Macarthur Rugby League: Full wrap, results and talking points from round one

The opening round of the Macarthur Rugby League season got off with a bang. Catch up on the major talking points from a thrilling weekend, plus check our full wrap of all five games.

Macarthur Rugby League 2023, Round one

WITH the opening round of the Macarthur Rugby League season done and dusted, catch up on what is making headlines around the grounds.

CERRUTO PULLS THE PIN ON RAMS

In the absence of boom fullback Mason Cerruto, reigning premiers Camden stumbled to a 12-all draw with The Oaks.

And in a bitter blow to the Rams’ title hopes, they’ll be without the popular co-captain for the remainder of the season as he focuses on activities outside of football.

WORKERS FLUSH WITH NO.9s

With the respected Alec Bush named in reserve grade, you can be assured Oakdale aren’t in the market for a top grade hooker.

In firsts, Tuipulotu Lasalo started in the No.9 jersey against East Campbelltown, while replacement Jermaine Haule bounded out of the ruck to score the match clincher midway through the second half.

TIGERS PACK PLENTY OF DEPTH

The new look Tigers outfit not only matched it with the Rams in first grade, but in a great sign of the club’s depth, their ressies toppled last year’s unbeaten premiers 18-12.

Former Camden fullback Mason Cerruto is a big loss for the Rams. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Newscorp

UNDERDONE GOANNAS CURSED BY SECOND-RATE FACILITIES

South West’s return to the top grade was one to forget. Minus several big names including Tony Williams, the Goannas were belted by Mittagong following what proved to be an interrupted pre-season.

With their home ground at Onslow Park still off limits after the Camden Show, South West’s pursuit of a regular training venue with line-markings and goalposts within the boundaries of Camden Council looks set to continue.

TOUGH WEEKEND FOR NEW JETS

Speaking of tough starts, Narellan copped the heat in both grades against Collegians.

Challenged for numbers in the lower grades, the Jets 68-0 defeat in reserve grade left fans asking plenty of questions.

BARBUTO DELIVERS ON THE HYPE

Not all big name recruits deliver on the hype. At least not like Blake Barbuto, who announced his arrival from the QCup with four tries.

Electric around the ruck, South West had no answer to the speedy Mittagong No.9, who at the first sign of forward momentum pounced into open space.

COLLIES APPEAR FROM UNDER THE RADAR

Campbelltown Collegians quietly went about the off-season with minimal fanfare. But after putting the cleaners through Narellan, the stars have started to shine.

Stars like winger Martin Kalamelu Su‘a. The 19-year-old torched the Jets in his first grade debut with three tries on the right wing. Built like a whippet, his lightning speed and lack of self preservation are sure to keep fans on edge.

CITY KICK-START NEW ERA IN STYLE

With victory over long-time rivals Picton, the David Fauonuku era at Campbelltown City couldn’t have got off to a better start.

In promising signs for the season ahead, the Kangaroos not only scored the win, they dug deep at Victoria Park to overcome a 10-point deficit.

ROUND ONE WRAP

Amid a host of new names and player transfers, the Macarthur Rugby League season got underway with a wild contest on Saturday night.

Catch up on all the latest from around the grounds in our round one wrap.

OAKDALE DOWN EAGLES IN WILD SEASON OPENER

Oakdale have overcome the odds to down East Campbelltown 40-16 in a wild season opener at Sid Sharpe Memorial Oval.

With a send off and more than a handful of sin-binnings, tensions threatened to boilover before the Workers secured the points with the final three tries of the match.

Despite an early injury to prop Michael Bullock and the loss of winger Hamish Oxley to a nasty lifting tackle, Oakdale crossed for the first three tries and headed to the sheds with a commanding 22-10 advantage.

Former Gold Coast Titans centre Nathan Davis was enormous on Oakdale’s left edge. After forcing his way over midway through the first half, he paved the way from the restart for Cleveland McGhie to open a handy 18-0 lead.

East Campbelltown wrestled back momentum before the break, and with Brett Lahey calling the shots last year’s grand finalist’s narrowed the gap to 24-16.

And they looked like going on with the job with 20 to play, after Oakdale lost skipper Kyle Fraser for the remainder of the match for back chatting the referee.

But as the rain tumbled down, the Eagles stumbled after the dismissal of Poe Tapeli for 10 minutes.

First, substitute Oakdale hooker Jermaine Haule muscled across from dummy-half, before the home side went on with the job scoring another two tries through winger Jardyn Nori and powerhouse forward Joseph Ualesi.

Following a tough initiation as captain-coach, Fraser couldn’t hide his delight.

“When I was sent off, we had another two in the sin bin and at one stage defended with 10 for four minutes,” said Fraser.

