Rugby League Central Coast: Ultimate guide to the 2025 season
With a returning club back on board and some huge signings across the competition, find out how all sides are shaping up with the RLCC season preview.
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With the season set to kick off this weekend, the final preparations are underway for the 2025 Rugby League Central Coast competition.
With a new club back on board and some huge signings across the competition, find out how all sides are shaping up ahead of the season.
THE ENTRANCE TIGERS
Coach: Jarod Hamer
Major gains: Connor Kirkwood (Kurri), Jack Burraston (Injury), Ryan McDonald (Injury), James Olds (Denman)
Major departures: Blake Austin (Berkeley Vale), David Fifita (Kincumber), Brodie Green (The Entrance), Myles Lee-Taulei (Wyong)
Last season: 3rd, elimination week one of finals (10-1-5)
Things have remained fairly steady at a local Central Coast level for The Entrance as they look to build on a largely positive 2024.
After starting the season in outstanding form, injuries took their toll on the Tigers, who finished in third place before being knocked out in week one of the finals by Woy Woy.
While there has been limited turnover and few new faces in the squad, the team is set to benefit from players coming up through the ranks.
“There hasn’t been any real significant changes, we’ve got a similar squad to last year,” said The Entrance’s Denton Cup coach Ben O’Connell. “I think we’ll see some youth from the 19s and some from second grade stepping up to make to their debut in first grade.”
Given the fact that the Denton Cup sits above the local first grade side, the side that trots out in the RLCC competition will be dependent on movements in the higher grade.
Indeed, following the loss of Denton Cup regulars Blake Austin (Berkeley Vale), David Fifita (Kincumber) and Myles Lee-Taulei (Wyong), and the departure of Brodie Green to Erina, the Tigers have brought in former Cessnock and Kurri captain Connor Kirkwood.
Meanwhile Tigers players Jack Burraston and Ryan McDonald are both on the comeback trail from serious knee injuries after missing the 2024 season and could well turn out in the local competition throughout the season.
“Both of them did their knee and both had a few complications with their operation and what not but they’re both back in training,” said O’Connell.
“They won’t be playing round one but over the next few months we should see both of them back on the field. And they’re two great clubpeople and I think everyone gets enjoyment out of seeing them back in training.”
Elsewhere, a new recruit that appears likely to line up in RLCC first grade is fullback and former Welsh international James Olds, who joins the club from Denman in the Group 21 competition.
“He’s fitted in straight away, has a great attitude to training and hasn’t missed a beat,” said O’Connell.
And while the team faded late last year to miss out on the ultimate prize, the club is confident it has the talent to push further in 2025.
“We’ve trained as a top squad (Denton Cup and RLCC first grade) since January and we’re lucky that some of our training hit-outs are almost game simulated with our Denton side playing our first grade side,” said O’Connell.
“I expect them to be a real force this year. I think they’ve got a really good group of guys in that side and some of the hit-outs and stuff they’re doing at training is at a high quality so I expect them to be playing footy at the important time of year.”
First month: Ourimbah (A), Bye, Terrigal (H), Kincumber (H)
WYONG ROOS
Coach: Troy Pezet
Major gains: Matt Ikuvalu, Myles Lee-Taulei (The Entrance), Alex Langbridge (Maitland), Lachlan Bristow (Queanbeyan Kangaroos), Jakob Giles (Toukley), Brady Barwick (Toukley)
Major departures: Kye Leaudais (Toukley), Isaac Aukoko (Toukley)
Last season: 6th (7-7)
There are plenty of opportunities up for grabs at Wyong, with some high-quality recruits set to intensify the battle for positions across all grades.
“We’ve made a change where no one’s guaranteed a spot, which is great because we’ve lacked a little bit of depth over the past few years,” said local first grade captain Todd Lewis. “This year’s going to be exciting for sure.”
