Macarthur Rugby League: New contender, trading places, round 16 talking points
The Macarthur RL season is officially heating up after another contender powered onto centre stage. There was a thumping kick and an unusual combination. R16 talking points, 30+ GALLERY
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Now in the home straight towards the finals, the Macarthur Rugby League season is officially heating up.
Oakdale ramped up their power game, while a couple of opposites joined forces in a sudden death play.
Big bombs and more, round 16 talking points.
WIND ASSISTED MONSTER
The strong winds proved a challenge for all kickers last Sunday.
But you can bet with time they’ll be forgotten when Camden veteran Chris Browne relives his mammoth dropout from the reggies clash with Oakdale.
Backed by a howling southerly, the Rams playmaker launched the Steeden an astonishing 62m on the fly with a kick that found touch just before the opposition 30m line.
DEFENCE DEFENCE
With the stingiest defence in Macarthur, it's little wonder Camden are topping the table in both grades.
In first grade the Rams concede a miserly 7.4 points per match, while reggies are even better at 5.5.
“Both grades work hard on defence,” said reserve grade coach Harrison Fox. “Especially on Tuesday nights, both teams work together on line and situational defence.
“It’s definitely something we’ve highlighted this year. We know we can score a lot of points, so the game plan for us is to hold other teams out.”
BACK SOON
Mitchell Brasington took the field in the Tigers’ victory over the Eagles, and despite fears a foot injury might keep him sidelined the skipper still managed to boot six conversions.
It was a different story for Daniel Payne who missed the clash with a two-match suspension. The livewire will also miss this week’s clash with Narellan before returning in round 17 against Collies.
SERIOUS THREAT
Oakdale didn’t get the points at Kirkham, but the Workers have breathed life into a competition that for the most part looked like a one-horse race.
With little science behind their approach, skipper Kyle Fraser and Francis Tuigamala simply led the charge through the middle.
Primed for the occasion, the challenge will come in the finals when back-to-back performances could decide the title.
ODD COUPLE
From the outside looking in, you couldn’t find more contrasting personalities than Camden’s Jackson Willis and ex-South Sydney backrower Trent Peoples.
Yet there they were, the vocal Willis and calming Peoples combining forces to sink Oakdale on the final siren.
Although according to captain-coach Brad Speechley, the odd couple’s magic came as no surprise.
“Trent has been outrageous for us, you can tell why he played NRL,” he said. “Every week he’s excellent, and him and Jacko get on good so it works out well.”
RUNG ABOVE
There’s only two games this weekend, with the remaining matches from a weather affected round 14 set to take place at Fullwood Reserve and Narellan.
While Narellan juggle player availability, The Oaks have plenty to play for. With a victory, the Tigers will jump from fifth to second spot on the ladder.
ROUND 14 (CATCH UP GAMES)
Campbelltown City v Camden, Fullwood Reserve
Narellan v The Oaks, Narellan Sports Ground
ROUND 16 WRAP
Injuries are really starting to bite across several clubs as the Macarthur Rugby League nears the finals.
Picton were unable to compete a couple of weeks ago, while an injury ravaged Narellan headed to Mittagong on Sunday with the club’s future at stake.
See how the weekend unfolded in our Round 16 wrap.
PRESSURED JETS UNABLE TO FINISH
Two weeks after an injury riddled Picton forfeited both grades to Camden, an understrength Narellan cobbled together two grades for the club’s away clash with Mittagong.
The writing was on the wall at halftime in reserve grade when the game was abandoned with Mittagong leading 42-0. Levi Dodd’s first grade side followed a similar path, calling a halt to proceedings after Mittagong ran in seven opening half tries in a 34-0 avalanche.
“Last week there were only four players missing in first grade before we played Oakdale, but the list lengthened during the week across both grades,” said Dodd.
“We were missing nine first graders before kick off and then including myself, we lost another four in the first 20 minutes. Our prime concern was around player welfare given our third grade side played on Saturday, and most of those guys backed up so we could field a reserve grade side on the Sunday.
“The club’s future was on the line. Steve Hazelton from the NSWRL said if we don’t field a first grade side after playing third grade on the same weekend, then we wouldn’t be allowed to field a team in next year’s first grade comp.”
With uncertainty surrounding player availability for next weekend’s round with The Oaks, a deflated Dodd explained the writing could already be on the wall.
“We are already scraping the bottom of the barrel. We can’t force players to play, especially above their skill level,” he said.
“We don’t want the club to fold. We have the respect of most other clubs and we want to respect player welfare.
“Ultimately, we just want to receive equal treatment from the NSWRL, and at the moment it doesn’t feel like that is the case.”
The NSWRL was contacted for comment.
FEISTY RAMS STRIKE LATE
Largely untouchable across the opening 15 rounds, the Camden Rams almost met their match before striking twice in the closing minutes to sink Oakdale in an absolute thriller on Sunday afternoon.
