Can you believe we are almost over? Here we are at Round 5 and we’ve only got two more weeks after this. I love the intensity of the season whereby there’s no chance to ease your way into the tournament and find your feet – you’ve got to take it out of the blocks. Unfortunately my Queensland teams have failed to do this and sit at the bottom of the ladder with the Rams.
Meanwhile the Eagles continue their undefeated run, but you get the feel that the Rising and Spirit are on the rise and who knows how the Rays will bounce back from their first loss. Meanwhile the Vikings have the Horan Little Shield up again this weekend in another action packed round.
In an unusual chain of events, due to some significant rainfall in and around Orange, we have our first ever NRC double header on Saturday afternoon. The NSW Country Eagles v Perth Spirit match has been transferred from Orange and will now be played prior to the Western Sydney Rams v QLD Country clash at the same venue. Unfortunate for Orange, but a decent result for Sydney rugby fans.
NSW Country Eagles v Perth Spirit (STREAMED VIA FOXSPORTS.COM.AU)
Saturday 24 September at Concord Oval (Sydney). KICK-OFF 1:00PM (LOCAL TIME)
Reasons not to miss the match:
- Well it’s easier to get to now. The good news for Orange, and the surrounding regions, is they’ve had plenty of rain of late to keep those stone fruits growing. The bad news is it means that all playing fields have been ruled unplayable and the game has now been moved to Sydney. I guess that means it’s more accessible and a great chance for NSW Rugby fans to see the best team in the comp take on the challenge from the west (in the west).
- There’s a lot of high quality young forwards running around in the NRC at the moment and two of the best face-off this weekend in Ross Haylett-Petty and Ned Hanigan. Both are extremely rugged and skilled forwards with high work-rates. Ultimately their futures may lay in the backrow but for the time being, and this weekend at least, they will come up against each other at lock.
- What we’ve got here is a couple of lightning quick finishers using the NRC to find their way in the game. Obviously Reece Robinson has the benefit of a career in rugby league and a season with the Tahs, but you can see he’s using his time with the Eagles to further develop his game and understand when to get himself more involved. On the other side you have Eric Vasukicakau, not currently contracted with the Force, who’s taking the chance to step up from Perth club footy and demonstrate his skills. Both have exception speed and are exciting to watch with space to move. Let’s hope they both get plenty of it this weekend.
NSW Country Eagles:
1 Paddy Ryan (c), 2 Tolu Latu, 3 Sam Needs, 4 Ned Hanigan, 5 Tim Buchanan, 6 Tom Cusack, 7 Mark Baldwin, 8 Sam Ward, 9 Jake Gordon, 10 Tayler Adams, 11 Alex Newsome, 12 Kyle Godwin, 13 David Horwitz, 14 Reece Robinson, 15 Angus Roberts.
Reserves:16 Folau Fa’ainga,17 Jed Gillespie,18 Cam Beetham, 19 Rohan O’Regan, 20 Sam Croke, 21 Rowan Perry, 22 Andrew Deegan, 23 Tom Hill
Form: W- W – W – W
Perth Spirit:
1. Laione Mulikihaamea, 2. Harry Scoble, 3. Shambeckler Vui, 4. Kieran Stringer, 5 Ross Haylett-Petty., 6. Brynard Stander, 7. Hadleigh May, 8. Ben McCalman, 9. Michael Ruru, 10. Jono Lance (c), 11. Eric Vasukicakau, 12. Ben Tapuai, 13. Ammon Matuauti, 14. Marcel Brache, 15. Maniera Eden
Reserves: 16. Tom Sheminant, 17. Nick McLennan, 18. Jermaine Ainsley, 19. Onehunga Havili, 20. Russell Burges, 21. Ian Prior, 22. AJ Alatimu, 23.Louie David.
Form: W – L – W – W
Tip: Spirit backs edge the Eagles, but that Eagle tight 5 will rule the set piece. Eagles by 4.
