Macarthur Rugby League: Round nine talking points, full wrap and 50+ photo gallery
There’s a growing list of young stars making their names in the Macarthur RL, while at the other end of the scale, a host of big names are making a move. Latest talking points, 50+ gallery.
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Thirlmere will miss one of their strike players for an extended period, but with a number of juniors on the rise the future looks bright.
When it comes to experience and class, Collegians have welcomed back one of the best in the competition.
Those topics and more, round nine talking points.
STAR ROOSTER STEPS ASIDE
Thirlmere are set to miss the services of Curtis Scott until at least late July. The centre missed Sunday’s victory over The Oaks and isn’t expected to return until after his boxing bout with former AFL star Barry Hall.
While a final date is yet to be announced, the pair are expected to square-off in early-to-mid July.
COLLIES HALF RETURNS
Campbelltown Collegians’ season has received a massive boost with the return of halfback Netane Masima.
Crowned Macarthur player of the season in 2023, Masima started this year with Mounties in the Ron Massey Cup, but was a surprise addition to the side that went down to Picton on Sunday.
LOCALS ON THE RISE
Thirlmere has a track record of signing big names, but last weekend they fielded nine local juniors against The Oaks.
Once again James Lee was outstanding at fullback, but captain Kye Madden was just as impressed with up-and-coming hooker Rielly Smith.
“He’s another local junior coming up and he has filled in straight away this year. The more minutes he’s getting the better he looks.”
JUNIOR REP STRIKES TWICE
Camden’s Ewan Xuereb joined a growing list of NSWRL junior reps to shine in first grade this season. A tall forward with a sharp turn of pace, Xuereb played seven matches for Western Suburbs in the recently completed SG Ball Cup season.
With two tries in his first grade debut against Narellan, he’s sure to be short-listed for another start.
SPRING IN HIS STEP
While the next generation of stars grab the headlines, Picton’s four-time premiership winner Michael Lett continues to deliver in style.
His try in the win over Collies was his fifth this year, and according to the veteran centre there’s more to come.
“I can feel it out there, I know I’m getting old,” he said. “But as I said to the boys, I just love being part of the club and around the team, and having fun.”
“Touch wood, my hammies are going good, so fingers crossed they stay that way for the rest of the year.”
CITY SPARK
With one win from six starts, an out of sorts City hosted Oakdale last Sunday in a clash many thought would be a one sided affair.
To the Roos’ credit, they aimed up for the entire 80 minutes and showed that they are far better than their record suggests.
RAMS GET SQUARE
Eight months ago Camden started the grand final as favourites, only to have their colours lowered by a fast finishing Thirlmere.
Unbeaten this year, the Rams will once again be heavily backed before the sides face-off in what shapes as another epic battle on Sunday at Kirkham Park.
ROUND 10
MEN’S FIRST GRADE
Oakdale v The Oaks, Sid Sharpe Memorial Oval (Saturday)
Camden v Thirlmere, Kirkham Park
Mittagong v Campbelltown City, Mittagong Sports Ground
Picton v South West, Victoria Park
East Campbelltown v Narellan, Waminda Oval
WOMEN’S OPEN AGE: FIRST GRADE (Prelims)
Campbelltown City v Glenquarie (1), Eschol Park (Saturday)
The Oaks v Camden, Kirkham Park
ROUND NINE WRAP
In the match of the round, The Oaks travelled to Thirlmere and a battle for a spot in the all import top three.
In a competition where there’s no guarantees, Campbelltown City and South West both showed they can match it with the heavyweights.
Round nine wrap from all five venues.
SECOND HALF BLITZ
After an even first half Thirlmere flexed their attacking muscles, coasting clear of The Oaks with four unanswered tries to round off a 42-16 victory that moves them to third spot on the ladder.
In perfect conditions for footy, a healthy crowd were entertained from the outset as the home side struck first through Ken Sio and winger Marika Tuilau. A couple of Corey Norman conversions from the touchline made it 12-0, before winger Casey Timmer replied for the Tigers.
It was the start of a golden period for The Oaks. Thirlmere’s restart went out on the full, and the margin became two when centre Challis Tupuola came down with a pinpoint Daniel Payne kick in the left corner.
With all the momentum, Ryan Polsen scattered the Roosters’ middle and Mitchell Brasington used the extra space, assisting Andrew Madden across for the Tigers’ third.
Leading 16-12, the visitors looked like heading to the sheds with a slender advantage until Thirlmere came up with a magic play just before the interval.
After steaming onto a Norman midfield chip kick, James Lee kicked again and hooker Rielly Smith did the rest, winning the race to ground the ball under the posts.
Lee was outstanding for Thirlmere and he struck again five minutes after halftime. First, the fullback kicked for a repeat set, then in the next set he cut across the grain to make it 24-16.
Norman and Tim Simona combined to open a 14-point buffer, which only seemed bigger when Payne – The Oaks’ biggest threat in attack – limped from the field with a hamstring injury in the 56th minute.
With the sting gone from the contest, Thirlmere quickly blew out the margin with another two tries. Centre Justin Smith crossed out wide, before Rielly Smith pounced on a fumbled kick for his second.
Struggling for breath following the victory, Thirlmere skipper Kye Madden praised his side’s defence.
“It was fast. The first half was non-stop back and forth,” said Madden.
“They came back against us last year too, so it was good to get over them. Our defence hasn’t been the best this year, we’ve been switching off for periods, so it was rewarding to keep them scoreless in the second half.”
After singling out the efforts of Lee and Rielly Smith, Madden gave a special wrap to prop Lachlan Bush.
“Bushy is a workhorse, he’s just a maniac,” he said.
