Central, Wyong set for third game in eight days as NEWRL finals race heats up
The 2024 grand finalist's season looked to be slipping away.
But after a sixth consecutive win mid-week over Newcastle Rugby League front-runners Wyong, Central Newcastle could be in the top three by the end of this weekend.
The Butcher Boys, who beat second-placed Wyong 16-6 at St John Oval on Wednesday night, return to their home ground again on Sunday to face Cessnock.
It will be Central's third game in eight days, and shapes as another important clash on the run towards the NEWRL finals.
Cessnock are fourth, and themselves in a fight to stay in the top five.
Wests, Central, Cessnock and The Entrance are placed third to sixth, and all on 16 competition points.
South Newcastle and Kurri Kurri, on 14 points, hover in seventh and eighth, and remain well in finals contention ahead of the last five rounds.
Intriguingly, Central and Cessnock are the only teams in the mix that play each other twice on the run home - this Sunday and in the last round.
"We had four blokes out, a few little injuries, but we just got out-played Wednesday night," Wyong coach Tony Gleeson said.
"Just out-enthused if anything. They put us on the back foot from the word go.
"Their efforts on the try-line, combined with our lack of cohesion ... made it really hard to score tries.
"The thing about Central, I coached a lot of those guys at Hunter Sports High and in the Knights' system, and they're a really good team. They play for each other. That's their strength - they play really well together."
Wyong are also set to play their third game in eight days, hosting ninth-placed Lakes United on Sunday.
In other round-14 games, Wests host Maitland and The Entrance travel to Kurri Kurri on Saturday. Northern Hawks and Macquarie meet at Tomaree on Sunday.
Wyong and leaders Maitland, on 19 points, are three points clear at the top of the table.
But with only five games left to play, compared to Maitland, Wests and The Entrance who have six, Wyong aren't home and hosed for the finals, despite a relatively easy run home - including their next three games at home.
"It's a real worrying period, we're certainly not looking too far ahead," Gleeson said.
"Our last two performances were less than what we're capable of, against the Northern Hawks and Central. It's a big eight days for us.
"Because the ladder is so close, you don't want to be complacent. You've really got to focus on who you're playing next, and Lakes will be desperate."
Wyong should welcome back centre Matt Ikuvalu and back-rower Jye Boyle for the 3pm match at Morry Breen Oval.
Playmaker Jack Kelly has been named on Lakes' bench, but Ryan Stig was named at halfback.
The Wests and Maitland match at Harker Oval shapes as a classic, while the other intriguing clash is The Entrance and Kurri Kurri.
For the first time in the NEWRL, Kurri coach Paul Stringer faces the side he had been earmarked to coach last year, before The Entrance back-flipped and retained Jamy Forbes after backlash late in the 2023 season. Ben O'Connell took over for 2024.
Stringer joined Kurri ahead of this season and has helped them to a 6-5 record, after they went more than two seasons without a win.
Less than a month ago, they were second-last.
The 2024 grand finalist's season looked to be slipping away.
But after a sixth consecutive win mid-week over Newcastle Rugby League front-runners Wyong, Central Newcastle could be in the top three by the end of this weekend.
The Butcher Boys, who beat second-placed Wyong 16-6 at St John Oval on Wednesday night, return to their home ground again on Sunday to face Cessnock.
It will be Central's third game in eight days, and shapes as another important clash on the run towards the NEWRL finals.
Cessnock are fourth, and themselves in a fight to stay in the top five.
Wests, Central, Cessnock and The Entrance are placed third to sixth, and all on 16 competition points.
South Newcastle and Kurri Kurri, on 14 points, hover in seventh and eighth, and remain well in finals contention ahead of the last five rounds.
Intriguingly, Central and Cessnock are the only teams in the mix that play each other twice on the run home - this Sunday and in the last round.
"We had four blokes out, a few little injuries, but we just got out-played Wednesday night," Wyong coach Tony Gleeson said.
"Just out-enthused if anything. They put us on the back foot from the word go.
"Their efforts on the try-line, combined with our lack of cohesion ... made it really hard to score tries.
"The thing about Central, I coached a lot of those guys at Hunter Sports High and in the Knights' system, and they're a really good team. They play for each other. That's their strength - they play really well together."
Wyong are also set to play their third game in eight days, hosting ninth-placed Lakes United on Sunday.
In other round-14 games, Wests host Maitland and The Entrance travel to Kurri Kurri on Saturday. Northern Hawks and Macquarie meet at Tomaree on Sunday.
Wyong and leaders Maitland, on 19 points, are three points clear at the top of the table.
But with only five games left to play, compared to Maitland, Wests and The Entrance who have six, Wyong aren't home and hosed for the finals, despite a relatively easy run home - including their next three games at home.
"It's a real worrying period, we're certainly not looking too far ahead," Gleeson said.
"Our last two performances were less than what we're capable of, against the Northern Hawks and Central. It's a big eight days for us.
"Because the ladder is so close, you don't want to be complacent. You've really got to focus on who you're playing next, and Lakes will be desperate."
Wyong should welcome back centre Matt Ikuvalu and back-rower Jye Boyle for the 3pm match at Morry Breen Oval.
Playmaker Jack Kelly has been named on Lakes' bench, but Ryan Stig was named at halfback.
The Wests and Maitland match at Harker Oval shapes as a classic, while the other intriguing clash is The Entrance and Kurri Kurri.
For the first time in the NEWRL, Kurri coach Paul Stringer faces the side he had been earmarked to coach last year, before The Entrance back-flipped and retained Jamy Forbes after backlash late in the 2023 season. Ben O'Connell took over for 2024.
Stringer joined Kurri ahead of this season and has helped them to a 6-5 record, after they went more than two seasons without a win.
