Macarthur Rugby League: Ram hit for high shot, round 13 talking points
Camden’s finals charge has taken a hit after one of its star performers was handed a massive suspension. Debuts, departures and a key signing. Macarthur Rugby League, round 13 talking points.
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There’s lots to talk about following an entertaining round 13 of the Macarthur Rugby League.
Off the field, a Camden big name has been outed for a handful of matches after he was placed on report for a high tackle in the previous round.
Collegians farewelled one of their stars, and quickly filled the void with an experienced playmaker. All that and more, here’s what’s making news.
STEADY RETURN
Oakdale’s Jake Steadman joined a growing list of Macarthur players to shelve retirement when he returned to the field against Picton. The five-eighth didn’t expect to play again following an ACL injury in last year’s semi-final loss to Thirlmere.
“I retired. I thought I gave it away, but I just got a bit itchy,” said the 28-year-old, who bagged two tries that included a long range sprint in the 80th minute.
“I just missed the boys. Coming out here and watching them play hurts, so it was time to put the boots back on.
“I was blowing after three minutes, the lungs were gone. The last try really hurt, but it was good to get through and the knee held up which is encouraging.”
ONE OUT, ANOTHER IN
Campbelltown Collegians have seen the last of gun playmaker Netane Masima for 2024. On the flip side, Collies welcome back Josh Bergamin following five seasons with North Sydney in NSW Cup.
“Netane has relocated to Newcastle with work and has signed to play with Cessnock Goannas,” said Collegians team manager Mitch Hoffmann.
“Josh brings plenty of halves experience. He’s still only 28, and is a former Collies junior.”
TWO OFF THE LIST
The Oaks only posted three tries against Collies, but for a couple of forwards the second two were the best of the season.
“Josh Van der Meulen and Nathan Rumsby were both happy to get over the line,” said captain-coach Mitchell Brasington.
“Both scored their first of the season and are happy to be off the nudie run.”
RAM HIT HARD
Camden’s faultless campaign has taken its first hit of the season after Jack Miller was handed a five-match suspension.
Put on report following a high tackle on Adam Hoffmann in the round 12 win over Collies, the centre received a four-game suspension with another week added following a charge dating back to August 2022.
Currently the competition’s leading point scorer with 164, his absence will be a major loss.
ROO ON DEBUT
Prior to the start of the season, those in the know at City tipped Flynn Keenan to make his first grade debut. True to their word, the No.7 played his part in Sunday’s victory over Narellan.
In the lead up to City’s opening try, the halfback calmed his nerves with a 40-20, then in the second half played a role in two key tries.
ROUND 14 (SUNDAY JULY 7)
Campbelltown Collegians v Thirlmere, Bradbury Oval
Campbelltown City v Camden, Fullwood Reserve
Narellan V The Oaks, Narellan Sports Ground
South West v East Campbelltown, Onslow Oval
Picton v Mittagong, Victoria Park
ROUND 13 WRAP
Round 13 kicked off on Saturday night amid wild scenes at Oakdale where a couple of send-offs threw a spanner in the works for Picton.
Heavy rains threatened Sunday’s matches, but all three went ahead as planned. The Oaks and Collies had the worst of the conditions, while Mittagong headed to Thirlmere for what turned out to be a thrilling finish.
At Narellan, the Jets hosted City as both chased win number two for the season. Round 13 wrap.
SEND OFF MAYHEM ON FIERY NIGHT
There was no love lost when Picton headed to Oakdale on Saturday night in a feisty clash that saw two players sent off before the Workers clicked into gear, racing away to win 44-16.
Coming off a narrow loss and two draws, Oakdale’s grip on a top three spot was under threat from the get-go when Picton winger Matthew Dengate pounced on a grubber to make it 6-4.
And the Workers’ hopes of ending a month-long drought nosedived in the 21st minute when Peter Lett was marched for verbal dissent.
Despite the setback, it was Oakdale that picked up the pace. Seven minutes after being reduced to 12, schoolboy half Alex Isdale scrambled across to put his side in front 8-6.
Then with both sides burning a short fuse, Picton’s night unravelled in three chaotic minutes.
A high tackle from the restart set the Magpies on the backfoot. Then in the next set, they too were left a man short when Tukaha Kyriacou was marched for a dangerous lifting tackle.
