Local Rugby League Wrap: All the latest local footy news from the big leagues around New South Wales
Matches in Canberra and Newcastle were decided with last-ditch penalties, while the Woodbridge Cup saw some monster scorelines. Catch up with all the latest from around NSW in our local footy wrap.
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Ill discipline proved costly for teams both north and south of Sydney, as teams piled on some huge scorelines in the process.
Catch up with the latest from around the state in our weekly local footy wrap:
CANBERRA
Goulburn City produced its best effort of the season, racing away with a 28-18 victory over Gungahlin.
Cornish brothers Nicholas and Mitchell both scored in the success.
A late penalty goal helped the Queanbeyan Blues edge past Belconnen United 22-20.
Connor Williams sliced his way through the defence to level the scores eight minutes from time, before a late tackle of halfback Dylan McLachlan allowed them to snatch a late victory.
Woden Valley proved too strong for Tuggeranong, prevailing 36-16.
Queanbeyan Kangaroos flexed their muscles in a big way, powering past Yass 60-8.
Kain Anderson was a force on an edge, racing in a hat-trick, with a double to Kaine Pagura cementing the big scoreline.
STANDINGS: Queanbeyan Blues 8, West Belconnen 7, Queanbeyan Kangaroos 6, Belconnen United 6, Woden Valley 5, Goulburn City 4, Gungahlin 4, Tuggeranong 0, Yass 0
Woden Valley was strong in a 26-0 shutout of Tuggernanong at Boomanulla Oval.
Lara Cosgrove continued her hot run of form with a hat-trick, including a lovely stepping effort to get the scoring underway early on.
Eliza Taylor had four tries as Belconnen United ran over the top of the Queanbeyan Blues 76-0.
The winger was in strong form, to go along with doubles to Ella Kelly, Evita Hetherington, Isabella Piper and Ella Panagiotopoulos.
Gabrielle Davis was the star for Yass with a hat-trick of tries as they held the Kangaroos scoreless, winning 52-0.
The Magpies scored 11 tries in the win, while Gungahlin overcame Goulburn City 26-14.
STANDINGS: Belconnen United 8, Gungahlin 8, West Belconnen 7, Woden Valley 7, Yass 4, Tuggeranong 2, Goulburn City 2, Queanbeyan Blues 2, Queanbeyan Roos 0
GROUP 9
Gundagai caused the upset of the round, ambushing Young 30-22 at Anzac Park to hand the Cherrypickers their first loss of the season.
Toby Dasey and Gabriel Gul both had doubles as the Tigers raced out to a 30-6 lead in the second half.
That’s when Young fired back, scoring three tries in the final 10 minutes to get close, but ultimately not close enough.
Wagga Kangaroos surged to the top of the table with a commanding 58-0 win over Junee.
Dakota Ruta, Zeik Foster and Ned Cooper all posted doubles as the Kangaroos put on an 11-try effort.
Albury posted back-to-back half centuries with a 52-14 defeat of Cootamundra.
Cootamundra scored first through Nikola Sovatabua, but the Thunder fired back to take a 28-10 lead into the sheds, before running away with the result.
Tumut edged out Southcity 28-26 in the match of the round at Harris Park.
Jesse Fitzhenry and Cleveland McGhie both scored twice for the Bulls, but it was a penalty goal from Callum Rossiter that proved the difference in the end for the Blues.
Temora made it three wins in a row in dominant fashion, running in 17 tries in a 88-6 demolition of Wagga Brothers.
Will McDermott posted a hat-trick while Brodie Mirtschin, Billy Reardon and Jock Ward scored doubles in the one-sided showing.
STANDINGS: Wagga Kangaroos 8, Tumut 7, Temora 6, Young 6, Albury 5, Gundagai 4, Southcity 2, Junee 2, Cootamundra 0, Brothers 0
ILLAWARRA
Collegians solidified its position as a genuine title contender after downing De La Salle 20-16 at Captain Cook Oval.
