2017 NSW Premiership Round 11: Mounties preview
Mounties V Wentworthville Magpies
Saturday 19 May
Henson Park
NSW Premiership 11:00am
In Round 11, the NSWRL is staging a "magic round" with triple headers being played on Saturday and Sunday in both the NSW Premiership and Jersey Flegg. The Mounties face the Wentworthville Magpies on Saturday at Henson Park in the NSW Premiership - while the Mounties Jersey Flegg team meets the Parramatta Eels at Leichhardt Oval.
NSW Premiership: Last week, Mounties were soundly beaten by the Newtown Jets, 34-20, at Aubrey Keech Reserve. The Jets were well in control by halftime piling on five tries, including a double to fullback William Kennedy. The visitors took a 24-6 lead to the break, with the score blowing out to 34-10 with around 20 minutes remaining. Mounties scored two tries in the final 10 minutes through Royce Hunt and Brad Abbey - which added some respectability to the final scoreline. However, Mounties never really looked like winning the contest.
Craig Garvey (one try, five runs for 72 metres gained, one line break, seven tackle breaks, 48 tackles), Liam Knight (11 runs for 133 metres gained, two tackle breaks, one offload, 30 tackles) and Michael Oldfield (one try, 10 runs for 120 metres gained, one line break, one line break assist, one offload, two tackle breaks, 17 tackles) were amongst the best for Mounties.
Liam Knight (133m), Michael Oldfield (120m) and Royce Hunt (119m) topped the metres gained for Mounties, while Craig Garvey (48), Jack Murchie (36) and Jarrad Kennedy (34) topped the tackle count. Sam Williams didn't have the happiest return from injury, missing six tackles and producing four try causes.
Mounties are still placed first on the competition ladder, on points differential, but the Panthers have now joined them on 14 competition points. This week's opponents, the Wentworthville Magpies - which are affiliated with the Parramatta Eels - are in sixth place on the ladder. However, they have just one less win than Mounties this season.
The Magpies have a WWWLW record in their past five matches, while Mounties have recorded a LWWWL form line. The Magpies most recent loss was by just one point, to the Canterbury Bulldogs in Round 9. Wentworthville had a 36-22 win over the Wyong Roos in their last outing.
Mounties have superior attacking and defensive records in 2018. Mounties have averaged 29 points scored per match, compared with 20 for Wentworthville. The defensive records are closer, with Mounties conceding an average 20 points per match, the Magpies 24. Mounties have a positive points differential of 66, third best in the league, while Wentworthville sits on -35.
Team changes: Tyler Cornish returns to the Mounties team at fullback, after he was a late withdrawal last week. He replaces Henry Raiwalui, who moves to the half back spot vacated by Sam Williams. Williams has been named on the reserves list for the Raiders, but will no doubt be needed in Mudgee as cover for Blake Austin. Sam Duggan has been included at hooker in place of Craig Garvey, with Garvey also on the reserves list for the Raiders. Garvey could be another option for the Raiders bench if Austin is ruled out. Emre Guler replaces Liam Knight at lock, with Knight a further player on the Raiders' reserves list. Corey Horsburgh and Alofi Mataele come into the top 17 on the bench.
For Wentworthville, Nathan Milone replaces Josh Hoffman at fullback, with former Raider Eddie Aiono coming in at wing. Piki Rogers takes the place of Jaeman Salmon at five eighth, while Reed Mahoney comes into the team at starting hooker for Cameron King. Haimona Hiroti fills the gap in the second row left by Piki Rogers and Oregon Kaufusi fills in for captain Raymond Stone at lock. Bradley Deitz, Jack Morris, Atini Gafa and former Raiders junior Daniel Dole come onto the extended bench.
Our tip: This shapes as a difficult assignment for Mounties, given the good recent form posted by Wentworthville and the poor showing from Mt Pritchard last week. Mounties will be strengthened by the return of Tyler Cornish, but if Craig Garvey and Liam Knight do not play, it will be a big loss for the men from the mulga. Wentworthville, too, are facing some disruption to their line up. This one will depend on which players actually take the field for both teams. It's a flip of the coin really, but we'll show some faith and go with Mounties in a close one.
