Live: Tigers start life without Galvin, as Bennett 'embarrassed' by NRL saga

[ad_1] Spencer Leniu and Robert Toia collectively after Origin I. (Getty Pictures: Bradley Kanaris) Daniel Tupou has described how he sees a youthful model of himself in Robert Toia, as Queensland's breakout State of Origin star returns for the Sydney Roosters.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson confirmed on Saturday all 5 of his Origin gamers would face Canberra on Sunday, days after the interstate sequence opener.

That may depart the Roosters in one of the best probability to stay on the cusp of the NRL's high eight, regardless of sitting sixteenth on the ladder as lately as six weeks in the past.

Toia has been one in every of a number of younger Roosters whom Tupou believes has re-energised the membership this 12 months, amid a tough damage run to start out 2025.

The centre overcame back-to-back ACL ruptures earlier than making his debut this 12 months, and was arguably Queensland's finest of their series-opening loss.

Tupou himself performed 10 video games on the wing for NSW and has persistently turn out to be one thing of a mentor for the youthful members of the Roosters' backline.

"Watching from afar, the extras he is placing in after the adversity he is been via is a credit score to him," Tupou mentioned.

"He jogs my memory of myself, simply the quiet nature and shy with all that media stuff and he is dealt with it rather well.

"I've seen him preserve his composure and let his footy do the speaking."

Queensland coach Billy Slater mentioned after Wednesday's loss Toia's debut was "nice", hailing his give attention to the "not good" elements of the sport.

Robinson was additionally not stunned, praising Toia's actions and selections.

The Roosters centre just isn't the one teen to have left a mark on Tupou.

Hugo Savala has made an impression for the Roosters this season. (Getty Pictures: Cameron Spencer) The towering winger scored twice in final week's win over Cronulla off the again of two Hugo Savala kicks, with the halfback profiting from Tupou's top.

Simply six video games into beginning as a No.7, the 23-year-old has made a real case to maintain a spot within the halves as soon as Sam Walker returns from his ACL rupture in coming weeks.

"It was only a gameplan and he backed himself," Tupou mentioned.

"All week from the Monday main as much as the week he mentioned he was going to personal that a part of his recreation and he lived as much as the expectation.

"We simply fell into place straight and away and it labored. Credit score to him as a younger participant to have the braveness to have the ability to try this."

It is also not misplaced on the Roosters that it was on this corresponding Sunday night time house fixture in opposition to the Raiders that their 2024 season was ripped aside.