Ron Massey Cup/Sydney Shield 2016

[rightleftin]

Some good news for Asquith in the team lists is that veteran Ben Fisher (250 super league games, 2 world cups for Scotland) who was thought to have retired but he is named on the interchange.

Other gains to offset the other players that have moved on are Steadman Lefau (NZ Warriors), Dean Parata (Wenty), Tautalatasi Tasi (Canterbury/Auburn), Evan Lee (North Sydney/Concord - Burwood), Alex Mammone (Belrose) and Jordan Latham (Manly)

 

[Broncos93]

Some good news for Asquith in the team lists is that veteran Ben Fisher (250 super league games, 2 world cups for Scotland) who was thought to have retired but he is named on the interchange.

Other gains to offset the other players that have moved on are Steadman Lefau (NZ Warriors), Dean Parata (Wenty), Tautalatasi Tasi (Canterbury/Auburn), Evan Lee (North Sydney/Concord - Burwood), Alex Mammone (Belrose) and Jordan Latham (Manly)

That looks a very strong line up from Asquith. Wasn't sure how they'd cope with a few of their losses but it seems they've done well. If Tautalatasi Tasi does play (he hasn't been named for Norths) then it'll be a very strong side. Mounties too look quite impressive, though with a new coach it remains to be seen if they'll be as big a force as last season.

 

[rightleftin]

Unlike Asquith, Windsor have lost more than half a team but simply promoted SS players:

Gains - James Goring (Wests)

Losses - Hutch Maiava, Shenelle Haumono, Ryan Tramonte (retired), Tom Eisenhuth, Ray Lesoa, Chris Aunise Scanlon (St Marys), Pat Hollis (Sunshine Coast), Daniel Foster (Brisbane Easts), Reece Goldsmith, Sione Tonga and Temata Rangi.

 

[Broncos93]

Blacktown's Trent Jennings ruptured his ACL playing in a trial for Penrith NSW cup team on the weekend. He had his 6th operation in 3 years, poor bloke can't catch a break. He was out for maybe half to two thirds of last year with a syndesmosis injury

 

[IN THE KNOW]

Blacktown's Trent Jennings ruptured his ACL playing in a trial for Penrith NSW cup team on the weekend. He had his 6th operation in 3 years, poor bloke can't catch a break. He was out for maybe half to two thirds of last year with a syndesmosis injury

Very Dissapointing , saw him 2 weeks ago at training looked sharp and fresh looked primed for a big year. He scored 50 points in 8 games for Asquith in the run into the semi,s in 2015
Hope he comes back bigger and better still has something to offer just need the footy gods to give him a break.

 

[rightleftin]

Cabramatta have named quite a strong side for Round 1, as demonstrated by the fact that Jason Gray, Luke Lavendar, BJ Nathan, Grayson Goodwin, Pat Lennard and Hala Katoa are all playing Sydney Shield.

Many of the RMC side have been training with Newtown over summer and if Cabra can keep this side together for a solid period there is no way they will be at the foot of the ladder this year.

It is hard to say what represents a good result against Kingsgrove. They conceded 1134 points last season and just as in 2013 (conceded 1302 points) when they could not line up a coach, it appears that team manager Sam Ayache will again take over in 2016.

A couple of the Colt's better players have found a spot with Wests - Misi Vakeli in SS and Billy Tsikrikas in RMC

 

[Sharkie Army Gorilla]

Brad Clarke spent the last 2 years with Canterbury. Prior to that he played for a couple of clubs in the Manly junior league and before that he played with Windsor, Asquith and Wests. Possibly Manly as well.

He was a 5/8 when young but moved to hooker long ago, can also play back row. The listed configuration may not last too long.

I think Boustani may be on the injury list but the others may be gone.

He may have played for the Seven Hills Demons in the 2007 Jim Beam Cup

Blacktown have had a terrible start to the season. They have lost Trent Jennings and Stan Waqa to season ending injuries. Jerry Key and Jordan Hall will be out for 7-10 weeks with injuries and Matt Place and Josh Tangitau have been picked up by Penrith NSW Cup.

Add the retirement of Pierce Sapsford and the no show of Heka Nanai and the sudden departure of Luke Simpson to Mackay and the hard work from the recruitment team has been flushed away.

They still have quality across the board and should push for a top 4 finish.

 

[Broncos93]

He may have played for the Seven Hills Demons in the 2007 Jim Beam Cup

Blacktown have had a terrible start to the season. They have lost Trent Jennings and Stan Waqa to season ending injuries. Jerry Key and Jordan Hall will be out for 7-10 weeks with injuries and Matt Place and Josh Tangitau have been picked up by Penrith NSW Cup.

Add the retirement of Pierce Sapsford and the no show of Heka Nanai and the sudden departure of Luke Simpson to Mackay and the hard work from the recruitment team has been flushed away.

They still have quality across the board and should push for a top 4 finish.

Heka just never turned up? That's strange, they'd recruited really well for this season. Heard Lochlan Piper is in decent shape and had a good showing against Mounties in the trials?

 

[kbw]

Cabramatta have named quite a strong side for Round 1, as demonstrated by the fact that Jason Gray, Luke Lavendar, BJ Nathan, Grayson Goodwin, Pat Lennard and Hala Katoa are all playing Sydney Shield.

Many of the RMC side have been training with Newtown over summer and if Cabra can keep this side together for a solid period there is no way they will be at the foot of the ladder this year.

It is hard to say what represents a good result against Kingsgrove. They conceded 1134 points last season and just as in 2013 (conceded 1302 points) when they could not line up a coach, it appears that team manager Sam Ayache will again take over in 2016.