Western Sydney Rams v QLD Country (Live on Fox Sports)
Saturday 24 September at Concord Oval (Sydney). KICK-OFF 3:00PM (LOCAL TIME)
Reasons not to miss the match:
- The Western Sydney Rams have done a fantastic job in connecting with the many diverse rugby loving cultures within their community and it culminates this weekend with a day of Pacific Island games. With gates opening at 9:30am the games are as follows – NSW Samoa v NSW Maori (Women); NSW Tonga v NSW Maori (Men); NSW Samoa v NSW Fiji (Men). The of course is the Eagles v Spirit, and then onto the main game where one of these teams is finally going to win a game!
- These are two massive and physical forward packs. Between Lolohea, Skelton, Tupou and Rodda that’s a lot of body mass and body mass that can build some pretty handy momentum. Expect to see some fantastic battles upfront starting with the scrum in which both teams pride themselves. But ball in hand too, there are some dynamic runners in each pack and some big hitters and you know what they say about what happens when an unstoppable force meets and immovable object…
- Keep an eye on the reserve lock for QLD Country who will be making his NRC debut this weekend if coach Kefu decides to take the risk on him at some stage. He hasn’t played much rugby this year, although did a fair bit of training with the QLD Under 20s team, so that may stand him in good stead. Will be interesting to see how he stands up to the pace of the NRC.
Greater Sydney Rams:
1. Matt Gibbon, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. David Lolohea, 4. Will Skelton, 5. Senio Toleafoa, 6. Rhys Allen, 7. Tupou Sopoaga, 8. Tyrone Viiga, 9. Waldo Wessels, 10. Paul Asquith (c), 11. Luke Smart, 12. David Minute, 13. Apolosi Latunipulu, 14. Albert Nikoro, 15. Vatemo Ravouvou.
Reserves: 16. Nathan Charles, 17. Andrew Tuala, 18. Jack Payne, 19. Thomas Alexander, 20. Jodan Taupou, 21.Harrison Goddard, 22. Mitchell Walton, 23. Roland-Keni Kotobolavu.
Form: L – L – L – L
Queensland Country:
1. Sef Fa’agase, 2. Alex Casey, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Izack Rodda, 5. Phil Potgieter, 6.Ted Postal, 7. Maclean Jones, 8. Angus Scott-Young, 9. James Tuttle (c), 10. Mack Mason, 11. Liam McNamara, 12. Duncan Paia’aua, 13. Tyrone Lefau, 14. Tom Pincus, 15. Tom Banks.
Reserves: 16. Feleti Kaitu’u, 17. Richie Asiata, 18. Kirwan Sanday, 19. Brad Thorn, 20. Jack Cornelsen, 21. Scott Malolua, 22. Mitch Third, 23. Matt Gordon.
Form: L – L – L – L
Tip: The Rams haven’t been blown off the park this season. QLD Country have struggled to match it. This should see the Rams home by 6
Canberra Vikings v Melbourne Rising (STREAMED VIA FOXSPORTS.COM.AU)
Sunday 25 September at Viking Park (Canberra). KICK-OFF 1:00PM (LOCAL TIME)
Reasons not to miss the match:
- The Horan-Little Shield is up for challenge this weekend and the Rising, as inaugural holders of the trophy, will be determined to win it back! For the Vikings if they win it again this weekend then, as per the competition rules, it will be up for challenge for the next game as well – an away game to the Sydney Rays.
- Ben Meehan has been a surprise packet at 10 for the Rising this year but injury has ruled him out for this week (and the season). It means that Jack Debreczeni returns to flyhalf after a couple of weeks ‘sabatical’ at fullback. His time at the back has proved fruitful and he seems to have regained some confidence so let’s hope his form continues in his more traditional position as he remains one of the nation’s most skillful players.
- The Vikings have had one of the best lineouts this season, built around the work of Blake Enever and Sam Carter at lock, with Tom Staniforth playing at blindside. There’s nothing like a highly functioning set piece and the Vikings have one of those with their lineout, and they use it as a try scoring weapon too. But their defensive lineout is also a joy to watch with Enever in particularly developing into a handy lineout strategist.