Indeed, following the marquee signing of former NRL player Matt Ikuvalu, the return of experienced Denton Cup footballers Alex Langbridge and Myles Lee-Taulei to the club and the recruitment of excellent Toukley pair Jakob Giles and Brady Barwick, just to name a few, the competition for positions has increased at Morry Breen Oval, with players themselves unsure who will line up in what grade for the opening round of the season.
“In terms of the squad, we’ve still got the main group but there’s definitely been some adjustments and some opportunities for boys in the pre-season,” said Lewis.
“Some boys have stepped back because they don’t want to play Denton Cup, some have come back after not playing for a few years and others have come up through the grades after having an unreal pre-season.”
The gains come as the Roos look to improve on their underwhelming 2024, which saw the club miss the finals in both the Denton Cup and the local first grade competition after both finishing sixth.
In terms of losses, young guns Zac Gillett and Chaice Bayley are tied up with junior rep commitments with the Roosters but may feature at some stage throughout the season, while Kye Leaudais and Isaac Aukoko have moved up the road to rivals Toukley.
First month: Woy Woy (A), Kincumber (H), Toukley (A), Ourimbah (H)
TERRIGAL WAMBERAL SHARKS
Coach: Aaron Groom
Major signings: Taine Boland (The Entrance), Kayden Wise (The Entrance)
Major departures: Dylan McKeown (Erina), Ben Mooney, Jake Ferguson
Last season: 8th (2-11)
With new coach Aaron Groom at the helm, there is a new approach taking place at Terrigal, one that is focusing entirely on bringing through and capitalising on the club’s wealth of local juniors.
“For us as a club there was essentially a Band-Aid that needed to be ripped off,” said Groom. “I thought there was no point dawdling around it, we just need to tear it off and go from there.”
“We were doing what everyone else had been doing and with the points system it made sense: going down to Sydney and bringing people up because they were worth less points than signing guys locally, even though they had more experience.
“Logically, it made sense but to tell to truth, it didn’t work for us. For the club and its culture it just wasn’t the right way forward.”
Indeed, rather than looking to Sydney or trying to entice players from other clubs, the Sharks’ main focus for 2025 will be improving and keeping their local juniors.
“I’ve been around for the last couple of years and have been watching the juniors come through and, hand on heart, I think we’ve got the best juniors on the Coast,” said Groom.
Nevertheless, the club has welcomed some new signings, and in line with the new approach it’s no surprise that they are locals returning home to Duffys Road, in the form of Taine Boland and Kayden Wise from The Entrance.
“Unlike other clubs, we’ve got no one with NRL experience, no one who played NSW Cup, Q Cup,” said Groom. “Our significant ins are our juniors coming back – boys who I thought should have never left our club.”
In light of the positive focus on youth, the Sharks have lost plenty of experience in the form of former captain-coach Dylan McKeown, who has moved to Erina, and Ben Mooney and Jake Ferguson, who couldn’t commit to Groom’s non-negotiable rule of training twice a week.
And while the club will feature one of the youngest and most inexperienced sides in the competitive, the coach is confident of a positive season ahead.
“I’m excited about the 19s coming through. We debuted nine 19s players last year and we’re looking to bring these boys back and turning them into leaders – that’s significant for me,” said Groom.
“Those are the boys who will build the club.”
First month: Kincumber (A), The Entrance (A), Berkeley Vale (H), Bye
OURIMBAH WYOMING MAGPIES
Captain-coach/co-coach: Josh Moffitt, Ben Bell
Major signings: James Maloney, Daniel Bell, Mitch Casson, Darcy Cox, Ben Olsen, Isaac Prokopiou, Jackson Pennell, Cooper Wilesmith, Lauchlan Bissaker
Last season: 4th in the reserve grade competition (11-1-6)
It is very much a case of going back the roots for Ourimbah, who has turned to a host of local juniors in what is the club’s return to the first grade competition after a six-year hiatus.
Undoubtedly the biggest signing of them all is former NSW, Australia and two-time NRL premiership winner James Maloney, who returns to his junior club as arguably one of the biggest names to play in the competition in recent times.
“I couldn’t have even wished to have Jimmy come play with us, I thought it was so far out of the realms of possibility,” said co-coach Ben Bell.
