Group 2 Rugby League: Top talking points from round eight

One Group 2 contender has received a huge boost after a former Rugby 7s international was among two mid-season recruits to join the club.

Sawtell were among the winners in round eight. Picture: Leigh Jensen

It was a weekend of strong attacking football as the victors all flexed their muscles with strong wins in Group 2.

Find out what happened with a wrap of round eight here and read up on some the top talking points below.

ALL TEAMS STILL IN PLAY

Macksville turned on the fireworks with a 40-10 win over Coffs Harbour in round eight. Picture: D Wigley

You could throw a handkerchief over much of the competition as a mid- to lower-table logjam forms heading into the second half of the season.

While undefeated Woolgoolga is clear at the top and Sawtell and Nambucca have a little bit of breathing space for themselves in second and third, the rest of the competition is tightly bunched together.

Given the fact that some teams have got games in hand on their rivals, it sets up an exciting second half of the season as all sides remain in the hunt for a top-five finals finish.

WOOLGOOLGA ON FIRE

Woolgoolga remains unbeaten in three of four grades so far this season. Picture: Leigh Jensen

There’s just something in the water at Woolgoolga at the moment.

After eight rounds of the season, the Seahorses are remarkably leading the competition in three of the four grades, with the club’s first grade, reserves and women’s tackle teams unbeaten so far.

All up, Woolgoolga has won 16 of the 19 games that all four grades have played this season, with the club recording its second clean sweep of the season against South Grafton on Saturday.

Unsurprisingly, the Seahorses are well clear in the race for the club championship on 134 points, well clear of second-placed Sawtell on 98.

NEW RECRUITS BOLSTER SAWTELL

Hakeem Torrens joined Sawtell mid-season from Kyogle in the NRRRL. Picture: DC Sports Photography

Sawtell returned to the winner’s circle in round eight with a 40-22 victory over the Grafton Ghosts to take the side into second place on the ladder.

And while it wasn’t a perfect performance by any means, there are a couple of big reasons why the Panthers are optimistic about their chances in the back half of the season, with two mid-season recruits impressing for the team.

After starting the season for Kyogle in the Northern Rivers competition, five-eighth Hakeem Torrens arrived in Sawtell one month ago and has settled in nicely as he plays alongside halfback Mikaere Beattie.

“Hakeem just moved to the area and sort of fell into our lap, so we got pretty lucky,” said captain-coach Sam Johnstone.

“He wasn’t recruited or anything; he just sort of moved down here with his partner. He was released from Kyogle and I’d heard he’d been playing some pretty good footy. He played reggies in his first game and has worked his way into our side and has done well.”

Sawtell Panthers junior Chris Watkins was excellent in his first game back for the club.

Meanwhile on Sunday Sawtell fans got their first look at local junior Chris Watkins, who played his first game back in black after returning to the club.

A former Australian Rugby 7s international who also played for the Hunter Wildfires in the Shute Shield and powerhouse club the Maitland Pickers in the very strong Newcastle competition, Watkins was outstanding for Panthers in his return to the club.

Playing in the back row, he showed plenty of speed to score a runaway try while his timing and execution under the high ball was brilliant, doing incredibly well to take a Mikaere Beattie bomb to claim his second.

“He was really handy to have and scored two tries,” said Johnstone. “He’s been down playing with the Wildfires and down with Maitland, so we’re lucky to have two quality footballers just fall into our lap mid-season. It’s really exciting for our team.

“We also had Billy Dolar back this weekend who’s really exciting for our team and brought plenty of energy off the bench. We’ve got some players back and got some experience in the side, so we’re building nicely.”

MACKSVILLE’S FRENCH STAR SHINES

Romain Pallares has made a good early impression for Macksville. Picture: supplied

Macksville put in its best attacking performance of the season on the weekend, running in seven tries to two as the Sea Eagles defeated Coffs Harbour 40-10 at Allan Gillett Oval.

While there were plenty of strong performers, much of the fluency was down to the presence of halfback Romain Pallares.

Playing in his fourth game for the club, the Frenchman, who joined Macksville from French first division side Villefranche XIII Aveyron, scored one try and directly set up two others.

It started early on when the playmaker put Wezley Brown through a gap for the Sea eagles’ third try inside the first 10 minutes.

On the half-hour mark Pallares went over himself when he finished off a lovely shift to the right before laying on an excellent grubber for Clay Saville to give the side a thumping 28-4 lead at the break.

In addition to his attacking threat, Pallares’ general kicking and game management were key to the Sea Eagles’ success.

“He knows how to finish a set for us,” said captain-coach Matt Hyland. “He gives us that one extra half, we’ve always had one but he just gives us that second, so they can play off each other and finish our sets, which is a big thing.”

A French junior international, Pallares has played in both France and the UK, and has even represented the Spanish national team on account of his family heritage.

After a promising start from their overseas recruit, the Sea Eagles are hopeful Pallares and young five-eighth Rielly Laverty can strike up a lethal halves combination that lifts the side up the ladder in the second half of the season.