Local Footy Wrap: Latest local rugby league headlines from across NSW/ACT

Catch up on the latest local footy headlines.

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CANBERRA

The Queanbeyan Roos are into the Raiders Cup grand final after a comprehensive 58-0 defeat of Goulburn City at Gungahlin.

With a spot in the grand final against the Queanbeyan Blues up for grabs, the Kangaroos put in their most complete performance of the season when it mattered the most.

They ran in 10 tries to send an emphatic warning to their local rivals, as they look to go one better than a narrow defeat to the Blues in last year’s decider.

The rout started with a stroke of luck, with Adam Quinlan’s grubber deflecting off a defender for the skipper to scoop it up and score in the sixth minute.

The Bulldogs quickly recovered and had their own chances to get on the board, but it was Queanbeyan who struck again through 23 minutes, with Harlem Cooper getting through some tired defence from close range.

Again Goulburn had their chances, but they were turned away and the lead grew to 18 after a break from Jesse Dent saw him set up Tiger Campbell with ease.

A set play just moments later gave Campbell a quick double, before a mix-up at the back of Goulburn’s scrum gave Nicholas Jarvis-Hamilton an easy try and a 30-0 buffer at the break.

An error just two tackles into the second half gave Queanbeyan a chance to extend further and they did so just 80 seconds in as Quinlan grubbered through the line, regathered and scored.

From there it was all one-way traffic as the Kangaroos flexed their premiership muscles, with Campbell finishing his hat-trick and Lucas Thomson missing just one of his 10 shots at goal.

GROUP 7

It was a weekend of major upsets with both underdog sides taking the spoils as the first team is locked into the Group 7 grand final.

Kiama is one game away from a premiership after a 28-8 boilover against Albion Park-Oak Flats at Centenary Field.

The Knights were on the board in the fourth minute after Cameron Vazzoler’s grubber was deflected into the arms of Bradley Killmore to score.

The response was swift from the Eagles, with Jack Talbott proving too silky to slice through the line from a scrum.

A miraculous no-look offload from Max Jennings to Kye Deane had Kiama edged ahead further, before Talbott had another shortly after he reached out to touch down.

Kiama boldly opted to run the ball on last tackle with halftime approaching, and it paid dividends as Matt Nicholson crashed over to put them ahead by 10 at the break.

Killmore had his second just minutes into the second half after he strolled his way to the line on the back of some nice lead-up play from Sam Hooper.

The win was sealed on the back of another brilliant short-ball from Hooper, this time putting Kye Deane over to send them into the grand final.

Albion Park will face off with Stingrays after Shellharbour edged out Gerringong 19-18 at Ron Costello Oval.

The Lions had first points when they opted to take an easy penalty goal, before a spectacular leap from James Kunkler saw him get on the end of a Rixon Russell bomb to have them up by eight.

A cut-out ball from Jarrod Tiyce hit Kunkler on the chest to give him his second of the half and Gerringong a big 12-point buffer, before the Stingrays hit back through Liam Henry on the stroke of halftime.

Scores were level after an impressive stepping effort from Trey Barlow just eight minutes into the second half, before the Lions hit back as Kunkler bumped off contact to grab his third.

A grandstand finish was set up as Jake Stig again had the two teams on level pegging with 10 minutes to play.

It was Isaac Morris who stepped up and proved the hero, slotting the field goal from 20m out inside the final 30 seconds to keep their season alive.

GROUP 9

Temora is into the Group 9 grand final for the first time in 20 years after edging out South City 22-18 in a thrilling prelim final at Harris Park.

That was looking unlikely after a first half Bulls blitz threatened to send the Dragons packing.

Josh Siegwalt went to the sky with Cody Hodge bringing the ball down, defying the best efforts of Will McDermott to hold him up to post first points in the seventh minute.

Their lead became 12 on the back of a 40m effort as Jesse Fitzhenry was let loose down the touchline, finding a trailing Nathan Rose on his inside to easily score.

