All eyes were on Sam Walker, who played his first game in New South Wales Cup since Round 3 2021 after being sensationally dropped from the Roosters’ NRL side.
But it was his opposing halfback that came out on top with Jayden Sullivan setting up four tries to deliver the Dragons the win.
Tim Sheens wanted to get a good look at Daine Laurie in the halves and the versatile Tiger gave the coach plenty to think about after a dominant game for the Magpies.
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Meanwhile, David Nofoaluma returned from a foot injury and Shawn Blore made the most of his full game in the second row.
Manly prodigy Latu Fainu made his NSW Cup debut, the Bears’ outside backs carved up, an up-and-coming Panther was an absolute powerhouse and a Titans forward produced a near-perfect performance.
In some feel-good news also, Billy Smith played his first game since suffering his third ACL injury last July.
Read on for the latest Reserve Grade Wrap.
Tigers still winless despite late lead! | 02:04
ALL EYES WERE ON
Sam Walker was dropped back to reserve grade to work on some elements of his game. He delivered a performance that Trent Robinson summed up as “pretty good.”
Walker slotted in at halfback and got involved early with a bomb kick leading to the Roosters’ first try in the second minute.
The 20-year-old finished the game with a linebreak assist, four tackle busts and 133 running metres. He also made 22 tackle with three misses.
His opposition halfback Jayden Sullivan stole the show though with four try assists, two linebreaks, a linebreak assist and 120 running metres. Two weeks ago Sullivan told Fox League he was confident he could get back into the Dragons’ NRL side and with a performance like that it’ll be hard for Anthony Griffin to keep him in reserve grade for much longer.
Speaking of statement performances, Daine Laurie showed Tim Sheens what he can offer in the halves with pretty dominant display for the Magpies. Laurie, who was barking orders throughout the 80 minutes, set up two tries, got two linebreaks, two linebreak assists, five tackle busts and ran for 204 metres. He also made 20 tackles with three misses.
That came after Sheens said a game in the halves will “open up another option” for Laurie.
“With Adam (Doueihi) down we do need another pivot so Dane will get the chance to show that… It’s a good chance to have a look at him play in that position in a full game,” Sheens told reporters last Saturday.
“He’s played wing for the All Stars but he’s not a winger — it’s not his best position. He needs a hand on the ball and a little bit of passing. You can’t do much better than six so I’m pretty comfortable that he’ll handle that and in doing so that will open up another option for him.”
Saab and Sea Eagles break Tiger hearts | 00:35
Shawn Blore was also dropped back to NSW Cup with the aim of getting more game time into his legs. Blore played 80 minutes and finished with a try, a linebreak, three tackle busts and ran for 153 metres, while making 29 tackles with two misses.
In the same game veteran winger David Nofoaluma returned from a foot injury, finishing the game with 132 metres and three tackle busts.
On the other side of the field was Kaeo Weekes, who was left out of Manly’s 17 and instead played fullback for feeder side Blacktown Workers. Weekes was busy, getting a linebreak, five tackle busts and 182 running metres.
Meanwhile, Manly fans got their first look at Latu Fainu in NSW Cup. Fainu inked a lucrative four-year deal back in 2021 at just 16-years old. He’s been playing Jersey Flegg for Manly but got his debut for Blacktown on the weekend in what was a mixed performance for the teenager — 72 running metres and 22 tackles with six misses.
Luckless Roosters centre Billy Smith returned to the field from an ACL injury in the Bears’ win over the Knights. Smith only played the first 40 minutes as part of his return plan and produced a performance that should fill him with plenty of confidence — 105 running metres, five tackle busts and 12 tackles with zero misses.
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STANDOUTS
Blake Taaffe’s boot proved to be the difference for the Rabbitohs in their 18-16 win over the Panthers. Taaffe set up a try, got two linebreak assists, five tackle busts and ran for 104 running metres, but he also kicked two conversions from three attempts and a penalty goal while Penrith missed all four of theirs.
For a losing side, Jake Cole was impressive in the halves, setting up two tries, getting a linebreak, a linebreak assist and running for 102 metres. He also made 20 tackles with just one miss.
Workhorse Liam Henry was once again an absolute beast at prop, getting through 80 minutes and finishing with 214 running metres and 55 tackles — zero misses. The 21-year-old, who was locked in until 2026 in March, is averaging 152 metres and 43 tackles a game this season.
Connor Tracey was just about everywhere for Newtown in their win over the Bulldogs. The versatile Tracey played fullback and finished with two tries, two linebreaks, 13 tackle busts and 166 metres.
The Warriors are flying in NSW Cup and their 48-4 win over the Eels has pushed them to the top of the table. Playmaker Ronald Volkman scored 24 of those points alone with two tries and eight goals. Volkman also set up a try, got a linebreak, a linebreak assist, two tackle busts and ran for 87 metres.
Phins pull off comeback from 26 nil down | 02:10
Hooker Paul Roache — the younger brother of Nathaniel Roache — was also integral to the wing, setting up two tries and making 40 tackles with zero misses.
Brandon Mansfield bagged a double in the Magpies’ win over Blacktown. The 21-year-old second-rower also got two linebreaks, seven tackle busts, two offloads and 121 running metres, while also making 30 tackles with two misses.
Bears centre Toa Mata’afa set up four tries in his side’s win — three of them were for his winger Junior Pauga — while he caught a short kick-off attempt from the Knights and offloaded to Reuben Porter. Mata’afa also notched up 128 running metres and made 17 tackles with one miss.
Pauga and Tui Katoa both got over 200 running metres, while Ben Thomas was enormous off the bench with 141 running metres and 24 tackles with no misses in 37 minutes.
The Roosters may not have gotten the win but centre Ethan Clark-Wood produced one of his best games against his former club. The 22-year-old scored a try, set up another, got two linebreaks, three tackle busts and ran for 178 metres.
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Meanwhile, winger Alex Lobb bagged a hat-trick for the Dragons, he also got a linebreak, four tackle busts and ran for 185 metres.
Ryan Couchman — twin brother of Toby — is edging closer to a debut and showed why with his 177 running metres, seven tackle busts and 19 tackles — one miss.
The reigning Queensland Cup Halfback of the Year, Guy Hamilton, had the ball on a string in Burleigh’s 48-20 win over the PNG Hunters. Hamilton scored a try and set up three more, while second-rower Jacob Alick, who is signed on a Top 30 deal with the Titans, produced a performance for the ages. Alick bagged two tries, he set up another one, got two linebreaks, nine tackle busts and 168 running metres. He also made 18 tackles with zero misses and wasn’t afraid to put in some grubbers.
Wynnum Manly fullback Matthew Milson scored a double, got a linebreak, a linebreak assist and ran for a game-high of 219 metres, while Dolphins halfback Cody Hunter scored 20 of their 40 points with two tries and six conversions.
Townsville winger Robert Derby was a handful, scoring his side’s first and last try in their two-point loss to Tweed and getting eight tackle busts to go with his 253 metres.
Five-eighth Will Brimson — brother to Titans star AJ — steered Tweed to the win with a try and a try assist.
Sunshine Coast fullback Luke Polselli delivered the goods in his side’s 34-16 win over Souths Logan, scoring their first try, setting up another, getting two linebreaks, a linebreak assist and running for 243 metres.
