Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup mid-season review: Every side’s strengths, weaknesses, standouts
At the halfway stage of the Illawarra Cup season, we’ve talked to every team and put together their strengths, weaknesses, standout players and more. Check out the full mid-season review.
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After seven rounds of exciting Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup action, we’re closing in on the halfway stage of the season.
Already we have an indication of the four teams that will be playing finals footy at the end of the season, but one would be foolish to rule out some upsets in the second half of the year.
We’ve talked to every team to gauge where their side is at the halfway stage, to see what is going well and what needs improving.
Check out the mid-year reviews and don’t forget to vote on who is going to win the Illawarra Cup at the bottom.
Collegians
Current position: 2nd (5 wins, 2 losses)
What has worked: Defensively the reigning premiers have been very solid, barring one uncharacteristically poor defensive performance against De La Salle in round four. Overall though an average of 13 conceded per game is a solid rate.
Needs improvement: Consistency. Coach Hooper would love a bit more of it, labelling the first half of the season as “a bit clunky”. This could come down to the turnover the club has had in staff, injuries, as well as a number of unnecessary suspensions. However, the last two weeks have indicated the side is back up and firing again.
Best performance: 24-6 win vs Thirroul in round three. A dominant early season victory over a competition heavyweight in Thirroul. The test will be whether they can repeat these efforts when the sides meet again this round.
Best new face: Fullback Callum Gromek has been a standout player week in week out not just in the Collegians side, but in the whole league. He has fit in with the boys well since his arrival from the Dragons Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup 2022 side. Elusive and damaging, he has six tries to his name and a handful of assists.
Other standouts: Sam McCann was highlighted by coach Hooper not just for his freak try scoring, of which he leads the league, but also for his back-of-field work. As well as this, the experienced troops of Josh Dowel, Blake Phillips, Jarrod Thompson and Charly Runciman were highlighted as consistent performers.
Top try scorer: Sam McCann (nine)
Season expectation: Top two is the goal according to Coach Hooper, at the minimum. The defending premiers are staying grounded knowing they have a consecutive matches against the other top four sides coming up in the next three weeks. When they’re at full strength and staying disciplined though, they’ll be hard to stop and could definitely be crowned champions again in 2023.
Corrimal Cougars
Current position: 6th (0 wins, 7 losses)
What has worked: The good news for Corrimal is the opportunities, albeit forced through injuries, that 2023 has given them to give their youth a run in the first grade. The more they’ve played as well, the more comfortable a lot of these juniors have looked, so promising signs for the future.
Needs improvement: Defence. Quite simply hasn’t been up to Illawarra Cup standard in 2023. Captain Bill Ryder highlights that lapses in concentration have punished Corrimal in 2023, as far too often they’ve conceded a couple of tries in quick succession, completely blowing the game out of proportion.
Best performance: 30-16 loss vs De La Salle in round five. The most points Corrimal have put on the board so far this season, on a day where the side only had three players aged over 21. Again, it was two little patches either side of half time where their concentration lapsed that took the game away from the Cougars.
Best new face: Young backrower Kristian Sekuljica is a promising talent for the Cougars that captain Ryder says he’s glad he doesn’t have to be someone tackling him. A strong ball carrier who has been coming off the bench but no doubt will be starting in years to come.
Other standouts: Hooker Viliami Mahe and fullback Joe Duggan have impressed in patches for the Cougars, providing a bit of skill and the odd try from the Cougars spine.
Top try scorer: Viliami Mahe (two)
Season expectation: You can’t fault the mindset of captain Bill Ryder who continues to set high expectations for his side, despite being sidelined for the year with an ACL injury. Ryder wants not just one win, but a couple, because he thinks his boys deserve it. Cut out the lapses of defensive concentration and really grind out the full 80 minutes and we will hopefully see some Corrimal points at some stage in 2023.
Dapto Canaries
Current position: 5th (1 win, 6 losses)
What has worked: It ties in to their biggest weakness, but Dapto have shown that on their day they have the ability to compete with anyone in the competition. The Canaries have managed to take the lead against Wests, Collegians, Thirroul and De La, showing they can mix it with the big boys.
What needs improvement: Focus. Playing for the full 80 minutes has to be the target for the Canaries. Having led early and at half time in a handful of games this season, the lack of discipline to see out an entire game has been so frustrating for Dapto. Staying switched on and focused for the entirety of proceedings has to be the focus going forward.
Best performance: 50-6 win vs Corrimal in round four. The Canaries picked up their only win of the season so far against Corrimal, pleasing coach Blake Wallace with the manner that they went about getting points on the board and staying defensively resolute for the entire game, only allowing Corrimal the one try.
Best new face: The resigning of 2016 premiership winning front rower Josh Vaartjes has been a huge boost for the Canaries. Getting 70 minutes out of him with his experience in the forward pack is invaluable.
Other standouts: Ex-NRL player Aaron Gray has been solid from centre, as well as Pita Godinet who has improved the side since transitioning to halfback. Justin Faughlin has also been a terrific big-minute partner to Vaartjes in the front row.
