Information Meeting 7th October 10am

The Board Of the Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club Ltd. is calling an Information Meeting to consider information relating to the NSW Cup in 2013.

This Meeting will take place at:

Wests Ashfield Leagues Club
Sunday 7th October 2012
10.00am in the Auditorium

This will provide an opportunity for Members of the Football Club to consider a formal update on the recommendations and proposals put forward by the Joint Venture Football Operations Subcommittee in relation to the NSW Cup in 2013, and also for Members to receive general information on operations which was signalled by Chairman, Mick Liubinskas in his address to the AGM last March.

Board & Management
Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club Ltd.

Pratten Park 2012 Reunion Video Now Online

The 2012 Pratten Park Magpies reunion was held at the SCG. This years reunion was held early to coincide with the Men of League Heritage Round game between Wests Tigers and Souths. The game was to be played at the SCG but unfortunately due to work being done at that ground the match was transferred next door to the Allianz Stadium.

The Wests teams to be honoured this year are 1952 First Grade Premiers, the 1962 First Grade Runners up, the Amco Cup winners of 1977 and the 1992 Presidents Cup winning premiership team.

Part 1

Part 2

Also check out the great collection of photos from the day at Noel Kelly's Kids Website:
http://www.noelkellyskids.info/2012_pratten_park_reunion

Tragedy on the road to Victory

IT was the personal tragedy that cast a dark shadow over a great team triumph.

Campbelltown Eagles five- eighth Michael Stevens produced the game of his career last Sunday in his side’s Group 6 grand final win over Thirlmere only hours after finding his younger brother Ben had taken his own life.

In an incredible show of courage, Stevens 24, somehow found the inner strength to play in the decider despite being grief-stricken from his 20-year-old brother’s suicide.

Stevens phoned his coach Richard Barnes last Sunday morning to tell him of the family tragedy before adding:
‘‘I still want to play. Ben would want me to play.’’

Barnes claimed the phone call instantly put the grand final into perspective.

‘‘It suddenly didn’t mean as much,’’Barnes said.

‘‘Michael was the one who found Ben. For him to ring me up and break the news — it was absolutely shattering.

‘‘It really put the game into perspective.

‘‘I certainly didn’t expect him to play. But Michael said he had spoken to his family and still wanted to because his brother would have wanted him to. You just knew there was no way he wasn’t going to be there.’’

While a couple of other players in the team who were close mates with Ben knew of the tragedy, the news was kept from the rest of the players until after the game.

‘‘Our captain (John De Silva) knew as well because I wanted him to make sure he looked after Michael during the game,’’Barnes said.

‘‘But I didn’t need to worry. Michael’s one of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached. He left everyone in his wake. He scored two tries, set up another and kicked two 40-20s. He was in everything.’’

Eagles development and coaching coordinator Daniel Draper said the news filtered around the club quickly after the game.

‘‘There was a lot of hugging and plenty of tears among the boys,’’Draper said.
‘‘Ben played the past couple of seasons with the Kangaroos here in Campbelltown but prior to that he was at this club. If he wasn’t playing, he was always at our games watching and being Michael’s younger brother — everyone knew him.

‘‘Winning the grand final was great but it certainly cast a real shadow over things.’’


■WHILE the official an-nouncement may take several weeks, the Eagles undefeated season will win them the coveted Clayton Cup for the most successful club in country footy. No other team in the bush has a comparable record.

They dominated the decider like they dominated most games during the season, leading Thirlmere 26-0 at halftime before cruising to a 44-10 win.

Draper said leaving the Wests A-Grade competition and playing in Group 6 had re-invigorated rugby league in the Campbelltown region.

‘‘It’s been great for the game in this area,’’he said.

‘‘It’s been a bit of a battle to get here (in Group 6) but it’s been the best thing that ever happened. It’s made a huge difference to our crowds and the interest in rugby league in the area.’’

It was only last season the Eagles were refused per-mission to play or train on their own home ground after breaking away completely from the Wests A-Grade competition.

‘‘We played our home games at Camden but thankfully, we were allowed back in Campbelltown this season,’’
Draper said.

Coach Richard Barnes said a Clayton Cup win would top off a wonderful season.
‘‘Yeah, the possibility of winning it has been spoken about but we don’t know anything at this stage. It would be a fabulous honour if we were to win it,’’he said.




