Andrew Johns/Laurie Daley Cup: 10 star performers, key talking points from round one
From electric outside backs to crafty halves and rock-solid forwards, take a look at the top-10 star performers from round one of the Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cups.
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The rugby league season returned with a bang over the weekend following the opening round of the NSWRL junior representative competitions.
And while there were huge results and performances in the statewide junior rep comps, the regional tournaments of the Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cups truly turned it on with some stunning action from round one.
From electric outside backs, to crafty halves and rock-solid forwards, there were plenty of star performers who stood out for their sides over the weekend.
We’ve taken a look at 10 of the top performers from both competitions from the opening weekend.
JOSIAH FESOLAI (CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS)
The lock was outstanding in the middle for the Roosters in their 14-0 win over Monaro in the Daley Cup.
Never afraid of a tough carry, Fesolai made excellent yardage for his team, chimed into backline plays and was an absolute rock in defence, most notably putting his body on the line to deny Mitchell Brophy with a stunning try-saving tackle midway through the first half.
JAYDEN SECKOLD (NORTHERN TIGERS)
It’s not often that interchange players see their names up lights but that’s exactly what happened in the Northern Tigers’ 36-6 thrashing of the North Coast Bulldogs, with hooker Jayden Seckold starring for his side.
Coming onto the field midway through the first half, Seckold made an immediate impact, darting out of dummy-half and slicing through the Bulldogs defence to put the Tigers ahead 10-6.
He followed this up with twin assists in the second half, helping to put Jack McLeod over and then once again catching the defence napping by scooting out of dummy-half, making a line break and setting up Jackson Smith for an easy four-pointer.
DREAU CLARK (ILLAWARRA SOUTH COAST DRAGONS)
In a game in which any one of the Dragons’ left edge players could realistically have found themselves on this list, back-rower Dreau Clark got the nod after running riot against Riverina in the Daley Cup.
Scoring two tries and directly setting up another, Clark was a constant threat with the ball in hand and combined really well with halfback Levi Valesini and his outside backs as the team piled on the points.
ARCHIE DUNCOMBE (MACARTHUR WESTS TIGERS)
After being down 16-0 at halftime and then trailing by 18 points in the second half, the Tigers pulled off an incredible comeback in the Daley Cup, with Archie Duncombe being central to the come-from-behind win.
Down by three tries, the big back-rower created something out of nothing when he used his size to barge over early in the second half and get the Tigers on the board.
He then kicked off a stunning 13-minute blitz that saw Macarthur score four tries by running a great line on the left edge and giving the Western defence the big don’t argue to barge over for his second.
HUDSON TOWELL (NORTHERN RIVERS TITANS)
The five-eighth was one of a number of standouts as the Titans put the Knights to the sword with an impressive round one performance.
Towell was instrumental from the get-go, pulling the strings on the right edge as Will Doyle for the team’s first try in just the third minute.
While the Knights rallied either side of halftime to bring the scoreline back to 16-10, Towell put a stop to any momentum the visitors had with 20 minutes to go by darting out of dummy half to catch the Knights markers off guard and score.
Shortly after he helped to well and truly seal the match by putting in a clever grubber that led to a Reuben Tamariki try as the Titans ran over the Knights in the final stages.
NOAH MCNAMARA (NEWCASTLE MAITLAND KNIGHTS)
Back-rower McNamara proved too big and strong for the Titans defence to handle in the Johns Cup, crossing for a try either side of the break in the Knights’ 28-12 win.
Crucially, his second put the game out of reach, extending his side’s lead beyond a converted try.
McNamara had to work for his four-pointers. His first was a case of just keeping the legs pumping from close range amid the scrambling efforts of the Titans defence, while for his second he showed off some good hands, a cheeky step and sheer strength to muscle his way over the line.
SEMI LEWENIQILA (CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS)
Leweniqila took an early lead in the race for top try scorer with an opening round hat-trick in the Andrew Johns Cup.
And while his service was excellent, he still had work to do for a couple of his tries.
The winger used his big frame and speed to get the better of his opposing marker on a couple of occasions, cementing himself as a threat to watch from out wide this season.
CARTER MAREKO (CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS)
The other standout on a terrific opening round for the Roosters was five-eighth Mareko, who flexed his impressive range of skills during his side’s win.
Mareko showcased his raw pace in scoring an excellent long-range try that started in his own half, before backing up well to support a line-break from Caleb Fesolai for his second.
He also laid on a brilliant cut-out ball for one of Leweniqila’s tries.
