Raiders fan favourite Charnze Nicoll Klokstad likely played his last game in the lime green jersey and made the most of the moment.
Meanwhile, a $750,000 Bulldogs star responded to his shock axing from the NRL side and a young gun Roosters trio ran amok in the North Sydney Bears’ big win.
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And the PNG Hunters celebrated their return to their home ground in Port Moresby with a thrilling 30-28 win over Mackay Cutters, sealed with a conversion on full time.
Newtown claimed the NSW Cup minor premiership with a penalty goal on full time and have earned the week off, while Manly have another Jorge Taufua in the making.
Read on for the latest Reserve Grade Wrap as NSW Cup and Queensland Cup head into finals.
LISTEN TO THE FULL JACKSON HASTINGS INTERVIEW ON THE FOX LEAGUE PODCAST
ALL EYES WERE ON…
Raiders fan favourite Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad got the send off he deserved, albeit in reserve grade. Depending on what happens in the NRL side, Nicoll-Klokstad likely played his final game for the Raiders in Saturday’s NSW Cup clash with Blacktown. He went out with a bang, scoring a double, setting up another try, getting two linebreaks, a linebreak assist, seven tackle busts and 188 running metres.
The Raiders faithful gave the 27-year-old a standing ovation when he scored in the 76th minute to seal a 24-12 win and their support was not lost on him.
“It’s been an emotional week,” Nicoll-Klokstad told Fox League after the game.
“Four good years here at this club. So grateful for all the memories that I’ve been able to share with these boys. So grateful for this club for the opportunity.
“And I’m so glad that I’ll forever be Raider #355.
“I just want to thank you guys (the fans) so much. Even after I signed to go back home, everyone has been so supportive.
“I just want to thank everyone — my family back home, my boys and my wife in the stands. It means so much.
“It’s been a rollercoaster two years so it’s good to be able to finish on a high and finish off with the future Canberra Raiders boys.”
Still on the Raiders, Ricky Stuart’s outside back stocks got a boost with Semi Valemei returning from a rib injury and getting through 80 minutes unscathed. Valemei finished the game with a linebreak, six tackle busts and 162 running metres.
Bulldogs star Tevita Panagi Junior responded to his shock axing in the best way possible, notching up 218 running metres, a linebreak assist and two tackle busts in his side’s 22-all draw with Newtown, while also making 26 tackles but he had four misses.
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STANDOUTS
The future of the Raiders’ forward pack is bright with Ata Mariota once again proving why the club has him earmarked as a regular first-grader. Mariota ran for 160 metres, got four tackle busts and two offloads as well as 27 tackles with zero misses in Saturday’s win.
On the other side of the field, Blacktown centre Alfred Smalley put on a show with several bone-crunching hits on some unlucky Raiders players. Smalley, who was fresh off his second NRL appearance in Round 23, made his presence known with a try, a linebreak, 10 tackle busts and 141 running metres to go with his Jorge Taufua-esque hits.
The Eels locked in a finals spot with a 24-4 win over the Knights. Hayze Perham set up a couple of tries at fullback, while Zac Cini ran amok on the wing with two tries, nine tackle busts and 226 metres, and prop Ky Rodwell was a standout once again. Rodwell scored in the 46th minute, got two linebreaks, six tackle busts and 174 running metres, while making 25 tackles with just one miss.
Elsewhere, Newtown claimed the minor premiership thanks to Mawene Hiroti’s penalty goal in the 80th minute. Other than the important kick, Hiroti did an admirable job filling in at fullback while Kade Dykes is injured and Locky Miller was on NRL duties. He finished with a try assist, a linebreak assist, two tackle busts and 232 running metres.
Injuries and mid-season releases have forced the North Sydney Bears to call on some of the Roosters’ Jersey Flegg players throughout the year and a trio of youngsters did more than hold their own in Sunday’s 60-6 win over Mounties.
The benefits of training full time with the NRL squad are showing for halfback Sandon Smith, who set up three tries and ran for 162 metres. Meanwhile, winger Ethan King bagged a hat-trick, ran for 132 metres and got 10 tackle busts and second-rower Jacob Preston, who is off to the Bulldogs next season, scored a try, set up another, got a linebreak, a linebreak assist, three tackle busts and 114 running metres. He also made 25 tackles with one miss.
Speaking of youngsters, Magpies winger Jay Kirk, who is still eligible for Jersey Flegg, scored a hat-trick in his NSW Cup debut.
PNG Hunters centre Rodrick Tai was hard to handle, scoring a try, setting up another, getting a linebreak, two linebreak assists, eight tackle busts and 191 running metres. But it was his teammate Wartovo Puara who scored the match-levelling try in the 7th minute before Kingstimer Paraia nailed the conversion to snatch the win.
Meanwhile, Broncos forward Rhys Kennedy was dropped back to Queensland Cup but didn’t kick stones, notching up 183 running metres, five tackle busts, four offloads and 26 tackles with one miss for Norths Devils. His teammate Tony Tumusa carved up in the centres with two tries, two linebreaks, 134 running metres and a mammoth 13 tackle busts… but winger Jayden Corrigan beat him with 16 tackle busts in the same game!
Northern Pride prop Nick Lui-Toso was everywhere in his side’s 40-18 win over Ipswich, scoring a try, a try assist, a linebreak, a linebreak assist, five tackle busts and 228 running metres. He also made 19 tackles with just one miss.
CQ Capras Radean Robinson was instrumental in his side’s 40-20 win over Souths Logan, bagging a double, setting up FOUR more tries, getting a linebreak, two linebreak assists, six tackle busts and 144 running metres.
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SPOTTED
North Sydney Bears winger Tom Carr scored a double to claim the honour of NSW Cup’s top tryscorer with 21 tries. He edged out South Sydney’s Izaac Thompson — who hasn’t played since Round 20 — and Penrith’s Thomas Jenkins (both finished with 20 tries). Carr’s teammate Adam Keighran missed the last two games of the regular season with a shoulder injury but did enough to secure top pointscorer.
Ironically, Burleigh Bears had the same success in Queensland Cup with Josh Rogers comfortably claiming top pointscorer and Alofiana Khan-Pereira finishing as top tryscorer.
Unfortunately Raiders young gun Trey Mooney won’t be able to put his hand up for the NRL side after suffering a syndesmosis injury.
Minor premiers Newtown have got the week off but look set to be without Addison Demetriou for their major semi-final after the centre suffered a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Broncos forward TC Robati returned from an arm injury via feeder side Wynnum Manly.