Article from Sunday Telegraph by BARRY TOOHEY

Kids to Kangaroos Holiday Clinic

Looking for something to do these schools holiday’s?
Come down to Warragamba Sportsground and take part in our fun
and exciting holiday clinics!
Conducted by our professional and qualified development offi-cers you are sure to have a great day!
Cost: $10  - Includes Lunch, Poster & Squishy Football
When: Friday 5th October
Where: Warragamba Sports Ground
Time: 10am—12pm
To Register please visit www.arldevelopment.com/group6
Alternatively, enquiries to:
Jake Brightwell: 0448 890 017

2012 Western Suburbs Presentation Night Award Winners

The Western Suburbs Magpies held their 2012 NSW Cup Presentation Night on Saturday 22nd Sept at the Macarthur Tavern in Campbelltown. The night was attended by players, coaching staff, club officials, volunteers and supporters to say goodbye to a difficult a season but one where the players never threw in the towel and continued the proud tradition of the Western Suburbs Magpies.

After the opening address from Football Club Chairman Mick Liubinskas and Wests Ashfield Chairman, Mike Bailey, the business part of the evening got under way. The award winners for 2012 are -

* Bobby Fisher Memorial Award - Jay Maseuli
* Bill Carson Award (best local in grade) - Keanu Rogers
* John Donnelly Award (best import in grade) - Nigel Millgate
* Alan Ridley Memorial Award (top try scorer) - Zoram Watene
* Rookie of the Year - Tom Morrison
* Jack Ashley Supporters Club Award - Michael Lekkas
* Best & Fairest - Seffa Silafau
* Club Person of the Year - Presented by Pratten Park Magpies - Bob Cairns
* Leagues Club PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Zoram Watene

Special acknowledgement was given to the extremely hard working volunteers, who are the backbone of any rugby league club.

The night also saw the induction of three Magpies into the Pratten Park Magpies Association - Shannon Gallant, Luke Young and Nathan Waters.

Finally a big THANK YOU to all that help organise the evening - board of directors of WSDRLFC, staff and management of the Macarthur Tavern, Wests Archives and all the Western Suburbs magpies volunteers, staff, sponsors, supporters and players.

(Pictured - Zoram Watene - WESTERN SUBURBS MAGPIES PLAYER OF THE YEAR)

Notice of Information Meeting

The Board Of the Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club Ltd. is calling an Information Meeting to consider information relating to the NSW Cup in 2013.

This Meeting will take place at:

Wests Ashfield Leagues Club
Sunday 7th October 2012
10.00am in the Auditorium

This will provide an opportunity for Members of the Football Club to consider a formal update on the recommendations and proposals put forward by the Joint Venture Football Operations Subcommittee in relation to the NSW Cup in 2013, and also for Members to receive general information on operations which was signalled by Chairman, Mick Liubinskas in his address to the AGM last March.

Board & Management
Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club Ltd.

2012 VB NSW Cup Team of the Year announced

2012 VB NSW Cup Team of the Year announced.

This year's NSW Cup team has been announced and although there were no Wests Magpie players selected (although 2 from last year were - Josh Davis & Mitch Achurch on the bench) in the 17, there were 4 Honourable Mentions to the following -

Fullback - Zoram Watene
Wing - Greg Davis
Halfback - Nigel Millgate
Prop - Seffa Silafau

Congratulations to the four above.

The full team was -

1. Michael Lett (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs/Illawarra Cutters)
2. Josh Mantellato (Newcastle Knights)
3. Siuatonga Likiliki (Newcastle Knights)
4. Ricky Leutele (Cronulla Sharks)
5. Daniel Tupou (Newtown Jets)
6. Joel Romelo (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
7. Ryan Carr (North Sydney Bears)
8. Shane Shackleton (Wentworthville Magpies/Windsor Wolves)
9. Nathan Smith (Wentworthville Magpies) (vc)
10. Jack Stockwell (Illawarra Cutters)
11. David Gower (Illawarra Cutters) ©
12. Marvin Filipo (Newcastle Knights)
13. Harlan Alaalatoa (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

14. Justin Hunt (North Sydney Bears)
15. Josh Davis (Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers)
16. Mitch Achurch (Windsor Wolves)
17. Paul Vaughan (Mounties)
18th Man. Sam Lousi (Auckland Vulcans)

Coach – Rip Taylor (Newcastle Knights)

Funeral arrangements for Ian 'Pumpkin' Phillips

Funeral Arrangememts for Ian 'Pumpkin' Phillips.

