Macarthur Rugby League: Rockets and Jets, round 12 talking points

One Tiger shelved retirement to help his side climb the ladder, while a Lion stole the show with a miracle return of his own. Here’s what’s making news after round 12 of Macarthur Rugby League.

Jackson Willis is one of several playmakers in great form this year. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

Round 12 was a big one for gun playmakers in the Macarthur Rugby League.

From Narellan to Mittagong, several of the competition’s top slingers unleashed their best with match winning performances.

But it wasn’t just the backs who dined out, at Picton one prop continued to shine on his return.

All that and more in round 12 talking points.

MAGPIE COMMITMENT

Picton didn’t get the chocolates on Old Boys Day, but the Magpies showed they’re not far off the pace.

Heading into the clash with The Oaks, Simon Woolford’s side had conceded an average of 30 points per match. They conceded 16 in the win over City in round 11, then on Sunday kept a potent Tigers to 12.

ROCKET PASS

Casey Timmer probably couldn’t believe his eyes when Mitchell Brasington fired a pass his way from 25 metres in the ninth minute at Picton. Somehow, the speedy winger got both hands on board and crossed for The Oaks’ opening try.

“I was just glad he caught it to be honest,” Brasington said after fulltime. “I thought it might have been a bit too far out in front, but he ran on to it nicely.”

TIGER ROARS ON RETURN

The Oaks are just one-point adrift of Mittagong in third spot. And with key middles Evrett Vaurasi and Joseph Ualesi finding their legs, the Tigers are gathering momentum at the right end of the season.

Since shelving off-season retirement plans, Vaurasi has slowly eased his way back into Mitch Brasington’s starting line-up.

“I hung up the boots. I did some travel with the family and had some work commitments,” said Vaurasi after the victory over Picton.

“I came down to our Old Boys Day in round one and saw the energy. I thought if they needed someone then I’d happily go to training, and thankfully there was an opening for me.”

Now playing alongside Ualesi, the big prop couldn’t be happier.

“Our forwards have been outstanding, especially big Joey. He attracts defenders and has a quick play-the-ball, so it’s nice to get off the back of his runs and continue that momentum.”

Evrett Vaurasi at full tilt in round nine at Thirlmere. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

PLAYMAKER HEAVEN

Jackson Willis has been braining it for Camden. But among a host of quality playmaker performances this season, Jake Brisbane’s effort for Mittagong in round 12 is tough to beat.

Returning from injury, the Country rep proved he’d lost none of his touch. In the narrow win over Oakdale, the No.6 unleashed an extensive repertoire to set up all four of the Lions’ opening four-pointers.

SUPER JET

It’s been a difficult start to the season for Narellan, so it was great to see Tyrone Harding stamp his mark on the side’s first win of the season.

One of the Jets’ most consistent players, Harding was instrumental in the breakthrough victory. Super smooth in full flight, the half crossed either side of halftime to increase his season tally to 12.

Tyrone Harding scored from a 60 metre solo effort in round 12. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

WILL THE TOP FIVE CHANGE?

With the halfway point of the season in the rear view mirror, the top five sides for the finals could already be settled.

Camden are unlikely to surrender their spot at the head of the pack. Only one-point separates second from fifth, but with 11 points, East Campbelltown are four points adrift in sixth and slowly losing touch with the pack.

SHORT ROUND

It’s a short round this weekend with only three matches scheduled to take place across both days.

Oakdale host Picton on Saturday night. There’s only two matches on Sunday as five sides rest up with a bye.

ROUND 13

Oakdale v Picton, Sid Sharpe Memorial Oval (Saturday, 6:30pm)

Narellan v Campbelltown City, Narellan Sports Ground

Thirlmere v Mittagong, Thirlmere Sports Ground

Bye: Collegians, The Oaks, Camden, South West, East Campbelltown

Netane Masima and Collegians have a bye in round 13. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

ROUND 12 WRAP

After kicking off the season with a loss to the revitalised South West Goannas, Narellan headed to Onslow Oval desperate to flip the script and open their season account.

With seven premiership winning sides celebrating Picton Old Boys Day, The Oaks headed to enemy territory under siege, while high flyers Camden took on Collegians at Bradbury.

East Campbelltown hosted Thirlmere, and Oakdale and Mittagong slugged it out in a battle to remain in the top three. Round 12 wrap.

TIGERS SPOIL PARTY

It was Old Boys Day at Picton but following a tight tussle it was The Oaks who celebrated last, after the Tigers held off a desperate Magpies 12-10.

Tigers winger Casey Timmer latched onto a Mitchell Brasington bullet pass to open the scoring in the ninth minute. But the points quickly dried up as resilient goal line defence became the order of the next 50 minutes.

With the forward packs cancelling each other out, Brasington and Picton half Luke Keppie traded trick shots before a couple of familiar faces stepped up in the closing stages.

Veteran Michael Lett attracted several defenders, and with a magic pass to Leon Longbottom the winger scrambled across to get the Magpies within two.

Michael Lett showed several touches of magic against The Oaks. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

But Picton’s comeback plans took an immediate hit when they grassed the restart and gifted the visitors a scrum in perfect field position.

Picton regrouped in defence, but paid the price when former Magpie Daniel Payne struck with second phase ball, winning the race to ground his own grubber to make it 12-4.

With eight minutes remaining, Lett struck again and the home side trailed by two when replacement winger Jack Lindsell pounced on the centre’s pinpoint kick in the right corner.

Then in a hectic final minute, Lett instigated one final raid but the Tigers scrambled and held on to record an important victory.

