With a handful of preliminary rounds remaining, Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League (Real NRL) is gearing up for an exciting play-off series.
While the competition hasn’t gone unscathed in the past month, mainly due to the Greater Sydney lockdown which includes the Central Coast, the benchmark’s remained untarnished with the Maitland Pickers, Central Newcastle Butcher Boys, Cessnock Goannas, Macquarie Scorpions and Western Suburbs Rosellas all eyeing off premiership success in 2021.
Before a ball was kicked in anger, most pundits believed the Pickers – the 2020 President’s Cup champions – and the Goannas – the defending Real NRL premiers – would fight it out for the title.
But, the rise of the Butcher Boys, Scorpions and Rosellas have sparked a lot of interest leading into the semis.
“The standard across all clubs has been very good,” Real NRL CEO Charlie Haggett said.
“And, up until this past month any one of them could have made the top five.
“However, COVID draws and player availability has impacted on some organisations and we have seen them drop away.
“If the pandemic didn’t rear its head again, I think we would’ve had eight or maybe nine teams probably fighting it out for spots in the top five with one round to play.
“It’s certainly good that it is not just a one or two-horse race and I have no doubt that coming first won’t necessary mean you will be guaranteed a berth in the grand final.
“Every one of the top five teams are capable of winning.”
Haggett admitted, despite the recent setbacks, he was very happy with the Real NRL season.
“The quality of the competition, outside the NRL of course, has been up there with the best in the state, if not Australia,” he said.
“We’re attracting high-quality players to the area and creating a very strong pathway for local juniors to aspire to.
“The past month, while being challenging, has demonstrated the strength of the comp in that we were able to carry on, even though many clubs were missing players due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“However, we’ve still been able to watch some very high-quality football.”
That will continue this weekend, with Pickers hosting the Butcher Boys at the Maitland Sportsground and the Goannas at home to the Scorpions.
But, at the opposite end of the scale, life remains tough for the Wyong Roos and The Entrance Tigers.
“The current lockdown may allow for them to play one last game and that will be on the Central Coast against each other,” Haggett said.
“Unfortunately, if restrictions continue, we’ll need to wait until next year to see them in action again.”
- Points table: Maitland Pickers 26, Central Newcastle Butcher Boys 21, Cessnock Goannas 20, Macquarie Scorpions 19, Western Suburbs Rosellas 17, Wyong Roos 13, The Entrance Tigers 11, Kurri Kurri Bulldogs 9, Lake United Seagulls 9, South Newcastle Lions 5
REAL NRL: Cessnock v Central Newcastle. Photos:
vaggabond_photography
Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League
Round 15 results:
Western Suburbs Rosellas 52 (Stephen Widders 3, Malu Fiu 2, Ryan Walker 2, Jarome Wilson, Liam Wiscombe, Frazer Price tries; Max Buderus 6 goals) defeated South Newcastle Lions 12 (Jarrod Flanagan, Marshall Sing, Lewis Hamilton tries)
Cessnock Goannas 32 (Brent Mendyk 2, Sam Apthorpe, Connor Kirkwood, Wyatt Shaw, Harvey Neville tries; AJ Davis 2, Scott Briggs 2 goals) defeated Central Newcastle Butcher Boys 10 (Brad Russell, Jack Kelly tries; Kelly goal)
Macquarie Scorpions 48 (Joe Woodbury 3, Fletcher Myers 2, Royce Geoffrey 2, Ro Buaserau tries; Kerrod Holland 7, Isaac Briggs goals) defeated Lakes United Seagulls 6 (Toni Mataele try; Joel Edwards goal)
Wyong Roos v Kurri Kurri Bulldogs – COVID draw
The Entrance Tigers v Maitland Pickers – COVID draw
Round 16 draw:
Saturday 24 July –
3pm: Cessnock Goannas v Macquarie Scorpions (Cessnock Sportsground)
3pm: Maitland Pickers v Central Newcastle Butcher Boys (Maitland Sportsground)
3pm: Kurri Kurri Bulldogs v Lakes United Seagulls (Kurri Kurri Sportsground)
Wyong Roos v South Newcastle Lions – COVID draw
Western Suburbs Rosellas v The Entrance Tigers – COVID draw
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