Cover Photo: Tahlia Crane Photography

Tallon Smith

After an up and down start to the year, the Temora Dragons put together their most complete performance of the opening four rounds in a 70-4 victory over a depleted Wagga Kangaroos side at Nixon Park on Saturday.

The Dragons ran in 12 tries to one to secure the 66-point win, with fullback Hamish Starr, winger Brandon Nima, and five-eighth and former Kangaroos player Lachie Cole all doubling up during the match.

After another outstanding effort, Starr said it was good to put a complete performance together, with the side building to the result despite only winning one of its first three games.

“We have been building, obviously not for a blowout score like it turned out to be, but I think we’ve been building over the last couple of weeks,” he said.

“We had a few bounces of the ball [that] went our way, but at the same time, we just had more blokes in the picture.

“Every time the ball went up or someone made half a break, we always had more people pushing into space, which is all just effort areas.”

One area of noticeable change on the weekend according to Starr was the side’s patience with the football, with the Dragons prepared to maintain possession more rather than push the pass compared to other weeks.

“We held on to it if made half a break, and we ended up scoring two or three plays later most of the time, so I think just a bit more patience in attack was really good,” he said.

“Our attack is good, I think we just get a little bit carried away, we just push the pass instead of just banking it and waiting and playing the longer game.”

On a personal level, Starr has had an incredible start to the season, posting league-leading numbers in some statistical categories.

In his opening four games, the 26-year-old fullback has seven tries, nine line breaks, 42 tackle breaks, four try assists, and 192 metres gained on average per game.

When asked about what has sparked this explosive beginning to the campaign, Starr said a lot of it comes down to the freedom coach Jordon Burley is allowing him to play with, which has re-ignited his running game.

“I think it just comes down to a bit of freedom in the way Jordon’s [coaching us],” he said.

“He’s probably given me a bit more freedom to not necessarily chance my arm, but if I see something I can just step up and take control and play what I see.

“My running game has probably come back to start the season, definitely just running first as opposed to trying to ballplay off the back of shape. 

“[I’m] trying to put myself in the picture more with kick chases or someone pushing through half a break, probably just trying to be on the ball a bit more.”

Next up for the Dragons is an away trip to face the Wagga Brothers at Geohex Park on Sunday.

While Brothers remain winless, with a lone competition point to their credit from a round one draw with Tumut, Starr said the side has improved a lot this year, and is expecting a tough match this weekend.

“I think Brothers will be good, even when we [played] them last year, they definitely had signs there of a side that were building from the year before,” he said.

“I know they haven’t got a win yet, but it is not going to be far away for them with the way they are playing.

“Dunny’s obviously doing some good things there, and they have had some pretty handy acquisitions over the off-season, just to boost their squad.

“I think it just goes to show how strong Group 9 is this year, that you look at the ladder at the moment, the majority of the teams have had two wins, two losses, barring Gundagai and Coota, they’ve only got the one [loss], and Tumut have had two draws.

“I think it’s just a strong comp this year, and if you don’t show up to play you’re going to have your pants pulled down by anyone.

“It is just good to see for Group 9 that every team in the comp is competitive, and I know there [were] a couple of blowout scores on the weekend, but I don’t think it really shows how deep the comp is this year.”

Meanwhile, the points start for Sunday’s Challenge Cup match between Junee and Albury has been announced, with the Thunder given a +7.5 start for the clash at Laurie Daley Oval.

Saturday fixtures this weekend will see Wagga Kangaroos host Tumut, Gundagai take on South City and Young tackle a Cootamundra side looking to bounce back from its first loss of the year against Albury.