“It was a bit of a scum-athon that game, both sides couldn’t hang on to the ball,” said relieved Tigers captain-coach Mitch Brasington after the final siren.

“We knew it was going to be tough on their Old Boys Day. Last year we came here and got our pants pulled down.

“I was happy with our defence, but it was a scrappy win. It was a tough contest, one that will serve us well at the back end of the season.”

JETS CELEBRATE FIRST WIN

The Narellan Jets finished in party mode for the first time this season after upsetting South West 30-18 at Onslow Oval.

Entering the contest with 10 straight losses, Narellan combined glimpses of good form over the past month into a five tries to three victory.

After falling to the Goannas in the opening round of the season, Narellan withstood early pressure and struck against the run of play through Tyrone Harding.

South West levelled through skipper Eddie Faalua and the scores remained locked at 6-all for the majority of the contest. Harding grabbed another as the Jets had the better of the closing stages, finishing in a flurry with additional four-pointers to Danny Ghantous and former Manly centre Alfred Smalley.

Despite the loss, South West coach Luke Deller congratulated Levi Dodd and Narellan on their performance.

“Narellan deserved the win. We weren’t complacent and the game was played in good spirits,” said Deller.

“They probably wanted it more, and it’s a good lesson for us to learn. You can’t just turn up and expect to win in this competition.

“We didn’t play poorly, but they just executed better.”

Tyrone Harding has been among Narellan’s best all season. Photo: Warren Gannon Photography

COLLIES TEST RAMS

Camden made it a perfect 10 from 10 to start the season, but their 30-10 win over Collies didn’t come as easily as the scoreline suggests.

When Brad Speechley sent Josh Goulton across with a sublime long ball in the second minute, it looked like the fast starting Rams were gearing up for another day out.

Collies big man Henry-Siriah Fuimaono was having none of it, and from the restart he knocked Danny Fualalo clean over. The colossal hit lifted his teammates, and not long after centre Veiru Mapesone cruised across to open Campbelltown’s account.

Lively five-eighth Hosea Leuea challenged Camden’s defence, but it was the Rams who took a six-point lead to the sheds when Jack Miller gifted Goulton his second just before the break.

The second half started much like the first. Speechley worked a short side play for Goulton to complete his hat-trick, and with a 16-4 advantage Camden were never headed.

They added another three tries before Netane Masima crossed for his side’s second in the final minutes.

“Collies are big boys and they tested us,” Camden captain-coach Brad Speechley said after his side moved six points clear at the top of the ladder.

“We learned more from that game than winning by 60. Fuimaono’s hit definitely stirred the boys up. It woke us up, and it was good that we responded.”

Camden’s hat-trick hero, Josh Goulton. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

LIONS HOLD ON AFTER MASTERCLASS

A Jake Brisbane masterclass has guided Mittagong to a 26-24 victory over a fast finishing Oakdale Workers in the Southern Highlands.

After a month on the sidelines, Brisbane returned from injury with a full bag of tricks to help the Lions open a commanding 20-6 buffer midway through the second half.

Cooper Smith kicked off Oakdale’s road trip with a try in the 11th minute. Then it was all Brisbane, as Mittagong piled on four unanswered tries in a 38-minute blitz either side of halftime.

Jordan Tencate struck first, but that came after Brisbane regathered his own kick and then in the same play landed the ball on the winger’s chest with another perfectly weighted kick to the other side of the field.

He was at it again several minutes later. This time scoring himself after Liam Henry made a miraculous recovery of a grubber that seemed destined to finish over the dead-ball line.

Winger Mitchell Barbuto then scored the Lions’ third, racing a Brisbane long ball into the left corner. Almost unstoppable, the No.6 took on the line, and dashed across for his second in the 54th minute.

Tries were then exchanged as Mittagong entered the final 15 minutes with a healthy 14-point lead. Oakdale kept coming, and despite edging closer through Bailey King and fullback Treigh Stewart, the damage had already been done.

Jake Brisbane showed the type of form that was rewarded with Country selection. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

With their seventh victory, Mittagong now join the second placed Oakdale on 16 points.

“Having Jake back certainly helped,” said Mittagong assistant coach Russell Lewis.

“His kicking got us out of lots of trouble. Oakdale never go away, and we clocked off at times late in the match.

In the absence of James Coyne, Russell sounded out the performance of the side’s replacement fullback.

“Coyney is still away for another four games, but David Eccleston didn’t make a mistake and was good down the back for us.”

THIRLMERE LAND CRUCIAL WIN

Thirlmere scored its first victory in a month after the Roosters downed East Campbelltown 18-6 on a heavy track at Waminda Oval.

With both sides missing several key attacking weapons, points in the mud proved hard to accumulate as the Roosters opened a 12-6 halftime lead.

Thirlmere struck first through an unlikely source when Levi Bromfield dummied his way into the back-field in the 20th minute. As the Eagles swarmed in cover, the big prop found another gear and capped off a miraculous 45 metre solo effort next to the posts.

The Rooster doubled the lead several minutes later when Corey Norman grounded a Joey Towerton bomb under the crossbar.

Coming off a huge defeat to Camden, the Eagles kept plugging away and were rewarded when Baden Stewart grounded a Brett Lahey grubber.

With the contest in the balance shortly after the interval, an Eagles fumble turned the match in the blink of an eye. After winning a scrum near their own goal line, the home side lost control of possession and it cost them six points when Roosters winger Dominic Citroni crossed for a simple try.

With seven minutes remaining, Norman rounded out Thirlmere’s sixth victory with a penalty goal. Still fifth on the ladder, the win moves Thirlmere four points clear of the sixth ranked Eagles.