Macarthur Rugby League: Costly breeze, backrower floored by golf cart, round 11 talking points
The coaching merry-go-round hit top gear in the Macarthur Rugby League while a star Eagle found himself on the wrong side of a rogue golf cart. Eight talking points from Round 11.
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The hits kept rolling in another quality weekend of Macarthur Rugby League. Here’s the latest talking points from round 11.
OAKDALE COLLECT THE POINTS
Awkward is the only way to describe Oakdale’s win over Campbelltown City by forfeit.
Scarred by the graphic nature and time taken to treat injured prop Harley Sanchez, City opted to call it a night.
Still full of running, Oakdale returned to the field to warm up and subsequently collected the two points.
FRESH VOICES FOR MAGPIES AND CITY
It’s been a difficult season for Picton and with only three wins heading into the club’s clash with Camden, the club made the decision to part ways with coach Jake Tonitto.
After taking the Magpies to last year’s finals in his first season, Tonitto was unable to find consistency with a swag of new recruits. Club president and former premiership winning coach Gary Dowse will take over until the end of the season.
At Campbelltown City, Alex Melville has taken over as interim coach following David Fauonuku’s acceptance of a role with Auckland Rugby League.
TIGERS IN PAYNE
The Oaks’ draw in Mittagong saw the Tigers slide outside the top five for the first time this season.
It’s not their only concern after inspirational playmaker Daniel Payne failed to finish the match with an undisclosed injury that could sideline him for a number of weeks.
BREEZE INOPPORTUNE BREATHER
You win some, you lose some.
Tigers skipper Mitchell Brasington has kicked The Oaks to some memorable results this season. Unfortunately for Tigers fans, the footy gods weren’t in their corner on Sunday.
Faced by a 38m penalty attempt to win the match, Brasington allowed for the breeze but was cursed by Mother Nature’s untimely breather just as the ball took flight.
COSTLY GOLF CART TOMFOOLERY
The words ‘bucks day’ are a coach's nightmare. Particularly mid-season with finals spots up for grabs.
Under strict instructions from East Campbelltown coach Richard Barnes to ‘take it easy’, several of the Eagles’ finest headed out during the side’s round 10 bye.
All except Kobe Chamberlin returned to face Narellan. Ruled out with an ankle injury, the boom backrower remained under ice after he was ‘accidentally’ run over by a teammate in a golf cart.
BARBUTO BOLTER
After The Oaks had jumped to a 12-0 lead, Mittagong’s comeback was in full swing with 20 to play.
With the scores locked up, Lions hooker Blake Barbuto jumped while everyone stopped. Looking for a penalty from dummy-half on halfway, the No.9 stopped and propped, then ran around several would-be defenders before shaking off several more to score a memorable solo try.
TOP FIVE SQUEEZE
With Picton slumping to a fourth straight loss the run towards the finals now appears to be a seven-horse race.
Sitting six points adrift of the fifth placed Eagles, only a miracle can save the Magpies in their six remaining games.
The Oaks are sixth, level with the Eagles on 14 points while Collegians sit two adrift and shouldn’t be underestimated.
MUST WIN FOR COLLIES
Still on Collies, this week’s game at home against Narellan is a must win. Coming off a bye, a victory over the Jets will have them on track for three straight wins ahead of their round 14 clash with the struggling Kangaroos.
ROUND 11 WRAP
Round 11 of the Macarthur Rugby League was marred by an horrific injury on Saturday night, before the points flowed on a busy Sunday where two sides couldn’t be separated.
Round 11 wrap and coaches feedback.
HORRIFIC INJURY TERMINATES MATCH
It was the best footy City had played in weeks. Up 6-4 on the road to Oakdale, the young Kangaroos were posing a serious threat to the Workers’ five-match unbeaten run.
That was until the 23rd minute when it all came crashing down. A regulation hit-up by City’s Harley Sanchez promptly ended with a snap that was heard beyond the fence. Fully loaded, the prop’s ankle crumpled on impact.
