The last round of NRL games left the fans in shock and resulted in an overall mixed outcome for Ni’Vanuatu playing in clubs across Australia.
Justin O’Neill will miss up to six weeks of the NRL season after he fractured his jaw in Melbourne Storms 32 to 10 defeat of the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday night. O’Neill succumbed to the injury after 65 minutes after making 8 runs for 66 metres and 9 tackles.
U/20’s – National Youth Competition
Younger brother Samsen O’Neill’s North Queensland Cowboys U/20 side defeated the Storm U/20’s 26 to 16 in the curtain raiser to the NRL fixture. O’Neill marked the victory with his maiden U/20’s try in the 52nd minute, playing all 80 minutes in a performance that saw him make 13 runs for 148 metres, including a line break and two errors, while making 17 tackles.
O’Neill has again been selected to start in the centres for the Cowboys U/20’s clash with the Newcastle Knights next Monday night at Hunter Sports Stadium (Newcastle, Australia) with kick off at 4:45pm.
NSW Cup
In the NSW Cup, Alehana Mara’s Auckland Vulcans scored a 24 to 12 victory over the Newtown Jets in Auckland last Saturday. Mara has again been selected as the starting hooker for the Vulcans clash with the Newcastle Knights at Cessnock Sports Ground (Newcastle, Australia) this Saturday at 5pm.
QLD Cup
Vanuatu Captain James Woods celebrated being named co-Captain of the Tweed Head Seagulls scoring a try in their 26 to 20 Queensland Cup win over the Burleigh Bears last Sunday on the Gold Coast. Woods was the only Vanuatu player taking a win in the Queensland Cup, with Javarn White’s Ipswich Jets losing by 22 to 4 to the Norths Devils in Ipswich. On Sunday Ben Henaway’s Souths Logan Magpies were defeated by the Easts Tigers 28 to 6 in Brisbane.
All three have been chosen for this weekend’s games. Woods will start in the centres in the Seagulls clash with reigning Premiers the Wynnum Manly Seagulls at Piggabeen Sports Complex (Gold Coast, Australia) on Sunday at 3pm (4pm Vanuatu time). White will start at fullback in the Jets clash with the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles at Stockland Park (Sunshine Coast, Australia) on Sunday at 4pm (5pm Vanuatu time). While Henaway will start at fullback for the Magpies clash with the Norths Devils at Davies Park (Brisbane, Australia) on Sunday at 3pm (4pm Vanuatu time).
Regional Leagues
In regional leagues throughout Queensland, Noosa Pirates started their pre-season trials with a victory over Maroochydore Swans by the score of 24 – 16. Vanuatu players Kalpat Steedman, Ryder Franklin, Tonny Lui and James Wilfred all featured for the Pirates, with Steedman one of the leading forwards in the game and Franklin scoring a try on debut.
Up in Townsville, Kunro Kalo started on the wing for Brothers Townsville in a rematch of last year’s Townsville District Rugby League Grand Final against University, whilst in Ayr, Roger Tokona played for the Burdekin Roosters reserve grade, scoring a try on the wing and young Santo man Ian Vuti performing well for the Burdekin Roosters Under 19s in their win over traditional heavyweights Centrals.
Full results and team lists for NRL and the U/20’s National Youth Competition can be found at www.nrl.com
Full results and team lists for NSW Cup can be found at www.nswrl.com.au
Full results and team lists for QLD Cup can be found at www.qrl.com.au