The Mole: ‘Serious Concerns’ Arise for Maroons as Struggling Munster Creates Unexpected Selection Dilemma

Cameron Munster’s dismal start to the season presents a significant concern not only for the Storm but also for the Maroons as they prepare for Origin.

Once again, Munster went largely unnoticed as the Rabbitohs revelled in a historic 48-6 triumph over Craig Bellamy’s side in Melbourne—a scoreline that would have been unimaginable just a year or two ago.

The Storm now find themselves on a six-game losing streak and have seemingly lost their intimidating presence, as the Bunnies finally secured their first victory at AAMI Park after 28 years of attempts.

Defensively, Munster had a difficult outing, missing five tackles, including a couple against the formidable Tallis Duncan, which resulted in tries.

In terms of attack, he barely posed a threat to Souths. Across seven matches this season, he has managed only four try assists and hasn’t crossed the line himself—the indicators of a player lacking confidence.

Billy Slater is likely to select him, but if Munster cannot regain his best form soon, Queensland may find themselves in dire straits.

THE JOURNEYMAN SHOWCASES CLEARY’S GENIUS

The “next man up” philosophy established by Ivan Cleary in the Panthers’ dynasty is epitomised by backup hooker Freddy Lussick.

With Mitch Kenny sidelined for two months due to injury, there were concerns about losing their momentum from dummy half.

Enter Lussick, a 25-year-old journeyman currently at his fourth NRL club.

Though Lussick is not renowned for lightning speed (he managed just four runs for seven metres in Sunday’s 44-12 defeat of the Knights), he is a competent hooker with good hands who can guide his team forward.

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A solid defender, Lussick also managed to score a try during the impressive win against Newcastle, showing that the Panthers have suffered little setback with him commanding the ball from dummy half.

Having played five matches for the Panthers this season, Lussick boasts an unbeaten record with five wins.

DOLPHINS STAR SHOWS SIGNS OF STRUGGLE

Isaiya Katoa, regarded as one of the league’s most promising young playmakers, has been off form in the last month, leading the Dolphins to a series of defeats.

The Dolphins have recorded four consecutive losses, during which time Katoa has managed just one try assist.

The 22-year-old started the season with a bang as Redcliffe clinched two victories in their first three games, contributing five tries.

However, since then, he has struggled, and Katoa was particularly quiet during the scrappy 20-18 defeat by the Warriors on Saturday night.

If the Dolphins are to get back into finals contention, Katoa must rediscover his form—and swiftly.

The Warriors, although underwhelming, benefitted greatly from two tries by pacing sensation Alofiana Khan-Pereira, who has now scored 57 tries in 57 NRL games following his second double in as many weeks.

HARSH REALITY FOR DRAGONS

Trent Robinson delivered a straightforward message to his Roosters players last week—improve first-half performance.

Having been woeful in the first half against both the Sharks and Knights in the preceding two weeks, the Roosters responded decisively, exploding against the sluggish Dragons on Anzac Day to claim a 34-4 lead at halftime.

This was the highest first-half score recorded by any team this season, setting the stage for a resounding 62-16 triumph.

Sam Walker and James Tedesco were outstanding for the Roosters, compounding an already dismal week for the Dragons.

Young halfback Kade Reed made a lively debut but missed six tackles, with several leading to tries for the opposition.

Many critics argued that putting Reed into such a high-stakes match was a poor decision by interim coach Dean Young, and their concerns were validated.

WHERE THE BULLDOGS ARE STRUGGLING

The Bulldogs must promptly conduct an internal investigation to understand their current predicament.

After sitting atop the table this time last year and being considered one of the pre-season title favourites, they have managed only four wins from their last 13 outings.

Despite being heavy favourites against a depleted Broncos side on Friday night, they never appeared to be in the contest.

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The issue is glaringly obvious – it lies within the spine.

While the Bulldogs have a talented roster featuring quality players in the outside backs and forwards, their vital spine is struggling to ignite the attack.

Lachlan Galvin is still mastering the nuances of halfback play, and his decision-making in Brisbane was lacking.

Matt Burton put forth a strong effort at five-eighth but also could not spark the team’s performance.

Connor Tracey has demonstrated flashes of brilliance at fullback this season but lacks the consistency to be ranked amongst the league’s top ten fullbacks.

Bailey Hayward’s makeshift role as hooker does not offer the speed or skill needed for effective dummy-half play.

Recognising the issues leading up to the game, Cameron Ciraldo benched Hayward in favour of Jake Turpin at No.9; however, Turpin also struggled.

Until the spine can sort itself out—and it remains uncertain if they can—the Bulldogs will face ongoing challenges in scoring points.

The depleted Broncos delivered a brilliant performance, with Ezra Mam leading the charge and showcasing arguably his best game in the NRL.

IS THE NEW DRAGONS ADDITION A STEAL?

Before Friday night’s thrilling 80-point shootout in Townsville, it appeared the Dragons may have overpaid for dynamic Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater.

However, after the veteran scored a try, assisted in three others, and tormented Cronulla during his team’s 46-34 victory, they might have found themselves a bargain.

Drinkwater’s performance rivalled that of the league’s top fullbacks like Reece Walsh, James Tedesco, or Dylan Edwards.

With the spotlight on him after his departure from the Cowboys, Drinkwater showcased his exceptional abilities, becoming the deciding factor in a high-scoring match where both teams were prolific in their attacking play.

What the Dragons need is a playmaker with agility and skill, and Drinkwater may just be the best $900,000 they’ve ever invested.

This game underscored the evolving nature of rugby league—seeing a team score 34 points yet still face defeat was once inconceivable.

ALARMING SIGNS FOR THE RAIDERS

On the surface, the Canberra Raiders’ 33-14 loss to the formidable Tigers at Leichhardt might not seem too dire, particularly with the absence of their two standout players, Hudson Young and Simi Sasagi.

However, a closer look reveals concerning issues for the struggling Raiders.

When it was 13 aside for 70 minutes—excluding Api Koroisau’s stint in the sin bin—the Tigers dominated with a scoreline of 33-2, appearing in complete control.

Ricky Stuart’s side has suffered five defeats this season, matching their total losses for the entirety of the 2025 regular season.

While the Raiders may have overachieved last year, they are currently finding it challenging to gel as a team.

The Tigers, fresh off a heartbreaking loss to the young Broncos a week prior, made an emphatic statement, led by Adam Doueihi’s brilliant play as they looked every bit a top-four contender, much to the delight of the large crowd at Leichhardt.