THIRROUL v HELENSBURGH - the Illawarra Steelers Club

Volume 32. No. 19
Grand Finals
www.illawarrarugbyleague.leaguenet.com.au - Official website of the Illawarra Rugby League
www.steelers.com.au - Steelers Club proudly supporting Illawarra Rugby League
7th September 2014
facebook.com/IllawarraCoalRL
@IllawarraCoalRL
THIRROUL v HELENSBURGH
Page 1
WIN Stadium - Sunday 7th Septembert
WIN Stadium - Sunday 7th September
Colts U19 - Grand Final
11.35 am
Second Grade - Grand Final
1.10 pm
35 mins. each way - time off for stoppages last 10 min.
COLLEGIANS
WESTS
Coach: Murray Whitehead
Coach: Ian Roberts
1-- Tom BARTLEY (c)
2-- Jarrod THOMPSON
3-- Tyler ATKINS
4-- Ryan TURNER
5-- Jack MURCHIE
6-- Blake RICKARD (c)
7-- Josh WHITEHEAD
8-- Aaron LOVICH
9-- Paul ROBERTS
10-- Nick BAGARIC
11-- Kade FOREMAN
12-- Liam ANTROBUS
13-- Shadi ELHAGE
14-- Tim ZOHAR
15-- Cal RANYARD
16-- Keegan WORTHINGTON
17-- Chris RAVARUA
18-- Jade SAWAN
19-- Domonic HEFFERNAN
20-- Chris INNIS
21-- Will NEMETTI
35 mins. each way - time off for stoppages last 10 min.
THIRROUL
Coach: Jarrod Costello
1-- Nathan WALMSLEY
1--Will TOM
2--Brendan WOODS
3--Luke McBRIARTY
4--Jordan FORSYTH
5--Matt WHITEHEAD
6--Ryan KING
7--Paora KEMP
8--Jake DAVISON
9--Josh DALEY (c)
10--Seb WILSON
11--Tom SIMPSON
12--Jye LAWRENCE
13--Nathan LEATIGAGA
14--Jake O’CONNOR
15--Kel TATE
16--Jacob BRESOLIN
17--Brett HORSLEY
18--Jarred OLIVIERA
19--Jordan HARTY
20--Jacob CANVIN
21--Brad BUFFOLIN
22--Alex VAN ESLAND
23--Mitch PHLLIPS
2--Joe McDEVITT
3--Mitch BATE (c)
4--Rhys JAMES
5--Mitch COX
6--Luke GALLAGHER
7--Jayden DALLALANA
8--Ty BLANCHETTE
9--Jake SARGENT-WILSON
10--Cameron NICHOLSON
11--Blake HOLMES
12--Julian FLEGO
13--Matt SYRON
14--Max BAILEY
15--Jacob DEVINE
16--Cheyne PIKE
17--Craig FAIRBROTHER
18--Alex HART
19--Jarrad WHITTY
20--Hayden CROSLAND
1--Luke RADUVA
2--Scott WRIGHT
3--Tim WILLIAMS
4--Kyle LODGE
5--Lachlan PARRY
6--Josh DEAN
7--Darren BARTLEY (c)
8--Greg HENNIKER
9--Zac BLAY
10--Daniel ZOHAR
11--Michael KARKKAINEN
12--Jason BUNYAN
13--Trent McLAUGHLIN
14--Matt STARK
15--Nikki HEMEPO
16--Marty CRAMP
17--Nick MASTRO
18--Corey DUNN
19--Peter McLEOD (c)
20--Anthony KUPER
Referee: ANDREW ASTILL
Touch Judges: AMIE GIBSON (red), DARREN VAN DE MOOSDYK (blue)
Referee: ANDREW RIOLO
Touch Judges: AARON MOLLER (red), JOEL MATHESON (blue)
MURRAY WHITEHEAD
Collegians coach
WESTS
Coach: Peter McLeod
IAN ROBERTS
Wests coach
JARROD COSTELLO
Thirroul coach
PETER McLEOD
Wests coach
WELL DONE DAPTO
ARMY BAND TO ENTERTAIN
A big “thank you” to the hard-working Dapto officials, who
prepared a playing field and catered for large crowds at matches
played at Dapto Showground over the past two weeks.
Australian Army Band (Sydney), will provide entertainment prior
to First Grade grand final kick-off.
The band, based at Victoria Barracks has been invited by our
Women’s Rugby League sponsor Defence Force Recruitment and
should provide plenty of excitement prior to kick-off.
The transfers were at short notice and required many voluntary
hours. Both days were an outstanding success.
