Innholdsfortegnelse for 2019 - Round 15 i Big League Weekly Edition

THE Roosters and Storm may have had a combined 22 participants taking part in last weekend’s Representative Round, but Friday night’s clash between the two sides at Adelaide Oval is still poised to be a high-quality encounter. In previous years, this fixture has been a weakened battle due to representative duties, but this time both teams will have their Origin and Test stars backing up. Roosters utility Mitchell Aubusson is eager for Friday night’s fixture, and after having last weekend off, he said the road to the finals starts now. “[Melbourne] are obviously a class team and we always have close games when we go to Adelaide. We love going there – it’s another home away from home for us,” Aubusson said. “The season is a marathon. We’ve got ourselves…

How did you get into footy? Mum grew up in Mascot so she’s always loved footy. My dad got me into soccer when I was five, but I remember a day when I finished my game and went to watch my brother play footy. His team was down a player and my mum was the team manager so she gave me a jersey and said I could play. I scored a try that game so I gave up soccer that year and it’s been footy ever since. You played just about every position in the lower grades, how did you end up on the wing? In the under-10s they used to play me at five-eighth so I could get my hands on the ball, but coming through Harold Matts and…

NOT only did rock and roll and rugby league converge for the first time in a marketing revolution, the involvement of the iconic Tina Turner and the effect the 1989-95 campaign had on the game’s image is still seen as the greatest sports advertising coup in Australian history. It all came from a notion by then-league boss John Quayle after he left a Turner concert in Sydney in early 1988, at which her opening song on her ‘Break Every World Tour’ was What You Get Is What You See. Quayle inquired with the league’s advertising agency, Hertz Walpole, about using the song for the next season’s TV advertising campaign. While discussing with his personal assistant (the late) Micki Braithwaite – the former wife of Sherbet lead singer Darryl Braithwaite –…

“We’ve shown we can mix it with anyone We’re not looking too far ahead It’s a long process but Fiji is moving in the right direction ” – Jayson Bukuya THE future of rugby league in Fiji is looking as bright as their stunning beaches after the nation’s governing body received the news they’ve been waiting to hear. In the same week Fiji scored a resounding 58-14 win over Lebanon in the Test arena, they’ve been approved to enter a side into the New South Wales Rugby League set-up, just like the PNG Hunters did with the Queensland Cup in 2013. The new side, launching in 2020, will start out in the Ron Massey Cup – the state’s third-tier competition – with the intention of progressing to the Canterbury Cup…

MUCH has been written about Sione Mata’utia of late. The young Newcastle forward recently passed the 100-game milestone and not long after that he turned 23. In a physically demanding sport, it’s a lot of matches to have played by that age. He’s had highs – representing Australia after just seven NRL games – and lows in three-straight wooden spoons with the Knights. He describes his path as a bit of a ‘Benjamin Button’ scenario, where he started at a point that some work their whole career to reach, then progressed through the past five years to be now mostly playing off the bench. And it’s that situation this year that has been one of the toughest challenges for him at the top level. Even those dire years for the…

TITANS DESPITE claiming a confidence-boosting win at Lottoland in Round 11, forward Jai Whitbread says the Gold Coast must be on high alert when the Sea Eagles roll into town this weekend. The Titans weathered an early storm and finished over the top of their more-fancied rivals on that occasion, but they know Des Hasler’s side will come out swinging, led by their formidable group of forwards. It’s imperative they handle Manly’s middles, otherwise Tom Trbojevic will tear them to shreds as he’s been doing to opposition defences since returning from a hamstring injury a few weeks ago. The star fullback has a habit of popping up in the middle when he sniffs weakness in the line, and that often comes on the back of offloads from his brother Jake,…

80% WINNING RECORD IN DARWIN The Eels have taken one home game to Darwin annually since 2014, as part of a deal that was extended at the start of last year. While much has recently been made of their record at new home Bankwest Stadium, the Territory has also been a happy hunting ground with an identical record of just one loss in five games. Interestingly, the only time they lost in Darwin (2017 v North Queensland) was also the only year since the deal started that the club has finished in the top eight.…

Form: A single win over Canterbury has been St George Illawarra’s meagre return from their past seven matches and they enter Round 15 languishing in 13th position. There have been no shortage of injuries and off-field distractions for the Dragons, but if they’re to make a charge for the play-offs they must make the most of three consecutive games at WIN Stadium, starting with this clash. North Queensland are on equal competition points to the Dragons and will need to find consistent form over the second half of the season if they want to play in September. History: The Dragons had established a run of three-straight wins over the Cowboys until they were toppled 24-12 at 1300SMILES Stadium in the opening round of this season. Overall, the ledger favours North…