9.30am Monday 17 September 2012.

South Chapel, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Camden Valley Way, Leppington.

Afterwards at the Liverpool Catholic Club.

Vale - Ian "Pumpkin" Phillips

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Ian 'Pumpkin' Phillips, aged 61 years, who passed away earlier this morning in Camden Hospital. Ian's wife Sue, children and family were with him in his final hours.

Ian was a Magpie man through and through. He performed the role of team manager for several Wests Magpies Junior Representative Teams, helped out in the office, participated in Wests Magpies end of year golf days and provided entertainment at Presentation Nights. (Yes he had a great voice) Ian also performed the role of ground announcer, time keeper and scoreboard attendant at Campbelltown Stadium, something he did better than any other. He was the NSW Cup time keeper at away games and performed a similar role in the time keepers box for Wests Tigers. His son Michael played for Wests Magpies and was a member of the winning relay team who competed at the NRL Grand Final a few years back.

'Vale' Ian, you will be sadly missed by all of us. You had a great community spirit, a man a big heart who loved his family.

Our deepest sympathy are extended to his family and friends.

WSDRLFC

Urgent: Watch Fox Sports Tonight

Sorry for the last minute announcement, but the Magpies will be on Fox Sports 2 and Fox Sports 2HD tonight at 10pm.

Thanks to your votes this game is being shown on Fox's Chooseday Night Rugby League slot after the Daly M.

Fox are replaying the 1996 finals clash between Western Suburbs and Cronulla Southerland.

This game goes down in history as the last finals appearance the club will ever make in first grade.

Set your recorders, find a pub or club with late closing times or just tune on in.

Match Report - Round 26 VB NSW Cup - Balmain-Ryde-Eastwood v Western Suburbs

Ancient rivalries clashed at Leichhardt Oval with the final round of the 2012 VB NSW Cup featuring Balmain-Ryde/Eastwood up against Western Suburbs. For BRET the task was simply to win so that they would secured a finals berth whilst for the Magpies it was a case of pride and securing their first win of the season. In the end it was BRET who ran out convincing 76-4 victors.
BRET ran with a very strong wind in the first half to take complete control of the match withn a 48-0 hafltime score with five-eighth Dane Chisholm crossing for 4 tries in the first 40 minutes and adding a 5th late in the second half while fullback Sean Meaney booted 10 goals.

Wests conceded the first try in just the second minute after conceding a penalty on halfway. From the resulting play & late in the tackle count, Dane Chisholm received the ball and fooled the Wests defence first by showing the ball and then running around the defence for an easy four-pointer which Meaney converted. BRET up 6-0.
BRET scored at the 14 minute mark after winning a scrum on their own 10m line. Play was worked upfield before Joel Reddy stepped back inside the defence to pop a ball to Pat Politoni to score close to the goal post. Meaney converted for a 12-0 score.

Dane Chisholm scored his second try at the 21st minute on the back of a huge 40/20 kick. From the resulting scrum win as first receiver he jinked, stepped and then danced around the defence to score a wonderful solo try. Meaney converted and it was 18-0.

Wests then conceded a try within the first set of six tackles from the kickoff when the last NRL Magpie from 1999, Ray Cashmere crashed over close to the line after he accepted a pass by halfback and another ex-Magpie, Nathan Waters to score close to the posts. Meaney converted and it was getting ugly at 24-0 in even time.

Incredibly, BRET scored again from the next set of six tackles from the kick off when that tower of a human being, Taqele Naiyaravaro, who played for the Magpies last year, simply smashed his way through some very paper thin defence on a 50m run to the line. Meaney added the extras and it was 30-0 after just 26mins.

BRET where in again at the 32 minute mark as a result of a penalty on half way. Play was then set up by Chisholm who brushed aside some poor defence and found centre Tim Simona in support who scored under the posts. Meaney made no mistake with the extras and it was now 36-0.

