Andrew Johns/Laurie Daley Cup: The Top-10 performers from round one
There were matchwinning halves and destructive backrowers. See who were the top-10 stars during round one of the Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cup.
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In what was a blockbuster opening round of the Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cup competitions, plenty of young guns put their hands up with outstanding performances in NSW’s premier regional rep tournaments.
We’ve taken a look at the top-10 performers of the week from the competitions.
ANDREW JOHNS CUP
TY ENNIS (NEWCASTLE-MAITLAND REGION KNIGHTS)
The five-eighth has a fair claim to be the player of the round after a brilliant display that saw him have a hand in all four Knights’ tries in their 20-8 win over the North Coast Bulldogs in the Johns Cup.
Whether it be stepping through a gap to set up teammates, putting in perfectly weighted kicks for his outside men or going himself, Ennis was unstoppable for the Knights and finished with three assists and a try in the first-up win.
TEROWIE GOLDING-LYON (MACARTHUR WESTS TIGERS)
The five-eighth was a constant threat for the Tigers, with his running and passing game causing Riverina all sorts of trouble in the 26-12 win in the Johns Cup.
He got the Tigers’ second try early in the game before creating and then finishing off the team’s third. Coming out from his own end he put teammate Sam Francis through a gap with a lovely ball before backing up on the inside to finish off the 70m effort.
ALLAN LARDNER (CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS)
Tall, quick and powerful, the centre had a field day against the Northern Tigers by running in a hat-trick in the team’s 34-12 victory in the Johns Cup.
Lardner kicked things off in the eighth minute by showing an incredible turn of speed to burst through a hole for the team’s first try before demonstrating just how strong he is by barging over to put his team back in front early in the second half.
The young gun then capped off a good day out for the Chooks with his hat-trick late in the match.
KAHUITARA TE RE CHASE (ILLAWARRA SOUTH COAST DRAGONS)
While big shout-outs also need to go to front-rower Hunter Fangupo and lock Callum Cooney for their work in helping to lay the platform, the Dragons’ hooker was immense in his side’s 38-10 win over Western in the Johns Cup.
With good service and the ability to scoot out of dummy-half at the right time, the Illawarra young gun constantly challenged the defensive line and wreaked havoc through the middle by helping to set up a couple of tries.
LEX IZZARD (NORTHERN RIVERS TITANS)
The five-eighth was one of many stars for the Titans as the team wiped the floor with the Colts 30-6 in the Johns Cup.
A big body with a great kicking game and the ability to put together some nice backline shapes, Izzard cut the Monaro defence to ribbons on numerous occasions and finished the game with two impressive try assists.
LAURIE DALEY CUP
RIELLY LAVERTY (NORTH COAST BULLDOGS)
With his team down 24-6 at halftime, Laverty put in an inspirational performance to drag the Dogs back into the contest before they ultimately took out a 30-28 thriller against the Knights in the Daley Cup.
Trailing by 18 early in the second half, the five-eighth started the comeback by putting teammate Zayne Shutes through for a try with a clever grubber.
He then did the rest himself, barging over from close range to cross for a try before showing some great footwork and a big don’t-argue to dive over for the matchwinner late in the game.
ISAAC FOTU-MOALA (CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS)
A line-ball call ahead of his halves partner Brok Elliott and Northern Tigers hooker Jayden Seckold, Fotu-Moala was explosive for the Roosters in the seesawing 30-26 win.
Along with Elliott, the five-eighth had a hand in the Chooks’ first three tries, with excellent kicks leading directly to four-pointers, before he showed off some Jerome Luai-esque fancy footwork for the third.
KAPENE KARAITIANA (ILLAWARRA SOUTH COAST DRAGONS)
There may have been players with flashier highlights reels, but the big back-rower was excellent in the Dragons’ 34-8 demolition of Western in the Daley Cup.
With tough carries coming out of his own end and great lines in attack that posed a constant threat on the right edge, Karaitiana was a huge reason behind Illawarra dominating field position, which allowed the halves and backs to go to work and pile on the points.
AARON PAEA (MACARTHUR WESTS TIGERS)
In another team full of top performers, Tigers fullback Aaron Paea was outstanding in his side’s 38-0 shutout of Riverina in the Daley Cup.
Timing his runs and passes perfectly, Paea was a key link man in several of the Tigers’ sweeping backline moves, finishing with a string of assists and a try of his own for his troubles.
JIMMY MCCOMBIE (NORTHERN RIVERS TITANS)
Another in a team full of outstanding performers, the Titans’ halfback and skipper stood out with his steady hand in the team’s 34-12 win over Monaro.
After helping the Titans get off to a fast start by setting up a try for fullback Kai Saric, McCombie helped to ram home the advantage with some outstanding general play kicking that pinned the Colts down in their own end.
Then, with dominant field position, the halfback pulled the strings with some sweeping backline moves as his team piled on the points.
Originally published as Andrew Johns/Laurie Daley Cup: The Top-10 performers from round one
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