SG Ball and Harold Matthews results

[getsmarty]

Grateful Latu reflects on his rise towards the NRL

Dragons teenager Finau Latu talks St George's 2024 SG Ball title, the joys of preseason & the role his family has played throughout his footballing journey.

www.dragons.com.au

 

[getsmarty]

Latu family put on Tongan feast in Dragons cultural celebration

St George Illawarra Dragons staff and players were treated to a traditional Tongan feast at WIN Stadium this week courtesy of rising star Finau Latu and his family.

www.dragons.com.au

 

[Desperate Dragon]

Full time Harold Matthews at Lidcombe Oval today.
Dragons 14 d Balmain 10.

 

[TheRev]

My HM summaries from here on I think will just be me watching bits of the game and skipping through.. will focus more time on SG Ball... anyway a couple of notes:

Dragons (HM - U17s) 14-10 Win:

• Ah Kee (6) is a solid unit with great footwork.. lot of LKT in him.
• Both sides were good in the first half, we had more attacking ball on their line, good bits from lots of players, the #7 Jones is very active, Field @1 had some good moments.. scored our 3rd try right on halftime after locking down a scrum with seconds to spare.. missed a few goalkicks, but 14-0 up at half time.
• Phoenix Johns is way more solid than I realised, good frame, has good wraps so I had an eye on him, interesting to see what becomes of him in time... but no real highlights today.
• Fullback Cody Field has had some more nice moments in the 2nd half.. he has a habit of getting out of half tackles, getting up and just going again.. thought he actually put on a try in the 2nd half after breaking them open, but was judged a forward pass..
• Real back and forward stuff.. decent defence.. the Tigers scored their seconds after a big tackle on Rawson #3 coming off our tryline dislodged the ball and they pick it up and fall over the line.. shame cause we had done so well to hold them out.
• Last 10-15mins were back to the grind again, we hold on for a 14-10 win, fantastic stuff.

Dragons (SG - U19's) 26-32 Loss:

• lovely big charge from CST with footwork.. went 20m or so, pass on the inside found a tigers player though.
• gees #10 Futialo is a massive boy.. doesnt guarantee that he turns into a 1st grader, but if he has the fitness, motor and some luck..
• Couple of errors from #9 Kouka have cost us.. been a back and forth grind though
• 13mins in a nice set right from close to our own goalline.. coupla good runs, #6 Boyle everything putting Hikila through a hole.. then Boyle went himself again had 3 defenders on him and got an arm around to offload to #4 Okusitino (so hard to spell) for a try in the corner.
• So this try was epic.. from the drop out, Smythe #13 the bloke who I say is an impact prop cause of his massive frame, uses his footwork off a big charge.. gets it to the edge and away to Cooper Hale #3 who had a shocker last week but in attack hes fast tall strong.. clearly a weapon if he can fix his defence.. he goes another 10-20m, then onto Nachar who quickly gets a ball back to the full back Kirk trailing who does the rest.. lovely try under the posts. 10-0 up.
• Thought we had a 3rd try when CST goes into hooker gets a wild ball to Kirk who kicked for himself into the ingoal, cant quite see why it was disallowed.
• Some big tigers charges got them into good position and a bigger player ran over little fullback Kirk.. 10-6.
• Their little fullback just stepped half our team to run the length.. we had him a few times.. goalkicking seems on point compared to ours.. 10-12.
• Dumb error to give the ball back (think it was no foot to the ball) and they looked to knock it on near our line twice, and somehow it was play on and they had a slight overlap on the wing.. theyre up 16-10 at half time. Dont feel like this score reflects the game.. weve been probably dominant or close to, and in 10mins they have run in 3 tries.
• 2nd half omd omg I think thats 2-3 times they have pinged us for not getting a foot to the ball.. as we attacked their line.. far out must be a crackdown.
• High tackle from Cooper Hale.. he did this last week he doesnt get his body low so hes always likely to wrap someone around their head.. and off that a soft soft soft try with the hooker scooting over untouched.. so dissapointing.. 10-22.
• Back attacking their line and they have pinged Hikala AGAIN for not touching the ball with the foot.. FMD.. unforgivable stuff..
• Off the back of that they had an attacking king on our line and their young #1 just darted through and outleapt us for a try.. he looks a gun their young fullback.. but we should have been on their line.. 10-28.
• Nachar has coughed it up (after a rly good game).. next set their bluddy fullback has carved us up again.. Logan Deininger.. one to watch.. but f**k hard to watch now 10-32.
• Attacked their set a few times now, Smythe has been strong, finally over with another run from #4 Antonio Okusitino, who is fast becoming one of my favourites.. 2 360deg spins to get it down. 32-16.
• Finally some momentum and a big set and #1 Kirk has just put it down in an average tackle.. this kid is killing me.. just need to put anyone back there.. dont need fancy footwork.. just someone who can hold the ball and make tackles.
• Another good set went 80m and got it in goal for a repeat set.. were a rly good side when were not making errors.. Hikala despite those penalties hits the line so hard..and off the back of the repeat set we have scored in the corner, Nachar beating his opposition winger to just stay in.. goalkick sprayed 45deg off target again.. not Boyles strong-suite. 20-32.
• Another good set to go the length, force an error and were over again, Boyle onto my man Okusitino, 26-32.
• Got back to attacking their line again, but this time couldnt pull a miracle off.. and a few good tigers runs have seen them putting us back on our own goalline.. game over.

