Twist in Souths nightmare as Eels doubt rises, new-look Broncos shine — Talking Pts

The pre-season challenge has come to an end, with the Broncos taking $100k home to Red Hill for the second year running.

But now the regular season is upon us and there’s still a host of decisions to make made by almost every coach before Round 1.

Read on for the Talking Points from NRL Trials week three.

Watch the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership season opening double-header LIVE from Las Vegas on Kayo, SUN 2 MAR 10AM | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

GRAY GIVES SOUTHS HOPE AMID LATRELL BLOW

Many people were ready to write Souths off after Latrell Mitchell’s hamstring injury given their horror draw, but replacement Jye Gray showed their may be light at the end of the tunnel.

Souths may have gone down 46-26 in the Charity Shield, but they showed plenty of fight to come back from 34-0 down to make a game of it at 34-26 and Gray was one of the Rabbitohs’ best.

Gray finished with 150 run metres from 15 runs to go with three tackle busts, an offload, 2 linebreaks, a linebreak assist, a try assist and a try to go with five tackles without a miss and zero errors.

If Gray can keep up that sort of output over the first two months of the season, Souths can hope to cover for Mitchell and keep themselves in the top eight race until he returns.

If he keeps up this sort of form, Gray could even push for a permanent starting spot if Wayne Bennett decides to ease Mitchell back into the team in the centres to protect his dodgy hamstrings from the volume of running required at fullback.

Michael Ennis believes Gray showed enormous grit and courage to help lead a Souths fightback after their horror start against the Dragons.

“I think you learn a lot about a player’s character when they’re under pressure,” Ennis said on Fox League.

“34 points down he put South Sydney on his back in the final stages of the opening half. It was Jye Gray who brought any life at all to their attack.”

Ennis also believes Gray can hold his own defensively, which is the one area of his game that can be exploited by opposition given his smaller stature.

“He is such a courageous guy, for a smaller guy he is always around the ball, always in the picture,” Ennis said.

“A number of times the big Dragons forwards tried to isolate him close to the line and he got his body in front

“I thought he was terrific the little fullback, and showed why he’ll always be there when Latrell is unavailable. He’s a great replacement.”

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HUMPHREYS JUMPS DISAPPOINTING DODD IN SOUTHS’ NO.7 RACE

Michael Ennis believes on the evidence of the trials, Souths must pick rookie Jamie Humphreys over star signing Lewis Dodd in the No.7 jersey for Round 1.

Englishman Dodd was disappointing in his two trials, including being sin-binned for a high shot in the 46-26 loss to the Dragons, which saw him run for just two metres from one run to go with nine tackles and one miss and no try or linebreak involvements.

The decision on who plays halfback in Round 1 could be made easier by the fact Dodd received a one-game ban for the high tackle.

If Souths elect to challenge it at the judiciary and lose, Dodd will be rubbed out for two weeks.

Souths found themselves down 34-0 with Dodd at halfback, before Humphreys inspired a 26-point comeback to finish with 30 run metres, from four runs, two tackle busts, a linebreak, a linebreak assist, two try assists and a try to go with 24 tackles and just one miss.   

While it was hard for Dodd to put his stamp on the game against the Dragons given he was playing with such limited field position, James Hooper said on Fox League that the Rabbitohs were looked “the best” with Humphreys at halfback.

Greg Alexander agreed, suggesting Humphreys could partner Jack Wighton in the halves, with Cody Walker set to miss the season opener against the Dolphins.

“I left Gosford last week with a big question mark over Lewis Dodd but in fairness they played without the footy last week against Manly,” Alexander said.

“They haven’t had much footy in the first half and Lewis Dodd hasn’t played in the second half but Jamie Humphreys has looked good.

“Whether it’s Jamie Humphreys to play half, Cody Walker might not be fit for round 1 so do you stick Jack Wighton at five eighth?

“He’s got a number of options Wayne Bennett and I still don’t know which one is best.”

Alexander went on to say that the fact Dodd didn’t return after his 10 minutes in the sin bin was a bad sign for his chances of starting in Round 1.

“I know what will keep people talking is the Jamie Humphreys performance in No. 7,” Alexander said.

“It’s not a good sign (he hasn’t come back on). If I was Lewis Dodd, I’d be sitting there worried about whether I’ll be in the side or not come Round 1.

“For mine, if Lewis Dodd is going to be your halfback in Round 1 you want to have him on the field as much as possible.”

Ennis, meanwhile, worked with Humphreys at Manly and said the versatile youngster has all the makings of an elite halfback in the NRL.

“I was lucky enough to work with him at Manly and he spent the whole pre-season trying to develop as a hooker,” Ennis said.

“He came through as a half, but with Daly Cherry-Evans and Luke Brooks there his way into the side was potentially at No.9.

“He was tremendous. Mid-season he had some injuries and he went back to the halves in reserve grade and he was absolutely terrific in his debut game for Manly against the Knights. 44 points we put on that day with him in the halves.

