Macarthur Rugby League: Full wrap and talking points from round three

With thrilling comebacks and a host of strong performers, Macarthur Rugby League has once again delivered the goods. See the latest talking points from round three and a wrap of all five games.

Macarthur Rugby League, Round Three, 2023

WITH round three of the Macarthur Rugby League season done and dusted, see what is making headlines around the grounds.

WORKERS’ BIG NAMES RACING THE CLOCK

With a touch more luck Oakdale could be sitting at the top of the ladder with three straight wins. But with narrow defeats to Campbelltown Collegians and Thirlmere over the past fortnight, the Workers now find themselves sixth on the ladder.

Skipper Kyle Fraser returns from suspension in round six, but with last week’s three-try hero Nathan Davis pulling up injured, the results of his scans could have a big influence on their season.

CITY SHOW FAMOUS GRIT

Like Oakdale, Campbelltown City have come up empty following their opening round win. Punished by injuries in the trials and the early rounds, City will be without key signing and experienced NSW Cup hooker Jye McRae for the best part of the season.

The absence of halfback Christian Urso was another obstacle in last week’s loss to Collies, but with their famed grit, the Kangaroos kept pace for the best part of 60 minutes.

In better news, the club welcomed back the return of veteran fullback Shannon Gallant.

BIG BODIES KEEP COLLIES ROLLING

John-Wesley Boath-Moananu is definitely one to watch for Collies.

The No. 12 was in full beast mode in last week’s 12-point win over City. Punishing from close range, in the first half he carried three defenders over the line to score, then in the second mixed power with class to put winger Ofa Felila away for the final try.

Collegians hooker Alefelio Moata’ane. Picture: Julian Andrews.

EAGLES PLAYMAKERS CAN’T TAKE A TRICK

With point scoring machine Sean Connor already sidelined, East Campbelltown fans held their collective breath when regular playmaker Brett Lahey pulled up injured after the loss to Picton.

All going well, both are expected to make a return this weekend in the big clash with Collies.

MITTAGONG BRACE FOR TOUGH RUN

Mittagong have made a perfect start to the season, but with comfortable wins over the battling Jets and Goannas it’s tough to gage how they compare with the competition’s heavyweights.

The answer should become clear over the next three rounds with matches against Oakdale, City and East Campbelltown.

ROOSTERS EYE SG BALL YOUNG GUN

With Wests Magpies bowing out of the SG Ball competition last weekend, Thirlmere are optimistic about gaining the services of rising forward Lachlan Bush.

A busy worker with a supreme level of fitness, Bush has previously represented the Roosters in the under-18s and would be a worthy addition to the club’s upfront stocks.

GOANNAS BACK ON TRACK

The Goannas have shown signs of slowly climbing off the canvas with each outing. Off the field, they’ve just had a big win.

With posts and lines back on the field at Onslow Park following the Camden Show, South West should benefit from a routine training schedule.

SIMONA EASES HIS WAY BACK

With Curtis Scott sidelined with suspension, Tim Simona made his Roosters debut in the No. 6 jumper in Thirlmere’s thrilling win over Oakdale.

The former Wests Tigers centre didn’t overplay his hand, and eased way into the Macarthur Rugby League competition.

ROUND THREE WRAP

Once again all eyes were on Thirlmere in round three, only this week there were no flying fists as the Roosters edged out Oakdale in a thriller. At Victoria Park, Picton looked set for their first win until a late Eagles surge almost ruined the party.

Here’s how all the action unfolded in our round three wrap.

TIGERS SURGE LATE AGAINST GOANNAS

For the first time in three starts The Oaks have finished a match without any post siren penalty-goal heroics.

Hosting the struggling South West Goannas, the Tigers maintained their unbeaten record with a 36-10 victory, but it was far from one-way traffic like the scoreline suggests.

Winger Bailey King crossed early in the left corner, and when big prop Tony Campbell crashed over shortly after, the Tigers looked headed for an easy afternoon.

But with new Goannas recruit Tinetali Papalii leading the charge, South West struck back to trail 16-10 at half time through tries to hooker Penaia Leveleve and backrower Rouruina Tararo.

In what has been a rocky return to the top grade, including the recent departure of Tony ‘T-Rex’ Williams, Goannas president Mark Baird was delighted with the teams commitment.

“Papalii only recently joined us as a hooker, but we needed him at half,” said Baird. “And he jumped at the chance, and led with a winning attitude.”

“He’s 37-years-old, but he lifted the boys with one of the biggest hits I’ve seen in a long time – a perfect legal shirt front.

“With that type of infectious mongrel it shows we have plenty to work with, and The Oaks boys knew they were in a tough game.”

