3 months ago
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Cobbo’s replacement vindicating bold Maguire call
Eyebrows were raised a month ago when Selwyn Cobbo was axed in favour of the hardly tried and unheralded Josiah Karapani. Three matches later, and Maguire’s bold decision has been vindicated.
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A day after it was announced Cobbo had signed with the Dolphins for 2026, Karapani was starring again on Brisbane’s flank, beginning his afternoon with a crunching one-on-one tackling on his own try-line to force Edward Kosi into touch.
Only a few minutes later, he was on the receiving end of a remarkable two-man cutout pass from Ezra Mam to score his fifth try since coming onto the side’s flank.
Fresh off signing a two-year contract extension, where he will now vie with Deine Mariner and the recruited Grant Anderson from 2026 for his place on the wing, Karapani produced two linebreaks and 147 metres to go with his try, to well and truly repay the faith Maguire put in him.
Can Brisbane survive final Origin week?
There are few things less surprising than Payne Haas leading his pack from the front.
But for the past two seasons, his influence has left pundits to ponder whether the forwards can survive without him.
Before the clash at Suncorp Stadium, Haas’ front-row partner Corey Jensen said the engine room’s mentality had been to “get off the back of him”.
That is a reality they will not have next week against the Bulldogs when he and Pat Carrigan – who was illustrious with 155 metres and 33 tackles – enter the final Origin camp. However, in Xavier Willison, Brisbane have a man who can keep them afloat.
Origin-bound? Reece Walsh (centre) celebrates his try-assist as Brisbane beat the Warriors.Credit: AAP
The Kiwi prop has slowly built into his season off the bench, and on Saturday produced one of the most emphatic performances of his NRL career – running for 169 metres.
As a whole, the Brisbane pack looked far more threatening – their line speed generating field position and building pressure on the Warriors in defence, beginning with Kotoni Staggs crossing for the opening points.
Warriors spine in disarray
Warriors coach Andrew Webster will be holding his breath for the health of arguably his two most influential players, with neither fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad nor halfback Luke Metcalf seeing out the contest.
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Nicoll-Klokstad looked in pain for the back-end of the opening half, not returning from the break after hobbling down the tunnel with a knee concern.
Metcalf had been absolutely pummeled by Broncos edge forward Brendan Piakura, and eventually was forced off with a leg issue with the support of two trainers.
Webster will at least have more than capable reinforcements to call on should the duo need time on the sidelines, with Te Maire Martin and Tanah Boyd halves options, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck looked threatening at times once he shifted to fullback.
