There are storylines galore coming out of the latest round of New South Wales Cup and Queensland Cup with big-name players dropping back and others pushing for an NRL call-up.
Damien Cook found himself in NSW Cup for the first time in eight years in a shock selection call made by Jason Demetriou, while Eels winger Maika Sivo also paid the price for his side’s Round 5 loss.
Toby Sexton continues to put pressure on Drew Hutchison with the battle for that Bulldogs No.7 jersey really start to heat up.
And young half Ethan Sanders produced a performance that will give Eels coach Brad Arthur a lot to think about.
Braden Hamlin-Uele returned from a knee injury via the Newtown Jets and David Armstrong has sprung into contention for a debut should Kalyn Ponga be ruled out of the Knights’ clash with the Bulldogs.
Read on for the latest Reserve Grade Wrap.
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ALL EYES WERE ON…
Damien Cook dropped back to play his first reserve grade game since 2016 after being brutally axed by Jason Demetriou and was all class in the Rabbitohs’ win.
The veteran hooker darted out of dummy half from 10 metres out to score a try. He also finished with a linebreak, six tackle busts and 128 metres, while also making 31 tackles with one miss.
Young lock Tallis Duncan also paid the price for the Round 5 loss and was dropped to NSW Cup. The 21-year-old was busy on both sides of the ball, finishing with 181 metres and 32 tackles, one miss.
Also on the receiving end of some big NRL selection calls was powerhouse winger Maika Sivo, who was dropped by Eels coach Brad Arthur.
Sivo scored a double to help the club’s NSW Cup team get their first win of the season. The 30-year-old shoved off a Bears player to score his first and then carried a player over the line with him for his second. Sivo finished with three linebreaks, three tackle busts and 123 metres, but still had some defensive issues — he jammed in off his wing in the lead-up to a Bears try.
Young gun Blaize Talagi also dropped back to Cup after three games in the NRL and returned to his favoured position of fullback. The 19-year-old set up one of Sivo’s tries with a cutout pass, got a linebreak assist, four tackle busts and 134 metres.
A lot has been made of Arthur’s decision not to give Ethan Sanders a shot at filling Mitchell Moses’ shoes and the up-and-coming halfback’s performance on the weekend will only fuel that even more.
19-year-old Sanders set up three tries — one with a cross-field kick and two via short balls to set up both centres. He also got two linebreak assists, ran for 49 metres and made 13 tackles with zero misses against an experienced Bears outfit.
That performance couldn’t have come at a better time given the clause in Sanders’ contract. As part of a revamped contract policy, off-contract players who are yet to play five senior games (NRL or NSW Cup/Queensland Cup), can’t talk to rivals until the end of Round 6. The Raiders’ have been interested in Sanders and are now free to negotiate with him.
Knights playmaker Tyson Gamble is continuing to perform in Cup since his axing and had a hand in his side’s stunning second half comeback to defeat the Roosters 30-26.
The Roosters led 26-nil until the Knights scored two minutes before half time. They scored another four unanswered tries — with Gamble setting up one of them — to snatch the win. Gamble also got a linebreak assist, ran 124 metres and made 17 tackles with one miss.
Also crucial in the win was exciting fullback/winger David Armstrong. He crashed through two defenders close to the line to score the Knights’ second try and finished the game with three linebreaks, 12 tackle busts and 282 metres.
With Kalyn Ponga racing the clock to recover from a hip pointer injury, Armstrong is a chance of debuting. English import Will Pryce would’ve been in the mix too but he suffered a foot injury 12 minutes into the Cup game.
Tanah Boyd found himself back in Queensland Cup after being dropped by Titans coach Des Hasler. He was solid for feeder club Ipswich with a try assist, a linebreak, a linebreak assist, 62 metres and 19 tackles, no misses.
Calls are growing louder for Cameron Ciraldo to give Toby Sexton an opportunity at halfback and it’s going to be hard for the Bulldogs coach to ignore him after a dominant game which helped the Bulldogs deliver the Raiders their first loss of the season.
Sexton scored a double, got two linebreaks, six tackle busts and ran for 108 metres, while also making 18 tackles with one miss. The 23-year-old was rewarded for his constant support play when he was in the right place at the right time to score his first try, while he beat three players to score his second.
Braden Hamlin-Uele was a surprise name in NSW Cup over the weekend with the star Sharks prop returning from a knee injury. He played 43 minutes and got through unscathed, finishing with 81 running metres, four tackle busts and 20 tackles — no misses. It’ll put him good stead to be selected for NRL this week in what would be his 100th game.
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NSW CUP
Brodie Jones was simply unstoppable in the Knights’ comeback win. He got two linebreaks, three tackle busts and ran 202 metres, while also making 34 tackles with zero misses. Most importantly though, he scored the matchwinning try in the 68th minute.
