The Broncos’ halves stocks have received a timely boost with Jock Madden returning from a pectoral injury, while a couple of Titans players are also back on deck after lengthy lay-offs.
Sandon Smith is on the lookout for a new club and produced a statement performance that should catch some eyes around the game.
Meanwhile, it looks like the Panthers are priming Brad Schneider for a role he’ll play in finals and Anthony Milford turned back the clock in Queensland Cup.
Jock Madden returned from a pectoral tear and it couldn’t have come at a better time given the Broncos are without their two star halves.
Madden underwent surgery on the injury, which was suffered in a Queensland Cup game in May.
The 25-year-old had a modest return for Wynnum Manly in their loss to CQ Capras, finishing with seven runs for 38 metres and 21 tackles — six misses.
It’s unlikely Michael Maguire will make any changes to his halves given Ben Hunt and Billy Walters got the job done. But just having Madden back on the field will provide some peace of mine given Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds won’t be available until finals due to hamstring injuries.
Speaking of Broncos playmakers, a former one put on a show for feeder club Souths Logan. Anthony Milford had a blinder, finishing with two tries, three try assists, a linebreak, three linebreak assists and 101 running metres.
However, it couldn’t inspire his team to a win with the Magpies going down 52-32 to PNG Hunters.
Meanwhile, Sandon Smith is on the hunt for a new club after being granted permission by the Roosters at season’s end — and produced a timely performance that should catch the eye of rival clubs.
Smith scored two tries in the final 12 minutes — including the matchwinner — to seal a four-point win over the Bears. The 22-year-old, who has been linked to the Raiders, Cowboys and Knights, also had two linebreaks and 22 runs for 166 metres in the win that keeps the Roosters’ finals hopes very much alive.
After not being used in Thursday night’s NRL blockbuster clash with the Storm, Panthers playmaker Brad Schneider lined up at hooker for the NSW Cup side on Saturday.
It was an interesting move to start him at hooker given he’s a specialist halfback, but perhaps it was the Penrith’s way of priming him for finals in case he is thrown in at hooker.
And defensively, he was solid, making 44 tackles with four misses.
The Titans are suffering an injury crisis in their backline but that has been relieved a little with Harley Smith-Shields (hamstring) and Carter Gordon (neck) returning for feeder club Ipswich.
Gordon was eased back in, playing 40 minutes at five-eighth and finished with seven runs for 68 metres, while also taking on majority of the kicking duties.
Smith-Shields got through the 80 minutes unscathed, and starred with 135 running metres, six tackle busts and 16 tackles — zero misses.
Storm star Nelson Asofa-Solomona spent another week in Queensland Cup and had another solid performance that included 126 metres from 14 runs and 19 tackles — two misses.
STANDOUTS
The Panthers produced a 20-18 upset over the Warriors, handing them their first loss since Round 6 and livewire fullback Daine Laurie was instrumental in the result.
Laurie set up a try, got two linebreaks, two linebreak assists, five tackle busts and ran 173 metres.
The Eels secured an important two-point win over Newtown to move up to second on the ladder with Apa Twidle and Araz Nanva starring.
Fullback Twidle set up two tries, got two linebreak assists, three tackle busts and ran 111 metres. Meanwhile, Nanva — who is still eligible for Jersey Flegg — scored a double, had two linebreaks, seven tackle busts and 185 metres at centre.
The versatile Jordan Samrani was once again rock-solid too, finishing with a try assist, a linebreak assist, seven tackle busts, 126 metres and 21 tackles — no misses — in the second row.
It was the battle of the five-eighths with Adam Cook and Toby Sexton both producing three try assists each but it was the Raiders playmaker who got the win with the Raiders sealing a 26-22 win in the final five minutes.
Fullback Chevy Stewart had one of his bigger games too, finishing with a try, seven tackle busts and 210 running metres.
Speedy winger Allan Fitzgibbon bagged a hat-trick for Ipswich and ran 182 metres, while 20-year-old Arama Hau starred in the second row with 181 metres and 10 tackle busts.
Nixon Putt was unstoppable in the centres for the CQ Capras with 18 runs for 221 metres from 18 runs. He was also rock-solid in defence too, finishing with 19 tackles and one miss.
Tyler Szepanowski impressed too with the 26-year-old prop — who is a financial adviser by day — racking up 180 metres and 15 tackles. He was rewarded for his efforts with a try in the 74th minute too.
Townsville’s Dudley Dotoi ran amok on the wing, finishing with a try, a linebreak, seven tackle busts and 223 metres, while PNG finished up the round with a 52-32 carve-up of Souths Logan. Winger Solo Wane bagged four tries, while halfback Joshua Lau left his mark on the game with a try, two try assists, two linebreak assists and 108 running metres.
