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GALLERY: Lowrie confident of strong Rosellas surge

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Western Suburbs coach Todd Lowrie remains buoyant his side can launch a late bid to secure a play-off spot in the Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League (Real NRL) competition.

Following six consecutive losses, the Rosellas have strung back-to-back victories in the past fortnight to move within four points of the top five, with a game in hand.

Wests accounted for the Wyong Roos 18-4 in round eight and backed up that performance to knock over The Entrance Tigers 32-14 on the Central Coast at the weekend.

The triumphs certainly put a smile on Lowrie’s face.

“We were very slow to start the season,” he said.

“In fact, we didn’t have a win the first few weeks.

“But, it’s good to get a couple of victories under our belt.

“Everyone’s always happier when you win.

“The mood [around the club] has certainly picked up recently.

“However, to their credit, the boys kept working hard.

“They were good even through the losses.”

It’s fair to say, luck avoided the Rosellas early in 2021 with narrow defeats to defending premiers Cessnock Goannas (20-12), Macquarie Scorpions (18-10), Kurri Kurri Bulldogs (14-10) and Central Newcastle Butcher Boys (24-10).

“The guys kept identifying what they needed to fix,” Lowrie said.

“Even though they worked hard at it; we just weren’t getting the results.

“Then we beat Wyong first, followed by The Entrance.

“So, two games on the road were tough but to come away with both of them was good.

“However, we need all the wins we can get at the moment – and we’ll take them.”

Wests next face the Lakes United Seagulls, who stunned the Bulldogs 30-16 in their most recent outing, at Harker Oval on Saturday 5 June.

“They had a win, too, with a few boys back,” Lowrie said.

“So, there’s a lot to play for [this weekend].

“Because of our poor start, we’re still down the bottom of the ladder.

“But, we’ve got a lot of improvement in us and looking to win more games.”

That means Lowrie hasn’t ruled out a semi-final appearance either.

“We’re remaining positive moving forward,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.

“A play-off berth is definitely what we’re working for – I’m still more than confident we can.

“We just need to keep improving and play well.

“Over the past couple of weeks, I think everyone’s played well, which is what we were looking for during the first part of the year.

“It’s been a real team effort.

“Early in the season, we’d have one or two blokes play well and three or four not so well.

“That’s been the biggest difference between then and now.

“Everyone’s played to their potential – that’s all you can ask for and what I’m looking for.”

If anyone can lift the Rosellas it’s the former Newcastle Knights, Parramatta Eels, Melbourne Storm, New Zealand Warriors and Brisbane Broncos star.

A Scone Thoroughbreds junior, Lowrie began his professional career with the Hunter-based NRL outfit in 2003.

In 2009, as an Eel, he contested the grand final against the Storm, who claimed the title 23-16.

He then joined Melbourne and tasted premiership success in 2012 at the expense of the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs.

After brief appearances for the Warriors (2013) and Broncos (2014), he announced his retirement at the end of 2015.

Ironically, Lowrie’s playing journey ended where it started – in the Upper Hunter.

As a member of Newcastle Rebels’ mentor Aaron Watts’ Thoroughbreds squad, he secured the Group 21 crown in 2019.

“My time at Scone was good; the short little stint I had,” he said.

“It was my junior club, so it was great to go back up there and help them out a little bit.

“I played my last game at the same place I played my first match.

“And, it was a nice way to go out, winning a premiership with the boys.

“Then Wests approached me about 18 months ago [to coach] for last year.  

“They wanted someone for the 2020 season.

“The Rosellas phoned me, we had a chat and I arrived – it was a fairly quick process.

“I’m in my second year [here] and it’s going well.”

In other round 10 fixtures, the Scorpions lock horns with the Tigers at Lyall Peacock Oval, frontrunners Maitland Pickers tackle the Bulldogs at the Maitland Sportsground, and the South Newcastle Lions host the Goannas at Townson Oval on Saturday 5 June.

Twenty-four hours later, the Butcher Boys go head-to-head with the Roos at St Johns Oval.

Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League

NSWRL Denton Cup

Round nine results:

Maitland Pickers 30 (Matt Soper-Lawler 2, Chad O’Donnell, Sam Anderson, James Bradley tries; Brock Lamb 5 goals) defeated Central Newcastle Butcher Boys 6 (Fuaimamao Uta try; Luke Walsh goal)

Lakes United Seagulls 30 (Nash Lofberg 2, Nash Birch 2, Cohan Geelan, Matt Cooper tries; Joel Edwards 3 goals) defeated Kurri Kurri Bulldogs 16 (Zeb Dunstan, Jarred Anderson, Reid Alchin tries; Ethan Niszczot 2 goals)

Western Suburbs Rosellas 32 (Heath Gibbs 2, Pat Achurch 2, Logan Radzievic, Matthew Herman tries; Radzievic 4 goals) defeated The Entrance Tigers 14 (Jyris Glamuzina, Benjamyn Rashid-Neville, Shaune Corrigan tries; Matthew Killick goal)

South Newcastle Lions 24 (Christopher Merlo, Jarrod Flanagan, Harry Croker, Lewis Hamilton tries; Jason Keelan 4 goals) defeated Wyong Roos 12 (Terence Seuseu, Lachlan Hanneghan tries; Hanneghan 2 goals)

Cessnock Goannas defeated Macquarie Scorpions 40-26 (no tryscorers available)

Round 10 draw:

Saturday 5 June –

3pm: Macquarie Scorpions v The Entrance Tigers (Lyall Peacock Oval)

3pm: Western Suburbs Rosellas v Lakes United Seagulls (Harker Oval)

3pm: Maitland Pickers v Kurri Kurri Bulldogs (Maitland Sportsground)

3pm: South Newcastle Lions v Cessnock Goannas (Townson Oval)

Sunday 6 June –

3pm: Central Newcastle Butcher Boys v Wyong Roos (St Johns Oval)

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