Thrilling games and upset results shake up ladder ahead of finals: Group 7 round 17 talking points
There were hat-tricks and four-try heroes among the top Group 7 performers in round 17. Check out some of the major talking points from the weekend of local footy.
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Another thrilling round of Group 7 rugby league is in the books, meaning there is just one round of the season to go until finals.
There is still so much to play for however, as a crucial middle of the table clash in round 17 saw one team replace another on the table for the fifth finals spot.
Meanwhile across the grounds there were some big score lines, hat-trick heroes and even a four-try haul.
Check out some of the biggest talking points to emerge from round 17 and read on for the full round wrap.
Bench weapon
The Shellharbour Sharks were flexing their depth through interchange hooker Bailey Wallace against the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles.
Wallace went in to score three tries off the bench in the 64-10 romping, showcasing some excellent positioning to be in support of his teammates and on the end of kicks.
Starting hooker Brodie Rigg was also on the scoresheet, highlighting the talent the Sharks have at their disposal for the no. 9 jersey.
Jets spine starts to fire again
When the Jets took to the top of the ladder earlier in the season, it was mostly down to their in-form playmakers.
Ahead of finals, it looks as though their key men are back doing the business again.
Dylan Farrell was looking in good form, picking up a try as he charges on to a ball near the line.
His halves partner Clyde Parsons was both a provider and a finisher throughout the match, positioning himself well to pick up a pair of tries.
Captain Adam Quinlan was also heavily involved with a couple of try involvements and line breaks from the ever-reliable fullback.
Performance of season from winger
Ben Weatherall put together one of the most complete winger performances of the season in the Stingrays 36-6 win over the Magpies.
Weatherall was simply untouchable down the right flank, combining well with his centre Viliami Latu who was an excellent provider for the winger.
Weatherall’s tries consisted of some acrobatic finishes and some simple put downs, but ultimately it was his positioning and speed that got him in the right places.
He also provided an assist on the inside for his brother Zaan, with the Weatherall duo notching up five of the Stingrays’ seven tries.
Walsh rumbles the Knights
The standout performer for the Jets was winger Braydon Rumble Walsh who picked up three tries as the Jets soared to a convincing victory.
His first try was a great show of speed and positioning as he backed up his second rower Tyson Simpson after a break down the right flank.
The next two both came off of kicks, first from Quinlan and then from Farrell, with Walsh well positioned to field and score them both.
Record points total for season
The Shellharbour Sharks absolutely blew the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles off the park with a 64-10 victory.
This is the most points any side has scored in the 2023 Group 7 season and the joint biggest margin of victory alongside Gerringong’s round 10 54-0 thumping of Berry Shoalhaven Heads.
11 tries scored is a whopping total and cements the Sharks as the form team of the competition coming into the final round.
Bulldogs down but definitely not out
The fifth and final spot for finals on the ladder is still up for grabs. Here’s the situation.
Jamberoo’s crucial 18-4 victory over the Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs allowed them to overtake them into fifth spot on the ladder and lead them by two points.
However, the Superoos face a red hot Gerringong Lions opposition next week, while the Bulldogs face a tough, but considerably less threatening Warilla-Lake South Gorillas side.
To make it even more interesting, the Superoos and Bulldogs are only split by a point difference of 12.
To summarise, a Bulldogs win and Superoos loss would almost certainly guarantee some final round drama which could see the Bulldogs sneak into fifth place.
Full round wrap
Jamberoo prevail to sneak into finals spot
In the headline match of the round, previously sixth placed Jamberoo Superoos leapfrogged the Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs into fifth with a massive 18-4 victory at Kevin Walsh Oval.
This crucially puts the Superoos back into a finals spot on the ladder with just one round to go in the regular season.
It was also the last time veteran captain and coach Jono Dallas led his troops out onto the park, having announced his retirement for the end of the 2023 season.
After an opening 25 minutes of resolute defending from both teams, the first try would come in simple fashion, with Cameron Brabender strolling through a massive gap in the ruck out of dummy half.
That would be all the scoring of the first half in which neither team was giving the other an inch.
The Superoos would find a way though through the power of Luke Asquith, putting the foot down on the accelerator and palming off his marker to charge in and score.
The Bulldogs finally found a way through the Superoos line after some brilliant work on the right flank. Travis Wooden fired a ball out to Dwayne Longbottom who then provided a brilliant offload assist to Mitch Simington to score and get his side back in the contest.
