The Canterbury Bulldogs boast one of the NRL’s deepest halves stocks, but their long-term playmaking puzzle could already have another contender waiting in the wings.
Although Lachlan Galvin appears to have cemented one of the Bulldogs halves spots, the race for the No.6 jersey remains far from settled.
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This comes as Matt Burton has predominantly shifted to the centres, while skipper Stephen Crichton hinted his move into the halves may not be permanent.
Leading the charge for the club’s future playmaking role alongside Galvin are highly-rated youngsters Alex Conti and Mitchell Woods.
However, one player hoping to force his way into that conversation is rising playmaker Joseph Teaupa.
Transitioning between the Under-21s Jersey Flegg Cup and NSW Cup competitions this year, Teaupa has continued to impress with his creativity and ability to control a contest in reserve-grade.
“It means the world (to play for the Bulldogs) and just growing up and watching the games on TV,” the exciting young gun told foxsports.com.au.
“If I get the opportunity to run on with those guys on TV (in the NRL), it just means the world to me.”
The younger brother of former South Sydney Rabbitohs and two-time Tongan international playmaker Dion Teaupa, Joseph has continued to carve out his own path through Canterbury’s pathways system.
“100 per cent (my brothers have been my role models),” he added.
“Seeing my older brother go do it and then seeing how proud he made the family and our country, it just makes you want it even more after seeing what he did.”
However, his journey to Belmore was far from guaranteed, arriving at the club on nothing more than a train-and-trial opportunity for their Under-19s side.
“I was at Souths for Harold Matthews, then I moved over for SG Ball to the Doggies not on any big contract but just an SG Ball train-and-trial contract,” Teaupa continued.
“It was ‘go there, do my best and let my footy get a contract for me’. There weren’t any other options.
“The Doggies were the only one giving me an opportunity, so I took that with two hands and the rest is history.”
Now he is continuing to reward the faith shown in him and is coming off a strong performance against the Melbourne Storm.
Playing a lead role in the side’s 20-10 victory at Broadmeadows in Victoria, the youngster produced two try assists, two line-break assists, 104 running metres and 505 kicking metres
Idolising Benji Marshall and Shaun Johnson, and training alongside the top halves at the Bulldogs, foxsports.com.au understands that his rapid rise has not gone unnoticed.
Off-contract at the end of the season, foxsports.com.au understands the Perth Bears are one of a host of teams that are monitoring his progress.
But for Teaupa, his focus remains on learning from those around him at Belmore.
“It’s been mad. Seany and Lachie have been (a massive help) and just trying to learn off them too,” he said.
“And Burto is like that chill guy that you can always talk to – it doesn’t even have to be about footy.”
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THE HIDDEN TIGERS X-FACTOR
The Wests Tigers may have endured a tumultuous past couple of months, but their NSW Cup side continues to provide plenty of optimism with the club’s next generation of stars showing that the future remains bright.
That was on full display over the weekend as the Western Suburbs Magpies climbed to eighth on the reserve-grade ladder with a commanding 50-24 victory over the Parramatta Eels.
Headlined by recent NRL debutants Ethan Roberts (67 metres, 19 tackles), Josese Lanyon (84 run metres, 20 tackles) and Javon Andrews (two try assists, three line-break assists, 18 points), the Magpies once again put on an attacking masterclass.
But it was outside back Solomone Saukuru who stole the show at Lidcombe Oval, as he continued his standout 2026 NSW Cup campaign with another dominant display.
Knocking on the door of an NRL debut, the 21-year-old came up with three try assists, three line-break assists, two tackle busts, 90 running metres and a try.
The competition’s leading try-scorer with 20 four-pointers, Saukuru also sits atop the NSW Cup leaderboard in line-breaks (19) and intercepts (3), underlining his credentials as one of the most dangerous attacking weapons on the edge.
HIGHLY-RATED TEEN MAKES CUP DEBUT
It is not often that a player goes from competing in the Under-17s Harold Matthews Cup competition to the NSW Cup within a matter of months, but that’s exactly what Oliver Burton has done.
Making his reserve-grade debut over the weekend for the St George Illawarra Dragons in their 24-20 win over the Roosters, the teenager looked right at home, capping off his rapid rise through the club’s pathways system.
So highly rated is Burton that the Dragons locked him down on a long-term deal at the back end of last season, until the end of the 2028 season.
“I started playing when I was six at the Dapto Canaries and just fell in love with it,” Burton said.
“Obviously making my NRL debut for the Dragons one day is the main goal but I’d also love to represent my state and country one day.”
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