We are in the third third of the season and the road to September is widening with 11 teams still struggling to play football in the final.
Eagles star heading to the Wests Tigers next season, Isaiah Papali’i, showed why he lit a bid.
Joseph Manu spent a day in the Roosters’ No. 6 jersey, while Reuben Garrick stayed high on the Sea Eagles defense, and showed he can probably fill the NRL’s biggest shoes.
Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen can’t accept any trick and Tigers game creator Jackson Hastings’ play to block didn’t work.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten has another selection headache on his hands and the Titans coach Justin Holbrook’s job looks safe for another seven days.
The Panthers extended their victory despite resting all the Origin stars, while Latrell Mitchell again starred in the Rabbitohs.
Here are all the great conversation points from round 18 !!
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Jackson Hastings, Isaiah Papali’i and Justin Holbrook. GettySource: Getty Images
PAPALI’I SHOWS EELS — AND TIGERS— HOW GOOD IT IS
Isaiah Papali’i could be caught in a tug-of-war between the Eels and Tigers for his services amid the backflip drama that came out last week, but he showed both clubs why they want him so much.
Papali’i was one of the best of the Eels in their 28-18 victory over the Warriors with 101 yards with just 10 carries, five innings, a line break, 29 innings and a try.
His line to score an assist from Reed Mahoney caused his future Tigers coach Benji Marshall to exclaim his talent.
“Papali’i has been growing as a rear rower,” Marshall said.
“He is one of the best corner runners in the game.
“We’ve seen Reed Mahoney tonight as good as he is.”
Gorden Tallis could not believe that Papali’i was only 23 years old considering what he produced for the Eels during the last two seasons.
“He’s only 23,” Tallis said.
“Being a rear rower is so good. Five busts tonight. His power. Its time. The experience.
“The tackles where he’s cleaning for the guys inside. It’s great mixing his game.
“That descent (game) I’m sure the play was overflowing and he only sees the space and changes its angle.
“This is a super smart player. He doesn’t do the same line every time.
“Having a back row like this. Reed Mahoney found himself and fell inside again. He sees a boy chasing and a boy who doesn’t fill up and changes it. He’s a smart player. ”
Michael Ennis, who coaches him at the Eels, couldn’t resist a bit of digging into Marshall, who called Papali’i during the week to honorably convince him of his deal with the Tigers.
“His pace of work is phenomenal,” Ennis said.
“He was 100 meters again carrying the ball. Defensively I thought it was exceptional.
“I don’t know if it was your phone call during the week, Benji.”
“Go to the Tigers,” Marshall said laughing.
“Seriously, though, when you look at his game, he made a big move leaving the Warriors and their family and their comfort zone and moved to Australia to take on a new challenge and it was all worth it.
“I spent some time with him in the Kiwis when he was 19 and he was still in the Warriors.
“I didn’t have the same work ethic and it was probably a little inappropriate. Once you find the fitness and balance and you can do things with your body so that your lungs can react to the things your brain wants to do.
“For back-rowers it’s one of the hardest positions to play on the field.”
If he goes to the Tigers as expected, the Eels will lament the fact that they have let two of their best Reed Mahoney and Papali’i out the door.
Vital Moses in Eels Title Hopes | 05:44
MANU’S STUNNER AT NUMBER 6 WORKS IN THE MIDDLE OF ENIGMA
Joseph Manu had a day out with the Roosters’ No. 6 jersey, but will return to the centers next week even though skipper James Tedesco acknowledged that “we have to put him in the halves and put more hands on the ball “.
With Luke Keary on the sidelines, Manu moved to five eighths and broke the Dragons with two attempts, two try assists, four line breaks, one line break assist, 11 tackles and 153 running yards.
Fox League expert Corey Parker was admired by the international kiwi.
“Joey Manu at number 6, he’s my favorite player; I love seeing everything Joey does. He was amazing on different stages and he really took his side,” he said.
Tedesco told Fox League after the game that having Manu closer to the action “will create a lot of opportunities” for the Roosters.
“He’s just a football player. You can put him anywhere on the team and he’ll create something out of nothing, that’s what he does for us.
“We have to put him in the socks, get his hands on the ball more often, it will create a lot of opportunities.