AIDAN LANGHAM (NORTH COAST BULLDOGS)
North Coast Bulldogs centre Langham scored one of the tries of the round (and perhaps the entire season), breaking down the left flank from 80m out and shrugging off four attempted tackles to score a blinder.
He followed this up with a second try on the other side of the break, this time just sticking the head down and charging for the line to score.
KDEN CARTER (NORTH COAST BULLDOGS)
The Bulldogs captain looked the goods in his team’s win over the Northern Tigers, having a hand in a lot of decisive moments.
The nifty fullback opened the scoring with a terrific step to deceive the defenders and find a hole close to the line, showing off his agility and game awareness.
He then displayed his strong link-up and passing game, providing assists for both his centres Aidan Langham and Jackson Cheney to burst through pockets of space to score.
ROUND ONE TALKING POINTS
From incredible comebacks, early contenders for try of the season and finishes that truly need to be seen to be believed, we’ve taken a look at 10 talking points from the weekend’s acton.
Catch up with the wrap below.
BIG GUNS SET THE TONE
It was a great start to the junior rep season for the Central Coast Roosters, who were one of just two clubs to record a perfect round one against Monaro.
Five-eighth Carter Mareko was a standout and Semi Leweniqila crossed for a hat-trick in the Johns Cup team’s comfortable 26-10 win, while the Roosters’ Daley Cup side were clinical in shutting out the Colts 14-0.
Winger Samisoni Talakai had a big hand in a couple of tries, swooping on a dropped bomb for the Central Coast’s first before getting on the outside of his defender to put Sam Gillespie in space for the team’s second.
After picking up the Andrew Johns Cup crown last season, the Roosters have kicked off 2024 in style.
MACARTHUR WITH MIRACLE COMEBACK DOUBLE
There was drama galore at Kirkham Oval in Camden on the weekend as Macarthur left it late in both grades to down the Western Rams in absolute thrillers.
Fans could have been mistaken for thinking they were watching a live replay as both teams trailed late in their respective clashes before storming home late to beat the Rams 24-20 in the Johns Cup and 26-22 in the Daley Cup.
The Tigers looked absolutely done for in the first game of the day, trailing 20-10 with six minutes to go until a huge play turned the match on its head.
With the Rams coming out from their own end, Macarthur prop Jake Gaffney put a big hit on Western winger Jai Ashby. The ball came loose and the Tigers put it through the hands for Dallis Taoai to score.
Another try shortly after reduced the deficit to two, setting up a grandstand finish. Then, with the final play of the game, Tigers’ five-eighth Jhevon Lele put in a cross field kick that was spilt by the Western winger, allowing Macarthur’s Drake Ayers to scoop up the ball, plant it over the line and cap off a remarkable comeback.
If those scenes weren’t wild enough, the Tigers’ Daley Cup side also got in on the action with a miraculous escape of their own.
After trailing 16-0 at halftime the side scored four tries in a blistering 13-minute burst in the second half to run down the Rams and put an exclamation mark on a dramatic day for Macarthur.
Watch the highlights for the Andrew Johns Cup and Laurie Daley Cup thrillers here.
HEARTACHE AS RAMS FADE LATE
While there was ecstasy for the Tigers it was a case of agony for the Rams, who let healthy leads slip in both games before being run down.
While errors and big plays undoubtedly contributed to the loss, the team would also be disappointed in how it conceded some late tries in what was the first competitive match of the year.
And although no doubt disappointed with the results, the Rams can take plenty of positives away from the weekend as both sides started well and showed promising signs with the ball in hand.
UNBELIEVABLE FINISH TO DROUGHT-BREAKING WIN
In a weekend of crazy finishes, it’s hard to go past the final stages of the Riverina-Illawarra South Coast Dragons clash in the Andrew Johns Cup, which was decided by one of the most remarkable tries in recent memory.
With scores locked at 18-all with 10 minutes to go, the Bulls – in search of the club’s first win in nearly two years – were trying to pin the Dragons down in their red zone.
Playing the ball five metres out from their own line, the Dragons were inexplicably caught out with no one standing at dummy-half. Hooker Darcy Larkin raced back to grab the ball, however under pressure from Isaiah Pulleine, he lobbed it back into his own team’s in-goal.
Once again, there were no Dragons close enough to wrap the ball up and Pulleine pounced on the ball to grab his second and ultimately score the matchwinning try in what was a huge day for the Bulls.
Watch how it all happened here.
