This week's Real or Not looks into the NRL decision not to honour Michael Jennings on the occasion of his 300th first grade game, considers the latest from Redfern and has real concerns for the Knights.
Read on as we tackle some of the big talking points in this week's NRL Real or Not.
Latrell Mitchell's suspension might be just what the Rabbitohs need
REAL: The internal strife continues to bubble away below the surface at Redfern, but this week there has been an air of change about the Rabbitohs.
Latrell Mitchell is missing through suspension after he was responsible for a couple of incidents against the Warriors which could best be described as the actions of a man looking for a holiday. If so, his wish was granted with the Match Review Committee giving him three weeks away from the Rabbitohs' troubles.
Coach Jason Demetriou must have reached a new low point this week, with conversations now turning to who will replace him both immediately and on a longer term basis. He did the best thing for himself and the club by making a few key changes. He dropped New South Wales hooker Damien Cook, as well as a couple of young forwards who hadn't measured up. He has brought a couple of young backs in for Mitchell and winger Alex Johnson. He had to do something and hopefully the new players will be keen to make the most of their opportunities, as the privilege of having a first grade career has seemingly been lost on some of the more senior players.
If young fullback Jye Gray makes his mark over the next three weeks and Demetriou is still coach, Mitchell might find it difficult to win back his No.1 jersey. He might be even forced back into the centres. If the Rabbitohs win their next three games, who is to say Mitchell will find his way back into the side at all.
Something is currently rotten at the Rabbitohs and while the coach looks most likely to take the fall, it is fairly obvious that several highly paid players are not earning their money.
Either Jennings is worthy of being an NRL player or he is not
REAL: It is not for the NRL nor the media to determine the guilt or otherwise of players in off field matters where the law is involved. A person's guilt in legal matters is determined by the courts. It is the NRL's responsibility to maintain its image as an organisation and to take action if it feels that an employee has jeopardised or sullied that image in the public eye.
Michael Jennings was found to be using performance-enhancing drugs while playing for Parramatta in 2020. He was banned for three years because of the drug use, which he still claims was unintentional.
Whilst out of the game, Jennings was ordered to pay damages for domestic violence against his former wife, after their civil dispute was heard in the NSW District Court. No criminal charges have been brought against Jennings in these matters.
Jennings returned to rugby league following his ban and last week ran out for the Roosters, for the first time, after being activated as the 18th man due to a series of concussions during the game against the Bulldogs. With the Roosters left short-handed through injuries, Jennings was this week selected in the starting side to take on the Knights, in what was his 300th first grade game. It is a milestone reached by only 50 other players in the history of the league, and an achievement usually recognised by the NRL.
At the beginning of the week NRL CEO Andrew Abdo confirmed that Jennings would not be presented with the usual commemorative ball to mark his 300th game.
"Due to past conduct, Michael Jennings will not receive official NRL recognition on his 300th match," Abdo said in a statement.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson came under heavy criticism for his comments on the matter.
"It's a tough one, right? Because there's no doubt we've moved a long way in that sense," Robinson said when asked about selecting Jennings.
"We don't know what happened ... there's been no criminal charges. The differentiation between what happens in civil and financial payment and what happens in criminal is really different.
"What judgement can we make when it's not been criminal and gone down the traditional line there? And so therefore, it's not disrespectful to women, because there has been no judgement when it's come to criminal case in that way."
On Thursday night Jennings led the Roosters onto the field in Newcastle carrying his two children. The reaction from the crowd was less than enthusiastic, with a smattering of boos sprinkled in amongst polite applause. He went on to play as well as any 36-year-old centre in the NRL, as the Roosters enjoyed a rousing victory. His teammates gathered around him at fulltime to celebrate the win and his milestone, leaving many to wonder exactly what the NRL had achieved.
It is not up to the NRL or media to determine whether or not Jennings is guilty of the offences for which he was ordered to pay damages. If the NRL decided that the NSW District Court ruling was enough to tarnish Jennings and make it inappropriate to celebrate his 300th game, then why did they deem it acceptable for him to return to the league and reach that milestone? Do they really think that handing out a Steeden in a glass case is where they need to draw their line in the sand on this issue?
The Knights are still on track to play in the finals
NOT REAL: Newcastle Knights played finals football last season on the back of a Dally M medal winning series of performances from star fullback Kalyn Ponga. Against the injury-weakened Roosters at home they were expected to stand up and add another two points on the back of their dominant display against the Dragons last week.
It was all going to plan early for the home side with Kalyn Ponga carving up out wide, particularly down the side of the field defended by Michael Jennings and Connor Watson. Then Ponga made a despairing effort to prevent Daniel Tupou from scoring in the corner. The collision resulted in Ponga suffering an extremely painful hip injury which left him unable to contribute in attack or defence, but he remained determined to stay out there.
What was even more disturbing for the Knights was the way the other team members dropped their bundle completely at the sight of their distressed captain. It was as if they were surrendering to the inevitability of losing the match without him. The defensive intensity dropped off completely and the Roosters sliced through for another two first half tries.
Through the miracle of modern sports medicine, Ponga was able to take his place for the second half, and things once again picked up for Newcastle. They scored a try to take them within two points of the Roosters with only a couple of minutes remaining, giving the crowd a thrilling finish. However time ran out with them attacking the Roosters line and the home crowd roaring for one of several ruck infringements that could have been penalised.
It is yet to be seen how long Ponga will be out with this injury, but the Knights look worse than lost without him.