Gonna be a hard year watching Dragons SG.. they dont have the class to blow teams away, and they dont have TPH to mop things up.. they just cant afford dumb errors, ref crackdowns etc.. they could easily hjave won this game yet it goes down as another loss.. and shoulda been a win.

Watching these no-commentator games on BarTV is particularly difficult cause the camera is always right next to some opposition fans, and I have to mute it so I dont have to listen to their inane dribbling.

 

[TheRev]

Steelers (HM-U17's - BYE)

Steelers (SG - U19's) 32-4 Win:

• Probably a little lucky with a manly ball called back as forward, which it was but its not always called.. we went on with some good runs from Taufa and Fitzy.. and Borg runs a nice angle and beats an opponent to just get it down.. reed kicks the goal from near the touchline what a nice change to see lol.. 6-0.
• Mason Phillips is out this week with HIA from last round, they had Noah Parker as the 9, but a late call in for 15 Breakspear, big out for us, but hopefully the kids go ok.
• Nice simple try there with Breakspear going left late and Taufa running a decoy which gave Fitzy a little bit of room to drawn in his man and put #11 Smith over the line.. simple try but great to see. 12-0.
• Saifit Jr messed up the catch of the dropout.. now were dropping out from our line. Thankfully we defend and off their error Timmins picks it up and gets us out of trouble.
• Another attacking movement left.. same as before Breakspear looking right but passing left, Taufa a decoy, Fitzy > Borg > Timmins running right into a half hole and literally carrying a player on his back about 10m for the try out wide, 16-0.
• Forward pass from Reed in 1 set and we went back and forth for a while.. deft little kick into the ingoal from Reed for a repeat set, interesting watching him develop. Breakspear almost went over himself in the set that followed.. but instead a kick from Reed defelects and they run half the length.. few of our boys got back for the tackle, but it was noticeable how much faster Saifiti was travelling... but unfortunately last tackle they kick it wide and there is an overlap but Kirk is marking the centre and the manly winger can go in untouched.. not sure whos to blame there. 16-4.
• Bailey #13 got kicked in the head in an awkward tackle on a rampaging manly forward where he sort of flung him in the air, and hes on report for his part in it but I dont think there is anything in it.. hopefully not. Thankfully we defended brilliantly a few sets they had at us that followed.. ending with Saifiti flying off to make a tackle and missing.. but Heidke was brilliant and flung the winger into touch.. the winger had an open try line.
• Manly put on a really dangerous play late, Borg picked it up off his bootlaces at pace.. thank god.
• Massive bomb from Fitzy.. their bloke spills the catch and we go under the posts.. but its called back cause we tackled the guy in the air (well after he dropped it), was dumb tbh and unfortunate.But watching it back I think its unlucky, our 11 had commited to the tackle before his opponent suddenly leapt for it... wasnt deliberate.
• Good defensive set to finish, Bailey put a bloke in his a$$, penalty on half time from 45m out in front.. Reed nails it lol.. so refreshing after watching us struggle to goalkick in all grades these last few years... 18-4 half time.
• 2nd half and Fitzy gets a pass to Timmins who gets a late flick out the back to Tom Kirk who dives for a tough try in the corner.. 42-4, great way to start the half.
• Fitzy just got tossed above the horizontal on his head.. got pinged for losing the ball and when he asked the qn about the tackle.. got marched for backchat.. far out.
• Manly winger dives in to the corner.. Borg comes in and belts the besjsus out of him into touch.. hes pumped too.. f***ing love it when a young side is into their defence.
• Finally after many sets where we tested them.. we finally got there with Reed>Fitzy>Timmins, Timmins putting on footwork to beat a defender clean and goes over to put a seal on the game 30-6.
• Manlys #10 is a handful we defended well to save a late Manly try.. our boys are out on their feet... Saifit still doing plenty of work.. not sure what to make of him, hes really hard to stop and plenty quick.. just not sure about the footy smarts.. but rly enjoying watching him, cause if he comes good.. he will be a crowd favourite.
• After the Buzzer Reed puts in a cheeky kick, kicks again.. tackled without the ball before he could crash over.. penalty.. 32-4 win, well done boys.

