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A TRIP TO MAGIC ROUND ❘ WESTS TIGERS TEAM POSTER ❘ ROUND

SHAUN JOHNSON ❘ LYNNE ANDERSON ❘ MATT SCOTT ❘ API KOROISAU + MORE SEVEN

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Volume 100. No.7.

April 25-May 1 2019
Twitter & Facebook:
@ bigleaguemag

.
.

the
VILIAME UNDER
KIKAU PRESSURE
His journey Why an early
to rise to new coach change
heights is far is usually for
from over the worst
1017AM WEEKDAYS 5:30AM

YOU DECIDE WHAT

WE TALK ABOUT
@bigsportsbrekky
THE BIG SPORTS BREAKFAST

Title hopes slipping
through cracks
T
HERE has been much talk
surrounding Newcastle’s attack
and, more specifically, their spine.
However, Fox League commentator Ben
Ikin believes the Knights’ biggest issue
is, in fact, their defence. The Knights,
without victory since Round 1, conceded
38 points against the Gold Coast Titans
last Sunday, and it’s that result that has
Ikin concerned. By DARCIE
“I see their issues less about what McDONALD know that when we sign up for the job
@DarcieMcDonald
they do with the ball and more what they
do without it,” Ikin told Big League.
“I just don’t think any side should be having
that many points put on them against a team
who has been clearly struggling themselves.
When I look at the Roosters, the Storm, the
Raiders and the Rabbitohs, they’re at the top of
the table because… when they don’t get it right
in attack they’ve got this resilience and structure
that’s really holding up in defence.”
A one-and-five start to the season isn’t
a death sentence for premiership hopes, but Ikin
says it will be hard to fight back from. He does,
however, have faith that the Knights can play
finals footy if key players find form.
“It’s going to be hard to see them winning
a premiership from here,” he said.
“I think their goal for 2019 was to play finals
and that’s certainly within their reach. They just
need their best players quickly playing their
best football and to get their defence right. If
they can get that part of their game solid, it
gives them some breathing space to get them
where they need to be in attack.”
Knights fans have been patient during the
rebuilding phase, but now that the club has the
roster to be serious premiership contenders,
KICKING MARIA
OFF TSIALIS
E ARLY-SEASON coach sackings are not
exactly a rarity in the modern game.
Though you get more instances of a coach
having the ‘full support of the board’ by
Round 20 before being unceremoniously
canned a couple of weeks out from the end of
the season, we have recently seen Steve Price
(Dragons, 2014), Matt Elliott (Warriors, 2015)
and Jason Taylor (Wests Tigers, 2017) feel the
wrath of club and fans alike early in the piece.
This week we examine the idea that
even though that seems satisfying in the
short-term, it actually doesn’t bode well for
a team during the season, or in fact the year
following (read more on page 20).
At the moment, there is plenty of
pressure on Nathan Brown – who has been
given plenty of leeway from long-suffering
Knights fans – and Anthony Seibold, who has
quickly found Broncos fans, who are used to
success, demand results quickly.
Seibold hit back at critics following
Sunday’s loss to the Raiders, saying: “When
you’re going through tough times that’s
when you see who is really a rusted-on
supporter and who is dedicated to the
cause, this is an easy time for people to have
a free shot at the Broncos.”
Whether or not a coach meets an early end
to their tenure in 2019 is yet to be seen, but
there should be no more excuses. I’m sure we have plenty of drama ahead of us.
Coach Nathan Brown has come under
fire for the dismal start to the season,
but he isn’t letting the critics worry him.
“Last year Ricky Stuart and Brad
S OMETHING fun to start the season
has been the form of the Raiders.
Their English imports are off to incredible
Arthur were apparently the worst starts and their defence, which has
two coaches in the world and [now caused many Green Machine fans pain
Stuart’s] running first and I think Brad’s and suffering over the past couple of
somewhere near first. These are the years, has been rock-solid. They play
things that we all deal with and we the Roosters and Rabbitohs in the next
month, which will be a great indication
and you lose some games, you’ve got to of their premiership prospects.
cop your medicine and I’ll understand there will
be plenty of critics coming at me now,” he said.
“I know it’s not personal, it’s just the job
we’re in and with these games I’ve got to cop
my medicine and a few of the players need to
cop a bit of stick along the way, but we front
up to work, we work hard and get the players FEATURES
competing well and it’ll turn around.” 10 BEN HUNT
While there’s been no official word from the 16-17 ANZAC LEGENDS
club that they are looking for a replacement 18-19 VILIAME KIKAU
coach, Ikin says the board will be keeping their 20 COACHES UNDER PRESSURE
options open. 21 API KOROISAU
“You always have to be considering your 22-23 LYNNE ANDERSON
options as a board – it’s irresponsible otherwise.
You’ve got to hold your nerve and you’ve got to
look for signs that the coach you’ve currently UPFRONT 3-15
got may not be able take the club to where it CLUB NEWS 26-29
needs to go,” he said. LITTLE LEAGUE 30-31
“The Knights right now need to be
looking at Nathan Brown and giving him NRL TEAMS 36-51
OTHER COMPS 52-56
PHOTO: NRLPhotos.com
every ounce of support that they can, but
at the same time responsibly considering RESULTS 56-57
that maybe he may not be the man to finish
the job. I’m not saying that’s the case, all
DRAW 62
I’m saying is that’s the question that needs COVER PHOTOS: NRLPHOTOS.COM
to be considered.”
Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 3
Gould’s departure no
surprise to Penrith greats
By MICHAEL BLOK Geyer believes Gould’s departure
would benefit Cleary moving forward.

P ANTHERS legends Ryan Girdler and
Mark Geyer believe it was inevitable
General Manager of Football Phil Gould
would depart the club following the
return of coach Ivan Cleary.
Gould’s tenure at the foot of the
mountains came to an end this week
after he met with Panthers CEO, Brian
Fletcher, having requested a redundancy.
He was the man who had originally
sacked Cleary, and although the pair
denied any lingering angst, Girdler
says it was easy to see the working
relationship between the two would be
difficult, adding that the news of Gould’s
departure didn’t come as a surprise.
“When the board appointed Ivan
Cleary last year, they must have
expected this to happen at some point
given the relationship between Cleary
and Gould,” Girdler told Big League.
“So I would be expecting the
club to have a plan already in place
moving forward.”
Gould was once responsible for
making all the decisions at the club,
however when the board overlooked his
coach of choice, Wayne Bennett, last
season in favour of Cleary, it became
clear the power balance had shifted.
“The writing has been on the wall ever
since he didn’t get Wayne Bennett as
coach at the club,” Geyer told Big League.
“He gets his man all the time, and the
fact that he was denied that, that was the
writing on the wall back then.”
“I think Ivan wants total autonomy as
a coach, but to have a strong presence
of Phil Gould around the club, it’s pretty
hard to concentrate on the job at hand
when you’ve got him looking over your
shoulder,” he said.
Although Gould’s stint at the club was
tumultuous at times, it will be remembered
as successful, according to Geyer.
“The past eight years of control was
successful. He built the club back up with
the centre of excellence, juniors and
made some great recruitment decisions.
Any club that has Phil Gould is a respected
club and that was the case with Penrith.
“His history with the club goes back
40 years and he needs to be respected.
‘Gus’ should be very proud of the legacy
he’ll leave – as a player, coach and an
administrator. Most Penrith fans will
remember Gus fondly and that’s a good
way to go out.”
Gould had indicated early this year his
role at Penrith was coming to an end and
on Tuesday he informed the board of his
intention to leave the club.
“Phil was adamant that his position
as Executive General Manager of Rugby
League has become redundant and his time
at Panthers is at an end,” Fletcher said.
“While there will be opportunity for
further reflection once matters are
formalised, I wish to acknowledge the
extraordinary impact Phil has had on this
club since returning as executive general
manager in 2011.”

Form to dictate future at Parra

PHOTOS: NRLPhotos.com: Scott Davis (Bolton), Keegan Carroll (Leilua); Newspix (Gould)
By MICHAEL BLOK “I love this club and it’s my The way they’ve been carrying
priority to stay here so hopefully we themselves is something we’re all

W ITH more than half the
Parramatta Eels’ squad
off-contract at season’s end,
Tim Mannah says the onus is on
the players to perform to secure
their futures.
The veteran prop, who is also
off-contract beyond 2019, denies
players are distracted due to
contract negotiations.
“I think we’re professional
enough to know that our fate is in
our own hands,” Mannah told Big
League. At the age of 31, Mannah
is yet to contemplate retirement
and has told the club he wants to
remain a one-club player.
can work something out,” he said.
“I definitely want to play on. The
body feels great – it’s the best I’ve
felt for many years.”
Star players Mitch Moses and
Clint Gutherson are the club’s top
priority to re-sign, and Mannah
said retaining the pair would be
a huge boost.
“We love both of them and
want both of them to stay at
the club, but I’m not going to
get caught up in talking about
contracts because it’s none of my
business,” the prop said.
“They’re young but the reality is
they’re two of our senior players.
really proud of.”
Moses indicated he wants to
remain at Parramatta next year, but
said he’s in no rush to re-sign.
“I’ve got full faith in my
management,” Moses said. “Last
time I re-signed it was a shambles,
so I’ve learned to block it all out
and just play footy.”
Eels off-contract: Daniel Alvaro,
Bevan French, Clint Gutherson, Josh
Hoffman, George Jennings, Michael
Jennings, Oregon Kaufusi, Manu Ma’u,
Tim Mannah, Matt McIlwrick, Tepai
Moeroa, Mitch Moses, Marata Niukore,
Kaysa Pritchard, Ray Stone, Brad
Takairangi, Peni Terepo, Greg Leleisiuao.

Cowboy John Asiata will make his 100th NRL appearance. �� Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell has scored four tries in his

4 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

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Photo by Gregg Porteous/NRLPhotos.com

T WAS certainly a day to remember for the

IEels with the opening of Bankwest Stadium
on Easter Monday. It was a romp for the
home team against the Wests Tigers, with
the likes of Mitch Moses, Clint Gutherson and
Michael Jennings running riot in the 51-6
victory. Moses scored the first try, and kicked

8 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

the first goal and the first field goal on the
new ground, and will go down in the history
books for his efforts.
THE WAY HUNT
I SEE IT! GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

And another
thing... I can’t wait
for the game against
the Roosters. It’s
such a proud moment

As a
to play on Anzac
Day, and last year’s
result – a 24-8 victory
for us – was such an
amazing spectacle

player,
to be a part of.
That said, it’s going
to be a completely
different game to
our meeting last
year. We were the

stability
ones heading into
Anzac Day in better
form in 2018, but
the Roosters are
definitely the

is key
in-form team in
the competition
at the moment
and they’re playing
a very exciting brand
of football.
Defensively they’re
outstanding because
everyone works as
a team, so it’s hard
to find any gaps in
their defensive line.
The key for us is
not letting them get
a lead like they did
against the Storm.
We have to get in the
grind from the get-
go to keep them in
reach, because once
they get on a roll,
they can score tries
pretty quickly.

T
HERE has been a lot of talk about the effect
coaching uncertainty can have on a playing
group. From my past experiences, I can
tell you it’s much better to know what’s going on
rather than heading into training unsure whether
the man with the clipboard will be there next year.
Our coach at the Dragons, Paul McGregor, was
recently re-signed on a two-year deal, and I’m
really looking forward to building on what we’ve
started since I joined the club in 2018.
‘Mary’ played an important role in getting
me to the Red V, and I’m glad he did. The
is going to best suit the style of football they’re
playing means a lot.
Since joining the club, I’ve seen his plans play
out. We’ve got a certain game plan down here
and he wanted me to execute that, but he also
wants me to play my style of footy with that off-
the-cuff ability that augments the structure we
have. I like what we’re building towards, and it’s
great that Mary has at least a couple more years
to oversee it.
As a coach, he’s a guy I really enjoy
playing for. He loves talking to his players
coaches when they’re off-contract, but this time
it was quite under the radar. His future was never
really spoken about by any of the players or staff.
It was all systems go as if nothing was happening.
He then mentioned that he’d signed at a morning
meeting and we were straight onto our next job.
While it’s great to have a settled environment
at training, I’ve been on the other end when
things are a bit more clouded. As a player, it’s
extremely important to have that stability. I was
in a position at Brisbane with coaching changes
and things like that mid-year, and there was a lot
PHOTOS: Jason O’Brien/NRLPhotos.com

club came and met with me first, and after the
initial discussion, I came down to Wollongong
and met him, and he told me the direction
the club was going and the style of footy he
wanted me to play.
He gave me a lot of confidence, sharing what
he thought of me and how he wanted me to play
my game, so I felt really comfortable playing for
him. To have a coach badly want you to come to
a club because he knows your style of football
and I find him really easy to have a conversation
with. He asks me about things and he’s also open
to my ideas if I think I’ve seen something that
might work. I always feel he’s pretty positive
around training, and he loves getting around
the boys and having a chat with everyone.
That makes the work environment more
relaxed and enjoyable.
Even when his future was up in the air, you
wouldn’t have known it. I’ve been around a few
of uncertainty. That naturally takes a toll on
the players because your focus isn’t entirely on
the game at hand.
It’s hard to speak for other clubs whose
coaches are off-contract, but for players who
are off-contract or on the fringe of playing first
grade, it’s a very nervous time because that
coach may like you, but if he’s sacked then you’re
unsure whether the new coach will want you in
their plans.

10 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

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With the Anzac Day clash transferred to the SCG, it’s only appropriate to
recall the fastest send-off in rugby league history, which occurred the last
time an Anzac Day clash was played at the storied venue. By NEIL CADIGAN
I
T was April 25, 1986 and South
Sydney, the ladder-leaders,
took on the reigning premiers
of 1984-85, Canterbury, in the
eighth-round clash. There was
a big crowd with high expectations
of a tough encounter between two
of the game’s most established
hard-nosed forward packs.
With the scene set by the
tradition of a minute’s silence
and The Last Post, the crowd
roared as the Bulldogs kicked off.
Strongly built Rabbitohs winger
Ross Harrington returned the ball
to the middle of the field, only to
be met by the swinging right arm
of Bulldogs prop Peter Kelly, which
collected Harrington under the
chin and sent him sprawling to the
ground. Referee Mick Stone had
no hesitation in sending Kelly off
– from the first tackle of the match!
As he jogged towards the
dressing rooms, Kelly reached the
bugler, who was still walking from
his pre-match salute. The military
man actually opened the gate to let
Kelly through. His stint had lasted
six seconds.
Kelly also jogged past Bulldogs
chairman Barry Nelson, who was
walking off and wasn’t aware
of what had happened. Nelson
said to him, “What’s happened,
Kel? Forgot your mouthguard?”
Kelly, arguably the toughest
enforcer of the 80s, has had
to live with infamy ever since.
However, two things are too
conveniently overlooked
because of that incident.
The first is that, despite his
reputation, this was the only
time in Kelly’s 142-game career
that he was sent from the field.
And what is also forgotten about
that day is that it was one of the
Bulldogs’ greatest victories. They
won 26-2, with man of the match
Terry Lamb setting up three tries.
Canterbury’s pack boasted
internationals Paul Langmack,
Steve Folkes, David Gillespie,
100
CELEBRATING
YEARS OF YARNS
Each week of our 100th year,
Big League will reflect on the
stories that have captivated
and impacted on the great
game of rugby league.
Paul Dunn and Kelly, up against
hard nuts like Les Davidson,
Michael Andrews, Ian Roberts
and Mario Fenech.
Andrew Farrar, who scored two
tries in the victory, remembers the
build-up vividly.
“Souths had a rough-and-tumble
pack and Mario came out and said
Souths’ pack was tougher than
ours. So ‘The Wok’ [coach Warren
Ryan] plastered the newspaper
clipping on the dressing room at
training and said, ‘They’re putting
up a challenge’. That was the focus
all week, so it was always going
to be on.
“I remember Mick Stone saying
‘Oh Kel… I have to send you off.’
Like all of us, he was shocked.
Kel was tough as they come, but
he wasn’t a dirty player. It might
have been Folkesy [Steve Folkes]
who said ‘I don’t think they’ll send
another one off, so let’s get into it’.
It was a tough match.”
Kelly, who played twice for NSW
and was regarded as the best prop
never to represent Australia, was
suspended for four weeks, but may
have had a stroke of luck when he
fronted the judiciary.
Committee chairman Jim
Comans, nicknamed ‘The Hanging
Judge’ for the massive suspensions
he had handed down since 1980,
had resigned a week earlier. John
Riordon filled in for Comans when
Kelly fronted.
In the remaining seasons of his
career, Kelly was never sent off
and was suspended just once –
for four weeks after being cited
for “attacking the head of an
opponent”. That opponent was
Roosters skipper Paul Vautin.
The irony is that it was to be
Kelly’s last first-grade appearance.
He succumbed to a back injury
PHOTO: Newspix
later that season during his
third year with Penrith, weeks
before the Panthers won their
first premiership.
Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 13
 UPCOMING ROUNDS

A different type Kick for $1 million

of chocolate
A group of legends spent their Easter Sunday
doing something a little different to devouring
Easter eggs. A Gold Coast Invitational team
that featured Preston Campbell, Clinton Toopi,
Nathan Friend and Ben Hannant took on the
Titans Physical Disabilities Rugby League team
in an exhibition match at Cbus Super Stadium.
Despite a late inclusion of Jarrod Wallace to the
invitational team, it was the Titans PDRL team
that ran away with a 16-4 win. Liam Reen was
awarded man of the match after a wholehearted
display to help his team get the chocolates.
James out for season
Just when the Titans turned a corner with
results on the field, they’ve hit some bad
luck with a season-ending injury to captain
Ryan James. The gun forward suffered a
serious knee injury in the Gold Coast’s win
over Newcastle and is out for the year.
at Magic Round
The NRL officially launched the Youi
Million Dollar Kick in Brisbane last week,
a competition giving one superfan from each
NRL club and a Youi customer the chance
to win $1 million during Magic Round. The
event will take place on Wednesday May 8
at King George Square, Brisbane in front of
a live crowd. Each superfan can either kick for
the cash themselves or elect to have a club
representative kick on their behalf.
Valentine’s Day
It’s been a big couple of months for Valentine
Holmes, but the former Sharks fullback had the
night of his life during the Easter long weekend
when he married long-time girlfriend Natalia
O’Toole in Townsville. While all the focus has
been on his move to the USA, the wedding was
the perfect reminder that there is a life away
from sport for our star athletes.

JUDICIARY WATCH
Briton Nikora Dangerous Throw Viliame Kikau 1 Early plea 1 game
Sharks Panthers
N Asofa-Solomona Contrary Conduct J Waerea-Hargreaves 1 Early plea $1,350
Storm Roosters fine
Brad Parker Tripping Euan Aitken 1 Early plea $1,150
Sea Eagles Dragons fine
Luke Brooks Dangerous Throw Reed Mahoney 1 Early plea Nil
Wests Tigers Eels

four tries in his past four games against the Panthers. �� Broncos five-eighth Anthony Milford will play his 150th NRL game. �� Manly have won two of their past 10 games at Lottoland.

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 15

This Anzac Day, the Roosters will pay tribute to a premiership-winning
soldier who is finally getting the recognition his heroic efforts on the
field and front-line deserve. By DAVID MIDDLETON
F
RED May was the Luke Keary of 1940;
a premiership-winning No.6 from Eastern
Suburbs who helped steer the club to
a second competition decider the following
season. Aged 24, May enlisted in the Australian
Army in January 1942 and three years later he
was killed in action in New Guinea.
But unlike most prominent league men who
gave their lives for their country, May received
little recognition in the years that followed.
Most former players who paid the supreme
sacrifice have been well documented in
newspaper articles and club histories.
The recent centenary of World War I brought
to light the stories of many of the men who were
once idolised by the public on the sporting fields
of Sydney and Brisbane, and who later gave their
lives for their country.
Former players killed in World War II, such
as Jack Lennox, Peter Hickey, Len Brennan, Jack
Redman and Spencer Walklate, have featured
prominently in print and have been honoured
through the years. Lennox, for instance, had
a schoolboy competition named after him,
while the Peter Hickey Cup featured in the
Brisbane premiership for many years following
World War II. It was a different story for May,
whose family – including son Jeff, who was three
when his father died – could never understand
why his name was left off memorial rolls and
effectively forgotten by rugby league.
Perhaps the sporting public was numb
with grief at the constant listings of dead
and wounded. By early 1945, the war had
dragged on for almost six years and few
had the stomach for more bad news. Also,
after Easts lost to St George in the 1941
final, Fred and his young family moved to
Newcastle where Fred became publican
at Hamilton’s Kent Hotel before enlisting.
Another factor was the retirement of
Eastern Suburbs’ long-term secretary
John Quinlan in 1944. It’s hard to believe May
would have been forgotten had he remained
on the scene.
May had a rugby league pedigree, too.
His father, William, had played first grade at
Glebe and was a contemporary of Immortal
Frank Burge. May played his early football with
St James Sports Club at Glebe, which became
a junior club of Balmain after the Dirty Reds
Forgotten
were eliminated from the premiership in 1929.
16 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven
May shifted residence to the eastern suburbs
in the late 1930s and played his way into first
grade when he was 22, figuring in all of Easts’
games on their way to the 1940 premiership
victory over Canterbury. The glory days of
Easts’ 1930s were waning, and captain-coach
Dave Brown missed the final through injury.
Easts’ strength lay in their forwards, where
Kangaroo stars Joe Pearce, Ray Stehr, Andy
Norval and Harry Pierce formed the nucleus of
an imposing pack.
May and halfback Sel Lisle were instructed
to play to their forwards and both won praise
for their unselfish efforts. A year later, Easts
returned to the final, but despite the same
pairing in the halves, the return of
Brown at centre, and Pearce and
Stehr remaining up front, they
were no match for a St George
team that claimed the club’s
first top-grade title.
It was before the 1940 decider running along a razorback. The
that May earned his first taste of enemy had the track covered by
representative football, turning one of their Juki heavy machine
out for a Combined Metropolitan guns and by another lighter,
team (effectively City Seconds) automatic weapon. Corporal
against Combined Newcastle F.R.May, Privates R.M.White and
at Newcastle Sports Ground. R.C.Gordon were killed.” Four other
City and Country (Firsts) met in privates were wounded, one dying
the annual clash at the Sydney of his wounds within a week.
Cricket Ground on the same day. News of May’s death was
May continued in rugby league reported in the Sydney press
even after enlisting in 1942. He turned out 10 days after the attack. The Sydney Morning
for the 2/3 Machine Gun Battalion that lost Herald afforded three lines buried deep
to the 2/3 Infantry Battalion in the 6th Division within a rugby league column, while the Daily
rugby league grand final of 1944. Telegraph at least accompanied four lines of
In 1945, May’s battalion was involved in news relating to his death with a sub-heading,
the “long and exhausting” Aitape-Wewak ‘League Player Killed’.
campaign on the north coast of New Guinea. Thankfully, the Roosters of 2019 have
By March of that year the Japanese were on a coach with a deep regard for history. On
the defensive and operations were described hearing that a premiership-winning former
as a “mopping-up campaign”, with troops player who gave his life for his country had
emptying the heavily forested, mountainous been effectively overlooked, Trent Robinson
region of the remaining enemy forces. did not hesitate to reach out to the family.
Author John Bellair, whose book From Snow May’s son and grandson (pictured) will be
to Jungle describes the history of the battalion, honoured guests at the Anzac Day clash at
stated: “When [the Japanese] attacked they the Sydney Cricket Ground and were invited
fought well, though their supply problems of to attend the Captain’s Run and meet Roosters
rations and ammunition was becoming serious.” players before the game.
He described May’s fate in an attack that Recognition has been a long time coming
took place on a jungle track. “On 13 March, but finally, Fred May will no longer be rugby
a 10 Platoon patrol was ambushed on a track league’s ‘unknown soldier’.
 Kiwi league
touches base
R UGBY league’s heart beats with
ANZAC spirit, but April 25 takes on
extra significance for one New Zealand
club in the Canterbury district.
Founded in 1984, the Burnham
Chevaliers are based around the
Burnham Military Camp and compete
in Canterbury Rugby League’s third-tier
Division One competition, which they
won in 2015 and 2018.
Scraping together numbers each
Saturday can be tough for any club,
but the Chevaliers have the unique
challenge of the camp’s ‘operational
tempo’ dictating player availability.
“I understand the difficulty in
fielding a team from a player base
whose professional career determines
which training area, city or country they
could be in,” says CRL CEO Duane Fyfe,
whose 22 years in the NZ Army included
high involvement with the Chevaliers.
But the team is not made up strictly
of players in active service.
“Everyone thinks it’s an army team,
but many of our players come from
the nearby Rolleston area or are ex-
servicemen. The civilian sector fills out
our side,” Chevaliers president, Warrant
Officer Bari Henry, tells Big League.
The club boasts several high-
achieving juniors. Broncos halfback
Kodi Nikorima, his brother Jayden and
Warriors utility Jazz Tevaga had their
first taste of footy with Burnham while
their fathers were based at the camp.
“[Kodi and Jayden’s father, Calley]
is a good mate of mine. We played and
served together,” Henry says. “Jazz’s
father was a big part of the club. It’s
great to see those boys doing well.”
Henry’s son, Brackin Kaurauria-
Henry – who played junior footy against

