Broncos veteran Corey Oates is playing for his future, having revealed Brisbane powerbrokers won’t be offering him a contract extension.
The Roosters have named a debutant amongst a host of changes after nightmare injury blows, with a young gun playmaker handed the reins.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins and Knights both made changes ahead of a finals-deciding clash.
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Read below for all the big talking points ahead of Round 27!
Bulldogs forward Max King joins the Fox League podcast to go inside the Bulldogs’ remarkable 2024 revival and chat about the impact of coach Cameron Ciraldo, captain Stephen Crichton and the club’s renowned defensive system
ROOSTERS RESOLUTIONS
The Roosters lost three key stars – Sam Walker, Victor Radley and Brandon Smith – in a nightmare clash against the Raiders in Round 27.
While Radley’s an outside chance of returning in the finals should the Tricolours make a deep run, Walker and Smith’s seasons are over.
The Roosters losing their in-form No.7 could be the biggest blow of them all, and they’ve called upon a rising star to fill his big shoes in Sandon Smith.
The 21-year-old has been thrown into the furnace and will be given a huge task, leading the Tricolours into the finals with only 25 games under his belt.
The call was a shock to the Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio who believed Trent Robinson should have called on another star to replace Walker.
“I think it’s a surprise that Joey Manu wasn’t named in the halves,” he said.
“I just felt as though that just straightens everything up and takes all the questions out for the young rookie Sandon Smith.
“He hasn’t played as a starting half for the chooks since round three. But we know this is the baton change for next season, so clearly they have confidence in him.”
But Paul Crawley, however, said the Roosters had experimented with Manu in the halves before with mixed results.
“Remember last year when they tried Manu at six with Keary, it din’t work, That would be just as big a gamble.
“Sandon is the guy they are relying on next year to come in and be Sam’s halves partner.”
Meanwhile, Connor Watson has been named at hooker and will share the role with Zach Dockar-Clay while Sitili Tupouniua has been named in the back row.
“We saw Zach Dockar-Clay do a great job at hooker last week, Sitili Tupouniua has been playing outstanding the last couple of weeks. It’s a really good opportunity for guys who have been missing out narrowly the last little bit, guys like Siua Wong,” Crichton said.
“My heart hurts for those [injured] guys, I send them my love and we’ll get around them but we’ve got to look forward and focus on the task ahead.”
The Roosters face the Rabbitohs in a cross-town grudge match in Round 27.
Saab in danger of missing Finals | 00:46
OATES’ BRONCOS AUDITION
Broncos veteran Corey Oates has been named on the wing in what could be his final game for his beloved Red Hill club.
The 29-year-old admitted his future is up in the air on Tuesday, explaining Brisbane powerbrokers weren’t willing to table a new deal.
His current contract expires at the end of the 2024 season, meaning he will be desperate to deliver against a red-hot Storm outfit, showcasing his skills.
“The club’s sort of, they haven’t come forward with an offer yet and they’ve said they probably won’t,” he said on radio station KIIS 97.3.
“I’m still hopeful I can change peoples’ minds pretty easily. I’ve got to go out there and perform the way I know I can, and hopefully give me that…one more roll of the dice left and see what they can do.
“I’d love to do as much as I can for that club and be part of it. There are really good players there and it’s a really good culture in the playing group. There’s a lot of positive things ahead.
“It would be nice to be offered one more year with the club.”
Oates has scored 121 tries in 215 games for the Broncos, having made his NRL debut in 2013.
The veteran flyer has fallen down the pecking order in Red Hill following the emergence of Deine Mariner and the signing of Josiah Karapani from the Rabbitohs.
Oates has a wealth of NRL experience and explained he’d be willing to make a move to a rival club.
“I’ve always said no, but you can never say no, depending on what the offer is,” he said.
Oates has previously been linked to the Knights, however the Newcastle club are in the midst of a roster rebuild and are unlikely to offer the veteran a contract.
DEBUTANTS UNLEASHED FOR FINAL ROUND
NRL fans will be introduced to two stars of the future this weekend with Roosters prop De La Salle Va’a and Titans forward Arama Hau named to make their debuts.
The Roosters are currently dealing with an injury crisis after Sam Walker and Brandon Smith suffered season-ending ACL injuries, while Victor Radley is nursing a fractured scapula – which he hopes to play through during finals.
But the silver lining is an opportunity opening up for 19-year-old prop De La Salle Va’a, who has been named on the bench for the Roosters’ clash with the Rabbitohs.
Va’a, the younger brother of fellow Rooster Xavier Va’a, started the year in SG Ball but his development was fast-tracked with the young forward making his NSW Cup debut in Round 9 and holding his spot ever since.
At 198cm tall and weighing 114kg, Va’a cuts an imposing figure. He was named in the Queensland Under 19s Origin squad earlier this year and has reportedly inked a new three-year deal which will see him join the Roosters’ Top 30 next season.
If that wasn’t impressive enough, Va’a is also studying a Biomedical Science degree when not playing or training.
Meanwhile, Hau will get a baptism of fire when he heads to Penrith with the Titans to take on the three-peat champions.
The 20-year-old second-rower is a former Australian Schoolboy and has impressed for Titans feeder club Ipswich Jets in the Queensland Cup, scoring seven tries in 19 appearances this season and averaging just under 100 metres per game.
Hau is on a development deal until the end of next season and then has a club option in his contract for 2026.
BIG CALLS IN FINAL PRE-CURSOR
A lot can change in a week. Kodi Nikorima has been one of the Dolphins best all season, but he’ll be forced to make his return from a head knock via the bench in Sunday’s must-win clash with the Knights.
Nikorima was sidelined in Round 26 under the NRL’s concussion protocols. Instead of just replacing him with Sean O’Sullivan, coach Wayne Bennett completely rejigged his backline following a shellacking from the Storm in Round 25.
O’Sullivan was brought into the halves, but he partnered Jake Averillo, who shifted from the centres. Isaiya Katoa was benched, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow moved to centre and fan favourite Trai Fuller played fullback.
It was a masterstroke by Bennett with the Dolphins smashing the Broncos 40-6. Averillo starred at five-eighth two tries, two try assists and three linebreak assists, Tabuai-Fidow also bagged a double and set up a try, while Fuller made just under 200 metres and had 13 tackle busts.
Bennett simply couldn’t change a winning formula like that so has stuck loyal with that combination. That means Nikorima will start on the bench and Katoa has been dropped completely.
Captain Jesse Bromwich also returns after missing last week and has been named to start at prop with Mark Nicholls dropping back to the bench.
The Dolphins will head to Newcastle to battle it out with the Knights for the final spot in the top eight.
The Knights welcome back Tyson Frizell and Tyson Gamble, but just like Bennett, O’Brien is sticking to what’s working – and that’s the halves pairing of Jack Cogger and Phoenix Crossland. Gamble will return from a hand injury on the bench.
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