“It also frees up my game, the last game told me ‘it’s like playing on the sidelines, except you just have to deal with it,’ so it’s good to have two sides.”
Tedesco stopped before doubling down at the post-match press conference, but believes Manu has been a real standout when he was five-eighths.
“I think just putting your hands on the ball is important to us,” he said when asked what Manu’s best position is.
“I don’t know where this position is, but I think five eighths, the last few weeks he’s been there, he’s probably been one of our best players. He’s just a natural football player and we just want him to get more involved and he’s doing it in the averages.
“I really like playing with him because we’re a bit alike in this role, we play instincts and the two of us wandering through the middle together is pretty dangerous.”
He leaves Roosters coach Trent Robinson with a real headache. Keary is expected to return next week from a concussion, and given he has won first place three times, it came as no surprise when Robinson confirmed the 30-year-old will play in the halves.
That means Manu is back at center, or that 20-year-old Sam Walker, who is considered the club’s future, should give way.
Manu ‘Lesionat’ assists BOJA! | 00:29
GARRICK’S FILL LARGE SHOES
Many rugby league experts canceled out the Sea Eagles when Tom Trbojevic suffered a shoulder injury that ended the season.
Trbojevic, who won the Dally M in 2021, is the club’s most important player, but in his absence another man has remained.
Reuben Garrick played the defensive role of Des Hasler and never looked back, delivering a quality performance after a quality performance for the Sea Eagles.
In round 18 against the Knights, Garrick continued his good form to record 217 running yards, six breaks and two assists.
It would have been easy for the 25-year-old to try to replicate Trbojevic’s style of football, with dominant and striking careers.
But instead, after a chat with experienced Captain Daly Cherry-Evans, Garrick uses his own style, always being the first man to support and run hard.
“He’s really become the sideline role for us. We talked about him as soon as he got the chance. He doesn’t have to be Tom for us. He just has to work on his football style.”
“Reuben has discovered his style of football and is playing great football.
“I’m very proud of him and enjoying having him out there.”
Jake Trbojevic also did his best to praise Garrick, highlighting his No. 1 spot as someone who should stand out after his thrashing of the Knights.
“I want to give a wrap to Reuben Garrick, I think he’s been great in the last few weeks, the way he just wants football and competes in every play,” Trbojevic said.
Meanwhile, Des Hasler also explained that Garrick is important to the Sea Eagles, especially if they want to make a deep final run.
He also revealed that ‘Turbo’ has been Garrick’s mentor, imparting his defensive wisdom to the No. 1 substitute.
“He’s really grown, but it’s more the confidence he’s developed with him and someone like Tom Trbojevic working a lot with Reuben,” Hasler told the post-match press conference.
“He’s doing really well and he’s been very important, he’s had some really good touches tonight.”
As it stands, the Sea Eagles are in eighth place and if Garrick continues to offer, they have a good chance of climbing the ladder more.
Until 2022, Garrick ranks 20th for total breaks, ninth for total tests, 31st for rehearsal assists, seventh equal for line breaks and third for total race meters .
Manly Press Conference | 04:53
HEADACHE IN PAYTEN’S ROW
When the Cowboys signed Leilua for the 2023 season in November 2021, North Queensland fans were thrilled at the prospect of having a top-tier backrower.
At the time, the Cowboys were fighting, finishing in 15th place.
He’s fast advancing just eight months and Todd Payten has a real headache in his hands, with three quality players exercising his craft behind him.
Jeremiah Nanai has become one of the brightest young talents in the competition and has played a major role in the Maroons ’victorious Origin campaign.
Tom Gilbert won a well-deserved call-up for the Maroons team and was strong in his debut.
Although he has been signed by the Dolphins for the 2023 season, Payten will still want to get the most out of the 21-year-old for the rest of the year.
Now, after achieving the early release of Luciano Leilua, the question arises: who will start at the back.
The former Tigers star was strong in his opening debut against the Sharks, setting up the Cowboys ’first four points with some impressive fast hands.
Leilua recorded 72 meters running, with seven innings breaks and a line break in an impressive show, deserving of praise from coach Todd Payten.
“It was great, it will only get better …