Meanwhile, a Kangaroos snub seems to have brought out the best of a superstar who is already in the front seat for Origin selection.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
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WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n
Plus, speaking of Origin, is a smokey looming after an impressive start to the year?<\/p>\n
Read on for the key NRL Talking Points from Round 3.<\/p>\n
BRONCOS JUST MADE A \u2018STATEMENT\u2019… HERE\u2019S WHAT THEY CAN\u2019T DO NEXT <\/p>\n
With their backs against the wall, what the Broncos were able to achieve on Friday night was pretty impressive.<\/p>\n
Entering the clash against the Storm as massive underdogs after a poor pre-season, a winless start to 2026, another week in the headlines and unfair pressure mounting on the coach, a potential 0-3 start loomed.<\/p>\n
That looked extremely likely when Melbourne shot out to a 14-0 lead at half time.<\/p>\n
The Broncos had seen this movie before. They trailed Melbourne by 12 at the break in last year\u2019s grand final before storming home. <\/p>\n
However, given their shocking recent record at AAMI Park and the Broncos\u2019 form this year compared to the blistering touch their opponents were in, it looked near-impossible Brisbane would chase the Storm down this time.<\/p>\n
Somehow, they found a way and according to Hall-of-Fame halfback Cooper Cronk, it was because the little things were done right. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the Broncos do all the fundamentals of our game well, gee they are a good team but when they commit errors and ill-discipline creeps into their game, they are middle of the road,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey cannot get down to 14-0 every time and expect to win those games all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a tale of two halves for Maguire\u2019s men. <\/p>\n
The Broncos came back from 14-0 down to beat the Storm.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Discipline and silly errors have proven costly this season and that extended to the first half of the Storm game when they made seven errors, conceded four penalties and completed just 62% (13\/21) of sets.<\/p>\n
In the second half, they were 20\/22 meaning they could build momentum and constantly threaten the Storm\u2019s line.<\/p>\n
That led to points but even more importantly, their defence tightened up significantly.<\/p>\n
The Storm had scored 112 points across their first five halves of footy but after half time, were unable to crack Brisbane\u2019s defence.<\/p>\n
According to Cronk, it is a display that could set the tone for the Broncos\u2019 season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re down 14-0 away to one of the better teams in the comp and your defence is still like this, there\u2019s a lot that you can build on for the rest of the season,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of teams down in Melbourne by that margin wouldn\u2019t come out in that care factor in defence… so there\u2019s a lot for Maguire to build on.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes they\u2019ve had a slow start to the season but to win in Melbourne down 14-0 doesn\u2019t happen too often. There\u2019s a lot they can take away from that.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the mood at Red Hill on Monday morning will be significantly lighter after breaking the 2026 duck the last thing Maguire can let his team do is repeat nasty habits.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe challenge for the Broncos is that they can\u2019t go up and down for the next eight weeks,\u201d Cronk warned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve just made a statement to the comp and have a lot of confidence back in their group. \u201cThey should continue to trend up, but they have to just stop being so erratic with the fundamentals because they are way too talented to be forcing their hand at 14-0 when they could easily compete in the play, defend well, complete well and then blow teams away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n Bronx silence critics with comeback win | 01:58<\/p>\n BLOWTORCH ON ROOSTERS AFTER ANOTHER SLOW START TO SEASON<\/p>\n Three games into the 2026 season and the Roosters\u2019 pre-season favouritism tag looks a long way off the mark after they were thrashed for the second time in three weeks. <\/p>\n The Roosters bounced back from their horror 42-18 loss to the Warriors to beat the Rabbitohs 26-18 in Round 2, but after scoring first against the Panthers they conceded 40 straight points to lose 40-4. <\/p>\n The loss leaves the Roosters anchored in the bottom four, which is a long way from their pre-season predictions that had them in the top four and a potential premiership threat. <\/p>\n History says you can\u2019t win the title from outside the top four and while it is early days, the Roosters can\u2019t afford to have another season of scraping into the top eight and expecting to make a deep finals run. <\/p>\n The arrival of Daly Cherry-Evans and Reece Robson was supposed to take the Roosters to the next level, but both played against the Panthers and had little impact in attack.