13 hours ago
Are the NEWRL finals teams already locked in? Can Central charge home? Will the upsets continue?
Are the Newcastle Rugby League finals teams already locked in, or will the likes of Lakes or Central charge into the top five?
Can one of the surprise improvers in Macquarie and Kurri Kurri shake things up with a few more upsets?
Will injuries cruel a side's chances on the run home?
They're some of the questions as most teams in the men's first-grade competition enter the back half of their campaigns this weekend.
As it stands, South Newcastle (14 points), Wyong (13), Maitland (13), Wests (12) and The Entrance (12) make up the top five, and overall, they have all looked better than the rest.
Sixth-placed Cessnock (10) have been too inconsistent, Lakes (8) and Central (8) - who sit ninth and 10th - haven't quite lived up to expectations, while Macquarie (10) and Kurri Kurri (10) - in seventh and eighth - have done better than expected. Northern Hawks (2) remain without a win.
Competition leaders Souths, and Cessnock, are the only teams to have played nine games in what is a 16-match regular season for every team. Every other side has played eight, apart from Central and Macquarie who have played seven.
But only six points separate the sides placed first to 10th.
"It's probably a good reflection that the points system is actually starting to kick in now a few years after its introduction," Central coach Adam Bettridge said on Friday.
"It's levelled the comp out really well, and that's a credit to Newcastle Rugby League and everyone else.
"It's the hardest and most consistent comp I've seen in a long time. It's good for the game and ... good footy weekly, which is the main thing."
Last year's grand finalists, Central are second last after three wins and four losses. But their position isn't totally reflective of how they've started.
"Not at all," Bettridge said. "We've played Wests twice, we've played Maitland twice ... we had a tough start to the year, but we've been in every game bar one. I'm very happy with where the squad is at."
Only four points, or two wins, outside the top five, that gap could really widen if Central lose a few, or close quickly if they win a few, in their next block of games. Lakes, who are 3-5 this season but one spot ahead, are similarly placed.
Central have five games before their next bye, four of which are home games. But their next three are in the space of eight days.
After Sunday's clash with Macquarie (seventh), they host Wyong (second) on Wednesday night and then Lakes (ninth) next Sunday. An away game against Souths (first) is followed by another home match against Cessnock (sixth) on consecutive Sundays. It's a month that could determine their campaign.
Central won six of their last nine to storm into third last season, and Bettridge remains confident they can be in contention for the finals this year.
"With the way the ladder is at the moment, with a lot of teams beating each other, there's a very big opportunity if you string some games together, you can move up the ladder pretty quick," he said. "We've just got to keep focused on ourselves and keep winning.
"If we can stay injury-free and get a fair crack at it, I think we can ... go on a bit of a run. But we can't look past this next week."
Coming off a 22-14 win over defending premiers Maitland last week, Central have lost forward Ethan Campbell for their next two matches after he accepted a ban for a crusher tackle, but are otherwise full strength. Playmaker Steven Dengate (wrist) remains sidelined.
Macquarie enter the 3.15pm match fresh from a bye.
In other Sunday games, all at 3pm, Wests host Souths at Harker Oval, Lakes travel to Raymond Terrace to face Northern, and Wyong are at home to The Entrance in the second Central Coast derby for the year. On Saturday, Maitland host Kurri Kurri at 3pm.
Are the Newcastle Rugby League finals teams already locked in, or will the likes of Lakes or Central charge into the top five?
Can one of the surprise improvers in Macquarie and Kurri Kurri shake things up with a few more upsets?
Will injuries cruel a side's chances on the run home?
They're some of the questions as most teams in the men's first-grade competition enter the back half of their campaigns this weekend.
As it stands, South Newcastle (14 points), Wyong (13), Maitland (13), Wests (12) and The Entrance (12) make up the top five, and overall, they have all looked better than the rest.
Sixth-placed Cessnock (10) have been too inconsistent, Lakes (8) and Central (8) - who sit ninth and 10th - haven't quite lived up to expectations, while Macquarie (10) and Kurri Kurri (10) - in seventh and eighth - have done better than expected. Northern Hawks (2) remain without a win.
Competition leaders Souths, and Cessnock, are the only teams to have played nine games in what is a 16-match regular season for every team. Every other side has played eight, apart from Central and Macquarie who have played seven.
But only six points separate the sides placed first to 10th.
"It's probably a good reflection that the points system is actually starting to kick in now a few years after its introduction," Central coach Adam Bettridge said on Friday.
"It's levelled the comp out really well, and that's a credit to Newcastle Rugby League and everyone else.
"It's the hardest and most consistent comp I've seen in a long time. It's good for the game and ... good footy weekly, which is the main thing."
Last year's grand finalists, Central are second last after three wins and four losses. But their position isn't totally reflective of how they've started.