soldier
Fred May and the 2/3 Lewis Brown and Setaimata Sa – was in
Machine Gun Battalion.
Cronulla’s system, before playing Super
Rugby for the Brumbies and Waratahs.
Joseph Taipari, whose dad represented
Canterbury and starred in the Chevaliers’
famous reserve grade grand final win in
1999, is a promising five-eighth with the
Eels’ Jersey Flegg side.
Burnham also fields a team in the
CRL Women’s Premiership. Their ranks
include playmaker Cassie Siataga,
who is vying for a spot in the Warriors’
2019 NRLW squad.
– WILL EVANS
 Fitting After a pre-season injury halted his
rapid rise, Viliame Kikau spent time giving
back as he awaited his NRL return.
F
ROM a fringe first-grader to one
of the biggest names in the NRL,
Viliame Kikau’s life has changed
dramatically over the past 12 months.
This time last year the Penrith talent
was just starting to find his feet in first
grade. Now he’s one of the most damaging
forwards in the game and among the most
popular players going around.
Although he’s now one of the stars By MICHAEL I could hear the crowd and feel
of the game, ‘Billy’ will always be that
@michaelblok26
humble and friendly guy from Fiji with
a family-first attitude.
“During pre-season I was thinking about how
far I’ve come in a year,” Kikau tells Big League.
“At the same time last year I wasn’t even sure
if I was going to make the bench for Round 1.”
Throughout his first full season in the
NRL, Kikau was exceptional. Charging down the
left edge, the Fiji international was an absolute
wrecking ball, destroying defensive lines
and leaving players in his wake. It could
take up to four or five defenders to bring him
down, and he quickly gained a reputation for
turning games on their head.
The scariest thing for defenders is Kikau
believes he is yet to reach his best.
PHOTOS: Grant Trouville/NRLPhotos.com (Main); Instagram (family); Gregg Porteous (Injury)
IMPERFECT START:
Kikau suffered a medial
ligament injury in
a pre-season trial.
18 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven
“I have one goal this year and that’s
to get even better,” Kikau declares.
“I think my game can go to a new
level. The main focus is to be better
and more consistent.”
The 24-year-old thoroughly
enjoyed last season as he realised
he belongs in the NRL.
“Every time I made a big run
BLOK the atmosphere,” he says.
“It was unreal to play in front
of big crowds week-in, week-out.
I loved the added expectation and the hype
of the build-up during the week.”
And he loved playing in some of the
biggest games of the year.
“When we got to the finals, it was
unreal,” he says.
“It was an amazing atmosphere when we
played the Warriors in the first week of the
finals, and that Cronulla game was a whole
new level. I enjoyed every minute of last year.”
FALSE START
Training in Penrith throughout the summer is
no easy feat. Hours of running, repetitive drills,
the Bill
beep tests and more running in 40-degree
heat isn’t much fun.
After enduring a tough pre-season,
players get the reward of running out for
Round 1 when the season kicks off, but
things didn’t go to plan for Kikau.
After an impressive
off-season, he suffered
a serious knee injury
just minutes into the
first trial game of the
year. An ACL injury
was originally feared,
but scans revealed he
had suffered a Grade
II medial ligament
injury to his right
knee – ruling him out
of the opening month
of the competition.
“It was pretty
hard watching from
the sidelines, especially because we weren’t
playing well,” Kikau says.
“We train our hearts out in pre-season, trying
to get fit and everything. To get injured in the first
trial after just a few minutes was heartbreaking.”
Not only did it take a physical toll on his body,
it affected him mentally.
“It gets in your head,” he says.
“I had to speak with some of the trainers.
They make sure we’re doing OK mentally
when we’re injured.”
During his time on the sidelines, the
club granted him some time away from
Penrith to visit his family in Fiji.
“I was blessed to get that trip back to Fiji
when I was injured. It was a blessing in disguise.”
FAMILY FIRST
For Kikau, family will always come first,
no matter what.
On his return to Fiji, the Panthers forward
revealed his biggest inspiration – his brother
Jope – in a moving video with NRL.com.
Jope was a talented rugby union player who
had left home at the age of 19 to travel New
Zealand to pursue his sporting dreams.
But in 2010, Jope’s life changed forever when
he was rushed to hospital where he had to
undergo surgery for an epidural abscess
(spinal infection). When he woke up
his body was completely numb,
and he’s now bound to
a wheelchair.
“I hadn’t
told anyone
about
my brother – I had tried to keep it on the
down-low,” Kikau says.
“Every time things get tough or training
is hard, I think about my family and my brother
– I’m living his dream.
“I’m trying my best to play the best footy
for him and do my
family proud and
keep that dream alive.”
Jope may be his main
inspiration, but Kikau
says his entire family
drives him to succeed.
“Family means
everything to me,”
the forward says.
“They’re the driving
force in my career.
DRIVING FORCE: It’s hard to be away
Kikau (third from right)
with his family.
from my family, so
everything I do, I do
it for them.
“I have nieces who shout out every time
I’m on TV or when the Panthers put something
up on the internet.”
GIVING BACK
Blessed with an amazing life and the opportunity
to play in the NRL, Kikau wants to give back.
Having grown up in a small village in Fiji, he
and his family didn’t have much. Now that he’s
made it as a rugby league player on a decent
contract, Kikau wants to help his family.
“To live this life I’ve been blessed with,
all I can do is give,” Kikau says.
“Even though we don’t have much, we make
sure we share. That’s how we were brought
up; the more you give, the more you get. That’s
what I want to do.
“When I went home in the off-season, I was
able to give away boots and lots of leftovers for
kids back home who are struggling to get stuff
like that. That was gold for me.”
As well as supporting his family back home,
Kikau wants to give back to the people of Penrith
and the club for giving him his opportunity.
“I love helping out at schools, doing clinics or
anything to help the community. I make sure I put
my hand up and do that for the club,” he says.
“I want to do everything I can for the people
of Penrith and the Panthers. The club gave me
the opportunity to be where I am today, they
gave me the opportunity to play the game
I dreamed about as a little kid.
“Everything I do, I want to give back to the
club and the fans.”
He’s one of the nicest guys in the NRL, but
when Kikau takes to the field, he’s one of the
scariest propositions to face.
Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 19
PHOTOS: Tim Hunter (Taylor), Brad Newman (Smith); NRLPhotos.com/Mark Nolan (Koroisau)
After a drawn-out recovery from injury, Manly hooker Apisai Koroisau is thrilled to be
building a solid job-sharing partnership with Manase Fainu. By MARTIN GABOR

I
MITATION is considered the sincerest Koroisau’s fine form in 2019 has been made weeks. I was on crutches for about three months
form of flattery, but the Sea Eagles have more remarkable by the fact he missed the after that and I couldn’t put much weight on my
shown that uniqueness can be just as effective back-end of last season with a serious foot foot,” he says.
in the modern game. injury that no-one saw coming. “They had to build an arch in my foot again,
In 2019, the common theme among the The setback occurred during the Round 14 so everything sort of changed after that. My
top six teams is that they operate with an loss in New Zealand, but it was considered return to training wasn’t as easy as I’d hoped.
80-minute hooker. In contrast, the Sharks’ relatively minor given there weren’t any I had to wear special shoes with orthotics and
Brailey brothers have shown split duties can tell-tale signs to suggest a long-term stint a lot of my pre-season was just rehab with foot
work, but it’s the form of Api Koroisau and on the sidelines. exercises. I didn’t even start proper physio
Manase Fainu on the northern beaches that Instead, Koroisau missed the rest of 2018 treatment until November, and that was four
best highlights the benefits of having two and suffered a hampered pre-season as he or five months after I did it.
talented rakes in your squad. continued to recover from what turned out to be “I h
Koroisau, the more
the two, has st
has set th
that belie
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It takes two Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 21

 Starting aga
Driven by a new board and modest goals, the Bulldogs
know what it will take to restore the proud club to its
place as an NRL powerhouse. By MATT ATTARD
PHOTO: Brianne Makin (Anderson); Nathan Hopkins/NRLPhotos.com (Pay)
22 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven
W
HEN cracks appeared in the walls
at Belmore, a quick repair job wasn’t
going to cut it. Instead, some obvious
changes needed to take place.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, a proud
and courageous club, has fallen on tough times
following major salary cap issues and a complete
overhaul of management and coaching staff.
But fear not, Bulldogs fans, for there is a woman
in power who has a vision for the future, someone
who intricately knows how the Bulldogs work best.
While success may be a few years away, you can
take solace in the fact that Chair Lynne Anderson
and the rest of the club hierarchy are doing
everything in their power to take the Bulldogs back
to where they belong.
“If we build the house right it can sustain
a tornado or whatever it might be,” she says.
“For me, the house that we have at Canterbury
was built on our values, our culture, our proud
history and our commitment to helping our
community. That’s our long-term play.”
Daughter of Peter ‘Bullfrog’ Moore, Anderson
says there are things that can go against any club
that are out of their control.
“The main thing for us is that we’re true to
what we know,” she says. “That’s the essence
of the Bulldogs, it has been for many years.”
The essence Anderson speaks of is the club’s
culture, which famously surrounds being ‘the
family club’. But what exactly does that mean?
“I often think that people laugh when we call
it a family,” she says.
“The best way to explain it is there have been
so many players over the years who play with us
and then go to other clubs, but they all come back
to club events, happy to share in great memories
and friendships forged at the Bulldogs.
“I’ve heard them say that every player should
play one year at Canterbury to know what a good
club is about. That’s the best thing you can have
said about yourself.”
Although Anderson admits there have been
times the Bulldogs haven’t been a good club.
“I point to Melbourne when I use this analogy of
being ‘built right’. Melbourne, when they started,
had the best of both worlds, with key input from
Broncos and Canterbury people, because those
clubs were the benchmark at the time,” she says.
“They went through some really tough times in
their own history, but they bounced back pretty
quickly, didn’t they?”
When Anderson and Co inherited what could
only be described as ‘a mess’ at the end of 2017,
she and the board sat down to sort through the
rubble and organise a plan of attack.
“We had a look at the things that needed
improving. The first thing was the critical issue
– the salary cap,” she explains.
“That took most of our focus last year. But we’re
setting that up by saying to this team that we want to
in
give you the opportunity
to be the best you can be.
“It means not just
putting a team together,
but surrounding
yourself with expert,
professional people off the field.
“In the off-season we got two of the best in
Dave Givney, the Australian team doctor, and
Tony Ayoub, who was previously with the club
as well as the Kangaroos.”
The club also appointed Yvette Davy, whose
husband Scott played under Bulldogs legend
Chris Anderson.
“Yvette is there to make sure that our top 30 are
looked after,” Anderson says.
“If we are bringing players to Sydney who
aren’t from here, or their partner may have two
kids but has no network in Sydney, we’ll help them
settle in. Our time in Melbourne taught me that it
can be very lonely with the boys away so much.
“That’s a really important piece for me, because
it shows that our culture starts from the ground
up. The players know that they’ve come to
a family that will help them settle in.”
While the Bulldogs are working their way
through a strategy, fans should show patience
similar to the way Newcastle fans rallied around
Nathan Brown despite several wooden spoons.
Anderson knows there are many stages to be
reached along the way – Rome wasn’t built in a day.
“One of the things involved in implementing
change has been to review our recruitment
and retention. Within that we are looking at
both our juniors and the development areas
like the mid-North Coast,” she says.
“The other thing we did last year was review
our governance. By governance I mean we have
made changes in how the board operates.
“I have looked at that and thought ‘you know
what? We have to change a few things with our
football club’ – so we have regular sub-committees
happening and on each one there is a director. It’s
not one person flying off to make the calls.
“We have a great board and I cannot tell you
how wonderful our discussions are. They’re
robust and we don’t always agree, but that’s
the sign of good, mature business isn’t it?”
Although the start to the season has been
less than ideal, Anderson admits they have set the
bar very high.
“We must make sure that you know that if
you come here, there is an absolute standard
that is expected,” she says.
“Our goal in 2019 is to make our fans
proud, be competitive and continue working
towards where the Bulldogs should be. We
know the first few games weren’t good enough,
the boys know they need to address that. 
“We’re a much better team than [we were in]
those games and we need to show it. They’re
a really good group, they’ve really put in
during the off-season. 
“Clearly there’s work to do, but I know none
of them will shy away from that. What is key is
that we have been in this position before due
to our individual histories with the club. 
“We know there is no quick fix for long-term
success. We know how to tough it out. That’s in
the Bulldogs’ DNA. 
“But the whole place is getting energised
and, as I said, we are looking at what we need
to make this the best club in Australia. But that
will take time.”
 WIN A WEEKEND
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May 9-12, 2019
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 IN-FORM five-eighth Cody
Walker is happy with how
his side is travelling. The
Rabbitohs have only lost one
game this season – to the
Sea Eagles by one in golden
point – but the 29-year-old
says there’s still room for
improvement.
“We’re five and one – that’s
awesome – but we know we’ve
got a lot to improve on and we’ll
be looking forward to doing
that against the Panthers,” he
told Big League.
“They’ll be very hungry for
a win. We do know that they’re
a quality side with quality players
across the park and they’re
going to come out firing.”
Walker’s impressive
performances have seen his
name thrown around in State
of Origin talks. He’ll face
last year’s New South Wales A FRANK James Maloney says his
halves Nathan Cleary and side must address its decision-
James Maloney this weekend making after slumping to
in a perfect opportunity to a fourth loss from six starts.
prove his worth to Blues The Panthers held a comfortable
coach Brad Fittler, but Walker 14-point lead over the Sharks last
only has eyes on his job for week, only to self-implode as their
the Rabbitohs. opponents stormed home to claim
“I don’t think you go into any a stunning 24-20 victory.
game looking at those sort of “I think we’re taking the wrong
things. You go into games just option too many times,” Maloney
focused on doing your job for said. “We’re not mentally tough
the team and you don’t get enough at the moment and not
personal with those things. working hard enough. There are
Origin takes care of itself and all sorts of other excuses you can
my job is to focus on my role come up with about combinations
for the Rabbitohs.” – DM and missed opportunities and
stuff like that.
“But there are too many times
when we look at the video that,
across the board, we are taking
JOSH Dugan has praised right-edge partner
PHOTOS: NRLPhotos.com: Grant Trouville (Walker), Gregg Porteous (Xerri, Maloney, Bankwest Stadium),

soft options and that needs to

Bronson Xerri (right) for bouncing back
change.” – MARTIN GABOR
from a horror night against the Roosters
to spark his side’s second-half surge in
a crucial win over the Panthers.
The rookie centre bombed two tries against
AFTER suffering their fifth loss
the defending premiers in Round 5, putting
and recording their worst start to
down the ball with no-one around him, but
a season this century, the Broncos
he shrugged off the pain to scorch Penrith’s
have copped plenty of criticism.
Asanka Brendon Ratnayake (Mitchell, Smith), Nathan Hopkins (Frizell)

defence for an eye-catching four-pointer. However, coach Anthony Seibold

“I don’t think he was ever going to get isn’t letting it get to him and
tackled. He’s probably the quickest at the club knows the club’s true supporters
and it was good to see him confident enough to will stick with the club.
back himself,” Dugan told Big League. “When you’re going through
“He had a bad night with his hands, but he tough times, that’s when you see
bounced back well. Those games happen, and who’s really a rusted-on supporter
I texted him straight after the game and told and who’s really dedicated to the
him that’s what happened to me in Round 1. cause,” Seibold said.
Sometimes you’re timing is a bit off and you put “It’s probably an easy time to
a few balls down, but you don’t go out there to have a crack at the club. But the
make errors. thing that I’ve seen in my short time
“I think he felt down just because he’s (here) is how much of a resilient
a young kid and he doesn’t want to let bunch they are and if they’re
anyone down. You could see it in is body willing to be patient through the
language, but he handled it well and really tough times, they’ll get some joy.”
stood up against Penrith.” – MG – DARCIE McDONALD

26 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

 LATRELL Mitchell lived out a childhood dream
when he snapped a field goal in golden point
to seal a dramatic win over the Storm, adding
another highlight to his already impressive CV.
With Luke Keary off the field due to a head
knock, everyone – including the defence –
assumed star halfback Cooper Cronk would
step up to sink his former side. Instead, the
Roosters faked it and shifted to Mitchell who
nailed the left-foot shot from a tricky angle to
seal the 21-20 result.
It now makes the Tri-colours a triple threat
when lining up for a one-pointer; a scary
proposition for the Dragons this week given the
attacking arsenal at their disposal.
“I kicked one when I was a junior, but that’s the
second game-winner in my life,” Mitchell said.
“My mindset was that I’m there to take the
shot if Cooper wants me to and the ball came
straight to me. I practise a lot at training and
[when I’m] just mucking around. I’ve always SKIPPER Cameron Smith says
dreamt of kicking a field goal to win and I got his side must arrest their slow
my opportunity.” – MG starts in the wake of their
heartbreaking golden-point loss
to the Roosters.
Melbourne headed into the
EELS prop Tim Mannah says he’s thrilled game as the only unbeaten side in
to have started the season with four wins the NRL, but went down in extra
from six games, but warned his team- time after giving away an early
mates not to get carried away. 20-point lead.
“We understand it’s only Round After fighting back from early
6 and there’s still a long way to go,” deficits against the Bulldogs and
Mannah told Big League. Cowboys in recent weeks, the
“After last year, when it took us seven Storm’s Round 6 defeat highlighted
games to get a win, to be 4-2 this time is the need for fast starts.
a great result. They’ll be hoping for a repeat of
“We’re happy with how we’ve started the last year’s Anzac clash against the
season, but we need to make sure we back Warriors, which saw them shoot to
it up… against Newcastle.” a 38-0 lead at the break.
Mannah also believes playing at the new “We were disappointed with how
Bankwest Stadium (pictured) will be an we started the match and that’s
advantage for the club this season. been a bit of a trend for us over the
“It really feels like home and we are past couple of games; a trend we’re
going to take advantage of having a great trying to fix,” he said.
stadium,” he said. “When you give a side like the
“It was awesome [playing there against Roosters a 20-point headstart,
Wests Tigers]. It went exactly how we it’s hard to peg back.” – MG
wanted it to go – we’re really pumped.
We want to make this our own home and
we’ve started perfectly.” – MICHAEL BLOK
NORTH Queensland outside back
Justin O’Neill described his side
as “gusty” after they beat the
Warriors to record their second
REPRESENTATIVE forward Tyson Frizell is set to win of the season.
wear a protective cup for the rest of the season With a 2-4 record after six
as he continues to recover from surgery for rounds, the Cowboys are just one
a ruptured testicle. win outside the top eight.
Frizell suffered the injury against the Cowboys in “It was a great gutsy
the Red V’s season opener, but made an earlier-than- performance,” O’Neill said after
expected return just three weeks later. last Saturday’s 17-10 win in
While he will be fit to play without protection in the New Zealand.
coming weeks, the star back-rower says he’ll retain the “We were coming up against
cup for the rest of 2019 so he doesn’t have to worry a big side and we knew it was going
about the risk of copping another blow. to be a physical game, and that was
“It is a little bit uncomfortable during training but going to be the challenge. The boys
once you get out and start playing, you don’t really really stepped up and the points
worry about it,” Frizell said. came when we stayed in the grind.”
“I will probably end up playing in it for the rest of the The Cowboys will be looking for
year just for my head. I know it is well protected and I will consecutive victories when they
probably only have to wear it for another two or three face the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium
more weeks, but for myself, I just want to wear it.” – MG on Friday night. – MB

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 27


AFTER conceding 51 points
against Parramatta, the Tigers
need to make dramatic defensive
improvements when they face
the Titans on Saturday, according
to coach Michael Maguire.
“That’s what defence is all about,
how you turn up together and how
you connect, and we didn’t do that
[against the Eels]. We just didn’t
turn up and put our shoulders in
and we’re all accountable for that…
we’ll need to be better.”
With a short turnaround this
week, Maguire says the players will
need some soul-searching.
“We have to look inside, look
at us. [They’re] the ones out on
the field. The players have to be
honest with what we expect of
each other.” – MB
Gregg Porteous (Harawira-Naera), Jason O’Brien (Peachey), Mark Nolan (Koroisau), Scott Davis (Stuart).
PHOTOS: News Corp Australia: Phil Hillyard (Maguire); NRLPhotos.com: Grant Trouville (Tuivasa-Sheck),
IN the space of six weeks, the
Warriors have had four different
halves combinations as well as
three different hookers. The
instability in the spine could be
to blame for their slow start to
the season, but captain Roger
Tuivasa-Sheck says it’s no excuse
for their performances.
“[Changes] are a part of the
game. It’s a long season; players
get injured, some players go out
and other players come in. But we
back everyone [and] I’ll continue to
support whoever comes into the
spine,” he said.
“Everyone’s got a job to play
and they’ll come in and do their
job. It’s about just fixing those
combinations and [making sure we]
keep growing.” – DM
28 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven
DESPITE his club’s underwhelming start to the year, new Bulldogs
recruit Corey Harawira-Naera has his eyes set on finals footy.
However, with the Bulldogs sitting at the bottom of the ladder and
desperate for their second win, Harawira-Naera knows time is
running out.
“It’s getting to that stage where we really need to start winning
games. We’ve got a young team but we can’t use that as an excuse now.
We’re six games in and everyone’s starting to run away at the top of the
table, and that’s where we want to be,” Harawira-Naera told Big League.
The former Panther expects Friday’s match against the Cowboys to
be a close one given the visitors have also been underperforming and
will be looking to kick-start their season.
“It’s a big game against the Cowboys. They’re struggling like we
are – we’re both pretty desperate to just get our season started again,”
Harawira-Naera said.
“It’s going to come down to a completion game. It’s been our
strength early on in the season, but the last few games we’ve dropped
the ball – our attitude has been there to defend it, but we’re going to LIVEWIRE rake Apisai Koroisau
have to be on. Desperation footy is pretty hard to defend, both teams has backed his big men to
will be throwing the ball around trying to look for some points.” – DM maintain the rage against
Canberra’s skilful pack during
this weekend’s crunch game
at Lottoland.
While Manly’s forwards can
intimidate sides with their size and
aggression, the Raiders have opted
for a more lightweight front six to
run their opponents ragged.
The Sea Eagles matched it with
the Dragons’ star-studded forward
pack last week, and Koroisau is
confident his team-mates can
put in a similar performance
on Sunday.
“Our forwards have shown that
we can match it with the biggest
and most agile packs in the game
and that’s the challenge again this
week,” he told Big League.
“The Raiders have a very mobile
pack, but I know our guys will
stand up and will be ready for the
contest.” – MG
UTILITY Tyrone Peachey is a must to retain his
Origin jumper this year, according to Garth Brennan.
The Titans coach praised Peachey (left) after
the NSW representative played three different
positions to cover for injuries during their Round 6
win over Newcastle.
“I spoke to him at half-time and said sorry for
chopping and changing him from one side to the other
and back and forth, but he said ‘coach, I’ll do whatever’s
best for the team’. That’s why I’m sure [NSW coach Brad
Fittler] will be watching and seeing that he is the best
utility in the game and has to be in his Origin team,”
Brennan said.
The former Panther played all three games for the
Blues off the bench last season, and as much as he’d
love to retain his place in the side, he says he’s only
focused on the Titans at this stage.
“I’m not really thinking about that at the moment,”
Peachey said. “If we’re playing good footy at the Titans
all that stuff will come with it.
“I haven’t been playing that [well] this year. I’ve been
going all right these last two weeks, happy to come away
with a couple of wins, and hopefully we can keep that
momentum going.” – MB
 Compiled by Ben Everill

