Paul Alamoti could be parachuted straight into the Panthers’ 17 after a red-hot performance in his return from an arm injury.
Veteran playmaker Anthony Milford turned back the clock in a timely performance, while Raymond Faitala-Mariner responded to being dropped by Dragons coach Shane Flanagan.
The Bulldogs’ fullback and halves stocks have been boosted ahead of NRL finals with the return of Blake Taaffe.
And speaking of finals, Queensland Cup’s top eight is locked in, while in NSW Cup one spot in the top five is up for grabs with one round to go. The Panthers, Dragons and Bulldogs are all vying for it.
Read on for the latest Reserve Grade Wrap.
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Roosters put big score on the Titans | 01:19
ALL EYES WERE ON…
Paul Alamoti’s performance in New South Wales Cup will give Ivan Cleary plenty think about following the Panthers’ shock loss to the Raiders.
The Cup team got a two-point win over Canberra and Alamoti starred in what was his first game since fracturing his forearm in Round 20.
Alamoti set up a try, got a linebreak, ran 149 metres and kicked four conversions from four attempts.
Anthony Milford may have played his way into an NRL call-up too after the veteran five-eighth put on a show in the CQ Capras’ 36-24 win over Tweed.
The Dolphins, whom the Capras feed to, will be without Kodi Nikorima after he failed his HIA on the weekend — and that’s where Milford could come in. Sean O’Sullivan is expected to start in Nikorima’s place, while Milford will be an option to come onto the bench.
The 30-year-old turned back the clock with a try, four try assists, five linebreak assists, a linebreak, five tackle busts and 180 running metres.
Dragons forward Raymond Faitala-Mariner was dropped to NSW Cup for the first time this season and proved he’s simply too good for the grade, notching up a try assist, a linebreak assist and 170 metres. He also made 26 tackles with no misses.
It was a modest return from Blake Taaffe, who missed six weeks due to a syndesmosis injury. The 25-year-old was a late inclusion for the Dogs and finished the game with seven runs for 41 metres and two tackle busts before leaving the field in the final five minutes.
And the Roosters’ rugby convert Mark Nawaqanitawase is settling into the code switch nicely with the 23-year-old scoring a try, getting a linebreak, five tackle busts and running 213 metres in his side’s upset win over the Bears.
NSW CUP
The Roosters won’t play finals, but their next generation of talent should get fans excited with the young side now winning four-straight games.
Central to those wins has been 19-year-old five-eighth Jake Elliott, who set up two tries on the weekend. He now has 16 try assists in 13 appearances this season.
Highly-rated centre Robert Toia hasn’t missed a beat since returning from an ACL injury in Round 20. He set up a try, got seven tackle busts and ran 147 metres in Sunday’s win.
Ethan King exploded in the centres, finishing with a try, 11 tackle busts, two linebreaks and 214 metres.
And Salesi Foketi is proving to be a serious weapon in the second row. The 20-year-old scored the matchwinning try, while also setting another up earlier in the game, running 100 metres and making 34 tackles with four misses.
The Warriors sealed their finals spot with a 42-10 win over the Bulldogs. Moala Graham-Taufa, Ben Farr and Jacob Laban all bagged doubles, while Taine Tuaupiki carved up at fullback, finishing with four try assists, three linebreak assists, nine tackle busts and 143 metres.
The Dragons have kept themselves in the hunt for finals with a crucial win over Newtown. Prop Josh Coric and second-rower Dylan Egan got through a mountain of work with Coric recording 216 metres and 32 tackles, while Egan finished with a linebreak, 220 metres and 20 tackles. Savelio Tamale was dynamic on the wing with a try, a linebreak, seven tackle busts and 206 metres — 77 post-contact.
The Dragons take on the Eels on Saturday and can book a spot in finals with a win — if Penrith lose and the Bulldogs lose or at best win by a narrow scoreline.
It was a tryathon at Lidcombe Oval on Saturday between the Magpies and Sea Eagles. A total of 13 tries were scored with the matchwinner coming in the final 30 seconds, which sealed Western Suburbs’ 40-36 victory.
Young gun hooker Tallyn Da Silva was responsible for that as he finished off a frantic — but stunning — piece of play. The 19-year-old scored 20 individual points with two tries and five conversions from seven attempts. He also ran 133 metres and made 19 tackles.
