If the Eels are on the hunt for a flexible participant that has a little bit of ‘X-factor’ about them, then maybe Blake Taaffe’s efficiency for the Rabbitohs New South Wales Cup may very well be of curiosity to them.
Taaffe, who comes off contract on the finish of the season, can’t squeeze into Souths’ NRL facet however he confirmed his class in Cup over the weekend.
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Meanwhile, Daine Laurie, David Nofoaluma, Joe Ofahengaue and Dominic Young all had an opportunity to answer being dropped. Some delivered and others didn’t.
The Bulldogs unleashed a brand new signing, who shone within the ahead pack, whereas a flexible Bronco returned from harm to play his first sport of the season.
Read on for the most recent Reserve Grade Wrap.
‘No excuse for it’ Aloiai to make amends | 01:31
ALL EYES WERE ON
Rabbitohs fullback Blake Taaffe confirmed off his versatility, slotting in at five-eighth and proving to be key to their 26-12 win over Blacktown. Taaffe scored a strive after organising two earlier within the sport. He additionally obtained a linebreak, three linebreak assists and ran for 141 metres.
With no room for him within the NRL facet, you need to wonder if he may very well be a possible possibility for the Eels, who’re set to hit the marketplace for an X-factor participant that would play off the bench.
Knights winger Dominic Young kicked off his reserve grade stint on a excessive with a strive within the thirteenth minute, reaping the reward of some good lead-up work from five-eighth Ryan Rivett. Young completed the sport with 135 working metres and 12 sort out busts, however he additionally had two dealing with errors.
It in all probability gained’t be sufficient to win his spot again within the NRL facet, given his alternative Greg Marzhew shone of their win over the Raiders.
Wests Tigers trio Daine Laurie, Joe Ofahengaue and David Nofoaluma additionally had a degree to show after being dropped by Tim Sheens.
Laurie misplaced his NRL No.1 jersey to Adam Doueihi and returned from harm by way of the bench. But after simply 9 minutes in opposition to the Storm on Friday night time, he backed up for the Magpies on Saturday at Lidcombe Oval of their loss to the Bears.
The 23-year-old arrange a strive within the 62nd minute after which scored within the 78th minute as a part of the Magpies’ fightback that fell quick. He additionally obtained a linebreak, eight sort out busts and 157 working metres.
Ogahengaue and Nofoaluma had been not noted of Sheens’ 17 utterly.
Ofahengaue performed 65 minutes at prop for the Magpies and obtained by way of a good emoung of labor, ending with 132 working metres, two sort out busts and 33 tackles with three misses. Nofoaluma obtained 116 working metres and appeared a shadow of his greatest.
Speaking of the Tigers, not too long ago launched Kitione Kautoga made his Bulldogs’ NSW Cup debut after signing with the membership on a growth deal final week. The 20-year-old starred within the second row scoring two tries, getting a linebreak, three sort out busts and working for 90 metres. He additionally made 17 tackles with 4 misses.
Still on the Bulldogs, cult hero Josh Reynolds arrange a strive, obtained three sort out busts and ran for 108 metres in a efficiency that may land him the bench utility function in Cameron Ciraldo’s NRL facet after Nu Brown suffered an elbow harm. Reynolds did, nonetheless, miss six tackles.
And younger gun Karl Oloapu continues to make a mark on reserve grade, scoring a strive for the Dogs, getting a linebreak and making 24 tackles with only one miss.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary should get artistic to exchange bench hooker Soni Luke, who failed his HIA final week. Back-up half Jack Cogger is an possibility — he arrange a strive, ran for 89 metres and made 15 tackles with one miss at No.7 within the NSW Cup’s facet loss to the Eels.
There’s additionally younger hooker Luke Sommerton, who’s graduated from Jersey Flegg this season and is on a train-and-trial. He performed 66 minutes at hooker and completed with 87 working metes, a linebreak and 32 tackles with no misses.
Broncos ahead Kobe Hetherington performed his first sport of the season after rupturing his biceps in December. Hetherington ran for 181 metres and made 25 tackles with only one miss in Wynnum Manly’s 50-6 win over Ipswich.
