Round 6 recap | The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup

Hannah McGrory

The Magpies make it four on the trot against Souths

Western Suburbs Magpies have secured their fourth consecutive win of the season, following a 42-18 victory against South Sydney Rabbitohs at Stadium Australia.

It was a mixed bag from Magpies fullback Zac Cini early on after he made an unforced error, allowing Souths attacking field position. Despite the early mishap, Cini was able to bounce back and go over for the first try of the match.

Cini was proving a handful for the Souths defence, after he created space for Kiah Cooper who went over for the Magpies second try. Jock Madden successfully converted to give the Magpies a 10-0 lead after 10 minutes. 

Souths found their way back into the game through second rower Trent Peoples after he sliced through a gap and scored their first try. A terrific conversion by debutant Lachlan Ilias brought Souths within four points.

Magpies went in for back to back tries following a deft kick by Zach Dockar-Clay which sat up perfectly for Reece Hoffman.

In the very next set, Israel Ogden found himself in open space and kicked through for Magpies halfback Jock Madden who added to an already stellar 2021 season.

The determined Magpies continued their dominance as Kiah Cooper took an intercept and linked up with Jacob Liddle, who offloaded to send Edenn Rogers-Smith crashing over under the posts.

It was all one way traffic in the first half as the Magpies went into the break with a 28-6 lead.

The Magpies picked up where they left off in the second half, after winger Allan Fitzgibbon flew through the air and grounded the ball in the corner.

Captain Troy Dargan gave Souths fans something to celebrate, after some brilliant ball running saw him cross the line. Ilias successfully converted to make the score 32-12 with 25 minutes remaining.

Following back to back attacking sets, Rabbitohs winger Jaxson Paulo was able to capitalise on the pressure as he charged over to score, with Ilias converting bringing his side within 14 points. 

The Magpies found themselves in attacking field position after they received a penalty and Michael Chee Kam cashed in with only six minutes remaining.

With the result beyond doubt, the Magpies refused to put the cue in the rack and Tom Freebairn crashed over to secure a dominant 42-18 victory for the Magpies. 

Penrith Panthers v St George Illawarra Dragons

Stewart Moses

Dragons burned by rampant Panthers

Penrith have continued their unbeaten start to the 2021 season with an impressive 18-0 win over St George-Illawarra at BlueBet Stadium.

Two tries inside the opening ten minutes set the catalyst for Penrith’s comfortable win, spearheaded by exciting outside-back talents Izack Tago and Taylan May. The competition leaders were never troubled from there against a Dragons side that made far too many errors.

The first of those opening tries was scored by Brent Naden, who toed the ball ahead on the last tackle before the Panthers centre won the race to touchdown out wide.

From the following set, Penrith had the second of two tries after a quick shift left from deep inside their own half put Tago in the clear before finding five eighth Jaemon Salmon backing up to score next to the posts to give the home side a 12-0 lead after just eight minutes of play.

The Panthers would eventually score their third try through May with Tago again providing the impetus, keeping the ball alive with an impressive offload as Penrith again exploited the Dragons’ frail right-edge and with Falls’ successful conversion from out wide, the home side had a strong half-time lead of 18-0 that could have easily been more.

Any hopes of a Dragons comeback were quickly extinguished early in the second half as the Panthers capitalised on a kick error to score through lock-forward Jermaine from close range, pushing the lead out to 24 points with still 34 minutes remaining in the game.

A probing run by Interchange hooker Soni Luke enabled the Panthers to surge further in front 30-0, with Falls the beneficiary of Luke’s short pass, splitting the defence to score next to the posts, midway through the second half.

An injury to fullback Sunia Turuva saw a reshuffle to the Panthers backline, enabling Brendan Hands to shift into the halves, setting up Tago for a much deserved try with a deft kick for his centre in the 66th minute.

The Panthers weren’t done with yet despite the lopsided scoreline and with eight minutes remaining, took the scoreline beyond 40 when a Tsikrikas offload enabled backrower Scott Sorensen to score a simple try.

The Dragons finally opened their account in the 78th minute through centre Charly Runciman after Taylan May fumbled a Zac Foster cross-field kick, but it was Penrith who continue their impressive start to the 2021 season with a 42-6 win.

Newtown Jets v Newcastle Knights

Anthony El

Four-Try Lualua Not Enough to Defeat In-Form Knights

Newcastle Knights continued their run of form with a convincing third win in a row, holding off a late Newtown surge to defeat Newtown Jets 42-22 at Henson Park.

The Jets got off to a fast start through Jonaiah Lualua, who touched down in the corner to open the scoring within four minutes. An unsuccessful conversion by halfback Braydon Trindall left the opening score at 4-0.

The Knights were quick to respond with a try of their own through Simi Sasagi, who slipped through the Jets’ line to score his side’s first try of the game. Zane Camroux converted the try to take his side out to a two point lead.

The next 15 minutes were all the Jets, with Lualua securing a first half hattrick, scoring again in the 14th and 21st minute, both of which were unconverted, leaving the home side in the lead by only one converted try.

With the away side only needing one try to be level, Luke Huth took it upon himself to get his team back in the game, scooting from dummy half to score his first try of the season. Converted again by Camroux, the Knights found themselves level with 10 minutes to go in the first half.