“The boys really turned up for each other, they repelled seven straight sets with only 12 men on the field – against a side like Easts that’s awesome.”

Davis and Ualesi were impressive, but Fraser was just as happy with new halves recruits Bailey Steadman and Jacob McKinnon.

“They’re both very good footballers and they gelled very well.

“Both are naturally quiet but they were very vocal and guided us around the park.”

TIGERS ROAR AFTER FINAL SIREN

In a crazy finish at Kirkham Park, a stroke of good fortune after the full time siren has seen The Oaks Tigers share the points with reigning premiers Camden after skipper Mitchell Brasington kicked a penalty goal to level the scores at 12-all.

In a match riddled with errors, Camden thought they’d done enough to ice the contest when Mounties recruit Jack Miller crossed for his second try just three minutes from full time.

But leading 12-10 as the final siren sounded, there was one final twist.

With the ball still in play from a Tigers clearing kick, Rams fullback Steele Brown fumbled the pick-up before teammate John Ryan make accidental contact with the ball from an off-side position.

Camden’s Steele Brown had an unlucky moment in the closing stages of the round one clash with The Oaks Tigers. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Newscorp)

With no other option, the referee awarded a penalty to the Tigers and Brasington did the rest.

“We thought we got out of jail,” said disappointed Camden captain Brad Speechley.

“It was a real physical contest, the defence from both teams was outstanding,” he continued. “But we let ourselves down in the first half with a 35 per cent completion rate.”

In a match where Camden scored three tries to two, Speechley praised the efforts of Miller and centre Hugh Prebble who was on first grade debut.

For Brasington, the late escape capped a memorable return to the club.

“There were good signs, plenty for us to build on as the season unfolds,” said Brasington, before singling out the side’s top performers.

“Lock Josh Van Der Meulen was our best and backrower Cody Ral was great off the bench.

“Daniel Smith at fullback got through a power of work too, he must’ve had upwards of 30 carries.”

MITTAGONG TEE OFF ON HOME TURF

With a 13-try rampage, the Mittagong Lions didn’t hold back on new boys the South West Goannas en route to a comprehensive 74-8 victory in Mittagong.

Halfback Thomas Maloney wasted no time in crossing for the first of his three tries on an afternoon where Queensland signing Blake Barbuto sizzled from dummy-half with four tries in his Lions debut.

Former Souths and Cronulla centre Bryson Goodwin had a day out with the boot, landing 11 conversions in a personal tally of 26-points.

For the Goannas, it was a difficult return to Macarthur’s top-flight. They took the field following the game day withdrawal of captain-coach Tony Williams and in addition to the absence of several other key signings, they lost another two forwards during the early exchanges.

PERFECT START FOR CITY IN PICTON BOILOVER

A new-look City Kangaroos have kicked started the David Fauonuku era with an impressive 28-20 win on the road against Picton.

Magpies try sneak Michael Lett opened the scoring, but City hit the front 6-4 through fullback Ben Williams in the 20th minute.

With the vocal support of their home fans, Picton raised the bar and kicked clear 16-6 following tries to Steven Dengate and lock Matthew White.

Michael Lett opened the scoring for Picton . (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Newscorp)

City pegged one back before the break and carried the momentum into the second half, adding further four-pointers to five-eighth Bailey Rye and Jack Leigh on the hour to open a handy 24-16 buffer.

Picton responded through fullback James Tautaiolefua to get within four-points, but it wasn’t enough as Leigh quickly counted with his second of the half.

From there, City held tight and maintained their eight-point advantage over the final 15 minutes.

COLLIES BOUND OUT OF THE GATES

In an opening round full of intrigue, Campbelltown Collegians have stamped their early season credentials with a powerful 46-6 victory over the Narellan Jets.

In an exciting combination of mostly unfamiliar names, young winger Martin Kalamelu Su‘a had a day to remember, scoring a hat-trick of tries on debut as Collies raced to a 22-0 halftime lead.

On an afternoon where fellow outside backs Norwin Latu and Leon Longbottom added their names to the scoresheet, coach Glen Debono was just as impressed with his side’s effort in the middle.

“Narellan certainly came out firing, but we defended well and we had a decent pre-season,” said Debono.

“With our defence in order, we got on the front foot and the playmakers found their rhythm.

“Our halves Netane Masima and Adam Hoffman are quality and work well together in guiding us to where we need to be.”

In a pack of tireless workers, Debono singled out two of his best.

“Captain and prop Aaron Teariki goes all day, he played the entire 80 minutes and was well supported in defence by Samuel Kimi-ioani.”

For the Jets, the result was a reality check as they continue to rebuild after failing to finish the 2022 season.