"Not at all," Bettridge said. "We've played Wests twice, we've played Maitland twice ... we had a tough start to the year, but we've been in every game bar one. I'm very happy with where the squad is at."
Only four points, or two wins, outside the top five, that gap could really widen if Central lose a few, or close quickly if they win a few, in their next block of games. Lakes, who are 3-5 this season but one spot ahead, are similarly placed.
Central have five games before their next bye, four of which are home games. But their next three are in the space of eight days.
After Sunday's clash with Macquarie (seventh), they host Wyong (second) on Wednesday night and then Lakes (ninth) next Sunday. An away game against Souths (first) is followed by another home match against Cessnock (sixth) on consecutive Sundays. It's a month that could determine their campaign.
Central won six of their last nine to storm into third last season, and Bettridge remains confident they can be in contention for the finals this year.
"With the way the ladder is at the moment, with a lot of teams beating each other, there's a very big opportunity if you string some games together, you can move up the ladder pretty quick," he said. "We've just got to keep focused on ourselves and keep winning.
"If we can stay injury-free and get a fair crack at it, I think we can ... go on a bit of a run. But we can't look past this next week."
Coming off a 22-14 win over defending premiers Maitland last week, Central have lost forward Ethan Campbell for their next two matches after he accepted a ban for a crusher tackle, but are otherwise full strength. Playmaker Steven Dengate (wrist) remains sidelined.
Macquarie enter the 3.15pm match fresh from a bye.
In other Sunday games, all at 3pm, Wests host Souths at Harker Oval, Lakes travel to Raymond Terrace to face Northern, and Wyong are at home to The Entrance in the second Central Coast derby for the year. On Saturday, Maitland host Kurri Kurri at 3pm.
Are the Newcastle Rugby League finals teams already locked in, or will the likes of Lakes or Central charge into the top five?
Can one of the surprise improvers in Macquarie and Kurri Kurri shake things up with a few more upsets?
Will injuries cruel a side's chances on the run home?
They're some of the questions as most teams in the men's first-grade competition enter the back half of their campaigns this weekend.
As it stands, South Newcastle (14 points), Wyong (13), Maitland (13), Wests (12) and The Entrance (12) make up the top five, and overall, they have all looked better than the rest.
Sixth-placed Cessnock (10) have been too inconsistent, Lakes (8) and Central (8) - who sit ninth and 10th - haven't quite lived up to expectations, while Macquarie (10) and Kurri Kurri (10) - in seventh and eighth - have done better than expected. Northern Hawks (2) remain without a win.
Competition leaders Souths, and Cessnock, are the only teams to have played nine games in what is a 16-match regular season for every team. Every other side has played eight, apart from Central and Macquarie who have played seven.
But only six points separate the sides placed first to 10th.
"It's probably a good reflection that the points system is actually starting to kick in now a few years after its introduction," Central coach Adam Bettridge said on Friday.
"It's levelled the comp out really well, and that's a credit to Newcastle Rugby League and everyone else.
"It's the hardest and most consistent comp I've seen in a long time. It's good for the game and ... good footy weekly, which is the main thing."
Last year's grand finalists, Central are second last after three wins and four losses. But their position isn't totally reflective of how they've started.
"Not at all," Bettridge said. "We've played Wests twice, we've played Maitland twice ... we had a tough start to the year, but we've been in every game bar one. I'm very happy with where the squad is at."
Only four points, or two wins, outside the top five, that gap could really widen if Central lose a few, or close quickly if they win a few, in their next block of games. Lakes, who are 3-5 this season but one spot ahead, are similarly placed.
Central have five games before their next bye, four of which are home games. But their next three are in the space of eight days.
After Sunday's clash with Macquarie (seventh), they host Wyong (second) on Wednesday night and then Lakes (ninth) next Sunday. An away game against Souths (first) is followed by another home match against Cessnock (sixth) on consecutive Sundays. It's a month that could determine their campaign.
Central won six of their last nine to storm into third last season, and Bettridge remains confident they can be in contention for the finals this year.
"With the way the ladder is at the moment, with a lot of teams beating each other, there's a very big opportunity if you string some games together, you can move up the ladder pretty quick," he said. "We've just got to keep focused on ourselves and keep winning.
"If we can stay injury-free and get a fair crack at it, I think we can ... go on a bit of a run. But we can't look past this next week."
Coming off a 22-14 win over defending premiers Maitland last week, Central have lost forward Ethan Campbell for their next two matches after he accepted a ban for a crusher tackle, but are otherwise full strength. Playmaker Steven Dengate (wrist) remains sidelined.
Macquarie enter the 3.15pm match fresh from a bye.
In other Sunday games, all at 3pm, Wests host Souths at Harker Oval, Lakes travel to Raymond Terrace to face Northern, and Wyong are at home to The Entrance in the second Central Coast derby for the year. On Saturday, Maitland host Kurri Kurri at 3pm.
