The NT News looks at the talking points from Round 14 of the 2020-21 NTFL season
Buffaloes all but secure finals, Nightcliff-St Mary’s rivalry at large and Wanderers show ruthless edge. WHAT WE LEARNED FROM NTFL ROUND 14 ACTION
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THE NT News has looked at some of the major talking points from Round 14 of the 2020-21 NTFL season, with Nightcliff, Waratah, Buffaloes and Wanderers all managing wins.
Round 13 was a thrilling one with a ruthless Wanderers, a rivalry at large and Buffs all but securing a finals berth.
THE NIGHTCLIFF – ST MARY’S MODERN RIVALRY AT LARGE
The Nightcliff-St Mary’s rivalry is alive and well after another tough and physical encounter between the two clubs.
Last season’s grand finalists will have a big say in who plays off for this season’s flag, with many pundits saying a Tigers-Saints clash is the more likely option on March 20 when all the premiership marbles will be handed out.
Sunday night’s latest edition of the rivalry produced some fierce clashes in the wind and the rain at DM Nightcliff Oval, some of them physical and some of them verbal that might have gone over the top on some occasions.
Pride will also play a big part in who makes the Big Dance. Nightcliff is hunting its first threepeat in the club’s 70th year, a record this year’s players and coaching staff will hold forever if they can get over the line first.
St Mary’s are a club that thrives on success and last season’s loss to Nightcliff is still being felt by green and gold personnel who have been around the club for a long time.
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The NT News looks at the talking points from Round 13 of the 2020-21 NTFL season
WANDERERS SHOW THEY CAN BE RUTHLESS
Winning over Tiwi hasn’t been a rarity this year but no side has buried the Bombers quite like Wanderers did in their 37.19 (241) to 7.9 (51) win which comes as one of their highest ever scores.
Key to that success has been the work of recruits Shaun Mannagh, Dane McFarlane and Brydan Hodgson who regularly top the stats and give their forward line plenty to work with.
And the forwards made good work of what they received with Brett Eddy scoring nine goals, Simon Bates bagging six and Eddie Simpson scoring just three though handing plenty away.
Both Nathan Djerrkura and Daniel Weetra looked strong in their first games back to giving an indication that Muk Muks are priming for a potential premiership.
CAMPBELL KICKS BUFFS INTO FINALS
The competition’s enigma, the Darwin Buffaloes, found a large amount of ticker when beating a courageous Southern Districts.
The win sealed the door to the top five, rumour has it that veteran Buffalo Matt Campbell after booting six match winning goals, threw the key into the depths of the Beagle Gulf where the scuba diving skills of Districts coach Matt Cannard will be of no use to him.
More significant was the desperation of the Buffalo defence and the work rate of the experienced Campbell, Ryan Pendlebury, Bradley Stokes and Shaun AhMat that got them home.
TAHS ARE DARK HORSE FOR PREMIERSHIP
If there’s one word to describe the 2020-21 Waratahs it would be efficient and they proved that again against Palmerston.
Well into finals contention now and now daring to look back the Tahs are a definite dark horse for the premiership this season.
Rob Turnbull turned in a possession heavy performance (35 disposals) typical of his credentials as one of the better players in the NTFL this season.
Solid backup performances from Will Collis, Brock Orval and Abe Ankers took the game away from Palmerston with their ability to keep the ball moving or even take a score themselves.
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DISTRICTS AND PALMERSTON TURN TO YOUNGSTERS
With finals hopes slipping away for the rural clubs the turn to blooding juniors has seeped in with the hope of a stronger future.
Rising star nominees Ryan Warfe and Tyrell Lui once again put in big showings for Palmerston, despite their loss to Tahs, and look to be ones the club will build the side around in coming seasons.
The same can be said for Districts who put a tight challenge to the Darwin Buffaloes with their own kids being shining lights.
Debutant and Round 14 rising star nominee Jack Sexton put his side level with two goals in the second half while brother and fellow debutant Will also made a statement.
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