Both sides were looking set to go into the sheds at half time even on the scoreboard, although Garrett Smith had other ideas after he barged his way over the line to give his side the lead for the second time in the game. Once again, Camroux converted the try, taking his side into the sheds with a six-point lead at half time.

The Knights began the second half much like they ended the first, dominating the majority of the half, scoring three tries within 12 minutes through Nicholas O’Meley, Ben Talty and McKenzie Baker, two of which were converted by Camroux, guiding his team to a 34-12 lead.

Newcastle looked set to runaway with a comfortable win with just over 15 minutes to go. However, back-to-back tries within two minutes by Jets’ Braydon Trindall and Jonaiah Lualua, who scored his fourth try of the game after a lovely spread of the ball, put the home side back in the game at 34-22 with twelve minutes left on the clock.

Errors plagued Newtown’s chances of a comeback, and the away side punished them for it, scoring a penalty goal following a crusher tackle in front of the posts. Gehamat Shibasaki stepped his way to the try line to score the last try of the match and secure a 42-22 win for the Knights.

Canberra Raiders v Parramatta Eels

Laurence Kelson

Second half fightback sees Raiders to victory

The Canberra Raiders have defeated the Parramatta Eels in the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup in a come-from-behind victory on Saturday evening at GIO Stadium.

Trailing 22-12 in the second half, the Raiders scored three unanswered tries to eventually win 30-22.

The Raiders wore black armbands in the match as a mark of respect for former lower grade coach Graham ‘Buck’ Rodgers who passed away earlier this week.

The Eels were first to score when winger Haze Dunster crossed the line in the fifth minute. The Eels had the ball close to the Raiders’ line and spread it right; a pass from Will Penisini finding Dunster unmarked.

The Raiders hit back in the tenth minute when Corey Harawira-Naera caught a Matt Frawley kick in the Eels’ in-goal. Brad Schneider converted to give the Raiders a 6-4 lead.

Haze Dunster picked up a loose ball from the Raiders at the Eels’ 40-metre line and raced away for his second try. Shortly after, Harry Rushton was put on report for a crusher tackle.

Matt Frawley looked to have scored for the Raiders after he stepped through a yawning gap close to the line, but the try was disallowed for obstruction.

The Eels then marched down the field and a big shift from the right corner out to the left saw Solomone Naiduki score. Jordan Rankin converted to take the score to 16-6.

An Eels knock-on in their red zone gave the Raiders an attacking set just before halftime. Corey Harawira-Naera burst onto a ball from dummy-half and crashed over to score.

After repelling multiple attacking sets close to their line through the opening exchanges of the second half, the Eels went on the offensive and scored. Former Raider Michael Oldfield threw a no-look flick pass to set up Jakob Arthur for the try.

Trailing 22-12, the Raiders badly needed points and Darby Medlyn stood up. He broke the Eels’ line from 20 out with a strong run and scored just next to the posts.

Matt Frawley then jumped on the points bandwagon, scoring off a brilliant team effort that started at halfway. Winger Toby Marks put in a kick from the left side back infield to set up the try.

Brad Schneider then sealed victory for the Raiders when he scored in the 76th minute and converted to put the Green Machine out to an eight-point lead.

Mounties v North Sydney Bears

Mitchell Farrugia

Mounties maul Bears in crushing victory

Mounties have knocked off the third-placed Bears comfortably by 20 points at Aubrey Keech Reserve in the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.

From the outset, Mounties began to assert their dominance as winger Watson Heleta found his way over the line inside the first two minutes. However, the try was ruled back for an obstruction in the build-up.

Mounties' defensive pressure held the Bears down in their half as they continued to force errors.

Relentless repeat sets close to the line finally broke the Bears as lock Joe Stimson burst through a gaping hole in centre field to score under the posts.

Continuing to hold all the ball, quick hands and a lofted ball from playmaker Brandon Wakeham saw Watson Heleta pick up a try.

As pressure continued to mount, North’s goal-line defence turned to water. Wakeham turned the screws as Dean Matterson strolled through a gaping hole on the right side to extend Mounties' lead to 18 points after 30 minutes.

Josh Ralph’s dancing feet looked as if they had put the Bears on the board, but the try was called back as there was a clear obstruction.

North Sydney threatened towards the end of the half, but couldn’t find a way past Mounties as they ran into the sheds leading 18-0 at halftime.

Out for the second half, North Sydney attempted to force their way back into the contest. Close to the line, the Bears muscled their way over through a determined Fletcher Baker, bringing the deficit back to 12 points.

The arm wrestle continued as both sides conjured up some desperate defensive efforts.

It took the class of halves Brandon Wakeham and Rhys Davies to again push Mounties further ahead. Davies' bullet-like pass to centre Declan Casey allowed him space to dive over on the left-hand side of the field.

The Bears continued to keep the door on a miraculous comeback open. A well-placed kick from Ronald Volkman close to the line found its way into the hands of fullback Brad Abbey, who picked up his second try for 2021.

Drawing towards the final minutes of the clash, Mounties added to their lead through a well-executed crash play close to the line.

Not finished just yet, Mounties flexed their muscle once more, scoring as the full-time hooter sounded. Mounties' impressive game management saw them record a comprehensive 32-12 victory over the Bears.