In a feisty contest riddled with twists and turns, Oakdale looked to have inflicted Camden’s first loss of the season when barnstorming prop Francis Tuigamala crashed over to make it 18-10 in the 67th minute.
The big man’s four-pointer came minutes after Jarrod Keppie was sin binned for excessive niggle. But in a clash laced with push and shove, the Oakdale winger can probably consider himself a touch unlucky.
Never short of a word, Jackson Willis was never far from the action. But with Camden’s 12-game winning streak under siege, the five-eighth delivered when Brad Speechley’s side needed it most.
In Keppie’s absence, the No.6 directed play left and Atini Gafa did the rest, the centre taking advantage of the extra space to score his second try of the afternoon.
Gafa’s try narrowed the gap to a couple of points, but with more to do Willis struck again. With less than two minutes remaining this time he delivered from the boot.
With nothing seemingly on offer, he grubber kicked behind the line then watched on as Trent Peoples won a mad scramble to break Oakdale hearts.
“My backrower called for a kick,” said Willis in the moments leading up to the match winning try.
“Then it just happened. Trent chased it and they made an error, and we got away with the win.
“It was a tough game. We knew what was coming, but it was good to get up because that wraps up the minor premiership for us.”
Aided by a strong breeze in the first half, Camden had to worm their way out of trouble after forging a seemingly below par 10-6 lead at the break.
“It was tough to run into. We didn’t get many long kicks away and spent a lot of time down our own end but the boys dug deep and did plenty of defence,” said Willis.
“Danny Fualalo and Bailey Dickinson along with all our middles did an unbelievable job. Oakdale have a good pack, so to take it and then give it back was good.”
Kyle Fraser was outstanding in the middle for the visitors, leading a pack that crossed for two of his side’s three tries as the Workers posted a season-high 18 points against Camden.
“They were good through the middle,” said Speechley. “Once they get a roll on, their big bodies are hard to stop and Jermaine Haule is really dangerous out of dummy-half.”
TIGERS SURVIVE SLOW START
After enhancing their reputation for slow starts, The Oaks eventually powered past East Campbelltown to keep their top three dreams alive.
Despite a lopsided 44-16 scoreline, the Tigers’ ninth win wasn’t without a hiccup and keeps them one-point shy of Mittagong who hold down third spot on a congested ladder.
With the wind behind them, the Eagles flew out of the blocks with tries to Sean Connor and hooker Jeremiah Leatigaga to lead 12-6. It remained that way until the home side struck with three late tries to open an unlikely 20-12 halftime advantage.
With suspended fullback Daniel Payne on the sidelines, teenage replacement Chad Daniels stepped up with several nice touches to change the momentum.
Working the left side of the field, the No.1 put Ben Scambary across and then a couple of minutes later bobbed up on the right to assist Cruise Iosefa over the line.
Mitchell Brasington’s side added another four in the second half, including another to backrower Ragen Gilbert who consistently shrugged off defenders all afternoon.
Va’enuku Vatuvei crossed for East Campbelltown’s only try of the second half when the centre won the race to an Arthur Little grubber kick.
SIO HAT-TRICK SPARKS ROOSTERS
Thirlmere’s title defence continues to gather momentum after the Roosters made it four straight with a 46-12 win over South West at Onslow Oval.
The Goannas struck first through Jared Ross, but the visitors soon clicked into gear with four opening half tries to lead 18-6.
Tim Simona crossed twice before the break, but ex-Eel Ken Sio did the most damage, crossing for three tries as Thirlmere maintained fourth pace on the table.
“South West were excellent early, they didn’t drop the ball in the first thirty minutes,” said Thirlmere coach Darren McLeod.
“The Goannas have been putting on big scores in recent weeks, so I was happy to keep them to a low score.
“We are starting to get players back from injuries now, and we only have one more game left, so we should be fresh for the finals.”
LAST PLAY HERO
Nothing separated Campbelltown City and Collegians when they met earlier in the year, and another high scoring draw looked a formality until Collies hooker Amani Tofaeono struck in the final minute.
In a 12-try thriller at Fullwood Reserve, four-pointers were traded all afternoon. But when Roos skipper Ava Seumanufagai barged over to level the scores in the 75th minute, it seemed certain the points would be shared once again.
Then with less than a minute to play Tofaeono pounced. Opting to put his side’s eggs in the one basket, the No.9 exploded down a short side, beating several tired defenders to secure Collies’ second straight win with a 32-28 victory.
On a tough day for kickers, Collies scored seven tries to five including a double to powerhouse prop Ako Tuima.
City opened the scoring in the second minute through centre Amosa Manu, and the Roos led until Ray Mu put Collies ahead 14-12 just before the break.
The win moves Collies to 15 competition points, just one behind the Eagles in sixth.
PHOTO GALLERY
First grade: Camden v Oakdale
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