The Newcastle Rebels opened their NSWRL Country Championship title defence with a 48-16 win at the expense of Monaro at Seiffert Oval at the weekend.

The Hunter-based outfit ran in eight tries to three over their highly-fancied opponents in a dominant display, with many onlookers appreciating the return of the “cinnamon and emerald green” playing strip, which hasn’t been worn by the senior representative side since June 2006.

But, Rebels coach Garth Brennan certainly wasn’t getting carried away with the victory post-match.

“We certainly need to be better with our second halves,” he said.

“I thought we lost our composure a little bit at times and it’s something that we will look to address prior to our next hit-out.

“We were a little lucky in patches as we had a few 50/50 calls go our way.

“However, we can take a lot out of that.”

Newcastle opened the scoring in the sixth minute when prop Zac Montgomery pounced on a loose ball 10 metres out from the Colts line and, with a display of footwork more reminiscent of Luke Knight, he managed to cross for the opening try to out the team ahead 6-0.

Soon after, Rebels hooker Luke Huth turned a half-chance into four points as he took a run opportunity to beat three defenders and finish with a one-handed slam down to make it 12-0 to Newcastle.

The Cessnock number nine set the platform for the side early, playing with his customary deception, control and tempo.

Newcastle’s third try was very Melbournesque when Huth went to Ryan Glanville, who squared up the defender and continued with the in-ball to Cal Burgess, who found his Maitland teammate Knight backing up on the inside.

The latter ran 30 metres to score and make it 18-0.

The body language of the Colts was now very telling.

Jacob Afflick had his work cut out for him to register Newcastle’s fourth consecutive try as a left-edge backline movement went through Glanville to Knight and then onto Afflick, who must have had his confined spaces ticket.

With only millimetres to work with and a right-arm carry to boot, he took the contact of the cover defender and somehow stayed in the field of play to ground the football for a 24-0 scoreline.

Connor Williams got Monaro on the board in the 26^th minute after taking an intercept to drag it back to 24-6.

Newcastle responded a short time later when Liam Wilkinson dived on a loose ball to stretch the lead to 32-6 at the main break.

Monaro scored early in the second half when Liam Oakley went for a run down a four-on-three blindside where a kick was put in for Earldric Pehara, who pounced on the ball to score in the corner.

That made it 32-10 in the start their coach would have been looking for.

It was now or never for the Colts.

Newcastle reasserted its ascendancy 10 minutes later when Jacob Afflick recorded his second try — taking some contact to the head in the process — with Reid Alchin featuring in the lead-up with some nice work to put a dampener on any comeback plans the Colts had. Newcastle led 38-10.

The Rebels’ next try was about desire.

Alchin capped off an outstanding game playing big minutes, barging his way over the tryline leaving defenders in his wake before crocodile-rolling out of an attempt to hold up the Kurri forward to get the football down over the line. Newcastle 44–10.

Pat Achurch was next to get in on the tryscoring action thanks to some great lead-up work from Cessnock playmaker Angus Ernst, who was consistently dangerous with the football and had his hand in a number of key moments in the match.

He threw the final pass for Achurch to go over in the south-eastern corner to make it 48-10.

The Colts scored a consolation try nearing the siren to make it 48-16 to the defending champions.

TD’S TAKEAWAYS

• Huge call, but Luke Huth is the best player in major competition football in New South Wales. If the Knights were ever in trouble, he could do that job and exceed expectations
• Reid Alchin’s game is defined by his toughness, but his skill level would have to be up there with the best back-rowers in the competition. His catch-pass is better than most centres
• The true capacity of Angus Ernst was on display on Saturday behind a pack that gives him space. If the Cessnock engine room can replicate that this season, between him and Huth they may be able to lead the Goannas to that elusive grand final win. Loved how he continued to play on-ball on either edge, making life easier for Ryan Glanville
• Justin Afflick continues his ascension into the realm of one of the leading props in Newcastle — not just off the back of this performance but his consistency all last season in a Souths side that had a rough year. So, deserving of a representative jersey
• Luke Knight looks as though he belongs on a featherweight boxing card and is a freak of an athlete, proving once again that our game isn’t driven by body type. What a performance
• Ryan Glanville doesn’t seem to age. He showed great patience and lets the game come to him. Tough assignment in defence when he has the size of a back-rower and the strength of a prop

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