Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo challenged Kyle Flanagan to play hooker to see how versatile he could be — and the playmaker gave the coach plenty to think about.
The Roosters could be set for a reshuffle and star playmaker Sam Walker put his hand up for an NRL recall. But another option for Trent Robinson also emerged.
Meanwhile, Liam Knight returned after being sidelined for 10 months and Xavier Savage shifted back to his preferred position of fullback.
Read on for the latest Reserve Grade Wrap.
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‘No big deal, you see it all the time!’ | 07:21
ALL EYES WERE ON
There’s reports circulating suggesting Kyle Flanagan is off to the Sea Eagles, but for now he’s biding his time in the Dogs’ NSW Cup side and was thrown into a completely new role.
Ciraldo told the media on Saturday that Flanagan would have the chance to show what else he can bring to the side and the 24-year-old did exactly that.
Flanagan started at hooker and finished the game with a try assist, a linebreak assist, 49 running metres and a game-high of 45 tackles — although he did miss four.
If Flanagan was to focus on developing his game at hooker he’d still be stuck behind Reed Mahoney, but it would give him a good shot at landing a bench utility role.
Sam Walker carved up in his 33 minutes for the Roosters’ reserve grade side. Walker left the field for a HIA, which he passed, and then got an early mark to get ready to be 18th man for the NRL game.
Walker scored the Roosters’ first try and then set up two more. He also got a linebreak, two linebreak assists and 71 running metres, while also making seven tackles with zero misses.
A recall could be on the cards for Walker if Paul Momirovski’s injury forces Trent Robinson to move Joey Manu back to the centres. However, Billy Smith was impressive in his first 80 full game since returning from an ACL injury.
Smith scored for the Roosters’ other Cup side, the Bears, he also got a linebreak, seven tackle busts and 141 running metres.
Another option is 27-year-old Junior Pauga, who is on a train-and-trial with the Roosters. Pauga started the season in the centres for the Bears but has spent the last three games on the wing. Pauga was enormous in the 29-28 win, scoring a double, setting up another try, getting three linebreaks, nine tackle busts and running for 243 metres. The Roosters would have to get an exemption to play him though given he’s not in the Top 30.
Veteran forwards Dylan Napa and Nathan Brown showed their experience for the Roosters up front. Napa racked up 127 running metres and 24 tackles with zero misses, while Brown finished with 120 metres and 30 tackles with zero misses. It wasn’t enough though to lead the side to a win.
Xavier Savage shifted to fullback after playing his return game from a broken jaw in Round 7 on the wing. Savage looked dangerous with the ball and finished with a try, four tackle busts and 145 running metres.
In the same game Rabbitohs forward Liam Knight made his return from an ACL rupture just under 10 months since the injury and put in a performance he can be proud of, finishing with 151 running metres and 17 tackles with zero misses in 35 minutes.
Anthony Milford also returned from injury — a hamstring strain suffered in Round 5 — for the Dolphins in Queensland Cup. Milford set up a try, got a linebreak, a linebreak assist and ran for 80 metres in the 32-18 win. He also made six tackles but did miss four.
Elsewhere Andrew Davey made a mid-season move to the Eels and got straight into it, starting in the second row in NSW Cup. Davey finished with 85 running metres, two offloads and 18 tackles with one miss.
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STANDOUTS
Young centre Brad Morkos had a big game for the Raiders, setting up two tries, getting two linebreaks, a linebreak assist and 134 running metres in their 22-16 win.
Skipper Trey Mooney continued his red-hot form with a try assist, two linebreak assists, three tackle busts and 180 running metres, while also making 37 tackles with one miss.
Hohepa Puru showed off his versatility by starting at five-eighth before later switching to the forwards. Puru, who is regarded one of the fittest players at the Raiders, finished with 138 running metres and 33 tackles with zero misses.
Resilient Roosters grind out win in NZ | 00:54
Daejarn Asi was electric at fullback for the Eels, setting up three tries and running for 137 metres in their 44-10 win over the Knights. Zac Cini scored two of those tries — one off a pass and the other offer a grubber. He also got a linebreak, five tackle busts, 152 running metres and made 14 tackles with just one miss.
Meni Luke — younger brother of Penrith’s Soni Luke — caused some damage at hooker. Luke bagged a double with one off a 25-metre run out of dummy-half and made a team-high of 34 tackles with one miss.
The doubles continued with Matt Doorey also getting two as well as two linebreaks, six tackle busts and 106 running metres. Doorey also made 17 tackles with zero misses.
Newtown’s Connor Tracey was hard to handle with the fullback amassing 166 running metres and nine tackle busts to go with his try, while Kayal Iro was equally busy with a try, a linebreak, eight tackle busts and 184 metres.
But it wasn’t enough to get the Jets over the line with the Bears launching a second-half comeback and Jesse Marschke slotting the match-winning field goal in the 76th minute. Braydon Trindall tried to match it two minutes later but missed. Marschke also set up a try and ran for 101 metres in the win.
Shawn Blore was all class in the Magpies’ win over the reigning NSW Cup premiers, Penrith. Blore set up a try, got a linebreak assist, two offloads and ran for 130 metres, while also making 18 tackles with one miss. Back-rower Jack Boyling scored his first NSW Cup try in the fourth minute and then added a second to his tally nine minutes later. The 22-year-old also got two linebreaks, three tackle busts and 139 running metres, while also making 33 tackles with four misses.
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The Warriors are still sitting on top of the ladder after four wins on the trot. Playmaker Ronald Volkman steered them to victory once again with three try assists and a linebreak assist. But Naufahu Whyte was enormous in a losing side, finishing with 214 running metres and 38 tackles with no misses.
Young gun fullback Joash Papalii was impressive in the Bulldogs’ win, finishing with a linebreak, five tackle busts and 188 running metres.
Tristan Sailor ran amok for Souths Logan, setting up a try, getting a linebreak and 234 metres at fullback.
Soni Luke in hot water over hip drop | 03:00
Meanwhile Trai Fuller was damaging at No.1 for the Dolphins, scoring a try, getting two linebreaks, a linebreak assist, seven tackle busts and 193 running metres. But it was halfback Cody Hunter that steered the side to a 32-18 win with two try assists and four linebreak assists. Jeremiah Simbiken got through a mountain of work in the second row too, finishing with a try, a try assist, a linebreak assist, three tackle busts, three offloads and 135 running metres as well as 25 tackles and three misses.
Western Clydesdales winger Mitchell Watson scored a staggering five tries and set up another in their 46-10 win over Ipswich. The 23-year-old also got four linebreaks and 136 running metres in what was just his sixth Queensland Cup game. Last year he was playing for the Warwick Cowboys in Toowoomba’s A-grade competition.
Norths Devils hooker Liam Horne bagged a hat-trick and set up a fourth try. He also got three linebreaks and 142 running metres to go with his 29 tackles and no misses.
Skipper Jack Ahearn showed his class with three try assists, a linebreak, two linebreak assists and 161 running metres, while Broncos forward Xavier Willison was enormous off the bench for the Devils with a try, a linebreak and 265 metres — 127 post-contact.
Titans duo Keano Kini and Ken Maumalo had a day out for feeder side Burleigh in their 20-16 win over the Brisbane Tigers. Kini scored a try, set up another, got two linebreaks and ran for 213 metres, while Maumalo also bagged a try and an assist along with four linebreaks and 209 metres.
SPOTTED
Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou and star player Jai Arrow in Wagga Wagga to watch Liam Knight make his return. The pair flew down Saturday morning after their 32-6 win over the Broncos the night before.
