Dragons hooker Jacob Liddle showed he doesn’t belong in reserve grade with a comprehensive performance in response to his shock axing.
A Titans outside back showed his versatility, while veteran forward Nathan Brown continues to push for an opportunity with another classy performance for the Roosters.
Junior Pauga and Toa Mata’afa carved up for the Bears, who have now taken top spot on the New South Wales Cup ladder and Queensland Cup’s reigning Halfback of the Year had the ball on a string.
Read on for the latest Reserve Grade Wrap.
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Eels get clutch last play awfully wrong! | 00:39
ALL EYES WERE ON
A lot of Dragons fans would agree that Jacob Liddle was probably hard done by being dropped to reserve grade last weekend in Anthony Griffin’s big shake-up. But the recently re-signed hooker responded in the best way possible.
Liddle scored a try, got two linebreaks, a linebreak assist and ran for 130 metres in the Dragons’ 34-26 loss to Blacktown. He also made 33 tackles with just one miss.
Kyle Flanagan spent another week at hooker in the Bulldogs’ NSW Cup side and finished his 80-minute effort with a linebreak assist, 84 running metres and a mammoth 48 tackles with two misses.
Jahream Bula has a firm grasp on the Wests Tigers’ No.1 jersey but Daine Laurie is doing some good stuff for the Magpies in reserve grade. Laurie set up three tries, got two linebreak assists and ran for 148 metres in their two-point loss to the Eels.
Meanwhile, Jake Arthur set up a try, got a linebreak assist, ran for 77 metres and made 21 tackles with one miss in that game. He will get his first opportunity in first grade this week with Mitchell Moses out due to concussion protocols.
Kaeo Weekes dropped back to NSW Cup this week and had a solid game at fullback for Blacktown, scoring a try, setting one up, getting a linebreak, five tackle busts and 146 running metres.
Nathan Brown is going from strength to strength in the Roosters’ NSW Cup squad. He played 80 minutes in their two-point loss to the Rabbitohs, finishing with 185 running metres and 36 tackles with zero misses.
Corey Harawira-Naera found himself in reserve grade for the first time this season and proved to be a gamechanger. He notched up 156 running metres and 40 tackles, although did miss five. He also scored in 79th minute to bring his side within two points of the Bulldogs. Brad Schneider nailed the conversion with the game finishing as a draw.
Aaron Schoupp has made an NRL career out of being a centre but on the weekend played in the second row for feeder side Tweed Seagulls. He carved up in the new role, bagging two tries and setting up another, while also getting two linebreaks, a linebreak assist, 12 tackle busts and 122 running metres. He made 19 tackles too but did miss five.
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STANDOUTS
Goal-kicking proved to be the difference between the Rabbitohs and Roosters with both sides scoring five tries each.
Blake Taaffe scored 16 of the Bunnies’ 28 points with two tries and four conversions. He also set up a try, got three linebreaks, eight tackle busts and ran for 176 metres.
Pint-sized hooker Peter Mamouzelos also bagged a double, while Dean Hawkins had the ball on a string, setting up three tries and getting three linebreak assists.
On the other side of the field Jade Anderson proved hard to handle, scoring two tries, getting two linebreaks and 10 tackle busts on the wing.
Sandon Smith set up three tries and got three linebreak assists, while Siua Wong and got through a mountain of work finishing with a try, a try assist, three linebreaks and 165 metres as well as 26 tackles with just one miss.
In another close game, Daejarn Asi scored a try and set up two more for the Eels while skipper Jordan Rankin showed his class with a try, a try assist, a linebreak, a linebreak assist and 101 running metres. He also made 21 tackles with one miss.
Cowboys down Roosters in wet conditions | 01:56
Triston Reilly was enormous for the Magpies, bagging a double, setting up another, getting a linebreak, a linebreak assist and 191 running metres.
The Bears have moved to the top of the ladder after their 30-12 win over the Warriors in which Junior Pauga and Toa Mata’afa carved up on the right edge. Pauga scored two tries, got a linebreak, 10 tackle busts and 268 metres on the wing, while Mata’afa in the centres also scored a double, set up another, got a linebreak, a linebreak assist, seven tackle busts and 241 running metres.
The doubles continued throughout the weekend with Newtown’s Samuel Stonestreet and Daniel Atkinson also bagging two tries each in their 29-16 win over the Panthers. Stonestreet also got 166 running metres to go with his three linebreaks, while Atkinson set up a try, got two linebreaks and 161 metres.
Semi Valemei ran amok in the Raiders’ draw with the Bulldogs, scoring two tries as well as getting two linebreaks, five tackle busts and 195 metres. His teammate Harley Smith-Shields topped the metre-count though with an impress 208 — 112 of those post-contact.
Clayton Fualolo has found a home on the wing for Blacktown having now scored 10 tries in eight games. He scored two of them on the weekend — the fourth game in a row he’s scored — while also getting a linebreak a linebreak assist and 236 metres.
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Veteran fullback Lindon McGrady scored 20 of Tweed’s 50 points in their thrashing of the Western Clydesdales. McGrady scored two tries and kicked six conversions while also setting up a try, getting two linebreaks and 199 metres.
Will Brimson — brother of AJ — was also important in the win with two try assists, two linebreaks, a linebreak assist and 156 metres.
Souths Logan halfback Jack Campagnolo scored a try and set up another in his side’s win over Wynnum Manly. Campagnolo, who returned to Queensland after a season with the Rabbitohs, also got a linebreak, two linebreak assists and 142 running metres.
Wesser Tenza had one of his best games for the PNG Hunters with the crafty hooker scoring a try and setting up two more. He also got a linebreak, three linebreak assists while making 26 tackles.
Queensland Cup’s reigning Halfback of the Year, Guy Hamilton — who spent pre-season with the Roosters on a train-and-trial — once again pulled all the strings for Burleigh, finishing with three try assists, two linebreak assists and 87 metres in their four-point win over CQ Capras. Winger Tony Francis also delivered the goods, scoring two tries and running for 141 metres.
On the other side of the field, Edrick Lee matched it with two tries of his own, while fullback Blake Moore set up two tries, got two linebreak assists and ran for 171 metres.
Goal-kicking coast Mackay in their four-point loss to Northern Pride but five-eighth Adam Cook impressed for them with two try assists, a linebreak assist and 140 running metres.
Staying on the doubles theme, Brisbane Tigers centre Solomona Faataape wrapped up the weekend with two tries, as well as a try assist, two linebreaks and 174 metres, while Corey Thompson proved he’s still got it, finishing that game with 10 tackle busts and 237 metres.