De La had all the early running and the early advantage, before Collegians responded with three tries, including a Samuel McCann double, to surge ahead 18-6 early in the second half.
The home side scored twice in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Collegians improving to 3-0.
The Butchers are on the board in 2025 after edging out the Canaries 32-24 in an enthralling affair.
Thirroul raced out to a 22-6 halftime lead, before Dapto created a grandstand finish when getting back to 28-24 with 13 minutes to play.
Nelson Sharp would eventually seal the result for the Butchers four minutes from full-time.
Wests ran riot over Corrimal to the tune of 54-10.
Phoenix Vetenibua-Finnerty was unstoppable, scoring four tries. Winger Colby Pellow scored his hat-trick in an 11-minute span.
STANDINGS: Collegians 6, Wests 4, De La Salle 4, Dapto 2, Thirroul 2, Corrimal 0
NEWCASTLE
Maitland handed Cessnock its first defeat of the season with a 38-0 drubbing in a one-sided match of the round.
It took 16 minutes for them to crack the Goannas, but it was Anthony Meleisea-Murray who did just that out of dummy half, before leading them to a 16-0 halftime scoreline.
The defending champs went on with the job in the second half in a dominant display.
Macquarie completed a stunning comeback to knock off Lakes United 22-20 in horrendous conditions at Lyle Peacock Field.
The Seagulls took a commanding 14-0 lead just before the break, and held a 20-4 buffer early in the second half.
The Scorpions began their comeback, levelling the scores up with just minutes to play after Liam Sutton got on the end of a Luke Walsh grubber.
Then with time winding down, Macquarie was awarded a penalty right in front for a late tackle, gifting them the win.
Kurri Kurri had to survive a late scare against Central Newcastle, prevailing 20-18 at St John Oval.
The Bulldogs looked to be in cruise control when leading by 12 early in the second half, before a late charge gave the Butcher Boys one last crack over the dying stages.
In the battle of the Central Coast teams, The Entrance prevailed in a low-scoring affair against Wyong 12-6.
South Newcastle continued its strong start to the season, downing the Northern Hawks 30-10 at Townson Oval.
STANDINGS: Maitland 8, South Newcastle 6, Wests 6, Kurri Kurri 6, Cessnock 6, Lakes United 4, The Entrance 4, Wyong 2, Macquarie 2, Central Newcastle 0, Northern 0
NSWRL OPEN WOMEN
Redfern continues to be the benchmark in the Metro Combined Open Age competition, remaining undefeated after beating Marrickville 30-10.
The All Blacks were propelled by doubles from captain Yilara Widders and front rower Lavina O’Mealey.
Chipping Norton picked up its first win of the season, grinding out a 24-12 victory over Leichhardt.
Centre Chloe Beazley was strong in the victory.
Fullback Hannah Diffin starred for Mascot as it came out on top 30-14 over Forestville on the road.
She scored a hat-trick as the Jets climbed to second on the standings.
STANDINGS: Redfern 12, Mascot 10, Marrickville 8, Pennant Hills Cherrybrook 8, Forestville 8, Chipping Northon 8, Leichhardt 6
SOUTHERN CORRIDOR
Corrimal has showed no signs of slowing down, running out rampant 38-4 winners over Helensburgh.
Winger Nathalia Taylor and dummy half Tammy Fletcher both scored twice as the Cougars held onto top spot.
They’re joined on a perfect record by Campbelltown Collegians after they proved too strong for Cronulla Caringbah 18-8.
Leti Chabane helped seal their third win of the season.
Shellharbour scored five tries to two as they beat The Oaks 26-10.
STANDINGS: Corrimal 9, Campbelltown Collegians 9, Shellharbour 7, Helensburgh 5, Engadine 4*, The Oaks 4*, Campbelltown City 2*, Cronulla Caringbah 1*
SOUTHERN SYDNEY
St John Bosco recovered from its first defeat of the season with a strong 32-18 defeat of De La Salle at Captain Cook Oval.
