Macarthur Rugby League: Review of all the action from a hectic opening round
The Macarthur RL season launched with a bang, as fierce rivals clashed for bragging rights. The weekend also saw a mix of familiar faces make their mark at new clubs. Full wrap, 40+ GALLERY
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The Macarthur RL season launched with a bang, as fierce rivals clashed for bragging rights. The weekend also saw a mix of familiar faces make their mark at new clubs.
Round one wrap.
RELATED CONTENT: MACARTHUR RL SEASON PREVIEW
OAKDALE SPOIL PARTY
It was meant to serve as a welcome home party for The Oaks; however, in front of a packed new grandstand, Oakdale flipped the script and upset last year’s grand finalists by four points at Dudley Chesham.
In a stunning charge to last season’s decider, the Tigers sent their bitter rivals packing with consecutive finals defeats and looked set to extend the dominance when lock Joshua Van Der Meulen reached across to score in the second minute.
Less than a week after he was left homeless following Cabramatta’s ugly exit from the Ron Massey Cup, Jackson Blatch announced his return to Oakdale in style.
Down by six nearing the half-hour mark, he offloaded for centre Vaiala Tamati to level the scores before doing it all himself, latching on to a stray pass and running the length of the field to the delight of his trailing teammates.
Sensing blood in the water, the Workers continued to target The Oaks’ left edge, and they made it three tries in 12 minutes when five-eighth Brandon Maycock dived over, extending the lead to 16-6.
Tries were traded midway through the second half before Joseph Ualesi orchestrated a Tigers comeback, crashing over on the hour to make it 22-18.
In the end, it was a close as the home side would get. The chances came, but amid early season rust, the points didn’t.
LIONS ROAR HOME
New Lions recruit Jake Steadman weaved his magic wand as Mittagong stunned Campbelltown City 18-16 following a remarkable comeback at Fullwood Reserve.
Buoyed by the return of club favourite Mick Stevens after a two-year absence, the Kangaroos shot out of the gates and when the clever No.7 crossed in the shadows of halftime it was 16-0.
Not even the dismissal of centre Braydon Ferguson to the sin bin for a lifting tackle could stop City’s run. St Marys signing Sadee Sub Laban was slick at fullback, and backrower Salah Masri showed his class with a well-deserved four-pointer.
With just on 20 minutes remaining, Mittagong were still to trouble the scorers until Steadman scurried over to make it 16-6. And the points kept coming following the restart, as winger Mitchell Barbuto and Liam Cassidy combined to send Steadman in for another.
When Barbuto reached over in the 65th minute to level the scores, Mittagong had chewed through the deficit within the space of seven minutes.
In a remarkable club debut, Steadman steadied from touch and split the sticks, nailing what turned out to be the winning conversion.
RAMS TESTED
At first glance, Narellan’s 38-6 loss to Camden seems ugly. But for much of the contest, the Jets demonstrated that they are a much more viable proposition in 2025.
Fielding a mobile pack, Jets skipper Poasa Faamausili and Collies recruit Salesi Funaki led the way as Narellan largely kept the premiers forwards in check at Kirkham.
With a first half double to edge-backrower Tukaha Kyriacou, Camden headed to the sheds with a slender 12-6 lead.
Narellan’s points came from a try to new half Kayden Fox, and they were still in the contest until midway through the second half.
William Chanter scored Camden’s third, and they charged to victory with another three. Hooker John Martin added his name to the scoresheet after a Jack Simpson bust, and former Picton centre Rua Hona cruised over in the final minutes.
In a major blow for the Rams, electric winger Eddie Aiono was assisted from the field in the second half with a knee injury.
“Eddie sustained a nasty injury,” said Rams captain-coach Brad Speechley, who coached from the sidelines after the missing the match with an injury of his own.
“He’ll have scans. At this stage it doesn't appear to be an ACL, but he'll be sidelined for a lengthy period.”
Quizzed on his side’s performance, Speechley paid tribute to Narellan’s change of form.
“Narellan are much better than last season, they have a big, mobile pack and are hard to handle,” said the Rams half, who expects to return to the field for next week’s clash with Oakdale.
“I was real happy with the way we played in the first half, and Narellan kept with us.
“Our bench was excellent. Steele Brown added speed around the ruck and Jack Simpson used his size through the middle – he’s trained hard, so it’s good to see him make the most of his opportunity.”
