The Macquarie Scorpions will look to make inroads in getting their 2026 season back on track when they face the visiting Entrance Tigers in Saturday’s round five clash in the Denton Engineering Cup.

The Scorpions have acquired the signature of former Knights lower grader and Lakes United halfback Jack Kelly, who also had a small stint at Central Newcastle. Kelly had previously retired from top flight football, opting to start the season with Windale in the NHRL alongside best mate Dylan Phythian.

“Yeah, had a call from Jye Bailey on the weekend. I’ve heard a lot of players speak so positively about him, so I thought why not,” said Kelly, who helped steer Lakes United to the 2018 Grand Final.

“It’s probably the last place I expected to be at the start of this season, but life is about experiencing new things. I’m looking forward to working with Jye and value adding to the team out there. It’s certainly a change of scenery, as Lakes is all I’ve known for so long.”

Kelly is regarded as one of the better game-managing halves in the competition and is a competent defender in the front line, something the Scorpions will need following the in-season departure of Luke Walsh last weekend.

For the Tigers, Jake Woods will be looking to leave Toronto with a win as he celebrates his 100-game milestone for the club. Entrance Tigers superstar fullback Tony Pellow paid tribute to Woods’ service to the club.

“Woodsy is the heart and soul of the Tigers. He’s absolutely my first bloke picked every week. He does all the tough stuff off the ball, all the tough yardage carries. His actions speak louder than any words could, and you can see that with his level of investment in the place. It’s an absolute privilege to go to war alongside him every week.”

In other matches this weekend

Lakes United vs Kurri Kurri | Saturday 3pm, Cahill Oval

Both teams are coming off a draw in this one, with Lakes stealing a point from heavyweights South Newcastle, whilst Kurri held on for a draw with a very strong Tigers outfit at the Graveyard. The home side will be high on emotion as they look to honour club stalwart Nick Glohe in his 200th match, whilst the Bulldogs are yet to win a match and would have had this one earmarked for two competition points at the start of the season.

It will be interesting to see if Campbell Woolnough is a late inclusion onto the Bulldogs interchange bench.

Lakes hung tough last week despite managing a significant injury toll, and Kurri kept landing blow after blow on the Tigers but couldn’t find the knockout punch. This will be a battle of attrition, with Lakes slightly holding the upper hand in what should be an emotion-filled day at Cahill Oval.

Central Newcastle vs Cessnock | Saturday 6pm, St John Oval

The Butcher Boys are flying high in the competition and come into this match with momentum off the back of last week’s win against Western Suburbs. Central have won three of their last four night fixtures at St John Oval, with it becoming somewhat of a graveyard for visiting teams under lights.

Last year’s grand finalists Cessnock have managed just one win thus far in 2026, against a lowly ranked Macquarie side in Round 2, but anyone who has watched their matches would still maintain they aren’t far off breaking the shackles and have simply lost a few key moments.

The key for Cessnock will be to take the Butcher Boys on through the middle third, with Luke Huth getting their key middles onto the football with momentum.

Western Suburbs vs Maitland | Sunday 3pm, Harker Oval

The Rosellas have consistently had their wings clipped, certainly not something most pundits expected heading into Round 5. But Wests, very much like Cessnock, are not far away. A few key moments, on top of a few officiating decisions, certainly went against them last week.

Western Suburbs will be well and truly up for the task this week — make no mistake about that.

Maitland are beginning to have their depth tested following a significant run of injuries over the past few weeks, and this shapes as a great battle through the forwards where neither side will give an inch.

The battle in the halves between young guns Luke Knight and Aiden Storrie against experienced veterans Sam Clune and Brock Lamb shapes as one of the showpiece matchups of the weekend.

South Newcastle vs Northern Hawks | Sunday 3pm, Townson Oval

Souths have started the season with momentum and are still yet to drop a match. Reeve Howard is a big inclusion into a very talented backline highlighted by the likes of Glanville, Fowles and Jacob Afflick.

The Hawks had to defend Luke Huth last week, but it’s an entirely different assignment with Mitch Black, who is as cunning an opportunist as they come. Souths also possess a major attacking wave down the left edge highlighted by Lachie Fitzgibbon, making this a difficult defensive assignment for any side.

The Hawks are the surprise packet of the NEWRL in 2026. In a system that continues to build on consistency, continuity and effort, head coach Steve Simpson seems to have found a formula capable of lifting the club out of the cellar.

Hardworking forwards Higgins, Ogden and Campbell, paired with the attacking brilliance of Ryan, Myers and Saunders, make this match one of the most interesting of the round.

One thing remains certain — if the Hawks nail this one, they are absolutely genuine contenders.

For more sports stories:

• Knights wary of Dragons leading into McKinnon Cup fixture
• A landmark year in charge for Milligan at the Jets
• Newcastle scores bigger slice of Hockey One action in 2026

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