Form: The Storm brought Newcastle’s six-game winning streak to a shuddering halt at their last start but the Knights will have the opportunity to restore momentum with three consecutive games at McDonald Jones Stadium. Anthony Seibold’s young Broncos outfit have gone off the boil in recent weeks, losing consecutively to the Titans and Eels as representative duties have stolen focus. History: The Knights ended a lengthy run of outs against the Broncos with a 15-10 victory at McDonald Jones Stadium last year. Brisbane had won six on the trot before that, while the Knights had not defeated the Broncos in Newcastle since 2010. The Knights’ recent performances on home soil should promote confidence within the ranks. Danger sign: There have been worrying signs in the Broncos’ recent performances, especially defensively…

Form: The Bulldogs have had a tough time of it in 2019, their three wins coming against clubs who figure in the bottom half of the competition standings. The last win was in mid-May against the Titans and since then they’ve gone down to the Storm, Raiders, Dragons and Roosters. The Sharks have been far more reliable, claiming seven wins from their 13 games to climb into the top eight. After back-to-back victories over the Dragons and Eels, the Sharks went down to the Raiders by two points at GIO Stadium in their last start. History: The Bulldogs enjoyed a dozen years of dominance over the Sharks, winning 14 out of 17 games between 2002 and 2014, however Cronulla are undefeated in the past five encounters. The Sharks claimed both…

SUNSHINE Coast Falcons enter Round 15 on a major high after breaking the record for most consecutive wins to begin an Intrust Super Cup season. The Falcons soared through their biggest challenge of the season two weeks ago – an away clash against second-placed Wynnum Manly – with history on the line, to win 30-20 and make it 14 in a row. They can continue their run at home against Redcliffe on Saturday. After letting their chance to move into equal-first slip, Wynnum Manly trail the Falcons by six points, alongside Burleigh in equal-second. They’ll be confident of not losing any more ground on the competition leaders this week as they host the last-placed Capras, who salvaged a draw with Souths Logan last time out. The Bears will face a…

I HAVE to say, after everything that unfolded during Representative Round, it feels a little weird to turn our focus back to the NRL. Seeing the passion, skill-set and unbelievable plays by some of the best in the world working as one was a joy. Interestingly, plenty of people seemed to downplay the Kiwis’ potential leading into their game with Tonga. Reminded of the fact that Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Shaun Johnson and Benji Marshall would be playing together for the first time ever, I tipped New Zealand with confidence – and it looks like they will more than hold their own when the post-season internationals begin. The war cries, hymns and anthems from each country were a beautiful reminder of the best part of rugby league – its inclusivity. As the…

THEY were the hottest team in the competition a month ago with 10 wins from their first 11 matches, but three-straight defeats has seen the chasing pack catch up with the Rabbitohs as they deal with the always tricky State of Origin period. Coach Wayne Bennett warned that this time of year would prove problematic for his team given their early-season success, and the representative period has certainly taken its toll, with the Bunnies falling four points behind the ladder-leading Storm. “He’s one of the greatest coaches of all time so he knows how to deal with these things,” John Sutton told Big League. “But there’s only so much he can do, so it’s up to us players to turn up and get the job done. We haven’t been performing…

Gameday Groundhopper You can record all of your rugby league adventures with the Gameday Groundhopper Pocket Passport, the brainchild of sport enthusiast Blair Hughes. The passport is designed for young and old but has educational aspects for kids, who fill in pages when they go to games and are able to practise reading, writing and maths. You can find out more at theggpp.com. Nathan in the clear Some good news for Penrith and Blues halfback Nathan Cleary, who was cleared of serious ankle damage in an injury sustained in Game Two of the series. He has a high-grade lateral ankle sprain and faces up to four weeks on the sideline, which will likely rule him out of Origin III. Mid-season madness The pre-June 30 scramble has kicked up a gear…

WE always see the tough exterior of players. Their competitive nature, their passion for rugby league and their undeniable drive. But what we don’t see are the things that make them a devoted husband, loving son – or in Jazz Tevaga’s case – a protective big brother. The 23-year-old had a break-out season last year, impressing so much that he was named Dally M Interchange Player of the Year. But away from the footy field he’s a doting sibling to his 17-year-old brother, who has autism. “I’m very protective of him,” Tevaga tells Big League. “I was concerned about him going through high school. I was worried he would get bullied because he’s very sensitive. It was always on mind. I didn’t want to have to beat some kids up…

FOOTYHEAD AD Gold Coast junior Karl Lawto has found a happy home with the Warriors You grew up between Byron Bay and Tweed Heads What was your favourite beach? Definitely Kingscliff. I spent 14 years there, which is a little surfing paradise. I was surfing and fishing and still live for that now every chance I get. Even in New Zealand? It’s been really good! I’ve been fishing as much as I can with one of the boys. And occasionally there’s a wave that pops up, and we get out for a surf at Omaha, half an hour up the coast – or Piha, it’s a laid back surfer-hippy town, and good for a coffee too. I guess the water’s not as warm as Kingscliff? No, no, no! It’s definitely…

