player for a reason and what is happening now is the result of a one man team having their best player not deliver.
There is no better stage than Magic Round to get Ponga back to his best, especially on the eve of the State of Origin series.
The Knights have issues across their whole team, but if Ponga can inspire them to a win over Wayne Bennett and a wounded Souths side, it could be the catalyst for turning around their horror campaign and get them out of the bottom four.
Johnson believes Ponga is struggling because he is having to make up for deficiencies in the Knights’ team, but he still believes they have the class in their roster to turn their season around.
“I watched KP up close over the weekend and I feel for him to be honest,” Johnson said.
“You can see he’s trying to get involved and inspire his team in areas that you just don’t want to see him being involved in really.
“You want to save the Ferrari to ice those crucial moments, but he’s trying his best there.
“He’s trying as hard as he can I can tell. I watched him closely, he’s taking hit-ups, he’s doing all the tough stuff, saving them a lot of times in tricky situations, but he just need some help around him.
“The Knights roster like the Panthers, they’re too good of a team to be sitting where they are, so at some point, that tide is going to turn, and I think you can see them turning it around.”
Bunnies’ Dodd set for first NRL start | 02:08
New Zealand Warriors v North Queensland Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium, 5:30pm
Warriors’ burning question: Can the Warriors show they are the real deal and win away from New Zealand?
The Warriors are flying in the top four after their 26-12 win over the Knights, but their draw has been kind to start the season.
The Warriors have had four home games and a bye in the last seven weeks since they lost their Las Vegas opener and they have only won once away from home, against the Tigers in Campbelltown.
The Warriors have been solid across the park, but Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad needs to step up and guide the team to some away victories if they are to challenge for the title.
With the emergence of Taine Tuaupiki and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck returning in Round 11, they will be keeping CNK honest and the inconsistent Cowboys are ripe for the picking if they want to consolidate their top four spot.
Johnson believes Nicoll-Klokstad sets the tone for the Warriors and can help them improve their road form.
“He was good last week, he’s just grafter, he’s a grinder,” Johnson said.
“He’s very much a representation of exactly the style of play that the Warriors are playing at the moment. He’s recently re-signed as well so a big win for the club.”
Cowboys’ burning question: Can Jake Clifford make a case to be the club’s long-term No.7?
The Cowboys put on a show in their 50-18 win over the Titans last start, but their sixth place on the ladder is deceiving, given they have had a bye and have the worst points differential of the top nine teams.
Tom Dearden was superb against the Titans with four try assists and five linebreak assists, while Scott Drinkwater’s form is on the improve.
In a contract year Jake Clifford has been solid since returning from injury, but he like the team needs to improve his defence and consistency to match it with the top teams.
Clifford is playing for his future and a big game in Magic Round against the top four Warriors to consolidate the Cowboys’ top eight spot would send a message to coach Todd Payten that he is worth re-signing.
Wests Tigers v St. George-Illawarra Dragons, Suncorp Stadium, 7:45pm
Tigers’ burning question:Can Jarome Luai discover his mojo as an NRL halfback?
The Tigers have been much improved in 2025 winning four of their eight games to sit ninth, but Jarome Luai is still adjusting to his new role as an NRL halfback.
Luai has changed the way he plays to suit Lachlan Galvin’s style, which is part of the reason for the friction between the pair, after the latter’s contract call.
In the 20-18 golden point win over the Sharks, Galvin had 68 run metres a linebreak assist and two try assists, while Luai had 45 run metres and zero linebreak or try involvements.
A win over the Dragons could catapult the Tigers back into the top eight, but they will need more from their skipper and No.7 to play finals this season.
Dragons’ burning question: Does axing Ilias heap even more pressure on Kyle Flanagan?
The call to drop Lachlan Ilias in favour of Lyhkan King-Togia in the halves will only intensify the pressure on Kyle Flanagan as the senior playmaker for the Dragons.
Not only was Flanagan re-signed while Ben Hunt was released, now he is the most experienced playmaker in the team and needs to show more with his creativity.
Flanagan has been solid this season, but his strengths are his defence and running game, but he will need to create more try assists for his teammates and take over the kicking game from Ilias.
The Dragons sit 10th heading into Magic Round and the Tigers is a game they need to win if they are a hope of playing finals this season.
Ilias set to be dropped as halfback | 00:50
SUNDAY MAY 4
Gold Coast Titans v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Suncorp Stadium, 1:50pm
Titans’ burning question: Can Reagan Campbell-Gillard return to best form?
It hasn’t been the start to his time at the Titans that the former Eel would have liked.
He’s shown glimpses, but in reality, he’s been down on form in 2025 alongside the majority of the Gold Coast pack.
The Titans have lost four straight games by an average of 22.5 points a game, and the Titans’ inability to match the rival pack has been a big reason why.
That’s not to pin the blame on Campbell-Gillard entirely, but he’s been lacking over the last month.
The Gold Coast need a win to save their season and for that to happen, the Titans engine room needs to win the battle in the middle against the Dogs.
Bulldogs’ burning question: Can Toby Sexton force the Bulldogs to re-sign him long-term?
Toby Sexton has been a big reason why the Bulldogs are on top of the ladder, but as he is still uncontracted beyond 2025 he is playing for his future.