Their near-perfect half was complete as Mathew Lyons broke through the line with ease, with Rose again in the right spot to grab his double and send South City into the sheds up by 18.

It took Temora 53 minutes but the finally had points after some quick hands close to the line saw Brodie Mirtschin crash over after spinning through a defender.

Temora continued to press and a strong run from Brandon Nima saw him offload at the line for Hamish Starr to dive over and cut the margin to six with 18 minutes to go.

Minutes later it was a tie game on the back of Billy Reardon selling a dummy at the line and the defender’s taking the bait to touch down under the posts.

The incredible comeback of the Dragons was complete in the 70th minute after one of the takes of the season, getting above his opposite fullback and almost landing on his head, before reaching out to score.

The win will see them face off with Gundagai in this weekend’s grand final, with the Tigers looking to go back-to-back.

ILLAWARRA

Collegians will enter the Harrigan Cup grand final with plenty of momentum after a convincing 28-8 defeat of Thirroul in the preliminary final at Collegians Stadium.

Forced to walk the final tightrope after finishing below the top three, Collies took the momentum from their narrow win over Dapto into a hot start against the Butchers.

A grubber from James Lee clean bowled fullback Dane Courtney, allowing the centre to touch down to score the opener inside five minutes, before a Blair Grant bomb was caught by Nic Hall, who offloaded to Charly Runciman to edge them ahead by 12.

The Butchers hit back with a strong period on either side of the break, starting with Courtney playing at the line to put Bryden Rutledge over before halftime.

Then minutes into the second half it was a four-point game after Brent Naden showed his class to beat three defenders on his way to the line.

Collies needed a response and big Blake Dowel delivered with the front rower displaying sheer strength to barge his way over.

They had one foot in the grand final as a Hall bomb had Lee get high to take it, before getting a pass away for Grant to put Collegians ahead by 14.

They were able to seal the result with more Grant brilliance as he broke through the line and found Tex Anderson with less than five to play.

It sets up a thrilling grand final against Corrimal this weekend, with Collies holding a 2-1 record during the regular season.

NSW WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP

Newcastle is the first team into this year’s NSW Women’s Premiership grand final after an 18-12 defeat of South Sydney at Leichhardt Oval.

Luisa Yaranamua gave the Rabbitohs a hot start with a right-foot step and fend, before reaching out to grab the opener, with their lead doubled just minutes later as Ocean Tierney finished off a spread to the right.

Newcastle held tough and were able to grab one of their own before the break with quick hands freeing Tyla Brown down the hill touchline to race away to the line.

The Knights were given another boost when Claudia Brown was sent to the sin bin after running through the legs of kicker Sybella Pike.

Souths failed to get a kick away on the last tackle and Newcastle made them pay in the 52nd minute with Ellazae Elers hitting Stella Lewis with a perfect short-ball.

With time winding down, extra time was on the cards, before Lacey Cross broke the deadlock with three minutes to go, powering through three defenders to score the winning try.

The elimination final saw Mounties unleash a powerful burst to take down Penrith 28-4.

Incredibly they had the first try within 30 seconds, as Ellie Brander punished the Panthers for spilling the ball with their first touch as she carried three defenders over the line.

Penrith settled into the contest, but found themselves further behind after Tyler Pelligra found Aaliyah Lomas from close range who slammed the ball down.

They extended their lead when Holly Williams drew in defenders to put Madyson Tooth through a huge gap.

Mounties’ lead was 24 at the break when Evie McGrath straightened the attack and proved too much for the defence to handle.

Things started to turn in Penrith’s favour when Teliya Hetaraka was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle, with Chloe Pallisier getting them on the board moments later when she sold a dummy at the line.

They couldn’t muster another, and Mounties sealed the result inside the final 10 minutes when Madison Bartlett scored in the corner.

Originally published as Local Footy Wrap: Latest local rugby league headlines from across NSW/ACT