The Mole: How Kotoni Staggs 'cheap shot' could cost Broncos star his Origin comeback

Could Kotoni Staggs' brain snap in the high pressure game against the Roosters on Saturday night result in him missing out on NSW Origin selection?

Staggs is a brilliant attacking player when in the mood but is also prone to pushing things a little too far when frustration hits.

The Broncos were in the midst of a remarkable comeback from 30-0 down but it came to a grinding halt when Staggs was sin binned for a totally unnecessary cheap shot on his opposite number Hugo Savala (watch in the video player above).

READ MORE: Piastri leaps onto Miami podium with daring last-lap move

READ MORE: Rivals clash in fiery post-match scuffle after Knights win

READ MORE: Mariner undergoes surgery after courageous display

In the high stakes Origin arena, Staggs is certain to be niggled by the Maroons players who know him so well from the Broncos - and there is no guarantee he won't explode again.

In a three game series, you just can't afford to have a guy in the sin bin - it could cost you the shield and Blues coach Laurie Daley will be mulling over that during the lead-up to selection in coming weeks.

Staggs played his one and only game for the Blues so far in 2022.

HAVE TIGERS LOST THEIR MOJO?

Will marquee man Jarome Luai's decision to defect to the PNG Chiefs derail the Tigers' season?

Just days after his shock announcement that he was leaving, Luai's Tigers put up their worst performance of the season, crumbling 52-10 at Cronulla on Sunday.

Maybe it was just a one-off bad day… or maybe the Tigers players have lost their mojo in the wake of their inspirational playmaker's departure… time will tell.

Watch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now.

The Tigers were short-handed without key men Api Koroisau and Jahream Bula and lost in-form half Adam Doueihi early in the contest.

But coach Benji Marshall would not have been happy with his team's lack of desperation in defence as Sharks halves Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes basically did as they pleased with ball in hand.

Luai was one of the Tigers' better players, but has the damage been done off the field?

ANOTHER BLUES BOLTER EMERGES

Dylan Lucas put his name right up in State of Origin selection lights with a two-try showing in the 80-point shootout against South Sydney on Sunday.

The Knights back-rower followed the mercurial Kalyn Ponga all over the field and was rewarded with the third double of his career.

With the Blues looking for tough, ball-running back-rowers, Lucas will probably fight it out with Canterbury's Jacob Preston for a spot in Laurie Daley's squad.

The return of main men Bradman Best, Lucas, Greg Marzhew, Ponga and Tyson Frizell brought out the best in the Knights in a 42-38 win.

Newcastle led 22-0 early on but Souths, with Latrell Mitchell in awesome form, stormed home and almost snatched a late win.

The Rabbitohs did earn themselves a place in the record books for the second highest losing score since 1908 but will need to work on their defence after letting in some big scores in recent weeks.

'BEST CHANCE' FOR WARRIORS PREMIERSHIP

The Warriors have made two grand finals but 2026 shapes as their best chance to win that elusive maiden premiership.

And leading the way are the NRL's most formidable middle forwards - Jackson Ford, James Fisher-Harris and Erin Clark.

Watch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now.

The trio combine brute force with clever ball skills and give the Warriors a fear factor up front that rival teams dread.

With a couple of smart halves and plenty of try scoring clout wide out, the Warriors have few weaknesses and are a team all the big guns fear.

TITANS FORM COULD HURT ORIGIN STARS

The Titans' struggles may cost bookends Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Moeaki Fotuaika their Queensland State of Origin spots.

Canberra's Corey Horsburgh clearly out-pointed both of the Titans' big men to lead the injury-hit Green Machine to an upset win on the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon.

Horsburgh is currently a one-Origin-wonder - he played for the Maroons in the final game of the 2023 series.

But if Billy Slater goes on form - and you can bet he watched Big Red decimate the Titans - then the Raiders prop is a huge chance to get another chance in the maroon jumper.

The Titans have won only three of nine games this season and for a team with plenty of speed and talent, have been a major disappointment yet again.

Missing six top line players, the Raiders were vulnerable on Saturday but Ricky Stuart's men simply wanted it more.

DOLPHIN PUTS HAND UP FOR STUNNING ORIGIN CALL

Max Plath took a giant step towards winning a maiden Queensland State of Origin spot by outplaying the best hooker in the league world on Friday night.

The Dolphins dummy half finished a clear winner in his battle with Harry Grant as his team consigned the Storm to a record seventh straight defeat at Suncorp Stadium.

While Grant was relatively quiet, Plath topped the Dolphins' tackle count, ran for nearly 100 metres and had a try assist.

It was a vital win for the Phins, who were in a slump themselves with four losses on the bounce.

Another major boost for the home side was the return of Jack Bostock made after a 10-month absence from ACL surgery, with the strong centre celebrating with a two-try haul.

WHAT THE BULLDOGS ARE SCREAMING OUT FOR

Canterbury need to find themselves a running hooker or they can kiss their finals hopes goodbye.

Their third straight loss against the Cowboys on Friday night sent off a host of alarm bells, the biggest of which was the lack of penetration from dummy half.

While Reed Mahoney - the player the Dogs let go in controversial circumstances over the summer - came back to haunt his team with two try assists, the Bulldogs had absolutely no go-forward from dummy half.

In the new six-again era, it's vital to get speed from the play-the-ball and the Dogs have none.

Their two hookers, Bailey Hayward (one run for five metres) and Jake Turpin (one run for four) are not able to get their forwards moving down the field and the Dogs are a stuttering, blubbering mess with the ball as a result.

The Cowboys, who have a dreadful record in Sydney, cruised to a 28-12 win and were rarely challenged by a Bulldogs side that has clearly lost its way.