Another Walters is on the scene with Harry, the son of Broncos coach Kevvie, making a three-try statement in what was just his third Queensland Cup game.
Meanwhile, the Roosters have an exciting prospect on the rise in Tyreece Tait, who represented Queensland under 19s last month and scored four tries on the weekend.
And a host of players returned from injury including Storm centre Reimis Smith and Bulldogs forward Liam Knight.
Read on for the latest Reserve Grade Wrap.
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ALL EYES WERE ON…
Melbourne Storm duo Reimis Smith and Tepai Moeroa returned to the field via NSW Cup feeder side, North Sydney Bears. Smith, who missed a fortnight due to a concussion, scored in the Bears’ win and also got a linebreak, seven tackle busts and 137 running metres as well as making six tackles with no misses.
Moeroa, who hadn’t played since Round 6 due to a back injury, started at prop and finished with four tackle busts, 116 running metres and 10 tackles — no misses.
The Bulldogs also welcomed back a trio of players from injury. Young gun fullback Joash Papalii has been battling a rib complaint but after five weeks on the sidelines made his return. It was, however, a quiet game by his standards — seven runs for 62 metres and one tackle bust.
Liam Knight is back on deck after a six-week sideline stint due to a calf injury and played 27 minutes off the bench, finishing with seven runs for 60 metres and 19 tackles, one miss.
Meanwhile, up-and-coming forward Jack Todd made his long-awaited return from a fractured forearm on the weekend for the Dogs. The 21-year-old lock/prop was getting close to an NRL debut before suffering the injury at training seven weeks ago. Todd started at lock in the loss to the Bears and got through 51 minutes, finishing with 76 running metres, three tackle busts and 37 tackles — five misses.
Michael Jennings returned from a minor hamstring concern in the Roosters’ 32-18 win over the Newtown Jets. The 36-year-old scored a try, got five tackle busts and ran 124 metres in a performance that should be enough to convince Trent Robinson to pick him in Joey Manu’s spot after the star centre fracture his hand.
Harry Walters, the son of Broncos coach Kevin Walters, bagged a hat-trick for Souths Logan Magpies in what was just his third Queensland Cup game.
Walters — a second-rower — was thrown into the action off the bench in the 27th minute and scored three crucial tries to lock the scores up 26-all before halfback Brandon Finnegan nailed the matchwinning field goal.
Walters also got two linebreaks, ran 100 metres and made eight tackles with one miss.
He was the Norths Devils’ Hastings Deering Colts Player of the Year in 2023 before joining the Magpies ahead of this season.
Corey Horsburgh has returned from a groin strain in recent weeks but he’s set for another sideline stint — this time through suspension. He was sent off in the 66th minute of the Raiders’ loss to the Warriors, along with Warriors duo Tom Ale and Lacob Laban, for striking.
Prior to the incident, the 26-year-old was having a good game, scoring a try, running 116 metres and making 30 tackles with two misses.
Horsburgh was issued two striking charges by the NSWRL match review committee. He entered an early guilty plea and has been suspended for three games all up (one game for the grade one charge and two games for the grade two charge).
Meanwhile, Ale has been issued with a grade one striking charge and will be suspended for one game if he enters and early guilty plea. He will miss two games if he chooses to fight the charge and fails.
Matty praises classy Crichton act | 00:59
NSW CUP
The Roosters have a speedy teenager coming through their ranks in Tyreece Tait. The 18-year-old made his NSW Cup debut in Round 9 and has played a total of four games. He got his most recent opportunity over the weekend and made the most of it scoring four tries — three were in 10 minutes — while also getting a linebreak, four tackle busts and 211 running metres.
Tait, who now has seven tries in his four NSW Cup games, scored for Queensland in the Under 19s Origin clash last month. His speed is his greatest asset — he can run 100 metres in 11 seconds.
Siua Wong was also enormous for the Roosters, playing the full 80 minutes up front and finishing with 230 metres as well as 24 tackles, one miss.
There was a lot to like in the Panthers’ 30-6 win over the Magpies, including a hat-trick from winger Daeon Amituanai. He also set up a try, got four linebreaks and ran over 200 metres.
Young gun fullback Isaiah Iongi was everywhere too, setting up a try, getting three linebreak assists, four tackle busts and 197 metres.
Meanwhile, Tyrone Peachey — who recently announced he will retire at the end of the season — looked the goods at five-eighth. The 32-year-old scored a try, got three linebreak assists and 105 running metres, while also making 11 tackles with zero misses.
And Mav Geyer had a big game. The fan favourite set up a try, got a linebreak, ran 167 metres and made 26 tackles with one miss.
The Eels bounced back from a heavy loss in Round 16 to beat the Knights convincingly. Isaac Lumelume and Jake Tago both scored two tries each, while Zac Cini shone at fullback with a try assist, a linebreak assist, five tackle busts and 163 running metres.
Brock Parker, led the way at prop, finishing with 20 runs for 168 metres and 26 tackles, one miss. The 21-year-old spent some time training with the NRL squad during pre-season and has been one of the Eels’ most consistent players this season.
