Rugby League Central Coast: Wrap, results, standouts from round two

An upset for the ages was on the cards before a last-gasp try helped to seal a thrilling win in Central Coast rugby league.

Erina remains undefeated after round two of the season. Picture: Sue Graham

There was huge drama during round two of the Rugby League Central Coast first grade competition, with a dramatic comeback stopping what would have been a huge boilover.

In Saturday’s other game, one side has made a huge early-season statement during a clash of a couple of competition heavyweights.

Check out what happened below.

LAST-GASP TRY SPOILS EPIC UPSET

Kiran Page scored a dramatic late try to secure Toukley a come-from-behind victory over Berkeley vale. Picture: Michael Gorton

A clutch late play and try at the death has avoided what would have been one of the biggest upsets in recent Central Coast footy memory as Toukley came from behind to defeat Berkeley Vale 22-16 at Ted Doyle Oval.

With scores locked at 16-all with just two minutes remaining, Toukley five-eighth Terence Seuseu took off on a run, darted in behind the ruck and found a gap through the Panthers’ defence.

From here he turned the ball inside to Kiran Page in support, with the Hawks’ fullback beating his opposite number to score under the sticks as Toukley breathed a massive sigh of relief to claim victory.

“It’s funny, you win a game and you’re angry,” said Toukley captain-coach Jake Fitzpatrick. “But there’s definitely relief. For a while there it looked like we were going to be (zero) and two (after two rounds). I’m happy to come away with the win, I’m disappointed how we got it.”

Indeed, a huge boilover was in the offing early as Berkeley Vale, led by former NRL and Super League star Blake Austin, ran in three quick tries through Ayden Leyshon, Joshua Farmilo and Kane Williams to race out to 14-0 before taking a 16-4 lead into the break.

“Our first half. How do I say it? I think I used the word disgusting, to be honest with you. It was diabolical,” said Fitzpatrick.

“They scored three tries off kicks. Blake Austin was just putting up bombs and they had more blokes around the footy. We lacked effort, energy. We just looked like we wanted the game to be easy and weren’t willing to compete.”

The Panthers were impressive in the first half. Picture: Sue Graham

After some choice words at halftime the Hawks came out of the sheds with renewed intensity.

And while they let some good chances slip early in the half, Toukley finally made the pressure count on the scoreboard with 15 to play when Jye Tudehope crossed for a try to slash the deficit to six points.

Then with nine to go the Hawks levelled things up at 16-all with a try to Harry Packham in the corner.

This set up a grandstand finish as both sides pushed for a win.

It looked as though the game was set to finish all square until Seuseu showed all his experience and class to put Page over to spare Toukley’s blushes with a dramatic late matchwinner.

“Obviously there was a rev-up at halftime and we responded pretty well. We probably had three or four opportunities early in the second half and we bombed them. But we managed to hang tough and fight our way back. But it was a very ugly game on our behalf,” said Fitzpatrick.

Skipper Jake Fitzpatrick was disappointed in his team’s performance. Picture: Sue Graham

“We’re probably trying to play too much footy instead of playing our Toukley style of grinding out victories. We’re trying to move the footy a bit too much and it’s not working for a side that’s got too many new guys.

“That’ll come later in the year. But I said to the boys that as long as the Toukley DNA is where it’s at then I’m happy – and we did that in the second half. Two halves of footy, I guess.”

The victory was Toukley’s first of the season after a round one loss to defending premiers Erina, while Berkeley Vale – playing in its first game of the year – will take plenty of confidence out if the impressive performance.

Toukley 22 (McCudden, Tudehope, Packham, Page tries; Fitzpatrick three goals) defeated Berkeley Vale 16 (Leyshon, Farmilo, Williams tries; Austin three goals)

ERINA SENDS STATEMENT IN PHYSICAL SLUGFEST

Erina has continued its impressive start to the season. Picture: Sue Graham

Erina has continued its outstanding start to its title defence after defeating Woy Woy 30-6 at Erina Oval.

In a bruising contest against one of the biggest packs in the competition, the Eagles overcame some early intensity from their rivals and the loss of two key players to injury before running away with the game in the second half.

After the first two rounds of the season, Erina has now defeated its two biggest challengers of 2024, following wins over grand finalists Toukley and its prelim final opponents Woy Woy.

“It was a pretty physical game,” said coach Dane Allen. “We played some good footy and took advantage of our opportunities.”

“But it was very physical. We’ll enjoy the week off, I’ll say that much.”

The victory was made all the more impressive following the loss of centre Finn Douch and five-eighth Toby Elliott in the first half, with Douch suffering a shoulder injury and Elliott taken from the field with concussion after a high shot.

“We had a couple of injuries in the first half but we just toughed it out, didn’t give in to the way they were playing their footy and got some good points on the back of it,” said Allen.

“And it goes back to our fitness: we’re just fitter and faster than other sides and that back end (of games) tells. It was pretty clinical from us and I’m happy with the result.”

Indeed, the game followed a trend that has become a common feature of games involving Erina.

After withstanding some heavy pressure from Woy Woy’s powerful pack during a tight opening 25 minutes that saw the scores locked up at 6-all, the Eagles started to get on top in the contest as their fitness and speed around the ruck caused Woy Woy some issues.

Toby Elliott was forced from the field in the first half after a head knock. Picture: Sue Graham

Tries to Zade Besley and Luke Maljevac gave the side a 16-6 lead at the break before the Eagles continued to pull away from the Roosters in the second half.

A try to Tom Peters early in the half stretched the lead out to three converted tries before Maljevac’s second and a late penalty to skipper Cameron Davies capped off the impressive win.

“The thing that excites me is that our blokes actually enjoy (the physicality) because they know that other sides can only do it for a certain amount of time,” said Allen.

“Our blokes just weather it and then we go away from them. That’s been the plan for about 12 months now. We’re willing to just cop what they’re gonna give because we know that our fitness, speed and skill level are better than other sides. So they can bash us all they want but at the back end we just continually run away from sides.”

Indeed, after an outstanding 2024 that saw the side win both the minor and major premierships, Erina has started this campaign in the best possible fashion with strong wins over heavyweight sides Toukley and Woy Woy.

“We’ve got a nice, well-earned rest,” said Allen. “We spoke about it a few weeks ago: try to get these couple of tough wins back to back and then we get a rest. That was our small goal and that’s what we’ve achieved.”

Erina 30 (Maljevac 2, Douch, Besley, Peters tries; Davies three goals, Burke one goal, Douch one goal) defeated Woy Woy 6 (Body try; Piepers one goal)