It was another action-packed weekend of NRL as the Raiders went to the top of the table after thumping the Rabbitohs in Josh Papalii’s milestone match.
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The Broncos bounced back in emphatic fashion as Reece Walsh returned and they beat Queensland rivals the Titans.
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Read on for the key Talking Points from Round 14.
END of DCE? Dearden set to be QLD 7 | 04:48
WALSH SHINES TO GET BRONCOS SEASON BACK ON TRACK IN REYNO’S 300TH
Reece Walsh starred as the Broncos finally snapped their horror losing streak with a convincing 44-14 win over the Titans in Adam Reynolds’ 300th game.
It is important to not that the Titans were awful, but the Broncos just needed to win and Walsh helped give their spluttering attack some life.
Michael Maguire praised Walsh for working hard on his game during his knee injury lay-off.
“I probably felt over the last couple of months knowing that Reece and Ezra (Mam) were coming back, if ever you see a linebreak, you see those two pretty close behind,” Maguire said.
“To see Reece come in and bring the energy that he does and any time there was a half break or something happening, those two were rolling around in action, so it is good to have them back.
“Reece has done that before I got here, he has been doing that for a couple of years.
“I think during his time away, Reece has looked at his game and ways he can improve on his game, which I enjoy coaching players like that.
“He is very hungry to improve and he spent a couple of weeks talking about his footy with Reyno (Reynolds) together. That adds to what we are doing out there, which is pretty pleasing.”
However, Kevin Walters was more pleased with the Broncos’ improved defence and if they can keep that up, they have the attack to match the top teams.
“The cornerstone of every rugby league team is defence,” Walters said.
“It helps you win games and gets you to those big end of season games.
“If you can defend your try line constantly that puts you in a really good position. The best defensive teams often get through to the Grand Final.
“It doesn’t always guarantee that you win it, but it gets you a long way into September if you can be one of the best defensive teams.”
Walters was the man that brought Reynolds to the Broncos and revealed why he felt the club needed the star halfback.
“A lot of it is based around his leadership, his kicking game, his running game,” Walters said.
“And he was captain at Souths at the time we attempted to drag him out of there.
“He was a big signing for the club at the time and he has continued on past that initial contract that he signed and he’s looking to stay on there next year as well.
“He has been a great player for the club and it is good for him to get a good result in his 300th game.”
Cooper Cronk believes the Broncos will make the finals and warned the top teams won’t want to meet them in September.
“I think they are a team that will continue to improve and move into the finals,” Cronk said.
“I don’t know if they can get to the top four, but if I am one of those top teams I don’t want to be playing the Broncos in the finals.”
– Mark St John
Madge “PROUD” to be a part of Reyno 300 | 06:29
RICKY DECLARES TOP FIVE RAIDERS OF ALL-TIME
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has declared Josh Papalii now sits alongside the five greatest players in the club’s history.
Papalii scored two tries and booted a conversion against the Rabbitohs on Sunday, his first double since 2016, as he became the Raiders all-time games record holder with 319 appearances.
The second try brought Stuart to tears on the sideline and after the game he said Papalii is now on the Mount Rushmore of Canberra players.
“This is not a rash statement, the greats of our club, the real greats, you’ve got Mal Meninga, Glenn Lazarus, Laurie Daley and Brad Clyde. You put Josh Papalii in there now and that is without any emotion, that’s just fact, that’s how good a player he is,” Stuart said.
“If you had to pick the five greatest players to play for this club… there they are.
“I said at the start of the week just let me know if there’s an excuse and we get beaten this week, let me know if you’re going to use the excuse that Ricky has motivated us too much this week so didn’t play well.
“I said don’t be soft. It’s a big occasion and we need to win the occasion. When I spoke to Papa before the game about something, I’ve never seen a man so on. I knew we were going to be hard to beat.
“I’m so happy for him because the boys did it for him. I know what Joe (Tapine) did this week to get those boys ready to play for Josh.
“Papa has gone to another level this season in regards to his leadership.”
Matty Johns praised Papalii’s game but said Stuart also needed to include himself on his greatest Raiders list.
“I reckon it’s just about the greatest milestone performance I have seen. His last stint when he came on for that last 20 minutes, he scored two tries and a conversion,” Johns said.
“Not that he would mention himself, he’s being humble there but I tell you what, Ricky was the best player I ever played against, by a way.
“Just the way he controlled the game, he revolutionised the long torpedo pass left to right and right to left.
“And his kicking game was just phenomenal, he was far and away the best player I ever played against.”
– Eamonn Tiernan
Papa scores TWICE! Slots the conversion! | 01:07
BIGGEST ISSUE EXPOSING SHARKS
To start the season, many considered the Sharks one of the best contenders for the title.
However, their biggest issue has been laid bare over their last three games, with rivals easily being able to pick Cronulla’s defence apart.
The Sharks have conceded a staggering 108 points in their last three games.
Adding to the equation, Cronulla missed a total of 35 tackles against the Warriors, after they also missed 41 in their last outing against an understrength Roosters side.