“He was 17 at Ourimbah when I was playing first grade and I’ve known him since he was a kid. He came down to training one week on the Wednesday and was laughing and joking and the plan was that he was gonna play in the old boys’ day at Soheir Park, open grade, with one of the guys he won the 19s with 20 years ago,” Bell added.
“Honestly I didn’t think any more of it. That was on the Wednesday night. I got a call on the Friday saying, ‘Are you sitting down? He’s just agreed to play the season.’ Honestly, I could have fallen over.”
And since Maloney signed on, Bell couldn’t be more impressed with his commitment.
“We’ve been training hard, we want to be the fittest team on the Coast. We started early earlier, we started harder and the boys were just running and running for all of January and most of February.
“Jimmy turned up and not once did he grumble about getting flogged, running laps and doing sprints – he’s been doing it all without hesitation.”
Given Maloney’s experience and quality, Bell understands the impact his marquee man has on the playing group.
“He’s played a lot of State of Origin, you can’t put a value on that,” he said. “To have that and to have him come back, be a local junior, a member of the local community, it’s hard to put into words. His value is on about 10 different levels,” Bell added.
“And then you’ve got the fact that he’s at training, he’s upbeat – he’s a maniac. It doesn’t matter what he’s doing, he’s competing at everything.
While certainly the most notable, Maloney isn’t the only local junior returning to the Magpies in 2025.
They include former Central Coast representative and Newcastle under-20s player Daniel Bell, ex-Knights junior rep props Mitch Casson and Ben Olson and excellent forward Darcy Cox, who played Q Cup level for the Mackay Cutters.
Young gun Jackson Pennell, currently with the Sydney Roosters’ SG Ball squad, has also returned to his junior club, with the Magpies also picking up utility Cooper Wilesmith from Woy Woy and emerging playmaker Lauchlan Bissaker from Wyong.
And even though it is the club’s first year back in the top grade since 2019, expectations are high at Bill Soheir Park.
“We’re gonna be more than just competitive. Hand on my heart, if we don’t make the semi-finals I think we’ve underachieved,” said Bell. “And once you get into the semis anything can happen, especially with a player like Jimmy.”
First month: The Entrance (H), Bye, Erina (H), Wyong (A)
TOUKLEY HAWKS
Captain-coach: Jake Fitzpatrick
Major signings: Terence Seuseu (Kurri), Kye Leaudais (Wyong), Corey Willmott (Dora Creek), Isaac Aukoko (Wyong), Blake Carter (Year off)
Major departures: Brady Barwick (Wyong), Jakob Giles (Wyong), Josh Kessler (Retired), DJ Goolagong (Moved away)
Last season: 2nd, beaten in grand final (12-4)
It will be somewhat unfamiliar territory for the Hawks, who for the first time since 2022 will enter a season not as defending premiers after being narrowly beaten by Erina in last year’s decider.
Quite possibly the biggest signing news to come out of Darren Kennedy Oval isn’t even a new recruit, but the fact that coach and club legend Jake Fitzpatrick will go around for another after year after initially planning to retire in 2024.
“I wasn’t gonna play, I didn’t wanna play but when touch (football) rolled around I put some kms in the legs and I basically haven’t stopped,” he said.
“It’s probably the fittest I’ve been in about five years so I’ve been training with the boys. I didn’t tell them that I was playing but I think they all realised because I hadn’t missed a session with the boots on,” he laughed.
“The club registered me as a player before I even asked them to!”
Fitzpatrick’s decision to play in 2025 comes as some key players move elsewhere for the season.
Chief among them are representative forwards Jakob Giles and Brady Barwick, who have both moved down the road to Wyong for the chance to play Denton Cup, and Damon Goolagong, who has relocated to Sydney.
In addition, Fitzpatrick’s halves partner Josh Kessler has stepped away from the game due to work and family commitments.
And while the losses will leave a big hole in the squad, the club has recruited well to find strategic replacements.
