Macarthur Rugby League: New Man of Steel and clubs on the rebound, round 14 talking points
A host of clubs can ill afford another slip-up in the Macarthur Rugby League, while out wide there’s a new strongman in town. Eight talking points from round 14 and 30+ photo gallery.
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With four rounds remaining and ladder positions far from finalised there’s plenty to discuss. Macarthur Rugby League round 14 talking points.
MUST WIN FOR EAGLES AND COLLIES
Fifth placed East Campbelltown head a group of three teams on 16 points. This week they host sixth ranked Collegians in what shapes as a must win for both sides.
With a bye this weekend, The Oaks will move to 18 points where they’ll likely be joined in a share of fifth by the winner from Waminda Oval.
After this weekend’s clash, the Eagles face each of the current top three sides in the closing three rounds, while Collies take on Picton followed by Thirlmere and Mittagong.
WAMINDA DRAINAGE CONCERNS
A heavy downpour shortly before East Campbelltown’s reserve grade clash was all it took to convert Waminda Oval into a mud heap.
Last year’s wet winter saw the ground out of action until the finals. If more rain falls in the coming weeks, it will be interesting to see if the venue can handle traffic for the remainder of the season.
RISING UNION STAR IN EAGLES DEBUT
After playing for East Campbelltown in the U18s match against Picton, young prop Kimball Liufau then made his first grade debut off the bench in the main game.
A rising talent from Wests Harold Matthews Cup squad, the Patrician Brothers’ College Fairfield student has also been named in the Australian Schoolboys rugby union team to play against the Tongan Schoolboys next September.
RESERVE GRADE DOUBLE FORFEIT
In reserve grade, South West forfeited their fifth consecutive match while Narellan failed to field a side against Mittagong following their round 13 hiding to Thirlmere.
With finals fast approaching, second placed Mittagong have struggled for action. With a recent bye combined with two forfeits, this week’s clash at Oakdale will be their first hitout in four weeks.
THIRLMERE CENTRES CURSED
Thirlmere’s centres can’t take a trick.
Last week the Roosters lost Clive Haselhuhn to a season-ending knee injury, then against Oakdale Barry Ruttley suffered a compound fracture of the cheekbone in just the fourth minute.
ROOSTERS’ MAN OF STEEL
Imposing Thirlmere winger Waqasaqa Qiolevu is fast making a name for himself. Since making his top grade debut in round nine, the Fijian has impressed with his strength.
Following last Saturday night’s clash, Oakdale strongman Kyle Fraser was a little taken aback.
“I’ve played a lot of footy, but I’ve never tackled anyone as rock solid as Waqa,” he said.
OAKDALE ON THE REBOUND
Speaking of Oakdale, it will be interesting to see how they rebound when they host Mittagong on Saturday night.
The Lions are still down on key troops, and a Workers victory would keep them in the top three race.
TRY OF THE WEEK
In what has been a difficult year for South West, it was good to see the Goannas enjoy a spot of good fortune against The Oaks.
With five minutes gone at Onslow, Rinaldo Palumbo’s last play kick didn’t have much going for it. That was until it bounced off the crossbar and into the waiting hands of centre Jared Ross, who gleefully grounded the ball for the opening try of the match.
ROUND 15 DRAW
Oakdale v Mittagong at Sid Sharpe Oval (Saturday 6:00pm)
Campbelltown City v Thirlmere at Fullwood Reserve
Camden v Narellan at Kirkham Park
Picton v South West at Victoria Park
East Campbelltown v Campbelltown Collegians at Waminda Oval
PHOTO GALLERY
FIRST GRADE
RESERVE GRADE
ROUND 14 WRAP
After last week’s shortened round it was full steam ahead in round 14. Thirlmere hosted Oakdale in a winner takes third spot blockbuster on Saturday evening while on Sunday four sides battled to keep their season’s alive.
Round 14 wrap and thoughts from the coaches.
RED HOT THIRLMERE SOUNDS THE ALARM
Thirlmere got the early jump on Oakdale and were never headed in recording an emphatic 46-14 victory that will send shudders through the rest of the competition.
In what shaped as an epic battle for third spot on Saturday night quickly became a procession as the Roosters shot the lights out with a 24-6 first half.
Hayden Sutton was at his electric best, the fullback scored two tries and played a part in several others as Thirlmere made short work of Oakdale’s edge defence.
Backrower Harrison Coskerie opened the scoring in the 15th minute and from the restart they doubled the advantage when centre Justin Smith and winger Josh Bryant combined to put Sutton under the posts.
Oakdale winger Hamish Oxley reduced the margin to 12-6, but Thirlmere hit back with two tries just before the break. Prop Matthew Scott struck first from a repeat set before Smith swooped on a wayward Jacob McKinnon pass and raced 90m.
Oakdale held their own upon the resumption, but any thoughts of a comeback were dashed when Curtis Scott sent halfback James Lee away to open a commanding 28-6 lead in the 51st minute.
From there, Scott and Sutton quickly bagged their doubles before Oakdale finished the evening with a couple of consolation tries to Jarrod Keppie and Emmitt Carlile.
Roosters coach Darren McLeod was delighted that his side jumped Oakdale into outright third, but also acknowledged there’s still a long way to go.
“We needed to make a statement,” said McLeod.
“We came with a strategy to get in their faces and use our speed with the ball.