Page 2
WIN Stadium - Sunday 7th September
FIRST GRADE - GRAND FINAL
3.00 pm
40 mins. each way - time off for stoppages
THIRROUL
HELENSBURGH
Coach: Nathan Fien
Coach: Ryan Powell
(Blue and White)
(Gold and Black)
1--Sam CLUNE
2--Reece JAEGER
3--Damien BLANCH
4--Brent GROSE
5--Ty McCARTHY
6--Jake WALSH
7--Nathan FIEN (c)
8--Aaron BEATH
9--Sam COSTER
10-- Michael BLACKWELL
11-- Pat FRANKS
12-- Luke DODGE
13-- Jamie FEENEY
1--Jason RAPER
2--Wayne BREMNER
3--Taylor FEPULEAI
4--Stewart MILLS
5--Azan TUROA
6--Jarrod BOYLE
7--Eamon HILLEN
8--Mark McLENNAN
9--Grant SMITH
10-Steve McCALLUM (c)
11-- Rhian GERARD
12-- Brock GILMOUR
13-- Blake PHILLIPS
4-- Mitch WYNN
1
15-- James SPENCER
16-- Nathan WYNN
17-- Luke GALLAGHER
4-- Dan FEPULEAI
1
15-- Khan SALAMALIKIS
16-- Derek SHORT
17-- Jordan TENCATE
18-- Abe ATALLAH
19-- Tom CARR
Referee: MARCUS JENNETT
Touch Judges: ANTHONY GRADY (red), MICHAEL CHIN (blue)
In-Goal Judges: TYRON JORDAN, MICHAEL FORD
NATHAN FEIN
Thirroul captain/coach
STEVE McCALLUM
Helensburgh Captain
Page 3
NORTHERN CLUBS EARN RIGHT TO DECIDER
by Jared Constable
Draped in prestige and steeped in tradition, the biggest day
on the Illawarra Rugby League calendar is finally upon us.
Fathers’ Day is when the most spectacular moments of the
season emerge, and this year’s Illawarra Coal Rugby League
Grand Final fixtures will be no exception. First grade comes
down to the “northern derby” between Thirroul Butchers and
the Helensburgh Tigers.
the escarpment to rally behind their
boys. The convoy from atop the
mountain won’t be the only force
charging southward, the Butchers’
Army will rightfully overthrow half
of the Cleary Bros. Hill and bath it in
blue-and- white fanfare, synonymous with their surfy suburb.
Thirroul has been the form side of 2014, right from their first
match. The Butchers sent a warning shot to the competition
when they overcame premiers Collies in a fierce opening
round clash played in a mud-bath at Collies Sporting Complex.
Since then, they haven’t looked back.
The Butchers will converge on WIN Stadium with their own
nostalgic motives driving them to take out the coveted
silverware. Since it’s formation in 1913, Thirroul has been
one of the strongest clubs to uphold family traditions, with
generations of dozens of families featuring in the blue-andwhite over the years.
Five months and 13 wins later, the Butchers now sit in the box
seat, with a minor premiership and a host of representative
honours already in the bag. For every 2014 achievement they
have fulfilled, there’s still one that eludes them, and they’ll
need to overcome a side full of motivation and support of a
great Rugby League community.
In all but one of the Butchers’ premiership-winning sides (the
1954 champions), a Beath, McCarthy or Grose has featured.
This weekend, all three surnames will again appear on the
Butchers’ team sheet, adding even more history to an already
emotional day.
The Colts grand final will be contested by Wests and Collies,
before the Red Devils look to take out the reserve grade title
when they meet Thirroul, kick-starting what is sure to be a
cracking day of the “greatest game of all” before the headline
match.
This time last year, the Tigers watched Sam Duggan boot a
forty-metre field goal to rob them of their first premiership in
twenty years – under controversial circumstances. The wound
inflicted in that last minute loss is still as raw as ever, so too is
the fire in the belly that drove them to the biggest day on the
2013 calendar. Will that be enough to get them over the line
this time around? We’ll soon know. In addition to heartache
suffered from last year’s loss, a premiership drought that
extends beyond two decades now will be a monkey on the
club’s back they’ll be out to shake.
If the Butchers are to claim the “Holy Grail” of Illawarra sport,
it’s safe to say that the party will continue for days at the
Ryan’s Hotel. Likewise, if the Tigers can end a twenty-one
year hoodoo, they will celebrate like it’s 1993 all over again!
No matter who wins, one thing is for sure - Rugby League’s
the winner, and we’re all the beneficiaries of such a high
standard competition.
When Helensburgh last won the Illawarra first grade
premiership, the majority of the Tigers’ current squad was
attending pre-school or in the early years of primary school.
Now, an entire community will once again make the trip down
Thank you to Illawarra Rugby League for again inviting me to
contribute a weekly preview in League News.