Top try scorer: Jack Piccirilli (five)
Season expectation: Dapto seem the most likely to ruffle a few feathers and cause a rogue upset at some point in the season. They’ve proven they can find the tryline, averaging 18 points scored per game, it’s just about staying switched on for the entire game. A bit of momentum and Dapto could make a late surge.
De La Salle
Current position: 3rd (4 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses)
What has worked: There has been no issues in the point scoring department for De La Salle, with coach Luke Manahan please that the side has been able to gel offensively. They average 26 points per game, which isn’t too far off of Wests and Collegians.
What needs improvement: Discipline. A slight slump in form in recent weeks has come down to unnecessary penalties given away, cutting corners and mistakes that they can’t be affording against the top sides, or any side for that matter.
Best performance: 28-14 win vs Collegians in round four. Under the lights of WIN Stadium, De La put on a show against the defending premiers, really coming out strong to seal the deal in the second half, pleasing coach Manahan as second halves had let them down in 2022.
Best new face: A De La Salle junior who has come through the ranks and impressed off the bench is young Cruiz Devine. An edge backrower who stood out against Wests prior to breaking his jaw, but has since recovered and maintained the form he showed. A promising one for the future at De La.
Other standouts: Jaz Flavell has carried on the form this season that saw him be awarded the club’s Best and Fairest in 2022. Jackson Stewart has been massive from lock forward as well, returning this year after a year off in 2022. Not the biggest blokes, but leaving a massive hole in the middle when they’re not there.
Top try scorer: Thomas Rodwell (six)
Season expectation: Top two is the dream but finals footy is the minimum goal for De La Salle. Injuries have hurt them a lot so far, such as losing talented halfback Jack Williams, who was instrumental to their defensive performances in the opening rounds. They’ll be wanting to get their best team back fit and out on the park to give themselves the best shot at finals in a few months.
Thirroul Butchers
Current position: 4th (4 wins, 3 losses)
What has worked: The Butchers have really improved their discipline and their completions in recent weeks. Holding on to the ball and ensuring they don’t give away easy restarts for the opposition has been a focus that the side has put into fruition, contributing to their recent turn of form.
Needs improvement: Execution. Coach Costello believes there’s still polish needed for his side in executing attacking plays. The Butchers average 25 points scored per game, fourth highest in the league. Profiting of their good ball play, while maintaining their defensive focus will be the goal going forward.
Best performance: 40-14 win vs De La Salle in round six. The turning point for the Butchers where they announced their intentions to the rest of the competition. While it wasn’t an 80 minute performance, Costello believes it was the best 65 minutes of footy they’ve played, now it’s about extending that to the whole game.
Best new face: Former-NRL player Bradley Deitz has been a bit of an unsung hero for the Butchers in his first year with the club. Plays 80 minutes at hooker week in week out, controlling both the attack and defence and bringing great experience to the side.
Other standouts: Wayne Bremner has provided exceptional workrates from fullback for the Butchers. Costello’s other standouts come from the middle in Kaleb Hocking and Ammon Cairney, both lads really finding their feet with a few years of Illawarra Cup footy under the belt now.
Top try scorer: Joshua Martin (seven)
Season expectation: The Butchers have aspirations to finish in the top two which is still achievable despite their slow start. It comes down to carrying their current patch of form into the big boys Collegians and Wests in the coming weeks. That’ll be a true indication of where they’ll end up come finals time.
Western Suburbs Devils
Current position: 1st (6 wins, 1 draw)
What has worked: The defensive line has been tight for the Devils, shown with just an average of 13 points conceded per game, the second best rate in the league. In attack as well, the combinations have been flowing nicely, as these Wests boys have been around the block a few times now and know each other well.
Needs improvement: Consistency. Despite being undefeated, the Devils still aren’t stringing together their best footy, often dominating for 30 or 40 minute periods, before lapsing and building up their error count. This could be damaging if they don’t sort it out.
Best performance: 20-16 win vs Thirroul in round four. A backs against the wall performance from the Devils where they were scraping the bottom of the barrel for players due to a hefty injury count, but still walked away with the points.
Best new face: Former NRL players Jy Hitchcox and Sosaia Feki have brought experience and damage to the outside back stocks of the Devils. Wyndham Peachey and Dylan Palmer-Quigg have also both stood out from fullback, which will cause a selection headache down the line when both are fully fit.
Other standouts: The ever-reliable halves combination of Mitch Porter and Justin Rodrigues are constant features in everything good for Wests week in week out. The trusty forward pack of Wests has continued to put in massive work loads week in week out. Dylan Lauri is consistently a top three best player on the par, while Luke Chalker and Levi Pascoe have also been standouts.
Top try scorer: Lachlan Hurst (seven)
Season expectation: The Devils are keen to play good footy and play it for extended periods of time, cutting out these lapses that have been present all season. Undefeated in the first half, they’ll no doubt want to keep that run going so they can solidify a top two spot and get that safety net come the first week of finals.
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