NRL stars Brandon Smith and Jack Bird returned to the field from injury, while a dropped Bulldogs trio responded in style.
The Knights have unearthed a real gem in their up-and-coming fullback and a Townsville second-rower did more damage in his 28-minute stint off the bench than most players can do in an entire game.
Elsewhere, Storm winger George Jennings exploded with four first-half tries — all of them scored in just 18 minutes.
Read on for the latest Reserve Grade Wrap.
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‘We just put a stake in the ground’ | 00:52
ALL EYES WERE ON
Brandon Smith played 48 minutes off the bench for the Roosters’ New South Wales Cup side and set up a try in their 46-28 loss. He also finished the game with a linebreak assist, four runs for 16 metres and 24 tackles — three misses. It was his first game since injuring his thumb in Round 12.
Jack Bird returned to the field too from a knee injury via NSW Cup and produced a solid 80-minute performance in the second row, finishing with a try assist, eight tackle busts, 103 metres and 22 tackles with one miss.
Nick Cotric was a big addition to the Raiders’ Cup side and did not disappoint. He scored what was ultimately the matchwinning try, got two linebreaks, eight tackle busts and ran for a game-high of 228 metres.
Storm winger George Jennings bagged four tries in 18 minutes while playing for feeder club Brisbane Tigers in Queensland Cup. He also finished the game with three linebreaks, 12 tackle busts and 224 running metres.
The Broncos enjoyed a bye over the weekend but Reece Walsh’s replacement, Tristan Sailor dropped back to Queensland Cup instead and scored in Souths Logan’s two-point win over Sunshine Coast.
Meanwhile, Khaled Rajab, Hayze Perham and Paul Alamoti went back to NSW Cup with a point to prove after being dropped from the Bulldogs’ NRL side.
Rajab was in everything at fullback, scoring a try, setting up another, getting five linebreak assist, four tackle busts and 151 running metres.
In the centres, Perham was unstoppable with two tries, two try assists, two linebreak assists, three linebreaks, eight tackle busts and 220 metres along with 15 tackles — no misses — while Paul Alamoti was solid with a try, three tackle busts, 143 metres and 11 tackles — one miss.
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STANDOUTS
Dragons halfback Lykhan King-Togia was impressive in what was just his second NSW Cup game and his first start. The young playmaker, who started the year in SG Ball, set up two tries, got a linebreak, four tackle busts and 96 running metres. He also made 29 tackles but did have four misses.
The Raiders also had a new face in the No.7 jersey with Mitch Henderson playing just his third Cup game — and first of the season. Henderson set up two tries, got two tackle busts, 66 running metres and 23 tackles, but four misses.
Second-rower Jack Boyling proved to the be the Western Suburbs Magpies’ most important player, scoring two tries in three minutes to steal his side a two-point win over Newtown. Boyling also got two linebreaks and four tackle busts, while making 35 tackles with two misses.
Magpies fullback Israel Ogden was also dynamic in the win with two try assists, two linebreak assists, four tackle busts and 145 metres.
There was a lot to like about the Warriors’ 36-14 win over the Eels. Taine Tuaupiki was everywhere, bagging two tries, six tackle busts and 216 metres, while Moala Graham-Taufa was impressive on the wing with a try, a try assist and 217 metres.
Kalani Going showed he is ready for the NRL, scoring a try, setting up another, getting two linebreaks, four tackle busts and 175 metres along with his 34 tackles, two misses.
And five-eighth Ben Farr ran amok with two linebreaks and 172 metres.
The Bulldogs showed just how promising their production line of talent is looking with Jonathan Sua impressing on the wing in his NSW Cup debut. Sua, who has played SG Ball and Jersey Flegg this year, scored two tries, set up another, got three tackle busts and 125 running metres.
DCE confirms he’ll give winner’s speech | 01:09
Ben Stevanovic is usually setting up tries for the Bears, but on the weekend he was scoring them. The much-improved halfback, who leads the competition in try assists, scored a double and set up another in the Bears’ win over Blacktown. Stevanovic also finished with a linebreak, a linebreak assist, three tackle busts and 129 metres. He made 19 tackles but did miss six.
The Bears’ Mr. Reliable, Josh Bergamin, impressed at fullback with two try assists, a linebreak, two linebreak assists, six tackle busts and 184 metres.
The Knights have unearthed a real prospect in fullback David Armstrong, who joined the club last year after carving up for the Gundawindi Bores in Toowoomba’s local competition. Armstrong is such a talent he became the Cup side’s first-choice fullback over Bailey Hodgson, who has since picked up another unfortunate injury.
Armstrong scored two tries and set up three in the Knights’ win over the Roosters. He also got two linebreaks, two linebreak assists, five tackle busts and 101 running metres.
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Townsville second-rower Taniela Sadrugu did more damage in his 28-minute stint off the bench than most players can do in an entire game. He bagged a hat-trick, got three linebreaks, 77 metres and 12 tackle busts.
Tom Steadman was Burleigh’s most important player in their 30-22 win over PNG. Not only did he nail all five of his conversion attempts, but he scored the match-sealer in the 79th minute Steadman also set up two tries, got a linebreak assist, two linebreaks and 118 metres. His teammate Sami Sauiluma got through a mountain of work on the wing, scoring a try and getting seven tackle busts and 211 metres.
Tahj Wood set up three tries at fullback for Brisbane Tigers before leaving the field in the 45th minute, while second-rower Thomas Rafter also got three try assists, two linebreaks, 108 metres and made 26 tackles with two misses.
The running game of Jock Madden was on-song with the Broncos’ back-up playmaker scoring two tries, getting two linebreaks and 101 metres in Wynnum Manly’s win over Pride.
Dolphins slay Titans in golden point | 03:11
SPOTTED
Redcliffe won the inaugural Liam Hampson Cup after beating Tweed Seagulls 26-24 at Cbus Super Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The game was a tribute to Hampson, who played for both clubs before his tragic death last year. Halfback Cody Hunter kicked a penalty goal in the 77th minute to claim the win — an eerie result given what happened in the Dolphins and Titans’ NRL game afterwards.
Xavier Savage suffered a hamstring injury 35 minutes into the Raiders’ clash with the Dragons. Prior to leaving the field he had notched up two linebreaks, 122 metres and 11 tackle busts.
A coach of one NSW Cup side and the doctor of another NSW Cup side had a heated discussion at the end of a game over the weekend over whether or not a player should’ve been taken from the field for a HIA.