They include former Newcastle and Manly NRL playmaker Terence Seuseu, who most recently played with Kurri in the Newcastle competition, and forwards Kye Leaudais (Wyong), Corey Willmott (Dora Creek).
Elsewhere, another ex-Roo in Isaac Aukoko will bolster the Hawks in the outside backs, while the team will also be reunited with veteran middle forward Blake Carter, who returns after a year after hanging up the boots.
“He was coaching our ressies last year and played two games to fill in when we had injuries,” said Fitzpatrick. “He rang me and said, ‘I missed it last year, I want to come back.’ So I said, ‘The door’s open.’”
And despite some turnover in key positions, the Toukley skipper is confident of another strong season for the Hawks.
“Obviously we’ve lost a couple of guys but I just feel the balance of our side and the players we’ve got is really strong,” he said.
“Corey Willmott’s been training the house down, Terence is gonna bring massive experience to the halves and Kye Leaudais fits into the way we play and our style with his fitness, so it has worked out perfect for us.”
First month: Erina (H), Berkeley Vale (A), Wyong (H), Woy Woy (A)
ERINA EAGLES
Coach: Dane Allen
Major signings: Dylan McKeown (Terrigal), Ben Steven (year off), Brodie Green (The Entrance), Lincoln Tubridy (year off)
Major departures: Joel Frazer (Retired), Jack Frasca (Injured), Devonte Vaotu’ua (South Sydney), Ben Taylor (Sydney Roosters)
Last season: Minor and major premiers (13-1-3, including two forfeits)
The Eagles will enter the competition as defending premiers for the first time in 33 years after claiming a stunning minor-major premiership double in what was a golden 2024.
And while some sides like to play down the prospect of going back to back, Erina is embracing the challenge.
“Our approach is just to enjoy what we’ve done so far and continue to build on it. I’m not gonna sit there and say, ‘You can’t talk about last year,’ said coach Dane Allen.
“Knowing that we’re at a standard where everyone is chasing us is exciting for our blokes and I’m letting them live in that moment. That’s been a big push from me to them: just keep enjoying it, you’re going to be the hunted this year, how good’s that going to be?
“It has been a little bit like that the last few years admittedly but I’m not trying to squash that back-to-back stuff out of them. I think it’s a good driver for us and we’ll continue to use it as ammo.”
It has been another fairly stable off-season for the reigning premiers, who have continued their approach of promoting from within.
And although the bulk of the squad who broke the club’s longstanding drought last season will return in 2025, there have nevertheless been some significant departures.
Chief among them is inspirational skipper and front-rower Joel Frazer, who retired at the end of last season.
Other losses include talented 18-year-old prop Devonte Vaotu’ua, who has signed a three-year deal with the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ lower grades, and winger Ben Taylor, who will be in the Sydney Roosters’ system.
Furthermore, in what is a cruel blow for both the player and club, star fullback Jack Frasca will miss the entire season after suffering a severe ACL tear while playing Oztag over the summer.
“He can still run straight lines, he’s a super fit individual, so he does come and train with us and will be around the group but he won’t play. It is tragic, really tragic,” said Erina coach Dane Allen.
Given the key losses, Erina has made some strategic additions to its forward pack for the season, with former Eagle Ben Steven returning after a year off, Brodie Green signing on from The Entrance and Terrigal captain-coach Dylan McKeown joining the club.
“Obviously losing a couple of middles we wanted to get a couple to come on board,” said Allen.
“Dyl’s a fantastic addition, he’s got that real leadership characteristic from being captain-coach. He’s got that real Joel Frazer hat on with that leadership,” he added.
“Benny’s a 100-gamer for our club and has come back after having a year off and Brodie is a really tough forward who’s been excellent for The Entrance over the past couple of years.”
Meanwhile in a bid to replace Frasca, the Eagles have gone with a familiar face in the form of former RLCC player of the year Lincoln Tubridy, who returns after some time away from the game.
“Getting someone like that back in our side is huge. He’s probably the best player I’ve ever played with,” said Allen.
