Cover Photo: Danni Johnson

By Tallon Smith

The Queanbeyan Roos have made a big statement in the Canberra Raiders Cup competition after defeating runaway competition leaders the Woden Valley Rams 20-12 at Phillip Oval on Saturday afternoon.

After starting the season with just five wins from their opening nine games, the weekend’s win over the Rams puts the Kangaroos right back into the premiership picture with five rounds to play until finals.

Kangaroos Prop Aidan Woods said that the win was a big one for the side, as they look to defend their title when crunch time arrives next month.

“It was probably the first game that we’ve actually put a good 80 minutes together,” he said.

“[That’s] exactly what you need against the Rams, they’re a very hard running strong side.

“We just played footy and got away with it.”

Despite the up and down start to their campaign, Woods said that the ‘Roos are starting to hit their straps at the right time of the year with finals on the horizon.

“Throughout the middle of the year we had a fair few players out, a lot of position changing,” he said.

“We’ve got all the boys back and we’re pretty much all hands on deck now, so we’re going to be very strong coming into the back end of the year which is good.

“We’re still building, which is exciting.”

One major factor which will enhance the Kangaroos’ cause is the addition of some key players to the squad, with the most prominent acquisition being former Group 9 star and 2023 Tumut Premiership skipper Lachlan Bristow.

“We had a few boys playing out of position before and now these new [players] that have come in, they’ve cemented their positions and added to the squad,” he said.

“[Lachie’s] a really good football player, tough as nails, he fit in quite well actually, led us around.”

“[He’s a] tough defender, which is what we need.”

Bristow’s signing with the Queanbeyan side comes after a successful stint in France, where he was part of Villefranche’s title win in the Elite 2 Championship competition.

Moving to other First Grade games, Gungahlin relegated Yass back to last place with a 22-12 win over West Belconnen, Goulburn City beat Tuggeranong 16-10, and the Queanbeyan Blues beat the Yass Magpies 60-10 at Seiffert Oval.

Next weekend sees Tuggeranong face Gungahlin, Goulburn host Belconnen, West Belconnen tackle the Kangaroos, and a top of the table showdown between Woden Valley and the Queanbeyan Blues, while Yass has the bye.