COACH Ricky Stuart has put the

Raiders’ dramatic improvement
on 2018 form down to the group
getting older. His praise comes
after the club continued its
impressive start to the season,
delivering a solid performance
against the Broncos to make it
four wins on the trot.
“They’re a lot more mature
group this year and they’re an
easier team to coach this year
because there are individuals
growing up,” Stuart said.
“When that happens you don’t
have to ‘baby’ blokes as much.
When you’ve got a little bit of
depth, you don’t have to pat blokes
on the back; you can be a little bit
more honest to them when you
have to tell them the truth about
certain parts of their game.” – DM

BEHIND a trio of class middle

forwards, prop Daniel Saifiti
says he’s happy to bide his time
while learning from the best.
Saifiti admitted he’d love to win
a starting role, but knows he has
to be patient.
“Timmy Glasby, Jimmy [James]
Gavet and obviously David
Klemmer, they’re three world-class
middles,” Saifiti said.
“I’m younger. I wouldn’t say
I’m learning my craft – I know my
craft now – but I just want to play
consistent footy.
“If I have to stay behind those
three before I’m ... putting my hand
up, it is what it is, but I’m a firm
believer in [the idea that] you pick
yourself. I shouldn’t have to wait
for someone to play badly, I just
have to do my job coming off the
bench and I think things will fall
into place.” – MB

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 29

 Hopping along to the Easter Show
MATCH-UPS T HE 2019 Easter
Show was great. It
was open during every
state and territory’s
school holiday,
which gave us the
opportunity to mingle
with thousands of
fans from around
the country, and we
had such a fun time
doing so!
People had the
opportunity to
have a photo with
our NRL player
cut-outs, or with the oversized Authentic Rugby League ball
(#NRLEastershow2019). There was an NRL Mascot colouring
competition, with youngsters having the chance to colour in their
favourite team’s mascot with prizes given to the most impressive artists.
On top of this, NRL players and mascots from multiple clubs visited he
NRL activaion, which was exciting for everyone.
People also tested their passing skills with a ‘pass the ball’
competition each day. But the main attraction was the huge glass ‘ball’
with rugby league balls of all shapes and sizes inside. Participants had
the chance to guess how many balls were inside, with an opportunity to
win fantastic prizes for their school or junior club.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by!

30 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

Word Jumble

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 31

WEST
T
R
TIGER

BACK ROW (L-R): Jacob ob L

THIRD ROW: Mahe Fonua, Josh Aloiai, Tyson Gamble
mble,
SECOND ROW: Luke Garner, Chris McQueen, Oliver Clark, Kane
ne Br
FRONT ROW: David Nofoaluma, Russell Packer, Robbie Farah,
h, Be
TS
RS

2019
Liddle, Ryan Matterson, Robbie Rochow, Jock Madden, Josh Reynolds
, Alex Seyfarth, Ben Matulino, Paul Momirovski, Dylan Smith, Alex Twal, Henry Lealuga-Puhotau
radley, Matt Eisenhuth, Thomas Mikaele, Sam McIntyre, Michael Chee Kam, Esan Marsters, Robert Jennings
enji Marshall, Michael Maguire (coach), Moses Mbye (captain), Elijah Taylor, Luke Brooks, Corey Thompson
THE CHRIS KENNEDY
ANALYST NRL.com

Big name outs

Kalyn Ponga (71) shapes as a must-buy after his
third-straight 50-plus score at fullback.

THE UPSIDE

will rock the boat

The year’s best cash cow Briton Nikora (68)
had a wow of a second half after looking like
he’d have to go off injured late in the first half.
Sadly a one-game suspension means you’ll
need to replace the most popular player in
It was a great weekend for plenty of coaches, but injuries and Fantasy in your 17 this week.
suspensions will make this Anzac round tricky. There were hit-backs for players who had
disappointing Round 5 scores, including

T
HERE were plenty of huge scores in Round least 50 in all four Eels wins this year and at Cam Murray (63) and Aiden Tolman (59), who
6, which propelled many coaches past the 3.5 per cent ownership could be a point-of- was his usual workhorse best.
magical 1000-mark this week, but there difference option. But the best news of the week was the form
was still a sprinkling of rough news for a few Breakout star John Bateman (80) had yet of some fresh cash cows, including Payne Haas
gun players. another great score, Nathan Cleary (78) came (60) who played the full 80 in the middle for
good despite his team’s heartbreaking loss, Brisbane and Bronson Xerri (59) who finally
BEARER OF BAD NEWS Daly Cherry-Evans (73) is now the top-scoring produced what we’d been expecting since his
Getting the bad news out of the way first: player in Fantasy this year, Andrew Fifita (71) did debut three weeks ago. They each shape as
it was a rough week to buy Ryan James not look at all troubled by his dodgy hammy and great cash-down options this week.
(10) who sadly looks to be out long-term
with a knee injury, and it was a bad week
to captain Robbie Farah (8, concussion) or
even Jake Trbojevic (42) given the wealth of
better options on show. Both should bounce
HOT COLD
back in Round 7.
Score of the week went to Mitch Moses
with an outstanding 97. He has scored at

TALKIN’ SPORT
Hosted by Graeme Hughes
and featuring Gavin Robertson,
Brett Papworth and Peter Tunks,
Talkin’ Sport covers the major
rugby league and sport stories
every weekday from 3-7pm.
Covering Sydney, NSW and
south-east Queensland.
GAMEDAY

NEWCASTLE

12
KNIGHTS

GAMES IN A ROW
WITHOUT SCORING
20 POINTS
Much has been made of Newcastle’s
star-studded roster, but the early-season
hype hasn’t translated into points. The
Knights have failed to score 20 points
in any of their six games in 2019, and
they’ve only reached the figure once in
their past 12 games – a 20-12 win over
Penrith last year. The last time they
cracked the barrier was in Round 19,
2018 when they beat the Titans 30-24.
PHOTO: Paul Barkley/NRLPhotos.com

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 35

 V
P T G PTS P T G PTS

6 5 0 20 James TEDESCO 1 Matt DUFTY 5 1 0 4

6 4 0 16 Daniel TUPOU 2 Jordan PEREIRA 6 5 0 20

6 4 0 16 Mitchell AUBUSSON 3 Euan AITKEN 6 2 0 8

5 1 0 4 Joseph MANU 4 Tim LAFAI 6 2 8 24

4 2 0 8 Matt IKUVALU 5 Mikaele RAVALAWA 6 4 0 16

6 2 24* 57 Latrell MITCHELL 6 Corey NORMAN 6 0 0* 2

4 1 0 4 Cooper CRONK 7 Ben HUNT 6 2 0 8

4 1 0 4 Jared WAEREA-HARGREAVES 8 James GRAHAM (C) 6 0 0 0

2 1 0 4 Jake FRIEND (C) 9 Cameron McINNES (C) 6 1 0 4

5 1 0 4 Siosiua TAUKEIAHO 10 Paul VAUGHAN 6 0 0 0

6 3 0 12 Boyd CORDNER (C) 11 Tyson FRIZELL (C) 4 1 0 4

6 1 0 4 Angus CRICHTON 12 Tariq SIMS 6 0 0 0

6 1 0 4 Victor RADLEY 13 Blake LAWRIE 6 0 0 0

INTERCHANGE

3 0 0 0 Nat BUTCHER 14 Jeremy LATIMORE 6 0 0 0

6 0 0 0 Zane TETEVANO 15 Zac LOMAX 3 1 2 8

1 0 0 0 Sitili TUPOUNIUA 16 Jacob HOST 6 0 0 0

2 0 0 0 Lachlan LAM 17 Luciano LEILUA 5 0 0 0

RESERVES

5 0 0 0 Lindsay COLLINS 18 Mitch ALLGOOD 0 0 0 0

4 0 0 0 Poasa FAAMAUSILI 19 Jai FIELD 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 Brock LAMB 20 Lachlan TIMM 0 0 0 0

1 0 0 0 Sam VERRILLS 21 Jonus PEARSON 0 0 0 0

*Field goals: L Mitchell 1 *Field goals: C Norman 2

COACHES

PENALTIES SCRUMS Trent ROBINSON Paul McGREGOR PENALTIES SCRUMS

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 8 5 6 7 8 8
9 10 11 12 9 9 10 11 12 9
13 14 15 16 13 14 15 16

36 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

 GAME ONE: Sydney Roosters v St George Illawarra
DATE: THURSDAY, APRIL 25
VENUE: SYDNEY CRICKET GROUND
KICK-OFF: 4.05PM
REFEREE: BEN CUMMINS
2
line-breaks
in Round 6
ASSISTANT REFEREE: GRANT ATKINS
TOUCH JUDGES: TIM ROBY & TODD SMITH
SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: STEVE CHIDDY
REVIEW OFFICIAL: BEN GALEA
CHANNEL 9 & FOX LEAGUE: 3PM
LIVE RADIO: ABC, 2GB

STATS ROOSTERS DRAGONS

2nd (12) 6th (10)
161 120
102 108
ATTACK
28 20
70% 79%
18 16
6 4
4 0
DEFENCE
18 20
14 11
1 6
3 3
MATCH AVERAGES
5 3
3 3
27 20
17 18
172 179
321 343
1586 1571
13 9
9 10
4 4
75% 70%
HEAD-TO-HEAD
LATRELL MITCHELL
AT SYDNEY CRICKET GROUND

NRL Preview by DAVID MIDDLETON

WINNING FORM @Middleton_David

PAST 8 CLASHES
Dragons prepare to rise to big occasion
2018 – Sydney Cricket Ground
Thursday 4.05pm
2017 – Form: The Roosters have
established undeniable
2016 – credentials to successfully defend
their premiership this season
2015 – through a series of withering
performances that have led to
a five-game winning streak. Last
2014 – Friday’s effort against the Storm
was perhaps their finest hour,
BIGGEST HEAD-TO-HEAD WINS surging to a big lead, weathering
Melbourne’s comeback and then
closing out victory in golden point.
And they did it all under a heavy
injury toll. The Dragons have also
found form with four-straight wins
NEXT CLASH but three of the four have been
touch-and-go efforts.
History: At other times of the
year the Dragons have slumped
to seven-straight losses to the
Roosters but it is a whole different
story on Anzac Day, where
they have won eight of the past
11 encounters. Last year they
trounced the eventual premiers
24-8 in front of a record Anzac
Day crowd of 41,142. The Sydney
Cricket Ground will host this
traditional clash for the first time.
Danger sign: The Roosters have
demonstrated that they possess
attacking threats right across their
roster and Joseph Manu’s return
from a one-game suspension
will provide an added boost this
week. The Dragons will be heavily
focused on containing Latrell
Mitchell but too much attention
on him will open opportunities for
James Tedesco and Daniel Tupou
to power down the left. Halves Ben
Hunt and Corey Norman will hold
the key for the Dragons.
Best Bet? On recent form, the
Roosters look to be overwhelming
favourites but the big match
atmosphere rarely fails to bring
out the best in the Dragons. If the
Roosters prevail, the margin is
likely to be limited to 1-12 points.
Money-spinner: First Tryscoring
options include Tedesco and
Jordan Pereira, while Boyd Cordner
will offer good value.

HEAD-TO-HEAD LEADERS
CASUALTY WARD AVERAGE METRES AVERAGE TACKLES LINE-BREAKS
Cameron McInnes 48
Siosiua Taukeiaho 163 Jordan Pereira 5
Blake Lawrie 36
James Tedesco 157 Daniel Tupou 3
Paul Vaughan 34

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 37

 V
P T G PTS P T G PTS

6 1 0 4 Jahrome HUGHES 1 Roger TUIVASA-SHECK (C) 6 4 0 16

5 3 0 12 Suliasi VUNIVALU 2 Gerard BEALE 2 0 0 0

6 2 0 8 William CHAMBERS 3 Peta HIKU 6 2 0 8

5 2 0 8 Curtis SCOTT 4 Solomone KATA 6 2 0 8

5 4 0 16 Josh ADDO-CARR 5 Ken MAUMALO 6 3 0 12

6 2 0 8 Cameron MUNSTER 6 Chanel HARRIS-TAVITA 3 0 10 20

6 1 4 12 Brodie CROFT 7 Blake GREEN 4 0 0 0

6 2 0 8 Jesse BROMWICH 8 Agnatius PAASI 6 0 0 0

6 0 18 36 Cameron SMITH (C) 9 Issac LUKE 4 1 0 4

6 1 0 4 Nelson ASOFA-SOLOMONA 10 Leeson AH MAU 6 0 0 0

6 0 0 0 Felise KAUFUSI 11 Adam BLAIR 6 0 0 0

6 1 0 4 Kenny BROMWICH 12 Tohu HARRIS 6 2 0 8

6 0 0 0 Dale FINUCANE 13 Lachlan BURR 6 0 0 0

INTERCHANGE

6 0 0 0 Brandon SMITH 14 Jazz TEVAGA 6 1 0 4

6 0 0 0 Christian WELCH 15 Isaiah PAPALI’I 5 1 0 4

6 2 0 8 Tui KAMIKAMICA 16 Bunty AFOA 6 0 0 0

4 1 0 4 Marion SEVE 17 Nathaniel ROACHE 2 1 0 4

RESERVES

0 0 0 0 Patrick KAUFUSI 18 Hayze PERHAM 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 Billy WALTERS 19/20 Leivaha PULU 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 Albert VETE 20/21 Patrick HERBERT 0 0 0 0

3 0 0 0 Ryan PAPENHUYZEN 21/23 Chris SATAE 0 0 0 0

COACHES

PENALTIES SCRUMS Craig BELLAMY Stephen KEARNEY PENALTIES SCRUMS

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 8 5 6 7 8 8
9 10 11 12 9 9 10 11 12 9
13 14 15 16 13 14 15 16

38 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

 GAME TWO: Melbourne v Warriors
DATE: THURSDAY, APRIL 25
VENUE: AAMI PARK
KICK-OFF: 7.50PM
REFEREE: MATT CECCHIN
162
metres in
Round 6
ASSISTANT REFEREE: DAVID MUNRO
TOUCH JUDGES: LIAM KENNEDY & NICK MOREL
SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: JARED MAXWELL
REVIEW OFFICIAL: BRYAN NORRIE
CHANNEL 9 & FOX LEAGUE: 7.30PM
LIVE RADIO: ABC, TRIPLE M, CROCMEDIA

STATS STORM WARRIORS

1st (12) 10th (6)
132 118
73 141
ATTACK
22 20
78% 76%
14 12
6 7
2 1
DEFENCE
12 24
6 17
5 4
1 3
MATCH AVERAGES
4 3
2 4
22 20
12 24
182 163
333 353
1681 1531
8 10
9 14
4 5
79% 86%
HEAD-TO-HEAD
KEN MAUMALO
AT AAMI PARK

NRL Preview by DAVID MIDDLETON

WINNING FORM @Middleton_David

PAST 8 CLASHES
Warriors face powerful Storm surge
2018 – AAMI Park
Thursday 7.50pm
2017 – Form: It took a supreme effort
from the Roosters to halt the
2016 – Storm’s undefeated start to
the season last Friday night.
2015 –
After being exposed early in the
contest, Melbourne displayed
BIGGEST HEAD-TO-HEAD WINS outstanding character to fight
their way back into a winning
position and could easily have
NEXT CLASH snatched the result if things had
gone their way. The Warriors
have shown no sign of shaking
CASUALTY WARD off their tag as the NRL’s most
erratic and enigmatic performers,
sinking to their fourth loss
from five games against the
Cowboys last Saturday.
History: The Storm have taken
a stranglehold on this Anzac Day
contest, winning five of the past
six encounters. The Warriors
enjoyed early success at AAMI
Park and claimed one of the
club’s most famous victories in
a 2011 preliminary final but in
recent seasons, the Storm have
dominated. It is now five years
since the Warriors last won
in Melbourne.
Danger sign: The Warriors
contributed heavily to their own
demise with poor ball control
against the Cowboys last
Saturday and that will be the first
call of order from coach Stephen
Kearney this week. Unless
they can match the Storm’s
control they are unlikely to find
themselves in a winning position.
Fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
will need to produce something
from the top shelf to steer his
team to victory.
Best Bet? The Storm are rarely
beaten in back-to-back games
at AAMI Park and last week’s
result should ensure they are
fully focused for this clash.
Consider a Melbourne win
by 13+ points.
Money-spinner: Look to Josh
Addo-Carr and David Fusitu’a
for First Tryscorer or consider
the value option of Nelson
Asofa-Solomona.

HEAD-TO-HEAD LEADERS
AVERAGE METRES AVERAGE TACKLES LINE-BREAKS
Cameron Smith 43
Jahrome Hughes 170 Peta Hiku 3
Kenny Bromwich 37
Dale Finucane 131 Josh Addo-Carr 3
Isaiah Papali’i 34

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 39

 V
P T G PTS P T G PTS

4 0 0 0 Nick MEANEY 1 Te Maire MARTIN 6 3 0 12

4 1 0 4 Jayden OKUNBOR 2 Justin O’NEILL 3 3 0 12

6 1 4 12 Kerrod HOLLAND 3 Jordan KAHU 6 1 13 30

6 0 0 0 Will HOPOATE 4 Enari TUALA 2 0 0 0

6 4 0 16 Reimis SMITH 5 Ben HAMPTON 4 1 0 4

3 0 0 0 Jack COGGER 6 Jake CLIFFORD 4 0 0 0

6 0 0 0 Lachlan LEWIS 7 Michael MORGAN (C) 6 1 0* 5

6 0 0 0 Aiden TOLMAN 8 Matt SCOTT 6 0 0 0

6 0 0 0 Jeremy MARSHALL-KING 9 Jake GRANVILLE 6 0 0 0

4 1 0 4 Ofahiki OGDEN 10 Jordan McLEAN 6 1 0 4

6 0 0 0 Josh JACKSON (C) 11 Gavin COOPER 6 2 0 8

6 0 0 0 Corey HARAWIRA-NAERA 12 Josh McGUIRE 6 0 0 0

4 0 5 10 Rhyse MARTIN 13 John ASIATA 6 1 0 4

INTERCHANGE

6 0 0 0 Michael LICHAA 14 Kurt BAPTISTE 2 0 0 0

3 0 0 0 Danny FUALALO 15 Coen HESS 6 1 0 4

6 1 0 4 Adam ELLIOTT 16 Scott BOLTON 1 0 0 0

4 0 0 0 Chris SMITH 17 Francis MOLO 6 0 0 0

RESERVES

2 1 0 4 Christian CRICHTON 19/18 Corey JENSEN 3 0 0 0

2 0 0 0 Marcelo MONTOYA 20/19 Tom OPACIC 2 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 Fa’amanu BROWN 21/20 Jason TAUMALOLO 2 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 Renouf TO’OMAGA 22/21 Mitch DUNN 4 0 0 0

Field goals: M Morgan 1

COACHES

PENALTIES SCRUMS Dean PAY Paul GREEN PENALTIES SCRUMS

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 8 5 6 7 8 8
9 10 11 12 9 9 10 11 12 9
13 14 15 16 13 14 15 16

40 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

 GAME THREE: Canterbury-Bankstown v North Queensland
DATE: FRIDAY, APRIL 26
VENUE: ANZ STADIUM
KICK-OFF: 6PM
REFEREE: CHRIS SUTTON
33
tackles in
Round 6
ASSISTANT REFEREE: PHIL HENDERSON
TOUCH JUDGES: LIAM NICHOLLS & MICHAEL WISE
SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: HENRY PERENARA
REVIEW OFFICIAL: STEVE CLARK
FOX LEAGUE: 5.30PM
LIVE RADIO: ABC, TRIPLE M, CROCMEDIA

STATS BULLDOGS COWBOYS

16th (4)
70
156
ATTACK
13
80%
7
5
1
DEFENCE
27
18
4
5
MATCH AVERAGES
2
5
12
26
182
359
1580
7
13
3
69%
HEAD-TO-HEAD
GAVIN COOPER
AT ANZ STADIUM
NRL Preview by DAVID MIDDLETON
WINNING FORM @Middleton_David

Short shift likely for Bulldogs’ go-slow tactics

PAST 8 CLASHES
2018 – ANZ Stadium
Friday 6pm
2017 – Form: The Bulldogs remain
wedged to the bottom of the
2016 – competition ladder after going
down to the Rabbitohs on
Good Friday. Dean Pay’s men
2015 –
managed to stem the flood of
2014 – points they conceded against
2013 – the Dragons five days earlier
but their plan to slow the
Rabbitohs’ play-the-balls to
BIGGEST HEAD-TO-HEAD WINS a snail’s pace proved ultimately
futile. The Cowboys reversed
a run of four-straight losses
when they claimed a rare victory
in Auckland. The return of
experienced campaigner Scott
NEXT CLASH Bolton improved Paul Green’s
forward rotation and resulted in
a far more dominant display by
halfback Michael Morgan.
History: The Cowboys have
made up plenty of ground on
the Bulldogs over the past 15
years after winning only two of
the first 15 clashes between the
clubs. The overall record after
37 games favours Canterbury
22-15 but the Cowboys have won
five of the past six, including
the last two at ANZ Stadium.
The Bulldogs upset the Cowboys
27-10 in Townsville when these
teams last met (Round 6, 2018).
Danger sign: After testing the
patience of match officials last
Friday, the Bulldogs are unlikely
to be granted the same tolerance
this week. Faster play-the-balls
should open up the game for
creative men such as Lachlan
Lewis and Michael Morgan.
Best Bet? Both teams will be
preparing for a fast-paced and
high-scoring encounter this
Friday night and the confidence
of last week’s win in Auckland
may spur the Cowboys to another
winning effort. Look to a North
Queensland win by 1-12 points.
Money-spinner: Players to
consider for First Tryscorer
include Reimis Smith and
Te Maire Martin, while second-
rower Gavin Cooper shapes
as a good-value option.