Meanwhile, Titans half Toby Sexton is benefiting from his time in reserve grade. Tanah Boyd bat him to the No.7 jersey this season however Sexton is protecting the stress on him with some mature and dominant performances for Tweed. Sexton scored a strive, ran for 86 metres and compelled a dropout of their win, whereas additionally taking part in a hand in just a few different tries.
Elsewhere, Talatau Amone remains to be biding his time in NSW Cup after being cleared to play a few weeks in the past. He arrange a strive, obtained a linebreak, two sort out busts and ran 108 metres in addition to forcing a dropout within the Dragons’ loss to Newtown.
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STANDOUTS
Take a bow Jayden Berrell, who was all over the place in Newtown’s win on Sunday. The 27-year-old hooker arrange 4 tries, obtained 5 linebreak assists, compelled a dropout and ran for 108 metres, whereas additionally making 41 tackles with three misses.
His teammate Tom Hazelton additionally had a blinder with the 24-year-old prop bagging a double, getting three linebreaks 10 sort out busts and 189 working metres. The 198cm, 116kg Golburn product additionally made 25 tackles with two misses.
Jake Arthur arrange two tries and completed with just below 100 working metres within the Eels’ win over reigning NSW Cup premiers, the Panthers.
Bears centre Toa Mata’afa bagged a hat-trick and ran for 175 metres in his facet’s 36-26 win over the Magpies, whereas Jacob Gagai — youthful brother of Dane — ran amok at fullback for the Bunnies, ending with two linebreaks, six sort out busts and 291 working metres.
Moala Graham-Taufa bagged a hat-trick within the Warriors’ win on residence soil over the Bulldogs. The former Rooster additionally obtained three linebreaks, seven sort out busts and 133 working metres. His centre Rocco Berry delivered the products for 2 of these tries and likewise obtained two linebreak assists.
As talked about earlier, livewire Knights five-eighth Rivett arrange Young however he additionally obtained one other strive help, a linebreak, a linebreak help and ran for 81 metres in opposition to the Raiders.
Fellow Knight Jack Johns was monumental with 200 working metres, 5 sort out busts and 39 tackles with two misses, however it wasn’t sufficient with Canberra’s Trey Mooney levelling the scores with a strive within the 78th minute. Veteran centre Jarrod Croker slotted the matchwinning conversion with 30 seconds left on the clock.
Broncos younger gun Deine Mariner was electrical for Wynnum Manly. The 19-year-old centre scored 4 tries, obtained 4 linebreaks, eight sort out busts and ran for 123 metres.
Wynnum Manly’s second-rower Kitron Laka bagged a double and arrange one other, whereas halfback Josh Rogers had his fingerprints on all the pieces, organising 4 tries, getting three sort out busts, forcing two drop outs and working for 170 metres.
PNG Hunters fullback Morea Morea was spectacular once more, scoring a hat-trick, organising one other strive, getting two linebreaks and 7 sort out busts to go along with his 161 working metres.
Brisbane Tigers winger Max Lehmann scored three tries — together with the matchwinner — and likewise obtained two linebreaks, eight sort out busts and 174 working metres.
Elsewhere, younger playmaker Thomas Weaver arrange 4 tries in Tweed’s win, whereas Burleigh halfback Guy Hamilton had the ball on the string with three strive assists and a 40/20. He did nonetheless have some defensive points, lacking 11 tackles.
And CQ Capas prop Bailey Butler had lots to cheer about in his facet’s win, scoring two tries in 4 minutes, getting a linebreak, and 4 sort out busts, whereas additionally working for 197 metres — 100 post-contact.
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Yeo stays a Panther long run! | 00:37
SPOTTED
James Gavet is again from the Super League and performed off the bench for the Warriors’ NSW Cup facet on the weekend. The 33-year-old, who performed 76 NRL video games throughout stints with the Bulldogs, Tigers, Broncos, Warriors and Knights, returned residence to New Zealand final 12 months to play for his junior membership. He confirmed his expertise within the Warriors’ win over the Bulldogs, ending with 145 working metres, 4 sort out busts and 18 tackles with zero misses in 46 minutes.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