“I have a huge opinion of him. I think he is a real up and coming half and I’m glad that he showed what he was capable of today.

“I have spoken to Wayne and he and I have a good relationship. He asked me about Jamie and my wraps on Jamie are huge.

“From what we have seen so far in the trials, really it would be hard not seeing Jamie playing in the No.7 jersey come Round 1.

“If you are comparing him against Lewis Dodd and Lewis is a good player and we saw him dominate in the World Club Challenge here against Penrith, so we know there is a quality player there.

“But Humphreys is just waiting for an opportunity and he showed against the Dragons just how classy he is. He is a very good player.”

While former Broncos coach Kevin Walters questioned if Humphreys’ kicking game is ready, Ennis confidently declared the former Sea Eagles halfback has a “very good left foot” on him.

And that’s not all.

“He’s a high percentage goal kicker, which is invaluable for South Sydney as well,” Ennis added.  

LOMAX QUIET AS DEBATE REMAINS OVER BEST SPOT AT EELS

Zac Lomax was solid on his Eels debut at centre, but his best position could still be wing for club, state and country.

Lomax made 36 run metres from five runs to go with one offload, two errors and nine tackles without a miss, but he had no try or linebreak involvements in the 30-18 loss to the Tigers.

He may have played just 40 minutes in his club debut, which is a small sample size, but apart from some big hits in defence, he didn’t offer much in attack at centre.

The Eels are not short on wing options with Sean Russell, Arthur Miller-Stephen and Josh Addo-Carr all impressing in the trials, while Bailey Simonsson could play centre or wing.

But it is impossible to ignore that Lomax’s breakout season in representative footy came on the wing and they may be his best position in rugby league.

Lomax will likely get more chances to nail down the centre position early in the season, but if the Eels struggle and he continues to be kept quiet, Jason Ryles might be forced into making an awkward decision and returning him to the flank.

A wing pairing of Addo-Carr and Lomax outside centres Will Penisini and Simonsson may be the best combination for the Eels.

It also could keep Lomax in contention for representative honours given the strength of NSW and Australia in the centre position.

BRONCOS’ NEW-LOOK SPINE DELIVERS

We got our first taste of Ben Hunt, Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh on the field at once for the Broncos and Brisbane fans should be on pretty good terms with themselves after what they saw.

Hunt and Walsh starred while Reynolds was solid enough in the Broncos’ 30-14 Pre-Season Challenge win over the Bulldogs.

Hunt set up a try and hand in two others while Walsh was dangerous every time he touched the ball.

The livewire fullback had a try assist and a big 40/20 before being subbed off at half time with Brisbane in front 14-0.

“The positive is exactly what we’ve spoken about, that combination between Benny Hunt, Adam Renolds and the electric fullback Reece Walsh,” Michael Ennis said on Fox League.

“It’s been a really good start.”

Being two world class playmakers, there haven’t been too many concerns that Reynolds and Hunt wouldn’t mesh well together, other than the fact both are 34 years old.

Still, considering it was their first game together, the early returns are very promising.

Hunt spoke with Fox League after the game and expressed delight in the way Reynolds approaches his role.

“Adam brings such a calmness to the game. He’s a real pleasure to play with,” Hunt said.

“The more we can play together the longer the season goes on hopefully the better it’s going to get.

“I’m looking forward to improving our combinations.”

Hunt joined the Broncos in the off-season after seven years at the Dragons.

Of course, before his St.George-Illawarra stint, Hunt played 187 games with Brisbane.

Walsh said playing alongside Hunt has been a “pinch me moment”.

“Seeing him happy, back in the Broncs jersey, I was watching him when I was a kid. It’s a pinch-me moment,” Walsh told Jake Duke.

“It’s been a good pre-season and we’re excited for the year.”

HAVE KNIGHTS SORTED THEIR HALVES PUZZLE?

Nothing is set in stone, but based off Sunday’s performance, you’d think the Knights have their Round 1 halves pairing set.

Young gun Fletcher Sharpe and Jack Cogger steered the Knights around the park against the Roosters, with Newcastle scoring 36 points in a dominant first half.

Sharpe was exactly that.

The 20-year-old was everywhere in the first half, scoring two tries and having a hand in another.

While there is work to be done defensively, he proved a handful with ball in hand, adding another dimension to a Knights attack already boasting the dangerous Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best.

Ponga told foxsports.com.au two weeks ago that the Knights’ halves puzzle was yet to be solved, but gave Sharpe a wrap following the 48-10 win over the Chooks on Sunday.

“He’s still got a lot of work to do but he’s definitely got the right attitude to do so,” Ponga said.

“He was obviously pleasing and looked good. He’s had a great pre-season so hopefully that can set him up for a big year.”

Sharpe trained at five-eighth for much of the pre-season, but it still must be said that this is a foreign position for him. There are going to be growing pains.

He is a fullback who shifted to the wing last season when Ponga returned from injury.

