Macarthur Rugby League: Eight major talking points from round four
In round four of the Macarthur Rugby League, the talent spread its wings and played a key part on the game’s biggest stage. See the latest TALKING POINTS from a big week of action.
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Round four of the Macarthur Rugby League delivered in spades, but for some it was just the start of a hectic week. Here are the talking points from around the grounds.
THIRLMERE SERVICEMAN TACKLE FIRIES IN ANZAC DAY CURTAIN RAISER
For Thirlmere’s Barry Ruttley and Michael Wright, Sunday’s win over Campbelltown City was the start of a busy week.
Both dedicated serviceman, the Roosters duo backed up on Anzac Day in the curtain raiser to the NRL clash at Allianz Stadium. Playing for a combined Australian Defence Force side, once again the pair celebrated, this time with the Gallipoli Cup after a 24-14 victory over Fire and Rescue NSW.
ROOSTERS TAKE A HIT
It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Roosters.
In just his second appearance in Thirlmere colours, former Wests Tigers star Tim Simona finished the day nursing a jumper load of bruised ribs.
With several stars already on the sidelines, there’s no guarantee the five-eighth will be available for the round five clash with East Campbelltown.
JETS NEARING TAKE OFF
It has been a tough month for Narellan, but despite opening the season with four defeats they have shown signs of improvement with every start.
Last week they gave the Rams a fright and they’ll fancy their chances against The Oaks on Saturday evening.
In round six they host the Goannas, in a match that promises plenty of spice.
COYNE RISING IN VALUE
Mittagong have backed a winner in James Coyne.
The son of Maroons legend Mark, Coyne was a late addition to the Lions’ squad after several injuries ruined his pre-season training program with the Sydney Roosters.
Known for playing the game at full tilt, the Sutherland Shire resident has made the No.1 jumper his own with six tries from just three starts.
SIZE NO BARRIER FOR CASSIDY
Liam Cassidy may not be the biggest backrower in the comp, but the Lions wouldn’t swap him for anyone.
Always up for the contest, the Mittagong local has returned home after a stint in the Illawarra competition. Last week against an imposing Oakdale pack, Cassidy didn’t back down in defence and came away with two tries.
PLAYMAKER MERRY-GO-ROUND
Sean Connor made a seamless return in the Eagles’ nail biting win over Collies. The veteran half laid on the final try and slotted three crucial goals from four attempts in difficult conditions.
It was a timely return, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the availability of Brett Lahey.
TOUGH ROAD AHEAD FOR COLLIES
In what’s shaping as the closest competition in years, the Campbelltown Collegians have been one of the star performers.
Last week’s narrow defeat to the Eagles was their first, and it will be interesting to see how they respond.
Next week they head to Picton. And it doesn’t get any easier in the three weeks that follow with tough matches against Thirlmere, Mittagong and Camden.
WORK ROSTER MESSES WITH GOANNAS
Having already lost key playmaker John Taulaga to a season-ending injury, South West looked to be on a winner with the addition of Tinetali Papalii. After impressing against The Oaks, shiftwork prevented the fiery No.7 from backing up in Sunday’s loss to Picton.
Experienced backrower Ronny Palumbo filled the void in the unfamiliar No.6 jersey. In better news, South West are hopeful of signing another five-eighth later this week.
ROUND 4 WRAP
East Campbelltown halted Collies’ unbeaten run, while in the Southern Highlands the Lions roared. And in promising signs, the Goannas and Jets held their own against quality opposition.
Here’s the latest from the round four venues.
EAGLES END COLLIES’ RUN
East Campbelltown have ended Collegians’ unbeaten start to the season, edging out their cross town rivals 22-16 at Bradbury Oval.
Eagles centre Abiarthur Tuilaepa sliced through Campbelltown’s left-edge to open an early 6-0 lead, and the margin doubled when hooker Luke Williams crossed in the 15th minute.
After matching Collies’ powerful pack for the majority of the first half, the tide eventually turned. A try to replacement Jaycob Oloaga kickstarted a Collies revival that ushered in another two, including a slashing solo effort by halfback Nautu’a Masima.
With the Eagles trailing by two and chasing their second win, Tuilaepa reached across the stripe to give his side an 18-16 lead with just over 25 minutes to play.
As the rain tumbled down, the score remained unchanged until John Laulilii steamed onto a Sean Connor grubber in the final minute to secure the Eagles a vital win.
“Against Collies’ big pack, I thought we dominated early through the efforts of Jurrado Smith and Edward Masoe,” said Eagles coach Richard Barnes.
“But when they came off, we lost momentum and conceded a few tries.
“Hooker Luke Williams won the players’ player award and Tom Morrison played well too. Luke’s only a small guy but his defence in the middle was great.”
The match was Connor’s first of the season, and a relieved Barnes couldn’t have been more pleased for the veteran half.
