NRL Succession: Bailey Simonsson edges closer to Eels return, Lewis Dodd quiet in NSW Cup

An Eels star’s impressive comeback from a knee injury, a debut for a highly touted Sharks forward, plus a four-try haul for a journeyman rake. See the lower grade guns staking their claims for NRL action.

Parramatta’s Bailey Simonsson is edging closer to an NRL return after a solid comeback from a long-term knee injury in NSW Cup as several Eels staked claims for call ups from the lower grades over the weekend.

Centre Simonsson played the first half of the Eels’ 23-16 win over Canterbury on Sunday which was highlighted by a try assist to help winger Haze Dunster crash over.

It was Simonsson’s first game since doing his ACL against Cronulla in May last year and it’s expected the Parramatta flyer will need to get a full 80-minute hitout in NSW Cup under his belt before he is promoted by Jason Ryles.

While the Eels’ NRL side is battling after a 0-3 start to the season, the reserve grade team is unbeaten, thanks to youngsters like fullback Joash Papalii who scored a try and kicked three goals in the victory over Canterbury.

Lock Charlie Guymer also put in a solid 60-minute shift for Parra and could be an option for Ryles as his side meets Manly at 4 Pines Park on Sunday.

At Souths, English halfback Lewis Dodd had a quiet day out as the Rabbitohs were beaten 40-10 by Newtown and he didn’t appear to do enough to force his way into the NRL side to face Penrith on Thursday night.

Parramatta's comeback kid Bailey Simonsson. Picture: NRL

Parramatta youngster Charlie Guymer put in a solid shift. Picture: NRL

Cronulla feeder club Newtown debuted a Sharks young gun with last year’s Jersey Flegg (under-21) grand final captain and promising forward Sam McCulloch making his NSW Cup debut off the bench in the win over Souths.

While Dodd is having issues making an impact in Australia, it’s not all negative for the Rabbitohs’ halves stocks, with Harold Matthews Cup (under-17s) five-eighth Payton Tarau single-handedly helping his team to a 26-22 win over the Panthers on Saturday.

Cronulla's Sam McCulloch. Pic: NRL

Tarau scored a double, and sealed the game with his second try on the bell as his star continues to rise.

At the Panthers, halfback Brad Schneider had a mixed game, overcoming a scrappy first half performance in his side’s 26-12 win over Newcastle on Saturday.

English halfback Lewis Dodd had a quiet day in reserve grade. Picture: NRL

Tristan Hope found the line four times for the Magpies. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Whether NRL coach Ivan Cleary throws the No.7 to Schneider against Souths on Thursday remains to be seen after Nathan Cleary was ruled out with concussion.

Wests Tigers’ hooking depth has proved more than handy for coach Benji Marshall, with both Api Koroisau and Tallyn Da Silva playing major roles in the club’s first grade win over the Dolphins on Saturday.

But as good as they were, it was hard to top what 27-year-old journeyman rake Tristan Hope did in the Wests Magpies’ NSW Cup win over North Sydney at Lidcombe Oval on Saturday when he scored four tries.

Hope had one of the best last 10 minutes to a game a player could ask for, scoring three consecutive tries leading his team to their first win of the season.