CASUALTY WARD HEAD-TO-HEAD LEADERS

AVERAGE METRES AVERAGE TACKLES LINE-BREAKS
Aiden Tolman 38
Josh McGuire 171 Dylan Napa 2
Jake Granville 36
Aiden Tolman 143 Gavin Cooper 2
Rhyse Martin 33

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 41

 V
P T G PTS P T G PTS

0 0 0 0 Caleb AEKINS 1 Alex JOHNSTON 6 2 0 8

5 1 0 4 Josh MANSOUR 2 Corey ALLAN 5 1 0 4

6 0 0 0 Dallin WATENE-ZELEZNIAK 3 Kyle TURNER 5 0 0 0

6 1 0 4 Waqa BLAKE 4 Dane GAGAI 6 0 0 0

2 0 0 0 Malakai WATENE-ZELEZNIAK 5 Campbell GRAHAM 6 6 0 24

6 1 1 6 James MALONEY 6 Cody WALKER 6 6 0 24

6 1 14* 33 Nathan CLEARY 7 Adam REYNOLDS 6 0 23 46

6 1 0 4 James TAMOU (C) 8 George BURGESS 3 0 0 0

5 1 0 4 Wayde EGAN 9 Damien COOK 6 0 0 0

1 1 0 4 Tim GRANT 10 Thomas BURGESS 6 0 0 0

3 1 0 4 Viliame KIKAU 11 John SUTTON 6 0 0 0

5 1 0 4 Isaah YEO 12 Sam BURGESS (C) 6 4 0 16

6 2 0 8 James FISHER-HARRIS 13 Cameron MURRAY 6 2 0 8

INTERCHANGE

5 0 0 0 Sione KATOA 14 Junior TATOLA 6 0 0 0

2 0 0 0 Liam MARTIN 15 Mark NICHOLLS 6 0 0 0

6 0 0 0 Moses LEOTA 16 Ethan LOWE 6 2 0 8

6 0 0 0 Reagan CAMPBELL-GILLARD 17 Liam KNIGHT 4 0 0 0

RESERVES

2 0 0 0 Jarome LUAI 18 Bayley SIRONEN 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 Kaide ELLIS 19 Connor TRACEY 0 0 0 0

5 1 0 4 Dylan EDWARDS 20 Dean BRITT 0 0 0 0

3 0 0 0 Tyrell FUIMAONO 21 Mawene HIROTI 0 0 0 0

*Field goals: N Cleary 1

COACHES

PENALTIES SCRUMS Ivan CLEARY Wayne BENNETT PENALTIES SCRUMS

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 8 5 6 7 8 8
9 10 11 12 9 9 10 11 12 9
13 14 15 16 13 14 15 16

42 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

 GAME FOUR: Penrith v South Sydney
DATE: FRIDAY, APRIL 26
VENUE: PANTHERS STADIUM
KICK-OFF: 7.55PM
REFEREE: ASHLEY KLEIN
152
metres in
Round 6
ASSISTANT REFEREE: ZIGGY PRZEKLASA-ADAMSKI
TOUCH JUDGES: BELINDA SHARPE & RICKEY McFARLANE
SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: JARED MAXWELL
REVIEW OFFICIAL: BRYAN NORRIE
CHANNEL 9 & FOX LEAGUE: 7.30PM
LIVE RADIO: ABC, 2GB

STATS PANTHERS RABBITOHS

12th (6) 4th (12)
83 142
128 97
ATTACK
13 24
68% 77%
12 18
1 3
0 3
DEFENCE
22 17
16 10
4 7
2 0
MATCH AVERAGES
2 4
4 3
14 24
21 16
162 194
359 295
1372 1706
13 9
6 9
2 4
94% 72%
HEAD-TO-HEAD
CAMPBELL GRAHAM
AT PANTHERS STADIUM

NRL Preview by DAVID MIDDLETON

WINNING FORM
@Middleton_David

PAST 8 CLASHES
Rabbitohs wary of motivated opposition
2018 –
2017 –
Panthers Stadium
Friday 7.55pm
2016 – Form: The Panthers flipped
2015 – their entrenched record of poor
starts by vaulting to a 14-0
2014 –
lead against the Sharks last
2013 –
Thursday night, but it mattered
BIGGEST HEAD-TO-HEAD WINS little in the final outcome as
Cronulla finished over the top
to win 24-20. The Rabbitohs
NEXT CLASH won ugly against the Bulldogs
on Good Friday but they never
looked in danger of losing after
establishing an early lead.
CASUALTY WARD History: The Panthers rallied
from a 14-0 deficit to claim
an 18-14 victory when these
teams met at Panthers Stadium
early last season but that
result bucked a trend of recent
Rabbitoh dominance. Souths
had won seven of the previous
nine encounters leading into that
game. Penrith have won three
of the past four games between
these clubs at Panthers Stadium.
Danger sign: The Rabbitohs
continue to favour the left-side
attack that bore so much fruit
last season and winger Campbell
Graham has benefitted with
six tries from his opening six
games. Captain Sam Burgess has
worried the Panthers in recent
meetings and has achieved an
impressive tryscoring strike-rate
of his own, crossing four times
in his past four games against
them. Look for a much tougher
performance from the home team
after a largely apathetic opening
to their 2019 campaign.
Best Bet? The Rabbitohs will be
favoured to extend their strong
start to the season with another
victory but given the events of
the week, the Panthers should
be up for the contest. Look to
a Souths win by 1-12 points.
Money-spinner: Waqa Blake and
Campbell Graham shape as strong
options for First Tryscorer, while
powerful running forward Viliame
Kikau will offer good value.

HEAD-TO-HEAD LEADERS
AVERAGE METRES AVERAGE TACKLES LINE-BREAKS
James Fisher-Harris 44
Cameron Murray 145 Cody Walker 4
Sione Katoa 37
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 133 Cameron Murray 3
James Tamou 33

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 43

 V
P T G PTS P T G PTS

5 0 0 0 Moses MBYE (C) 1 Michael GORDON 6 2 15 38

6 2 0 8 Mahe FONUA 2 Anthony DON 5 4 0 16

6 1 0 4 Robert JENNINGS 3 Tyrone PEACHEY 6 0 0 0

6 0 15 30 Esan MARSTERS 4 Brian KELLY 6 3 0 12

6 3 0 12 Corey THOMPSON 5 Dale COPLEY 5 2 0 8

3 0 0 0 Josh REYNOLDS 6 Tyrone ROBERTS 4 3 0 12

6 0 0 0 Luke BROOKS 7 Ash TAYLOR 3 0 1 2

6 0 0 0 Russell PACKER 8 Shannon BOYD 5 0 0 0

6 3 0 12 Robbie FARAH 9 Mitch REIN 4 0 0 0

6 0 0 0 Alex TWAL 10 Moeaki FOTUAIKA 4 0 0 0

6 1 0 4 Ryan MATTERSON 11 Kevin PROCTOR 5 0 0 0

6 3 0 12 Luke GARNER 12 Bryce CARTWRIGHT 6 1 0 4

6 0 0 0 Josh ALOIAI 13 Jai ARROW 6 0 0 0

INTERCHANGE

6 1 0 4 Ben MATULINO 14 Phillip SAMI 3 1 0 4

5 0 0 0 Thomas MIKAELE 15 Keegan HIPGRAVE 3 0 0 0

3 1 0 4 Matt EISENHUTH 16 Max KING 5 0 0 0

6 2 0 8 Michael CHEE KAM 17 Jai WHITBREAD 2 0 0 0

RESERVES

1 0 0 0 Paul MOMIROVSKI 18 Jack STOCKWELL 1 0 0 0

4 0 0 0 Elijah TAYLOR 19 Will MATTHEWS 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 David NOFOALUMA 20 Jesse ARTHARS 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 Chris McQUEEN 21 Ryley JACKS 2 0 0 0

COACHES

PENALTIES SCRUMS Michael MAGUIRE Garth BRENNAN PENALTIES SCRUMS

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 8 5 6 7 8 8
9 10 11 12 9 9 10 11 12 9
13 14 15 16 13 14 15 16

44 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

 GAME FIVE: Wests Tigers v Gold Coast
DATE: SATURDAY, APRIL 27
VENUE: SCULLY PARK, TAMWORTH
KICK-OFF: 5.30PM
REFEREE: PETER GOUGH
2
tries in
Round 6
ASSISTANT REFEREE: JON STONE
TOUCH JUDGES: MARK BOHAN & KASEY BADGER
SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: STEVE CHIDDY
REVIEW OFFICIAL: BEN LOWE
FOX LEAGUE: 5PM
LIVE RADIO: ABC, 2GB

STATS TIGERS TITANS

ATTACK

DEFENCE

MATCH AVERAGES

HEAD-TO-HEAD
YRONE ROBERTS
AT SCULLY PARK, TAMWORTH

NRL Preview by DAVID MIDDLETON

WINNING FORM
@Middleton_David

PAST 8 CLASHES
Tigers in search of rural redemption
2018 –
2017 –
Scully Park, Tamworth
Saturday 5.30pm
2016 – Form: It didn’t help Wests
Tigers on the big occasion
2015 – of last Monday’s stadium
opening at Parramatta that
2014 –
they were missing their two
BIGGEST HEAD-TO-HEAD WINS most experienced players.
Benji Marshall watched from the
sidelines with a hamstring injury
while Robbie Farah lasted only
NEXT CLASH nine minutes after copping a head
knock. The Titans overcame hefty
odds to claim a second straight
CASUALTY WARD victory last Sunday, thrashing
the Knights by 24 points despite
a litany of injuries. They still have
plenty of ground to make up after
opening their campaign with four
losses, but successive wins will
do wonders for team morale.
History: The Titans have
achieved a 60 per cent winning
record against Wests Tigers, one
of their best results against any
opposition. Last year they scored
five tries to trounce the Tigers
30-12 at Leichhardt Oval, making
it five wins from their previous six
encounters. Wests Tigers were
beaten at the death by Newcastle
when they played in Tamworth
last year (22-20), while the Titans
will make their premiership debut
in the north-western city.
Danger sign: The Tigers will be
itching to leave last Monday’s
performance behind them and
a change of scenery and a short
turnaround may be the ideal tonic
for their Bankwest mauling. The
Titans will need to call on all of
their character to maintain their
winning run after losing skipper
Ryan James to a season-ending
knee injury.
Best Bet? Look for the Wests
Tigers to bounce back from their
thumping loss to the Eels with
a win by 1-12 points.
Money-spinner: Consider Corey
Thompson or Anthony Don for
First Tryscorer or for value, look to
Tigers back-rower Luke Garner.

HEAD-TO-HEAD LEADERS
AVERAGE METRES AVERAGE TACKLES LINE-BREAKS
Mitch Rein 45
Mahe Fonua 146 Corey Thompson 2
Robbie Farah 39
Michael Gordon 137 Michael Chee Kam 2
Ryan Matterson 35

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 45

 V
P T G PTS P T G PTS

6 0 0 0 Darius BOYD (C) 1 Will KENNEDY 1 0 0 0

6 6 0 24 Corey OATES 2 Sosaia FEKI 6 2 0 8

4 3 0 12 James ROBERTS 3 Bronson XERRI 3 1 0 4

6 2 0 8 Jack BIRD 4 Josh MORRIS 6 3 0 12

6 0 15 30 Jamayne ISAAKO 5 Josh DUGAN 6 3 0 12

6 0 0* 1 Anthony MILFORD 6 Shaun JOHNSON 5 1 11 26

6 2 0 8 Kodi NIKORIMA 7 Chad TOWNSEND 6 3 6 24

2 0 0 0 Payne HAAS 8 Andrew FIFITA 6 1 0 4

6 1 0 4 Andrew McCULLOUGH 9 Jayden BRAILEY 6 0 0 0

6 0 0 0 Joe OFAHENGAUE 10 Matt PRIOR 6 0 0 0

6 1 0 4 Alex GLENN 11 Scott SORENSEN 3 0 0 0

6 2 0 8 Matt GILLETT 12 Kurt CAPEWELL 6 0 0 0

4 1 0 4 Tevita PANGAI 13 Paul GALLEN (C) 4 0 0 0

INTERCHANGE

6 0 0 0 Kotoni STAGGS 14 Blayke BRAILEY 6 1 0 4

6 1 0 4 David FIFITA 15 Jayson BUKUYA 5 0 0 0

6 0 0 0 Thomas FLEGLER 16 Jack WILLIAMS 6 1 0 4

2 0 0 0 Patrick CARRIGAN 17 Braden HAMLIN-UELE 2 0 0 0

RESERVES

6 0 0 0 Jaydn SU’A 18 Ronaldo MULITALO 0 0 0 0

1 0 0 0 Gehamat SHIBASAKI 19 Kyle FLANAGAN 1 0 2 4

0 0 0 0 Tom DEARDEN 20 Sione KATOA 5 3 0 12

3 0 0 0 Matt LODGE 21 Billy MAGOULIAS 0 0 0 0

*Field goals: A Milford 1

COACHES

PENALTIES SCRUMS Anthony SEIBOLD John MORRIS PENALTIES SCRUMS

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 8 5 6 7 8 8
9 10 11 12 9 9 10 11 12 9
13 14 15 16 13 14 15 16

46 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

 GAME SIX: Brisbane v Cronulla-Sutherland
DATE: SATURDAY, APRIL 27
VENUE: SUNCORP STADIUM
KICK-OFF: 7.35PM
REFEREE: HENRY PERENARA
35
tackles in
Round 6
ASSISTANT REFEREE: TIM ROBY
TOUCH JUDGES: LIAM KENNEDY & CLAYTON SHARPE
SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: JARED MAXWELL
REVIEW OFFICIAL: BEAU SCOTT
FOX LEAGUE: 7.30PM
LIVE RADIO: ABC, 2GB

STATS BRONCOS SHARKS

14th (4)
107
141
ATTACK
19
76%
9
8
2
DEFENCE
25
14
8
3
MATCH AVERAGES
3
4
18
24
174
349
1583
10
10
3
71%
HEAD-TO-HEAD
PAYNE HAAS
AT SUNCORP STADIUM

NRL Preview by DAVID MIDDLETON

WINNING FORM
@Middleton_David

PAST 8 CLASHES
Broncos desperate to snap losing run
2018 –
Suncorp Stadium
2017 – Saturday 7.35pm
Form: The Broncos are in
2016 – a world of pain after a month
of losing results, but coach
2015 –
Anthony Seibold remains
2014 –
2013 – confident that his team can
work its way out of trouble. They
BIGGEST HEAD-TO-HEAD WINS
fought hard to claim the lead
against the Raiders deep into
last Sunday’s contest at GIO
NEXT CLASH Stadium before surrendering it
meekly. Quality performances
from newcomers Briton Nikora
CASUALTY WARD and Bronson Xerri helped lift
the Sharks to an impressive
comeback win over the Panthers
last Thursday night and improve
their six-week output to three
wins and three losses.
History: The Broncos have
achieved strong results against
Cronulla over a long period
and enjoy a four-game winning
streak after claiming home and
away victories over the past two
seasons. The teams last met in
Round 20 last season at Suncorp
when the Broncos held off the
Sharks 12-10.
Danger sign: Winger Corey
Oates has continued to produce
strong form for the Broncos,
running for more than 150m
per game and maintaining an
imposing try-scoring strike rate.
He has scored 14 tries from his
past 10 NRL appearances and
he’s crossed for a four-pointer
in his past six games against the
Sharks. His contest with former
Test star Josh Dugan should be
a highlight of the clash.
Best Bet? The Sharks continue
to be tested by injuries and the
loss of rookie second-rower
Briton Nikora to suspension
is a further blow. Look for
a desperate Broncos team to
claim a narrow victory.
Money-spinner: Look to
Corey Oates and Sosaia Feki for
First Tryscorer or consider the
value of Alex Glenn.

HEAD-TO-HEAD LEADERS
AVERAGE METRES AVERAGE TACKLES LINE-BREAKS
Andrew McCullough 48
Tevita Pangai 141 Josh Morris 5
Matt Gillett 35
Darius Boyd 131 Josh Dugan 4
Andrew Fifita 34

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 47

 V
P T G PTS P T G PTS

5 0 0 0 Brendan ELLIOT 1 Charnze NICOLL-KLOKSTAD 6 2 0 8

6 3 0 12 Jorge TAUFUA 2 Nick COTRIC 6 2 0 8

5 1 0 4 Moses SULI 3 Jarrod CROKER (C) 6 3 18 48

6 1 0 4 Brad PARKER 4 Joey LEILUA 6 4 0 16

6 2 0 8 Reuben GARRICK 5 Jordan RAPANA 5 2 0 8

6 0 0 0 Kane ELGEY 6 Jack WIGHTON 6 1 0 4

6 3 19* 51 Daly CHERRY-EVANS (C) 7 Sam WILLIAMS 4 1 0* 6

6 0 0 0 Toafofoa SIPLEY 8 Josh PAPALII 6 1 0 4

6 0 0 0 Api KOROISAU 9 Josh HODGSON (C) 6 0 0 0

6 0 0 0 Martin TAUPAU 10 Dunamis LUI 6 0 0 0

6 2 0 8 Joel THOMPSON 11 John BATEMAN 6 1 0 4

6 0 0 0 Curtis SIRONEN 12 Elliott WHITEHEAD 6 1 0 4

6 1 0 4 Jake TRBOJEVIC 13 Ryan SUTTON 6 1 0 4

INTERCHANGE

5 3 0 12 Manase FAINU 14 Siliva HAVILI 6 0 0 0

6 0 0 0 Jack GOSIEWSKI 15 Emre GULER 0 0 0 0

5 0 0 0 Corey WADDELL 16 Sia SOLIOLA 6 1 0 4

1 0 0 0 Morgan BOYLE 17 Jack MURCHIE 0 0 0 0

RESERVES

2 0 0 0 Kelepi TANGINOA 18 Aidan SEZER 2 0 0* 1

0 0 0 0 Sam SMITH 19 Bailey SIMONSSON 1 1 0 4

0 0 0 0 Lachlan CROKER 20 JJ COLLINS 1 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 Taniela PASEKA 21 Hudson YOUNG 4 0 0 0

*Field goals: D Cherry-Evans 1 *Field goals: S Williams 2, A Sezer 1

COACHES

PENALTIES SCRUMS Des HASLER Ricky STUART PENALTIES SCRUMS

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 8 5 6 7 8 8
9 10 11 12 9 9 10 11 12 9
13 14 15 16 13 14 15 16

48 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

 GAME SEVEN: Manly Warringah v Canberra
DATE: SUNDAY, APRIL 28
VENUE: LOTTOLAND
KICK-OFF: 2PM
REFEREE: GERARD SUTTON
2
line-breaks
in Round 6
ASSISTANT REFEREE: ADAM GEE
TOUCH JUDGES: DAVID MUNRO & NICK MOREL
SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: ASHLEY KLEIN
REVIEW OFFICIAL: BEN GALEA
FOX LEAGUE: 1.30PM
LIVE RADIO: ABC, 2GB

STATS MANLY RAIDERS

7th (8)
119
100
ATTACK
20
74%
11
3
6
DEFENCE
17
12
5
0
MATCH AVERAGES
3
3
20
17
168
303
1505
11
10
4
79%
HEAD-TO-HEAD
JOEY LEILUA
AT LOTTOLAND

NRL Preview by DAVID MIDDLETON

WINNING FORM @Middleton_David

PAST 8 CLASHES
Real-deal Raiders ready for Lottoland challenge
2018 – Lottoland
Sunday 2pm
2017 –
Form: The Sea Eagles were
2016 – seething that they were denied
the opportunity to make a play for
2015 –
a fourth-straight win last Saturday
night but despite the result, they
BIGGEST HEAD-TO-HEAD WINS could take heart from another
highly competitive display. The
Raiders continue to perform
NEXT CLASH at a high level, claiming their
fourth-straight win last Sunday
when they toppled the Broncos in
a tough contest at GIO Stadium.
CASUALTY WARD Their 5-1 record represents their
best start to a season since 2003.
History: The Raiders broke
a three-game run of losses
against the Sea Eagles when
a late Aidan Sezer field goal
secured a 21-20 victory at GIO
Stadium when these teams last
met (Round 12, 2018). The Sea
Eagles have defeated the Raiders
in six of their past seven clashes
at Lottoland, however Manly’s
overall recent record at home
does not read well. They have
triumphed only twice in their past
10 games at the ground.
Danger sign: Halfback Daly
Cherry-Evans has produced some
of his most consistent form over
the early rounds of the season
to ensure that the Sea Eagles
have kept pace with the field,
despite the absence of strike
weapon Tom Trbojevic. While he
is the number-one danger to the
Raiders, Canberra have multiple
threats, from the strength of Joey
Leilua on the right edge, to the
guile of their British-dominated
pack and the unexpected impetus
provided by Charnze Nicoll-
Klokstad at the back.
Best Bet? The Raiders will
be confident of improving on
a moderate record at Lottoland
and they should be well satisfied
with a win by 1-12 points.
Money-spinner: Brad Parker
and Nick Cotric shape as best
options for First Tryscorer but for
value, look to Sea Eagles second-
rower Joel Thompson.