Having already redlined, Oakdale’s Kyle Fraser immediately rammed home the advantage. With the ball tucked under his wing, the firebrand barrelled over to make it 14-6 at halftime.
From there the floodgates opened as Oakdale posted another six tries including doubles to centre Elliott Moaga and five-eighth Jake Steadman.
The win capped a perfect return for Steadman, who hung up the boots after sustaining an ACL injury in last season’s finals.
Stuck in a four-way battle for a spot behind Camden to make the top three, Fraser believes Oakdale is well placed for a finals charge.
“Places two down to five on the ladder are real tight, so we just need to keep winning. It was a four-point game for us because we are going into a bye, and the final score helps our for-and-against too which is handy,” he said.
“We needed that win. The last month has been pretty hard, but there’s been big numbers at training, so the boys are doing everything right.”
LIONS LEAVE IT LATE
Mittagong left it late, but yesterday’s crucial 16-10 win on the road was the Lions’ second over Thirlmere this season.
In scenes reminiscent to last season’s nail biting semi final where Thirlmere struck late to make the grand final, this time it was Mittagong who turned the tables.
Locked at 10-all after a Bryson Goodwin penalty goal in the 74th minute, Mittagong’s hopes of landing the two competition points looked to have sailed wide with a Jake Brisbane field goal attempt with three minutes left to play.
Then with the seconds counting down, the No.6 once again found the ball in his hands. But instead of using his boot, he busted the line. With a certain try on offer, the play appeared to break down when Liam Henry struck the final pass with his boot.
Trailing in support, David Eccleston couldn’t believe his eyes. With the ball sitting behind the goal line, the fullback arrived first to complete a last play miracle.
“I guess it eases the pain of last year’s loss,” said Mittagong assistant coach James Grehan.
“We had a stack of early field position but were unable to post points. So to get the win was really satisfying.
“Jacob Mayer was going to come off, but he battled through and along with Tyler Slade were the best in our pack.”
In a try-less first half, Mittagong held a slender 2-0 lead at the break before the home side struck twice to open an eight-point advantage with half an hour to play.
James Lee was dangerous for Thirlmere all day, and if not for a forward pass he would have sent Marika Tuilau over just before the interval. Undeterred, the fullback put his winger across straight after the resumption and then backed up Kye Madden to score in the 49th minute.
Mittagong looked to be running out of ideas, but finished in a flurry when Brisbane dashed over for his side’s first try in the 72nd minute.
CITY DOWN JETS
Campbelltown City recorded its second win of the season after the Roos repeated their opening round win to defeat Narellan 20-12.
Coming off a narrow loss to Picton, an improved City were never headed and carried a 12-6 lead to the sheds.
City struck first following a Flynn Keenan 40-20, and doubled the lead to 12 when prop Junior Moors steamrolled through centrefield in the 11th minute.
Gordon Toomalatai ran a perfect line to open Narellan’s account, and the Jets looked like levelling on halftime but were unable to find a way through City’s committed goal line defence.
A double to winger Nathan Lynch put City 14 clear in the dying stages before Jets replied late through Niko Tunupopo.
TIGERS IN SLUGFEST
In conditions better suited to pigs, The Oaks have edged out Collegians 18-16 to jump to second place on the ladder.
Played in conditions arguably worse than those that washed out the original round six meeting, tries were traded all day with the result eventually decided by goals kicked.
In driving rain both sides struggled to build pressure until midway through the first half. With nothing seemingly on offer, Tigers hooker Kyle Bell broke clear to put Daniel Payne under the posts.
The Oaks looked like taking a lead to the sheds before Adam Hoffmann hoisted a massive midfield bomb. When it found open space, Collies half Hosea Leuea arrived first and raced over to level the scores at 12 apiece.
With kicks tough to handle, Collies came out after the resumption and struck again. This time a fumbled ball by winger Casey Timmer ended with Collies hitting the front 16-12.
Joshua Van der Meulen was a powerhouse all day for The Oaks, and it was the back-rower’s bust that decided the contest. Still 25 minutes from the final siren, the No.13 pushed through the line and found Nathan Rumsby in support, and the replacement hooker did the rest.
Faced with a conversion attempt from in front, Mitchell Brasington slotted the extras to close out the scoring.
Collies came close to crossing in the final few minutes, and were given a chance to level the scores with a penalty. But in the boggy conditions they opted the run the ball rather than shoot for goal.
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