Old heads, fresh legs: Spotlight on 20 guns in Macarthur Rugby League finals

After five months the Macarthur Rugby League finals are finally here and only five sides remain. Check out each clubs top rookie, try machine, X-factor and veteran.

Macarthur Rugby League, finals, 2023.

It’s finals time!

With spring in the air the race for the 2023 Macarthur Rugby League crown is now a battle of five.

Minor premiers Camden will put their feet up in week one, leaving Thirlmere, Mittagong, Oakdale and The Oaks to slug it out.

Ahead Sunday’s opening matches we’ve identified four unique game changers from each side that can inspire their team’s finals charge.

Check out the list of rookies, try machines, X-factors and veterans to keep an eye on as the weeks unfold.

CAMDEN RAMS (1ST)

ROOKIE - KIENAN POWER-TEMPEST

Wing

Started the season playing Jersey Flegg (U21) for the Wests Tigers before finding a home on the Rams’ right wing.

Won’t be lacking in motivation. Last season the speedster missed out on a spot in the Camden grand final side despite scoring a match winning hat-trick in the qualifier.

TRY MACHINE - STEELE BROWN

Fullback

Scored nine tries playing centre last season and hasn’t skipped a beat since filling the big boots vacated by premiership winning fullback Mason Cerruto.

Enters the finals with 15 four-pointers to his name and is equally capable kicking goals if need be.

Rams guns (L-R): Kienan Power-Tempest, Steele Brown, Brad Speechley and Danny Fualalo.

X-FACTOR - BRAD SPEECHLEY

Halfback

The inspirational playmaker lifted the trophy last season and is hellbent on going back-to-back.

In a side stacked with match winners, Speechley is just as damaging with the ball as he is at pulling off a try-saving tackle.

VETERAN - DANNY FUALALO

Prop

Has a mortgage on the players’ player award but somehow just keeps getting better and better.

Amped up his barnstorming charges throughout last season’s finals campaign and this year has proven deadly from close range powering over for nine tries.

THIRLMERE ROOSTERS (2ND)

ROOKIE - JAMES LEE

Utility back

The young tearaway hasn’t put a foot wrong since stepping up from the under-18s. From the halves to wing, Lee has covered most positions in Darren McLeod’s side where he has accumulated a sparkling eight tries.

Proved clutch in round 10 when he kicked the Roosters to victory with a booming drop-goal from more than 40 metres.

TRY MACHINE - MITCHELL NEW

Hooker

Arguably the quickest No.9 in the comp, New is key to everything Thirlmere does. When he’s not setting line-speed in defence, he’s often receiving plaudits after crossing for a freakish four-pointer.

As the weeks unfold, watch as the crafty hooker looks to go beyond his season tally of 12 tries.

Raging Roosters (L-R): James Lee, Mitchell New, Curtis Scott and Tim Simona.

X-FACTOR - CURTIS SCOTT

Lock

Primarily an outside back in his NRL days, Scott has found a home in the No.13 at Thirlmere.

Blessed with power and strength, his punishing fend often gets him through the frontline and he’s an absolute handful against a tiring defence.

VETERAN - TIM SIMONA

Five-eighth

Since making his NRL debut in 2011 the cagey 31-year-old has just about seen it all. Still has the wheels for the long haul, but it’s his nous which the Roosters value most.

MITTAGONG LIONS (3RD)

ROOKIE - LIAM HENRY

Centre

With a solid build and strong carry it was no surprise the 20-year-old started the season playing in the middle. Highly skilled and quick off the mark, Henry quickly transitioned to centre where the No.4 has since crossed for six tries on Mittagong’s right edge.

TRY MACHINE - JAMES COYNE

Fullback

Would not be out of place in the X-factor category and is arguably the premier No.1 in the comp. Despite missing a stack of games last month, Coyne’s 19 tries are still among the top in the comp.

Star Lions (L-R): James Coyne, Blake Barbuto and Keiran Rankmore.

X-FACTOR - BLAKE BARBUTO

Hooker

Explosive and smart, the tall No.9 has set up countless tries out of dummy-half and crossed for an even dozen of his own.

Still only 23, Mittagong will be banking on his Q Cup experience in their run towards the decider.

VETERAN - KEIRAN RANKMORE

Second row

Not the youngest looking fella on the Mittagong books, but definitely one of the fittest. Like a dog without a bone, Rankmore will turn over every stone in the pack until the jobs done.

OAKDALE WORKERS (4TH)

ROOKIE - EMMITT CARLILE

Second row

With blank and red pumping through his veins, Carlile has kicked on since his ball boy days with the 2011 premiership winning side to now hold down a spot on the Workers’ left edge.

A rangy backrower, the No.11 is an energetic defender who has a strong combination with the halves.

TRY MACHINE - NATHAN DAVIS

Centre

Aggressive and awkward, that’s the feedback floating around the traps from opposition coaches. Throw in tall and damaging and it’s easy to understand why Davis is the king of Oakdale’s left edge.

Has scored 13 tries and set up plenty with an at times unstoppable offload.

Oakdale trio (L-R): Nathan Davis, Cleveland McGhie and Michael Bullock.

X-FACTOR - CLEVELAND MCGHIE

Centre/Second row

Arrived at the Workers as a backrower but quickly found a home in the No.4 on the right edge. Brings a high workrate and loves cutting back against the grain.

Has already scored eight tries, but it’s his one-two punch with skipper Kyle Fraser from close range that will have opposition coaches scratching their heads.

VETERAN - MICHAEL BULLOCK

Prop/Lock

Refuses to stop and hates being dragged before the 80 minutes are done.

Can bash and barge with the best in the middle but offers so much more. With pace and skill, Bullock also has the smarts to strike when least expected.

THE OAKS TIGERS (5TH)

ROOKIE - COOPER SMITH

Lock

Brings fresh legs to the Tigers pack following a stint with the Bulldogs in Jersey Flegg.

Busy through the middle and a genuine tackle breaker, the young gun will be keen for finals action after a big season last year where he finished with 11 four-pointers.

TRY MACHINE - DANIEL PAYNE

Halfback

With 21 tries to date following on from the 16 he scored last year, Payne is the textbook definition of try-machine.

A handful on either edge, the comp’s leading try scorer has the pace and swerve to cause just as much havoc through the middle.

Tigers to go (L-R): Cooper Smith, Daniel Payne, Daniel Smith and Evrett Vaurasi.

X-FACTOR - DANIEL SMITH

Fullback

In a competition riddled with gun fullbacks, Smith more than holds his own.

Quick off the mark, the slick No.1 is a danger along both edges in combination with Payne and captain Mitchell Brasington. Ever the opportunist, he can also create scoring chances off his boot.

VETERAN - EVRETT VAURASI

Prop

Hasn’t skipped a beat since returning last season after a few years off. Now 34 and the heart of the Tigers’ pack, Vaurasi will call on his NSW Cup experience to help guide the side in its attempt to claim the title.