HEAD-TO-HEAD LEADERS
AVERAGE METRES AVERAGE TACKLES LINE-BREAKS
Jake Trbojevic 41
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 173 Joey Leilua 5
John Bateman 37
Jordan Rapana 151 Jorge Taufua 3
Apisai Koroisau 31

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 49

 V
P T G PTS P T G PTS

6 1 12 28 Kalyn PONGA 1 Clint GUTHERSON (C) 6 2 0 8

6 4 0 16 Edrick LEE 2 Maika SIVO 6 3 0 12

6 2 0 8 Hymel HUNT 3 Michael JENNINGS 5 6 0 24

6 1 0 4 Jesse RAMIEN 4 Brad TAKAIRANGI 6 2 0 8

6 1 0 4 Shaun KENNY-DOWALL 5 Blake FERGUSON 5 3 0 12

4 0 0 0 Connor WATSON 6 Jaeman SALMON 5 1 0 4

6 0 0 0 Mitchell PEARCE (C) 7 Mitch MOSES 6 1 22* 49

6 0 0 0 David KLEMMER 8 Daniel ALVARO 6 0 0 0

6 0 0 0 Danny LEVI 9 Reed MAHONEY 6 2 0 8

5 0 0 0 James GAVET 10 Junior PAULO 5 0 0 0

6 0 0 0 Lachlan FITZGIBBON 11 Shaun LANE 6 2 0 8

6 3 1 14 Mitch BARNETT 12 Marata NIUKORE 6 2 0 8

6 1 0 4 Tim GLASBY 13 Tepai MOEROA 5 0 0 0

INTERCHANGE

2 0 0 0 Jamie BUHRER 14 Peni TEREPO 4 0 0 0

2 0 0 0 Herman ESE’ESE 15 Tim MANNAH 6 0 0 0

4 0 0 0 Daniel SAIFITI 16 Oregon KAUFUSI 3 1 0 4

4 0 0 0 Josh KING 17 Ray STONE 1 0 0 0

RESERVES

2 0 0 0 Mason LINO 18 Manu MA’U 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 Tautau MOGA 19 Kane EVANS 5 0 0 0

4 0 0 0 Sione MATA’UTIA 20 Josh HOFFMAN 2 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 Pasami SAULO 21 George JENNINGS 0 0 0 0

*Field goals: Mitch Moses 1

COACHES

PENALTIES SCRUMS Nathan BROWN Brad ARTHUR PENALTIES SCRUMS

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 8 5 6 7 8 8
9 10 11 12 9 9 10 11 12 9
13 14 15 16 13 14 15 16

50 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

 GAME EIGHT: Newcastle v Parramatta
DATE: SUNDAY, APRIL 28
VENUE: McDONALD JONES STADIUM
KICK-OFF: 4.05PM
REFEREE: GRANT ATKINS
44
tackles in
Round 6
ASSISTANT REFEREE: CHRIS BUTLER
TOUCH JUDGES: ADAM CASSIDY & RICKEY McFARLANE
SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: STEVE CHIDDY
REVIEW OFFICIAL: BRYAN NORRIE
CHANNEL 9 & FOX LEAGUE: 3.30PM
LIVE RADIO: ABC, 2GB, TRIPLE M, CROCMEDIA

STATS KNIGHTS EELS

15th (4)
82
118
ATTACK
14
75%
6
7
1
DEFENCE
19
15
1
3
MATCH AVERAGES
2
3
14
20
174
352
1487
12
8
3
72%
HEAD-TO-HEAD
MITCH BARNETT
AT MCDONALD JONES STADIUM
NRL Preview by DAVID MIDDLETON
WINNING FORM @Middleton_David

Confident Eels prepare for next level

PAST 8 CLASHES
2018 – McDonald Jones
Stadium
2017 – Sunday 4.05pm
2016 –
2015 – Form: The frustration continues
2014 – for the Knights, who fell to a fifth-
straight defeat when they were
2013 –
slammed by an injury-weakened
BIGGEST HEAD-TO-HEAD WINS Titans side on the Gold Coast last
week. The team looks in desperate
need of a circuit-breaker to
arrest their slide. By contrast,
NEXT CLASH Parramatta will face a challenge
to match their exhilarating effort
at Bankwest Stadium last Sunday
when they travel up the M1 this
CASUALTY WARD weekend. Coach Brad Arthur
will be expecting his men to put
Monday’s celebrations to one
side and knuckle down for 80
minutes of effort.
History: Despite finishing with
the wooden spoon in three of the
past four seasons, the Knights
preside over a remarkable record
of success against Parramatta.
Since 2010, the Knights have
won 10 of 12 games between the
clubs. Their overall record against
the Eels at McDonald Jones
Stadium stands at 18 wins and
eight losses.
Danger sign: Fullback Kalyn
Ponga and powerful centre Jesse
Ramien should be menacing their
opposition on a weekly basis but
the Knights’ inability to unleash
these rare talents continues to
hold the team back. Parramatta
have the potential to take their
game to another level on the back
of their performance at Bankwest
Stadium last Monday, but Arthur
will be determined that his men
do not get ahead of themselves.
Best Bet? With Ponga back at
fullback and Watson at five-eighth,
the Knights’ game appears to have
made little progress from 2018
while the Eels’ game has gone
ahead in leaps and bounds. If the
Eels’ minds are on the job, they
should claim a win by 1-12 points.
Money-spinner: Look for Edrick
Lee and Michael Jennings for First
Tryscorer or consider the value of
Knights back-rower Mitch Barnett.

HEAD-TO-HEAD LEADERS
AVERAGE METRES AVERAGE TACKLES LINE-BREAKS
Reed Mahoney 45
Blake Ferguson 184 Kalyn Ponga 4
Danny Levi 38
Maika Sivo 154 Edrick Lee 3
Mitchell Barnett 34

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 51

 CANTERBURY CUP NSW

PENRITH V SOUTH SYDNEY NORTH SYDNEY V ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA CANTERBURY V WARRIORS

Dylan EDWARDS 1 Leigh HIGGINS Kieran MOSS 1 Tristan SAILOR Connelly LEMUELU 1 Patrick HERBERT
Brent NADEN 2 Mawene HIROTI Asu KEPAOA 2 Jason SAAB Tui KATOA 2 Setu TU
Tyrell FUIMAONO 3 Jacob GAGAN Ed MURPHY 3 Shaun SAUNI-ESAU Morgan HARPER 3 Adam POMPEY
Matheson JOHNS 4 Tarquinn ALATIPI-BUTLER James TUITAHI 4 Steven MARSTERS Marcelo MONTOYA 4 Taane MILNE
Brian TO’O 5 Dylan O’CONNOR Bernard LEWIS 5 Jonus PEARSON Christian CRICHTON 5 Lewis SOOSEMEA
Daine LAURIE 6 Connor TRACEY Drew HUTCHINSON 6 Jai FIELD Jesse MARSCHKE 6 Adam KEIGHRAN
Jarome LUAI 7 Dean HAWKINS Brock LAMB 7 Adam CLUNE Brandon WAKEHAM 7 Hayze PERHAM
Spencer LENIU 8 Tom AMONE John TUIVAITI 8 Lachlan TIMM Francis TUALAU 8 Chris SATAE
Mitch KENNY 9 Billy BRITTAIN (C) Bradley DEITZ 9 Reece ROBSON Fa’amanu BROWN 9 Karl LAWTON (C)
Nick LUI-TOSO 10 Dean BRITT Stefano HALA 10 Josh KERR Jack NELSON 10 Preston RIKI
Shawn BLORE 11 Trent PEOPLES Josh CURRAN 11 Joe LOVODUA Bronson GARLICK 11 Blake AYSHFORD
Billy BURNS 12 Keaon KOLOAMATANGI Thomas FREEBAIRN 12 Jackson FORD Tony MATAUTIA 12 Ligi SAO
Hame SELE 13 Bayley SIRONEN Max BAILEY 13 Mitch ALLGOOD Kayne KALACHE 13 Leivaha PULU
14 Reed IZZARD 14 Jack JOHNS 14 Sam VERRILLS 14 Eli LEVIDO 14 Ben MARSCHKE 14 Jackson FREI
15 Anton IARIA 15 Brock GRAY 15 Fletcher BAKER 15 Pio SOKOBALAVU 15 Austin DIAS 15 Adam TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD
16 Isaac THOMPSON 16 Lyndon HILLS 16 Daniel FIFITA 16 Charly RUNCIMAN 16 Elie EL-ZAKHEM 16 Clayton WILLIAMS
17 Ratu TUISESE 17 Yileen GORDON 17 Siosiua TAUKEIAHO 18 Jayden MORGAN 17 Dalton SMITH 17 Api PEWHAIRANGI
18 Lucky TA’AVALE 19 John OLIVE 18 Sam COOK
Guy MISSIO Shane MILLARD Jason TAYLOR Mat HEAD Brad HENDERSON Nathan CAYLESS

BLACKTOWN V MOUNTIES WESTS V NEWTOWN NEWCASTLE V WENTWORTHVILLE

Jade ANDERSON 1 Bailey SIMONSSON Dylan SMITH 1 Luke POLSELLI Jacob GAGAI 1 Bevan FRENCH
Abbas MISKI 2 Tony SATINI Harry O’TOOLE 2 Sione KATOA Kiah COOPER 2 Haze DUNSTER
Dane AUKAFOLAU 3 Reubenn RENNIE Tommy TALAU 3 Aaron GRAY Brayden MUSGROVE 3 Josh MINHINNICK
Sam SMITH 4 Sebastian KRIS Kane McQUIGGIN 4 Jackson FERRIS Tautau MOGA 4 Ethan PARRY
Alfred SMALLEY 5 Andre NIKO Kane BRADLEY 5 Isaac LUMELUME Heath GIBBS 5 Greg LELEISIUAO
Lachlan CROKER 6 Ata HINGANO Tyson GAMBLE 6 Kyle FLANAGAN Phoenix CROSSLAND 6 Brad KEIGHRAN
Trent HODKINSON 7 Aidan SEZER Kauri AUPOURI-PUKETAPU (C) 7 Braydon TRINDALL Chris RANDALL 7 Rhys DAVIES
Lloyd PERRETT 8 Royce HUNT Joseph RATUVAKACEREIVALU 8 Cruz TOPAI-AVEAI Pasami SAULO 8 Mitch BUTFIELD
Zach DOKAR-CLAY 9 Tom STARLING Braden ROBSON 9 James SEGEYARO Zac WOOLFORD 9 Matt McILWRICK
Taniela PASEKA 10 Corey HORSBURGH Elia FAATUI 15/10 Jaimin JOLLIFFE Jacob SAIFITI 10 Tekina VAILEA
Kelepi TANGINOA 11 Reuben PORTER Sam McINTYRE 11 Teig WILTON Beau FERMOR 11 Andrew DAVEY
Haumole OLAKAU’ATU 12 Jarrett BOLAND Jack MILLER 12 Billy MAGOULIAS Brodie JONES 12 Salesi FAINGA’A
Sean KEPPIE 13 Luke BATEMAN Robbie ROCHOW 13 Greg EASTWOOD Sam STONE 13 D’Rhys MILLER
14 Tyran OTT 15 Daniel KEIR 18 Alex SEYFARTH 14 Josh CARR 14 Zac HOSKING 14 Kieran HAYMAN
15 Andy SAUNDERS 16 Steven TAVITA 20 Bilal MAARBANI 15 Matt EVANS 15 Tevita ALIFA 15 Jacob ESAU
16 Kurt DELUIS 18 Michael OLDFIELD 21 Patrice SIOLO 17 Daniel VASQUEZ 16 Mathew CROKER 16 Haveatarna LUANI
17 Fred Junior MAUALA 19 Vincent RENNIE 24 Soni LUKE 18 Tyla TAMOU 17 Ben THOMAS 17 Nick KASSIS
21 Wes LOLO 18 Daniel MARTINE
Steven HALES Peter MARRAPODI Brett HODGSON Greg MATTERSON Rory KOSTJASYN Rip TAYLOR

Review: Mounties stay top while Norths and Souths close in

M OUNTIES remain top of the ladder after
six rounds following their
six-point with over the Warriors.
The Rabbitohs sit just one competition
point behind after they smashed the
Bulldogs by 30 points.
North Sydney scored a 12-point win
against Newcastle to be third on the ladder.
The Panthers bounced back from
consecutive defeats to hold on for
a two-point win over Newtown at
Henson Park.
Bevan French scored a double as
Wentworthville beat Western Suburbs
by six points in the first ever game at
Bankwest Stadium.
Jonus Pearson bagged two tries to
help St George Illawarra record a 44-6
win over Blacktown, who are last on the
ladder with just one win.
NORTH SYDNEY 22 (B Lewis 2, E Murphy, D Hutchison
tries; B Lamb 3 goals) D. NEWCASTLE 10 (H Gibbs, M
Croker tries; Z Woolford goal). SOUTH SYDNEY 36 (C
Tracey, L Higgins, K Kolomatangi, L Hills, M Hiroti, J Gagan
tries; Hiroti 6 goals) D. CANTERBURY 6 (C Crichton try; F P W L D B F A DIFF PTS
Brown goal). ST GEORGE 44 (J Pearson 2, C Runciman,
T Sailor, E Blacker, L Maranta, S Marsters tries; J Field 3,
E Levido 2, A Clune goals) D. BLACKTOWN 6 (A Smalley
try; T Hodkinson goal). PENRITH 18 (B Too, C Aekins, N
Lui-Toso tries; D Edwards 3 goals) D. NEWTOWN 16 (I
Lumelume, B Trindall, R Mulitalo tries; K Flanagan, Trindall
goals). MOUNTIES 28 (A Niko 2, R Hunt, R Porter, J Boland
tries; Niko 4 goals) D. WARRIORS 22 (S Tu, L Sao, A
Tuimavave-Gerrard, T Milne tries; A Pewhairangi 3 goals).
WENTWORTHVILLE 20 (B French 2, G Leleisiuao tries; B
Keighran 4 goals) D. WESTERN SUBURBS 14 (K Bradley, P
Momirovski, J Ratuvakacereivalu tries; Momirovski goal).

52 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

 NORTH SYDNEY V ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA NEWCASTLE V PARRAMATTA PENRITH V SOUTH SYDNEY
Corey FENNING 1 Cody RAMSEY Grant ANDERSON 1 Michael CHEER Charlie STAINES 1 James TAUTAIOLEFUA
Sean SABUTEY 2 Sam McCANN Toby MARKS 2 Nabetelebu TURAGANIVALU Glen McGRADY 2 Volkan ER
Ryan WEATHERALL 3 Tyler MOON Bradman BEST 3 William KEI Stephen CRICHTON 3 Nick MOUGIOS
Johnathan MITSIAS 4 Jiye ELLIS Timanu ALEXANDER 4 Sione FONUA Thomas LOFTS 4 Tallis ANGIANGA
Junior MATOE 5 Jason SAAB Justin WORLEY 5 Tyler TUIGAMALA Matthew FAAUILA 5 Kane ALLAN
Harrison GERAHTY 6 Tyran WISHART Tex HOY 6 Jospeh TAIPARI Matt BURTON 6 Marc ZAURRINI
Connor GARRETY 7 Blair GRANT Bayden SEARLE 7 Bailey BIONDI-ODO Brendan HANDS 7 Blake TAAFFE (C)
Sosaia TEAKARAANGA 8 Jalal BAZZAZ Jack CAMERON 8 James PORTER Jayden TANNER 8 Luke BAIN
Max ALTUS 9 Blake BARBUTO Luke HUTH 9 Kyle SCHNEIDER Ryan PRITCHARD 9 Josh COOK
Will LAWSON (C) 10 Matthew NICHOLSON Daniel TICEHURST 10 Aistasi JAMES Brad GAUT 10 Aiden MANOWSKI
Pita FAULALO 11 Luke GALE (C) Ben TALTY 11 Joseph SMALL Terrell MAY 11 Maila ALUNI-CHANFOON
Lennox WHITTAKER 12 Matt DELBANCO Nesta WATENE 12 Lachlan POKO J’maine HOPGOOD (C) 12 Matt FRENCH
Jacob PRESTON 13 Shalom O’OFOU Brandon RUSSELL 13 Aaron SHELFORD Lindsay SMITH 13 Ky RODWELL
14 Jermayne COOK,15PotusaFUILALA 14 Jake BRISBANE, 15 Hudson SPICER 14 Matt MOON, 16 Kingston PURU 14 Jayden YATES, 15 Dallas KING 14 Adam FEARNLEY, 15 Jack QUINN 14 Brock GARDNER, 15 Augustine
16LukeHODGE 16 Bailey ANTROBUS, 17 Bailey 17 Lewis HAMILTON, 18 Dylan LUCAS 16 Jack JORDAN 17 Ratu NANOVO, 18 Dylan McBAIN STOWERS, 16 Lachlan GALE
17JubileeSOLOA DICKINSON, 18 Ethan GEORGE 20 Ofa MANUOFETOA 17 Bruce WARD 19 Jake TAGO 17 Peter MAMOUZELOS, 18 Jack FRASCA
Peter PALMER Willie TALAU Scott DUREAU Dean FEENEY Ben HARDEN Ben ROGERS

CANTERBURY V ROOSTERS MANLY V CANBERRA VICTORIA V WARRIORS

Declan CASEY 1 Cameron HALL Zaan WEATHERALL 1 Jackson STUART Dean IEREMIA 1 William FAKATOUMAFI
Frank KURESA 2 Craig McKENZIE Roly PODESTA 2 Brigham MOEOKIOLA Josese WAQALEVU 2 E. TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD
Jake AVERIILLO 3 T. METUSELA-SUAPAIA Max LEHMANN 3 Harley SMITH-SHIELDS Jacob CORDTZ 3 Ray TUAIMALO-VAEGA
Isaiah TASS 4 Ethan O’NEILL Kyle CASSEL 4 Matt TIMOKO Tangata TEROI 4 Kayal IRO
Blake CLAYTON 5 Kyle WILSON Simi AFEAKI 5 Daine SPENCER Uala SALIA 5 Edward KOSI
Alex SEVE 6 Harrison EDWARDS Zac BUTLER 6 Jarrett SUBLOO Troy HANITA-PAKI 6 Paul TURNER
Paul KARITIANA 7 Zane HARRIS Hyrum WICHMANN 7 Tobias WESTCOTT Saimone AHOMANA 7 Casey SMITH
Daniel SAKISI 8 Tagiolupe TIVALU Michael FENN (C) 8 Charlie RORKE Nicholas FLOCAS 8 Michael LEMAFA
Zac HETHERINGTON 9 Freddy LUSSICK Max BARRY 9 Kyle PATERSON Trent TOELAU 9 Sean MULLANY
Penisimani TEAUPA 10 Geordie BRAND Mark TEPU-SMITH 10 Duwanye MARINER Jordin LEIU 10 Phillip MAKATOA
Matthew DOOREY 11 William WOOLLEY Sean VAIVELATA 11 Jordan MARTIN Kayleb MILNE 11 Neyla MASIMA
Murray SUA 12 Luca MORETTI Ben GLEESON 12 Kai O’DONNELL Mali LEPOU 12 Tom ALE
James ROUMANOS 13 Elih JACKSON Finn HEATH 13 Darby MEDLYN Brandon PRITCHARD 13 Tyler SLADE (C)
14 Ryan GRAY, 15 Devontai SEUMANUTAFA 14 Tyrell NEIUFI, 15 Stanley MALAE 14 Jacob SYKES, 15 Neihana OLDHAM 14 Liam MOCK, 15 Tom ROBERTSON 14 Leo SIMONA, 15 Giovani KUBIK 14 Temple KALEPO, 15 Wesley VEIKOSO
16 Sua AIILOILO, 17 Justin FILO 16 Hugo PATTERSON, 17 Malachi 16 Raff LETOI, 17 Mosese FAEAMANI 16 Silafano TITIUTI, 17 Lazarus VALEEPU 16 Ryan WESCOMBE 16 Isaiah VAGANA
19 Lachlan TALAU, 20 Mateo TATOLA RETCHFORD, 19 Harry LARKIN 21 Semi NAISEVUNIVAI 18 Joe ROBERTS 17 Jack NATAPU, 20 John SALATIELU 17 Brody TAMARUA, 18 Patrick ELIA
David PENNA Anthony BARNES Matt BALLIN Ash BARNES Ben JACK Greg BOULOS

Review: Panthers power to the top of the table

WESTS TIGERS V CRONULLA C RONULLA’S perfect start to
the year came to a grinding
It’s a similar, albeit bleaker
story at the other end of the
Lee-Silva tries; Madden 6 goals) D. PARRAMATTA
10 (J Fonua, J Small tries; K Schneider goal). ST
GEORGE ILLAWARRA 50 (J Saab 3, C Ramsey 2, B
Logen DILLON 1 Jonaiah LUALUA halt last week when the Panthers ladder, with four sides still yet to
Barbuto, B Grant, L Gale, M Nicholson tries; Grant 4,
rolled into town and left the register a win in 2019, including
Liam SCOLARI 2 Jonah NGARONOA Shire with a 40-point win no-one the Sea Eagles who remain
Gale 3 goals) D. MANLY 0. WARRIORS 40 (T Ale 2,
P Makatoa, P Turner, J Glamuzina, K Iro, H Maynard
Zac CINI 3 Jensen TAUMOEPEAU saw coming. rooted to the bottom following tries; S Moala 6 goals) D. CANBERRA 34(H Smith-
Curtis WILSON 4 Vito TEVAGA The defending premiers had a 50-0 loss to the Dragons. Shields 2, J Martin, J Roberts, D Medlyn, D Spencer
Shondre LEE-SILVA 5 Josh DELAILOA only conceded 16 points in the tries; T Wescott 5 goals).

Gus GARZANITI 6 Jayden MILLARD opening four rounds, but that PENRITH 50 (S Crichton 2, C Staines 2, D P W L D B F A DIFF PTS
Jock MADDEN 7 Angus ERNST defensive wall was breached McBain, T May, J Hopgood, S Blore, T Lofts
tries; B Hands 7 goals) D. CRONULLA 10
Mavoni TUIFUA 8 Tom HAZELTON time and time again as the
Panthers ran in nine tries to (A Ernst, J Delailoa tries; J Lualua goal).
Rua NGATI 9 Isaac LONGMUIR leapfrog their opponents into
NEWCASTLE 40 (T Hoy 3, T Marks, J Worley,
Henry LEALUGA-PUHOTAU 10 Monty RAPER (C) first spot.
T Alexander, D Lucas, B Russell tries; B Searle
4 goals) D. NORTH SYDNEY 20 (J Mitsias, M
Billy STAPLETON 11 Tom CAUGHLAN South Sydney continued McCarthy, C Fenning, J Soloa tries; C Garrety
Ben SEUFALE 12 Tomas HARRIS their unbeaten start to the year 2 goals). SOUTH SYDNEY 22 (B Taafe, B
Lucas CASTLE 13 Fine KULA with a comfortable win over the Gardner, J Frasca, K Allan tries; B Taafe 3 goals)
D. CANTERBURY 6 (C Casey try; J Averillo
14 Ray JANKOVIC, 15 Jordan MAIN 14 Connor LUHAN, 15 Franklin PELE Bulldogs, while the Roosters
goal). SYDNEY ROOSTERS 18 (G Brand, T
16 Sione TUPOU, 17 Felix SMITH 16 Jackson STEWART, 17 James RUSSELL edged the Thunderbolts to Neiufi, F Lussick tries; E O’Neill 3 goals) D.
18 Bryn CALLAGHAN, 22 Senn KANE 18 Jack BOYLING, 19 Lachlan SCARPELLI force a four-way tie at the top VICTORIA THUNDERBOLTS 10 (T Toelau, K
Wayne LAMBKIN Daniel HOLDSWORTH of the table, each side on eight Milne tries; Toelau goal). WESTS TIGERS 36
competition points. (Z Cini 2, R Ngatikaura, J Madden, C Wilson, S

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 53

 BURLEIGH V PNG HUNTERS EASTS TIGERS V REDCLIFFE TOWNSVILLE V CQ CAPRAS
Kurtis ROWE 1 Joe JOSHUA Matt COOPER 1 Josh BEEHAG Zac SANTO 1 Kainoa GUDGEON
Troy LEO 2 Junior KOBALE Thomas HUGHES 2 Jedi SIMBIKEN Kalifa FAIFAI-LOA 2/19 Junior KIRISOME
Sami SAUILUMA 3 Bland ABAVU Shane NEUMANN 3 Izaia PERESE Levi DODD 3 Bessie AUFAGA-TOOMAGA
Joshua BERKERS 4 Brandon NIMA Tom KENNY 4 Scott SCHULTE Tom OPACIC 4 Nathan BASSANI
Tyronne ROBERTS-DAVIS 5 Shane NIGEL Curtis DANSEY-SMALLER 5 Jeremy HAWKINS Murray TAULAGI 5 Elijah ANDERSON
Josh ROGERS 6 Ase BOAS Rhys JACKS 6 Bryce DONOVAN (C) Kyle LAYBUTT 6 Maipele MORSEAU
Jamal FOGARTY 7 Charlie SIMON Josh RALPH 7 Cory PAIX Shaun HUDSON 7 Jack MADDEN (C)
Luke PAGE (C) 8 Moses MENINGA (C) Brett GREINKE (C) 8 Jordan GRANT Joe BOYCE 8 Aaron FLANAGAN
Sam COSTER 9 Woods KAWAGE Aaron BOOTH 9 Jake TURPIN Krys FREEMAN 9 Billy GILBERT
Jack BUCHANAN 10 Enock MAKI Sam LAVEA 10 Nathan WATTS Sione LOUSI 22/10 Aaron PENE
Hayden SCHWASS 11 McKenzie YEI KETEPA Jack SVENDSEN 11/16 James FLACK Jake MARKETO (C) 11 Matthew WRIGHT
Jacob HIND 12 Epel KAPINIAS Kelma TUILAGI 12 Jamil HOPOATE Temone POWER 12 Sione VEUKISO
Jeff LYNCH 13 Junior ROP Tyrone AMEY 13 Taylor BROWN Tom GILBERT 13 Jamie HILL
14 Jordan SCOTT 14 Patrick MOREA, 15 Joe FRANK 14 Sam FOSTER, 15 Jaiyden HUNT 11 Tom GERAGHTY 14 Josh CHUDLEIGH, 15 Kieran 14 George GRANT, 15 Ryan JEFFERY, 16 Riley
15 Josh AILAOMAI, 16 Reece 16 Jordan PAT, 17 Daniel TAPOL, 18 Butler 16 Heath WILSON, 17 Justin FAI 14 Zev JOHN QUABBA, 16 Wiremu GREIG REID, 17 Chalice ATOI, 18 Jack WHITE
SUMMER, 17 Matthew ROBINSON MORRIS, 19 Gairo KAPANA, 20 Justin YOKA 18 Chris OSTWALD 15 Nick BROWN, 17 Hugh PRATT 17 Sam HOARE 20 Luke GEORGE, 21 Eddy PETTYBOURNE
Adam MOGG Michael MARUM Scott SIPPLE Adam MOGG Aaron PAYNE David FAIUMU

