3 days ago
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There may not be any AFL finals scheduled for the MCG this weekend, but specky-starved locals don’t need to go far to get their fix of aerial acrobatics.
Just a short walk away at AAMI Park, Melbourne Storm winger Xavier Coates is a leaper who wouldn’t look out of place alongside the likes of Gary Ablett snr, Nick Riewoldt, Bobby Hill or Jeremy Howe.
The NRL finals series, which gets under way when Melbourne host Canterbury, could be decided by an X-factor player capable of producing a piece of individual brilliance. There’s every chance it will come from Storm star Coates.
The game’s form flanker is unparalleled in the air. While Dom Young, Zac Lomax, Daniel Tupou and Mark Nawaqanitawase have all had spectacular moments, no one comes down with the Steeden from an attacking kick more often than Coates.
His ability to outleap his opponents, using his 194-centimetre, 108-kilogram frame to great effect, has given the Storm an almost unfair advantage. Such has been his dominance, there have been calls for the NRL to change the rules to allow players contesting kicks to be tackled in midair, so long as all players return to the field safely.
Xavier Coates dominates in the air.Credit: NRL Images
It takes a great player to literally change the game. Another Storm star was responsible the last time it happened; the seven-tackle set for kicking the ball dead was brought in to prevent teams trying to nullify kick returns by Billy Slater.
For now, the NRL acknowledges the sight of Coates flying high above the pack is one of the great attractions of the post-season. Which is why head office just sent out a missive to coaches, reminding them that defenders who take wingers out illegally risk spending time in the sin bin.
Another reason why Friday’s clash is so intriguing is that the Bulldogs have perhaps the best bomb exponent of them all, Matt Burton, to test famed defusers Coates and back-row teammate Eliesa Katoa.
“It’s what wins finals games,” said Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo, in reference to the high ball.
“How you finish sets and where you give the opposition field position, it’s important in any game but particularly important against Melbourne.
“They do it really well and if we can win in that area, that gives us a good chance to win the game.”
In yet another intriguing finals twist, Melbourne will be without its best kicker. Halfback Jahrome Hughes, responsible for many of the kicks that have led to Coates tries, is sidelined with a fractured wrist. The duty of finding an airborne Coates now falls to Cameron Munster, Jonah Pezet and Tyran Wishart.
“It is part of their roles whether they are playing in the NRL or up in the NSW or Queensland Cup,” coach Craig Bellamy said.
“It doesn’t really change. A kick is a kick. They’ve had plenty of practice throughout the year wherever they’ve been playing – hopefully they can put them on the spot on Friday night.”
Bellamy was making his pre-game comments just as his players pulled out a high-ball machine, prompting a bout of marks, drops and laughs from his charges.
“It’s like a new toy, we haven’t brought it out too much this year,” Bellamy said, shaking his head.
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“There is always something a bit different that gets them excited – sometimes you’ve got to wonder what does make them excited? Hopefully, that has been a good thing for today.”
From Melbourne’s perspective, much of the excitement is building around Coates. When the captains of all eight remaining teams gathered in Sydney to launch the finals series, each was asked for their player to watch. Storm skipper Harry Grant didn’t hesitate.
“Xavier Coates has been the one who has stood out for me,” Grant said. “He’s winning our player of the year by a mile.”
On Friday, it could all come down to Coates’ catching, not just from attacking kicks but those wicked, floating, spiralling bombs of Burton.
The Storm have sat among the premiership favourites all season but lost their last two games of the season, admittedly while resting some of their stars, and are not only missing Hughes but also fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (concussion) and prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona (suspension).
They will have skipper Grant back from suspension and hope centre Jack Howarth could be fit to return from injury.
The Bulldogs have some line-up changes of their own but Bellamy was locked into his own side this week and making sure the newcomers know their roles.
“Our form coming in hasn’t been great, so it is no use worrying about the opposition,” Bellamy said.
“So that’s what we are going to concentrate on.”
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