27th Aug 2025
2nd Biggest nil victory since 1952
What a game, 3 wins on the trot as the kids showed their abilities after a steep learning curve. Gray was outstanding at the back and our spine took control of the game. It was our biggest winning margin over the St George-Illawarra, St George or Illawarra teams. It was also our second biggest nil victory since 1952. The young team really put their hand up for 2026, putting a long of experianced players on notice. The try Munro scored was one to remember for the ages. Now for a week off before our final game of the year.
Young Ward steels the show
Ashton Ward a baby face kid from Gerringong on the South Coast, has put his stamp on the halfback role. After coming into the team as the last man standing after our injury riddled season. Originally targeted as a U21s five-eighth, he switched to half during the season as he stepped up into reserve grade. He had a few strong games but the injry to Burns, Sullivan, Walker and Humphreys, and Dodd falling out of favour gave him a chance in First Grade. After a few games he foud his footing and as starting half he has 2 from 2. On the weekend he showed his skills, with passing, good short kicking game, defence and running at the line. There is a lot to like about him.
Reserve Grade seasons comes to a disappointing end
It was a diminate first half where we scored four tries to one. But the season ended in a disappointing fashion as Canberra came back and dominated the final 40 minutes. Our first wooden spoon since reinstatement and a huge fall from grace since winning the competition 2 years ago in 2023. Top try scorer was Haizyn Mellars with 8 tries and top point scorer was Ashton Ward with 82 points.
Another disappointing U21s loss
We have been using the last few weeks as trials for some fringe U19s players but these young 18 years are struggling against hardened players 2 years their senior. This week the team heads to Fiji for their final outing for the season. A loss by 57 or points or more will see them end with the wooden spoon.
Yaranamua double
Louise Yaranamua continues to showcase her class in the womens team. Not only is she able to pass agreat cutout ball, her strong running and grubber kicking landed her two tries on the weekend. The team has improved in 2025 but still needs to step up again if they want to play finals football this year.
Trainers becoming a blight on the game
What a farce trainers are becoming. Teams have been floting the rules with trainers running in front of kickers, slowing the play down doing concussion tests or injury assessments, coaching teams like under 6s or spraying water on match balls. Fines are clearly not working, and the blue(water) or orange(medical) shirts dont seem to matter either tricks used under blue shirt plays are now being used by oragnge shirt trainers. The NRL will need to step in here and revisit their rules. This as follows should be considered Trainers running in front or impeeding kickers, should result in kickers having a shot in frint of the posts. Touching a ball should see them banned for the season and life on the second offence. Concussion or injury assessments should result in players get a Green Card or 2 minutes sin bin. Clubs should be docked 2 points if the club trainer breaches their protocol oon their second offence
Round 25 - Stat Attack
Statistically it was a great game. Completions improved to 95% from 86% last week. Our best all season. Errors improved to 5 from 7 last week. We gave away 5 penalties and 1 6-again calls from 10 last week. Souths Effective 1st tackle improved to a very good level of 21.2m from 34.1m last week. Our best all season and best since Round 15 2020. Our missed tackles improved but still in a oustanding level of 13 from 29 last week. Our best all season and best since Round 6 2023. Opposition offloads dropped to 5 from 16 last week.
Looking at our left side defence - Johnston-Duncan-Humphreys/Walker-Arrow (0-0-1-1) improved to 2 from 7 missed tackles last week. On the right side Munro-Tass-Ward-Host/Fletcher (0-1-0-1) improved to 2 from 8 last week. Ruck defence Keppie/BSmith-Havili/Mamouzelos-Koloamatangi-Hubner/Humphreys (3-4-1-1) improved to 9 from 12 missed tackles last week.
Our go forward improved to 2205m from 1440m last week. Our best all season and best since Round 22 2022. With our props go forward improved to a average level of 383m compared to 252m last week. Koloamatangi, Keppie, Arrow, Fletcher, J.Gray, Duncan, Johnston and Munro made 10+m per run. Koloamatangi, Arrow, Hubner, Keppie, Fletcher, J.Gray, Duncan, Johnston, Munro and Tass made 100+m in the match. J.Gray made 300+m in the match. Defensively Arrow was our best in the tackling raking up 33 tackles. Host, Walker, Duncan, Johnston, Munro and J.Gray didn't miss a tackle.
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