Also, Brent Naden had a blinder in the halves. The makeshift five-eighth scored two tries, set two more up, got two linebreaks, a linebreak assist and ran 200 metres.
Aaron Woods was busy for Blacktown with a try, two try assists, a linebreak, two linebreak assists and 53 metres. The veteran forward also made 20 tackles with one miss. And Clayton Faulalo topped the game with 217 running metres to go with his linebreak and nine tackle busts.
Knights centre Tom Jenkins had one of his best games of the season, finishing with two tries, two try assists, two linebreak assists, 82 metres and 10 tackles — no misses. Skipper Tom Cant was also busy in the win over the Rabbitohs with a try, a try assist, 219 metres and 18 tackles.
Ryan Gray was impressive in a losing side, scoring two tries for the Rabbitohs and setting another up. The 23-year-old hooker also had two linebreaks, a linebreak assist, ran 81 metres and made 53 tackles with just one miss.
Trey Mooney also stood out in a losing side with the Raiders forward scoring a try, running 137 metres and making 46 tackles with four misses in his team’s loss to the Panthers.
The 26-24 result means the final round this weekend will determining the minor premiership with both the Raiders and Bears sitting on 36 points. Meanwhile, the Panthers clawed their way into the top five and can lock in finals with a win over the Rabbitohs on Friday.
Isaiah Iongi ran amok at fullback for Penrith with a try, a linebreak, seven tackle busts and 214 metres. And the Panthers can thank Sunia Turuva for scoring the match-levelling try in the 77th minute, which Alamoti converted.
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Knights keep slim finals hopes alive | 00:53
QUEENSLAND CUP
The PNG Hunters will play finals after finishing fifth on the ladder, winning six of their final seven games. They capped off a positive 2024 home and away season with a 46-12 win over Western Clydesdales in what was the third week in a row they scored 40 points or more.
Centre Elijah Roltinga was unstoppable, scoring two tries, getting a linebreak, a linebreak assist, nine tackle busts and 308 metres. Five-eighth Joshua Lau was instrumental in the win too with two tries, a try assist, a linebreak, 10 tackle busts and 111 metres.
Northern Pride cruised to the minor premiership, finishing eight points ahead of second place and they topped off a successful season with a 34-24 win over Souths Logan.
Five-eighth Dantoray Lui scored two tries, halfback Tom Duffy set up two tries and Towering second-rower Dane Aukafolau finished with a try, a linebreak, five tackle busts, 152 metres and 19 tackles.
CQ Capras booked their spot in finals with a win over Tweed. Blake Moore starred at fullback with three tries, three linebreaks and 118 metres, while Lachlan Hubner was busy at lock on both sides of the ball with 193 metres and 20 tackles.
The Dolphins finished the regular season third with a comprehensive win over Mackay which had several standout players.
Trai Fuller was his usual busy self, finishing the game with a try assist, three linebreak assists, four tackle busts and 142 metres, while Harrison Graham and Steven Numambo both bagged doubles.
Valynce Te Whare was unstoppable, scoring a try, getting two linebreaks, 10 tackle busts and 217 metres, while halves duo Joshua James and Latrell Siegwalt led the way. James set up three tries and Siegwalt scored 18 points with a try and seven conversions from eight attempts. He also set up a try, got two linebreaks, a linebreak assist, 10 tackle busts and 129 metres.
Sunshine Coast locked in their top four finish with a 42-16 win over Norths Devils. Lazarus Vaalepu was a late addition at prop and got through a mountain of work, finishing with 173 metres — 83 post-contact — five tackle busts and 22 tackles, no misses.
Harrison McIndoe was busy in the centres with a try, a try assist, a linebreak, 138 metres and 19 tackles — no misses.
2023 premiers Brisbane Tigers will miss finals, but they at least finished the season with a win over Wynnum Manly.
It was five tries a piece, but Zak Taibi proved to be the difference with the 26-year-old winger nailing five conversions from five attempts plus a penalty goal in the final minute.
Thomas Rafter scored a double, while fullback Tahj Wood set up two tries and winger Ronald Philitoga scored a try and topped the metre count with 198.
SPOTTED
The Panthers’ halves stocks have copped a major hit two weeks out from finals with the versatile Jack Cole suffering a lower leg injury. Cole left the field after being on the receiving end of a hip-drop tackle in the opening five minutes of the game and did not return. Raiders hooker Owen Pattie was placed on report for the tackle.
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