SUNSHINE COAST V MACKAY NTHS DEVILS V NTHN PRIDE SOUTHS LOGAN V WYNNUM MANLY
Sitiveni MOCEIDREKE 1 Carlin ANDERSON Jack AHEARN (C) 1 Jared ALLEN Gerome BURNS 1 Edene GEBBIE
Riley MOORE 2 Yamba BOWIE Paul ULBERG 2 Matthew MUSUMECI Linc PORT 2 Edward BURNS
Jake AINSWORTH 3 Dan RUSSELL Gehamat SHIBASAKI 3 Shawn BOWEN Tesi NIU 3 Jordan DREW
Justin OLAM 4 Blake ATHERTON Connor BROADHURST 4 Steven TATIPATA Cameron BOOTH 4 Junior PAUGA
Sandor EARL 5 Paul BYRNES Herbie FARNWORTH 5 Jack MURPHY Matt SOPER-LAWLER 5 Richie KENNAR
Nicho HYNES 6 Jayden HODGES (C) Troy DARGAN 6 Brayden TORPY Guy HAMILTON 6 Tom DEARDEN
Todd MURPHY 7 Jack HICKSON Sean O’SULLIVAN 7 Jack CAMPAGNOLO Tanah BOYD 7 Sam SCARLETT
Martin CORDWELL 18/8 Alex GERRARD Riley LEOTA 8 Aidan DAY Patrick MAGO 8 Aaron ROCKLEY
Harry GRANT 9 Reuben COTTER Calum GAHAN 9 Connor JONES Manaia CHERRINGTON 9 Mitch CRONIN (C)
Darryn SCHONIG 10 Ross BELLA Jamayne TAUNOA-BROWN 10 David MURPHY (C) George FAI 10 Max ELLIOTT
Joe STIMSON 11 Shane WRIGHT Brendan FREI 11 Maurice BLAIR Mitch FREI 11 Matiu LOVE-HENRY
Christopher LEWIS 12 Mitchell DUNN Brandon LEE 12 Tom HANCOCK (C) Brendon GIBB (C) 12 Keenan PALASIA
Dane HOGAN (C) 13 Jordan KENWORTHY Michael SIO 13 Peter HOLA Shaun FENSOM 13 Kalolo SAITAUA
14 Sam BURNS, 15 Daniel DOLE 14 Kellen JENNER, 15 David MUNRO, 16 Emry PERE 15 Ethan BULLEMOR 14JordanBIONDI-ODO 14 Alex BISHOP, 15 Rory FERGUSON 14 Jayden BERRELL, 15 Kelly TATE
16 Lachlan ROE, 17 Tino 17 Samuel JOHNSTONE, 18 Brenden TRESTON 16 Henry PENN 15HughSEDGER,16MatoluLAUMEA 16 Sam TAGATAESE, 17 Phil DENNIS 16 Salesi FUNAKI, 17 Patrick SIPLEY
FAASUAMALEAUI, 18 Louis GERAGHTY 19 Lloyd WHITE, 20 Jayden BATCHELOR 17 Jordan RIKI, 18 Brad LUPI 17TerrenceCASEY-DOUGLAS 18 Harrison MULLER, 19 Jerome VEVE 18 Delouise HOETER, 19 Alex BARR
Eric SMITH Steve SHEPPARD Rohan SMITH Ty WILLIAMS Jon BUCHANAN Adam BRIDESON

Review: Falcons fly high as Tigers roar back

TWEED SEAGULLS V IPSWICH S UNSHINE COAST remain unbeaten
and on top of the ladder with
by Jets winger Peter Gubb. Norths
Devils scored their fifth win of the
goals) D. PNG 10 (B Nima, W Kawage tries; A
Boas goal). NORTHS DEVILS 22 (E Bullemor
Talor WALTERS 1 Jayden CONNORS a 52-6 thumping over the last-placed season with a 22-10 victory against
2, P Ulberg, N Putt tries; H Farnworth 3 goals)
D. TOWNSVILLE 10 (T Gilbert, K Faifai Loa
Ryland JACOBS 2 Richie PANDIA CQ Capras at Browne Park. Townsville at Bishop Park. tries; Faifai Loa goal). REDCLIFFE 26 (J
Ioane SEIULI 3 Rory HUMPHREYS Easts Tigers bounced back Redcliffe enjoyed a 20-point win Turpin, J Simbiken, C Paix, T Brown tries; B
Donovan 5 goals) D. TWEED SEAGULLS 6 (J
Treymain SPRY 4 Rogan DEAN from their defeat to the Falcons in over Tweed Seagulls as they scored
Morfett try; L McGrady goal).
John MACKIN 5 Peter GUBB Round 6 to beat the Magpies by
eight points at home.
four tries to one at Dolphin Stadium.
Lindon McGRADY 6 Joshua CLEELAND Wynnum Manly winger Edward BURLEIGH 24 (J Lynch, J Fogarty, B Lee, T P W L D B F A DIFF PTS
Ryley JACKS 7 Chris ASH Burns bagged a double to help his K Rowe tries; Fogarty 4 goals) D. MACKAY
Leilani LATU 17/8 Tyson LOFIPO side record a 26-18 triumph over
10 (R Cotter 2 tries; C Anderson goal).
WYNNUM MANLY 26 (E Burns 2, S Scarlett, K
Christian HAZARD 9/15 Kierran MOSELEY Northern Pride at Barlow Park. Saitaua, E Gebbie tries; T Dearden 3 goals) D.
John PALAVI (C) 10 Nat NEALE (C) Burleigh sit third on the standings NORTHERN PRIDE 18 (S Tatipata, J Murphy,
P Hola tries; B Torpy 3 goals). EASTS TIGERS
Lamar MANUEL-LIOLEVAVE 11/16 Huskie TEUTAU following their 14-point win against
28 (K Tuilagi 2, T Hughes 2, T Amey tries; A
Kalani GOING 12 Ben WHITE Mackay at BB Print Stadium. Booth 4 goals) D. SOUTHS LOGAN 20 (M Frei,
Kirk MURPHY 13 Josh SEAGE Reuben Cotter scored the only
two tries for the home side.
L Port, A Bishop, C Booth tries; G Hamilton 2
goals). SUNSHINE COAST 52 (J Stimson 2,
8JarrodMORFETT 11 Timote PASEKA, 14 Shar WALDEN Ipswich travelled to PNG and S Moceidreke 2, N Hynes, H Grant, R Moore, T
14ShaneGILLHAM,15BayleyFAULL 17 Blake LENEHAN Murphy, D Dole tries; T Murphy 8 goals) D. CQ
18 Stuart MASON,21JackCOOK 19 Mitch CARPENTER came home with two competition CAPRAS 6 (E Anderson try; B Aufaga-Toomaga
points after defeating the Hunters goal) at Browne Park. IPSWICH 28 (P Gubb 2,
Ben WOOLF Ben WALKER & Shane WALKER
by 18 points, thanks to a double R Dean, J Seage, J Connors tries; J Cleeland 4

54 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

 BURLEIGH V MUSTANGS EASTS TIGERS V REDCLIFFE NORTHS DEVILS V PRIDE
Jaxson PAULO 1 Koby CUBBY Kieren MUNDINE 1 David ARMSTRONG Dylan QUINN 1 Brandon JACKONIA
Kea PERE 2 Nathan CALLAGHAN Solomona FAATAAPE 2 Nathan DAWES Michael McGRATH 2 Mark ROSENDALE
Mikey WILLIAMS 3 Patrick BRUNNER Darren CAULTON 3 Dwight SAUEHA Jared CHAMBERS 3 Joshtel CHARLIE (C)
Allan LOCKWOOD 4 Jordan CROCKER Tom KENNY 4 Isaiah LEALIIEE Jack PATERSON 4 Damien BURKE
Reece TAPINE 5 James CHRISTENSEN Anthony ITIRI 5 William DOBSON Fruean EASTHOPE 5 Steven STAFFORD
Taine TUAUPIKI 6 Harrison BURNS Jumon SIULAI 6 Rhys TIMMS Zak McGUIRE 6 Jai DOHERTY
Cameron BROWN 7 Cody EVANS Trent WEDDING 7 Lucas BELL Dylan TAVITA 17/7 Simon BEVAN (C)
Tyler SZEPANOWSKI (C) 8 Blake CULLEN (C) Joseph GILMOUR 8 Zac KERR Jake STRASSER (C) 8 Colt SALMOND
Lochlan TURNBULL 9 Leslie HARTVIGSEN Joel HUGHES 9 Jayden NEWBOULD (C) Ethan LE BLANC 9 Daniel LAZARUS
Luke MAIDEN 10 Huntta MILLS Ben BALE 10 Hunter SMALLHORN Miller LEILUA 18/10 Usaia FONONGALOA
Thomas BERKERS 11 Xander DUNEMANN John VAIROA 11 Jesse JENNINGS Sosefo FILIPINE 11 Tom McGRATH
Tristan POWELL 12 Hugo TRAINO Gabe HAMSON 12 Lachlan PATTERSON Lachlan LEWIS (C) 12 Beau BERG
Lochie SHELDON 13 Coby FERGUSON Zac TEEVAN (C) 13 Patrick O’CALLAGHAN Matthew FLETCHER 13 Ewan MOORE
14 Shallin FULLER, 15 Andrew SCOUGALL 14 Archie HOLDEN 14 Bailey BARTLEY, 15 Peter NOKISE 14 Malyche TAFILI 10 Owen McCARRON (C), 14 Danny 14 Zane KNOWLES
16 Lachlan COOPER, 17 Laz TEVITA 15 Austin JENNINGS 16 Tom REID 15 Owen JONES, 16 Lachlan CHARD HEENAN, 15 Reed YOUNG, 16 Albert LIKI 15 Tazmon McROBBIE
18 Jayden CAMPBELL, 19 Will RAMSEY 16 Richard MURRAY, 17 Cody McNIECE 17 Harrison CANNON 17 Will CAHILL, 19 Douglas MALAKI 19 Joshua JAMES, 20 Micah MARSH 16 Marcus NONA, 17 Jonah RAMEKA
Jamie MAHON Eugene SEDDON Ben KING Andrew WYNYARD Kevin NEIGHBOUR Dave SCOTT

TOWNSVILLE V CQ CAPRAS SUNSHINE COAST V MACKAY TWEED SEAGULLS V IPSWICH

Daejarn ASI 1 Travis TURNBULL Gian LARGIADER 1 Rayden BURNS Jaylan TO’O 1 Joshua McCARROLL
Zinzaan MARTIN 2 Toby FRATER Dylan CAROLAN 2 Hayden PACE Callum BOOMER 2/4 Brock MORAN
Tom McCAGH (C) 3 Christian SMITH Kane JACKSON 3 Taine BROWNE Nash GEYER 3 Jamarl FIREBRACE
Michael BELL 4 Harrison McINDOE Thomas DWAN 4 Blake PASKINS Gerard AH-NAU 4/20 Benjamin PONTON JOHNSON
Ty EVERETT 5 Wes SISIFA Blake WILSON 5 Walter LAUENSTEIN Bayley DESMOND 5 Saimoni WAQA
Brodie CHAFFEY 6 James BUSBY John McLAUGHLIN 6 Brendan WHITE (C) Kobe WHALAN 6 Josh W ILLIAMS (C)
Adam COOK 7 Blake MOORE (C) Jack WRIGHT (C) 7 Mitchell FRANCIS Tahne ROBINSON (C) 7 Ty-James MARSHALL
Jack GAULD 8 Ricky McHUGH Justin MAKIRERE 18/8 Garrett SMITH Ben THOMAS 8 Sinbad FRUEAN
Sam MURPHY 9 Jack PATTIE Tyson SMOOTHY 9 Sean Michael DALTON Josh SEXTON 9 Raymond TURNBULL
Jack ALTHAUS 10 Lachlan HUBNER Wyatt REYNOLDS 10 Ryan MOLLOY Ji VAN HEERWAARDEN 10 Sione FOUETI
Lance FOLBIGG 11 Z. TUPUONO-POMARE Steven BORG 11 Matthew VESSEY Blake CAMPBELL 11 Wilson MALAESILIA
Jack JOHNSON 12 Ethan JACKSON Tye JAMES 12 Aidan BEARD Cooper HENNESSEY 12 Tyler COBURN
Ben CONDON 13 Brodee BARRETT Mateus CHANKAY 13 Logan BAYLISS-BROW Jaman RIO 13/15 Kyle PETERSEN
14 Curtis DEMPSEY, 15 Thomas 14RileySHADLOW 14KeatonWALKINGTON-MEADS,15ZacGREEN 14 Mason THORPE 15 Codey McLAUGHLIN 13 Oskar MOORE
GOULDING, 17 Bryce LONG 15ZaineHAMMOND,16MylesGAL 16NickELLEMS,17NicolasEDWARDS 15 Hayden BROWNSEY 16 Caleb NICHOLLS 16 Jake CASEY
19 Johnathon SMITH 18JohnGOODFELLOW,19Ryan FRANKS 19 JaylenNOM,20JacobTOMPKINS 16 Liam MENG, 17 Luke PEARCE 17 Adyn ANGUNA, 20 Reece BUTLER 17 Taj HINTON, 18 Ben HAVILAND
David ELLIOTT Damien SEIBOLD Sam MAWHINNEY Michael COMERFORD Matt KING Brendon MARSHALL

SOUTHS LOGAN V WYNNUM MANLY

Thane KELLERMEYER 1 Shannon GARDINER (C)
Leevai SUTTON 2 Ryan O’KEEFE
Liam SU’A 3 Eliott VINCENT
Edward DOWNING-BROWN 4 Dredin SORENSEN-McGEE
Israel TALIGATUS 5 Jalen TANGIITII-TURNER
Hayden RYAN 6 Kenshin TSUTSUI
Jeremy GIBSON 7 David QUINLIN TEAM P W L D B F A DIFF PTS

Fai SMALLEY 8 Brock RICHARDSON

Blake SCOTT (C) 9 Zane WALLACE
Greg LINGARD 10 James ROBINSON
Kayah RIGGS-NOBLE 11 Lachie PERRY
Vaea VAEA 12 Clayton MACK .
Shaun ANDERSON 13 Jacson LOTT
14SamTOLU,15LazerythSUA 14 Logan PENGELLY, 15 Ami
16 Amosa AUMUA,17AidanCARSTAIRS PALELEI, 16 Nofoasa
18JordanCHAMPION MALUTOA, 22 David BUTLER
Shayne BOYD Joe O’CALLAGHAN

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 55

 SG BALL: SEMI-FINALS
PARRAMATTA 11 (S Russel 2 tries; S Loizou goal; J Arthur
ST MARYS V HILLS DISTRICT WESTS V GLEBE-BURWOOD field goal) D. CANTERBURY 10 (K Picken, I Merhi tries; J
Topine goal).
Zachary RYAN 1 Siaosi KEATES Omar SLAIMANKHEL 1 Latrell SCHAUMKEL CENTRAL COAST 46 (L Knight 2, T Anderson 2, S Smith 2, R
Stevenson, S Vaenuku tries; R Piepers 7 goals) D. CANBERRA
Allan FITZGIBBON 2 Patiliai BOLEA Samuel KIMI-IOANE 2 Jalen REWETI 16 (M Taleo, J Tupou, M Souter tries; B Robertson 2 goals).
Geoff DANIELA 3 Meimeite SIALE Jack GIBBONS 20/3 Paul ROKOLATI
TEAM P W L D B F A DIFF PTS
Maliko FILINO 4/23 Mathew GARDNER Jeremiah LEASI 4 Lachlan STEIN MANLY 9 7 1 1 0 320 138 182 15
Marli SINI 5 Noah SMITH Isaac RABUATOKA 5 Pio NAKUBUWAI
Jake TOBY 6 Nicholas HOLLIDAY Keliran WYLD 6 Jordan CHONG SUN CENTRAL COAST 9 7 2 0 0 234 158 76 14

Kurt FALLS 7 Harry SIEJKA Manaia RUDOLPH 7 Ben JONES CANBERRA 8 5 3 0 1 232 180 52 12
Leonati FEILOAKITUA 8 Treyvon LEULUAI Edward CARTER 8 Matthew JURD
Meni LUKE 9 Joel BRADFORD Josh DALEY 9 Jackson GARLICK BALMAIN 8 4 3 1 1 224 180 44 11

Cowen EPERE 10 Timothy ROBINSON Andy FIAGATUSA 10 Brendon LUAMANU PENRITH 9 5 4 0 0 242 198 44 10
Patrick HOLLIS 11 Jonathon MOSE Josh DAVIS 11 Joseph ROKOQO
John FAIUMU 12/14 Daniel HARRISON Harrison LEONARD 12 Kyle LOVETT ST GEORGE 8 3 5 0 1 162 214 -52 8

George TSIKRIKAS 13 David BAUMANN Ahmad ELLAZ 13 Royce TOUT NEWCASTLE 9 3 6 0 0 203 210 -7 6
16 Thomas ROMER, 17 Dylan FUAD 13 Jake BRENNAN, 15 Jack 14 Kelsey COAKES, 17 Adrian 14 Benjamin JACKSON, 15 Jaz
20 Veta HENRY SEUMANU WILKINSON-ALIPATE, 16 Jake LEWIS HA’ANGANA, 21 Avia MINUTE FLAVELL, 16 Tyrone TAUKAMO SOUTH SYDNEY 9 3 6 0 0 192 258 -66 6
23 Siosaia VAVE 18 Eton LINDSAY, 19 Rhys WALPOLE 23 Hala AKAUOLA LAULA 21 Jyi SEYMOUR
Shane ELFORD Michael WITHERS Darren MAROON Aaron ZAMMIT WEST COAST 8 0 8 0 1 90 454 -364 2

HAROLD MATTS: SEMI-FINALS

BLACKTOWN V GUILDFORD ASQUITH V WENTY CANTERBURY 44 (A Baptista 2, T Williams 2, J O’Neill, I Teo,
P Alamoti, M Harimate-Vaine, P Zimmerman tries; T Winitana 4
goals) D. BALMAIN 8 (E Sarkis try; A Miltiadous 2 goals).
Levi LI 4/1 Jaydn FIELD Jake PICKERING 26/1 Josh BERGAMIN PENRITH 44 (J Hay 2, J Donnelly, S Neiufi, J Cole, B
Obed KARWHIN 2 Daniel LOTU Hayden McWILLIAM 2 Eparama NAVALE Aiolupotea, J Buchan, J Sene tries; Hay 6 goals) D. MANLY 6
(L Fonua try; O Cummins goal).
Jermaine MATI-LEFI 3 Cameron EYLES Jordan REMFREY 3 Eli ROBERTS
Shaun FITZGERALD 1/4 Siua LAPUAHO Jake BEETSON 28/4 Liam MULVIHILL TEAM P W L D B F A DIFF PTS

Maile LI 5 Jarred PETERO Michael PEAARSELL 5 Charlton SCHAAFHAUSEN NEWCASTLE 8 7 1 0 1 262 82 180 16

Veiru MAPESONE 6 Penani MANUMALEALII Riley TRAVERS 6 Henry RAIWALUI MANLY 8 7 1 0 1 240 130 110 16
Kamren CRYER 7 Josh LEWIS Treymaine BROWN 7 Beau HENRY
ILLAWARRA 8 6 2 0 1 174 126 48 14
Sukamanu RAKI 17/8 Dylan McKEOWN Atonio PELESASA 8 Piki ROGERS
Kurt ALDRIDGE 10/9 Jack WHEELHOUSE Peter NAY 9 Dylan IZZARD CRONULLA 8 5 3 0 1 130 120 10 12
Rhys SCIGLITANO 8/10 Taniela LASALO Justin LEMALU 10 Brad JOHNSON
PARRAMATTA 8 4 4 0 1 128 164 -36 10
Michael TUPOU 18 Joseph GARDINER Jackson WILLIAMS 11 Danny HOWARD
Charles SHEPHERD 13/12 Matt WOODS Jerry KEY 12 Rydge SMITH CANBERRA 8 2 6 0 1 122 182 -60 6
Denzal TONISE 21/13 David HARRIS Magnus STROMQUIST 24/13 Blake COOK
CENTRAL COAST 8 1 7 0 1 94 224 -130 4
11 Damon SMITH, 19 Fou TAGIILIMA 15 Aaron GRECH 13 Will SOLWAY, 15 Matt PLACE 14 Josh BERMINGHAM, 15 Nick
24 Eric NEWBIGGING 16 Jake FERGUSON, 17 Caleb Paiaka 16 Josh HALL WALKER, 16 Nick OKLADNIKOV
ST GEORGE 8 1 7 0 1 66 244 -178 4
25 Fred Junior MAUALA HUNT, 30 Beni VALU 17 Niko APELU 24 Mana AONGA
Brad PRIOR Paul FLETCHER Patrick WEISNER Brett COOK
TARSHA GALE: SEMI-FINALS
Round 6 results NEWCASTLE 32 (C Harrison, J Holden, J Morris, B O’Neill, O
TEAM P W L D B F A DIFF PTS
Kernick, K Romaniuk, J Strange tries; C Campbell, C Johnston
goals) D. CRONULLA 26 (M Higgins-Ashby 2, K Gilmour, J
Chapman, L Howarth tries; Chapman 2, L Kelly goals).
ILLAWARRA 36 (T Berry 3, K Browne 2, M Weatherall, T
Graham tries; O Vale 4 goals) D. PARRAMATTA 6 (R Faucette
try; A Futialo goal).