Canberra Vikings:
1 Faalelei Sione, 2 Josh Mann-Rea, 3 Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, 4 Blake Enever, 5 Sam Carter, 6 Tom Staniforth, 7 OJ Noa, 8 Jarrad Butler (c), 9 Joe Powell, 10 Robbie Coleman, 11 Lausii Taliauli, 12 Jordan Jackson-Hope, 13 Andrew Smith, 14 Andrew Robinson, 15. Isaac Thompson
Reserves: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 Sione Taula, 18 Ray Dobson, 19 Dean Oakman-Hunt, 20 Jordan Smiler, 21 Brent Hamlin, 22 Nick Jooste, 23 Eli Sinoti.
Form: W – L – W – W
Melbourne Rising:
1 Tom Moloney, 2 Pat Leafa 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Sam Jeffries, 5 Steve Cummins, 6 Jordy Reid, 7 Ikapote Tupai, 8 Harley Fox, 9 Nic Stirzaker, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 11 Tom English, 12 Lloyd Johansson, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 14 Ah-Mu Tuimalealiifano, 15 Jonah Placid.
Reserves: 16 Siliva Siliva, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Fereti Sa’aga, 19 Alex Toolis, 20 Sione Taufa, 21 Mick Snowden, 22 Taiso Silafai-Leaana, 23 Isaiah Leota.
Form: L – W – L – W
Tip: I sense Melbourne might be starting a bit of a run now so Rising by 2
Brisbane City v Sydney Rays (Live on Fox Sports)
Sunday 25 September at Ballymore (Brisbane). KICK-OFF 3:00PM (LOCAL TIME)
Reasons not to miss the match:
- The QRU are pushing the family fun day aspect of this match, in the midst of school holidays, and promoting a range of activities both pre and post match to entice the families down the Ballymore. With the forecast predicted to be mid to high 20’s, then Sunday arvo at the rugby will be a great place to “catch some Rays” (slogan created by RugbyReg and subsequently ‘appropriated’ by the QRU).
- Remember back in the dark days of the Queensland Reds? No, not the current ones, the ones before that? Remember how it was often a case of “as long as we beat the Tahs” that deemed the season a success? Well I want to re-implement it for this game. C’mon Brisbane. This is Brisbane v Sydney. The Rays suffered their first loss of the season just last week while Brisbane have had more losses this last four weeks than they’ve previously had in the first two years of the competition! It is time to stop the rot and keep our undefeated run against Sydney teams this year going.
- Michael Wells has been in fantastic form for the Rays this season, switching between positions in the backrow. The former 7s players has played a strong on-ball game and still been able to showcase his rugby brain and skills. Up against him will be arguably Brisbane’s best player for 2016 in Isi Naisarani. Isi is coming off the back of two tries against Melbourne Rising last week and has become a focus point for his team’s attacking efforts.
Brisbane City:
1 Pettowa Paraka, 2 Andrew Ready, 3 Sam Talakai (c), 4 David Findlay-Henaway, 5 Lukhan Tui, 6 Luke Beauchamp, 7 Michael Gunn, 8 Isi Naisarani, 9 Moses Sorovi, 10 Jake McIntyre, 11 Alex Gibbon, 12 Patrick James, 13 Toby White, 14 Chris Kuridrani, 15 Brad Lacey.
Reserves: 16 Matt Mafi, 17 Markus Vanzati, 18 Feao Fotuaika, 19 Criff Tupou, 20 Adam Korczyk, 21 Angus Fowler, 22 Mitch Felsman, 23 Jack de Guingand.
Form: L – W – L – L
Sydney Rays:
1. Rory O’Connor, 2. Damien Fitzpatrick, 3. Lawrence Hunting, 4. Connor Vest, 5. James Brown, 6. Jack Dempsey, 7. Michael Smith, 8. Michael Wells, 9. Matt Lucas (c), 10. Angus Sinclair, 11. Harry Jones, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Con Foley, 14. Josh Turner, 15. Johnathan Malo.
Reserves: 16. James Hilterbrand, 17. Ezra Luxton, 18. Alain Miriallakis, 19. Adrian Hall, 20. Chris Alcock, 21. Dewet Roos, 22. Lochie Creagh, 23. Seb Wileman.
Form: W – W – W – L
Tip: Brisbane without Frisby leaves them a team without much in attack. The Rays are a highly functioning outfit. Rays by 14
