Souths enforcer Keaon Koloamatangi and Broncos superstar Reece Walsh put their hands up for Origin recalls, while the Tigers may have found their new No.6.
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Read on for the biggest talking points to come out of Round 16.
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BRONCOS FIND NEW WAY TO WIN AS WALSH PRESSES ORIGIN CLAIM
Halfback Adam Reynolds said coming back from 16 points down isn’t the ideal way he wants the Broncos to win, but perhaps it was the win they needed to have.
Too often this season the Broncos have fallen in an early hole and unable to recover.
On Sunday, it looked as if history was about to repeat itself when Brisbane trailed 22-6 and 28-12.
This time though, things would be different. The Broncos found a way out with their backs against the wall.
Thanks to four straight tries in the final 27 minutes, the Broncos finished all over the top of the Sharks to record their second win in a row.
“When we stick to the plan, we are a good footy side. When we don’t, we’re pretty ordinary,” Reynolds said in the post match presser.
“There’s other ways I’d like to win but we’ll get confidence out of that in when we are down, we know we can fight back.”
The Broncos haven’t responded well to adversity this season, but as Reynolds alluded, they’ve now checked that box.
Crucial to the win was fullback Reece Walsh.
Walsh sent a scare to all Broncos fans when Fox League cameras caught him grimacing in pain when testing his knee pre-game and requiring extra strapping.
Walsh was having his second game back from a PCL injury lay-off of several weeks.
He clearly wasn’t at 100%, but despite this, he handed in a best on ground performance for the Broncos.
Walsh set up two tries, had three line break assists and ran for 151 metres.
Following the win, Walsh allayed any fears Broncos fans may have.
“Nah it’s good. It’s a work in progress. I’m still trying to get used to the feeling of it,” Walsh said on Fox League.
So, the big question now is whether Walsh should win the Maroons’ No. 1 jersey for the Origin decider.
Walsh beat out Ponga last year but due to Walsh’s injury issues this season, Ponga has essentially had a saloon passage to the Queensland fullback spot.
The Knights fullback hasn’t exactly taken his opportunity with both hands though in the Origin arena this season, and with Walsh building towards his best form, Queensland coach Billy Slater has a huge decision to make.
Madge praises stars after comeback win | 05:19
TAPINE PUSHES CASE FOR BEST PROP IN THE GAME
Joseph Tapine further cemented his spot in the ‘best prop in the game’ conversation after an inspirational performance against the Wests Tigers in Round 16 that had coach Ricky Stuart singing him praises.
Tapine finished the game with a try, 89 metres and 25 tackles — no misses — but what the stats don’t show are the effort plays that he delivered for his side.
The skipper came up with a freakish try-saving tackle on Jarome Luai minutes before scoring the Raiders’ first try of the night. He also produced a one-on-one steal on Alex Twal in the second half with his team was under pressure.
It was moments like that only further convince Stuart that he’s got the best front-rower in the game.
“I don’t mean to embarrass Joe but that’s why I’ve been saying for the last two years that he’s the best front-rower in the game,” he said.
“Joe is leading so well and he’s got the players right on his back… he’s a humble bloke and doesn’t want this type of credit but that’s what happening.”
Legendary English forward James Graham is just as big a fan of Tapine and revealed just how much the other Raiders players respect their skipper.
“We’re spoiled for choice when it comes to middle forwards,” he said after the Raiders’ 16-12 win over the Tigers.
“We can debate all day long about who is the best and who takes that prize. Probably on a week-by-week it rotates, but with Joe Tapine and his performances, he is challenging Payne Haas as the No.1 front-rower in the game.
“I spoke to a couple of the Raiders forwards, a couple of those English lads in Las Vegas. They asked me who I think the best front-rower is and I said Payne Haas.
“They said ‘nah it’s Joey.’ A few of the other Raiders players were around and they are in love with this man.
“They would not trade him for absolutely anybody and there’s no wonder he’s got the captaincy — those boys at Canberra absolutely adore him and really value what he brings to that club.”