IT feels like a long time since we’ve had to make any big decisions with our Fantasy teams, but after a thrilling Representative Round, reality is creeping back in for Fantasy coaches. We’ve lost key prop Andrew Fifita to a three-week suspension (particularly bad for overall coaches hoping to have him for the Round 16 bye), plus Blues halfback and Fantasy gun Nathan Cleary for a couple of games after injuring his ankle in Origin II – but each is ideally a ‘hold’ for owners, despite the inconvenience. The return of young Eels half Dylan Brown (pictured) is great news for Parramatta but bad news for Reed Mahoney owners, with the hooker now set to lose minutes to bench utility Jaeman Salmon. He’s also a hold though. Another injury returnee,…

Form: After their blazing start to their season, the Roosters have found the going tough over the past month as injuries and representative duty has eroded confidence. After eight successive wins, the premiers have come back to the field with three losses from their past four games. They remain well-placed on the ladder in third position but coach Trent Robinson will be counting on improvement this week. Melbourne, meanwhile, have maintained their imposing standards to mount a five-game winning run. They’ve conceded just four tries in their past three games and have opened up a four-point lead at the top of the ladder. History: Last year’s grand finalists rank as the most successful clubs of the past decade, winning four premierships between them and eight minor titles. The Roosters proved…

Form: The Eels have produced a mixed bag in their recent performances, two strong wins at Bankwest Stadium falling either side of a disappointing effort against the Sharks away from home. They scored decisive victories over South Sydney and then Brisbane to maintain their hold of eighth place on the ladder, but their chances of returning to finals football will depend on more consistent form over the next month. The Raiders have surged in June, ignoring representative call-ups and injuries to key players to score consecutive wins over the Bulldogs, Wests Tigers and Sharks. History: The Raiders have established a dominant recent record against the Eels with a run of five successive wins. They’ve been aided by four of the games being played at GIO Stadium, including the past two,…

THE Canterbury Cup returns this week after Representative Round gave teams a chance to rest and recuperate. Despite slipping up against South Sydney in Round 14, Penrith are leading the competition with 18 points. They will look to consolidate their position when they face the fourth-placed Dragons on Saturday, but will have to do so without fullback Caleb Aekins. The 2018 Canterbury Cup Player of the Year, who leads the competition for running metres, is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury. Second-placed Mounties are trailing the Panthers by one competition point, and could leapfrog them into first with a win over Wentworthville on Sunday. The match will pit the competition’s joint-top tryscorers, Mounties winger Andre Niko and Magpies fullback Bevan French, against each other. The Bulldogs could also take top…

THE Hastings Deering Colts will return this week after the recent bye round. It is a tight tussle at the top of the table, with three sides all locked on nine wins this season. Ladder-leading Burleigh will hope to bounce back from their shock 32-12 loss to Easts Tigers when they face the lowly Jets, who have lost their last seven. Wynnum Manly are looking to keep the pressure on the Bears, however. They could move into outright first with a win over the Capras if Burleigh slip up, but also have Townsville hot on their heels. The Blackhawks are just one point behind the top two sides, and also could leapfrog into first with favourable results and a triumph over Tweed Heads. There is a major logjam in the…

BRANDON Smith says the desire to ensure Benji Marshall enjoyed a successful return to the Test arena helped to inspire the Kiwis in their 34-14 victory over Tonga. After seven years in the international wilderness due to a combination of circumstances, injury and selection preferences, Marshall made an emotional return for the Kiwis at Mt Smart Stadium. With his wife and young son watching on, the 34-year-old was brought to tears during the national anthem, as the magnitude of the moment clearly got to him. Smith (pictured) was one of the Kiwis’ best in their convincing win and said the team was fuelled by a debt of obligation to the Wests Tigers veteran. “To see him in the jersey again, it felt like, we owed him a good game,” said…

CRONULLA forward Jayson Bukuya has put the entire competition on notice, declaring the Sharks as premiership threats as the spine returns to full fitness and form. The first-choice spine of Matt Moylan, Shaun Johnson, Chad Townsend and Jayden Brailey haven’t combined since Round 3 due to a number of injuries, which has unsettled the team’s attack in 2019. However, Brailey will return from a knee complaint this weekend to partner Moylan and Johnson in a giant boost for the Shire club. “It’s going to be an exciting finish to the season for us if we can put it all together,” Bukuya told Big League. “It’s going to be awesome to see them gel and play together. Hopefully we can do something at the end of the year.” Moylan was outstanding…