Page 4
’BURGH AGAIN SHOW CLASS
IN WOMEN’S FINAL
Helensburgh Tiger Lillies displayed
some outstanding Rugby League
talent to retain the Women in the Army
Illawarra Rugby League title - defeating
Port Kembla 42-6 in the Grand Final last
Saturday at Dapto Showground.
The ‘Burgh’s display was greatly
appreciated by the large crowd in
attendance - many of whom had not
previously witnessed women’s Rugby
League played in the Illawarra.
Illawarra Rugby League again thanks
Defence
Force
Recruitment
for
sponsorship and extended support to
a very entertaining Grand Final Day 2014.
A four-try haul
by Helensburgh’s
KEZIE
APPS
earned her the
inaugural
Julie
Nicoll medal for
“Best Player of
the 2014 Grand
Final”.
KEZIE APPS
What an impressive sight . . a “Piper” leads HELENSBURGH and PORT KEMBLA onto Dapto
Showground for the Women in the Army Illawarra League Grand Final
Women in the Army Illawarra League premiers for 2014 - HELENSBURGH
CORRIMAL COUGARS WOMEN’S NINES
Calling all
sports lovers
The Corrimal Club will conduct a Women’s 9’s Tournament at
Ziems Park next Saturday, September 13.
Get EXTRA sports coverage
by subscribing to the
Illawarra Mercury
Digital Edition
The day is being sponsored by Corrimal Leagues Club and the
Outback Restaurant, Fairy Meadow, and games will commence
at 10 am.
Six teams have entered – three from Illawarra and three
visiting teams from Sydney Metropolitan areas.
Remember the Cougars fund-raiser luncheon at the League’s
Club on Friday 3rd october. A great afternoon for $50, includes
drinks. eats and top-line entertainment.
illawarramercury.digitaleditions.com.au
Page 5
SUCCESSFUL GRAND FINALS AT DAPTO
The Illawarra grand finals staged at Dapto Showground proved very
successful.
The new Under 17’s grand final and “plate”, the Women in the Army League
grand final and the Illawarra Coal Shield grand final were all transferred
from Collegians Sports Centre, following the torrential rain over the
previous two weeks.
What a great day of Rugby League – played before a very enthusiastic and
vocal crowd for all four matches.
The all-Cronulla 17’s grand final saw Cronulla-Carringbah defeat their arch
rivals De La Salle 24-nil. Both these teams played very attractive football
right throughout the season and contributed greatly to establishing the
new 17’s competition. WILL KENNEDY, of Cronulla-Carringbah was named
“Player of the match”.
The “Plate” final – played between Dapto and Helensburgh - was won by
the ‘Burgh 26-24, in a very exciting finish. Tigers’ captain PHIL ASTILL was
“Player of the match.”
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS
FIRST GRADE Major Final
HELENSBURGH 22 def WESTS 16
SECOND GRADE Final
WESTS 24 def HELENSBURGH 18
UNDER 19 COLTS Final
WESTS 40 def DAPTO 6
COAL SHIELD - Grand Final
CORRIMAL 12 def NORTHS 10
WOMEN IN THE ARMY LEAGUE - Grand Final
HELENSBURGH 42 def PORT KEMBLA 6
RECORD FOR REFEREE MARCUS JENNETT
Today’s First Grade referee, MARCUS
JENNETT, will be in control of his eighth
Illawarra grand final in the top grade.
This appointment will equal the record of the
late JACK COLTMAN, set back in 1942.
SUPPORT THE SPONSORS OF RUGBY LEAGUE
Illawarra Rugby League Division acknowledges the following sponsors
of our great game and suggests support whenever possible:
All of Game:
Illawarra Steelers
St George Illawarra Dragons
Senior Competitions:
Illawarra Coal
Carlton & United Breweries
Coastline Printing
Junior Competitions:
Illawarra Coal
Junior Representatives
(Harold Matthews & SG Ball):
Coastwide Engineering
Subway Wollongong
Women in the Army
Illawarra League
Defence Force Recruiting
HANDY OFF SEASON CONTACT DETAILS
Administration
Chairman
Ian Neil
0458 283 347
Manager Rugby League
Chris Bannerman 0414 283 239
Jnr League Administrator Steve Neilsen
0432 102 660
Referees Secretary
Andrew Astill
0438 263 134
Results Co-Ordinator
Nigel Eade
0424 144 074
Clubs
Avondale
John Bush
0408 236 826
Berkeley Howard Burgess
0466 984 927
Collegians Bruce Prior
0412 044 949
Corrimal Cindie Elliott
0400 132 060
Dapto
David Jones
0414 752 469
Helensburgh Johann Cobb
0415 409 097
Mt Kembla Joe Sleiman
0423 473471
North Surf Noni Perkins
0414 133 001
Northern Suburbs Tim Calvaresi
0409 908 872
Port Kembla Erica Winklebauer
0434 024 207
Thirroul Sharne Ferraro
0408 247 108
Western Suburbs
Dave Arthur
0410 620 949
Windang Paul Anderson
0431 612188
Page 6
Illawarra Cutters:
Illawarra Coal
Illawarra Credit Union
KJ Scaffolding
LX Electrical
Referees
Cleary Bros
PLAYER OF THE GRAND FINAL
TO RECEIVE THE COASTLINE MEDAL
The “Man of the Match” in today’s First
Grade grand final will receive the Coastline
Printing Medal.