Taine Tuaupiki had a hand in three of the Warriors’ tries, scoring two and setting up another, while also getting a linebreak 10 tackle busts and 188 metres in their win at Go Media Stadium.
Veteran prop Bunty Afoa was a class above with 190 running metres and 24 tackles, no misses. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Leka Halasima proved once again why he’s tipped for a bright future with 155 metres and 22 tackles, no misses.
An honourable mention goes to workhorse lock Hohepa Puru, who impressed in a losing side with a try assist, a linebreak, four tackle busts and 188 metres. He also made 45 tackles, but missed six.
Cooper Roberts scored a double for the Dragons, while fellow winger Savelio Tamale — who has signed with the Raiders for next season — shone with a try, a linebreak, eight tackle busts and 253 metres.
Meanwhile, rising talent Lyhkan King-Togia made the switch to fullback after previously playing in the halves and looked right at home. The 19-year-old Dalby product set up three tries, got three linebreak assists and ran 83 metres.
King-Togia arrived to the Dragons last season and spent some time training with the NRL squad over the summer. He played SG Ball for the Illawarra Steelers earlier this year, joined the Cup side in Round 13 and has held his spot ever since.
Development player Josh Coric was rock-solid for the Dragons in their 32-18 win over the Rabbitohs with 178 metres and 16 tackles — no misses. And for the Bunnies, veteran forward Billy Tsikrikas was busy in a losing side, scoring two tries, getting a linebreak, five tackle busts and 151 metres. He also made 24 tackles with two misses.
And Kieran Haymen’s boot got the Bears over the line in their tight tussle with the Bulldogs. It was two tries a piece, but Haymen kicked both of his conversions as well as three penalty goals to seal an 18-10 win.
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QUEENSLAND CUP
The Dolphins were runaway winners in their clash with Tweed in the Liam Hampson Cup. The clash is in memory of former Dolphins player Hampson, who sadly lost his life while holidaying in Europe in 2022.
Winger Brenton Baira scored 26 of the Dolphins’ 58 points with two tries and nine conversions from 10 attempts, while Sheldon Pitama was busy out of dummy-half with a try, two try assists, a linebreak and two linebreak assists.
Veteran prop Jarrod Wallace scored a double to take his try-scoring tally to three in his last two games, while Jarrett Boland — a close mate of Hampson — ran 167 metres and made 16 tackles with no misses to be voted player’s player.
Sean O’Sullivan was officially crowned man of the match at Kayo Stadium after setting up a try, getting two linebreak assists and topping the run metres for the game with 187.
Wynnum Manly unleashed a new signing in Fua Schwalger, who made a mid-season switch from the Western Clydesdales. The 24-year-old, who ironically played the Falcons two weeks in a row due to the move, made a big first impression with two tries, two linebreaks and 132 metres.
The boot of Cody Hunter was crucial for the Falcons in the 14-10 win with the 22-year-old halfback slotting two conversions and a penalty goal. He also set up a try. And Storm-contracted second-rower Chris Lewis had a good game, finishing with a try, a linebreak and 14 metres.
Cowboys rookie Robert Derby had a blinder for feeder side Northern Pride in their 20-12 win over Mackay. The 22-year-old, who is signed until the end of 2025 on a Top 30 deal, bagged a hat-trick, got two linebreaks and ran 161 metres.
The versatile Dantoray Lui was also busy with a try assist, a linebreak assist and 157 running metres. Lui started the season playing off the bench but has also filled in at five-eighth or most recently in the centres.
After notching up 300 metres last week, Dolphins youngster Oryn Keeley had another enormous game for feeder side Norths Devils, making 200 metres — 86 post-contact — and 19 tackles. The 21-year-old has three tries and five linebreaks in nine games, while he’s also is averaging 188 metres 18 tackles per game. Meanwhile, Sam Elliott had a huge impact off the bench with two tries.
For the second week in a row Burleigh scored 56 points — their most all season — and this time it was the Western Clydesdales on the receiving end.
Halfback Guy Hamilton scored 24 of the points with a try, nine conversions from nine attempts, a penalty, while veteran hooker Pat Politoni was all class with a try, two try assists and three linebreak assists.
Spare a thought for Clydesdales centre Corey Fenning, who more than pulled his weight with two tries and three successful conversions to score 14 of his team’s 18 points. He also got a linebreak and ran 141 metres in the loss.
Rory Ferguson produced a captain’s knock for Souths Logan, punching out 80 minutes at lock and finishing with a try assist, a linebreak assist, 147 metres and 35 tackles, two misses.
Fullback Radean Robinson proved to be a handful too with two try assists and 131 metres, but did spend 10 minutes in the bin for a scrum infringement.
Brisbane Tigers wingers Coby Williamson and Ricco Falaniko bagged two tries each, but it was fullback Tahj Wood, who threatened the most in their one-point loss, finishing with three try assists, three linebreak assists and 174 metres.
