Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo challenged Kyle Flanagan to play hooker to see how versatile he may very well be — and the playmaker gave the coach lots to consider.
The Roosters may very well be set for a reshuffle and star playmaker Sam Walker put his hand up for an NRL recall. But another choice for Trent Robinson additionally emerged.
Meanwhile, Liam Knight returned after being sidelined for 10 months and Xavier Savage shifted again to his most well-liked place of fullback.
Read on for the newest Reserve Grade Wrap.
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‘No huge deal, you see it on a regular basis!’ | 07:21
ALL EYES WERE ON
There’s studies circulating suggesting Kyle Flanagan is off to the Sea Eagles, however for now he’s biding his time within the Dogs’ NSW Cup aspect and was thrown into a totally new function.
Ciraldo instructed the media on Saturday that Flanagan would have the possibility to indicate what else he can deliver to the aspect and the 24-year-old did precisely that.
Flanagan began at hooker and completed the sport with a strive help, a linebreak help, 49 working metres and a game-high of 45 tackles — though he did miss 4.
If Flanagan was to deal with growing his recreation at hooker he’d nonetheless be caught behind Reed Mahoney, however it might give him a great shot at touchdown a bench utility function.
Sam Walker carved up in his 33 minutes for the Roosters’ reserve grade aspect. Walker left the sphere for a HIA, which he handed, after which obtained an early mark to get able to be 18th man for the NRL recreation.
Walker scored the Roosters’ first strive after which arrange two extra. He additionally obtained a linebreak, two linebreak assists and 71 working metres, whereas additionally making seven tackles with zero misses.
A recall may very well be on the playing cards for Walker if Paul Momirovski’s harm forces Trent Robinson to maneuver Joey Manu again to the centres. However, Billy Smith was spectacular in his first 80 full recreation since coming back from an ACL harm.
Smith scored for the Roosters’ different Cup aspect, the Bears, he additionally obtained a linebreak, seven deal with busts and 141 working metres.
Another possibility is 27-year-old Junior Pauga, who’s on a train-and-trial with the Roosters. Pauga began the season within the centres for the Bears however has spent the final three video games on the wing. Pauga was monumental within the 29-28 win, scoring a double, establishing one other strive, getting three linebreaks, 9 deal with busts and working for 243 metres. The Roosters must get an exemption to play him although given he’s not within the Top 30.
Veteran forwards Dylan Napa and Nathan Brown confirmed their expertise for the Roosters up entrance. Napa racked up 127 working metres and 24 tackles with zero misses, whereas Brown completed with 120 metres and 30 tackles with zero misses. It wasn’t sufficient although to guide the aspect to a win.
Xavier Savage shifted to fullback after enjoying his return recreation from a damaged jaw in Round 7 on the wing. Savage seemed harmful with the ball and completed with a strive, 4 deal with busts and 145 working metres.
In the identical recreation Rabbitohs ahead Liam Knight made his return from an ACL rupture just below 10 months because the harm and put in a efficiency he may be pleased with, ending with 151 working metres and 17 tackles with zero misses in 35 minutes.
Anthony Milford additionally returned from harm — a hamstring pressure suffered in Round 5 — for the Dolphins in Queensland Cup. Milford arrange a strive, obtained a linebreak, a linebreak help and ran for 80 metres within the 32-18 win. He additionally made six tackles however did miss 4.
Elsewhere Andrew Davey made a mid-season transfer to the Eels and obtained straight into it, beginning within the second row in NSW Cup. Davey completed with 85 working metres, two offloads and 18 tackles with one miss.
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STANDOUTS
Young centre Brad Morkos had a giant recreation for the Raiders, establishing two tries, getting two linebreaks, a linebreak help and 134 working metres of their 22-16 win.
Skipper Trey Mooney continued his red-hot type with a strive help, two linebreak assists, three deal with busts and 180 working metres, whereas additionally making 37 tackles with one miss.
Hohepa Puru confirmed off his versatility by beginning at five-eighth earlier than later switching to the forwards. Puru, who’s regarded one of many fittest gamers on the Raiders, completed with 138 working metres and 33 tackles with zero misses.