“He just goes hard every game. Sometimes we have to hold him back, because he runs as hard as he can at the biggest players and can do a bit of damage to himself.”
MAGPIES’ BIG SCALP
Picton’s season is still alive after the Magpies downed Campbelltown Collegians 34-26 to record their second win of the season.
Coming of a heartbreaking six-point loss to the Eagles, Simon Woolford’s men returned to Victoria Park and put the contest to bed with four tries in the opening half to lead 22-0.
After a scoreless first 20 minutes, the Magpies clicked into gear. Centre Rua Hona joined forces with winger Jack Lindsell for the first, and it was 12-0 when Michael Lett backed up Steven Dengate to cross in the 28th minute.
Winger Matthew Dengate quickly added a third, and they had a fourth in the space of 15 minutes when Daniel Webb jumped out of dummy-half following another powerful Steven Dengate charge.
It was a familiar story for Collies, who trailed Mittagong by the same margin a week earlier. And once again they threatened another comeback.
Winger Atinae Afamiliona scored the first of his two, both set up by clever Norwin Latu offloads. His second made it 28-16, but any thoughts of a miracle vanished when Steven Dengate bounced out of several tackles to seal the result with six minutes remaining.
Collies finished the day with consolation tries to Tifa Iuta and Ray Mu.
Speaking after the match, Lett shared Picton’s tactics and also concerns over an injury to young half Luke Keppie.
“The weather was on our side. It was warm and with their big pack we wanted to complete our sets, kick long and wear them down,” said Lett.
“We lost a few with injury and only finished with 13 or 14. We had guys playing busted too, so it was a great effort to get the win.
“Luke was brilliant, but he hurt his hamstring and didn’t come back after half time. It showed too, he’s a good director and even though he is still young, we missed his maturity after the break.”
RAMS 11-TRY RAMPAGE
Camden made it seven straight wins following a comfortable 60-6 win over the winless Jets at Narellan.
Captain Brad Speechley sent winger Josh Goulton over to open the scoring, and the versatile playmaker followed it up in the sixth minute, hitting Steele Brown on the chest with a fearless flick pass to make it 10-0.
Camden led 32-0 at the break before finishing the day with 11 tries. Goulton and Brown both scored again, while Jack Miller, Ewan Xuereb and Trent Peoples also crossed for doubles.
Miller had a day out, landing eight conversions for a personal haul of 24 points.
Try scoring regular Tyrone Harding scored Narellan’s only try, after an old school wraparound play with Gordon Toomalatai.
GOANNAS CONTINUE TO CLIMB
With five tries apiece, it was the boot of Mittagong centre Bryson Goodwin that proved the difference in the Lions’ nail biting 28-24 win over South West at Onslow Oval.
South West winger Verbanel Moemoe struck the first blow in the right corner, and the points kept mounting for the Goannas when Taine Robertson added another two in the same corner.
Mitchell Barbuto replied for Mittagong, and they trailed 12-10 at the break when fellow winger Jordan Tencate crossed from the combined services of Blake Barbuto and fullback James Coyne.
Mittagong started the second half with Liam Cassidy in the sin bin, and South West capitalised on the advantage, extending the margin to eight points when backrower Aubrey French cruised through a yawning gap.
In a seesawing contest, Mittagong regained the ascendancy with a couple of quick four-pointers to Blake Barbuto and Coyne. But with 20 minutes to play, an upset loomed when Juwon Faumui burrowed across to give South West a 24-22 lead.
Michael Meadows turned the contest once again in the final 10 minutes. After breaking the line, the Lions centre found Coyne in support, and the reliable fullback raced away to score the match winning try.
“It was a nerve-racking finish,” said Lions assistant James Grehan.
“Brad Takairangi looked dangerous at the end for South West the way he was throwing the ball around.”
While happy with the two points, Grehan expected more.
“I thought our forwards were a bit off. We seemed to lack energy through the middle,” he said of a Lions outfit that was missing regular playmaker Jake Brisbane to a quad injury.
“Once again Blake Barbuto and Coyney were dangerous with the ball, and they’ll be even better if we can improve our work in the middle.”
CITY AIM UP
Oakdale were forced to dig deep before eventually getting the better of Campbelltown City 34-17 at Fullwood Reserve.
For the second placed Oakdale, the win was their sixth of the season. But in arguably their best showing this year, the 10th ranked City lost no admirers.
With regular fullback Bryce Wilson shifted to halfback, the Kangaroos started with a new lease of life – worlds away from the side hammered one week earlier by The Oaks.
Captain Ava Seumanufagai and Junior Moors had the better of the early forward exchanges and the points came in quick succession. Wade Zreika crossed in the seventh minute, and City jumped 10 clear when Wilson scored from a charge-down.
Constantly turned away by City’s resilient goal line defence, Oakdale finally got on the board when schoolboy Alex Isdale danced across from close range.
City headed to the sheds leading 11-6 after Wilson snapped a drop-goal on the siren.
The momentum shifted Oakdale’s way immediately after the interval when captain-coach Kyle Fraser struck twice. After barging over in the 44th minute, the giant try-sneak doubled down, mimicking his first just a few minutes later.
Not to be outdone, Seumanufagai replied with one of his own and City trailed 18-17 with 25 minutes to play.
The visitors eventually skipped further ahead with tries to winger Bailey King and Josh Carr, but City remained within striking distance until the closing minutes when prop Jason Thompson muscled over put the result beyond doubt.
PHOTO GALLERY
First grade: Thirlmere v The Oaks
First Grade: Picton v Collegians
Reserve grade: Thirlmere v The Oaks
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