COLLIES PERFECT START
Campbelltown Collegians’ revival is in full swing after Collies accounted for East Campbelltown 42-22 at Waminda Oval.
Untouchable in a lethal opening, they raced in four tries to lead 22-0 in as many minutes. Prop Carson Lealuga-Puhotau dominated the middle with a try, while former Jets half Tyrone Harding proved a handful.
Blake Clayton showed he hasn’t lost any pace, notching a first half double including a length of the field intercept. After the break, dynamic backrower Tifa Iuta continued from where he left off last year, swatting away tacklers to score two of his own.
Dazed by the early onslaught, the Eagles regrouped and showed there’s better days ahead. Prop Jack Crichton showed he’s no pushover with a powerful try, and fullback Joseph Romeo scored a try and had some classy touches, including a sublime cut-out pass for a try to winger Martin Kalamelu Su’a.
THIRLMERE LAUNCH NEW ERA IN STYLE
Strengthened by two late signings, Thirlmere have kicked off the Macarthur Rugby League season in style, overpowering cross-town rivals Picton 38-20 before a boisterous home crowd on Saturday night.
Two months ago, the Roosters were battling to fill the club’s senior roster. However, with the return of Curtis Scott and the addition of former NRL prop Matt Groat, they gave incoming coach James Towerton a perfect start, securing a seven-tries-to-four victory.
During a tense opening, Charlie Woolford struck on debut for Picton, but the hooker’s four-pointer was countered by his opposite Toby Hilyard.
As both teams settled, Thirlmere began to dominate centrefield and the points soon followed. Joakim Poaru barged over under the posts, and it was 18-6 when backrower Justin Smith struck from dummy-half in the 25th minute.
Picton countered through winger Ben Baker following a slick shift in the right corner. But the home side struck a hammer blow on the stroke of halftime, jumping clear 22-10 when winger Mohamad Badreddine grounded a kick out wide.
After a season away from the game, fullback BJ Ruttley made a perfect homecoming, crossing twice to blow the margin out to 22 on the hour. Skipper Kye Madden added another, before Magpies winger Justin Stowers bagged two consolation tries in the dying minutes.
“It’s always good to beat our arch rivals, even to get up by a point or two, you’ll always take that,” said a proud Towerton after his first game in charge.
“We played some very good football for the opening round. We wanted to get into an arm wrestle, and then we’ll always back ourselves to get on top in the later stages.
“The boys have been working really hard. Our fitness is good, and everyone was pushing up, supporting and just helping us roll through the middle.”
ROOSTERS’ BEST
While it wasn’t their night, Picton coach Simon Woolford would have been impressed with the wholehearted performance of young prop James Folaumoetui. In a beaten pack, the No.8 refused to back down and continually bent the line.
Equally, Towerton couldn’t have been happier with the output of his front six.
“Poaru definitely impressed me,” said Towerton.
“Thomas Sewell was great off the bench and Madden leads from the front every time. Then in the backs, Tim Simona’s kicking game was pivotal and Curtis gave us strike out wide”
SNEAKY SIGNINGS
Less than a week ago, Scott was all geared up to play in the Shire. And despite being in top physical condition, it was uncertain how Groat, 33, would return to the fold after an extended absence.
“We got the call on the Tuesday before the game to say Curtis would come and play again,” Towerton said.
“Matty is a massive one for us too. They’re both full time, we needed it and they’ll fit in nicely.
“The last time Matt played was five years ago. He’s quite happy with his 35 minutes, there’s a bit of rust, but he’s going to be really big for us.”
KEPPIE DOWN BACK
Flagged to transition from the halves to fullback during the pre-season, Picton’s Luke Keppie couldn’t have picked a more challenging night to step out in the No.1 jumper.
Tim Simona had the ball on a string for the Roosters, constantly turning the Magpies back three on their heels with booming strikes and trademark spiral bombs.
On a positive note, the former Wests pathways rep showed he’s lost none of his pace.
After giving Thirlmere winger Marika Tuilau a healthy head start just before halftime, the fullback shifted into top gear, reeling in the try-bound speedster inches from the line with a miraculous try-saving tackle.
PHOTO GALLERY
Thirlmere v Picton
Campbelltown City v Mittagong
East Campbelltown v Campbelltown Collegians
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