LAST weekend’s opening round of the Carlton Mid Group 2 competition certainly didn’t produce a high standard of rugby league, with lots of dropped ball, missed tackles and high penalty counts.
Nevertheless, the two points taken by Nambucca, Sawtell, Port and Woolgoolga will be very valuable.
Clubs unearthed new stars, none more so than premiers Sawtell Panthers in the Wright brothers - Lance at halfback and Logan at prop.
The former Griffith boys will become crowd favourites in Panthers territory.
Woolgoolga have enticed former Manly player Evan Cochrane, who played 50 minutes in his comeback game.
Port Sharks produced Kieran Vale, a classy centre, and Nambucca standouts were centre Tyrone Ussher-Kinnear and prop Jeremy Burrows.
Round two
Match of the round is Sawtell up against Nambucca, both first-up start winners.
The Roosters certainly have the forward strength and will stand up to the Panthers’ big pack.
The clash between Nambucca’s James Livlock and Jeremy Burrows against young Panthers Jeremy Wood and Dave Buttriss should be a beauty.
Glad to see last year’s leading tryscorer Mark Pledger has started the season in fine form, scoring a hat-trick for the Panthers last week.
Kris Watson made a successful comeback at hooker for the Panthers, but will be missing this week due to work commitments.
Coffs Harbour travels to Macksville. The home side had a rest last week, but will be ready for this game.
The Comets were beaten last week, but they showed they have plenty to work with and will be better for the hit out.
Utility Tyler Corfe and winger Carl ‘Wolfman’ Younger will again be a danger for the opposition.
With Troy Grace up front, and Jesse McEwan and David Pickvance in the centres, Macksville will certainly test the Comets.
Captain-coach Grant Coleman always leads by example and this will be a very entertaining and close game.
Another interesting encounter will be the Port Sharks at home to the Orara Valley Axemen.
The Axemen have a good record travelling away and this will be a rugged encounter.
But the Sharks’ experienced pack, led by Michael Bright and Jeremy Lang, should just have enough to win this one.
The Only Saturday game is between Woolgoolga and Macleay Valley at Kempsey.
‘Woopi’ showed enough last week in defeating the Axemen and will also be better for the run.
Woolgoolga five-eighth Rob Toshack led the way last week, taking advantage of the hard yards done by Adam Clarke and Wade Gerard, who will be called upon to do it again.
Macleay has lost top forward Sam Howe with a knee injury and will find Woolgoolga to strong.
On the road
The Oxley Pioneers under-18s travel to Muswellbrook to contest the NSW Country championship this weekend, hoping to make their third straight grand final.
The Pioneers’ first game on Saturday is against the Southern Razorbacks, who are made up from Group 6 and the Illawarra.
They then back up on Sunday, with winners going into the semi-finals the following week.
But it will be tough, with eight of the best regional teams competing over two days.
Several NRL club scouts will be at the championship.
NRL update
The big talking point, still, is the decision to up the Toyota Cup age from under-20s to under-23s.
This will give clubs more depth and allow players to mature a bit more before stepping into first grade.
At the moment fringe players are overseas or retired, which they shouldn’t be.
A growing concern in the NRL is the serious injuries to knees and shoulders, with 28 players on the casualty list.
Are clubs putting too much strain on players in daily training, which has limited players to less than 10 years at the top.
The Bulldogs and Eels were expected to be the Storm’s biggest danger this season, but it looks unlikely at this stage.
The Dogs missed 50 tackles against the Warriors and Eels forwards can’t make yards.
This weekend’s round is a beauty, with the Titans and Dragons on Friday, and my favourite Monday Night footy pitting the Storm at home to the Sea Eagles.
NRL Round 6 (my tips in capitals):
Friday: TIGERS v Bulldogs, TITANS v Dragons.
Saturday: KNIGHTS v Cowboys, ROOSTERS v Raiders.
Sunday: Warriors v PANTHERS, Broncos v SHARKS, Eels v RABBITOHS.
Monday: STORM v Sea Eagles.
MATCH OF THE ROUND
Sawtell v Nambucca Heads
Rex Hardaker Oval, Toormina
Sunday, 2.30pm
Sawtell
Dean McLaughlin
Mark Pledger
Josh Bryant
Nathan Davies
Zac Maxwell
Rohan Louden
Lance Wright
Jeremy Wood
Luke Hemsworth
Jake Hankelevin
Eddie Harrison
Dave Buttris
Ryan Previtt
Logan Wright
Damian Irvine
Coach: Rohan Louden/ Ryan Previtt
Nambucca Heads
Warwick Jones
Jeremy Ballangarry
Jack Luuede
Tyrone Ussher-Kinnear
Andrew Budd
Garry Jarrett
Mick Ronan
James Livlock
Matt Field
Jeremy Burrows
Dean Urquhart
Taylor Hamilton-Giggins
Geoff Batten
Tristen Hamilton-Giggens
Jordan Hollis
Coach: Garron Stigg
Other round 2 games:
Macleay Valley v Woolgoolga (Saturday), Macksville v Coffs Harbour (Sunday), Port Macquarie v Orara Valley (Sunday). Bye: Bellingen. Barrett’s best Sawtell, Woolgoolga, Macksville, Port Macquarie.
Round 1 results
First grade: Port Macquarie d Bellingen 32-20, Sawtell d Coffs Harbour 42-28, Nambucca Heads d Macleay Valley 42-0, Woolgoolga d Orara Valley 24-18.
Reserve grade: Port Macquarie d Bellingen 42-0, Macleay Valley d Nambucca Heads 52-26, Sawtell d Coffs Harbour 32-18, Woolgoolga d Orara Valley 23-16.
Under-18s: Bellingen d Port Macquarie 12-4, Nambucca Heads d Macleay Valley 20-6, Orara Valley d Woolgoolga 28-26, Sawtell d Coffs Harbour 32-18.
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