Less than a month ago, they were second-last.
The 2024 grand finalist's season looked to be slipping away.
But after a sixth consecutive win mid-week over Newcastle Rugby League front-runners Wyong, Central Newcastle could be in the top three by the end of this weekend.
The Butcher Boys, who beat second-placed Wyong 16-6 at St John Oval on Wednesday night, return to their home ground again on Sunday to face Cessnock.
It will be Central's third game in eight days, and shapes as another important clash on the run towards the NEWRL finals.
Cessnock are fourth, and themselves in a fight to stay in the top five.
Wests, Central, Cessnock and The Entrance are placed third to sixth, and all on 16 competition points.
South Newcastle and Kurri Kurri, on 14 points, hover in seventh and eighth, and remain well in finals contention ahead of the last five rounds.
Intriguingly, Central and Cessnock are the only teams in the mix that play each other twice on the run home - this Sunday and in the last round.
"We had four blokes out, a few little injuries, but we just got out-played Wednesday night," Wyong coach Tony Gleeson said.
"Just out-enthused if anything. They put us on the back foot from the word go.
"Their efforts on the try-line, combined with our lack of cohesion ... made it really hard to score tries.
"The thing about Central, I coached a lot of those guys at Hunter Sports High and in the Knights' system, and they're a really good team. They play for each other. That's their strength - they play really well together."
Wyong are also set to play their third game in eight days, hosting ninth-placed Lakes United on Sunday.
In other round-14 games, Wests host Maitland and The Entrance travel to Kurri Kurri on Saturday. Northern Hawks and Macquarie meet at Tomaree on Sunday.
Wyong and leaders Maitland, on 19 points, are three points clear at the top of the table.
But with only five games left to play, compared to Maitland, Wests and The Entrance who have six, Wyong aren't home and hosed for the finals, despite a relatively easy run home - including their next three games at home.
"It's a real worrying period, we're certainly not looking too far ahead," Gleeson said.
"Our last two performances were less than what we're capable of, against the Northern Hawks and Central. It's a big eight days for us.
"Because the ladder is so close, you don't want to be complacent. You've really got to focus on who you're playing next, and Lakes will be desperate."
Wyong should welcome back centre Matt Ikuvalu and back-rower Jye Boyle for the 3pm match at Morry Breen Oval.
Playmaker Jack Kelly has been named on Lakes' bench, but Ryan Stig was named at halfback.
The Wests and Maitland match at Harker Oval shapes as a classic, while the other intriguing clash is The Entrance and Kurri Kurri.
For the first time in the NEWRL, Kurri coach Paul Stringer faces the side he had been earmarked to coach last year, before The Entrance back-flipped and retained Jamy Forbes after backlash late in the 2023 season. Ben O'Connell took over for 2024.
Stringer joined Kurri ahead of this season and has helped them to a 6-5 record, after they went more than two seasons without a win.
Less than a month ago, they were second-last.
The 2024 grand finalist's season looked to be slipping away.
But after a sixth consecutive win mid-week over Newcastle Rugby League front-runners Wyong, Central Newcastle could be in the top three by the end of this weekend.
The Butcher Boys, who beat second-placed Wyong 16-6 at St John Oval on Wednesday night, return to their home ground again on Sunday to face Cessnock.
It will be Central's third game in eight days, and shapes as another important clash on the run towards the NEWRL finals.
Cessnock are fourth, and themselves in a fight to stay in the top five.
Wests, Central, Cessnock and The Entrance are placed third to sixth, and all on 16 competition points.
South Newcastle and Kurri Kurri, on 14 points, hover in seventh and eighth, and remain well in finals contention ahead of the last five rounds.
Intriguingly, Central and Cessnock are the only teams in the mix that play each other twice on the run home - this Sunday and in the last round.
"We had four blokes out, a few little injuries, but we just got out-played Wednesday night," Wyong coach Tony Gleeson said.
"Just out-enthused if anything. They put us on the back foot from the word go.
"Their efforts on the try-line, combined with our lack of cohesion ... made it really hard to score tries.
"The thing about Central, I coached a lot of those guys at Hunter Sports High and in the Knights' system, and they're a really good team. They play for each other. That's their strength - they play really well together."
Wyong are also set to play their third game in eight days, hosting ninth-placed Lakes United on Sunday.
In other round-14 games, Wests host Maitland and The Entrance travel to Kurri Kurri on Saturday. Northern Hawks and Macquarie meet at Tomaree on Sunday.
Wyong and leaders Maitland, on 19 points, are three points clear at the top of the table.
But with only five games left to play, compared to Maitland, Wests and The Entrance who have six, Wyong aren't home and hosed for the finals, despite a relatively easy run home - including their next three games at home.
"It's a real worrying period, we're certainly not looking too far ahead," Gleeson said.
"Our last two performances were less than what we're capable of, against the Northern Hawks and Central. It's a big eight days for us.
"Because the ladder is so close, you don't want to be complacent. You've really got to focus on who you're playing next, and Lakes will be desperate."
Wyong should welcome back centre Matt Ikuvalu and back-rower Jye Boyle for the 3pm match at Morry Breen Oval.
Playmaker Jack Kelly has been named on Lakes' bench, but Ryan Stig was named at halfback.
The Wests and Maitland match at Harker Oval shapes as a classic, while the other intriguing clash is The Entrance and Kurri Kurri.
For the first time in the NEWRL, Kurri coach Paul Stringer faces the side he had been earmarked to coach last year, before The Entrance back-flipped and retained Jamy Forbes after backlash late in the 2023 season. Ben O'Connell took over for 2024.
Stringer joined Kurri ahead of this season and has helped them to a 6-5 record, after they went more than two seasons without a win.
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