James Schiller has opened up on why he’s signed with the Knights from next season, admitting he had “a lot of sleepless nights” while mulling over the decision.
Schiller has inked a three-year deal with the Knights from next season and despite it being a “very hard” decision the 22-year-old hasn’t let it show in his footy.
Schiller scored a first-half hat-trick while playing centre in the Raiders’ 36-28 win over the Roosters in New South Wales Cup. He also finished the game with two linebreaks, seven tackle busts and 275 running metres, while also making seven tackles with zero misses.
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Speaking to Fox League post-game, Schiller revealed the performance had come just a fortnight after he had Covid-19.
He also spoke for the first time about his upcoming move to Newcastle, revealing the opportunity to forge a career at centre was the big luring factor.
Schiller, who played five NRL games on the wing this season before being dropped, will likely be stuck behind Dane Gagai and Bradman Best in 2025 after the former re-signed for two more years.
But his path will become clearer once 33-year-old Gagai retires — as opposed to at the Raiders where Matt Timoko and Seb Kris are 24 and 25 respectively.
Luai excited to partner Hynes in halves | 01:29
“There was a lot to weigh up with that one,” Schiller conceded.
“It wasn’t taken lightly, it took me a couple of months to think about.
“I’ve got an opportunity up there to play centre and explore my game more at centre.
“I could’ve stayed here definitely and worked away on the wing. It’s no disrespect to Matty (Timoko) and Seb (Kris) but you’ve got to be realistic in these situations and they’re two international footballers that I know I’ll be behind for a while.
“I’m honoured to be behind them and even playing outside some of them but I just had to do what’s best for me.
“I’ve done my time here in Canberra and I’ve got family up in Newcastle I’d like to spend a bit more time with as well.
“It was a very hard one to think about — lots of sleepless night — but I’m excited for it and it’s definitely a good change.”
Read on for the latest Reserve Grade Wrap.
ALL EYES WERE ON…
Two weeks after suffering a first-round knockout loss to Kenny Niko, NRL star-turned boxer Tevita Pangai Junior returned to the rugby league field.
Pangai Junior played Round 1 for Souths Logan — feeder side to the Broncos — but then turned his attention to his professional boxing career.
The 28-year-old said after the fight that he “will rebuild and go back to footy” — and he returned with a bang over the weekend.
Pangai Junior started at prop in the Magpies’ loss to Pride and finished with 171 running metres, four tackle busts and three offloads, while also making 18 tackles with zero misses.
Blake Taaffe had a chance to prove his worth in the halves with the 25-year-old donning the No.7 in the Bulldogs’ loss to the Dragons. His kicking game was hot and cold with one grubber rebounding off the posts for Taaffe to score, while another kick went dead. He ran for 67 metres and made 26 tackles but also missed seven.
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NSW CUP
Thursday was a good day to be a Finau with the brothers carving up for the Dragons. 22-year-old Sione bagged a hat-trick on the wing, got two linebreaks, eight tackle busts and ran over 200 metres.
Meanwhile, his older brother Haele brought plenty of spark off the bench. The 23-year-old hooker set up a try, got two linebreak assists, four tackle busts and was rewarded with a try of his own out of dummy-half.
The Couchman twins once again go through a mountain off work up front. Toby finished with 20 runs for 210 metres — 109 post-contact — a linebreak assist, five tackle busts and 33 tackles with zero misses. And that was in 57 minutes on the field.
Ryan played the full 80 minutes and finished with 22 runs for 211 metres — 106 post-contact — and 44 tackles, one miss.
The Raiders have an exciting prospect in Noah Martin coming through the ranks. The 19-year-old made his NSW Cup debut in Round 5 and on the weekend had his best performance to date. Martin, who is on a development deal and moves into the Top 30 in 2026, played 80 minutes for the first time and finished with a try assist, a linebreak, five tackle busts, 122 metres and 30 tackles — one miss.
The Roosters staged a second-half comeback to almost snatch the win from the Raiders but ultimately fell away in the final 10 minutes. Central to their turnaround was teenage five-eighth Jake Elliott, who scored a double, set up two more tries, got a linebreak, a linebreak assist, four tackle busts and 86 running metres.
Ethan King also tried his guts out after being a late switch before kick-off to fullback — his preferred position — to replace the injured Callum Gromek. King scored a try, got a linebreak, five tackle busts and 182 running metres. He also soldiered on with tape around his nose after copping a nasty knock.
Siua Wong is expected to get some opportunities in first grade during the Origin period and he proved he is more than ready for a recall. While Wong has mainly played on an edge in the NRL, he’s spent some time at prop in NSW Cup in recent weeks.
