By Tallon Smith

The West Wyalong Mallee Men have opened their account for the 2024 Group 20 season with a 32-16 win over the returning Griffith Waratah Tigers at Ron Crowe Oval on Sunday afternoon.

The Waratahs, who spent the 2023 season in recess, put in a strong showing in their first game back, but the Mallee Men’s synergy in attack and defence proved the difference in what was a good exhibition of rugby league for a Round 1 matchup.

West Wyalong President Matt Goodwin said that the day was a positive one for the club, and for the league overall with the return of the Waratahs.

“Yeah it was a good positive start to the year, we had a home game first up which was good,” he said.

“[We] had a good win in First Grade which was great because our captain-coach couldn’t play because [he did his] rib cartilage two or three weeks ago in the Kelly Cup, so he was on the sidelines.

“So the young guys did a great job, they played really well and there was a good crowd turn up and it was great to see Waratahs back in the comp, after being out for a year.”

“It was a great day, and the ground wasn’t wet after the 50 [or] 60 millimetres of rain, it was nice.”

When asked about the strength of the competition, Goodwin touched on how it was good to see most clubs have an extra grade compared to last season, and was firm in his support of the Women’s Tackle concept, which he believes is a major step forward for the competition.

“I think so, I think there’s about five teams with girls tackle, and we’ve got 18s this year, which we didn’t have last year, so that’s a positive for us, and our girls will do tag and tackle, tackle runs for the first six weeks just so we can trial it,” he said.

“[Some] girls have been playing tag for years [that] don’t know how to tackle, so they’ve got to be  educated.

“Most teams have Reserves, League Tag, 18s, some have got 16s, [but] generally speaking, it’s pretty strong.”

Griffith Waratah Tigers President Robert Nascimben said that the day was an emotional and nervous one for many in the club, as they watched 12 months of hard work to save the club come to fruition.

“It was a very emotional day, I was quite nervous, as I didn’t know how it would all pan out, first game in over 12 months,” he said.

“We had full sides for the League Tag, we were able to field a league tag, and we were able to field a full Reserve Grade side, and then First Grade, so I was quite happy at the end of the day, I was very happy.”

Earlier in the day, there was some joy for the Waratahs as they took out the Reserve Grade encounter 35-14, whilst last year’s Grand Finalists the West Wyalong Mallee Chicks took the win in League Tag 50-0.

Speaking on each team’s performance, Nascimben said he was proud of all three squads, who faced one of the competition’s biggest challenges in taking on West Wyalong’s traditionally strong sides on their home turf.

“League Tag did well, they were up against one of the best sides in Group 20, the West Wyalong Mallee Chicks, they went through undefeated last year [only to lose the Grand Final].”

“We have a young side made up of very young ladies, but they did well, credit to them. 

“Reserve Grade was only their first official hit out, and again we did quite well because we ended up winning the game, there was a few older guys who played for us before that played, you know, older heads, they kept their cool.

“First Grade was quite exciting, at one stage there we were down to 11 players, but credit to our side, we were able to claw back, not to win the game, but it was our first official hit out, so things can only get better, we just need to reset and move forward and forget about last week and get ready for the Leeton Greenies in Leeton this weekend.”

In other First Grade fixtures, last season’s wooden spooners the Tullibigeal-Lakes United Sharks started 2024 on the right foot with an 18-10 win over the Hay Magpies at a packed Hay Park Oval.

The Sharks, who have made some key signings to bolster their squad for the 2024 season, fought hard for the win, which will please senior players and coaching staff.

The DPC Roosters also joined the winners’ circle, scoring a 30-12 victory over the Yenda Blueheelers away at Wade Park.

The win was coach Guy Thompson-Collier’s first in charge of the club, after he took over from 2019 premiership coach and distinguished Country Rugby League player/mentor Ben Jeffery this year.

Meanwhile, the Griffith Black and Whites completed a 60-0 shutout of the Yanco-Wamoon Hawks in the season opener at EW Moore Oval on Saturday Night.

The match was all one-way traffic, which sparked fears of the potential for a number of mercy rule games this season after a number of matches ended early at the 60-point mark last year.

In an encouraging development for the competition this season, all clubs have Reserve Grade squads in addition to their First Grade teams.

In the other Reserve Grade games across the weekend, Hay beat Tullibigeal-Lakes United the Yenda Blueheelers beat DPC 28-6 and the Black and Whites beat Yanco 34-6.

League Tag games saw Hay defeat TLU 20-8, Yenda beat DPC 26-6, and Black and Whites completed a 60-0 shutout of Yanco-Wamoon.

The only game in the opening round of the inaugural Women’s Tackle competition saw TLU take a 28-12 win over Hay.

Cover Photo sourced from West Wyalong RLFC Facebook