Jersey Flegg: All Jersey Flegg teams have had a bye for the past two weeks, with Mounties returning to action against the Parramatta Eels. After a very good start to the season, Mounties have lost their past two matches. They were upset by the North Sydney Bears at North Sydney Oval, 26-12, in Round 7... and then suffered a big 40-10 loss to the Sydney Roosters at Wyong in Round 8.
Mounties have dropped to sixth place on the ladder, with a 5 and 3 record so far this season. They have earned 10 competition points, along with the fourth placed Bulldogs and fifth placed Roosters - but are now five competition points adrift of the ladder leading Cronulla Sharks. Their opposition this week, the Eels, are seventh on the ladder, with just one less win than Mounties. The Eels won in their last start over the Wests Tigers 26-14.
Mounties defeated the Eels in Round 6 at Aubrey Keech Reserve by just two points, 32-30. They came from behind to do it, scoring the final three tries.
The Eels have a better attacking and defensive record than Mounties. The Eels have averaged 23 points scored per match (Mounties 20) and have conceded 18 per match (Mounties 20).
For Mounties, Paul Roache replaces Lachlan Cooper at five eighth, with Andre Niko taking over from Roache at fullback. Harley Smith Shields moves to the wing, with Matt Lyons and Sebastian Kris the new pairing in the centres. Hudson Young takes over from Daniel Kier in the second row, with Corey Horsburgh named at lock in place of Elijah Hunt. Given Horsburgh has also been named in the top 17 for the NSW Premiership team, expect a late change. Cooper, Kier and Hunt have all dropped to the interchange bench.
For the Eels, John Fonua replaces Haze Dunster, who shifts to the wing, with Ethan Parry dropping out of the squad. Todd Sapienza comes in for Jaeman Salmon at five eighth. Sean Keppie will start at prop, with Oregon Kaufusi lining up in the NSW Premiership. Ayden Carling will be the starting hooker with Reed Mahoney also playing for Wentworthville.
It should be a very close match, if the result in the match between the two teams earlier this year is anything to go by. The Eels probably have the better recent form, but their spine is disrupted. Hopefully the Mounties bounce back in this one.
Mounties V Wentworthville Magpies
Saturday 19 May
Henson Park
NSW Premiership 11:00am
Mounties
1. Tyler Cornish 2. Mikaele Ravalawa 3. Michael Oldfield 4. Edward Murphy 5. Sitiveni Moceidreke 6. Bradley Abbey 7. Henry Raiwalui 8. Royce Hunt 9. Sam Duggan 10. Makahesi Makatoa 11. Jarrad Kennedy 12. Jack Murchie 13. Emre Guler
14. Corey Horsburgh 15. Alofi Mataele 16. Mitchell Cahalane 17. Fabien Paletua-Kiri
Wentworthville Magpies
1. Nathan Milone 2. Edward Aiono 3. Kirisome Auva'a 4. Dane Aukafolau 5. Nathan Davis 6. Piki Rogers 7. Arana Taumata 8. Magnus Stromquist 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Yileen Gordon 11. Matthew Woods 12. Haimona Hiroti 13. Oregon Kaufusi
14. Bradley Deitz 15. Kurt Deluis 16. Jack Morris 17. Atini Gafa 18. Daniel Dole
Mounties V Parramatta Eels
Saturday 19 May
Leichhardt Oval
Jersey Flegg 3:00pm
Mounties
1. Andre Niko 2. Harley Smith-Shields 3. Mathew Lyons 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Semi Valemei 6. Paul Roache 7. Brendan O'Hagan 8. Setefano Hala 9. Kyle Paterson 10. Matthew Scott 11. Komiti Tuilagi 12. Hudson Young 13. Corey Horsburgh
14. Lachlan Cooper 15. Darby Medlyn 16. Daniel Keir 17. Elijah Hunt 18. Liam Mock 20. Thomas McGrady
Parramatta Eels
1. John Fonua 2. Haze Dunster 3. Tuimavave Afualo 4. Noel Aukafolau 5. Taufa Afu 6. Todd Sapienza 7. Dylan Brown 8. Sean Keppie 9. Ayden Carling 10. Michael Tupou 11. Dylan Clifford 12. Nick Okladnikov 13. Jessie Cronin
14. James Porter 15. Stefano Utoikamanu 16. Pele Vaigalu 17. Salesi Fainga'a 18. Steve Dresler 19. Bruce Ward 20. Charbel Tasipale 21. William Kei
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