Rugby League is back for 2024, and with a mixed bag of results from the weekend.
Greater Northern Tigers Under 16 and 18 sides completed their country championship rounds with differing results at Narromine’s Cale Oval on Saturday.
The Cody Tickle-coached Under 16 Tigers completed their Andrew Johns Cup season with a 52-10 loss while the Darryl Rando-coached Under 18’s beat the Rams 30-6.
In the early game the Tiger 16’s started well but struggled as the game unfolded, said Cody Tickle.
“We started well but made some errors, but it was all about playing. The campaign has been tough at times,” he said of a five-game losing season.
“They have learned a lot though,” he said of what has been a learning and development year.
Backrowers Charlie Smith (Scone) and Casey Milton (Aberdeen) were standouts, the pair of Group 21 teenagers earning good praise from their coach for their talent and hard work.
“They are both good ball runners with good hands,” Tickle said.
The Darryl Rando-coached 18’s also started well but continued on with a good, defensive effort scoring six tries to continue their unbeaten season.
“We defended really well today,” Rando said after the match.
“Played with some good field position.”.
Samuel Carr crossed for two of the Tiger’s five tries while Zane Groves, fullback Reece Josephson and prop Nate Rothall were outstanding, Rando said.
“Our two centres were also very good,” he said of Cooper Meldrum and Samuel Carr.
The Tigers now have a weekend off to prepare for their final against Macarthur.
“We’ get a couple back,” Rando said of a side which will be waiting on the fitness of five-eighth Jackson Smith and availability of captain and halfback Jordan Hamlin.
“Jackson hurt his shoulder in the last tackle of the game,” Rando said.
“Jordan got sent off for knocking a players hand off his jumper. He’s been charged with striking.”
It has left the Tiger coach flabbergasted and feeling heavily disappointed for his halfback.
Laurie Daley Cup Under 18 Results
GREATER NORTHERN TIGERS 30 (Samuel Carr 2, Braydon Allan, Keandre Johnson-Vale, Nate Rothall tries, Dylan Keane 5gls) d WESTERN RAMS 4 6 (Hunter Mooney try, Cooper Black gl).
ANDREW JOHNS CUP UNDER 16 Results
WESTERN RAMS 52 (Taj Jordan 3, Ravai Tulevu 2, Jai Ashby 2, Callum Miskell 2, Kemp Riches tries, Jordan 5, Miskell goals) d GREATER NNORTHERN TIGERS 10 (Oliver Milsom, Casey Milton tries, Hamish Adamthwaite goal).
Kootingal Trial Vs Gulgong
Meanwhile, the Kootingal Roosters scored impressive trial wins in their Ladies League Tag, Under 18 and first grade men’s trials against Gulgong Terriers at Kootingal Oval on Saturday.
The Jeff Faint-coached Ladies League Tag won 54-6, the Aaron Cotter-coached 18s won 36-6 and the Mark Sheppard-coached first grade squad won 28-10 against the Clayton Cup-winning Terriers.
Jeff Faint described his LLT side’s success as “a really good win”.
“Gulgong only had 11 and a lot of our team are getting ready for the Oztag State Cup,” Jeff Faint said.
“We only had a little bit of rustiness. I just told them to get out there and do what you do.”
Kynesha Fuller was one of the stars, starting at fullback and then moving to centre/link.
Faint said she is growing in confidence and understanding her abilities.
Monique Corbett was another to impress along with Madi Roach and Kayla Todd.
“It was a good effort, we’re a young team and we didn’t put ourselves under too pressure,” he said of a side now tackling Singleton in a trial at Singleton this Saturday.
The Aaron Cotter-coached 18’s impressed early.
“We’ve picked a few new players, so it was good to get them to gel and reconnect,” Aaron Cotter said.
“We lost our discipline a little in that second third after a good start and that’s something we’ve got to work on, apart from that they all communicated well.”
“They worked for each other. It’s a good lead-in to next week at Singleton. That’s a strong comp.”
The Mark Sheppard-coached Rooster first grade side then excelled with new hooker Anders Glew and young prop Jasper Thistle outstanding.
Glew starred at hooker, scoring a try with his lightning bursts from dummy half a highlight while young prop Jasper Thistle was extra strong in attack and defence.
“He and Archie (Jasper’s brother) have been training really hard,” Mark Sheppard said.
“Been doing extra sessions and just been thriving in the environment. He and Archer have got some good people around them too.”
“It could be a big year for Anders too. Going from 13 to 9 (hooker).”
He also thought Adam Darlington and “Yum Yum” excelled along with new winger Sean Barnes.
“He made some good runs,” Sheppard said of Barnes.
Assistant coach, Logan Howard, said the trial success was a result of “everyone ripping in” at pre-season training.
The only disappointment was an injury suffered by Jack Rumsby.
“He’s been training hard and that’s a bit of a shame,” he said of the injury.
“But that also opened the opportunity for Brayden (Jerrard) to play fullback too.”
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