However, some individual brilliance from Matt Forsyth put the game out of reach, putting in a delicate chip and chase to score and seal victory for the Superoos.
Jets retake to the air against Knights
The Nowra-Bomaderry Jets have bounced back from back-to-back losses to demolish the Kiama Knights 42-6 at Bomaderry Sporting Complex.
Headlining the scoresheet was freak winger Braydon Rumble Walsh who scored a hat-trick of tries to bring his season total to 12, showing great pace, agility and positioning to cross three times.
Captain fullback Adam Quinlan wasn’t in he tries this week but was as involved as ever, providing an excellent flick pass offload in the build-up to Matoria Atunsaia’s try.
Dylan Farrell also had a terrific game from five-eighth, charging onto a ball near the line like a prop forward to smash his way through the Kiama defence.
Halfback Clyde Parsons also picked up a brace, the second of which came after an 80m break led by Beau Luland who was able to offload to his halfback to score.
Trent Waldron added a late eighth try for the Jets who are confirmed finishing fourth on the ladder this season.
Stingrays dispatch of flightless Magpies
It was first against last as the Stingrays of Shellharbour took on and defeated the Berry Shoalhaven Heads Magpies 36-6 in the rain at Flinders Field.
Stealing the show was winger Ben Weatherall who picked up four tries and an assist in one of the best winger performances of the season.
The left defensive edge of the Magpies simply couldn’t deal with the threat coming down that side, with the Stingrays continuing to punish them with their right side attack.
It was Zaan Weatherall who opened the scoring after brother Ben was released down the right flank from inside his own half, passing back inside for the second rower to score.
From here it was the Ben Weatherall show, scoring his first, second, third and fourth in the opening half alone as his team continued to spread beautiful balls to his side, where he had the job either acrobatically finishing or just strolling in to put the footy down.
Captain Tommy Warner was the other scorer in the first half for the Stingrays, bringing his season total to an impressive seven.
After watching all the action go down the other side, James Scott did well from the opposite wing in the second half to set up Kieren Moss for their seventh and final try, grubbering back in field for his fullback to plant down.
Oliver Parrish scored a late consolation for the Magpies, but overall it was another classy day out for the Stingrays who are now preparing for a mammoth clash next week against the Shellharbour Sharks to decide first place.
Lions end finals aspirations for Gorillas
It was another heated instalment between two modern day Group 7 foes and a rematch of last year’s grand final, with the Gerringong Lions emerging 38-10 winners and ending the Gorillas’ chances of making a finals appearance in 2023.
It was the Gorillas who came out of the blocks early though and score within the first minute, as Kye Deane regained his side’s attacking kick off the first set of the game.
From here though it was all Gerringong, with some sloppy defence allowing five-eighth Taj Ford to step his way through, followed by fullback Toby Gumley-Quine shrugging off some half-hearted challenges to give Gerringong the lead.
This would be extended shortly after by Hamish Holland cleaning up a Warilla spilt ball, before Liam Holland on the wing found his way through the line for another Holland try.
Liam Holland picked up his second in the second half after he chased down and planted a terrific Taj Ford grubber into the corner.
Warilla fullback Justin Jones was lucky to escape without punishment after copping Toby Gumley-Quine on the chin while the fullback was planting down his second try, leading to some pushes and shoves, not for the first time in the game.
Ultimately though it was another convincing win for Gerringong, with Kalum White adding the extras after a terrific offload from prop Alexander Weir.
11 tries and 11 wins in a row for Sharks
The Shellharbour Sharks made it 11 wins in a row with one of the biggest scoring games of the season, defeating the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles 64-10.
To celebrate the 11th win, the Sharks fittingly scored 11 tries against an Albion Park side who are undoubtedly keen to hit the factory reset button at the end of this season.
Emanuel Sultana was a clear standout for the Sharks, providing a number of assists from the hands and boot throughout the rainy 80 minutes at Centenary Field.
There was a bit of heat in the game, notably when halfback Isaac Morris scored his first try of two and received some late contact from the Eagles defence, sparking a bit of a melee between both sides.
Substitute hooker Bailey Wallace picked up a hat-trick of tries as he ran rings around the Eagles, while starting hooker Brody Rigg picked up one himself.
James Ralphs picked up a double, both times off of Sultana assists, taking his total to 11 for the season.
Jayme McElhone also picked up a couple from the right flank, showing great pace and strength in the process.
All eyes are now on next week’s Shellharbour derby with the Stingrays to decide first place.
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