WESTERN SUBURBS 42 (J Gibbons 2, S Kimi-Ioane, M Rudolph, A Ha’angana,
D Robson, J Daley, A Ellaz tries; M Rudolph 3, K Coakes goals) D. GUILDFORD
24 (J Petero 2, M Woods, J Lewis, S Lapuaho tries; Lewis 2 goals). MOUNTIES
18 (D Matterson 2, M Cahalane tries; S Duggan 3 goals) D. ASQUITH 14 (H
McWilliam, J Key, J Remfrey tries; T Brown goal). ST MARYS 50 (M Sini 2, J
Faiumu 2, A Fitzgibbon 2, L Feiloakitua, K Falls, M Luke tries; K Falls 7 goals)
D. CABRAMATTA 14 (A Tupou, T Mata’afa tries; A Carling 2, B Finnegan
goals). GLEBE-BURWOOD 30 (P Nakubuwai, J Reweti, J Chong Sun, B Jones,
K Lovett, B Luamanu tries; B Jackson 3 goals) D. BROTHERS 10 (R Foaese 2
Josh Tangitau tries; M Tweedie goal). BLACKTOWN 28 (V Mapesone, J Mati-Lefi, F Mauala,
passes the ball K Cryer, F Tagiilima tries; K Cryer 4 goals) D. HILLS DISTRICT 20 (P Bolea 2, D
Harrison, L Taavale tries; H Siejka 2 goals).
for Cabramatta.
SYDNEY SHIELD
WENTWORTHVILLE 60 (T Shelley 3, T Sapienza, N Walker, T
Black, S Gaunavinaka, S Lipano, S Terekia, N Okladnikov tries;
B Newton 10 goals) D. BELROSE 10 (R Wolloghan, J Ongosia
tries; R Wolloghan goal). CABRAMATTA 24 (M Mundine 2, W
Finau, A Tuwhangai tries; C Papa 4 goals) D. ST MARYS 22
(A Niulesa, M Tomkins, R Nanovo, D Brown tries; D White 3
goals). MOOREBANK 30 (S Stevens 3, T Harding, B Hamill, Z
Saddler, J Horton, S Winters-Chang tries; Horton 3, N Williams
goals) D. HILLS DISTRICT 18 (I Gorman 2, J Lewis tries; E
Gibson 3 goals). BROTHERS 30 (C Rennie 2, S Logaivau, J
Tago, P Hinder, K Tia Kilifi tries; C Smith 3 goals) DREW WITH
SYDNEY UNI 30 (J O’Brien, B Pelligra, K McLean, M Long, J
Boumelhem tries; D Arahu 5 goals). RYDE-EASTWOOD 38 (R
Alofipo 3, T Seymour, A McElroy, T Evans-Tsoi, R Zakarija tries;
B Stevanovic 3, E Mokoia 2 goals) D. ASQUITH 12 (C Johnston,
J Seninawanawa tries; L Christensen 2 goals).

56 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

 TOP POINTSCORERS ESAN MARSTERS (TIGERS) 15 23 65%
T G FG PTS NATHAN CLEARY (PANTHERS) 14 15 93%
LATRELL MITCHELL (ROOSTERS) 2 24 1 57 JORDAN KAHU (COWBOYS) 13 18 72%
DALY CHERRY-EVANS (SEA EAGLES) 3 19 1 51 KALYN PONGA (KNIGHTS) 12 17 71%
MITCHELL MOSES (EELS) 1 22 1 49 SHAUN JOHNSON (SHARKS) 11 13 85%
JARROD CROKER (RAIDERS) 3 18 0 48 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA (WARRIORS) 10 12 83%
ADAM REYNOLDS (RABBITOHS) 0 23 0 46 ADAM KEIGHRAN (WARRIORS) 9 10 90%
MICHAEL GORDON (TITANS) 2 15 0 38
CAMERON SMITH (STORM) 0 18 0 36 TOP RUNNING METRES

t
NATHAN CLEARY (PANTHERS) 1 14 1 33 TOTAL AVERAGE GAMES
JORDAN KAHU (COWBOYS) 1 13 0 30 CLINT GUTHERSON (EELS) 1185 198 6
JAMAYNE ISAAKO (BRONCOS) 0 15 0 30 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (WARRIORS) 1171 195 6
ESAN MARSTERS (TIGERS) 0 15 0 30 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD (RAIDERS) 1035 173 6
KALYN PONGA (KNIGHTS) 1 12 0 28
JOSH MCGUIRE (COWBOYS) 1028 171 6
SHAUN JOHNSON (SHARKS) 1 11 0 26
DAVID KLEMMER (KNIGHTS) 1021 170 6
MICHAEL JENNINGS (EELS) 6 0 0 24
JAHROME HUGHES (STORM) 1019 170 6
COREY OATES (BRONCOS) 6 0 0 24
WILL HOPOATE (BULLDOGS) 999 167 6
TOP GOALKICKERS PAUL VAUGHAN (DRAGONS) 996 166 6
GOALS ATTEMPTS % DANIEL TUPOU (ROOSTERS) 969 162 6
LATRELL MITCHELL (ROOSTERS) 24 32 75% MARTIN TAUPAU (SEA EAGLES) 943 157 6
ADAM REYNOLDS (RABBITOHS) 23 32 72% JAMES TEDESCO (ROOSTERS) 941 157 6
MITCHELL MOSES (EELS) 22 26 85%
SAM BURGESS (RABBITOHS) 938 156 6
DALY CHERRY-EVANS (SEA EAGLES) 19 24 79%
CAMERON SMITH (STORM) 18 23 78% COREY OATES (BRONCOS) 925 154 6
JARROD CROKER (RAIDERS) 18 27 67% BLAKE FERGUSON (EELS) 921 184 5
MICHAEL GORDON (TITANS) 15 18 83% MAIKA SIVO (EELS) 921 154 6
JAMAYNE ISAAKO (BRONCOS) 15 21 71%

Total hit-ups/runs

Total hit-ups/runs
Handling errors

Handling errors
Minutes played

Minutes played
Missed tackles

Missed tackles
Metres gained

Metres gained
Total tackles

Total tackles
SHARKS V PANTHERS Line-breaks

Line-breaks
Offloads

Offloads
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND 24 (Bronson Xerri 49’,
Chad Townsend 64’, Andrew Fifita 73’, Josh Dugan 75’
tries; Chad Townsend 4 goals) d. PENRITH 20 (Tim
Grant 11’, Nathan Cleary 16’, Waqa Blake 61’ tries; Feki 80 3 0 0 10 93 2 0 Mansour 80 8 1 0 14 106 2 0
Nathan Cleary 4 goals)
Morris 80 11 0 0 9 96 0 1 Blake 80 27 4 1 9 101 0 0
Half-time: Penrith 14-0
Crowd: 10,088
Johnson 80 15 1 1 14 88 1 2 Maloney 80 16 8 0 9 61 0 0
Scrums: 6 all
Penalties: Cronulla-Sutherland 7-2 Fifita 60 26 2 1 18 120 0 5 Tamou 54 27 3 0 9 91 0 0
Sin Bin: Nil
Sent Off: Nil Prior 51 27 3 0 13 118 0 1 Grant 40 22 2 1 7 58 1 0
Referee: Ben Cummins
Assistant Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski Capewell 80 42 4 0 15 145 0 0 Yeo 80 20 3 0 9 76 1 0
Touch Judges: Phil Henderson, Chris Sutton
Goalkickers: Chad Townsend (Sharks) 4 from 4, Interchange Interchange
Nathan Cleary (Panthers) 4 from 4
Completion Rates: Cronulla-Sutherland 33/41, Williams 37 23 0 0 12 122 0 0 Leota 26 25 2 0 6 47 0 0
Penrith 28/35
Big 3: 3 Fifita 3; Johnson 2; Nikora 1 – M.G Hamlin-Uele 25 20 0 0 11 96 1 1 Martin 20 15 3 0 5 46 0 2
Total 1040 303 14 6 205 1752 11 14 Total 1040 372 46 3 153 1280 9 2
Total hit-ups/runs

Total hit-ups/runs
Handling errors

Handling errors
Minutes played

Minutes played
Missed tackles

Missed tackles
Metres gained

Metres gained
Total tackles

Total tackles

BULLDOGS V RABBITOHS
Line-breaks

Line-breaks
Offloads

Offloads
SOUTH SYDNEY 14 (Campbell Graham 3’, Alex
Johnston 26’ tries; Adam Reynolds 3 goals) d.
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN 6 (Ofahiki Ogden 14’ try;
Kerrod Holland 1 goal) Okunbor 80 3 0 0 13 121 2 0 Allan 80 6 0 2 8 87 0 1
Half-time: South Sydney 14-6
Hopoate 80 12 1 0 20 186 2 1 Gagai 80 16 2 0 13 114 0 1
Crowd: 30,040
Scrums: South Sydney 7-5 Cogger 80 11 3 0 8 50 1 1 Walker 80 11 3 0 16 85 1 2
Penalties: South Sydney 12-8
Sin Bin: Nil Tolman 70 47 1 0 17 155 0 0 Tatola 36 29 0 0 9 99 0 1
Sent Off: Nil
Referee: Henry Perenara Ogden 45 28 8 1 12 116 1 0 T Burgess 24 15 1 0 6 60 0 0
Assistant Referee: Tim Roby
Touch Judges: Chris Butler, Rickey MacFarlane Harawira-Naera 77 34 2 0 13 96 1 3 S Burgess 80 27 2 0 22 186 2 1
Goalkickers: Kerrod Holland (Bulldogs) 1 from 1,
Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs) 3 from 3 Interchange Interchange
Completion Rates: Canterbury-Bankstown 26/36,
South Sydney 35/43 Lichaa 24 11 1 0 2 14 0 0 Nicholls 25 20 1 0 5 40 0 0
Big 3: 3 Tolman; 2 Allan; 1 Ogden – D.M
C Smith 30 24 3 0 4 34 2 0 Knight 36 12 0 0 13 121 0 2
Total 1040 354 45 1 165 1473 11 8 Total 1040 314 15 4 216 1813 8 12

Eels centre Michael Jennings has scored 10 tries from 13 games against the Knights. �� North Queensland have won five

58 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

 CROWDS SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 11,020 BRISBANE BRONCOS 76% TOP TACKLERS
SHARKS V PANTHERS 10,088 GOLD COAST TITANS 10,059 CANBERRA RAIDERS 75% ANDREW McCULLOUGH (BRONCOS) 289
BULLDOGS V RABBITOHS 30,040 NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 75% CAMERON MCINNES (DRAGONS) 288
STORM V ROOSTERS 17,036
COMPLETED SETS NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 75% REED MAHONEY (EELS) 270
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 191 MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 74%
WARRIORS V COWBOYS 11,395 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS (PANTHERS) 266
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 187 PARRAMATTA EELS 72%
DRAGONS V SEA EAGLES 14,268 CAMERON SMITH (STORM) 260
MELBOURNE STORM 184
TITANS V KNIGHTS 11,654 CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS 71%
CANBERRA RAIDERS 182
RAIDERS V BRONCOS 17,193
WESTS TIGERS 180
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 70% MOST HIT-UPS/RUNS
EELS V TIGERS 29,047 WILL HOPOATE (BULLDOGS) 119
GOLD COAST TITANS 177
TOTAL 140,721 TOP TRY SCORERS CLINT GUTHERSON (EELS) 118
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 175
AVERAGE PER GAME 17,590 MICHAEL JENNINGS (EELS) 6 SAM BURGESS (RABBITOHS) 114
BRISBANE BRONCOS 174
YEAR TO DATE TOTAL 749,863 COREY OATES (BRONCOS) 6 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (WARRIORS) 112
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 173
AVERAGE PER GAME 15,622 CODY WALKER (RABBITOHS) 6 JOSH MCGUIRE (COWBOYS) 112
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS 170
CAMPBELL GRAHAM (RABBITOHS) 6 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD (RAIDERS) 112
PARRAMATTA EELS 169
CLUB HOME AVERAGES MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 166 JAMES TEDESCO (ROOSTERS) 5
BRISBANE BRONCOS 28,403 JORDAN PEREIRA (DRAGONS) 5 MOST OFFLOADS
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS 165
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS 25,087 KERROD HOLLAND (BULLDOGS) 22
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 162 DANIEL TUPOU (ROOSTERS) 4
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 20,537 ANDREW FIFITA (SHARKS) 20
WARRIORS 156 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (WARRIORS) 4
PARRAMATTA EELS 17,866 ESAN MARSTERS (TIGERS) 19
PENRITH PANTHERS 153 MITCHELL AUBUSSON (ROOSTERS) 4
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 16,916
JOSEPH LEILUA (RAIDERS) 4
MELBOURNE STORM 16,236
WARRIORS 14,728
COMPLETION % ANTHONY DON (TITANS) 4
CANBERRA RAIDERS 14,467 CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS 80% SAM BURGESS (RABBITOHS) 4
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 13,976 ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 79% EDRICK LEE (KNIGHTS) 4
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS 12,925 WESTS TIGERS 78% JOSH ADDO-CARR (STORM) 4
WESTS TIGERS 12,722 MELBOURNE STORM 78% REIMIS SMITH (BULLDOGS) 4
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS 12,586 SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 77%
PENRITH PANTHERS 12,526 GOLD COAST TITANS 76% 40/20 KICKS

t
MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 11,247 WARRIORS 76% MICHAEL MORGAN (COWBOYS) 3

Total hit-ups/runs

Total hit-ups/runs
Handling errors

Handling errors
Minutes played

Minutes played
Missed tackles

Missed tackles
Metres gained

Metres gained
Total tackles

Total tackles
STORM V ROOSTERS Line-breaks

Line-breaks
Offloads

Offloads
SYDNEY 21 (Latrell Mitchell 5’, Jared Waerea-
Hargreaves 21’, James Tedesco 30’ tries; Latrell
Mitchell 4 goals; Latrell Mitchell 1 field goal) d.
MELBOURNE 20 (Josh Addo-Carr 38’, Tui Kamikamica Vunivalu 82 3 1 0 10 106 0 0 Tupou 82 0 0 0 21 183 0 1
49’, Curtis Scott 52’ tries; Brodie Croft 4 goals)
Scott 82 15 2 1 6 59 1 0 Aubusson 82 19 0 0 10 75 0 0
Half-time: Sydney 20-8
Crowd: 17,036
Munster 82 19 0 0 13 95 2 1 Keary 61 9 3 0 9 36 2 0
Scrums: Melbourne 8-5
Penalties: Melbourne 10-5 J Bromwich 44 23 1 0 11 93 0 0 Waerea-Hargreaves 61 33 3 0 15 111 0 1
Sin Bin: Nil
Sent Off: Nil Asofa-Solomona 44 28 4 0 10 83 0 2 Collins 37 22 4 0 9 95 2 1
Referee: Ashley Klein
Assistant Referee: Grant Atkins K Bromwich 76 32 1 0 16 171 0 0 Crichton 82 44 2 0 9 64 0 3
Touch Judges: Todd Smith, Michael Wise
Goalkickers: Brodie Croft (Storm) 4 from 4, Latrell Interchange Interchange
Mitchell (Roosters) 4 from 4
Completion Rates: Melbourne 36/46, Sydney 26/36 Welch 49 24 2 0 18 207 0 1 Verrills 7 8 0 0 1 8 0 0
Big 3: 3 C Smith 3; Mitchell 2; Welch 1 – M.G
Papenhuyzen 6 7 0 0 4 49 1 0 Curran 14 13 0 0 2 24 1 0
Total 1040 338 25 3 191 1837 10 6 Total 1040 362 31 3 178 1516 13 9
Total hit-ups/runs

Total hit-ups/runs
Handling errors

Handling errors
Minutes played

Minutes played
Missed tackles

Missed tackles
Metres gained

Metres gained
Total tackles

Total tackles

WARRIORS V COWBOYS
Line-breaks

Line-breaks
Offloads

Offloads
NORTH QUEENSLAND 17 (Coen Hess 26’, Justin
PHOTOS: NRLPhotos.com: Nathan Hopkins (Cleary), Dave Acree (Morgan)

O’Neill 58’ tries; Jordan Kahu 4 goals; Michael Morgan

1 field goal) d. WARRIORS 10 (Ken Maumalo 20’, Roger
Tuivasa-Sheck 48’ tries; Chanel Harris-Tavita 1 goal) Fusitu’a 65 0 0 0 13 134 2 0 O’Neill 80 3 1 0 15 122 1 0
Half-time: North Queensland 8-4
Kata 80 7 1 0 10 80 1 0 Tuala 80 14 2 0 11 82 0 0
Crowd: 11,395
Scrums: 9 all
Harris-Tavita 80 19 1 0 4 24 0 0 Clifford 80 20 5 1 6 61 2 0
Penalties: Warriors 10-6
Sin Bin: Nil Paasi 28 23 0 0 9 76 0 1 Scott 49 27 1 0 11 105 1 2
Sent Off: Nil
Referee: Peter Gough Ah Mau 47 31 1 0 9 86 0 0 McLean 56 25 0 0 18 183 0 0
Assistant Referee: Jon Stone
Touch Judges: Kasey Badger, Drew Oultram Harris 80 40 0 0 14 127 0 2 McGuire 80 42 3 0 23 220 1 0
Goalkickers: Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors) 1 from 2,
Jordan Kahu (Cowboys) 4 from 4 Interchange Interchange
Completion Rates: Warriors 26/38, North Queensland
31/37 Afoa 33 29 0 0 10 100 0 0 Hess 58 24 1 0 7 66 0 0
Big 3: 3 McGuire; 2 Tuivasa-Sheck; 1 Morgan – M.T
Roache 24 21 1 1 3 50 0 0 Molo 7 10 1 0 2 14 0 0
Total 1040 411 20 5 157 1389 12 11 Total 1040 313 37 1 168 1511 8 3

of their past six games against the Bulldogs. �� The Roosters are aiming for their sixth consecutive victory. �� The Sea Eagles have won three of their past four games against the Raiders.

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 59

MOST TRY ASSISTS
LUKE KEARY (ROOSTERS)
MICHAEL MORGAN (COWBOYS)
CLINT GUTHERSON (EELS)
CAMERON MUNSTER (STORM) 6 MOST HANDLING ERRORS
9 LATRELL MITCHELL (ROOSTERS) 6 DYLAN EDWARDS (PANTHERS) 13
7 COREY OATES (BRONCOS) 12
7
TOP DUMMY-HALF RUNNERS LUKE KEARY (ROOSTERS) 11

t
DAMIEN COOK (RABBITOHS) 61
ADAM REYNOLDS (RABBITOHS) 6 JACK WIGHTON (RAIDERS) 11
DAMIEN COOK (RABBITOHS) 6 KEN MAUMALO (WARRIORS) 11
BEN HUNT (DRAGONS) 5
MOST INTERCEPTS
ELLIOTT WHITEHEAD (RAIDERS) 2
MITCHELL MOSES (EELS) 5 MOST MISSED TACKLES
COREY NORMAN (DRAGONS) 5 JAMES MALONEY (PANTHERS) 36
LATRELL MITCHELL (ROOSTERS) 5
MOST CHARGE DOWNS JAMES FISHER-HARRIS (PANTHERS) 29
ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (WARRIORS) 1
BRIAN KELLY (TITANS) 28
LUKE KEARY (ROOSTERS) 1
TOP LINE-BREAK ASSISTS RHYSE MARTIN (BULLDOGS) 1
KODI NIKORIMA (BRONCOS) 27
CLINT GUTHERSON (EELS) 8 MICHAEL GORDON (TITANS) 5
JOSH HODGSON (RAIDERS) 27
MITCHELL PEARCE (KNIGHTS) 6 TOM TRBOJEVIC (SEA EAGLES) 5
COREY HARAWIRA-NAERA (BULLDOGS) 26
MICHAEL MORGAN (COWBOYS) 5 JORDAN PEREIRA (DRAGONS) 5 MOST DECOYS
SIONE MATA’UTIA (KNIGHTS) 25
CAMPBELL GRAHAM (RABBITOHS) 5 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS (PANTHERS) 55
JACK BIRD (BRONCOS) 5 MICHAEL MORGAN (COWBOYS) 24
ANDREW FIFITA (SHARKS) 51
COREY NORMAN (DRAGONS) 5 REED MAHONEY (EELS) 24
SHAUN JOHNSON (SHARKS) 5
KICKS IN PLAY
MICHAEL MORGAN (COWBOYS) 82 MOST SUPPORTS
LATRELL MITCHELL (ROOSTERS) 5
MICHAEL GORDON (TITANS) 122
MOST PENALTIES
ADAM REYNOLDS (RABBITOHS) 81
LATRELL MITCHELL (ROOSTERS) 12
LACHLAN LEWIS (BULLDOGS) 77 LUKE KEARY (ROOSTERS) 120
MOST LINE-BREAKS CHAD TOWNSEND (SHARKS) 115
JAMES MALONEY (PANTHERS) 8
ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (WARRIORS) 8 ANTHONY MILFORD (BRONCOS) 75
TARIQ SIMS (DRAGONS) 8
BRITON NIKORA (SHARKS) 7 MITCHELL PEARCE (KNIGHTS) 72
MOST RECEIVES JARROD WALLACE (TITANS) 7
JAMES TEDESCO (ROOSTERS) 6 DALY CHERRY-EVANS (SEA EAGLES) 70
DAMIEN COOK (RABBITOHS) 761 JACK WIGHTON (RAIDERS) 7
DALY CHERRY-EVANS (SEA EAGLES) 5
JOEY LEILUA (RAIDERS) 5
TOP TURNOVER TACKLES CAMERON SMITH (STORM) 722
LAST LINE OF DEFENCE
ELLIOTT WHITEHEAD (RAIDERS) 7
JOSH MORRIS (SHARKS) 5 MOST KICK RECEIPTS ALEX GLENN (BRONCOS) 2
SAM BURGESS (RABBITOHS) 6
COREY OATES (BRONCOS) 5 DARIUS BOYD (BRONCOS) 71 JARROD CROKER (RAIDERS) 2
DALE FINUCANE (STORM) 6

Total hit-ups/runs

Total hit-ups/runs
Handling errors

Handling errors
Minutes played

Minutes played
Missed tackles

Missed tackles
Metres gained

Metres gained
Total tackles

Total tackles
DRAGONS V SEA EAGLES Line-breaks

Line-breaks
Offloads

Offloads
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 12 (Matt Dufty 17’, Mikaele
Ravalawa 78’ tries; Tim Lafai 2 goals) d. MANLY
WARRINGAH 10 (Brad Parker 33’, Daly Cherry-Evans
59’ tries; Daly Cherry-Evans 1 goal) Pereira 80 3 0 0 13 131 2 0 Taufua 80 1 1 0 11 56 1 0
Half-time: St George Illawarra 8-4
Lafai 80 8 1 0 7 77 0 2 Parker 80 14 1 1 7 44 0 0
Crowd: 14,268
Scrums: St George Illawarra 9-4
Norman 80 12 1 0 11 83 0 0 Elgey 80 9 3 0 8 40 0 0
Penalties: Manly Warringah 10-6
Sin Bin: Nil Graham 52 39 1 0 12 118 0 0 Sipley 17 10 0 0 3 19 0 0
Sent Off: Nil
Referee: Dave Munro Vaughan 56 33 2 0 17 154 1 2 Taupau 48 27 0 0 17 168 0 0
Assistant Referee: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judges: Nick Beashel, Mark Bohan T Sims 80 30 3 0 8 60 0 0 Sironen 80 20 2 0 13 91 0 2
Goalkickers: Tim Lafai (Dragons) 2 from 5, Daly
Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles) 1 from 2 Interchange Interchange
Completion Rates: St George Illawarra 32/39, Manly
Warringah 34/42 Z Lomax 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gosiewski 35 12 2 0 11 96 2 0
Big 3: 3 McInnes; 2 Cherry-Evans; 1 Hunt – D.P
Leilua 25 15 0 0 8 67 0 1 Boyle 26 20 0 0 5 56 0 0
Total 1040 347 17 0 157 1368 9 10 Total 1040 272 25 2 174 1396 13 8
Total hit-ups/runs