I’VE been lucky enough to experience some special moments on the field throughout my career, but the emotion surrounding last Saturday’s Test against Tonga is going to be hard to beat. It was a unique situation at the start of this year because ‘Madge’ (Kiwis coach Michael Maguire) is also my coach at the Wests Tigers. We never once spoke about New Zealand, and that meant I never thought about it. I knew I’d been playing some good footy but my focus was solely on the Tigers leading into our game in Townsville. Madge told me during the week that I’d made the 27-man squad, and after we played the Cowboys he told me I was in the 19-man squad, but it wasn’t until we got to New Zealand that…

Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs Dragons v Cowboys Roosters v Storm Titans v Sea Eagles Knights v Broncos Eels v Raiders Warriors v Panthers Bulldogs v Sharks David Middleton League Historian Rabbitohs Dragons Storm Sea Eagles Knights Raiders Panthers Sharks Michael Carayannis The Sunday Telegraph Rabbitohs Dragons Roosters Sea Eagles Knights Raiders Warriors Sharks Maria Tsialis Big League Rabbitohs Dragons Storm Sea Eagles Knights Raiders Warriors Sharks Rebekka Wake Reader Tipster Rabbitohs Cowboys Roosters Sea Eagles Knights Raiders Warriors Bulldogs Michael Chammas NRL.com Wests Tigers Dragons Storm Sea Eagles Knights Eels Panthers Sharks Footyhead Little League Rabbitohs Cowboys Storm Titans Knights Raiders Warriors Bulldogs…

NEW SOUTH WALES 38 (Tom Trbojevic (3) 8’ 35’ 54’, Josh Addo-Carr (2) 58’ 74’, Tyson Frizell 19’ tries; Nathan Cleary 2 goals, James Maloney 5 goals) D. QUEENSLAND 6 (Will Chambers 14’ try; Kalyn Ponga 1 goal) Half-time: New South Wales 18-6 Crowd: 59,721 Scrums: Queensland 7-6 Penalties: New South Wales 7-6 Sin Bin: Nil Sent Off: Nil Referee: Gerard Sutton Assistant Referee: Ashley Klein Touch Judges: Nick Beashel, Dave Munro Goalkickers: Kalyn Ponga (Queensland) 1 from 1, James Maloney (New South Wales) 5 from 6, Nathan Cleary (New South Wales) 2 from 2 Completion Rates: Queensland 25/33, New South Wales 35/42…

Form: Wests Tigers bounced back from a three-game losing run to sink the Cowboys in golden point at their last start and stay in touch with the top eight. The Rabbitohs have experienced a three-game losing sequence of their own, but it followed 10 wins from their first 11 games so the damage to their top four prospects has been minimal. History: The Rabbitohs hold a narrow lead in all games between these clubs since 2002, but they’ve been decisive victors of the past two encounters. They crushed the Tigers 51-10 in the final round of last season and were 32-16 winners when they clashed in Round 11. Hooker Damien Cook and lock Cameron Murray were the chief destroyers that night and if they are passed fit to play after…

Form: The Titans’ game has been riddled with inconsistency but injuries to some of their most experienced players have had a dramatic effect. Four wins from their first 14 games have lifted them clear of last place on the ladder, but the shadow of the wooden spoon will continue to loom large unless their form improves. The Sea Eagles are in far stronger shape with an 8-6 record that has elevated them to sixth place. Coach Des Hasler will be overjoyed to see captain Daly Cherry-Evans and the Trbojevic brothers back in action this week as his team eyes off a third consecutive win. History: It is little more than a month since these teams faced off at Lottoland and the Titans emerged with their best win of the season…

Form: The Warriors claimed their second away win of the season at their last start when they downed the Titans 24-20 on the Gold Coast, but there is little sign that the team is about to embark on a winning run. The Auckland outfit has traditionally made a charge at representative time when other teams have been drained of top-line talent but sustained performance has been absent from the Warriors’ game for most of this campaign. As poor as the Panthers were early in the season, at least they’ve generated consistency over the past month in stringing together four-straight wins. Their most recent scalps have included the Roosters and Rabbitohs, both of whom have spent time on top of the competition ladder in 2019. History: The Panthers hold the upper…

CRONULLA continued their impressive run of form with a 32-14 win over the Bears. A strong first half propelled the Sharks to their seventh-straight win, while the Bears are still winless in 2019. Newcastle capitulated against St George to cough up second spot. After the Knights raced out to an early 16-0 lead, the Dragons scored 29 unanswered points. Moving up into second are the Roosters, who brushed off the Sea Eagles at Lottoland. Souths registered a big win over the Raiders, with Tallis Angianga scoring a double. Penrith held on for a narrow win over the Tigers, while the Victoria Thunderbolts, who were winless a fortnight ago, made it two in a row as they upset Parramatta at McCredie Park. CANTERBURY 30 (J Topine, D Seumanutafa, F Kuresa, M…