Recap | The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup - Round 12

Western Suburbs Magpies v Newtown Jets

Madden field goal secures thrilling 21-all draw

Jason Hosken

Game summary

In a clash befitting a century-long rivalry, a final minute Jock Madden field goal has seen the last-placed Western Suburbs Magpies finish level with the high-flying Newtown Jets 21-all in a thrilling The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup match at Lidcombe Oval.

On a day when Magpies legend Tom Raudonikis was honoured by the renaming of the Lidcombe Oval grandstand, they showed they were up for the occasion with the inclusion of several NRL stars including David Nofoaluma and Tyrone Peachey.

Despite missing regular prop Thomas Hazelton, who made his NRL debut for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks the night before, the Jets didn’t skip a beat when replacement Caleb Uele crashed over from a trademark Jayden Berrell short ball in the 13th minute.

Peachey and lock Fa'amanu Brown weaved their magic for Wests, and it was the former Gold Coast Titan who put centre Livai Saukuru across to level the scores following a long range bust by fullback Junior Tupou.

Berrell’s outstanding start only got better; in a magic seven minutes the hooker crossed twice to send Newtown clear 18-6. First, he pounced on his own grubber before wrapping around big forward Franklin Pele to crash over next to the posts in the 29th minute.

Not to be outdone, Tigers hooker Jacob Liddle struck back from dummy-half with a try of his own to get his side back within six points.

A Mawene Hiroti penalty goal extended Newtown’s lead to 20-12 at half-time but some more Peachey magic saw Wests hit back when winger Trey Peni dived into the left corner two minutes after play resumed.

Chasing just their second win of the season, Nofoaluma started to assert his authority with the game on the line and his try saw Wests draw level with 16 minutes left to play.

In a hectic end-to-end final 10 minutes, both sides had opportunities to ice a victory and it looked like it would Newtown’s day when five-eighth Rhys Davies’ landed a field goal in the 73rd minute.

But on the back of a Jets turnover in what appeared to be the final set of the match, it was Madden who stepped up to earn Wests a well-deserved draw.

Talking points 

Having defeated the Magpies 40-10 in Round Five, the draw proved enough for the Jets to win the annual battle of the Tom Raudonikis Cup.

Coming off a 42-0 loss to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, the inclusion of Peachey proved a masterstroke for the struggling Magpies. The five-eighth proved a handful and with a bit more luck Wests may have got the points had several of his busts been finished off.

Wests will consider themselves unlucky having scored four tries to three while for the Jets, it was the accurate boot of Mawene Hiroti from the tee that prevented the loss.

Key moment 

Lachlan Miller stood out for Newtown on return from his NRL debut last week and his quick-stepping raids tested Wests defence as the clock wound down.

With Newtown just needing to maintain possession in the final minute of play, it was Miller’s uncharacteristic turnover inside the Jets half that offered Wests one final opportunity. 

What’s next?

Wests are away to South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 13 when they chase their second win on Saturday at Ironmark High Performance Centre, Redfern while the Jets quest for another win continues when they head to Canberra on Sunday for a clash with the Raiders at GIO Stadium.

Canberra Raiders v Parramatta Eels

North Sydney Bears v South Sydney Rabbitohs

Keighran boots the Bears to victory

Mitchell Farrugia

Game summary

North Sydney Bears have bounced back from last weekend's defeat against the table-topping Penrith Panthers to down the South Sydney Rabbitohs 32-24 and move into third position in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.

The Rabbitohs struck first in the match through Izaac Thompson before NRL regular Adam Keighran crossed in the seventh minute for the Bears.

The Bunnies responded with the next three tries courtesy of Davvy Moale, Ben Lovett and winger Josh Mansour before Keighran grabbed his second try just before half-time to keep the Bears in the hunt.

The Bears flew out of the blocks in the second half with Jerry Key crossing before Tom Carr also picked up a four-pointer. Egan Butcher then scored whilst Hugo Patterson was in the sin bin; Keighran kicking his sixth conversion of the afternoon to maintain a perfect day with the boot.

Thompson bagged his second try, but it was too late for Souths with Keighran’s kicking proving to be the difference.

Talking points

Keighran continues to knock on the door for NRL selection with the Sydney Roosters after scoring a double to go with his six conversions. The Roosters depth will be tested through Origin selection and Keighran could slot straight into the Tricolours backline.

Key moment

The match was won for the Bears after half-time, following a tough 20 minute period where they crossed for three crucial tries to swing the momentum back in their favour.

What’s next?

The Bears tackle the struggling Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park, providing a great opportunity to solidify their top four credentials while the Rabbitohs are scheduled to face Western Suburbs Magpies at Ironmark High Performance Centre.

Newcastle Knights v Penrith Panthers

Mounties v Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles

Mounties too strong for struggling Sea Eagles

Stewart Moses

Game summary

Mounties took on Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles at Aubrey Keech Reserve to conclude Round 12 of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, with the home side prevailing in a dominant 40-10 win.

Blacktown were their own worst enemies with an ill-disciplined start, resulting in three quick-fire tries for the hosts inside the opening 25 minutes. Two late tries before the main break put Blacktown out of reach as Mounties led 26-0.

Mounties centre Semisi Kioa opened proceedings with a bullocking, close-range try in the fifth minute. Fullback Dylan Smith was unable to convert from out wide.

The home side went further ahead in the 14th minute with a converted try scored by hooker Josh Daley, who took advantage of a quick play-the-ball close to the line to cross beside the posts from dummy-half.

A well-placed grubber by five-eighth Brad Abbey extended Mounties' lead to 16 when Tim Simona scored unopposed out wide.

Just as the Sea Eagles had seemingly stemmed the flow of points, two late tries put an end to any comeback hopes for the visitors.

The first of those came from a Blacktown mistake at the back in attempting to defuse a towering bomb with Simona on hand to score his second. The next was courtesy of a deft cross-field kick from halfback Josh Ralph which was fumbled by James Segeyaro, allowing back-rower Zac Hetherington to ground the ball and give Mounties an unassailable 26-0 lead at halftime.

It wasn’t long before Mounties pushed their lead to 30 when Simona burst through the line before finding his fullback, Smith backing up inside to score.

Midway through the second half, Blacktown eventually broke through to score their first points with a smart try to fullback Jake Toby, converted by centre Masi Paulo Fidow from out to trail 30-6.

Dylan Smith converted a relatively simple penalty goal from close range to push Mounties back out to beyond a four-converted try lead with 15 minutes remaining and from the ensuring set, worked play downfield before scoring in the north-west corner through winger, Tuipulotu Katoa to restore that thirty-point lead despite the missed sideline conversion from Smith.

Blacktown scored late through Fidow, after Segeyaro on the last tackle created a fantastic overlap for his centre to score in the corner but another unconverted Mounties try this time scored by winger, Watson Heleta, would ensure the home side ran out convincing winners, 40-10.

Talking points

Today’s loss continues a winless streak for the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, having last won in Round Five against the Knights. 

Mounties’ win is hopefully the first of many at this level for new coach Brock Sheppard, having taken over the reigns a fortnight ago from newly-appointed interim Bulldogs coach, Mick Potter.

Key moment

Having scored two tries of his own in the first half, centre Tim Simona turned provider in the 51st minute with a long line-break through Blacktown’s right edge before finding his fullback Dylan Smith backing up inside to finish off the try of the game.

What's next?

The rejuvenated Mounties will next up face the Eels next Friday night at Kellyville, while the task for the Sea Eagles doesn’t get any easier when they host one of the form teams of the competition, North Sydney Bears, at 4 Pines Park next Saturday.