Round four of the 2022 NRL season took place at the weekend, with eight action-packed games and more misery for Oliver Gildart, whose Wests Tigers side slipped to a fourth straight loss. Elliott Whitehead skipped Canberra Raiders to a defeat at Manly Sea Eagles, while a number of other England stars and hopefuls endured mixed fortunes.
Here’s a look at how they got on.
Herbie Farnworth, Brisbane Broncos
The Burnley-born player racked up 80 minutes for the fourth week running in Brisbane’s 20-6 defeat at New Zealand Warriors. Farnworth has now played every minute of every game so far this term to underline his class in a World Cup year.
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Could the Lancastrian yet make it into Shaun Wane’s England squad for this year’s rearranged tournament?
He is certainly a valued player at the Broncos, where his latest display saw him fail to add to the four tries he has scored so far this term. Instead, he made two tackle breaks, 44 post-contact metres, collected 16 passes from team-mates, and made 14 tackles.
Farnworth also amassed 95 metres, providing further food for thought for England boss Wane on this side of the world.
Elliott Whitehead, Canberra Raiders
The former Bradford Bulls star and current Canberra captain has been a mainstay of the Raiders for the past six seasons now. Rarely injured, ever reliable and with an impressive work-rate and ability to sniff out a try, Whitehead is now in his seventh year in the Australian capital.
The England back-rower made his fourth appearance of the 2022 season in Saturday’s 25-6 defeat at Manly Sea Eagles. Whitehead, 32, played just 31 minutes and made just 12 post-contact metres - his lowest of the season so far.
His performance against Manly saw him line up at loose forward – or lock, as the Aussie say – and included just one offload and 17 tackles - again both season-lows so far. Yet Whitehead remains a world-class performer and, having been a regular under Steve McNamara and Wayne Bennett, it would be a major surprise if the uncompromising Yorkshireman was not in the starting line-up again when England face Samoa in their World Cup opener on October 15.
Ryan Sutton, Canberra Raiders
Sutton is playing for Canberra's NSW Cup side as he awaits his first NRL appearance of the year, with the prop enjoying a 62-minute run-out at loose forward in the 26-18 win over Blacktown Sea Eagles on Sunday. Sutton made his mark in the game, and pressed his claims for a first-team opportunity, by making 31 tackles during the game.
Harry Rushton, Canberra Raiders
The young forward, another ex-Wigan man, did not feature for the Raiders in their NSW Cup side’s win over Blacktown Sea Eagles on Sunday. The Blackpool-born forward has yet to make his NRL debut for the Raiders, but has impressed when playing in the New South Wales Cup.
Luke Thompson, Canterbury Bulldogs .
The former St Helens prop played 54 minutes of Cantebury Bulldogs' 44-0 hammering at Melbourne Storm. He started in the front row and his performance included 38 post-contact metres, three offloads and 23 passes received.
Thompson also made 25 tackles and 100 metres.
Dominic Young, Newcastle Knights
The former Huddersfield prospect is enjoying a fine rise to prominence and had scored in each of his previous three appearances for the Knights this season. He had also played the full 80 minutes in wins against Sydney Roosters and Wests Tigers and a defeat to Penrith Panthers.
On Friday, Young played 70 minutes in Newcastle's 18-0 defeat to Cronulla Sharks, making one line-break, four tackle break and a season-high 46 post-contact metres. He also made eight tackles but missed four.
Bailey Hodgson, Newcastle Knights
The young fullback didn’t play at all this weekend as he continues to recover from a fractured elbow.
Tom Burgess, South Sydney Rabbitohs
The former Bradford man came off the bench as the Rabbitohs were beaten 26-12 at Penrith Panthers. In the 52 minutes he played, Burgess ran for 145 metres in total and also made an impressive 42 tackles with just one missed tackle.
George Burgess, St George Illawarra Dragons
Wasn’t included in the Dragons’ NRL squad as the club look to ease him back into playing following career-saving hip surgery. He instead played for their NSW Cup side, who were on the receiving end of a 44-12 defeat against the Parramatta Eels at Commbank Stadium.
Oliver Gildart, Wests Tigers
Gildart started at centre in last Thursday's 8-6 defeat at Gold Coast Titans - their fourth straight loss this season. The former Wigan star played the full 80 minutes for the fourth game running but could not prevent another defeat.
Against the Titans, Gildart made 16 tackles and 92 metres.