When asked in his post-match press conference if Craig Fitzgibbon takes his side’s defensive woes to heart, his sentiment was clear.
“Yeah a lot,” he said.
“We work hard on that and it’s a simple game sometimes. If you don’t get the simple and the hardest parts right, that’s what happens to you.
“The second half, we can defend better than that. We need to defend better than that… we just looked rusty after the bye. I don’t know if it was training preparation.
“But a lack of physicality in the second half cost us.
“I think it’s mental as well as physical. Obviously some technical work there… but it’s pretty hard if a team gets on top of you.”
So how can the Sharks fix their defensive woes?
Fitzgibbon has often deployed a four-forward bench during his time as a head coach and Daniel Atkinson could be shifted off the pine.
With New Zealand rolling through the middle, the Sharks could deploy another middle forward, however they have been hit with a host of injuries in the forwards.
Tom Hazelton (sternum) and Toby Rudolf (syndesmosis) are both injured and that duo are undoubtedly in Cronulla’s best pack when fit.
Regardless, if the Sharks can’t stop leaking a mountain of points, they simply won’t be competing come the backend of the season.
– Tom Sargeant
Wahs STUN Sharks with dominant win | 01:59
LUAI DELIVERS AGAINST FORMER CLUB
Nathan Hindmarsh believes Jarome Luai produced his best game in Tigers colours in a narrow loss to his former club Penrith on Sunday.
Luai gave away two crucial penalties in the second half and both led to points in what ultimately proved the difference in the end.
But he put on several big shots on his former teammates and was impressive in attack and set up two of his team’s three tries.
“I think Jarome Luai’s performance today was one of the best I’ve seen from him in Tigers colours,” Hindmarsh said on Fox League.
“I don’t know if that’s because he was up against Penrith and knew their style of play… but I thought all the Tigers were very good.”
Byran Fletcher believes Luai used his inside knowledge to jam the Panthers in defence.
“I reckon he knew a few of those calls, especially the scrum play. He was into Nathan, he copped a couple,” he said.
“Brian To’o (who) got one back on him (later in the game) which I feel was for his best man’s speech. I feel he went ‘you know what, that speech was so rank I’m going to put one on your chin’.”
Matty Johns praised the Tigers young forwards and Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf echoed the sentiment.
“That Samuela Fainu, I came up against him not too long ago and he’s a real handful, he’s really hard to tackle,” Metcalf said.
“I feel like he just frees them up a little bit and gets Jarome that one pass wider.”
Benji slams refs for “BAD” calls on Luai | 05:26
PONGA HEROICS SAVE KNIGHTS’ SEASON AS MANLY IMPLODE
At halftime the Knights looked like winning the wooden spoon and Manly looked like top four contenders, but Kalyn Ponga led his side to a miracle golden point win.
Matty Johns paid tribute to Fletcher Hunt and Fletcher Sharpe for helping lead the Knights back from the brink to save their season.
“Knights in golden point 26-22 and Fletcher Hunt it was his play, Kalyn Ponga started it with the high kick,” Johns said on The Late Show with Matty Johns
“Exceptional night for Fletcher Hunt. Fourth game in the NRL and he was very good. The two Fletcher’s, Hunt and Sharpe were great.
“They pinched it. It was a long way back for Newcastle. It is not often the home side gets booed off at halftime and ends up winning the football game.”
Nathan Hindmarsh believes the loss of Tyson Frizell was levelled out when Manly lost fullback Lehi Hopoate, but lamented the Sea Eagles’ big guns going missing in the second half.
“16-0 at halftime, I didn’t expect them to come back, but its’ obviously not enough points to win the game these days,” Hindmarsh said.
“I thought when they lost Tyson Frizell early in the game that they were going to struggle, but then Manly lost Lehi Hopoate with a head knock, so that evened things up a bit.
“First half Manly competed, but the second half was totally different. I didn’t see Olakau’atu or Cherry-Evans in the second half.”
Justin Hodges took issue with Manly’s approach to the second half and their lack of commitment.
“If you go off the first half, those two men were dynamic,” Hodges said of DCE and Olakau’atu.
“They were scoring tries and making metres. The second half it looked like they didn’t want to be there.
“16 points up, whether they took the foot off the gas and thought they would hold onto that lead, but in football you can’t hold on to any lead.”
However, Johns believes there were worrying signs for both clubs, despite the Knights pulling off a miracle comeback.
“Both sides were so hot and cold,” Johns said.
“What about the try that Manly scored to make it 22-16. How soft that was back through the middle.
“You thought the Knights’ balloon had been popped but they found their way back and win.
“Manly in the first half were exceptional, but the reason they got booed off is because some of the tries Manly scored were soft. Defensively Newcastle were terrible in the first half.”
Bryan Fletcher believes the key player for the Knights was Dane Gagai, who ironically the club are letting go at the end of the season after not taking up his option for 2026.
“They dropped so much ball and this is what Newcastle have been doing all season,” Fletcher said.
“When they hold the ball they have got some players who can create something out of nothing.