Emotional Ricky speaks on son’s debut | 08:04
GAME-CHANGING GUN GIVES HOPE FOR POST-GALVIN TIGERS
Wests Tigers fans are understandably bitter about losing Lachlan Galvin and potentially losing Tallyn Da Silva. For many, it would feel as if the club’s future has slipped through their fingertips.
And yet, there can be no doubt there club still possesses a fantastic core of young stars, spearheaded by the Fainu brothers. In Friday night’s loss to the Canberra, it was Latu who stole the show, and showed why there is cause for optimism in this post-Galvin world.
Entering the field after 26 minutes in a lock forward role, Fainu was instrumental in allowing the Tigers to attack from edge to edge freely, particularly in the second half.
Trailing 16-0 at the break, it was expansive footy that dragged the Titans back into the contest. At the heart of it all was Fainu.
Acting as a linking presence in the middle of the park, the 20-year-old excelled. So much so, Fox League’s Kevin Walters remarked post-game that the former Manly young gun “changed the whole way the Tigers were playing.”
The best was still to come however. In the 52nd minute, starting lock Alex Twal replaced Heath Mason, resulting in Fainu shifting to his natural five-eighth role.
Defending on the right, Fainu attacked freely across the pitch, combining brilliantly with Jarome Luai is what is surely a sign of things to come.
Yet just how soon those two combine on an 80-minute basis remains to be seen, with Benji Marshall stating post-game Fainu is a few weeks away from completing an entire match.
“Latu, he showed some really good touches in the middle and then when he went to half, he is used to playing there, and had some really classy touches. We are building Latu’s minutes up to hopefully give him 80 minutes soon, so it’s not far away,” Marshall said.
When that occurs, opponents will be incredibly wary of the potential potency of the Tigers halves, particularly given the way they way were able to target and break down Canberra’s edges in Campbelltown on Friday.
Fainu himself was a handful, busting his way through the Raiders’ defensive line just after the hour mark and going close to scoring. He didn’t, but created a four-pointer for Starford To’a in the 53rd minute – just 60 seconds after shifting to the halves.
And so while the last month has been shrouded by negativity at Concord, Friday was a glimpse into the bright future the club could have – one led by another prodigious No.6.
Benji refuses comment on young hooker | 04:09
BACK ROW DUO SHINING LIGHTS IN BITTER WARRIORS LOSS
Very few rugby league players are signed to long-term deals. Even fewer are signed until 2029, especially after a handful of first-grade games.
Few except for Leka Halasima and Jacob Laban, the Warriors’ two barnstorming, exciting back rowers who put the competition on notice against Penrith on Saturday.
While Andrew Webster will rightly be disappointed with his side’s performance, he will surely be buoyed by the excellent performances of his dual rookie back rowers: Leka Halasima and Jacob Laban.
Given the way he plays, he can be easy to forget Halasima is just 19. In each of his 14 games this season he has played well beyond his years, resulting in a promotion from limited-minutes bench role to starting edge.
Blessed with pace, power, and agility, the young tearaway is everything a coach dreams about their back rowers to be. Against Penrith, this was once again on show, running for 60 metres, nearly half of which came post-contact, while making 33 tackles, albeit with six misses.
His punching run in the 47th minute half-broke through Penrith’s sturdy defensive line, generating a quick play the ball off of which Luke Metcalf could create a try for the man on the other edge, Laban.
Limited to 7 games this season due to Kurt Capewell’s presence, Laban took his opportunity against Penrith by the scruff off the neck. To go with his try, the 21-year-old ran for 88 metres, the third most of any Warriors forward, and made 28 tackles.
Ultimately the result didn’t go the Warriors way, but in their two youthful edge forwards they have yet another reason to be excited about what the future has in stall.
Panthers shock Warriors in NZ | 04:06
IVAN’S PRAISE FOR CRUCIAL PENRITH VETERANS
No Cleary. No Yeo. No Edwards. No Martin. No To’o. No worries for the Penrith Panthers.
Combined, Penrith were without 861 games of first grade experience for their trip to Auckland, a fact that wouldn’t be so.
But as happy as Ivan Cleary was about that reality, it was something Penrith had to deal with. And deal with it they did, producing a clinical performance to knock the high-flying Warriors off their perch, return to the top eight, and send a fearful shiver down the spine of the rest of those who thought this year’s grand final might be safe from an assault launched from the foot of the mountains.
