Macarthur Rugby League: Double runaway, crazy goal, round 17 talking points
There was no shortage of unusual events in R17 of the Macarthur RL. From surprise try scorers to clutch goals and wobbling posts, there was something for everyone. Latest talking points.
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With only one more round to play before the finals, the Macarthur region’s top footy players are raising the bar with the big games ahead.
From teenage runaways to an ice cool goalkicker, round 17 had it all. This week, a massive rivalry date could be locked in, while in reserve grade a snake handler is poised to strike.
Latest talking points.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
He’s the teenage Tiger still finding his feet in first grade, but when confronted by open space at Bradbury Oval, Ryan Polsen backed himself and finished the day with an unlikely long-range double.
“I can’t remember the last time I was in the clear like that,” said the Wests pathways forward after his 70m solo effort to start the second half against Collies.
“It was probably two years ago when I was playing Silver (under-18s). I had someone calling on my left and then I saw open pasture, and I thought I better back myself for once.”
In a throwback to the Steve ‘Beaver’ Menzies era, the tearaway in black headgear scorched through centrefield and let out a loud cheer of relief as he slid across the stripe.
“I was on the treadmill for the last 30m, I had my doubts,” he said. “I haven’t scored in over a year, so when I saw the try line just in front of me, I thought I need to celebrate somehow.”
Then 20 minutes later, it happened again, this time from 60m out.
“It was even worse the second time. I thought it got called knock on, and then it was play on so I had to take off.”
LOOKOUT – THERE’S A POST THERE!
Hat-trick hero Daniel Payne stepped just about everything in The Oaks’ big win over Collies, but he was almost brought undone by a goalpost.
After weaving through traffic in the first half, his second try came via an upright. The No.7 slammed into the posts that hard, they were still rocking as Mitch Brasington lined up the conversion.
CLUTCH GOAL
Collies kept its finals hopes alive in reserve grade following a chaotic finish against The Oaks. Down by six with less than a minute to play, Collegians needed at least a draw to maintain its hold on fifth spot.
Norwin Latu dived into the corner to keep the dream alive, but it was Justin Stowers’ booming sideline conversion that drew the scores level at 24-all.
PENCIL IT IN
Rivalry round is set to take over week one of the finals with The Oaks and Oakdale on a collision course to meet in both grades.
In first grade, wins to both sides in the final round will see the Tigers finish above Oakdale in second spot. The reserve grade battle is already locked in, the Workers are second and the Tigers have secured third spot.
COOPER POISED TO STRIKE
Don’t be surprised if there’s a massive contingent of Thirlmere fans taking in the reggies action at Fullwood Reserve on Sunday.
With wiry wing sensation Cams Cooper shooting for consecutive reserve grade top try-scoring titles, the professional snake handler should see plenty of ball.
Currently two clear of Camden flyer Lindsay Munro on 18, Cooper has already scored two more than last season’s chart-topping return.
ROUND 18
The Oaks v South West, Dudley Chesham (Saturday, 4pm)
Campbelltown City v Thirlmere, Fullwood Reserve
Camden v Picton, Kirkham Park
Oakdale v Campbelltown Collegians, Sid Sharpe Memorial Oval
East Campbelltown v Mittagong, Waminda Oval
ROUND 17 WRAP
It was a big weekend for the top three sides in round 17 of the Macarthur Rugby League. With one week of the home-and-away season remaining, The Oaks and Oakdale moved one step closer to a blockbuster finals clash.
Undefeated Camden travelled to Mittagong in search of their 15th win for the season, while South West hosted City, and Narellan headed to Picton for their final appearance of the year.
Round 17 wrap.
TIGERS ON FIRE
With one round remaining The Oaks have supercharged their Macarthur RL finals preparations with a 13-try demolition of Campbelltown Collegians in a performance that all but secures second place on the ladder.
On a congested table, the Tigers headed to Bradbury Oval needing a win to maintain its spot behind the unbeaten Camden Rams. And they didn’t disappoint, opening up a 36-4 halftime lead before hitting the afterburners with another seven tries on an afternoon where Mitchell Brasington crossed twice and added 11 conversions for a personal tally of 30 points in the landslide 74-10 victory.
It was a tough day for Collies who have already made giant strides this season, but with their finals charge over, they simply failed to match The Oaks for intensity.
Daniel Payne set the scene with a first half hat-trick, and when he wasn’t filling his own pockets, the slippery half was dishing up four-pointers for his teammates – including an absolute gift for prop Kyal Greene, who was already over the line when he accepted the pass.
Second-rower Andrew Madden finished with a double and Ryan Polsen caught Collies napping with a surprise turn of pace – twice.
In the opening set of the second half, the teenage forward busted the line and had enough legs to race 70m. Proving it was no fluke, 20 minutes later the No.16 cleaned up a dropped pass and raced in another from halfway.