“In the second half Fletcher Sharpe was very good, but I thought the best player for Newcastle was Dane Gagai.
“There has been some rumours around that they are not going to re-sign him. He had 11 tackle busts and he is a very experienced player and you very rarely see him play a bad game.”
“He’s played 300 games and probably nearly 200 for Newcastle and I have rarely seen him play a bad game for Newcastle,” Johns added.
The Knights face the Roosters next week and with both sides missing their Origin stars, it is a must win as they aim to keep their finals hopes alive.
– Mark St John
CLUTCH! Ponga ends try drought in GP! | 00:42
WHY WISHART IS A ‘LUXURY’ FOR STORM
Rugby league legend Mal Meninga was unveiled as the Perth Bears head coach on Friday, with the new franchise joining the NRL in the 2027 season.
Now attention has turned to who they could recruit, and according to Michael Ennis, Storm gun Tyran Wishart should well and truly be on their radar.
The 25-year-old is currently contracted until the end of the 2025 season, with a club option for 2026 which will be activated by the Storm.
Regardless, Wishart will hit the open market come November 1 and there will be no shortage of suitors for a player considered one of the most versatile in the game.
Coming off the bench for Melbourne, Wishart is Bellamy’s Swiss Army knife and he’s played at halfback, five-eighth and hooker, also filling in at fullback, on the wing and in the middle forwards at times.
There was even one point in his reserve grade career where he was named in the No.7 jersey and then played in the front row a round later for the Sunshine Coat Falcons in 2022.
Wishart enjoyed a true breakout season in 2024, but with Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Jahrome Hughes ahead of him — there’s no space for him to start in Melbourne.
For Ennis, Wishart is an obvious man for the Bears to target.
“Every time I watch the Storm play, it’s 15 minutes tonight for Wishart, but every time I watch him I just think ‘he’s too good a player to be sitting on the pine’,” Ennis said.
“What a luxury to have him on the bench for the Storm. He can play multiple positions, and whatever Craig asks of him he is wholehearted, he is a competitor.
“He has great anticipation, great skill and he is just too good to be on the bench.
“You get the feeling over the next couple of years as the expansion teams roll into town, the value of a Tyran Wishart, it is going to skyrocket.
“Pick up the phone Mal.”
Wishart has previously been linked with a move to the Dragons, being a local Illawarra junior.
However, during the club’s Ben Hunt saga, the Storm made it clear they wouldn’t be letting the talented star go with their club option proving to be the trump card.
What’s more is the Storm also have the likes of Jonah Pezet and Keegan Russell-Smith on their books, but with only two halves spots available their talent could be force to make a move.
– Tom Sargeant
Hughes electric in Storm’s win over Cows | 01:53
KATOA PLAYING WELL BEYOND HIS YEARS
Isaiya Katoa has put himself front and centre of the best halfback in the game conversation at just 21-years old.
The Dolphins No.7 steered his club to its biggest win since joining the NRL in 2023 with three try assists and a statement 40/20 that summed up just how much confidence he has.
What’s scary about Katoa though is the fact he’s still in the formative years of his career with Greg Alexander highlighting similarities in his game to that of NRL veterans.
“Adam Reynolds is chalking up game No.300 and just how he can control the tempo, Isaiya Katoa is 50 games into his first grade career and that is exactly what he’s doing,” Alexander said.
“He is slowing the defence, he’s playing at his speed, he is squaring the defenders up and that has become a crucial tool in a halfback’s game — to make those A, B and C defenders stop and watch what’s happening.
“They can’t do anything because Katoa just has them mesmerised. He is such a good player for such a young player.”
Katoa hasn’t just got his opposition mesmerised — he’s also got Shaun Johnson in awe with the champion playmaker stunned by all the assets Katoa has in his game.
“You write a list of what he’s doing so well. He’s direct, he’s running the footy and he’s playing at various speeds,” he said.
“He’s got such a variety in his toolkit but none of it is low percentage stuff, which for a 21-year-old, 50 games into his career is the bit that I’m sitting here scratching my head at.
“You’ve got a running game but you’ve also got a game manager that’s prepared to put the ball in the right spots to put his team in the best opportunity to get after the contest.
“The way he’s balancing his game and executing… it was an 80-minute masterclass (against the Dragons) really.”
But even beyond the perfectly-timed passes and the pinpoint kicking game, Katoa seems to have a good head on his shoulders and is mature enough to handle the pressure that comes with wearing the No.7.
And that’s what’s impressed James Graham the most.
“When you burst onto the scene as a young half, you’re relatively unknown. But with the level of performance that Katoa is producing each week, it commands respect from all the other 16 clubs,” he said.
“When the Dragons sat down and did their homework on the people to shut down it would’ve been Katoa.
“What does that do to you as a player? It puts more pressure on you, you get more attention and you can get lost or be overcome by the pressure and go into your shell… but he seems to thrive with that attention. He seems to say to the opposition ‘bring it on’.”
– Darcie McDonald
Katoa’s brilliant 40/20 leads to try! | 00:38