King’s double just after the resumption increased the margin to 12, but the Tigers were forced to work hard before eventually skipping away in the closing stages to record their second win of the season.

DAVIS BLINDER NOT ENOUGH AS THIRLMERE STRIKE LATE

A try to winger Barry Ruttley in the final minute has seen Thirlmere round out an epic comeback to sink Oakdale 34-30 at Sid Sharpe Memorial Oval.

Trailing 28-12 early in the second half, the Roosters looked cooked after former NRL centre Nathan Davis scored his third of the day for a flying Oakdale.

In an absorbing one-on-one contest, Blake Ferguson simply had no answer to the height and power of Davis, who not only finished with a hat-trick but had a hand in two other tries.

But when Davis’ day was cut short by injury, Thirlmere literally grabbed the ball and charged towards the finishing post.

Oakdale’s Nathan Davis has shown he’s still a powerful force. Pic by Julian Andrews.

Dynamic hooker Mitch New kick started the comeback with the first of four unanswered tries. And they hit the front with 15 minutes remaining, before Oakdale’s Hamish Oxley levelled it up at 30-all with a 75th minute penalty goal.

With the minutes counting down and Oakdale running on empty, New exploded out of dummy-half and put his brother Damon in the clear. With a host of options, the halfback kicked and Ruttley was on hand to complete a miraculous comeback.

“We didn’t help ourselves early with a lot of dropped ball,” said co-coach Darren McLeod.

“And Davis was a handful, he’s still good on his feet and strong up top. But when he went off with about 20 to go, I thought we were a chance especially after our strong pre-season.

“Oakdale are a good side but with Davis off they couldn’t regain the momentum, and we finished all over them in the last 10 minutes.”

MITTAGONG OUTCLASS NARELLAN

With six unanswered second half tries, Mittagong have breezed past Narellan 38-8 to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Once again the Jets offered resilience with an impressive first half, and weren’t without hope trailing 8-4. In the end, the Lions’ superior fitness proved the difference on an afternoon where James Coyne, the son of Maroons legend Mark, finished with two tries.

After two comfortable victories and a bye, Mittagong coach James Grehan wasn’t getting ahead of himself.

“We didn’t play our best, and we’ll look to improve because we’ve got some tough games coming up,” he said before singling out a couple of the side’s best.

“Coyne was great at fullback and Keiran Rankmore and Ben Arandt didn’t let us down upfront.”

PICTON HANG ON FOR FIRST WIN

Picton have made a habit of relinquishing double-digit leads over the opening rounds, and once again they looked shaky before holding off a fast finishing East Campbelltown 30-26.

Local legend Michael Lett lit up Victoria Park with three tries as the Magpies bolted clear 30-12 with just over 15 minutes remaining.

But just as they did against City and The Oaks, the Magpies logged off. It saw the Eagles to spring to life, and they crossed three times in seven minutes to finish four-points shy of a miracle comeback.

Michael Lett scored three tries for the Magpies. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Newscorp)

“At 30-12 I thought we’d done enough to win, but I was obviously worried as they were closing the gap” said Picton coach Jake Tonitto.

“Our first two losses of the season were disappointing, but I felt we were the better side in both games but let ourselves down with periods of poor execution.

“The Eagles game was similar. We turned up with a plan, then turned over too much early ball. But for the next 60 minutes I felt we were in control.”

With seven new signings in the top 17, Picton are still building combinations. One thing that hasn’t changed is the livewire skills of Lett.

“His communication skills across the group are brilliant and he’s still a great finisher,” Tonitto said.

“But he can set them up too. In the second half he took a regulation hit-up in our own 20 and busted the line, then sent fullback Bose Serukalou away for a decisive try.”

COLLEGIANS DOWN CITY AND CLAIM VARDY FAMILY CUP

Campbelltown Collegians made it three straight after overpowering Campbelltown City 34-22 at Fullwood Reserve.

Collies crossed for the opening two tries and after imposing backrower John-Wesley Boath-Moananu completed a first half double they headed to the sheds with a commanding 22-10 lead.

Not to be outdone, City winger Manoa Veikoso grabbed the first two tries after the break. His second, a lumbering 50m solo effort along the right touchline brought the Kangaroos level at 22-all.

Leon Longbottom scored a crucial try for Collegians. Picture: Julian Andrews.

With the game in the balance, silky smooth centre Leon Longbottom picked apart City’s left edge to put Collies back in front.

City had enough ball and field position to draw level, but with resolute goal line defence, Collies had all the answers and wrapped up the win in spectacular fashion.

And it was that man Boath-Moananu with another barnstorming charge. This time along the left edge to gift centre Ofa Felila an open passage to the corner.