DRAGONS’ LETHAL LEFT EDGE STUNS
With they suffered a shock loss in the Johns Cup, the Dragons’ Daley Cup team was super impressive in its 48-6 demolition of Riverina.
In particular, the team’s left edge was humming as the Illawarra side ran riot with five tries down that side.
In what was an attacking masterclass, halfback Levi Valesini linked up beautifully with second-rower Dreau Clark, fullback Josiah Clifford, centre Malokai Tomo and winger Finnley Egan on multiple occasions as the Dragons ruthlessly exploited the Bulls defensive frailties.
In the end, Clark bagged a double, while Clifford, Valesini and Egan all crossed the stripe in what proved to be the biggest win of the weekend.
RUTHLESS TITANS PUNISH FROM CLOSE RANGE
The tries were flowing for the Northern Rivers Titans in their 38-14 victory over the Newcastle-Maitland Region Knights in the Laurie Daley Cup.
And whether it was the lethal finishing of the Titans’ attack or the defensive frailties of the Knights’ goal line defence, all the tries came from close range. In fact, six of the seven tries came with the Knights defending their own goal line, with the remaining four-pointer also coming from a play inside the Titans’ attacking 20m.
Five-eighth Hudson Towell was a key orchestrator for the home side, picking up a try and two assists down the productive right flank.
NORTHERN TIGERS SEND WARNING SHOT
The Northern Tigers came out of the blocks firing in the Laurie Daley Cup, putting seven tries on the North Coast Bulldogs to win 36-6.
A couple of key spine players were crucial in pulling the strings for the Tigers, notably interchange hooker Jayden Seckold. Scoring one try himself early on from dummy-half, Seckold went on to set up two for interchange forward Jack McLeod and another for five-eighth Jackson Smith, no doubt pushing his bid to start next week.
Smith was another standout for the Tigers, twice sending his forwards Zane Groves and Dylan Keane through holes in the Bulldogs’ defence to score.
Second-rower Keane was another standout for the Tigers, picking up two tries on the edge in the convincing win.
EARLY LEADER IN TRYSCORING RACE
Central Coast Roosters’ winger Semi Leweniqila has raced to the top of the tryscoring list after a round-one hat-trick against Monaro in the Johns Cup.
Lewiniqila’s size proved problematic for the Colts as he twice brushed aside his opposing defender with sheer power to finish off some nice backline moves.
And while several players bagged doubles, the Roosters’ winger is alone at the top after round one.
With plenty of X-factor and a nose for the tryline, we might well see his name on the scoresheet again in weeks to come.
BULLDOGS’ EDGES IMPRESS
Prevailing 34-10 over the Northern Tigers, the North Coast Bulldogs racked up the biggest win in the Andrew Johns Cup this week and caught the eye with some free-flowing football.
The Bulldogs looked particularly dangerous on their outside edges, with centres Jackson Cheney and Aidan Langham both getting on the scoresheet, the latter of which crossing for a double.
Fullback Kden Carter also showed some glimpses of his starpower, laying on two try assists and showcasing a mean step to work his way through the defence for a try of his own.
After a strong performance, the Bulldogs may look to their dangerous outside backs as being part of their winning formula moving forward.
EARLY TRY OF THE SEASON CONTENDERS
There might have only been one round, but we’ve already seen plenty of contenders for try of the season.
Kicking things off in the Andrew Johns Cup, North Coast Bulldogs centre Aidan Langham scored a terrific solo effort, breaking down the left after a scrum, shrugging off four different would-be tacklers and running 80m to score.
While his team came up short, Western Rams’ Andrew Johns Cup fullback Taj Jordan showcased his blistering pace with a 70m effort against the Macarthur Tigers. Receiving an offload on his own 30m line, Jordan – who started on the left edge – outgunned the chasing Tigers defenders and worked his way over to score a terrific try on the right.
In the Laurie Daley Cup, second-rower Dreau Clark had a terrific game for the Illawarra South Coast Dragons, with his first try coming off the back of a wonderful team effort. Starting in their own half, the Dragons put the ball through five sets of hands down the left, with the play finishing with halfback Levi Valesini brilliantly offloading for Clark to finish in the corner.
And while his Riverina side were smashed in the same game, Darcey O’Toole made the highlights reel with an epic try for the Bulls, bravely regaining a bomb from halfback Lachlan Cole before muscling his way out of some attempted tackles to score.
Check out the best tries in the Andrew Johns Cup and Laurie Daley Cup competitions.
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