A couple of the Colt's better players have found a spot with Wests - Misi Vakeli in SS and Billy Tsikrikas in RMC

It will be interesting, it was painfully obvious that it wasn't the "proper" cabra sides in the last couple of trials. After watching some video of cabras trials they were terrible and had no structure at all.
Saying that Kingsgrove will find it hard against the team named. Their season will depend alot on the Roosters players sent down. There was some def quality playing against Pennisula but some rubbish too..

Just to correct you, Sam has never been the manager. Dave Swan has alot to do with coaching the side now

 

[rightleftin]

The Kingsgrove website is 3 years out of date and shows the situation in 2013. Sam Ayache is titled "operations manager" and Tarek Houchar as coach. Houchar lasted a few weeks and Sam had to take over as coach. Sam usually does things like putting up the sideline fence when they played at Beverley Hills and ringing the ambulance if required.

 

[rightleftin]

St Marys return to the competition after an absence of 14 years since 2001 when they entered the last game outside the top 4 and then preceded to defeat Guildford, Ryde Eastwood, Cabramatta and Sydney Bulls in consecutive weeks to win the Metropolitan Cup.

Their first assignment is against Blacktown Workers, who have been badly effected by injuries and defaults. St Marys will use 6 or 7 players from their A grade side including Sam Jones, Sonny Tuigamala and Jared Cannon, who have previously played ta this level or above and have added the following:

Nathan Smith, Geoff Daniela (Windsor), Ray Lesoa, Tom Eisenhuth, Chris Ainese Scanlon (Windsor), Mitch Simpson (Cabra), Peter Nay, Jamie Hill (Wests), Lakhem Aiono (Qld Rugby)

 

[rightleftin]

He may have played for the Seven Hills Demons in the 2007 Jim Beam Cup

Blacktown have had a terrible start to the season. They have lost Trent Jennings and Stan Waqa to season ending injuries. Jerry Key and Jordan Hall will be out for 7-10 weeks with injuries and Matt Place and Josh Tangitau have been picked up by Penrith NSW Cup.

Add the retirement of Pierce Sapsford and the no show of Heka Nanai and the sudden departure of Luke Simpson to Mackay and the hard work from the recruitment team has been flushed away.

They still have quality across the board and should push for a top 4 finish.

I think you are right on Clark at Seven Hills - they only lasted one year but did get several from Asquith.

 

[rightleftin]

Wests should have a pleasing start to the season when they take on an Auburn RMC side that played no trials. Jake Mullaney is not the Magpies side.

Auburn have lost Arthur Little, Cliff Nye, Danny Barakat, Ethan Natoli, Heka Nanai, Joel Tivitu, Jordan Bowles, Junior Tia Kilifi, PJ Hunt, Po Longi and Vince Rennie while Elias Sukkar and Lindon McGrady are starting with Canterbury.

The only significant gain for Auburn is ex London Bronco Nesi Maitatongi. Addison Demteriou has returned to the club after 2 years in NYC.

Wests Magpies continue their partnership with Wests Tigers in the Sydney Shield team where 9 players from the Tigers NYC team will line up for the Magpies SS side for round 1. The Magpies will be looking for better results than last season when the finished bottom of the 13 SS teams.

 

[rightleftin]

RMC

Hills has squandered a 14-0 after 11 mins and a 24-10 lead 10 minutes into the second half to go down to Windsor 28-24 in very hot conditions at Windsor. There was at least one change to the Hills team as Jordan Tongahai played and Moses Manu was relegated to Sydney Shield. Windsor kicked more goals.

Cabramatta had a satisfactory start to their campaign to move up from 10th spot last year with a 58-6 result.

A upset at McCredie has seen Guildford beat Asquith 30-16.
Blacktown have defeated St Marys 28-16.

SS

Hills beat Windsor 44-26
Guildford beat Asquith 48-14
St Marys beat Blacktown 46-30

A try by Barry McGrady in the 79th minute got Peninsula Seagulls home 28-22 against Cabramatta.

 

[magpie4ever]

RMC

Hills has squandered a 14-0 after 11 mins and a 24-10 lead 10 minutes into the second half to go down to Windsor 28-24 in very hot conditions at Windsor. There was at least one change to the Hills team as Jordan Tongahai played and Moses Manu was relegated to Sydney Shield. Windsor kicked more goals.

Cabramatta had a satisfactory start to their campaign to move up from 10th spot last year with a 58-6 result.

A upset at McCredie has seen Guildford beat Asquith 30-16

SS

Hills beat Windsor 44-26
Guildford beat Asquith 48-14

A try by Barry McGrady in the 79th minute got Peninsula Seagulls home 28-22 against Cabramatta.

Yeah, watched most of the Windsor v Hills game. Although Hills got off to a brilliant start, they looked soft in defense once Windsor got some ball. Arrived just at the start of RMC, noticed Hogan although named as right centre didn't play.

 

[Broncos93]

Groundhog day for Kingsgrove then?

 

[Sharkie Army Gorilla]

Groundhog day for Kingsgrove then?

Unfortunately it looks like it will be much the same as last season for them.

 

[kbw]

Kingsgrove played well below what was expected yesterday. They were missing a couple of players and it was the first hit out for some of the Roosters boys,
It could be a long season, but if this team pulls together and plays to their potential they will achieve some much better results that the one yesterday

 

[rightleftin]

The 2015 premiers in both grades have been hammered at Ringrose Park. In RMC Wenty beat Mounties 38-14 and in SS Mounties beat Wenty 36-10.

 

[rightleftin]

The result for Kingsgrove was only a little below average. Last year their average score was 56-12 so to go down 58-6 means that they were just a little below there usual standard by not scoring a second try.