<\/p>\n Cherry-Evans was solid in defence with 25 tackles and just one miss, but he managed just 29 run metres and zero try involvements with ball in hand. <\/p>\n Robson playing his first game of the season after a thumb injury setback was strong in defence with 37 tackles and just three misses and while he had 45 run metres, he also had zero try involvements. <\/p>\n Combinations need time to build, so the Roosters can be afforded some leeway to get their spine clicking, but if they give the likes of the Panthers, Storm, Bulldogs and Warriors and the resurgent defending premiers the Broncos too much of a headstart, they may struggle to catch them in the top-four race. <\/p>\n However, for their attack to thrive, they need to improve their defence and Cooper Cronk believes that is where Trent Robinson has to start to turn around their season. <\/p>\n \u201cTwo 40-point results conceded in week one and week three is not good for a team that knows you\u2019ve got to be one of the best defensive teams to play finals,\u201d Cronk said on Fox League.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was almost like their goal-line defence wasn\u2019t able to get the line speed and make good decisions to attack the Panthers.\u201d <\/p>\n Daly Cherry-Evans and Reece Robson have work to do with the Roosters spine.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Cronk warned the Roosters need time to build their combinations, but they can\u2019t afford to drop too many more games over the next couple of months heading into the Origin period, given they will lose plenty of players to representative duties. <\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll be a work in progress but they\u2019re going to be a team that cop a little bit of flak if they lose and they\u2019ll get a lot of wraps when they win,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd for the next sort of four to six weeks, they need to find their rhythm and their style of play and start banking in some wins and consistency.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause if there are more losses than wins in eight or ten weeks\u2019 time, then there\u2019s going to be a lot of noise around the Roosters.\u201d<\/p>\n Kevin Walters agreed the Roosters spine \u201cneeds some work\u201d and said isn\u2019t panic stations quite yet being so early in the season, but Greg Alexander had doubts around the way Cherry-Evans is being used in attack given he is traditionally a halfback. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know whether playing out the back to Cherry-Evans suits his game style,\u201d Alexander said. <\/p>\n \u201cI think he needs to be on the ball in the front line and challenging the defence with his running and passing games.\u201d <\/p>\n There were question marks around the Sam Walker and Cherry-Evans halves partnership before the season and on the early evidence they have a long way to go to make it work and Hugo Savala will be keeping the pressure on them after his breakout year in 2025.<\/p>\n Panthers HAMMER Chooks in Robson debut | 01:49<\/p>\n \u2018BLOWN UP THE GPS\u2019: UNSUNG HERO PROVES DRAMA WON\u2019T DERAIL SEASON<\/p>\n Forget Bronson Xerri. All the talk and headlines were about the wantaway Bulldogs centre after he was dropped by Cameron Ciraldo this week and reportedly tried to agitate for an early release.<\/p>\n But when the Bulldogs took to the field on Thursday night, none of it mattered as long as his replacement, Enari Tuala, did a job.<\/p>\n And coach Cameron Ciraldo was quick to turn his attention to Tuala after demoting Xerri, praising the 27-year old\u2019s work ethic following their 14-10 win over the Raiders in Canberra.<\/p>\n If you purely look at attacking numbers, nothing around Tuala\u2019s performance in particular was exactly eye-catching. The centre played 80 minutes and had 10 runs for 73 metres, making only 17 post-contact metres in the process.<\/p>\n However, despite his attacking numbers not setting the world alight, it was in defence where he made his mark in the nation\u2019s capital, making 23 tackles in the centres and missing two. He made almost twice as many tackles as centre partner Stephen Crichton who made 13 and missed three.<\/p>\n Tuala also came up with a crucial try-saving effort late in the game, which was critical considering the Bulldogs only won by four points in the end.<\/p>\n Enari Tuala impressed Cameron Ciraldo.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n The decision to drop Xerri in favour of Tuala had been the biggest discussion point around the NRL last week, but Ciraldo has backed his decision despite the noise \u2014 and it was hard not to agree based on what Tuala produced.<\/p>\n \u201cThe sports scientist came up at halftime and (Tuala\u2019s) basically blown up the GPS,\u201d Ciraldo said in the post-match press conference.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was working that hard. I think that\u2019s a credit to him.\u201d<\/p>\n With Xerri seemingly on the outer, Ciraldo has made it perfectly clear he believes Tuala has earned the spot in the team as opposed to Xerri losing his.