The Mole: 'Serious talk' Broncos bosses need to have with 'fragile' fullback Reece Walsh

With Origin around the corner, Hudson Young is the form forward in the premiership and has ensured he will be among the first players picked by Blues coach Laurie Daley.

Young became the first forward to score three straight try doubles since the great Steve Menzies back in the 1990s when he crossed twice on the Gold Coast on Sunday.

After the Titans shot to a 16-0 lead, it was Young who got the Raiders back into the game with his power running and big hits.

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Known as something of a hot head early in his career, Young has learned to control his aggression and his form is one of the main reasons the Raiders have defied the critics and surged into the top four.

MOSES NAME KEEPS HAUNTING TIGERS

The double Moses factor was always going to ensure that Easter Monday ended in tears for the Tigers.

After Isaac Moses' massive drama upon the Tigers with the Lachlan Galvin affair, his nephew destroyed the joint venture on the field in his comeback game.

It was one of those days where all the stars aligned for the Eels - and the Tigers must now try to rebuild their season.

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The Tigers need to regroup for a make-or-break clash with the strong Sharks team on Sunday.

And the heat is on Benji Marshall, who has to decide whether or not to recall Galvin after a week of high drama and mud-slinging.

The Eels, meanwhile, are still in last spot but just two wins away from eighth spot on a congested ladder.

With their brilliant leader Moses back at halfback and an impressive win to their name, the Eels will suddenly feel that their season is far from over.

EDWARDS KEEPS TEDDY AT BAY

Dylan Edwards rose to the challenge of James Tedesco to ensure he will be the Blues fullback for Origin I next month.

With the Panthers struggling since Las Vegas and needing to make a statement over the Roosters, Edwards was superb.

He won his battle against Tedesco - the form fullback of the early rounds - and that paved the way for the return to form by the four-time champions.

Edwards ran for 238 metres - exactly double his rival's 119 - and was the sharper of the two around the rucks.

'HARD RESET' WALSH NEEDS

A few weeks back I suggested that the Broncos needed to sit Reece Walsh down and have a chat to him about not trying to do too much on the field.

After Saturday night's thrilling golden point loss to the Warriors, the Broncos need to have a serious talk to Walsh again.

And now he is out for at least a month with a knee injury, Walsh has the opportunity to give his football brain a hard reset.

The star fullback was off his game for most of the night in Auckland and gifted the Warriors victory by putting the kick off to golden point out on the full.

Luke Metcalf calmly landed the subsequent penalty from halfway and the game was over.

It was an inexcusable mistake from a player who knows better and Walsh's fragile confidence has taken another knock that will take some time to recover from.

SHARKS REPLACEMENT IMPRESSING SUITORS

Mawene Hiroti is proving a fine replacement for injured Kayal Iro in the Sharks backline.

The 26-year-old centre can't secure a spot in the team when the Sharks are at full strength but when he comes in he does his job - scoring tries.

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In a remarkable stat, the Kiwi born centre has played five NRL games since the start of 2023 … and scored in every one of them.

He was at it again in the impressive win at Newcastle on Sunday, crossing the stripe as the Sharks dismantled the fancied Knights outside backs.

Hiroti comes off contract at the end of the season and rival clubs could do a lot worse than look at the former Rabbitohs and NSW Residents centre.

KATOA'S COMING OF AGE PERFORMANCE

Four-time premiership coach Tim Sheens always believed it takes at least 50 games for a playmaker to find his way in the NRL.

So it's appropriate that in his 51st game, Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa had without doubt his best game in the NRL, spearheading his team to a remarkable 42-22 thumping of the Storm in the Good Friday victory.

Down 16-2, the Dolphins scored 40 straight points to humble the mighty Melbourne - a low point in Storm history.

And Katoa led the way, clearly out-pointing reigning Dally M Medal superstar Jahrome Hughes along the way.

Katoa came up with three try assists and his kicking game constantly put the Storm on the back foot.

If he can maintain this sort of form, the Dolphins are well and truly finals bound.

WEAPON BEHIND BULLDOGS RISE

Jacob Preston is one of the big reasons that the Dogs are the real deal in 2025.

The Bulldogs are undefeated NRL leaders for many reasons - but Preston is probably the biggest.

The non-stop back-rower has played every minute of every game so far this year and is never far from the ball in attack or defence.

Against Souths in the Good Friday massacre, Preston topped the tackle count with 41, ran for over 100 metres and scored a try.

Although he has yet to play representative football and has less than 50 NRL games to his name, he will be among the first players picked by Blues coach Laurie Daley.

DRAGONS FLYER PUSHING FOR BEST SEASON EVER

Tyrell Sloan is one of those rare players with the happy knack of scoring tries.

He's bagged six in five games this season - ironically three doubles.

And the speedy winger is well on track for his best season in the NRL since bursting into first grade at the Dragons in 2021.

The Dapto Canaries junior scored 13 tries in a disappointing Dragons team last season and is thriving running outside new fullback Clint Gutherson.

Gutho has the experience to give Sloan a little time and space - and the flying flanker does the rest.

Sloan was superb in the upset win over the Sea Eagles at Manly last Thursday night in both attack and defence and came up with some huge plays in the victory.