Charlie Staines’ dominant display in New South Wales Cup will have him in the box seat to replace Taylan May in Penrith’s NRL preliminary final next week.
Meanwhile, an off-contract Bulldog put himself in the shopfront window as he steered his side to a big win to live on another week.
The Panthers have progressed straight through to the NSW Cup grand final, while the Dogs will take on Newtown this weekend to determine the other spot after knocking out North Sydney.
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Sunshine Coast staged a stunning comeback and sealed a two-point win over Tweed with a penalty goal in golden point. They take on Norths Devils in a Queensland Cup prelim after the Devils enjoyed a week off.
Burleigh comprehensively beat CQ Capras and will face a refreshed Redcliffe in the other preliminary final.
Read on for the latest Reserve Grade Wrap.
ALL EYES WERE ON…
Charlie Staines is expected to be the man that comes in for Taylan May, who copped a one-game ban for a high tackle and also suffered a hamstring injury last Friday.
Staines has started on the wing in 31 of his 37 NRL games, but has bounced between wing and fullback in reserve grade.
While in the No.1 jersey on the weekend, Staines set up two tries — one with a grubber and the other with a pass — and also got a linebreak, a linebreak assist and four tackle busts, while running for 316 metres.
The 21-year-old was expected to nail down a spot in the Panthers’ backline this season only to fall down the pecking order behind May.
Sunia Turuva, the less likely option for May, was also busy scoring a double, getting two linebreaks, five tackle busts and 175 running metres.
Veteran outside back Robert Jennings also put his hand up with two tries, two linebreaks, five tackle busts and 141 running metres.
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STANDOUTS
Gun playmaker Sean O’Sullivan was pivotal in Penrith’s 28-18 win over Newtown. The Dolphins-bound half scored a try, got a linebreak, a linebreak assist, three tackle busts and ran for 188 metres.
His teammate J’maine Hopgood, who will join the Eels next season, was also once again a standout. Hopgood set up a try, got a linebreak assist and ran for 164 metres, while making 35 tackles with just one miss.
Despite the loss, the Jets produced an admirable performance with Kayal Iro and Tom Hazelton — who both got NRL debuts this season with the Sharks — starring.
Iro notched up a team-high of 171 running metres, while also score a try, getting two linebreaks and proving to be hard to handle with 10 tackle busts.
Towering prop Hazelton was solid on both sides of the ball as he set up a try and ran for 137 metres, while also making 37 tackles with just one miss.
Bulldogs halfback Brandon Wakeham is yet to lock in his future beyond this season but his performance on the weekend will help his search for a new deal. Wakeham set up two tries in the Dogs’ 22-10 win over the Bears and got 152 running metres. He also made 22 tackles with three misses.
The Bulldogs’ NSW Cup Player of the Year, Jackson Topine, was true to form with another huge effort. Second-rower Topine scored his seventh try of the season, while also getting 2 tackle busts and running 137 metres. He was almost flawless in defence too with 38 tackles and just one miss.
Up and coming prop Jayden Tanner also got through a mountain of week with 222 running metres and 25 tackles, only one miss.
Titans winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira continued his try-scoring form in Burleigh’s 32-16 win, scoring a hat-trick to take his tally to 25 tries in 18 games. It was his third hat-trick of the season. The 20-year-old, who is on a top 30 deal until the end of 2023, also got two linebreaks, four tackle busts and ran for 296 metres.
Burleigh’s fullback Taine Tuaupiki, who will join the Warriors next season on a development deal, was in great form too, setting up two tries, getting three linebreaks, a linebreak assist, eight tackle busts and 254 running metres.
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SPOTTED
Unfortunately Newtown will be without Matt Ikuvalu after the powerhouse winger suffered what looked to be a serious knee injury. Ikuvalu has had rotten luck with injuries. He recently missed a week with a groin niggle and earlier this season missed eight weeks due to a neck injury.
