The Rabbitohs will need to fill some gaps in their pack after injuries to Jai Arrow and Cameron Murray — and two players put their hand up in New South Wales Cup.
Kyle Flanagan is set to earn an NRL recall — at hooker — and has shown he is more than capable of the workload that comes with wearing No.9.
Jaxson Paulo and Lachlan Miller played their first NSW Cup games of the season, while the entire Dolphins backline carved up and a Broncos young gun showed why he’s considered a star of the future.
Read on for the latest Reserve Grade Wrap.
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Cleary ruled out for remainder of Origin | 00:44
ALL EYES WERE ON
The efforts of Liam Knight and Tallis Duncan might help ease the head ache of Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou in the wake of a double injury blow.
Jai Arrow (ankle) and Cameron Murray (groin) are facing sideline stints, which will force Demetriou to dip into his reserves.
Knight, who was dropped to NSW Cup after spending the previous four games in NRL, produced a statement performance with 194 running metres and 33 tackles with just one miss in 55 minutes.
Duncan was just as impressive with 195 running metres and 23 tackles — but did miss five tackles. The 21-year-old, who is considered to be a similar player to Murray, made his NRL debut off the bench in Round 13 and looked to be a better player from the experience.
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has indicated that Kyle Flanagan will come in at hooker for Reed Mahoney after the skipper suffered a concussion on Sunday.
Flanagan has been playing 80 minutes at hooker since being dropped to NSW Cup five weeks ago and hasn’t looked out of place at all.
The 24-year-old produced another solid performance over the weekend, setting up a try, getting a linebreak assist and running for 96 metres in the Bulldogs’ 20-6 win over the Roosters. He also made 38 tackles with just one miss.
It came after he told Fox League he’ll play anywhere to get back into first grade. He also acknowledged that “things can change quickly” and hoped that “good things are around the corner” for him. Ironically, an opportunity has now opened up.
“At first it was a bit unexpected (playing hooker) but I just went after it. I’ve been really enjoying my time there so far and learning every week,” Flanagan said.
“I’m not going to lie, I want to be playing first grade so any opportunity I can help myself to get back into first grade I’ll do it.
“Rugby league definitely is a rollercoaster and I’ve seen all side of that. My sole focus is getting back into first grade and things can change quite quickly so I’m just focused on playing good football and hopefully good things are around the corner for me.”
The Knights had the bye in first grade but Lachlan Miller got some valuable minutes under his belt. Miller was dropped to the bench in Round 13 but didn’t get on the field, so over the weekend he played 80 minutes at five-eighth in NSW Cup. The 28-year-old finished with 101 metres, four tackle busts and a field goal. He also made 19 tackles but did miss 6.
Still on the Bulldogs, new recruit Ethan Quai-Ward had an impressive first game after making the switch from the Broncos. Quai-Ward got a linebreak assist, seven tackle busts and 138 running metres.
Meanwhile, Jaxson Paulo finished his first NSW Cup game of the season with a linebreak assist and 145 metres. Paulo was dropped last week but could be recalled into back into the backline if Corey Allan shifts to centre after Joseph Suaali’i’s suspension — and if Daniel Tupou isn’t back from injury.
The Eels could be searching for a new five-eighth if Dylan Brown is stood down after being charged with five counts of sexual touching.
Daejarn Asi is a replacement option — he ran for 63 metres and made 18 tackles with one miss — but the experience of Jordan Rankin could edge him ahead. Rankin set up two tries, got two linebreak assists, ran for 84 metres and made 15 tackles with one miss on the weekend.
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Should Suaalii be sidelined for this? | 00:44
STANDOUTS
South Sydney have got a good one in young five-eighth Dion Teaupa. He put his name on the map during the pre-season trials and had one of his best games in NSW Cup over the weekend, finishing with two try assists, two liebreak assists, 84 running metres and 20 tackles — one miss.
Alfred Smalley bagged a hat-trick for the Bears, while their other winger Tui Katoa stunned with two linebreaks, seven tackle busts, 219 running metres and one of the most acrobatic put-downs you’ll ever see.
But it wasn’t enough to beat a spirited — and much-improved — Blacktown side. Fullback Jake Toby was his usual busy self with a try assist, three linebreak assists and 169 metres but Morgan Harper stole the show with two tries, two try assists, two linebreaks, a linebreak assist, 10 tackle busts and 159 metres.
Adam Clune had the ball on a string in the Knights’ win over the Eels, scoring a try and setting up three more, getting two linebreak assists, while also running for 103 metres and making 18 tackles with one miss.
Mid-season recruit Latia Moceidreke was also great for the Knights, scoring a try, setting up another, getting a linebreak, three tackle busts and 226 running metres.
Xavier Savage scored two tries and ran for 125 metres while playing on the wing for Canberra, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Magpies.
Daine Laurie was key to that win, bagging a double, getting two linebreaks, seven tackle busts and 151 metres, while young forward Aitasi James was enormous with 207 running metres and four tackle busts.
Rugby convert Jeral Skelton exploded in the second half against the Roosters, scoring a double, getting two linebreaks, five tackle busts and 255 running metres.
Young fullback Joash Papali’i also impressed with a try assist, two linebreaks, a linebreak assist, three tackle busts and 128 running metres.
And for what it’s worth, Naufahu Whyte led the way for the losing side with 231 running metres and 40 tackles — just one miss.
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Cowboys smash Storm to revive season! | 01:00
Souths Logan won the top of the table clash with Burleigh to become Queensland Cup’s new competition leaders and up-and-coming Broncos hooker Blake Mozer was key to the win with two tries in the first 10 minutes. He also set up try, got two linebreaks, a linebreak assist, four tackle busts and 26 tackles with two misses.
Burleigh five-eighth Tom Steadman was impressive in a losing side with three try assists and 106 metres. His halves partner Guy Hamilton also step up two tries and ran for 124 metres.
Wynnum-Manly’s Gideon Gela-Mosby was a powerhouse on the wing with a try and 256 metres, but it was Broncos development player Josh Rogers, who orchestrated the win at five-eighth. Rogers scored a try, set up two more, got two linebreaks, two linebreak assists, six tackle busts and ran for 144 metres. He also nailed all six conversion.
Every member of the Dolphins’ backline made over 100 metres, while all of them expect one also scored.
Fullback Trai fuller proved to be especially hard to handle with two tries, a try assist, two linebreaks, a linebreak assist, 11 tackle busts and 188 running metres. Five-eighth Cameron Cullen impressed too with a try, a try assist, a linebreak, two linebreak assists, four tackle busts and 144 running metres.
With Jarrod Wallace suspended for three games, Poasa Faamausili could get called up to the NRL side. He got through a mountain of work on the weekend, finishing with 172 running metres and 20 tackles — no misses.
Mackay halfback Brandon Finnegan got his side over the line with a narrow win, scoring a try, setting up another, getting a linebreak assist, three tackle busts and 100 metres.
Elsewhere, Tristan Hope’s boot got Brisbane Tigers the win. They scored one less try than the CQ Capras but Hope slotted two from three conversion attempts as well as two penalty goals to escape with a two-point victory. The 26-year-old hooker also scored, ran for 113 metres and made a game-high of 51 tackles with just three misses.