Round 14 of the 2026 NRL season saw many highlights and lowlights, headlined by New South Wales and Queensland naming their State of Origin squads for Game 2 of the series.
PENRITH MAKE HISTORY
The Penrith Panthers have made history once again!
This time, the Panthers recorded the biggest ever win in club history – and the equal-fifth highest in the competition’s history – with a 68-0 thrasing of the Wests Tigers on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Commbank Arena.
Defeating the Tigers by 36-0 at the halftime break, it just continued to get worse for the Tigers who struggled to get into attacking position and made several simple handing errors that ended up turning into tries.
“Yeah, it’s embarrassing … their performance was unacceptable,” Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall said.
“Everything in our game that we could possibly get wrong, we got wrong.
“It looks like with the scoreline that we’re not trying … we were so dumb with the ball, and we can’t defend our areas.
“We’re tackling so much, then we get brain dead.”
BRONCOS LOSING STREAK CONTINUES
The Brisbane Broncos premiership defence is in tatters after they suffered a shock loss to heated rivals Gold Coast Titans, with their fullback Keano Kini producing a miraculous try in the final few minutes of the contest to grant them the win.
In arguably the greatest M1 derby of all-time, the New Zealand Kiwis international conjured an epic 65-metre chip-and-chase try to snatch a famous Titans victory and continue the losing streak of the Broncos.
“They’re bloody trying. I’ve got a group that’s trying hard it just things aren’t clicking for us at time,” Broncos coach Michael Maguire said post-match.
“We had two tries in the first half bounce away and I can’t fault the effort the players are putting in.
“Last week we were where we needed to be but this week they turned up training and they had a red-hot crack to make sure we were prepared and ready to go.
“You make your own joy in our game and we’ve got parts of our game that we just need to get better at.”
STATE OF ORIGIN SQUADS NAMED
New South Wales and Queensland have both named their squads for Game 2, with the Blues making two changes while the Maroons have opted to make three of their own.
Queensland have named a star-studded 20-man squad led by captain Cameron Munster, with Kalyn Ponga at fullback and an exciting backline featuring Selwyn Cobbo, Robert Toia, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Jojo Fifita.
Munster will partner Sam Walker in the halves, while Harry Grant starts at hooker.
The forward pack includes Thomas Flegler, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Briton Nikora, Kurt Capewell and Reuben Cotter, with Max Plath, Lindsay Collins, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Trent Loiero, Reece Walsh and Murray Taulagi on the interchange. The extended squad features Heilum Luki.
Meanwhile, the Blues squad is as follows.
Squad: Mitchell Barnett, Nathan Cleary, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Addin Fonua-Blake, Payne Haas, Isaiya Katoa, Apisai Koroisau, Toluta’u Koula, Dylan Lucas, Casey McLean, Mitchell Moses, Cameron Murray, Haumole Olakau’atu, Victor Radley, Reece Robson, Kotoni Staggs, Ethan Strange, James Tedesco, Brian To’o, Isaah Yeo (c), Hudson Young