The 21-year-old punched out 80 minutes in the middle and finished with a team-high of 224 running metres as well as 20 tackles, no misses.
Newtown have four wins on the trot after smashing the depleted Panthers 44-6. Centre Chris Vea’ila bagged a hat-trick, a linebreak, a linebreak assist, six tackle busts and ran 153 metres, while Sam Stonestreet scored a double on the wing, got two linebreaks and ran 147 metres.
Young fullback Liam Ison was electric too, finishing with a try assist, a linebreak, two linebreak assists, seven tackle busts and 178 metres.
The Eels are also enjoying a run of form. After waiting until Round 6 to get their first win of the season, they’re now on a four-game winning streak.
Teenage playmaker Ethan Sanders had the ball on a string in their most recent win over the Rabbitohs, setting up two tries, getting a linebreak, a linebreak assist, four tackle busts and 75 running metres. He also made 14 tackles with zero misses.
Zac Cini was electric at fullback, finishing with a try, a try assist, a linebreak assist, nine tackle busts and 178 metres.
Meanwhile, Luca Moretti got through a mountain of work at prop, including a try assist, a linebreak, 147 metres and 35 tackles — three misses.
In a losing side Chase Chapman was impressive with the 23-year-old lock notching up 141 metres and 22 tackles with no misses.
The Bears’ tryscoring machine Allan Fitzgibbon added two more to his tally to nine tries in eight appearances this season — and overall 45 tries in 49 NSW Cup games. Fullback Jake Toby was everywhere, as per usual, in the 22-16 win over the Warriors, finishing with a try, a try assist, a linebreak, a linebreak assist, 10 tackle busts and 225 running metres.
It was a try-athon in Blacktown’s 50-30 win over the Magpies with 16 tries being scored between the two teams. 11 of those tries were through Blacktown and four were scored by Clayton Faulalo, while another four were scored by Jaxson Paulo.
Faulalo, who shifted to fullback while Lehi Hopoate made his NRL debut, also set up three tries, got two linebreaks, four linebreak assists, eight tackle busts and 261 metres.
Paulo set up a try and notched up four linebreaks as well as 210 metres.
Jake Arthur, who will get some opportunities in NRL during the Origin period, bagged a try and set up two more. He also made 18 tackles with zero misses at halfback.
‘I have matured since the last series’ | 01:25
QUEENSLAND CUP
The Cowboys’ back-up playmaker Jake Clifford had a day out for feeder side Northern Pride, scoring a double, setting up a try, getting two linebreaks and running 130 metres in their 40-22 win over Souths Logan.
Will Partridge also bagged a double in the centres and ran over 150 metres, while towering second-rower Dane Aukafolau scored to take his season tally to seven tries in eight games. He also ran for 141 metres and made 28 tackles with one miss.
Dolphins halfback Joshua James was instrumental in his side’s 13-4 win over Burleigh. The 23-year-old set up a try, kicked two conversions from two attempts and slotted a field goal in the 79th minute.
It’s been a tough trot for the Ipswich Jets, who sit last on the ladder with just one win. The club parted ways with coach Ben Cross early last week and then they were thrashed 50-16 by Norths Devils on the weekend.
Norths five-eighth Gerome Burns scored 26 of those points with three tries and seven conversions from nine attempts. Burns also finished with six tackle busts, a linebreak, 114 metres and 19 tackles — two misses.
Blake Paskins also had a lot of joy on the wing with two tries, two linebreaks, six tackle busts and 133 metres, while Tuki Simpkins led from the front with 121 metres and 18 tackles, no misses.
Mackay snapped a four-game losing streak with a 40-26 win over PNG Hunters with halves Riley Dean and Jaxon Purdue stealing the show.
Dean scored a try and set up two more, while also getting a linebreak, two linebreak assists and 127 running metres.
Purdue was unstoppable with a try, a try assist, three linebreaks, seven tackle busts and 210 metres.
Josh Smith was also a handful in the centres, finishing with a try, a try assist, a linebreak, a linebreak assist, 10 tackle busts and 172 metres.
Sione Hopoate was enormous for Wynnum Manly in their 38-32 win over Western Clydesdales, scoring a second-half double — with one try ending up to be the matchwinner. He also set up a try, got a linebreak, a linebreak assist, seven tackle busts and 151 running metres
SPOTTED
Raiders forward Jordan Martin returned from an ACL injury on Saturday and celebrated it with a try in the 77th minute. His younger brother, Noah was one of the first players to run in and get around him.
Aaron Schoupp was parachuted straight into Blacktown Workers’ line-up after gaining a mid-season release from the Titans to join Manly. The powerful centre finished with 172 metres from 14 runs, five tackle busts and nine tackles with two misses.