Cameron Ciraldo has said he wants to see more from Sexton before re-signing the halfback to a long-term extension.
In the 42-18 loss to the Broncos the gulf in class between Adam Reynolds with three try assists and a try and Sexton with one try assist was apparent.
The Bulldogs are deserved ladder leaders and are tipped to get back in the winners circle against the Titans, but there are doubts Sexton is the man to lead them to a drought-breaking premiership, so the pressure is on him to deliver to secure a new deal.
However, Cronk believes the Bulldogs and Sexton were let down by their pack against the big Broncos forwards.
“The key thing for the Bulldogs is when a big pack of forwards like the Broncos or the Storm come along, can they stop that big pack and win a big game?” Cronk said.
“That will ultimately be the storyline of the Bulldogs the whole year.”
Penrith Panthers v Brisbane Broncos, Suncorp Stadium, 4:05pm
Panthers’ burning question: Does Nathan Cleary need to change the way he plays?
The Panthers are in uncharted territory with their 26-10 loss to Manly resigning them to outright last on the ladder and Nathan Cleary needs to change the way he plays.
For the last five seasons Cleary has been an excellent cog in a perfectly oiled machine, but too many pieces of that machine are now gone.
Cleary can no longer rely on everyone being in the exact spot he wants them and needs to back himself more and take the game by the scruff of the neck with his running and passing games.
Cleary had zero try or linebreak involvements and two errors against Manly and if he wants to snap the Panthers’ form slump and keep their finals hopes alive he needs to put the team on his back and do more.
Cronk believes Cleary needs to straighten his approach and not expect others to do the work as they have in the past.
“They are trying to do the same things and replicate the same style with some players not being able to do it as well as,” Cronk said.
“It is forcing some of their better players to try and do a lot more. They look frustrated at the moment.
“With Cleary when your hips are East-West as opposed to North-South, you become less effective as a ball player.
“You can run across the field four or five times, but you need to then get your hips back square to the defensive line and then be able to move.”
Broncos’ burning question: Can Ben Hunt snap out of his form slump as Ezra Mam return nears?
The Broncos have been in the top four most of the season, but their attack has been hot and cold and Ben Hunt has been overshadowed by his halves partner Adam Reynolds.
Hunt has been error prone in recent weeks and there were reports of a falling out with some of his teammates and coach Michael Maguire over his role in the team.
The fact Ezra Mam is due back from suspension in the coming weeks and the form of Billy Walters and Cory Paix will only add to the pressure on Hunt to perform.
If Hunt and the Broncos continue to be inconsistent against the Panthers, Maguire may have little choice but to put Mam back in the team and leave the veteran playmaker fighting for a spot in the hooker rotation.
Johns noted how Hunt seems to have compounded his errors through frustration in recent weeks.
“The week before in Round 7, Ben Hunt would have come off the field and gone, I didn’t know I could play that bad,” Johns said.
“He really frustrated himself.”
“Madge would have hit him and the rest of the team between the eyes,” Cronk added.
Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders, Suncorp Stadium, 6:25pm
Storm burning question: Can Bronson Garlick fill Harry Grant’s shoes against the in form Raiders?
Young hooker Bronson Garlick has done a solid job filling in for skipper Harry Grant in recent weeks as he recovers from a hamstring injury, but the Raiders will be a huge test.
Garlick made 30 tackles without a miss in the 24-16 win over Souths and his service was slick, but he had zero runs from dummyhalf.
Granted, he is there to do a job in defence, but he might need to test the line more against the in form Raiders if the Storm are to get the win in Magic Round.
The Raiders have been on fire in attack, so the Storm will need to be on their game and Garlick and Tyran Wishart will need to fill Grant’s void collectively to cement their top two spot.
Johns believes the Storm have missed Grant’s influence out of dummyhalf.
“The last two weeks has been obvious to me what a hole Harry Grant leaves, not just in leadership but in what he does in and around those rucks,” Johns said.
“If you look at the way Harry plays, when the foot is in the door, Harry will scoot and start to go. And as a playmaker you haven’t got a choice, you have to go with him.”
Raiders’ burning question: Can Tom Starling force the Raiders to re-sign him?
The Raiders have been the surprise packets of the season to be entrenched in the top four and Tom Starling has been one of their best at hooker.
However, in a curious situation, Starling remains unsigned beyond 2025 and the club have invested in young gun Owen Pattie and brought Jayden Brailey from the Knights next season, so Starling is effectively playing for his future in 2025.
With each passing win Starling is making an irresistible case for a new deal and a good performance in a win over the Storm in Magic Round to jump them into second would put the pressure on Ricky Stuart to lock him up asap.
Johns believes the comeback win over the Dolphins from 28-10, which saw them score 30 unanswered second half points could be the boost the Raiders need as a young side.
“That sort of win you go away and it gives you a sense of destiny, like this could be our season,” Johns said.
“They can play through an opposition just about as good as anyone. They are not just a big pack, they are a fast pack and they have all got footwork.”
Cronk believes the second half against the Dolphins summed up what the Raiders do so well.
“Ricky Stuart should watch the second half against the Dolphins and that is their identity,” Cronk said.
“They are a big pack of forwards and when they create momentum, do not shift the football. Short pass, run and just bang down that front door.”
Bye – Manly Sea Eagles
