Tackle 1: The NRL Must Expand

The NRL needs to be more aggressive about expansion, readying the competition for the addition of two teams in 2013 rather than pouring cold water on talk of growing the competition. David Gallop told ABC radio that "[Expansion is] not impossible for 2013 at this stage, but certainly as the commission continues to take some time, it's difficult to see [it coming to fruition]." As the AFL continues to grow into rugby league heartland while reaping the financial rewards of a ninth game every weekend in the latest television deal, the NRL continues to dither. Bidders should be getting ready while the League lays the criteria out so bid-teams can lay the groundwork. The NRL needs the extra game, they need the extra time zone that a team in Perth would bring (Perth must be the first choice for expansion) and they need the growth of the game outside of the traditional heartland. Regardless of whether the commission is established next week or next year, the current administration must move towards expansion immediately.

Tackle 2: A Blunder for the Ages

The decision by referee Ben Cummins to not only disallow a critical try from Dave Taylor in the final quarter of South Sydney's match against Melbourne, but to refuse to send it to the video referee, was a monumental blunder. The decision by referees' boss Bill Harrigan to confirm that the decision was correct was a blunder for the ages and one that undoes whatever trust has been built up between the referees and the public this year. Harrigan should be honest and admit when a wrong decision has clearly been made. It does nobody any favours to protect a referee over such a bad call.

Tackle 3: Hoppa the Only Choice

Ricky Stuart had little choice but to select William Hopoate at left centre after Michael Jennings went down injured with an ankle in Saturday night's clash between Penrith and the Gold Coast. Defensively, Hopoate is a concern as he has played only two of his 14 NRL games in the centres but he has some attacking flair and genuine speed, both of which caused Queensland trouble in Origin I, when Jennings constantly threatened down the left corridor. The other possibilities - Josh Morris and Beau Scott - would have been bad fits with Morris struggling for form and Scott more a defensive stopper. Hopoate is a high-risk play but it is one Ricky Stuart was compelled to take.

Tackle 4: The Raiders Go From Bad to Worse

The Raiders' season from hell went from bad to worse on Sunday with any momentum gathered from wins over Melbourne and Canterbury well and truly halted by their blown lead against North Queensland. On a balmy winter day in Canberra, the Raiders led 22-0 over the Cowboys with their season finally seeming to be back on track. Then what could go wrong, did go wrong. Fullback Josh Dugan hobbled off with an injured ankle. Terry Campese, in his return game, went down 10 minutes later. By half-time, the Raiders' lead had been cut to four and by full-time, they had been rolled by 18. The Raiders do not have the mental toughness to recover from such a horrid loss. Any sniff of a 2010-like run were snuffed out at Canberra Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Tackle 5: Troubled Times at Canterbury

Reports over the weekend suggest Canterbury coach Kevin Moore and captain Andrew Ryan were being pushed out with Moore set to be axed by season's end and Ryan set to be moved on after nine years at the club. Coming off a 38-4 hammering at the hands of Manly and without a win against a top team, the Bulldogs are allegedly poised to purge the current leadership. Moore has certainly underachieved at Canterbury, particularly after the bar was set high in 2009, but Canterbury have never fired a coach midseason and the last time there was a midyear swap at the club was 1951. Whispers are that Ricky Stuart, who has links to the club at both a playing and coaching level, will be Moore's replacement. That would be disastrous for the club with Stuart's coaching record not overly impressive and past performances as a defence-oriented coach not the right fit for the Bulldogs.

Tackle 6: League Live into Melbourne

In what was a rare treat for Melburnians, rugby league was shown live into Melbourne on Sunday afternoon, only the third time in three years a club game has been broadcast live on free-to-air television in the southern capital. The Storm have been remarkably successful but have achieved little growth due to Nine's refusal to show rugby league at a reasonable hour. The independent commission, when established, should remember Nine's attitude to rugby league and its growth when the new television deal is negotiated.