Tries to Tom Jenkins, Blaize Talagi, and Paul Alamoti, all with less than 50 first grade games of experience, highlighted the importance of Penrith’s youth in toppling the Warriors.
In addition to that try scoring trio, Brad Schneider kicked and organised exceptionally, Izack Tago returned to his best, Daine Laurie was his highly involved self, and Liam Henry and Luron Patea ran with power and purpose.
Rightfully these Panther cubs will receive their share of their plaudits this week. Yet credit also goes to the reigning premiers’ experienced men and the leadership they showed throughout the win.
Post-game, Ivan Cleary said as much.
“When you lose the calibre of guys we have, you need that leadership to step up,” he said.
“It helps the younger guys focus on their jobs.”
Penrith’s veterans did just that. Captain Mitch Kenny was his industrious, reliable self through the middle, making a game-high 55 tackles. Right there with him was Moses Leota. Up against his former front row partner James Fisher-Harris for the first time, Leota made an emphatic statement, running for 147 metres (second most of any forward on the field) to go with 28 tackles.
Perhaps the most influential veteran on the game’s outcome was Scott Sorensen, who scored two momentum-swinging tries while making 31 tackles to sure up Penrith’s left-edge.
Such interventions are further proof of the incredible culture Cleary has constructed at Penrith, one which has withstood similar periods of Origin-induced mass changes without obstructing their season.
“We’ve tried to build a culture here where it doesn’t matter who’s playing, you deliver a service,” Cleary said post-game.
“We just tried to put in a performance that we’re proud of.”
String a few more similar performances together and Penrith may find themselves entrenched in the top eight by season’s end. Although Cleary won’t be getting too ahead of himself.
“It’s such a long way to go. We’ll finish where we deserve,” he said.
“(But) at least we’re giving ourselves a chance.”
Cleary & Kenny ‘super proud’ of Panthers | 06:38
DOLPHINS’ MR FIX IT STANDS UP ONCE MORE
With Tom Gilbert and Max Plath both gone for extended periods, the Dolphins have been without their two first-choice locks in recent weeks.
In their joint absence, utility Kurt Donoghoe has stepped up to not only don the club’s No.13 jersey, but excel in it, despite his diminutive, 180 centimetre frame.
Nominally a half, Donoghoe has featured in a variety of positions throughout his NRL career, including hooker, lock, and off the bench in whatever role his side needs him to fill. One look at a his reserve grade career further highlights his positional adaptability, having played wing, centre, and back row.
Against the Knights, his versatility was on show for a Dolphins side again decimated by injury, spending much of the game on the edge to help compensate for the loss of Jack Bostock.
Not even spending time away from the middle could limit the amount of work the 23-year-old got through as he finished with 43 tackles, the most of any Dolphins player, and 83 metres.
Post-game, Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf was full of praise for Donoghoe.
He just turns up and gets the job done. He’s just getting better and better,” he said.
“He’s a guy that we want in our team every week. Wherever we put him, he does a great job.”
And with Gilbert, Max Plath, Daniel Saifiti, and Tom Flegler already out, and Isaiya Katoa firming for a potential Origin call up, Donoghoe may just become the Dolphins’ most important asset on their run to a first-ever finals appearance this season.
Late DRAMA as Knights upset Phins | 01:07
BELLAMY BLOWS UP AS PAPS GETS STORM OUT OF JAIL IN GOLDEN POINT
The Storm might be title favourites, but they are not playing like it after it took a Ryan Papenhuyzen golden point field goal to get them out of jail against an undermanned Souths outfit.
Craig Bellamy was fuming at his side during and after their 25-24 win over the Rabbitohs and Cooper Cronk believes it is because they are not building Grand Final winning habits.
“The reason why Bellamy is a show in itself when you are watching the game is every moment counts for him,” Cronk said.
“Every moment matters because he knows if he has consistency and desire in his team, whether it is South Sydney in Round 16 or on Grand Final day, he knows if you are consistent here, then you will do it on Grand Final day.