Lehi Hopoate is becoming a force to be reckoned with in NSW Cup. The 19-year-old, who has been locked in by Manly on a development deal for 2025 and Top 30 deal for 2026, shifted to fullback after five games at centre and looked right at home.
Hopoate scored a double for feeder club Blacktown Workers and set up a try, while also getting two linebreaks, two linebreak assists and 176 metres.
Brandon Wakeham was also busy in the win over the Warriors with three try assists and two linebreak assists, while Gordon Chan Kum Tong could be in line for a call-up following an injury to Lachlan Croker. Kum Tong, scored a try, got a linebreak, five tackle busts, ran 52 metres and made 22 tackles with one miss.
Warriors centre Ali Leiataua was impressive in a losing side, finishing with a try, a try assist, a linebreak, nine tackle busts and 140 metres.
Mat Feagai has found a home at fullback for the Dragons this season but could be called into the NRL side to play in the outside backs depending on what coach Shane Flanagan does to replace Jack Bird. Feagai was impressive on the weekend with a try, an assist, a linebreak and 135 metres.
Alternatively, there’s young gun Savelio Tamale, who is yet to play NRL, but is a specialist centre. Tamale scored a try, got a linebreak, nine tackle busts and 140 metres in the Dragons’ win over the Magpies.
Or Christian Tuipulotu could slot onto the wing if Zac Lomax shifts to centre. Tuipulotu has been a powerhouse in his first season with the Red V. He finished the game with a try assist, a linebreak, a linebreak assist, six tackle busts and 192 metres.
The Couchman twins were busy once again with Toby getting 144 metres and 32 tackles — two misses — while Ryan got 162 metres and 35 tackles — no misses.
Sean Keppie could be parachuted back into the Rabbitohs’ pack following Tevita Tatola’s ankle injury and the prop’s performance over the weekend certainly deserves a call-up. Keppie ran for 205 metres — 107 post-contact — and made 24 tackles with no misses.
Izaac Tu’itupou will also be in the NRL mix again after Tyrone Munro injured his collarbone. Tu’itupou Thompson made 197 metres — 104 post-contact and had two tackle busts, while Braidon Burns was impressive with a try, a linebreak, six tackle busts and 219 metres.
Livewire Bears fullback Jake Toby was a standout in a losing side with two tries, a linebreak, two linebreak assists, eight tackle busts and 241 metres. He also set up a try with a pass after making 40 metres and beating three players in an energetic kick return.
Raiders half Adam Cook set up three tries, while workhorse Hohepa Puru made 51 tackles with one miss and ran 109 metres. But it was the Bulldogs, who ran away winners with lock Jack Todd playing a big role. Todd, who was promoted to start after initially being named on the bench, set up a try, got a linebreak, ran 210 metres and made 32 tackles with two misses.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Panther-turned-Bronco Kurt Falls was everywhere in Wynnum Manly’s 40-30 win over Townsville. The 27-year-old five-eighth scored two tries and set two more up, while also getting a linebreak, linebreak assist and 102 metres. He made 21 tackles with just one miss too.
WithHamiso Tabuai-Fidowbattling a hamstring injury, Dolphins coach Wayne Bennet could reward Trai Fuller for his blistering performance in Queensland Cup. The 27-year-old fullback scored a try, got a linebreak, 14 tackle busts and ran for 235 metres.
It would be hard to find a player that had a better game on the weekend than Cody Hunter. The Sunshine Coast halfback scored 24 of the Falcons’ 48 points with two tries and kicking eight conversions from eight attempts. He also set up three tries, got two linebreaks, a linebreak assist, five tackle busts and 114 metres. Defensively he was unbreakable too with 13 tackles, no misses.
Bench forward Lazarus Vaalepu was busy too with a try, a linebreak, 210 metres and 18 tackles — two misses — while Jack Howarth was hard to handle, setting up a try, getting 11 tackle busts and 187 metres. He also made 19 tackles with zero misses.
Jordan Lipp bagged a hat-trick in the centres for Norths Devils, while winger Manase Kaho scored a double and five-eighth Gerome Burns got a try and two try assists in their 30-point win over CQ Capras.
Mahe Fonua and Josh Smith scored two tries each for Mackay Cutters, while Smith also ran for 214 metres. Fullback Raydan Burns was just as busy with a try assist, a linebreak, a linebreak assist, seven tackle busts and 194 metres.
Crafty Burleigh halfback Guy Hamilton set up two tries and ran for 121 metres in his side’s win over Ipswich. He also made 26 tackles but did miss five.
Second-rower Josh Patston bagged a double for Burleigh, got a linebreak, a linebreak assist, four tackle busts and 137 metres as well as 21 tackles — two misses.
Meanwhile, veteran prop Martin Taupau played his very first Queensland Cup game and was rock solid for the Broncos feeder side, finishing with 143 metres and 19 tackles — no misses. The always-reliable Sam Coster was equally impressive at lock with 162 metres and a game-high of 33 tackles, no misses.
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