When in doubt, Newtown can always turn to Billy “Magic” Magoulias
When the chips were down in the NSW Cup grand final, the Jets turned to Billy Magic. Ahead of Sunday’s State Championship against Burleigh, they might well do the same.
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The man that orchestrated the extra-time miracle to win last week’s Canterbury Cup grand final is hoping to produce some more magic and help his Newtown Jets be crowned NRL State Champions.
After laying on a last-minute try against Wentworthville Magpies to book an ANZ showdown against Queensland Cup winners the Burleigh Bears, Billy Magoulias will be out to deliver Newtown the title of best club team in Australia.
The NRL State Championship showdown pits the winner of the NSW-based Canterbury Cup against the Queensland Cup premiers.
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“I would be a great honour to help Newtown achieve this title,’’ Magoulias said days after his heroics in the 20-15 win at Bankwest Stadium..
“This is an important game that will be played on the biggest stage. It has the whole NSW v Queensland thing and I know Burleigh will be coming down for revenge because they got embarrassed by the Illawarra Cutters (losing 54-12) when the last made the grand final three years ago.’’
Contracted to the Cronulla Sharks, Magoulias last week recovered from a head knock to put Newtown into the State Championship match with his chip-kick to set up Will Kennedy’s matchwinning try over the Magpies.
“I came back on after a HIA,’’ Magoulias said.
“They popped that field goal in extra time and I thought we had to come up with some magic to score a try because a field goal wouldn’t have been good enough.
“I knew we had to come up with a big play and I saw that their wingers were really tired. I saw something so I went for the kick behind and we ended up coming up with the try.’’
A ball-playing lock and Paul Gallen’s heir apparent at Cronulla, Magoulias is no stranger to grand final magic.
“I won a few grand finals when I was younger,’’ Magoulias, 22, said.
“I actually won seven or eight with my junior team (Mascot), so it was quite a lot. I also won the SG Ball with Cronulla and got to the grand final last year in NSW Cup.’’
Having made his NRL debut earlier this year, Magoulias is hoping to earn a regular starting spot for the Sharks in season 2020 after Gallen’s retirement.
“That is my goal,’’ Magoulias said.
“I got a few games this year and now I want to expand on that. I want to be in that top 17 for round one. That will come off a good pre-season and I am just going to back myself.’’