<\/p>\n While all the talk is around where Xerri ends up at the end of this saga, Tuala\u2019s workman-like performance proved it will be far from disruptive for a professional Bulldogs team that is determined to build on last year\u2019s success.<\/p>\n Asked about the off-field drama involving Xerri, Ciraldo declared his players handled the situation \u201cgreat\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThere might be stuff going on off the field, but they\u2019re really good at just staying process-minded and getting on with the job,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton agreed: \u201cIt\u2019s always been process-driven with us, regardless of media and regardless of the noise that\u2019s outside.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know within our four walls who we represent and what we\u2019re playing for. As long as our leaders are driving that, the whole group follows that.\u201d<\/p>\n Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n Ciro proud of ‘shutting out the noise’ | 05:45<\/p>\n KANGAROOS SNUB \u2018LIGHTS FIRE\u2019 FOR ORIGIN FRONTRUNNER<\/p>\n Much was made about the fullback battle between James Tedesco and Dylan Edwards leading up to Friday\u2019s Roosters-Panthers blockbuster.<\/p>\n For good reason too, given it\u2019s never too early to discuss potential Origin selections.<\/p>\n At this stage, Tedesco and Edwards are the only two in the running for the Blues\u2019 No. 1 jersey. It\u2019s been that way for a few years now.<\/p>\n Edwards is the incumbent in a losing side and after Tedesco won last year\u2019s Dally M, he would\u2019ve levelled up in the race for the chance to represent the Blues in 2026.<\/p>\n After the 80 minutes was won and done at Allianz Stadium on Friday night though, there was one clear leader in that race: Edwards.<\/p>\n \u201cHe couldn\u2019t have played any better,\u201d Fox League\u2019s Braith Anasta said following Penrith\u2019s 40-4 thumping.<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to argue with. Edwards was everywhere.<\/p>\n He scored two tries, had two line breaks, four tackle busts and made several terrific defensive efforts, a couple of which saved certain Roosters tries.<\/p>\n In fairness to Tedesco, he was clearly the best of a beaten bunch, but he was outplayed by his opposite number.<\/p>\n Speaking to Fox League after the game, Panthers skipper Isaah Yeo called Edwards \u201cthe form player of the comp\u201d, crediting the work his teammate has done after what was an underwhelming 2025 campaign.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been outstanding for us,\u201d Yeo said.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the back of last year where he said he was down on form and confidence but he\u2019s had a wonderful pre-season and the way he\u2019s started this season, he\u2019s been key to our success.<\/p>\n \u201cThe work he does off the ball and his defence and the way he puts us in our positions.\u201d<\/p>\n Dylan Edwards is in fine form.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Following the season, Edwards lost his Test jersey to Broncos star Reece Walsh for the Ashes series.<\/p>\n Edwards was named in the squad but didn\u2019t see the field.<\/p>\n His club coach believes that has also been a contributing factor of the fullback\u2019s blistering 2026 form.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could see it coming in the pre-season. Did it (the Test snub) light a fire? Probably, yeah,\u201d Ivan Cleary<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s already mentioned that he felt he landed in last year a little underdone, coming off surgery and sort of just picked up little injuries along the way. Still had a decent year but probably not to Dyl\u2019s standards.\u201d<\/p>\n Premiership winning half Cooper Cronk agreed with Yeo and Cleary\u2019s assessment that Edwards didn\u2019t enjoy his best season last year.<\/p>\n In Cronk\u2019s opinion, Edwards looked lethargic at times and believes the off-season has done him the world of good.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the back end of the last year he played tired. Maybe injured but this year, he looks fresh,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got back to his best level and it\u2019s a reflection of what the Panthers are doing. It\u2019s a scary prospect as all their best players are firing.\u201d<\/p>\n Panthers HAMMER Chooks in Robson debut | 01:49<\/p>\n ORIGIN SMOKEY EMERGES… AND NOW \u2018EVERYONE\u2019S FINALLY SEEING IT\u2019<\/p>\n Jackson Ford was considered an outside or slim chance of being in the Origin frame to start the season \u2014 but his form can\u2019t be ignored.<\/p>\n The Warriors gun has been nothing short of immense to start the season and he added another stellar performance to his resume to down the Knights.<\/p>\n The 28-year-old has become an integral figure in New Zealand\u2019s engine room and he tallied 187 running metres, five tackle breaks and two linebreaks to go with a try on Saturday.<\/p>\n It will be music to Laurie Daley\u2019s ears, with Ford eligible to play for NSW, hailing from the south coast and coming through the Dragons pathways system. <\/p>\n Throw in the mix the new extended bench rules, which will allow Daley to pick six players on the pine \u2014 and Ford is a genuine shout to earn an Origin debut.