“Thankfully we had Sean on the field, we’ve missed his goal kicking this season and that alone was enough to keep us in front.”
MITTAGONG GO THREE STRAIGHT
Mittagong made it three on the trot after accounting for Oakdale 32-6 in the drizzle on home turf.
Two tries from kicks to fullback James Coyne saw Mittagong counter Jason Thompson’s early try, for a 14-6 halftime advantage.
And the Lions went on with the job in the second half as Oakdale slumped to a third straight defeat.
Coyne, a former Newtown Jets speedster, completed a deserved hat-trick while gun forward recruit Liam Cassidy picked up a double. In tough conditions for goal kicking, Bryson Goodwin landed four from seven in a personal tally of 12 points.
Up against Nathan Davis, Oakdale's leading try scorer, captain-coach James Grehan couldn’t have been happier with the response from his centre Liam Henry.
“Young Liam did a really good job to contain Nathan. He rushed up early and made a point of cutting him down low,” said Grehan.
“He’s only 19 and joined us this season from Shellharbour Stingrays, his defence is great and he is a strong runner with the ball too.
“Oakdale were strong and the final result didn’t really reflect the closeness of the contest.”
After victories over South West and Narellan, the win over Oakdale puts the Lions among the title contenders.
“The win is great for us, especially after last year where we made a bad start and had to chase our tail for the rest of the season,” Grehan said, before looking ahead to the next challenge.
“We have another big test next week against City. It will be our first game away, and last season we didn’t win any on the road, so there’s plenty to play for.”
THIRLMERE TOO STRONG FOR CITY
Thirlmere have overcome the absence of several big names to down Campbelltown City 18-8 at Thirlmere Sports Ground.
With Blake Ferguson out of town and power forwards Louis Meehan and Jacob Loko joining gun hooker Mitch New on the sidelines, the Roosters struck early before keeping City at arms length for the rest of the afternoon.
Forwards Matthew Scott and Kye Madden both crossed in the first half before City hit back through five eighth Bailey Rye to trail 12-4 just after the break.
Roosters winger Clive Haselhuhn extended the margin to 14 before Roos’ centre Jacob Williams closed the gap with the final try of the day.
“The greasy conditions didn’t make for attractive footy, but we were happy enough with our effort,” said co-coach Darren McLeod.
“We dropped the ball over the line on three occasions, so we left some points out there. Our defence was brilliant though, the boys defended their own line for long periods and held firm.
On an afternoon where Thirlmere players wore Anzac jerseys, McLeod also recognised Lachlan Bush, the club’s latest addition from the Western Suburbs SG Ball outfit.
“Lachlan was outstanding, he’s a young prop and he won the player of the match in his first grade debut,” McLeod said. “He’s a footy player through and through, he just loves it.”
JETS PUSH RAMS AT NARELLAN
Reigning premiers Camden were made to fight by a rapidly improving Narellan Jets before finishing with a flurry of late tries to win 40-24.
Scoring the first four tries, it looked like a case of Camden by how much as the Rams bolted away to an early 22-0 lead.
Damaging prop Eddie Faalua pegged one back for the Jets just before halftime, and they came out firing after the break posting another two.
Riding a wave of momentum, Narellan then hit the front through rookie backrower Zakauri Clarke, who converted his own try for an unlikely 24-22 advantage.
With around 15 minutes left on the clock, skipper Brad Speechley crossed to put Camden back in front, and the score blew out with further four-pointers to Metuisela Taungatua and centre Atini Gafa.
“We got away early and then fell asleep,” said Speechley.
“We were falling off tackles and the Jets made the most of it. It only turned for us when our middle forwards Danny Fualalo and Bailey Dickinson came back on.”
Sitting third on the ladder with two wins and a draw, Speechley is comfortable where the Rams are at.
“We haven't been playing our best, but we are still pretty happy with how we are going. Last year we only got going after about eight or nine rounds.”
SOUTH WEST TURN THE CORNER AGAINST PICTON
In the final game, Picton overcame a determined South West Goannas 18-6.
After an even opening 20 minutes, Picton struck first through Bose Serukalou. The winger dashing onto a James Tautaiolefua pass to cross in the right corner.
And they quickly went further ahead after an astonishing charge by Tukaha Kyriacou. Dropped by the defence 15m short of the line, but not held, the backrower jumped to his feet and went again, flattening a trail of Goannas in a determined charge that finished under the posts.
With two more tries including another to Serukalou, Picton went to the break with a commanding 18-0 lead.
In the earlier rounds, South West had returned after the interval with the floodgates open. But it wasn’t the case this week.
Playing out of their Onslow Park homebase for the first time this season, the Goannas struck back through centre Brenton Doyle-O’Donnell. And while they didn’t finish with a victory, there’s plenty to build on after they kept Picton scoreless in the second half.
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