Jett Cleary has taken a big step forward in his career with the 20-year-old making his New South Wales Cup debut over the weekend with the Warriors.
Meanwhile, Moala Graham-Taufa gave Rabbitohs fans a taste of what’s to come with a starring performance for the Warriors just days after signing with Souths for 2026.
And Mikaele Ravalawa’s return lasted just 11 minutes with the Rabbitohs winger picking up a fresh injury.
All that and more in the latest Reserve Grade Wrap.
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ALL EYES WERE ON….
It seems Jett Cleary is tracking in the right direction, earning a NSW Cup debut with the Warriors.
Cleary, younger brother of champion No.7 Nathan, moved across the ditch after signing a three-year deal with the Warriors.
While the Warriors are in no rush with the young playmaker, his elevation to Cup while still eligible for Jersey Flegg is a good sign.
Cleary didn’t look out of place against grown men, finishing with a try assist, linebreak assist, 10 runs for 79 metres and 15 tackles — one miss — in the win
It was a big week for Moala Graham-Taufa between signing with the Rabbitohs and carving up for the Warriors in their 40-24 win over the Bulldogs.
Graham-Tafua’s one-year deal with South Sydney was announced on Wednesday and a few days later he gave Bunnies fans a taste of what they can expect.
The 23-year-old scored two tries, set up another, got three linebreaks, four tackle busts and ran 139 metres.
Graham-Taufa, who was the Warriors’ NSW Cup Player of the Year in 2024, has now scored eight tries in his last five games.
On the other side of the field was Sam Hughes, who returned from an ankle injury in the Bulldogs’ loss to the Dolphins on Thursday night. He then got on a plane and headed to New Zealand to get some more minutes under his belt in Cup.
Hughes will be better for the run after a dominant performance, finishing with 16 runs for 176 metres and 31 tackles — three misses.
Panthers playmaker Jack Cole shifted to a new role on the weekend — fullback. With Daine Laurie replacing Dylan Edwards in NRL, Cole moved to the No.1 jersey but didn’t exactly set the world on fire.
Cole finished with 116 running metres and three tackle busts. He also looked a little out of sorts defensively at times.
Mikaele Ravalawa returned from a hamstring injury in NSW Cup for the Rabbitohs but only last 11 minutes. The mid-season recruit picked up a fresh shoulder injury and is now set for another stint on the sideline.
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NSW CUP STANDOUTS
Lachlan Ilias was busy in the Dragons’ win over the Raiders, scoring a try and setting up two more while also getting three linebreak assists, 76 running metres and making 15 tackles with one miss.
Michael Molo was unstoppable up front, finishing with a try, a linebreak, 151 running metres and 22 tackles — one miss. Meanwhile, workhorse hooker Connor Muhleisen had one of his best games to date and was rewarded with a try that ended up sealing the game. The 24-year-old also notched up two linebreaks, 140 running metres and 45 tackles — four misses.
Reigning premiers Newtown Jets bounced back from a two-game losing streak with a 54-0 thumping of a depleted Roosters outfit.
Emerging half Niwhai Puru had his fingerprints all over the win with a try, a try assist, three linebreak assists and 131 running metres. He also kicked six goals.
Veteran hooker Jayden Berrell set up three tries, while second-rower Dylan Coutts and winger Kristian Dixon both bagged doubles. The latter also amassed a game-high of 200 running metres.
Coutts’ two tries were extra special given he was on debut in NSW Cup. The edge forward, who stands at 195cm tall, made the move from Manly’s system to the Sharks in 2023 and has been rising up the ranks ever since. He’s still eligible for Jersey Flegg but didn’t look out of place on debut in Cup, playing the full 80 minutes and getting two linebreaks and five tackle busts to go with his two tries.
A couple of forwards with NRL experience reminded their respected coaches of what they can offer. Warriors prop Tom Ale racked up a game-high of 200 metres, seven tackle busts and 18 tackles — two misses — in his side’s win. Meanwhile, Jacob Host ran amok for the Bunnies, finishing with a try, a linebreak, five tackle busts, 150 metres and 35 tackles — two misses.
There was a lot of joy for the Eels’ backs with wing pairing Jake Tago and Samuel Loizou both scoring a double and running 184 and 121 metres respectively.
20-year-old Fullback Apa Twidle put on a show too in what was just his third NSW Cup game. Twidle, who can also play in the halves, finished with a try, a try assist, two linebreaks, two linebreak assists, six tackle busts and 126 metres.
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QUEENSLAND CUP STANDOUTS
Reigning premiers Norths Devils recovered from their first loss of the season with a narrow win over Mackay Cutters.
It was a penalty goal kicked by five-eighth Jordan Lipp in the 46th minute that proved to be the difference, but 27-year-old lock Sam Elliott played a big role in the win with two tries, a linebreak, 106 metres and 32 tackles — one miss.
Ipswich also escaped with a two-point win over the Dolphins with Dion Teaupa’s boot winning the game. Teaupa, who joined the Jets this season from the Rabbitohs, set up a try and then his conversion in the 68th minute proved to be the matchwinner.
The Broncos have a serious rising talent on their hands in Latrell Siegwalt. The 24-year-old made a name for himself last season in the Dolphins’ Queensland Cup team and caught the attention of the Broncos, who signed him to a train-and-trial ahead of this season.
Siegwalt — a fullback — had a blinder in feeder side Souths Logan’s 52-32 win over Western Clydesdales. He scored 22 points himself with two tries and seven conversions from eight attempts, while also setting up two tries, getting two linebreaks, two linebreak assists and 156 metres.
Emerging hooker Blake Mozer also looked the goods with a try, 87 metres and 34 tackles — no misses — while veteran Anthony Milford turned back the clock. The 30-year-old scored a try and set up three more, while also getting a linebreak, a linebreak assist and 87 metres.
Townsville Blackhawks second-rower Edward Hampson bagged a hat-trick his side’s win over PNG, while hooker Jayden Hodges scored a double. But 19-year-old prop Kaiden Lahrs really turned some heads with his impressive performance.
Lahrs finished with a try, a linebreak, six tackle busts, 164 running metres and 15 tackles — no misses. The former NSW Under 19s Origin and Australian Schoolboys representative was elevated to the Cowboys’ Top 30 ahead of this season.
Towering Storm winger Kane Bradley scored a double for feeder side Brisbane Tigers, while Josh Smith had a day out in the centres with two tries, two try assists, a linebreak, two linebreak assists, seven tackle busts and 19 runs for 217 metres.
