Stephen Crichton has thrown his hat into the ring for the NSW captaincy by steering the Bulldogs to a remarkable 32-20 comeback victory over the Raiders in Canberra on Saturday afternoon.
With Blues coach Laurie Daley observing from the grandstand, Crichton dominated the second half, leading his side to a stunning turnaround.
Amid ongoing discussions about whether last year’s successful Blues captain Jake Trbojevic will retain his spot, Crichton made a compelling case for the role of skipper.
Stephen Crichton, Bulldogs captain. Getty
When his team was down 20-0 at halftime, Crichton seized control of the match in the second half.
The Bulldogs captain not only scored a try but also assisted in two more and made three line breaks, turning the tide in spectacular fashion.
Over the past 18 months, Crichton has demonstrated his qualities as an inspirational leader at Belmore, and he would be an excellent choice to lead the Blues if given the opportunity.
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Daley faces dilemma over NSW fullback
While he might not possess the reliability of Dylan Edwards or the explosive speed of James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell stands out as the most dynamic fullback in the game when he’s at his best.
This poses a dilemma for Blues coach Laurie Daley as he approaches the critical decision-making phase for Origin I.
Latrell’s incredible talent can turn a game around single-handedly, as he demonstrated with Souths’ stunning victory over the Broncos on Friday night.
Latrell Mitchell shows appreciation to the crowd. NRL Photos
The team, which comprises a significant number of Queensland players, was powerless to halt Latrell’s brilliance during what was likely his best performance in years.
His contributions included scoring tries, setting them up, and executing a stunning field goal.
Mitchell also excelled defensively, shutting down multiple try-scoring opportunities for the Broncos.
Can he replicate this performance in the Origin arena? That’s the decision Daley must make because if Latrell can replicate that form, the Blues would be formidable in Brisbane.
Knights struggling to retain Ponga for the Maroons
The Newcastle Knights seem to be unintentionally sidelining Kalyn Ponga from the Queensland State of Origin squad.
The Knights’ attack has been lacklustre for much of 2025, dragging Ponga’s form down with it.
This extraordinary player, renowned for his skill and speed, hasn’t scored a try since last September, an unthinkable drought for someone of his calibre.
Ponga appeared to be off his game during the surprising defeat to the Titans on Friday night, where they squandered a 20-0 lead only to lose 24-20.
With Des Hasler’s future under scrutiny, the veteran Titans coach may have bought himself some additional time following his team’s spirited comeback.
In stark contrast, Adam O’Brien is firmly under pressure, and the Knights seem like a discontented squad.
Blaize Talagi from the Panthers on the move. Getty
Has Penrith discovered Luai’s successor?
Move over, Nathan Cleary. The Panthers have unearthed a new match-winner in the vein of Jarome Luai, taking some pressure off Cleary for the remainder of the season.
Blaize Talagi, who was not selected for the first two matches, has been steadily improving since receiving his opportunity.
The former Eel, now just 20 years old, truly came into his own in Saturday night’s thrilling 30-all draw against the Cowboys in Townsville.
Talagi was instrumental, creating four of the Panthers’ five tries and scoring one himself while Cleary happily let his junior partner take centre stage.
This understanding mirrors the chemistry Cleary had with Luai, a promising sign for the Panthers as they face a challenging season ahead.
Storm puts a smile on Bellamy’s face
The lesson this week was clear: don’t anger Craig Bellamy. His Melbourne Storm obliterated the Tigers with a 64-0 victory on Sunday.
Bellamy was incensed after his players squandered a victory against Canberra in a performance that was uncharacteristically below par for Melbourne.
The Storm coach really put his players through their paces this week, and they channeled their frustrations into a dominating performance against the hapless Tigers.
After just 17 minutes, Ryan Papenhuyzen had completed a hat-trick, and the Storm showed no signs of letting up.
This win marked the 16th consecutive occasion that the Storm has bounced back from a loss to claim victory, highlighting the Bellamy effect.
Following such a commanding display, the coach may give his players a bit of grace in training this week.
While the Tigers have made some strides forward this year, they have fallen back into old habits associated with their wooden spoon struggles.
It might just be Benji Marshall’s turn this week to adopt the role of ‘bad cop’ with his players.
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Farnworth shines as ‘best centre in the league’
Herbie Farnworth has scored in each of his last four matches, confirming my belief that he is currently the best centre in rugby league for the 2025 season.
In an inconsistent Dolphins squad, Farnworth turns up week in and week out, consistently conjuring magic on the field.
His sensational solo try on Thursday night proved decisive between two struggling teams, with the Eels unable to contend with his speed and strength.
This match was largely uneventful, with excitement only emerging in the final ten minutes as the Eels began to play more liberally in a show of desperation.
They managed to score one try and nearly added a second to snatch a win, suggesting they may benefit from adopting a more adventurous approach earlier in your games.
Luke Metcalf of the Warriors in a tackle. Getty
Metcalf’s brilliance sways critics’ opinions
Two words summarise the Warriors’ ascent to the top four after ten rounds: Luke Metcalf.
The Warriors’ halfback is experiencing a resurgence in the 2025 season, playing the best football of his career.
Many, including myself, believed Te Maire Martin would have been the ideal replacement for the retired Shaun Johnson this year.
However, coach Andrew Webster opted for Metcalf, and the team has not looked back since.
On form, Metcalf is performing as well as any halfback in the league and has the potential to lead the Warriors deep into the finals this season.
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