Total hit-ups/runs
Handling errors

Handling errors
Minutes played

Minutes played
Missed tackles

Missed tackles
Metres gained

Metres gained
Total tackles

Total tackles

TITANS V KNIGHTS
Line-breaks

Line-breaks
Offloads

Offloads
GOLD COAST 38 (Tyrone Roberts (2) 22’ 78’,
Phillip Sami 19’, Brian Kelly 38’, Anthony Don 49’,
Michael Gordon 80’ tries; Michael Gordon 7 goals) d.
NEWCASTLE 14 (Hymel Hunt 55’, Mitchell Barnett 62’, Don 70 5 0 0 12 93 0 0 Lee 80 5 2 0 9 93 1 0
Kalyn Ponga 66’ tries; Mitchell Barnett 1 goal)
Kelly 80 21 7 1 11 105 0 1 Ramien 80 17 2 0 13 109 2 2
Half-time: Gold Coast 22-0
Crowd: 11,654
Roberts 80 10 5 1 5 70 1 0 Watson 80 28 4 0 12 121 3 0
Scrums: Newcastle 6-5
Penalties: Newcastle 9-7 Fotuaika 32 24 0 0 12 131 1 0 Klemmer 65 39 2 0 13 112 1 3
Sin Bin: Nil
Sent Off: Nil Boyd 38 23 1 0 13 105 0 0 Gavet 35 23 0 0 5 29 0 0
Referee: Chris Sutton
Assistant Referee: Phil Henderson Cartwright 80 35 4 0 8 66 1 2 Barnett 80 44 5 0 6 36 0 1
Touch Judges: Liam Nicholls, Clayton Sharpe
Goalkickers: Michael Gordon (Titans) 7 from 8, Interchange Interchange
Mitchell Barnett (Knights) 1 from 1, Kalyn Ponga
(Knights) 0 from 2 Stockwell 28 17 2 0 6 50 0 0 D Saifiti 45 24 3 0 7 62 1 0
Completion Rates: Gold Coast 34/38, Newcastle 28/40
Big 3: 3 Roberts 3; Arrow 2; Ponga 1 – M.G Whitbread 40 22 0 0 15 130 0 1 Buhrer 16 13 2 0 2 28 0 0
Total 1040 337 37 6 166 1579 6 5 Total 1040 329 31 5 173 1511 12 9

Broncos winger Corey Oates has scored 14 tries in his past 10 games. �� The Titans have won five of their past six games

60 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven

 CANTERBURY CUP NSW TOP LINE-BREAKS INTRUST SUPER CUP TOP LINE-BREAKS
BAILEY SIMONSSON (MOUNTIES) 7 TOP POINTSCORERS KIERRAN MOSELEY (JETS) 7
TOP POINTSCORERS
TONY SATINI (MOUNTIES) 6 T G FG PTS HARRY GRANT (FALCONS) 7
T G FG PTS
KIAH COOPER (KNIGHTS) 6 TODD MURPHY (FALCONS) 4 34 0 84 JUSTIN OLAM (FALCONS) 7
ANDRE NIKO (MOUNTIES) 5 20 0 60
TOP LINE-BREAK ASSISTS HERBIE FARNWORTH (DEVILS) 4 18 0 52 JESSE ARTHARS (BEARS) 6
MAWENE HIROTI (RABBITOHS) 3 22 0 56
BROCK LAMB (BEARS) 2 19 1 47 ADAM CLUNE (DRAGONS) 7 AARON BOOTH (TIGERS) 4 17 0 50 TOP LINE-BREAK ASSISTS
BRAD KEIGHRAN (WENT. MAGPIES)0 19 0 38 BILLY BRITTAIN (RABBITOHS) 7 MARMIN BARBA (JETS) 2 17 0 42 NICHO HYNES (FALCONS) 10
TYSON GAMBLE (WEST SUB. MAGPIES)2 14 1 37 TOP TACKLE-BREAKS JAMAL FOGARTY (BEARS) 1 17 0 38 HARRY GRANT (FALCONS) 6
BAILEY SIMONSSON (MOUNTIES) 8 0 0 32 BRIAN TOO (PANTHERS) 40 LINDON MCGRADY (TH SEAGULLS) 0 17 0 34 JOSH RALPH (TIGERS) 6
TONY SATINI (MOUNTIES) 6 0 0 24 GREG LELEISIUAO (WENT. MAGPIES) 34 BJ AUFAGA-TOOMAGA (CAPRAS) 0 16 0 32 MITCH CRONIN (WM SEAGULLS) 5
GUY HAMILTON (MAGPIES) 5
TOP RUNNING METRES ALFRED SMALLEY (SEA EAGLES) 32 TOP RUNNING METRES
REUBENN RENNIE (MOUNTIES) 29 MATT COOPER (TIGERS) 5
TOTAL AVERAGE GAMES TOTAL AVERAGE GAMES
CALUM GAHAN (DEVILS)
ASU KEPAOA (BEARS) 1098 183 6 TOP TACKLERS EDENE GEBBIE (WM SEAGULLS)1468 210 7
BRIAN TOO (PANTHERS) 1055 176 6 MITCHELL KENNY (PANTHERS) 291 TOM GILBERT (BLACKHAWKS) 1122 160 7 TOP TACKLE-BREAKS
REUBENN RENNIE (MOUNTIES) 993 166 6 BILLY MAGOULIAS (JETS) 248 PAUL ULBERG (DEVILS) 1091 156 7 EDENE GEBBIE (WM SEAGULLS) 49
JACKSON FORD (DRAGONS) 970 162 6 ZAC WOOLFORD (KNIGHTS) 242 JORDAN GRANT (DOLPHINS) 976 139 7 PAUL ULBERG (DEVILS) 40
ABBAS MISKI (SEA EAGLES) 947 158 6 BILLY BRITTAIN (RABBITOHS) 241 PETER HOLA (PRIDE) 962 137 7 TOP TACKLERS
CALEB AEKINS (PANTHERS) 920 153 6 BENNETT LESLIE (TIGERS) 941 134 7 MITCH CRONIN (WM SEAGULLS) 245
TOP MISSED TACKLES
LACHLAN TIMM (DRAGONS) 915 153 6 AARON PENE (CAPRAS) 938 134 7 HARRY GRANT (FALCONS) 242
MITCHELL KENNY (PANTHERS) 29
GREG LELEISIUAO (WENT. MAGPIES) 914 152 6 BEN MARSCHKE (BULLDOGS) 23 TOP TRYSCORERS TOP MISSED TACKLES
TOP TRYSCORERS SEAN KEPPIE (SEA EAGLES) 22 JESSE ARTHARS (BEARS) 7 JOSH CLEELAND (JETS) 34
BAILEY SIMONSSON (MOUNTIES) 8 PHOENIX CROSSLAND (KNIGHTS) 22 KAINOA GUDGEON (CAPRAS) 6 TOM GILBERT (BLACKHAWKS) 30
TONY SATINI (MOUNTIES) 6 EDWARD BURNS (WM SEAGULLS) 6 JOE BOYCE (BLACKHAWKS) 28
TOP PENALTIES
JONUS PEARSON (DRAGONS) 6 MAX BAILEY (BEARS) 10 TOP TRY ASSISTS TOP PENALTIES
TOP TRY ASSISTS MITCHELL KENNY (PANTHERS) 9 SAM SCARLETT (WM SEAGULLS) 9 BENNETT LESLIE (TIGERS) 14
ADAM CLUNE (DRAGONS) 7 LUKE BATEMAN (MOUNTIES) 8 NICHO HYNES (FALCONS) 9 JACK COOK (TH SEAGULLS) 12

Total hit-ups/runs

Total hit-ups/runs
Handling errors

Handling errors
Minutes played

Minutes played
Missed tackles

Missed tackles
Metres gained

Metres gained
Total tackles

Total tackles
RAIDERS V BRONCOS Line-breaks

Line-breaks
Offloads

Offloads
CANBERRA 26 (Joey Leilua (2) 30’ 33’, Nick Cotric
7’, John Bateman 61’, Ryan Sutton 67’ tries; Jarrod
Croker 3 goals) d. BRISBANE 22 (Kodi Nikorima 20’,
David Fifita 49’, Corey Oates 56’, Jack Bird 79’ tries; Cotric 80 6 0 1 16 148 0 0 Oates 80 3 1 0 13 134 1 0
Jamayne Isaako 3 goals)
Leilua 80 8 1 2 14 125 1 2 Bird 80 12 4 2 13 120 1 1
Half-time: Canberra 14-4
Crowd: 17,193
Wighton 80 21 0 0 11 74 2 0 Milford 80 9 3 1 10 66 1 1
Scrums: 4 all
Penalties: Brisbane 7-6 Papalii 57 40 0 0 13 131 0 1 Haas 80 36 1 0 19 170 0 0
Sin Bin: Nil
Sent Off: Nil Lui 25 21 1 0 8 72 0 0 Ofahengaue 46 35 1 0 13 116 1 1
Referee: Matt Cecchin
Assistant Referee: Adam Cassidy Whitehead 80 34 3 0 8 49 0 0 Gillett 80 36 0 0 12 95 0 1
Touch Judges: Michael Wise, Nick Morel
Goalkickers: Jarrod Croker (Raiders) 3 from 5, Interchange Interchange
Jamayne Isaako (Broncos) 3 from 4
Completion Rates: Canberra 28/35, Brisbane 32/38 Young 16 14 2 0 1 12 0 0 Su’A 19 14 0 0 6 35 0 2
Big 3: 3 Bateman; 2 Haas; 1 Hodgson – M.B
Collins 16 14 0 0 4 31 0 0 Roberts 34 4 1 0 5 39 0 1
Total 1040 373 21 4 171 1510 6 10 Total 1040 322 25 5 179 1590 7 9
Total hit-ups/runs

Total hit-ups/runs
Handling errors

Handling errors
Minutes played

Minutes played
Missed tackles

Missed tackles
Metres gained

Metres gained
Total tackles

Total tackles

EELS V TIGERS
Line-breaks

Line-breaks
Offloads

Offloads
PARRAMATTA 51 (Michael Jennings (2) , Brad
Takairangi, Jaeman Salmon, Maika Sivo, Mitchell
Moses, Oregon Kaufusi, Reed Mahoney, Shaun Lane
tries; Mitchell Moses 7 goals; Mitchell Moses 1 field Sivo 80 4 1 1 17 196 0 0 Fonua 80 11 1 1 14 121 3 1
goal) d. WESTS TIGERS 6 (Ben Matulino try; Esan
Takairangi 80 3 2 0 13 108 4 3 Marsters 80 13 3 0 14 107 1 3
Marsters 1 goal)
Half-time: Parramatta 30-6
Salmon 80 18 2 0 6 62 1 0 Reynolds 80 22 5 0 6 45 0 0
Crowd: 29,047
Scrums: Wests Tigers 10-3 Alvaro 0 0 0 0 1 12 0 0 Packer 38 27 0 0 2 26 0 0
Penalties: Parramatta 6-2
Sin Bin: Nil Sent Off: Nil Paulo 67 21 3 0 18 165 0 2 Twal 53 37 3 0 7 58 0 0
PHOTO: Robb Cox/NRLPhotos.com

Referee: Gerard Sutton

Assistant Referee: Chris Butler Niukore 49 19 2 1 6 88 0 0 Garner 54 21 2 0 7 56 0 1
Touch Judges: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, Belinda
Sharpe Interchange Interchange
Goalkickers: Mitchell Moses (Eels) 7 from 9, Esan
Marsters (Tigers) 1 from 1 Mannah 46 22 1 0 16 190 0 1 Mikaele 33 24 0 0 3 27 0 0
Completion Rates: Parramatta 33/44, Wests Tigers 22/27
Big 3: 3 Moses; 2 Gutherson; 1 Lane – M.B Stone 37 18 4 0 11 97 0 0 Chee Kam 71 26 0 0 7 42 1 0
Total 1040 271 32 10 194 2044 13 9 Total 1040 373 27 1 147 1210 8 11

against Wests Tigers. �� Knights winger Edrick Lee has scored 10 tries in nine games at McDonald Jones Stadium. �� The Dragons have won three of the past four Anzac Day games.

Round Seven BIG LEAGUE 2019 61

ROUND 1 Mar 14-17
Storm v Broncos
Knights v Sharks
Roosters v Rabbitohs
Warriors v Bulldogs
Wests Tigers v Sea Eagles
Cowboys v Dragons
Panthers v Eels
Titans v Raiders
ROUND 2 Mar 21-24
Dragons v Rabbitohs
Raiders v Storm
Broncos v Cowboys
Sharks v Titans
Knights v Panthers
Sea Eagles v Roosters
Bulldogs v Eels
Wests Tigers v Warriors
ROUND 3 Mar 28-31
Broncos v Dragons
Raiders v Knights
Eels v Roosters
Sea Eagles v Warriors
Cowboys v Sharks
Panthers v Storm
Wests Tigers v Bulldogs
Rabbitohs v Titans
ROUND 4
Roosters v Broncos
Warriors v Titans
Panthers v Wests Tigers
Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs
Cowboys v Raiders
Eels v Sharks
Storm v Bulldogs
Knights v Dragons
ROUND 5 Apr 11-14
Broncos v Wests Tigers
Titans v Panthers
Cowboys v Storm
Rabbitohs v Warriors
Knights v Sea Eagles
Sharks v Roosters
Dragons v Bulldogs
Raiders v Eels
ROUND 6 Apr 18-22
Sharks v Panthers
Bulldogs v Rabbitohs
Storm v Roosters
Warriors v Cowboys
Dragons v Sea Eagles
Titans v Knights
Raiders v Broncos
Eels v Wests Tigers
This Week
ROUND 7
62 BIG LEAGUE 2019 Round Seven
ROUND 14 Jun 13-16 ROUND 20 Aug 1-4
22-12 Raiders v Sharks Thu, 7.50pm, GIO Wests Tigers v Cowboys Thu, 7.50pm, Leichhardt
14-8 Titans v Warriors Fri, 6pm, Cbus Super Warriors v Raiders Fri, 6pm, Mt Smart
16-26 Broncos v Storm Fri, 7.55pm, Suncorp
Cowboys v Wests Tigers Fri, 7.55pm, 1300SMILES
40-6 Sea Eagles v Knights Sat, 3pm, Lottoland
20-6 ROUND 8 May 2-5
Storm v Knights Sat, 3pm, AAMI
Rabbitohs v Panthers Sat, 5.30pm, ANZ Bulldogs v Panthers Sat, 5.30pm, Bankwest
24-12 Rabbitohs v Broncos Thu, 7.50pm, ANZ
Eels v Broncos Sat, 7.35pm, Bankwest Sharks v Rabbitohs Sat, 7.35pm, PointsBet
12-20 Cowboys v Titans Fri, 6pm, 1300SMILES
Sea Eagles v Dragons Sun, 2pm, Lottoland Roosters v Titans Sun, 2pm, SCG
0-21 Sharks v Storm Fri, 7.55pm, PointsBet
Roosters v Bulldogs Sun, 4.05pm, SCG Dragons v Eels Sun, 4.05pm, Netstrata
Raiders v Panthers Sat, 3pm, McDonalds, Wagga
Sea Eagles v Bulldogs Sat, 5.30pm, Lottoland ROUND 21 Aug 8-11
18-34 Roosters v Wests Tigers Sat, 7.35pm, SCG STATE OF ORIGIN – GAME II Jun 23 Cowboys v Broncos Thu, 7.50pm, 1300SMILES
10-22 Warriors v Knights Sun, 2pm, Mt Smart NSW v Queensland Sun, 8.15pm, Optus, Perth Warriors v Sea Eagles Fri, 6pm, Mt Smart
29-10 Eels v Dragons Sun, 4.05pm, Bankwest Panthers v Sharks Fri, 7.55pm, Panthers
20-6 ROUND 15 Jun 27-30
14-16 ROUND 9 May 9-12
Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs Thu, 7.50pm, Bankwest
Dragons v Titans Sat, 3pm, Netstrata
Eels v Knights Sat, 5.30pm, Bankwest
18-26 Titans v Sharks Thu, 7.50pm, Suncorp
Dragons v Cowboys Fri, 6pm, WIN Bulldogs v Wests Tigers Sat, 7.35pm, ANZ
16-36 Wests Tigers v Panthers Fri, 6pm, Suncorp
Roosters v Storm Fri, 7.55pm, Adelaide Oval Raiders v Roosters Sun, 2pm, GIO
34-6 Sea Eagles v Broncos Fri, 7.55pm, Suncorp
Titans v Sea Eagles Sat, 3pm, Cbus Super Rabbitohs v Storm Sun, 4.05pm, Central Coast
Bulldogs v Knights Sat, 3pm, Suncorp
Knights v Broncos Sat, 5.30pm, McDonald Jones
Warriors v Dragons Sat, 5.30pm, Suncorp
Eels v Raiders Sat, 7.35pm, TIO, Darwin ROUND 22 Aug 15-18
24-25 Storm v Eels Sat, 7.35pm, Suncorp
Warriors v Panthers Sun, 2pm, Mt Smart Sea Eagles v Wests Tigers Thu, 7.50pm, Lottoland
17-10 Roosters v Raiders Sun, 2pm, Suncorp
Bulldogs v Sharks Sun, 4.05pm, ANZ Titans v Eels Fri, 6pm, Cbus Super
18-32 Rabbitohs v Cowboys Sun, 4.05pm, Suncorp
Broncos v Panthers Fri, 7.55pm, Suncorp
46-12
ROUND 10 May 16-19
ROUND 16 Jul 4-7 Knights v Cowboys Sat, 3pm, McDonald Jones
16-42
Dragons v Storm Thu, 7.50pm, WIN Storm v Raiders Sat, 5.30pm, AAMI
2-32 Storm v Wests Tigers Thu, 7.50pm, AAMI
Wests Tigers v Roosters Fri, 7.55pm, Bankwest Rabbitohs v Bulldogs Sat, 7.35pm, ANZ
8-22 Panthers v Warriors Fri, 6pm, Panthers
Knights v Warriors Sat, 7.35pm, McDonald Jones Roosters v Warriors Sun, 2pm, SCG
28-20 Broncos v Roosters Fri, 7.55pm, Suncorp
Sharks v Broncos Sun, 4.05pm, PointsBet Sharks v Dragons Sun, 4.05pm, PointsBet
Titans v Bulldogs Sat, 3pm, Cbus Super
Apr 4-7 BYE: Panthers, Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, Eels, Bulldogs,
36-4
Cowboys v Eels Sat, 5.30pm, 1300SMILES
Raiders, Titans, Cowboys ROUND 23 Aug 22-25
Raiders v Rabbitohs Sat, 7.35pm, GIO
Eels v Bulldogs Thu, 7.50pm, Bankwest
26-10 Dragons v Knights Sun, 2pm, Glen Willow, Mudgee
9-8* Sharks v Sea Eagles Sun, 4.05pm, PointsBet STATE OF ORIGIN – GAME III Cowboys v Panthers Fri, 6pm, 1300SMILES
NSW v Queensland Wed, 8pm, ANZ Broncos v Rabbitohs Fri, 7.55pm, Suncorp
13-12*
12-30 ROUND 11 May 23-26 Sharks v Warriors Sat, 3pm, PointsBet
24-12 Eels v Panthers Thu, 7.50pm, Bankwest ROUND 17 Jul 12-14 Wests Tigers v Knights Sat, 5.30pm, Campbelltown
18-16 Sea Eagles v Titans Fri, 6pm, Lottoland Dragons v Roosters Sat, 7.35pm, Netstrata
Panthers v Titans Fri, 6pm, Panthers
12-13* Knights v Roosters Fri, 7.55pm, McDonald Jones Storm v Titans Sun, 2pm, AAMI
Knights v Bulldogs Fri, 7.55pm, McDonald Jones
Raiders v Cowboys Sat, 3pm, GIO Raiders v Sea Eagles Sun, 4.05pm, GIO
Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles Sat, 3pm, ANZ
16-22
Warriors v Broncos Sat, 5.30pm, Mt Smart Broncos v Warriors Sat, 5.30pm, Suncorp ROUND 24 Aug 29-Sep 1
Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers Sat, 7.35pm, ANZ Storm v Sharks Sat, 7.35pm AAMI
30-24 Cowboys v Bulldogs Thu, 7.50pm, 1300SMILES
Bulldogs v Storm Sun, 2pm, Belmore Roosters v Cowboys Sun, 2pm, Central Coast
12-18 Warriors v Rabbitohs Fri, 6pm, Mt Smart
Dragons v Sharks Sun, 4.05pm, WIN Wests Tigers v Eels Sun, 4.05pm, Bankwest
28-24 Broncos v Eels Fri, 7.55pm, Suncorp
Dragons v Raiders Sun, 6.10pm, WIN
18-26 ROUND 12 May 30-Jun 2 Knights v Titans Sat, 3pm, McDonald Jones
Sea Eagles v Storm Sat, 5.30pm, Lottoland
16-30 Panthers v Sea Eagles Thu, 7.50pm, Panthers ROUND 18 Jul 18-21
40-4 Eels v Rabbitohs Fri, 7.55pm, Bankwest Roosters v Panthers Sat, 7.35pm, SCG
Broncos v Bulldogs Thu, 7.50pm, Suncorp
19-0 Bulldogs v Raiders Sat, 7.35pm, ANZ Sharks v Raiders Sun, 2pm, PointsBet
Warriors v Sharks Fri, 6pm, Westpac, Wellington
Titans v Cowboys Sun, 4.05pm, Cbus Super Dragons v Wests Tigers Sun, 4.05pm, SCG
BYE: Broncos, Dragons, Knights, Sharks, Warriors,
Panthers v Dragons Fri, 7.55pm, Panthers
24-20 Roosters v Knights Sat, 3pm, SCG ROUND 25 Sep 5-8
Storm, Roosters, Wests Tigers Raiders v Wests Tigers Sat, 5.30pm, GIO
6-14 Rabbitohs v Roosters Thu, 7.50pm, ANZ
20-21* Cowboys v Rabbitohs Sat, 7.35pm, 1300SMILES Eels v Sea Eagles Fri, 6pm, Bankwest
STATE OF ORIGIN - GAME I Jun 5 Titans v Storm Sun, 2pm, Cbus Super Storm v Cowboys Fri, 7.55pm, AAMI
10-17
Queensland v NSW Wed, 8pm, Suncorp Sea Eagles v Eels Sun, 4.05pm, Lottoland
12-10 Raiders v Warriors Sat, 3pm, GIO
38-14 Bulldogs v Broncos Sat, 5.30pm, ANZ
ROUND 13 Jun 7-10 ROUND 19 Jul 25-28
Titans v Dragons Sat, 7.35pm, Cbus Super
26-22
Rabbitohs v Knights Fri, 6pm, ANZ Sharks v Cowboys Thu, 7.50pm, PointsBet
51-6 Wests Tigers v Sharks Sun, 2pm, Leichhardt
Wests Tigers v Raiders Fri, 7.55pm, Bankwest Knights v Wests Tigers Fri, 6pm, McDonald Jones
Warriors v Storm Sat, 3pm, Mt Smart Rabbitohs v Dragons Fri, 7.55pm, ANZ
Panthers v Knights Sun, 4.05pm, Panthers
Sharks v Eels Sat, 5.30pm, PointsBet Eels v Warriors Sat, 3pm, Bankwest NRL FINALS SERIES
Cowboys v Sea Eagles Sat, 7.35pm, 1300SMILES Titans v Broncos Sat, 5.30pm, Cbus Super Home City Qualifying Finals Sep 13-15
Broncos v Titans Sun, 2pm, Suncorp Storm v Sea Eagles Sat, 7.35pm, AAMI Home City Semi-Finals Sep 21-22
Panthers v Roosters Sun, 4.05pm, Panthers Bulldogs v Roosters Sun, 2pm, ANZ Home Region Preliminary Finals Sep 28-29
Bulldogs v Dragons Mon, 4pm, ANZ Panthers v Raiders Sun, 4.05pm, Panthers Telstra Premiership Grand Final Oct 6