Following on from last week’s opening rounds of the NRL (featuring Justin O’Neill – Melbourne Storm), NSW Cup (featuring Alehana Mara – Auckland Vulcans) and U/20 National Youth Competition (featuring Samsen O’Neill – North Queensland Cowboys), this week sees the Queensland competitions swing into action. The competitions include the Queensland Cup, FOGS Cup and FOGS Colts.
Vanuatu Rugby League (VRL) Captain James Wood headlines those in action in the Queensland Cup where he has been selected in the centres and as co-captain of the Tweed Head Seagulls. A club he has spent over 12 seasons at and is the clubs most capped player with well over 200 Queensland Cup appearances. The Tweed Head Seagulls will take on the Burleigh Bears at Piggabeen Sports Complex on Sunday at 3pm (4pm Vanuatu time).
Justin O’Neill is again the only Vanuatu player selected in the NRL this week, where he will start in the centres for the Melbourne Storm when they take on the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville at 1300SMILES Stadium on Saturday at 6:30pm (7:30pm Vanuatu time). In a big day for the O’Neill family, Justin’s younger brother Samsen will start in the centres for the North Queensland Cowboys U/20’s in their clash with the Melbourne Storm at 1300SMILES Stadium on Saturday at 4:15pm (5:15pm Vanuatu time). Alehana Mara has again been overlooked for the New Zealand Warriors NRL side and will instead play for the clubs feeder team the Auckland Vulcans in the NSW Cup, starting at hooker in the clubs clash with the Newtown Jets at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday at 1pm (11am Vanuatu time).
Besides Captain James Wood, two other Vanuatu players have been selected in the Queensland Cup to begin over the weekend. Fullback from last year’s Test team Jarvan White has been selected at fullback for the Ipswitch Jets for their clash with Norths Devils at North Ipswitch Reserve on Saturday at 2pm (3pm Vanuatu time). Ben Henaway the five-eight from last year’s Test team has also been selected at fullback for the Souths Logan Magpies in their clash with Easts Tigers at Davies Park on Sunday at 3pm (4pm Vanuatu time).
In a boost for Vanuatu fans – games of the NRL, U/20’s National Youth Competition, NSW Cup and QLD Cup can be seen each week through Channel 9/Imarja and Fox Sports from Australia via satellite television. Those without satellite television can view the games at VRL’s proud sponsor The Brewery which is opposite the Grand Hotel in Port Vila.
Channel 9/Imparja will show 3 NRL games a week (Thursday night, Friday night and Sunday afternoon games) as well as one Queensland Cup game a week on a Sunday afternoon. FOX Sports will show the other 5 NRL games on Saturday, Sunday and Monday as well as one NSW Cup game a week on a Saturday.
NOTE: FOGS Cup and FOGS Colts teams were not available at time of printing.
Full team lists for NRL, U/20’s National Youth Competition can be found at www.nrl.com
Full team lists for NSW Cup can be found at www.nswrl.com.au
Full team lists for QLD Cup can be found at www.qrl.com.au
Games and times in Vanuatu for this week are:
NRL:
Parramatta Eels vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs from Stadium Australia (Sydney, Australia) on Thursday at 8:05pm LIVE on Imarja/Channel 9
St.George Illawarra Dragons vs Brisbane Broncos from WIN Stadium (Wollongong, Australia) on Friday at 8:05pm LIVE on Imarja/Channel 9.
New Zealand Warriors vs Sydney Roosters from Eden Park (Auckland, New Zealand) on Saturday at 7:30pm (5:30pm Vanuatu time) LIVE on FOX Sports 1.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm from 1300SMILES Stadium (Townsville, Australia) on Saturday at 6:30pm (7:30pm Vanuatu time) LIVE on FOX Sports 1
Gold Coast Titans vs Canberra Raiders from Skill Park (Gold Coast, Australia) on Sunday at 1pm (2pm Vanuatu time) LIVE on FOX Sports 1.
Wests Tigers vs Penrith Panthers from Campbelltown Sports Stadium (Sydney, Australia) on Sunday Delayed at 4pm on Imarja/Channel 9
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs Newcastle Knights from Brookvale Oval (Sydney, Australia) on Sunday at 6:30pm LIVE on FOX Sports 1.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks from Stadium Australia (Sydney, Australia) on Monday at 7pm LIVE on FOX Sports 1.
National Youth Competition U/20’s:
New Zealand Warriors vs Sydney Roosters from Eden Park (Auckland, New Zealand) on Saturday at 5:15pm (3:15pm Vanuatu time) LIVE on FOX Sports 1.
Gold Coast Titans vs Canberra Raiders from Skill Park (Gold Coast, Australia) on Sunday at 10:45am (11:45am Vanuatu time) LIVE on FOX Sports 1.
NSW Cup:
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs Illawarra Cutters from Leichardt Oval (Sydney, Australia) on Saturday at 1:10pm LIVE on FOX Sports 1.
QLD Cup:
Wynnum Manly Sea Eagles vs Redcliffe Dolphins from BMD Kougari Oval (Brisbane, Australia) on Sunday at 2pm (3pm Vanuatu) LIVE on Channel 9 Queensland ONLY.
*Please check TV guides and or venues for correct times.