Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo spent another week in Queensland Cup after being dropped by coach Michael Maguire.
Meanwhile, a couple of Dragons playmakers produced a statement performance that will keep the pressure on the likes of Kyle Flanagan and Lykhan King-Togia.
The Roosters have another impressive playmaker on the rise and the Dolphins are flying in reserve grade too with their Queensland Cup side also recording over 50 points on Saturday.
All that and more in the latest edition of Reserve Grade Wrap.
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Fan outrage sparks Manly crisis talks! | 05:02
ALL EYES WERE ON…
Selwyn Cobbo spent his second week in Queensland Cup, but this time shifted to centre after playing fullback the weekend before.
The 23-year-old scored in feeder club Wynnum Manly’s win, while also getting two tackle busts and 94 metres from 12 runs. He also made five tackles, but missed two.
Cobbo was axed by Michael Maguire, who mentioned “standards and expectations” when asked about the decision and said the six-time Origin player has “got to look at a few things in his game.”
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan recently hit back at suggestions he should consider dropping his son Kyle, but a change-up in the halves in one way or another could be on the horizon off the back of Lachlan Ilias’ solid form in NSW Cup.
Ilias was dropped ahead of Round 9 and has helped steer the Cup team to six-straight wins. Ilias was impressive again on the weekend with a try, a try assist, 127 running metres and 24 tackles, no misses.
His halves partner Jonah Glover also looked the goods with the 22-year-old finishing with a try, a try assist, three linebreak assists and 122 running metres.
Glover joined the Dragons last season fresh off winning the Jersey Flegg premiership with the Bulldogs in 2023 and was upgraded to a development deal for this season.
Between Sam Walker, Sandon Smith, Hugo Savala and Toby Rodwell, the Roosters are flush when it comes to young, highly-touted playmakers. But there’s another one worth celebrating — Jake Elliott.
The 20-year-old Central Coast product set up two tries at five-eighth in the Roosters’ win over the Knights, while also getting three linebreak assists, six tackle busts and 153 running metres. He also made 37 tackles with just one miss.
Elliott was fast-tracked from SG Ball to NSW Cup last season and is said to be calm under pressure and mature for his age — the type of qualities that have seen him be named captain over the experienced Chad Townsend.
The good times just keep on coming for the Dolphins with their Queensland Cup team also putting on a huge score over the weekend. However it was over fellow feeder side CQ Capras.
Centre Will Partridge bagged four tries in the 56-12 win, while Junior Tupou scored a double and set up another try.
The halves were also busy with five-eighth Dantoray Lui scoring a try and setting up three more and halfback Joshua James also setting up three tries.
Will Grant come off the bench for QLD? | 01:18
NSW CUP STANDOUTS
The Roosters’ youth put on a show in their 28-6 win over the Knights. 20-year-old hooker Reece Foley scored two tries and ran 93 metres, while 22-year-old fullback Ethan King finished with 254 metres off 25 runs and nine tackle busts. 23-year-old winger Trey Peni proved to be a handful too with 23 runs for 216 metres, two linebreaks and 10 tackle busts.
The Warriors’ 46-22 victory over the Eels extended their winning streak to a record nine games and continues their reign on top of the NSW Cup ladder.
Livewire fullback Taine Tuaupiki was everywhere, notching up a try, a try assist, a linebreak, a linebreak assist, nine tackle busts and 280 running metres before he was knocked out by Alfred Smalley in a brutal hit late in the game.
Daeon Amituanai bagged a double in the centres and made over 180 metres to go with his three linebreaks, while Ed Kosi was busy on the wing with a try, two try assists, two linebreaks and 187 metres.
Tanah Boyd’s boot proved handy in the win too with the 24-year-old halfback nailing a 40/20, converting six tries and getting a penalty goal in the final minute.
Dragons fullback Cody Ramsey continued his red-hot form with three try assists, a linebreak and two linebreak assists. The 25-year-old sits fifth in the competition for try assists — and incredible feat given his well-documented journey back to the field from ulcerative colitis.
Blake Lawrie has struggled at times in the NRL this season but produced one of his best performances in Cup over the weekend. The 28-year-old prop finished with 21 runs for 178 metres and 36 tackles — no misses — in 64 minutes.
The Western Suburbs Magpies’ wingers both had enormous games with Charlie Staines and Izaac Tui’tupou Thompson racking up 234 and 243 running metres respectively. Lock Charlie Murray was also bust with a try assist, a linebreak assist, 131 metres and 17 tackles — one miss.
Emerging five-eighth Ashton Ward popped up everywhere in the Rabbitohs’ win over the Bulldogs. Ward scored a try, got two linebreaks, a linebreak assist, eight tackle busts and kicked six goals from six attempts.
Tim Johannssen also had a game to remember with the 23-year-old prop/lock finishing with a try, a linebreak assist, 20 runs for 169 metres, five tackle busts and 40 tackles — three misses.
Daniel O’Donnell and Henry O’Kane were injected into the game following head knocks and both brought plenty of spark off the bench.
O’Donnell, who came on for hooker Matt French, scored a try and up two more, while also making 37 tackles with just one miss.
O’Kane, who came on for outside back Fletcher Myers, scored a double, got nine tackle busts and made 18 tackles with no misses.
North Sydney Bears energiser bunny Jake Toby ran amok in their narrow win over the Raiders. Fullback Toby scored a try, set up two, got two linebreaks, 11 tackle busts and 185 running metres.
The versatile Coby Thomas was rock-solid at lock with 167 metres and 34 tackles — one miss.
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QUEENSLAND CUP STANDOUTS
Storm-contracted outside back Kane Bradley bagged a double in the Brisbane Tigers’ win over Northern Pride. The towering 25-year-old also set up a try and finished with a linebreak, a linebreak assist and 172 running metres.
Tony Thompson made his presence known at fullback too with a try, a try assist, a linebreak, a linebreak assist, 10 tackle busts and 21 runs for 235 running metres.
The halves also delivered with former NRL playmaker Ryley Jacks setting up two tries, while Tahj Wood popped up everywhere with a try, two try assists, a linebreak, two linebreak assists, four tackle busts and 166 running metres.
Wood did have a tough day goalkicking, finishing with just one conversion from four attempts.
Townsville Blackhawks staged a second half comeback to defeat Burleigh 28-26 with former NRL utility back Matthew Wright starring in the win. The 34-year-old scored the matchwinner in the 73rd minute and also kicked four conversion from five attempts. He also set up a try, got a linebreak, linebreak assist and made 27 tackles — but did miss five.
Exciting winger Dudley Dotoi was also instrumental in the win, scoring a hat-trick as well as getting three linebreaks, six tackle busts and 139 running metres. The 21-year-old now has 14 tries in 11 appearances this season, making him the competition’s top tryscorer.
Liam Sutton put on a show in Wynnum Manly’s win over Souths Logan with the 22-year-old setting up four tries as well as getting a linebreak, two linebreak assists, 135 running metres and a field goal. Sutton was granted a mid-season release from the Knights to join the Seagulls.
Fullback Ben Farr was also busy in the win with two tries, two linebreaks, six tackle busts and 165 running metres.
PNG Hunters scored more tries than the Sunshine Coast Falcons but lost by two points after missing all of their conversion attempts. Falcons half Cody Hunter kicked two conversions and a penalty goal in the 75th minute to seal the win.
Gairo Voro was impressive on a losing side with the Hunters five-eighth finishing with a try, two try assists, a linebreak, a linebreak assist, five tackle busts and 88 metres.