“He blows up deluxe because he knows it is important. If you sit back and get complacent and be okay with some errors that creep into your game here, there and everywhere, he knows it will come back and bite you at the worst time.
“He is very entertaining to watch in the box, but trust me he is going to give it to those players when they walk in because they know that they can’t do that again because they won’t win the two points and they won’t get an opportunity to get a home final and they will disadvantage themselves when they are trying to win a grand final this year.
“He also says, you get what you deserve when you play badly because you don’t deserve to win.”
Still, the Storm showed their class to ice the big moments with Papenhuyzen slotting the field goal, while Latrell Mitchell missed two tough chances to steal it.
“I think the teams that are successful at golden point are the ones that rep this out at training,” Cronk said.
“They all know exactly the right place to be at the right time. Papenhuyzen is their go to. It is not Munster or Hughes and he did a great job again.
“Melbourne were the better team, but they played poor tonight. It was there for Souths to take.
“When Johnston scored those tries in the second half and Latrell Mitchell had a shot from the sideline to put his team up by two.
“I thought Latrell was going to kick it. That’s the type of moment he lives for.”
The Storm’s win made them finish the round in third place, which is important given they have now had all their byes and have to play 10 straight games leading into September.
“That’s why the victory tonight in a golden point thriller is so critical because Melbourne have had all their byes,” James Hooper said.
“They are on a run now consistently into September. We have seen previously where if they have got a buffer in the top two and they are guaranteed to get a couple of home semi finals, then Bellamy might decide to rest some players.
“But he is not going to have that luxury this year, so tonight was so critical on so many levels and just their precision and that under pressure the Storm are so ice cool.
“They always find the answer. It got frantic in a variety of stages in the final 25 minutes, but when the clock was really ticking and they were looking for the clutch play, Ryan Papenhuyzen stood up.”
The win continued Bellamy’s dominant record over Wayne Bennett, with the Storm coach beating him in 34 of their 44 matches against each other as head coaches.
“I think there was probably a little bit more feeling in tonight’s game because Bellamy and Bennett are two of the best coaches in the game,” Hooper said.
“They do enjoy the challenge of coming up against each other and Craig has an incredible record now. Wayne has only won 10 out of 44 games against Bellamy.
“His win ratio is only 23 per cent against Craig Bellamy. They began their lives together where Craig served an apprenticeship under Wayne and it’s been a rollercoaster their trajectories in the game.
“They are absolute figureheads of rugby league and no doubt that will be a little extra special win for Craig.”
Despite Storm win Bellamy is not happy | 08:16
CLEAR WINNER IN KOLOAMATANGI v STEFANO
Mass changes aren’t expected to be made by Blues coach Laurie Daley for Game III if any at all.
If Daley is thinking of a switch though, surely Souths star Keaon Koloamatangi is on the forefront on his mind.
Koloamatangi was named in the 20-man squad for Game II, but missed the Blues’ trip to Perth because of an eye socket injury.
Even had he not been injured though, Daley would likely have elected to go with Stefano Utoikamanu on the bench.
There’s no doubt about it, Koloamatangi is one of the form middle forwards in the entire competition and he again proved it this past weekend, running for over 200 metres against the Storm.
What’s notable about that performance though is that it came against Utoikamanu’s team.
The Storm prop started off the bench but was clearly outshone by Koloamatangi.
Utoikamanu had just the five runs for 53 metres while the Souths star logged 25 runs and 207 metres with 36 tackles.
Utoikamanu was OK in Game II but if anyone in the NSW side is on the hot seat, you’d have to think he’s at the top of the list.
Simply put, Koloamatangi is in too good of form not to be playing Origin football.
He’s already had a taste of it two years ago and will no doubt be better for the experience now.
You can’t question his toughness either, given he played for Souths on Saturday less than a week after fracturing his eye socket.
He has a fan in Storm and Maroons rake Harry Grant, who commented on Koloamatangi’s game after his side’s 25-24 win.
“He’s got plenty of strings to his bow in the middle,” Grant said.
“He’s a hard runner, his footwork and also his ball playing and offloading.
“He had a really big night tonight.”
