Kangaroos jumper on the line as childhood rivals face off
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Rival hookers Reece Robson and Blayke Brailey will engage in an 80-minute shootout for a place in the Kangaroos World Cup when they do battle in Saturday's semi-final.
The pair will go face to face in a sudden-death blockbuster at Allianz Stadium as the Roosters and Sharks battle for a place in next week's preliminary final.
There will be more than club honours on the line, however, with the duo playing for a spot in Australia's World Cup squad.
The Rugby League World Cup is coming!
The pair split the hooker duties throughout the State of Origin series, with Robson starting and Brailey injecting energy off the bench as the Blues stunned the Maroons to regain the shield.
With Harry Grant the first-choice hooker, Robson and Brailey are likely fighting for just one position in the final 23-man squad.
"It will be a good battle," Brailey told NRL.com. "He's a quality player, a State of Origin rep and one of the best hookers in the game.
"I'm excited for the contest, he'll bring his best and I will too so it will be a good contest in the middle. He's a big threat for them and we'll have to watch out for his running game."
Match: Roosters v Sharks
Finals Week 2 -
home Team
Roosters
4th Position
away Team
Sharks
5th Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Brailey was the form hooker to finish the 2025 season and played his way into the Kangaroos Ashes squad. It was a maiden international call up for the Cronulla hooker however he did not get the chance to take the field with Grant starting all three Test matches.
Robson was a member of the Kangaroos Pacific Championships squad in 2024 but is also still chasing his maiden Test cap.
Debutant's call
The battle for an Australian jumper is the latest chapter in a relationship that stretches back to their time playing junior football more than a decade ago.
Brailey and Robson grew up playing against each other in the local Cronulla competition and featured in numerous representative squads together.
The pair were Australian Schoolboys teammates in 2016 and Brailey credited Robson for helping him develop into a better player over the years.
"He came down and played for De La Salle, I was playing for Aquinas Colts," Brailey said. "Our sides were close growing up, we were the two sides that would always go at it.
"He was a great player then so I'm not surprised he is where he is now. It doesn't feel like that long ago but it's funny to think back to those times and where people have taken their careers.
"It's good to see people from southern Sydney come through and make it to the NRL."
While Brailey and Robson will control the middle of the field for their respective sides, the battle up front will go a long way to determining the victor on Saturday night.
Addin Fonua-Blake and Sifa Talakai ensured the Sharks pack dominated the Cowboys last week but they face a stern test against a Roosters team featuring Naufahu Whyte, Spencer Leniu and Lindsay Collins.
Siosifa Talakai Try
Brailey is expecting a physical battle but is confident his side can come out on top.
"They're big, strong and powerful," Brailey said of the Roosters pack. "They've got representative experience everywhere so we're going to have to be strong ourselves but we're pretty handy in the middles too.
"We've got some great stars and great impact players so we're going to need them again. We need them to stand up so hopefully they can do that on the weekend."
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