De La Salle held an 18-10 advantage at the half after Benjamin Mabon scored just before the break, before the Bulldogs stormed home with all four tries in the second half.
Joeys extend its undefeated run to three weeks after grinding out a 20-6 win over Engadine.
The Dragons fought back to trail by just two at halftime, before Cairo Rangihuna-Ruri and Bailey Leach scored soon after the break to kick clear.
Gymea remains the only undefeated side through the opening phase of the competition after powering past Como Jannali 32-10.
Harrison Cavanagh had an early double for the Crocs as they led 10-4 at the break, before the Gorillas surged with five unanswered second half tries.
STANDINGS: Gymea 14, St John Bosco 12, St Joey’s 12, De La Salle 10, Como Jannali 7, Engadine 5
SOUTHS JUNIORS
Coogee Randwick remains the only undefeated team through five rounds of the competition after downing Mascot 28-16.
Jake Tobin played a leading hand, scoring one try and setting up another as the Wombats took their record to 5-0.
La Perouse came into the weekend without loss, but had that run ended at the hands of Redfern who prevailed in a 28-26 thriller at Erskineville Oval.
Kieren Mundine scored a double for the Rovers, but it wasn’t enough to get the two points at Malabar, with South Eastern snatching a 24-all draw.
Jake Trindall and Jake Humphreys scored in the space of three minutes to give Alexandria a handy lead with five to play, before Blaise Barnes scored in the dying stages to split the points.
Coogee Dolphins ran in seven tries to pick up their second-straight win, defeating Marrickville 40-4.
STANDINGS: Coogee Randwick 10, Redfern 8, Coogee 6, La Perouse 6*, Alexandria 3*, Mascot 2*, South Eastern 1*, Marrickville 0
WOODBRIDGE CUP
Manildra continued its blistering start to the Woodbridge Cup season with a 66-6 thumping of Grenfell at Jack Huxley Oval.
The league’s best attack and defence was on full display in the 12-try rout, led by a hat-trick to Will Petrie and a 22-point haul from Jayden Fahey.
Trundle improved to 3-2 after a 24-18 victory over Peak Hill.
The two went back-and-forth throughout, with Bradley Watt sealing the win for the Boomers.
Molong inflicted further pain on Blayney in a 72-10 demolition at the Molong Recreation Ground.
Jed Oates, Ben Blimka and Brock Campbell all scored doubles as they raced in 14 tries.
Condobolin staged a thrilling late comeback to prevail over Eugowra 26-20.
The Golden Eagles held a 20-10 lead with 16 minutes to play, before the Rams struck thrice, including twice in the final 10 minutes to snatch the win.
Cowra continued its winning run courtesy of a 38-18 victory over Cargo at Sid Kallas Oval.
The Blue Heelers entered the contest without a win, but showed signs of promise, despite falling short of the powerful Magpies.
It was a tale of two halves as Oberon edged out Canowdinra 18-16 in the battle of the Tigers.
Oberon opened up an 18-0 advantage at halftime following Senio Lefaoseu’s try, before Canowindra made it a two-point game with 15 to play after they raced in three tries in eight minutes.
STANDINGS: Manildra 10, Cowra 10, Molong 8, Orange United 8, Oberon 8, Eugowra 6, Trundle 6, Canowindra 4, Condobolin 4, Peak Hill 2, Cargo 2, Grenfell 2, Blayney 0
NRRRL: Heavyweights clash in smash and grab job
Two heavyweights have clashed in a bruising NRRRL contest, with the victors turning away set after set in a classic smash and grab job.
Macarthur RL: Ex-NRL star returns, Eagle lands stunning triple
Round five of Macarthur RL was one for the big boppers as a former Origin star made his return, while another unloaded a bag of tricks and one scored a hat-trick. Full wrap.