<\/p>\n While Ford is getting his flowers, Warriors coach Andrew Webster was of the belief Ford has been a quiet achiever for an extended period.<\/p>\n His performance against Newcastle was also timely given he was also playing his 100th NRL game, and he also played 80 minutes.<\/p>\n Jackson Ford has been on fire in 2026.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s getting a lot of praise at the moment Jackson, he deserves it,\u201d Webster said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut we kind of have been celebrating him internally for a long time now and I\u2019m glad everyone\u2019s finally seeing it.<\/p>\n \u201cReally happy for him in his 100th game, I think he\u2019s played 60-odd games for our club, he\u2019s going to go on to be a long-time Warrior which is good.\u201d<\/p>\n Webster\u2019s last comment could hint to an impending extension, with Ford currently signed until the end of the 2027 season.<\/p>\n With many more years to come in his NRL career, New Zealand powerbrokers could be hoping Ford can pick up the slack left by the looming departure of veteran Mitch Barnett.<\/p>\n On his return from an ACL injury, Barnett showed his class but will join the Broncos in 2027 after being granted a release on compassionate grounds.<\/p>\n The Warriors have a particularly tough time signing players to make the move across the Tasman, making it all the more important to retain their key stars.<\/p>\n Ford is undoubtedly one of those players the club can build around for years to come, and there\u2019s a very small numbers of front rowers who can churn out 80 minute performances.<\/p>\n Marata Niukore is also reportedly departing at the end of the 2026 season, while Kurt Capewell is 32 and could play for several more years.<\/p>\n But Ford\u2019s importance moving forward as a key figure for the Warriors can\u2019t be understated.<\/p>\n Webster set to face tough selection call | 06:02<\/p>\n \u2018BRAVE\u2019 MOMENT PROVES WHY BUNNIES\u2019 LATRELL CALL WAS RIGHT ONE<\/p>\n \u201cSmall in stature, but so brave\u201d.<\/p>\n That sums up Jye Gray according to legendary playmaker Kieran Foran.<\/p>\n The Rabbitohs fullback delivered a moment that will remain in the minds of the Souths faithful for years to come, even though their gritty victory may not.<\/p>\n As the scores sat at 20-16 to the Rabbitohs, with nine minutes on the clock, barnstorming winger Jeral Skelton collected a pass and picked his target.<\/p>\n He charged at Gray, who pressed forward and increased the space between him and the tryline, taking down the flyer who towers over him with his initial contact.<\/p>\n It\u2019s become a hallmark of Gray\u2019s game and a large reason why master coach Wayne Bennett refused to drop the 22-year-old leading into the 2026 season in favour of a fully fit Latrell Mitchell.<\/p>\n \u201cIf this is me I am literally getting out of the way and Jeral Skelton is winning the game, but 80 kilogram (Jye Gray) just throws his body in front,\u201d Cooper Cronk said.<\/p>\n \u201cAbsorbs the contact and that doesn\u2019t do it justice. When you\u2019ve got the smallest guy on the field, taking on the biggest it just says \u2018hey, they are not going to score this game\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cThis two points means a lot, I thought he was tremendous. Yes he had the HIA concern\u2026 but Jye Gray has been given an opportunity in the fullback jersey.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has made Latrell Mitchell move to the centres, he is a hell of a player.\u201d<\/p>\n Jye Gray celebrates.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Mitchell\u2019s move to the centres has also been a resounding success, with the marquee man delivering several strong performances to start the season.<\/p>\n Gray, meanwhile, has gone about his business.<\/p>\n \u201cThey missed 30 tackles and had 17 errors (against the Tigers), but moments like that and efforts like that reveal what the Bunnies are about and Jye Gray epitomises that,\u201d Yvonne Sampson said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe will never be beaten on effort, even though there is not a huge amount of him. He is an absolute pocket rocket and he will never be beaten on effort.\u201d<\/p>\n Of those 30 missed tackles, Gray contributed only one while making nine \u2014 including several crucial efforts.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what this guy does, small in stature but so brave. He just keeps turning up for his team,\u201d Kieran Foran said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey would love the courage that Jye Gray shows week in, week out.\u201d<\/p>\n Gray\u2019s attack has also proven to be impressive, recording a game high seven tackle breaks against the Tigers. No other player managed more than five in that contest.<\/p>\n The gun fullback also scored, slicing through the line to add another dimension to the Rabbitohs\u2019 right edge attack, their \u2018less-recognised\u2019 side of the field when you consider their left edge.<\/p>\n Gray also tallied a try assist in a mammoth performance.<\/p>\n