If coach Adam O’Brien can be patient with Sharpe this season, he could very well turn into the Knights’ No. 6 of the future.

Sharpe admits there is a long way to go, but was pleased with the improvement he showed between Newcastle’s first and second trial games.

“It was much improved from last week. There’s still plenty to work on but I thought I was pretty clear in my role today,” he told Fox League.

“I was given a pretty simple role and I thought I went out there and the team and myself we implemented it pretty well.”

PANTHERS BACK-UP HALFBACK SHINES

With 20 odd of his teammates en route to sunny Las Vegas, promising Panthers playmaker Trent Toleau put on quite a show on a wet night at Leichhardt Oval.

Toleau started at halfback, scoring a try and setting up two more as a heavily depleted Penrith thrashed the Sea Eagles.

It was a fair effort from Toleau and the reserve grade Panthers, given Manly had a much stronger outfit line up.

Toleau’s path to being Penrith halfback is blocked by Nathan Cleary, but Toleau is versatile and he can play five-eighth or dummy-half.

His goal for 2025? Being a regular contributor for the first grade side.

With performances like the one he had on Friday night, he’s going to make it hard for Ivan Cleary to overlook him.

“It won’t be in Round 1, but I’d like to be in the 17 going forward,” Toleau told Fox League post-match.

“I’ll try and keep playing well every week and hopefully that happens.”

Penrith legend Greg Alexander believes there is a spot for Toleau in Penrith’s best 17 side due to his versatility.

“He was involved in everything good that Penrith did in the first half. His kicking game was fantastic as was his passing and his organisation,” Alexander said.

“It was a young side he had around him. He’s only played nine first grade games but he’s a very handy player and I think he’ll play a big part in the season because of his versatility. He can play dummy half just as well as he plays in the halves.”

COWBOYS YOUNG GUN’S SHINE

The battle to wear the No.7 for the Cowboys is over, with young gun Thomas Duffy set to be anointed the club’s halfback come Round 1.

Duffy partnered Tom Dearden against the Storm in the final game of the pre-season challenge, showing poise beyond his years.

The 21-year-old was locked in a pre-season halfback battle with Jake Clifford and fellow rising star Jaxob Purdue.

Purdue looks set to feature elsewhere, while Clifford was battling a hernia and underwent a minor surgery which halted his pre-season campaign.

Duffy then got an opportunity to shine and Dearden couldn’t have been happier with his performance on Sunday.

“We got plenty of reps during the pre-season… for a young half he comes in and directs his edge and talks really well,”

“Really great signs from him today… I think they’ve all had great pre-seasons, it was pretty unlucky for (Clifford) he had an injury so he was out for a lot of the pre-season.

“But the opportunity and the reps he had in pre-season, he’s really taken it with both hands and he’s been so composed in that position.”

Duffy is a Townsville product, having been handed a top 30 spot in 2024 after featuring for the Australian Schoolboys.

The rising star is also set to be joined by Purdue in the centres, who looks to have won the battle to take Valentine Holmes’ spot at left centre.

Purdue, 19, has been highly touted in the North Queensland youth ranks, having already played eight games in first grade in 2024.

Those appearances came at centre and off the bench, while he also played at halfback, on the wing and at five-eighth in Queensland Cup.

Purdue tallied 88 running metres, one try, three tackle breaks and three line breaks in an attacking masterclass against Melbourne.

ROOSTERS’ DEFENSIVE WOES LAID BARE

The Roosters were completely torn apart by a rampaging Knights outfit on Sunday afternoon.

So could Trent Robinson have some major concerns ahead of Round 1?

The Tricolours ran out a near full strength side at Industree Group Stadium, but were completely dominated while their first string players were on the field in the first half.

Newcastle tallied a staggering 1004 running metres in the first 40 minutes compared to the Roosters’ 479.

Meanwhile, Adam O’Brien’s men also had 139 more post-contact metres and missed only five tackles compared to their opponents ugly tally of 15.

“It was comprehensive… a worried look there for Trent Robinson, the numbers tell a worrying story,” Warren Smith said.

What’s even more concerning is the Roosters’ right edge being unable to contain Bradman Best and Greg Marzhew who destroyed defenders Dominic Young and Robert Toia.

However, former Broncos coach Kevin Walters believes the 48-10 loss could be the perfect wake-up call ahead of their clash with the Broncos.

“They’ve got some work to do the Roosters … it’s not so bad this time of the year to get a wake up,” Kevin Walters said on Fox League.

Elsewhere, Fletcher Sharpe, who looks to have won the race to wear the No.6 for Newcastle, was on fire, scoring two impressive tries.

Jack Cogger, his halves partner, was also solid in what is shaping to be O’Brien’s solution to the Knights’ revolving door.

“He’s still got a lot of work to do, and he’s definitely got the right attitude to do so,” Ponga said of Sharpe’s performance.

“He was obviously pleasing, looked good and he’s had a great pre season so hopefully that can set him up for a great year.”