Chisholm then stepped up with tries in the 36th and 39th minute, the final one was from his own grubber kick which was scooped back by Reddy into the arms of Chisholm following through. Meaney converted both and it was an overwhelming scoreline of 48-0 at halftime.

There was very little that Wests coach Jason Williams could say at halftime as the match was gone. Wests only had themselves to blame with poor defence from  missed tackles and the inabilty to read the play as BRET halves Nathan Waters and Dane Chisholm directing their troops with ease.

BRET took just 2 minutes into the second half to extend their lead when Joel Reddy scored the first of his two tries when he strolled over from 10m out. Meaney was again on target and the half centruy was reach in just 42 minutes of play - BRET up 54-0.

Reddy was in again at the 52nd minute mark when BRET won a scrum on their own 20m line and worked play upfield with Reddy eventually finding space out wide and brushed passed the winger to score. Meaney missed his first conversion attempt of the day but BRET were up 58-0.

Wests scored their only points at the 56 minute mark when big Seffa Silafau stormed onto a Michael La Manna pass to smash past the BRET defence on a 20m dash to the tryline. Trent Touma missed the conversion and it was 58-4.

Chisholm was involved in BRET's next try at the 66 minute mark when he held up a pass before finding Jarrod Farlow following through to score. Meaney failed to convert and it was 62-4.

Further tries to BRET were scored at the 69th minute by Chisholm, 72nd minute by Naiyaravaro and finally former Newtown front row forward, Francis Tuigamala at the 79th minute with Meaney adding the extras on the final try for a fulltime score of BRET 76 Western Suburbs 4.

For Wests, there wasn't much to praise about. Joe Flint, who was playing his first game for Wests after playing the year with Burwood/North Ryde in the Bundaberg Cup, always tried hard in defence while Seffa Silafau and Jay Maseuli never stopped charging into the BRET pack. The Magpies were simply outplayed all over the park and their defence was very soft at times.

For BRET, it was all too easy with Dane Chisholm the standout performer in attack and the best on field by a mile. It has been reported that he has played with as much skill throughout the season and if correct, you must question why he isn't in first grade for Wests Tigers. He was simply outstanding today.
BRET's big men in the forwards, Cashmere, Naiyaravaro and Tuigamala were able to make easy metres up the middle whilst Josh Davis alternating between second row and centre was also outstanding. For the last two seasons he has made the NSW Residents side and how he too isn't playing first grade is a complete mystery. Nathan Waters at halfback was a class act and Tim Simona made some strong long runs out wide and showed why he's knocking on the door of first grade selection.

As a side note, the BRET side today contained 5 players who played for Western Suburbs last year - Gus Aiga, Josh Davis, David Harris, Dayne Craig & Taqele Naiyaravaro. Add  in Nathan Waters who played several years with Wests up to 2010 and Ray Cashmere and that's 7 former Magpies of which 5 are local Liverpool/Campbelltown juniors. A very sorry state of affairs indeed. 

Balmain/Ryde-Eastwood 76 (Chisholm 5, Reddy 2, Naiyaravaro 2, Simona, Politoni, Cashmere Farlow, Tuigamala tries: Meaney 10 goals) def Western Suburbs 4 (Silafau try).

Half time - BRET 48 Wests 0

Scrums: Wests 9 BRET 7
Penalties: BRET 5 Wests 2

Goal kickers - Meaney 10/14: Touma 0/1
40/20 kicks - BRET 1

Balmain/Ryde Eastwood

1 Sean Meaney
2 Jake Clarke
3 Joel Reddy
4 Tim Simona
5 Gus Aiga
6 Dane Chisholm
7 Nathan Waters
8 Ava Seumanufagai
9 Pat Politoni
10 Ray Cashmere
11 Jarrod Farlow
12 Josh Davis
13 Rhys Curren

21 David Harris
22 Dayne Craig
23 Francis Tuigamala
24 Taqele Naiyaravaro

Western Suburbs

1 Zoram Watene
2 Greg Davis
3 Henry Iuta
4 Joe Uluibau
5 Amanono Tovio
6 Michael La Manna
7 Trent Touma
8 Seffa Silafau
9 Nigel Millgate
10 Jay Maseuli
11 Sione Fakahua
13 Michael Lekkas
19 Joe Flint

14 Henry Godinet
15 Todd Makejev
16 Latu Fifita
25 Matthew Reupena