The injury was so bad that an ambulance was called, and in the interests of player welfare City made the decision not to continue the match.
In the wash up, on Monday morning Oakdale were declared the winner on forfeit.
‘VERY SLOW GAME’: THIRLMERE AMBLE TO VICTORY
Thirlmere were untroubled at home cruising past South West 46-6 to remain within touching distance of the top-three.
With big names Mitch New and Tim Simona given the day off, the Roosters opened the door for several reserve graders to shine in the top grade.
Fullback Hayden Sutton opened the scoring and another try quickly followed to Curtis Scott. The Roosters went on with it after the break, with last week’s hero James Lee finishing the day with a double.
“It was a very slow game, there was no urgency,” said Thirlmere coach Darren McLeod.
“Unfortunately South West were unable to field a team in reserve grade, so there was no atmosphere, but we are happy with the win.
“Adam Campbell filled in for Mitch and then played some time at five-eighth when Curtis came off. It was also good to see Ethan Tutt get a run at hooker too.”
Next week Thirlmere rest up with the bye, while the winless South West host Mittagong.
EAGLES OVERRUN ‘BRAVE’ JETS
East Campbelltown’s finals charge shifted up a gear with an 11-try masterclass over Narellan at Waminda Oval.
The 58-14 thrashing is the Eagles’ third on the trot and moves them ahead of The Oaks into fifth and just one win shy of third.
Facing a Jets pack minus suspended bookends Josh Campbell and Eddie Faalua, the Eagles were slow out of the blocks before heading to the break with a handy 22-10 advantage.
Brett Lahey returned from injury, and with longtime halves partner Sean Connor, the combinations of old began to take shape on an afternoon where winger Blake Clayton scored a hat-trick.
“I feel like we’ve turned the corner,” said Eagles coach Richard Barnes.
“We’re now showing more respect for the ball and our try line. It was good to have Brett back, early on we pushed our sets too far left and right, but we eventually worked it out.
“Narellan were brave, we had all the ball in the opening 20 minutes but needed all that time to get on the board.”
CHANCES BLOWN, POINTS SHARED
Mittagong came close, but so did The Oaks.
In the end the points were shared as the Lions surrendered top spot on the ladder with an 18-all draw at home.
Each side threatened to run away with the result only to lose grip as the other returned fire.
Evrett Vaurasi got the ball rolling for the Tigers, crashing over either side of halftime for a 12-0 lead.
Blake Barbuto’s fingerprints were all over the Lions’ comeback, setting up one try then going solo from long range to put the home side in front 18-12.
With 20 minutes to play Mittagong had all the momentum, but surrendered the advantage when Tigers backrower Josh Van Der Meulen reached across to level the scores.
The final five minutes turned into a frenzy of missed opportunities.
Mitch Brasington sprayed a relatively straight forward penalty goal attempt, then failed to nail two drop goals.
But they weren’t alone. With two minutes left, Mittagong’s best chance of victory sailed into touch before unmarked winger Geoff McKeown.
“It’s upsetting that we couldn’t ice the win,” said frustrated Lions coach James Grehan.
“It was one of those games, it felt like a loss, but looking back we were also lucky to get the draw. It was another tough lesson, where we get ourselves in the lead but then seem to get comfortable and let it slip.”
With James Coyne and Bryson Goodwin out of action, Grehan was impressed by a couple of new faces.
“Fullback Michael Meadows hadn’t played for two years, but since joining hasn’t missed a beat. And centre Eliah Veikoso had some good touches too.”
RAMS ROCKET TO TOP
Camden playmaker Chris Browne finished with a personal haul of 20 points as the Rams put Picton’s finals aspirations on life support at Victoria Park.
A blistering six-try opening half saw Camden head to the sheds with a commanding 34-12 advantage. With the hard work done, they were matched after the break with both sides scoring twice to register a final scoreline of 44-24.
With six straight wins the Rams are now top of the ladder. Now six-points adrift of the top-five, it’s difficult to see how Picton can advance beyond the preliminary rounds.
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