This is the second year the medal has been
awarded.
The 2013 recipient was JARROD
THOMPSON, Collegians’ winning captain.
Illawarra Rugby League again extends
thanks to Phil, Barry and Ross for
Coastline’s continued support to all levels
of Rugby League in Illawarra.
CORRIMAL COUGARS WIN
SHIELD FINAL ON THE BELL
Corrimal retained their Illawarra Coal
Shield premiership with a last-minute
converted try against a courageous
Northern Suburbs.
The “Bulldogs” led 10-6 for most of the
second half, when Corrimal’s late try
levelled the scores at 10-all. Extra time
looked eminent!
However, the pressure conversion by
Corrimal half back MATT CAMPBELL
sailed between the posts giving his team
the game and the premiership.
it was a bitter/sweet end to the season
for Norths Bulldogs as they had been
in control of the competiton all year
having completed the regular season
undefeated only to the major semi final
and Grand Final matches to Corrimal.
The vocal support given to both teams
by the large crowd was appreciative of
the high standard of football displayed.
“Player of the
Match”
award
went to Cougars
second
rower
ADAM
KERR
who
promptly
announced
his
retirement after
the match. Well
done to Adam on
a great career.
ADAM KERR
Norths centre TODD GRIPTON dives over for the opening try of the Illawarra Coal Shield Grand Final
Corrimal players, officials and supporters celebrate their last minute 12-10 Grand Final victory over
Northern Suburbs to win the Illawarra Coal Shield for 2014
WOLLONGONG TOUCH
ASSOCIATION
2014-15 SUMMER
COMPETITION
Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Competitions
Nominations Close 25th September
Competition start 13th October
NEW Devil Touch - for details visit
www.wollongongtouch.asn.au
Page 7
SUCCESSFUL SEASON – DESPITE
REDUCTION IN FIRST GRADE TEAMS
Although only six clubs contested the 2014 Illawarra Coal First Grade competition,
the Illawarra Division completes yet another successful season with the playing
of both Junior and Seniors’ grand finals this weekend.
After losing Port Kembla in 2013, followed by Berkeley and Shellharbour’s
withdrawal this year, the League’s Board of Management – under new manager,
Chris Bannerman – is working with both the New South Wales Rugby League and
the Country Rugby League to explore all avenues of re-building.
This process will entail the potential return of these clubs as well as invitations to
other prospective clubs to join our competition.
The re-structure of the previous Under 18’ to Colts (Under 19’s) and the
introduction of a Under 17’s Junior competition was successful in the initial year.
IAN NEILL
These initiatives should provide more players in the future.
Despite the reduced number of senior players that were registered in Illawarra, the high standard of play continued.
That high standard was reflected throughout the First Grade competition and will be evident in today’s grand finals.
Illawarra retained the CRL Divisional Championship – it’s now seven from nine. I thank the clubs for their cooperation in providing rep. players and congratulate coach Gavin Clinch on again preparing a winning combination.
The clubs’ working relationship with the Illawarra Cutters continues to improve and this encourages players to our
district to take advantage of the pathway available from Junior reps through to Coal League, Cutters and Dragons.
New Division manager Chris Bannerman and his Junior League administrator Steve Neilsen have done an
outstanding job throughout 2014 – sometimes under difficult circumstances. Likewise, I thank all of our club
administrators for the time and effort they have contributed to both their clubs and the Division.
The continued support of our major sponsors Illawarra Coal is greatly appreciated. Associate sponsors included
Cleary Bros, Steelers Club, Coastline Printing, Carlton & United Breweries and Defence Force Recruitment. To all
of the clubs’ sponsors – both seniors and juniors – your support contributes to Rugby League in Illawarra.
Good luck to all six teams competing in today’s grand finals; and “thank you” to all of our clubs’ supporters.
IAN NEILL, Chairman, Illawarra Rugby League Division
Champions in the making
We are proud to support Illawarra Rugby League.
Today’s youth...tomorrow’s leaders
www.bhpbilliton.com
Page 8

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