Less than 24 hours after Anthony Seibold was sacked as head coach of the Manly Sea Eagles, young halfback Joey Walsh showcased that he is indeed the future of the club.
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While there has been a temptation to throw the youngster into the starting halves at NRL level, Walsh has instead been able to gain more minutes and develop in reserve grade.
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The decision made by the now sacked Anthony Seibold paid off on the weekend when Walsh looked the goods for the Sea Eagles with two tries, two line-breaks, two line-break assists and a try assist.
“I just want him to play 80 minutes. Everyone can see the quality in Joey, knowing he’s going to be a long-term player. But we need to make sure we don’t set him up to fail,” Seibold said in one of his last press conferences.
“He’s a 19-year-old kid who has only played 21 games in four years of rugby league. There are parts of his game that are NRL-ready and there are one or two that aren’t NRL-ready, particularly around some of the organisation for a halfback.
“… He’ll get to play 10 or 12 games this year, there’s no doubt about that. We want to set him up for his future, not just this year or next year, it’s about the next 10 or 12 years with Joey.
“He’s only 19. What we don’t want to do is put him in too early and we need to get into some good touch as well and bring him into a team that is in good form.”
Meanwhile, a Parramatta Eels smokey has emerged to replace the injured Isaiah Iongi and the New Zealand Warriors have unearthed the ‘Next SBW’.
ALL EYES WERE ON…
Two weeks ago, Bronson Xerri produced a stellar showing against the Raiders after being dropped to the NSW Cup, but the same couldn’t be said for his performance over the weekend.
Playing the entire 80 minutes, the centre struggled to get involved and only had 48 running metres (off seven runs), one tackle bust and two tackles.
However, it is a different story for Dragons halfback Kade Reed.
With Kyle Flanagan exiting the field on a stretcher against the Titans, Reed will come into contention to play in the halves this week and is coming off two try assists, two line-breaks and two line-break assists in the club’s loss to the North Sydney Bears.
‘Hard decisions’ facing Foran at Manly | 05:01
The next generation of future NRL stars was on full showcase in the QLD Cup over the weekend, in particular, the clash between the Burleigh Bears and Northern Pride
A member of the Brisbane Broncos development list, Phillip Coates – the younger brother of QLD and Storm star Xavier Coates – starred in only his second reserve-grade match with two tries, 118 running metres and two line-breaks.
On the other side of the field, young Cowboys playmaker Zac Herdegen came close to gifting his side the upset win with two tries, while Robert Derby is inching closer to an NRL return with 185 running metres to his name.
Meanwhile, Cowboys teammate Viliami Vailea had 192 running metres and one line-break for the Townsville Blackhawks in their victory over the Seagulls.
In the wake of Jamayne Issako announcing that he will leave the Dolphins at the end of the season to join the Storm, Tevita Naufahu scored a hat-trick for Redcliffe.
One to watch in the coming season, Naufahu could easily find himself cementing a spot in the club’s back-line, especially with Jake Averillo and Selwyn Cobbo still unsigned for 2027.
NRL 2025 RD24 Brisbane Broncos v Dolphins – Tevita Naufahu. Picture: NRL PhotosSource: Supplied Source Known
NSW CUP STANDOUTS
There is no better player in either the NSW Cup or the QLD Cup competitions than Parramatta Eels utility Te Hurinui Twidle.
Able to play in the halves or at fullback, Twidle continued his dominance for the Eels last round with four tries, 225 running metres, and four line-breaks against a strong Penrith side – don’t be surprised if he gets an NRL opportunity in the coming weeks.
Dropped by the Sydney Roosters due to poor form, outside back Fetalaiga Pauga bounced back in the NSW Cup with an astonishing display.
Bagging a double, Paulo ran for a game-high 248 metres and made 20 tackle busts in the side’s 44-18 win over the Sea Eagles as he gets his confidence back up.
‘Honestly stunned’: Foran on Manly job | 08:58
Francis Manuleleua continues to showcase why he is one of the most promising rookies coming through the Newcastle Knights system.
Playing in the middle of the park, the New Zealand-born forward had 203 running metres, two tries, two line-breaks and 11 tackle breaks, which saw him take apart his opposition whenever he touched the ball.
Alofiana Khan-Pereira and Haizyn Mellars continue to heat up pressure on the club’s incumbent wingers at the New Zealand Warriors.
The duo combined for 404 running metres, two tries, four line-breaks and seven tackle busts in their one-point victory over the Wests Tigers at home.
Meanwhile, the Warriors have unearthed the ‘Next Sonny Bill Williams’ in Bishop Neal.
Starting the season in the Under-19s SG Ball Cup, Neal is regarded as one of the best young forwards coming through the ranks and produced multiple highlights over the weekend with two tries and 118 running metres.
Bishop Neal NSWRL Junior Reps Rd 6 – Kirkham Oval, Camden Wests v Warriors UNE Harold Matthews Cup Camden NSW 2160, Australia, Picture Warren Gannon PhotographySource: News Corp Australia
QLD CUP STANDOUTS
Formerly with the Knights and Raiders, Clay Webb continues to make an impression in the lower levels of rugby league.
A member of the 2023 NSW Cup Team of the Year, Webb was outstanding for the Brisbane Tigers over the weekend in the middle of the field with 162 running metres and 31 tackles as he continues to push his case to be picked up by the Perth Bears once they enter the NRL in 2027.
It’s hard to see why Guy Hamilton was never awarded an opportunity with an NRL side in the past after he had another solid showing for the Burleigh Bears in their eight-point victory over Northern Pride.
Although he is now 31 years of age and has notched over 180 QLD Cup appearances throughout his career, Hamilton had three try assists and two line-break assists, showing that age is just a number.
Burleigh halfback Guy Hamilton – Credit: Queensland Rugby LeagueSource: The Courier-Mail
The Western Clydesdale may have lost to the Sunshine Coast Falcons, but fullback Christopher Woodbridge was the star of the show.
Woodbridge had two try assists, two line-breaks and a try, while former NRL forward Matt Parcell had two line-breaks of his own to go with 181 running metres.
Out of favour with Gold Coast Titans coach Josh Hannay at the moment, Jaylan De Groot scored a double as he attempts to try and reclaim a spot in the first-grade team.
However, it was 26-year-old Treymain Spry who looked even better on the weekend with three tries to his name
Released from the Titans in 2023, Spry featured in five matches for the NRL side in 2020 but has since been plying his trade in the QLD Cup competition.