The Broncos have been handed a timely lift with Jock Madden cleared to return from a pectoral injury, while the Titans also welcome back a pair of players after extended stints on the sidelines.
Sandon Smith, currently seeking a new club, delivered a standout performance that is sure to draw attention across the competition.
Elsewhere, the Panthers appear to be grooming Brad Schneider for a key role heading into finals, and Anthony Milford wound back the years with a vintage display in the Queensland Cup.
ALL EYES WERE ON…
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.