“I’m really confident that we’ve got a fantastic group of players … it seems like we’ve already gone to another level. I’m really excited for the year. I think we’ve got the stocks to do some damage again.”
First month: Toukley (A), Woy Woy (H), Ourimbah (A), Berkeley Vale (H)
WOY WOY ROOSTERS
Coach: Blake McLean
Major signings: Vondell Williams-Liolevave (Dora Creek), Derek Duff, Cameron Moran
Major departures: Andrew Fifita (De La Salle), Mason Ward (Cabrmatta)
Last season: 4th, knocked out in prelim final (7-1-6, includes receiving two forfeits)
It has been a positive off-season for Woy Woy, which has managed to avoid the curse of high player turnover and maintain the bulk of its squad from 2024.
In terms of departures, the club has lost outside back Mason Ward to the Cabramatta Two Blues in the Ron Massey Cup and suffered a big blow in losing star recruit and NRL premiership winner Andrew Fifita to De La Salle in the Cronulla district competition.
In order to offset these losses, the club has added to some targeted recruits.
They include former Q Cup and Denton Cup outside back Cameron Moran, club legend and veteran hooker Chris Hyde and Derek Duff, a former County representative and Penrith NSW Cup player who returns to the Roosters after a few years elsewhere.
In addition, Woy Woy has also secured the signature of second-rower Vondell Williams-Liolevave from Dora Creek.
“We’re excited to have him on board,” said coach Blake McLean. “We thought we needed to bolster the back-row and he was someone we actually pencilled in when we played them (last season). We thought he was a handy player.”
After peaking at the right time last season, only to be knocked out of the prelim final on account of being the lowest-ranked team in a 24-all draw with eventual premiers Erina, the Roosters are hopeful their new recruits have them well placed for a crack at the title in 2025.
“We’ve pretty much kept everyone except for Mason (and Andrew) and then signed players in those areas we thought we needed to strengthen. I’m pretty pleased with how the lads are going,” said McLean.
“It was obviously a bit heartbreaking to finish the way we did last with that draw in the prelim but that has spurred the boys on and hopefully we can go to another level this year.”
The Roosters don’t have long to wait to try and get a sense of redemption, with the team set to play the Eagles in round two.
“We can’t wait to get another crack at Erina, to be fair,” said McLean.
First month: Wyong (H), Erina (A), Kincumber (A), Toukley (H)
BERKELEY VALE PANTHERS
Coach: Mark Jurd
Major signings: Blake Austin (The Entrance), Solomona Toru (Griffith Black and Whites), Stephen Gordon (Raymond Terrace), Tremayne Chatfield (Batemans Bay), Bradley Goffin (France), Junior Ahio
Major departures: Jesse Abbott (Kincumber), Kye Beckett (England), PJ Tevaga (Sydney)
Last season: 9th (1-1-12)
It has been a long, tough few years for the Panthers, who have collected the past four wooden spoons in the RLCC.
Last year was a particularly difficult campaign for the club, who despite winning one game and drawing another, suffered a severe shortage of players after a string of mid-season departures.
“The PPIS has forced us to recruit from Sydney and Newcastle, and when you do that they turn up to training once a week maximum, if something comes up on match day they can’t play,” said president Matt Roberts. “It’s very disheartening and we’ve been burned badly – and I think other small clubs probably feel the same way.”
As a result, the club under new coach Mark Jurd has looked to recruit those with ties to the community, headlined by none other than former NRL and Super League star Blake Austin, who joins the club his children play at after a season with The Entrance in the Denton Cup.
“He’s a huge asset both as a person and a player,” said Roberts.
“I think his kids played a big part. They love it here. But Blake’s also interested in giving back so he’s involved in an extensive junior coaching program. He’s great with the kids,” he added. “If we can get everyone around him to pick up some guidance and knowledge, we’ll be a stronger club.
And while the club has lost the likes of Jesse Abbott, PV Tevaga and impressive playmaker Kye Beckett, just to name a few, it has bolstered its squad with some new signings.
