Did Queensland coach Billy Slater slip up when he left Dragons dynamo Jaydn Su’A out of his team for the Origin decider?
That’s the question that has to be asked after Su’A produced an outstanding game at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night in the upset win over the Broncos.
Su’A was the most impressive forward on the field, scoring a try, playing the full 80 minutes and running for 167 metres with eight tackle breaks.
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With Origin coming up on the same piece of turf on Wednesday night, the Maroons could well have used that energy … but time will tell.
Jaydn Su’a Getty
Meanwhile, the Dragons have a real problem with talented fullback Tyrell Sloan.
The slightly-built fullback was dangerous in attack but a real liability in defence.
Sloan badly missed four one-on-one tackles, all of which led to tries as Brisbane launched their late comeback.
Rival teams have been targeting Sloan all season and he clearly struggles in defence.
The Dragons looked great in scoring an upset win, while the Broncos are in a deep, dark hole and in grave danger of missing the finals.
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South Sydney officials had broad smiles on their faces following Manly’s 44-6 win over a lacklustre Knights team at Brookvale on Sunday.
With Daly Cherry-Evans on State of Origin duty, rookie Jamie Humphreys was handed his top grade debut – and shone.
The 22-year-old scored Manly’s first try, proved a fine link to the backline and kicked solidly.
So why did this please Souths?
Humphreys – whose grandfather Kevin ran the league in the 1970s and ’80s – is set to join the Bunnies next year.
Wide World of Sports revealed the move a couple weeks ago, although it has yet to be made official.
The Rabbitohs have had trouble with their halves since Adam Reynolds headed north and may have finally found their man.
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Preston Campbell OAM won a Dally M and was one of the game’s superstars of the 2000s – but the signs are that his son Jayden could be an even better player.
At 24, Jayden has had plenty of injuries during his career but when fully fit – as he was against the Eels on Saturday night – he is a genuine match winner.
The talented Titans five-eighth was involved in all four of his team’s tries in a patchy 24-16 win.
Taller and faster than his popular dad, Jayden came up with three try assists and a jolting tackle that led to the Titans’ fourth.
Had he not been out there, the Titans would have lost to the Eels and Preston will be the first to admit that the kid is a very special talent who will only get better.
Jayden Campbell of the Titans. Getty
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He’s only played three games for the Dolphins, but Tevita Pangai Jr is fast becoming one of the buys of the season.
After losses in his first two games, TPJ helped turn around a run of outs in fine style against Souths on Thursday night.
In a must-win game after four losses in their last five, the Dolphins overpowered the Bunnies 36-28, with the 28-year-old prop the dominant figure in the win.
Now he’s got his fitness back after a brief retirement from the game, Pangai carved up the big Souths pack with his leg speed and ball skills.
He scored a try and ran for 175 metres, as well as getting away some smart offloads.
The Dolphins now look assured of finals footy in only their second season – a remarkable achievement by Wayne Bennett and his men.
And as TPJ continues to improve his match fitness and confidence, he’ll be a key figure in the finals.
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Every club wanting to win a premiership needs a good back-up halfback – and Cronulla may just have the best in the NRL in Braydon Trindall.
With the inspirational Nicho Hynes out injured and the Sharks struggling for form, Trindall stepped up in the 58-6 thrashing of the Tigers… and how!
The stylish No.6, switched to halfback and given the keys to the attack, scored a try, laid on three more and kicked goals from all angles to finish with 22 points for the game.
It’s doubtful Hynes could have done any more – and gives the Sharks a very handy back-up should the pin-up boy go missing in the finals.
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Souths’ tryscoring whiz Alex Johnston keeps slowly but surely chipping away at rugby league’s equivalent of the four-minute mile.
In a well beaten team at the Dolphins on Thursday night, Johnston still bagged two tries to take his career tally to 193.
That’s now just 19 short of the legendary Ken Irvine’s 212 tries – a record many thought would never be beaten.
Still only 29, Johnston has at least another two seasons in him – plenty of time to catch Irvine and become the greatest tryscorer Australian rugby league has known.
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As the Tigers stare down another wooden spoon, it’s hard to tell what’s going worse – their attack or their defence.
The attack was woeful in the 58-6 thrashing by the Sharks on Friday night, with the Tigers scoring just one try and not a single forward running for 100 metres.
But the defence was also abysmal, with 49 missed tackles as the Sharks went on a record rampage.
In the past three weeks, the Tigers have conceded 56, 40 and 40 points and Benji will need to get the tackle pads out this week to avoid another embarrassing loss to Souths next weekend.