What a side this is.. missing 3 of their best forwards in Weatherall, DMeafou and Phillips.. Taufa is a crucial cog in this team though.. hes such a big strong lad.. always bends the line. hes our intimidator... Centres are an issue also... I dont know what they will do, they have 4 centres im Heidke, Buchanan, Timmins & Tomo.. they are all guns.. its a real problem! Fitzy and Reed were great, Fityz big boot could be such as asset moving forward, but i dunno where all these boys could fit next year.. but a good puzzle to have.

 

[Dragon set in stone.]

Steelers (HM-U17's - BYE)

Steelers (SG - U19's) 32-4 Win:

• Probably a little lucky with a manly ball called back as forward, which it was but its not always called.. we went on with some good runs from Taufa and Fitzy.. and Borg runs a nice angle and beats an opponent to just get it down.. reed kicks the goal from near the touchline what a nice change to see lol.. 6-0.
• Mason Phillips is out this week with HIA from last round, they had Noah Parker as the 9, but a late call in for 15 Breakspear, big out for us, but hopefully the kids go ok.
• Nice simple try there with Breakspear going left late and Taufa running a decoy which gave Fitzy a little bit of room to drawn in his man and put #11 Smith over the line.. simple try but great to see. 12-0.
• Saifit Jr messed up the catch of the dropout.. now were dropping out from our line. Thankfully we defend and off their error Timmins picks it up and gets us out of trouble.
• Another attacking movement left.. same as before Breakspear looking right but passing left, Taufa a decoy, Fitzy > Borg > Timmins running right into a half hole and literally carrying a player on his back about 10m for the try out wide, 16-0.
• Forward pass from Reed in 1 set and we went back and forth for a while.. deft little kick into the ingoal from Reed for a repeat set, interesting watching him develop. Breakspear almost went over himself in the set that followed.. but instead a kick from Reed defelects and they run half the length.. few of our boys got back for the tackle, but it was noticeable how much faster Saifiti was travelling... but unfortunately last tackle they kick it wide and there is an overlap but Kirk is marking the centre and the manly winger can go in untouched.. not sure whos to blame there. 16-4.
• Bailey #13 got kicked in the head in an awkward tackle on a rampaging manly forward where he sort of flung him in the air, and hes on report for his part in it but I dont think there is anything in it.. hopefully not. Thankfully we defended brilliantly a few sets they had at us that followed.. ending with Saifiti flying off to make a tackle and missing.. but Heidke was brilliant and flung the winger into touch.. the winger had an open try line.
• Manly put on a really dangerous play late, Borg picked it up off his bootlaces at pace.. thank god.
• Massive bomb from Fitzy.. their bloke spills the catch and we go under the posts.. but its called back cause we tackled the guy in the air (well after he dropped it), was dumb tbh and unfortunate.But watching it back I think its unlucky, our 11 had commited to the tackle before his opponent suddenly leapt for it... wasnt deliberate.
• Good defensive set to finish, Bailey put a bloke in his a$$, penalty on half time from 45m out in front.. Reed nails it lol.. so refreshing after watching us struggle to goalkick in all grades these last few years... 18-4 half time.
• 2nd half and Fitzy gets a pass to Timmins who gets a late flick out the back to Tom Kirk who dives for a tough try in the corner.. 42-4, great way to start the half.
• Fitzy just got tossed above the horizontal on his head.. got pinged for losing the ball and when he asked the qn about the tackle.. got marched for backchat.. far out.
• Manly winger dives in to the corner.. Borg comes in and belts the besjsus out of him into touch.. hes pumped too.. f***ing love it when a young side is into their defence.
• Finally after many sets where we tested them.. we finally got there with Reed>Fitzy>Timmins, Timmins putting on footwork to beat a defender clean and goes over to put a seal on the game 30-6.
• Manlys #10 is a handful we defended well to save a late Manly try.. our boys are out on their feet... Saifit still doing plenty of work.. not sure what to make of him, hes really hard to stop and plenty quick.. just not sure about the footy smarts.. but rly enjoying watching him, cause if he comes good.. he will be a crowd favourite.
• After the Buzzer Reed puts in a cheeky kick, kicks again.. tackled without the ball before he could crash over.. penalty.. 32-4 win, well done boys.

What a side this is.. missing 3 of their best forwards in Weatherall, DMeafou and Phillips.. Taufa is a crucial cog in this team though.. hes such a big strong lad.. always bends the line. hes our intimidator... Centres are an issue also... I dont know what they will do, they have 4 centres im Heidke, Buchanan, Timmins & Tomo.. they are all guns.. its a real problem! Fitzy and Reed were great, Fityz big boot could be such as asset moving forward, but i dunno where all these boys could fit next year.. but a good puzzle to have.

Thanks so much for your work Rev .