Resilient Roosters grind out win in NZ | 00:54
Daejarn Asi was electrical at fullback for the Eels, establishing three tries and working for 137 metres of their 44-10 win over the Knights. Zac Cini scored two of these tries — one off a cross and the opposite provide a grubber. He additionally obtained a linebreak, 5 deal with busts, 152 working metres and made 14 tackles with only one miss.
Meni Luke — youthful brother of Penrith’s Soni Luke — triggered some harm 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 additionally getting two in addition to two linebreaks, six deal with busts and 106 working metres. Doorey additionally made 17 tackles with zero misses.
Newtown’s Connor Tracey was arduous to deal with with the fullback amassing 166 working metres and 9 deal with busts to go along with his strive, whereas Kayal Iro was equally busy with a strive, a linebreak, eight deal with busts and 184 metres.
But it wasn’t sufficient to get the Jets over the road with the Bears launching a second-half comeback and Jesse Marschke slotting the match-winning area objective within the 76th minute. Braydon Trindall tried to match it two minutes later however missed. Marschke additionally arrange a attempt to ran for 101 metres within the win.
Shawn Blore was all class within the Magpies’ win over the reigning NSW Cup premiers, Penrith. Blore arrange a strive, obtained a linebreak help, two offloads and ran for 130 metres, whereas additionally making 18 tackles with one miss. Back-rower Jack Boyling scored his first NSW Cup strive within the fourth minute after which added a second to his tally 9 minutes later. The 22-year-old additionally obtained two linebreaks, three deal with busts and 139 working metres, whereas additionally making 33 tackles with 4 misses.
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The Warriors are nonetheless sitting on high of the ladder after 4 wins on the trot. Playmaker Ronald Volkman steered them to victory as soon as once more with three strive assists and a linebreak help. But Naufahu Whyte was monumental in a dropping aspect, ending with 214 working metres and 38 tackles with no misses.
Young gun fullback Joash Papalii was spectacular within the Bulldogs’ win, ending with a linebreak, 5 deal with busts and 188 working metres.
Tristan Sailor ran amok for Souths Logan, establishing a strive, getting a linebreak and 234 metres at fullback.
Soni Luke in scorching water over hip drop | 03:00
Meanwhile Trai Fuller was damaging at No.1 for the Dolphins, scoring a strive, getting two linebreaks, a linebreak help, seven deal with busts and 193 working metres. But it was halfback Cody Hunter that steered the aspect to a 32-18 win with two strive assists and 4 linebreak assists. Jeremiah Simbiken obtained by means of a mountain of labor within the second row too, ending with a strive, a strive help, a linebreak help, three deal with busts, three offloads and 135 working metres in addition to 25 tackles and three misses.
Western Clydesdales winger Mitchell Watson scored a staggering 5 tries and arrange one other of their 46-10 win over Ipswich. The 23-year-old additionally obtained 4 linebreaks and 136 working metres in what was simply his sixth Queensland Cup recreation. Last yr he was enjoying for the Warwick Cowboys in Toowoomba’s A-grade competitors.
Norths Devils hooker Liam Horne bagged a hat-trick and arrange a fourth strive. He additionally obtained three linebreaks and 142 working metres to go along with his 29 tackles and no misses.
Skipper Jack Ahearn confirmed his class with three strive assists, a linebreak, two linebreak assists and 161 working metres, whereas Broncos ahead Xavier Willison was monumental off the bench for the Devils with a strive, a linebreak and 265 metres — 127 post-contact.
Titans duo Keano Kini and Ken Maumalo had a time out for feeder aspect Burleigh of their 20-16 win over the Brisbane Tigers. Kini scored a strive, arrange one other, obtained two linebreaks and ran for 213 metres, whereas Maumalo additionally bagged a attempt to an help together with 4 linebreaks and 209 metres.
SPOTTED
Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou and star participant Jai Arrow in Wagga Wagga to look at Liam Knight make his return. The pair flew down Saturday morning after their 32-6 win over the Broncos the night time earlier than.
Source: www.foxsports.com.au