Andrew Voss takes a look at Jarrod Croker's points scoring prowess, scrum wins against the feed, the Sharks' lethal back three and Retro Round on Fox Sports.
How many points will Jarrod Croker score in his career?
With an injury-free run, this Goulburn junior is on track to become the NRL's greatest ever points scorer.
This week we should all stand up and cheer his first goal against Souths as Jarrod will pass 200 points for the season, having scored 50 points more than the next highest in the competition (Croker 198, James Maloney 148).
After last week's hat-trick and 18-point haul against the Warriors he took his career numbers to 94 tries in a tally of 1,326 points from 182 matches.
This means he has a points per game average of 7.3. He is still only 25 years old.
The greatest points scorer of all time, Hazem El Masri, accumulated 2,418 points in 317 career games at an average of 7.6 per match. Hazem notched an incredible 159 tries along the way. If Croker was to play 300 games in his career, he too will top the 150-try milestone on his current strike rate.
What a great success story!
Scrum wins against the feed... you're joking, right?
I can't let the events of Sunday at Cronulla pass without comment, because we can't have a scrum won against the feed in the manner the Sharks did pop up on a bigger occasion down the track.
If you missed it: Wade Graham while packing stretched his leg across and heeled the ball back from a Knights feed. Play was allowed to continue, and Cronulla scored in the corner. Can you just imagine if this was the last five minutes of the grand final?
Let's go through this comedy of errors and infringements that, it has to be said, we have created with our total neglect and apathy towards the scrum.
First up, Newcastle's hooker Danny Levi fed the scrum. He did what all halves do these days and put it in at right angles straight to the second row.
Sharks second-rower Graham packed in at prop, as also happens these days, and produced the shock tactic of heeling the ball back which was picked up by fullback Ben Barba who was at lock in the scrum.
Here is the list of offences from the Sharks that we just turned a blind eye to. Props cannot strike for the ball until the hooker does. Heeling the ball from the second row is feet across the scrum. The Sharks back row in the scrum breaks apart before the ball is even out.
Take your pick on the penalty offence or at the very least repack it.
How lethal are the Sharks back three?
In terms of tries, the answer is extremely!
I am in a comparison mood this week, so let me break down what Ben Barba, Valentine Holmes and the underrated Sosaia Feki have achieved so far this year.
The trio have combined for 41 tries in 2016. That's equal with the entire Dragons side and three more than the entire Knights side.
And here are the lofty benchmarks they are set to pass.
The dazzling Canberra back three of 1994 that read Brett Mullins, Ken Nagas and Noa Nadruku posted 45 tries.
The all-star Broncos three of 2000, Darren Lockyer, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri managed 47 tries.
From the Storm back three in 2007 of Billy Slater, Israel Folau and Steve Turner there were 48 tries.
Barba, Holmes and Feki are poised to smash those figures with weeks to spare.
Who wins in Townsville this weekend?
What a match. Put me down next to the Melbourne Storm, and I probably would be tipping them even if Johnathan Thurston was playing.
This Storm defensive record in 2016 hasn't happened by accident. Not that the Cowboys defence is all that bad either, but Craig Bellamy's men are closing in on a season record in the NRL era.
Their game average through 20 rounds is now down to a phenomenal 11.56 points conceded. The two teams fought out a thriller in Round 10 at Suncorp Stadium with the Storm getting home 15-14.
It is likely to be just as close this Saturday night, but I fancy the same team will win.
Why will finishing fourth be better than finishing third?
This is the way things are panning out for a likely first week of the finals draw, and it is not meant as disrespectful to Cronulla.
But if things stay as they are with the Sharks first, Storm second and Cowboys third, it will mean 1st v 4th will be at a neutral venue in Sydney, while 2nd v 3rd will be in Melbourne, where the home side has lost only once this year.
If the Cowboys were to somehow snatch second spot, then a home final in Townsville would hardly be attractive to the third-placed team, with North Queensland nine from nine at home so far this season.
Take your pick if you are the away team. Where would you rather play: Sydney, Melbourne, or Townsville?
Would you like to go retro?
If the answer is yes, make sure you tune into Fox Sports rugby league coverage as we'll be strolling through memory lane on all five days of football in Round 21.
And Retro Round can mean whatever you want it to depending on when you first started following this great game.
We'll relive plenty of classic moments, characters and characteristics of the sport that has changed so much decade by decade.
From Blocker Roach patting Eddie Ward on the head, to a Charlie Frith big hit, to the magic sponge and players using sand rather than kicking tees for shots at goal. Let's celebrate rugby league!
Giddy Up!
Twitter: @AndrewVossy