They include experienced outside back and former Newcastle Knights player Steven Gordon, ex-Manly lower grader Junior Ahio and Tremayne Chatfield, a Canberra Raiders junior rep who most recently played with Batemans Bay in the Group 16 competition.
The Panthers have also picked up fullback Solomona Toru, who joins from Group 20 club Griffith Black and Whites.
“He’s been training the house down and has been killing it,” said Roberts.
And while keeping expectations in check, Roberts is hopeful of an improved season for the club.
“I certainly feel confident that we’ve got a bunch of people who’ve got roots in the club so I can see a better future there. How we’re going to go this year remains to be seen. We’re going to have our challenges, of course, but I’m looking forward to seeing how it’s going to develop this year.”
First month: Bye, Toukley (H), Terrigal (A), Erina (H)
KINCUMBER COLTS
Captain-coach/co-coach: David Fifita, Gerard Myers
Major signings: Matt Moylan (Leigh Leopards), David Fifita (The Entrance), Kyle Whitton (Mounties), Dylan Turner (Manly Jersey Flegg), Jesse Abbott (Berkeley Vale), Nathan Davis
Major departures: Jake Shearer (retired), Brae Verheyen (Kurri Kurri)
Last season: 7th (2-2-9)
It has been a very busy off-season for Kincumber, who have made plenty of noise with arguably the signing of the season in the form of former Australian international and NSW Origin half Matt Moylan.
Still just 33, the five-eighth, who last year played for the Leigh Leopards in the UK Super League after an 11-season career in the NRL, is a huge coup for the Colts and looms as the marquee pick-up for the whole competition.
After a 217-game professional career in the NRL and Super League, which included three games for NSW in 2016 and one for Australia in the same year, Moylan will bring incredible quality and a high level of creativity to the Kincumber side.
If Moylan’s signature wasn’t enough, the club has also picked up former NRL and Super League forward David Fifita, who joins the Colts as captain-coach after two seasons with The Entrance in the Newcastle Rugby League’s Denton Cup.
With the 35-year-old’s brothers, Blake McLean and Kyle McLean at Woy Woy, it was in fact Fifita’s children who helped Kincumber secure the key signing.
“Kincumber is where all my children play. I live around the area and my kids are at the club,” he said.
“One of my best mates who I grew up playing footy with down in the Penrith comp has just moved to Kincumber and that’s where his children are going to play, so I thought why not set an example for what could be my last couple of seasons?”
With a celebrated career behind him, Fifita didn’t waste any time making an impact.
“In the first training we had it was just the tips he gave everyone, even simple things the players through they knew well – it was great,” said president Lyndon Duncan.
Fifita and Moylan aren’t the club’s only big-name signing, with the Colts securing the services of outside back Nathan Davis, who played nine NRL games for the Gold Coast and Parramatta in 2016 and 2017, and fullback Kyle Whitton, who joins from Mounties in the Ron Massey Cup.
“Getting some outside backs is so good. If you watched our games last year, we could defend with the best of them but when it came to attack we couldn’t score as many points as we needed. Having people like Nathan and Kyle is really good for us.”
And while club stalwart Jake Shearer has hung up the boots and prop Brae Verheyen has moved to Kurri, the Colts have bolstered their forwards with the return of Dylan Turner from Manly’s Jersey Flegg side and the signature of Jesse Abbott from Berkeley Vale.
Meanwhile, with the re-signing of former Sydney Roosters players Ben Marschke and Ben Thomas, the club now has five ex-NRL players in its 2025 squad as it looks to charge up the ladder and play finals footy.
“I watched a few games at the back end of last year and they’ve got everything they need, it was just the execution that was lacking a bit,” said Fifita.
“But their forward pack was just about the best on ground in the comp and that’s what we’re trying to build around. They’ve already got that sorted. I’m trying to make that forward pack firstly, but if you add myself into it then we’re looking good.
“We’ve got that core there and I’ve just been trying to add players in and around that to help us get to the next level.”
First month: Terrigal (H), Wyong (A), Woy Woy (H), The Entrance (A)
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