Collies’ only joy came with tries either side of the interval. Fullback Hosea Leuea backed up a Norwin Latu line break, before Ray Mu dashed over late, notching his 16th of the season.
After finishing fifth last season, Brasington is excited by the team’s improvement.
“Sometimes when the game gets away like that it can be hard to remain disciplined and continue holding the ball and not getting carried away, but we actually did a really good job of that today,” said Tigers captain-coach.
“Collies are a dangerous team, so the result doesn’t do justice to how good they have performed this season. They lost a few games by four points or less, so we arrived expecting a tough game and I was pretty pleased with the effort from our boys.
“Last year we limped into the finals with a few injuries but this year we’ve given ourselves a chance to finish in the top three.
“If we can beat South West next week, then we lockdown second spot and get a home semi final. And we’ve got a lot of blokes that have stayed fresh for most of the year, so hopefully we can keep that roll on.
CITY STORM HOME
A late surge has seen Campbelltown City overcome a halftime deficit to down South West 28-14 at Onslow Oval.
South West got the better of City back in round six, and after taking a handy 14-point buffer to the sheds, the Goannas were poised to record their fourth victory of the season.
Winger Verbanel Moemoe opened the scoring in the 20th minute, before halfback Sato Keita Opo played a crucial role in further tries to Jared Ross and Aubrey French.
Junior Moors barged across to open the Roos’ account just after the break, and when five-eighth Amazon Pua’avase pounced on a fumbled ball to score, City trailed by four and headed into the closing stages with all the momentum.
Once again Bryce Wilson was among City’s best, and with the game in the balance he joined forces to help send winger Ben Williams racing away for the try of the match.
Up 16-14, City continued to pepper the scoring end, adding another two four-pointers in a victory sees them climb to eighth on the ladder.
Ben Armstrong regathered a Pua’avase chip kick to cross under the posts, before Wilson steamed onto a room service bounce for City’s fifth and final try of the half.
CLINICAL RAMS
A near full strength Camden were never headed as the Rams continued its charge towards the title, downing Mittagong 28-16 in a victory that extends its unbeaten season record to 15 matches.
Jackson Willis played a part in both tries as Camden posted a healthy 10-0 platform at the break. First, the five-eighth backed up on the inside to finish a Treant Peoples break, before he put boot to ball for Eddie Aiono to scramble over for his 16th of the season.
Needing a win to have any hope of squeezing into the top three, Mittagong had several chances to reply before halftime. Jake Brisbane raced into the back field, and the Lions were unable to convert multiple attacking sets just before the siren sounded.
Superbly led by skipper Brad Speechley, Camden put the result beyond doubt with three tries in the space of 10 minutes midway the second half.
The halfback was taken out late following a clearing kick, and in the next set Ben Powers barged across before Speechley did it all himself, slicing through for a double to make it 28-0.
While it wasn’t the home side’s day, they refused to roll over and scored the final three tries to show they’ll be no finals pushover.
Blake Barbuto snuck over from a scrum win. Then in the closing minutes, Bryson Goodwin powered onto a Brisbane pass before Keiran Rankmore did it all himself.
WORKERS TOO STRONG
Oakdale has overcome a slow start to breeze past East Campbelltown 42-10 in a spiteful contest at Waminda Oval.
In a stop-start affair that finished with at least one incident placed on report and the sin bin used on multiple occasions, the Workers eventually clicked into gear after conceding the opening two tries.
With a top three spot at stake, Oakdale watched on as Alex Mataia and Arthur Little crossed for the Eagles before the 10th minute.
Bailey King replied midway through the half after Cooper Smith hit him on the chest with a clever flick pass. Fellow winger Jackson Blatch quickly added another, and with further four-pointers to Elliott Moaga and Peter Lett, the Workers jumped clear 18-10.
Moaga and Lett both added to their tallies after the break, and were joined on the scoresheet by a runaway Alex Isdale and Jarrod Keppie.
Oakdale’s 10th win of the year leaves them in third spot, and on a collision course to meet cross-town rivals The Oaks in the opening week of the finals.
PICTON TRY-FEST
On a busy afternoon for the scorers at Victoria Park, Picton got the better of Narellan 56-30.
Following last week’s forfeit to The Oaks, Narellan rebounded in style and wrapped up their 2024 campaign by fielding teams in both first and reserve grade before next weekend’s bye.
In the main game, Magpies recruit Daniel Roberts had a day to remember scoring a try and kicking 10 goals in a Picton victory that takes them above the Goannas into ninth place.
In all, Picton had nine different try scorers including Luke and Aaron Keppie, while veteran centre Michael Lett scored his eighth of the season.
Behind 30-12 at halftime, the last placed Jets kept fighting. Skipper Levi Dodd crossed for his side’s first after the break and was later joined on the score sheet by fullback Shane Kiel and centre Alfred Smalley.
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