“I thought we kept centre Nathan Davis quiet, our line speed was great all night. Then Hayden carved it up, but Tim Simona also provided a pivotal link in the middle.”
While the Workers’ seven-match winning streak came to a shuddering halt, captain-coach Kyle Fraser said there was still plenty to take away.
“I take full onus for the loss, but with a few tweaks we can get back on track,” said Fraser.
“Thirlmere were up for the contest. I thought we matched them in the middle, but from there they executed the perfect game plan.
“We focused on nullifying Mitch New from dummy-half, but we probably took our eyes of Sutton – he’s one of the best No. 1’s in the comp.”
PICTON REFUSE TO CONCEDE
Picton’s charge towards the finals continues to gather momentum after the Magpies went three straight after knocking off the Eagles 22-10 on a Waminda mud heap.
Still in eighth spot, the Magpies are now only one win shy of the Eagles who remain in fifth place on differential.
Despite the slippery conditions, East Campbelltown made a perfect start through winger Amanono Tovio who grounded a Nathan Gardner grubber after four minutes.
The lead could have been more if not for resolute Picton goal line defence. Magpies winger Matt Dengate and centre Rua Hona combined to stop Tovio scoring another before a Luke Williams four-pointer under the posts was called back for a knock-on.
Picton eventually drew level when evergreen speedster Michael Lett won the race to a Tim Dengate kick, and they took a 12-6 lead to the break when Lett passed to unmarked winger Kitione Vikash in the 35th minute.
With half an hour remaining Picton took control through Anthony Provost. With nothing on in centrefield, the crafty No. 9 exploded from the ruck and converted his try for an unassailable 18-6 lead.
East Campbelltown’s frustrations boiled over in the 68th minute when backrower Kobe Chamberlain was sent off for verbal descent.
“It frustrating, we were up for it but it just kept slipping away,” said Eagles coach Richard Barnes.
“We had enough ball to post a winning score, but credit to Picton, they defended their backsides off.
“We’ve got Collegians next week, it’s pretty much a must win for us now.”
RED-FACED TIGERS SAVE THEIR STRIPES
The more things change, the more they stay the same for The Oaks.
Forever behind 12-0, this week the Tigers offered the generous leg-up to a winless South West before finally commencing their comeback after the break.
Eight tries and 42 unanswered second half points erased a dormant first half, but with the finals race heating up, the Tigers are treading a fine line.
They arrived at Onslow Oval needing a win to maintain their share of fifth spot, but it was the Goannas who came out breathing fire.
Tries to centre Jared Ross and Cruise Iosefa gave The Oaks plenty to think about.
Half Daniel Payne found his running boots during the break and returned to score a hat-trick in a half where skipper Mitchell Brasington crossed twice and landed five conversions.
“There were a few honest and colourful words at halftime,” said a slightly embarrassed Brasington.
“We only completed nine of 19 sets and the Goannas were playing good footy. We essentially encouraged each other to have a dig.”
Quizzed on the last time The Oaks opened the scoring, Brasington couldn’t recall.
“I honestly can’t remember, and the more we joke about it, the more it becomes the norm.”
COLLIES RACE AWAY IN ‘TOUCH FOOTY’ EPIC
A scratchy Collies took a while to get going at Bradbury Oval but they eventually found their way, downing City 58-30 in a fifteen-try epic to keep their finals dreams alive.
Coming off a round 13 bye, you’d be forgiven for thinking Collies arrived for the must-win contest 10 minutes after the scheduled kick-off.
City fullback Ben Williams cruised through centrefield to score in the opening minute and then winger Manoa Veikoso crossed after the restart.
Collies got their first touch in the seventh minute, but the joy was short lived when City centre Villiame Rouvouvou raced away with a long range intercept to make it 18-0.
In one of the more bizarre games of the season, Collegians then slapped on six tires in 26 minutes to open an unlikely 36-18 lead at the break.
Daniel Muir set the trend when he steamed onto a Netane Masima grubber, and the winger returned the favour with a kick of his own for Masima to score Collies’ third.
It was as if the sleeping pills had been handed to City. Collies substitute forward Seturi Iakopo ran the length of the field from the kick off to score his side’s fifth try.
In all, Collies had 10 different try scorers in a crazy afternoon where Masima finished with 22 points.
The victory moves Collies to 16 competition points, equal with fifth placed East Campbelltown but sixth on differential.
“RUSTY” LIONS OUTLAST JETS
Lions centre Eliah Veikoso crossed for two of Mittagong’s six tries in a 32-18 win over Narellan at Narellan Sports Ground.
Mittagong had the better of the opening minutes but it was the Jets who struck the first blow when half Jarrod Dowie scored from a magic pass by fullback Faaletino Tavana.
Mittagong crossed for the next four tries to lead 22-6 before four-pointers were traded later in the second half.
Mittagong’s second win on the bounce sees them retain second spot on the ladder, three clear of Thirlmere and just one behind Camden.
With several big names including James Coyne still away, captain-coach James Grehan was happy to score another win.
“Narellan are a very physical side, you can see they are building towards a big season next year,” said Grehan.
“It wasn’t the perfect game for us but I felt we were in control for the majority of the day and we got the win without losing anyone to injury.
“Bryson Goodwin returned, he was a bit rusty to be fair. We should have everyone back on deck for the City match in round 16.”
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