The Mole: Blues rookie facing axe after 'colossus' stamps big claim for State of Origin call-up

Many believe Souths colossus Keaon Koloamatangi should have been among the first Blues men picked in Perth.

And he backed them up with 232 run metres - more than any player on the field in a non-stop 80-plus-minute effort in a beaten team against the Storm.

Compare Koloamatangi's numbers to those of Max King in Perth (25 minutes for 47 metres) and the choice of who to play up front in the decider seems straightforward.

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Combine Koloamatangi with Broncos machine Payne Haas and the Maroons will struggle to hold the Blues.

Grant's sublime night out against Bunnies

Harry Grant fired a clear shot across New South Wales' bow in Melbourne's thrilling 25-24 win over Souths on Saturday.

On the very ground where Origin three will be decided in a couple of weeks, Grant backed up his strong game against the Blues in Perth with another superb display.

Grant scored a try, made a line break and topped the tackle count to prove the difference between two closely matched teams.

The Storm star is clearly the best hooker in the game and streets ahead of current Blues No.9 Reece Robson when it comes to dummy-half craftwork.

The way Grant carved the Blues up will add to the pressure Laurie Daley is feeling to bring in a more creative dummy-half, like Tiger Api Koroisau or the Warriors' Wayde Egan.

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Reynolds puts Broncos powerbrokers 'in their place'

There were those in the Broncos' organisation who would have been happy to part ways with Adam Reynolds at the end of the season - but the veteran halfback put them in their place at Suncorp on Sunday.

Reynolds wasted no time justifying his new deal with a five-star display, getting the Broncos out of a messy 22-6 start to secure an invaluable two points.

Several Broncos players were ready to push the panic button, but Reynolds kept his cool and came up with some big plays when his team really needed them.

Playmakers will be crucial in the coming weeks as teams scrap for points - and the Broncos have one of the best in the business in the former Rabbitoh.

Watch the 2025 State of Origin series exclusively live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Paulo, Hawkins stand up for Eels

Junior Paulo hasn't had the best of seasons, but stood up on Sunday when he was really needed to keep the heartbeat alive in the Eels' finals hopes.

The big bopper ran with plenty of determination and his fine ball skills led to two line breaks in the Eels' 36-20 win over the Titans.

Dean Hawkins looks to have cemented the halfback spot while Mitchell Moses is out, also putting in a strong display. The Eels are now in 15th spot, but just three points out of the top eight.

Panthers' 'accidental hero' roars back to form

What's happened to Paul Alamoti? That's what plenty have been whispering for much of 2025 after the accidental hero of last year's grand final has struggled for form and confidence.

Alamoti started well enough with four tries in the first three rounds - but since then has only crossed the stripe twice.

He looked the shadow of the player who took the NRL by storm last year and was dropped by coach Ivan Cleary.

But when the Panthers really needed the centre/winger - with five Origin players missing in Auckland on Saturday - Alamoti roared back to form.

He came up with some big plays, including a try and a line break, and ran for 170 metres as the Panthers charged into the top eight with a stunning upset over the Warriors.

The win would have done wonders for the youngster's confidence - and he should play plenty more first grade in the big games ahead as a result.

JFH's classy move after loss

It was always going to be a huge afternoon for James Fisher-Harris in Auckland when he came up against his four-time premiership winning 'brothers' from the Panthers.

But sadly for 'The Fish', it all went horribly wrong.

The depleted Panthers scored a shock win and Fisher-Harris had a game he'd want to forget.

For only the second time this season in a game in which he wasn't injured, he failed to run for 100 metres.

Added to that, he missed five tackles and never looked the force that has made him one of the game's most respected props.

But no one can question JFH's sportsmanship, and after the final siren, he was the first man to congratulate his former teammates on what may prove a season-turning win.

May, Koroisau boost Origin credentials

The Tigers may have lost the football match, but their two Origin III contenders did their chances no harm against Canberra on Friday.

Terrell May - who the Blues probably now realise should have been there from game one - ran for 180 metres, more than any forward on the field, and had three offloads.

And Apisai Koroisau, whose attack is sensational out of dummy-half but whose defence has been questioned at times, topped the tackle count for both teams with 48.

More food for thought for Laurie Daley.

Tapine on track for revered gong

Don't be surprised if Joe Tapine takes away the Dally M Captain of the Year award in his first season as leader of the green machine.

Since replacing Elliott Whitehead, who returned to England, Tapine has been sensational.

He's taken his own game to a new level and his leadership is one of the main reasons the Raiders are sitting so high on the premiership ladder.

Against the Tigers on Friday, Tapine scored a try, saved a try and ran for 117 metres.

Inspirational stuff.