Round 13 shapes as another pivotal weekend as the race for the Harrigan Cup finals intensifies.
In the match of the round, Wests and Corrimal meet for the third time this season, with the Cougars holding a 2–0 record over the defending premiers after two closely fought encounters. Corrimal enters the clash as co-competition leader alongside Thirroul following six consecutive victories, while the Devils snapped a two-match losing streak with a strong 32–20 win over Dapto last weekend.
Thirroul will look to bounce back from its comprehensive loss to Corrimal when it faces an in-form Collegians outfit chasing a third straight victory. The Butchers have won both previous meetings this season, but Collies will carry plenty of confidence into the contest.
Dapto and the Sutherland Loftus Pirates close out the round on Sunday. Although the Pirates are out of finals contention, they remain a dangerous opponent after leading Collegians at halftime last week before falling 17–10.
There is considerably more at stake for Dapto, which needs a victory to keep pace with the top three and strengthen its chances of avoiding a sudden-death playoff in the opening week of the finals.
Cougars chasing seventh straight against defending premiers
Corrimal will look to extend its winning streak to seven matches when it faces defending premiers Wests in another important Harrigan Cup showdown this weekend.
The Cougars have emerged as one of the competition’s form teams after overcoming a slow start to the season, with coach Sean Tabet crediting improved discipline and cohesion for the turnaround.
“I think everyone is starting to buy in and we’ve found that balance between trying to play football and getting through our sets,” Tabet said.
“We’re showing more discipline and everyone is on the same page now.
“When you have a new side with so many new faces, it takes time to gel. Once the penny dropped, everyone realised it was time to start performing.”
Corrimal has already defeated Wests twice this season, but Tabet expects the reigning back-to-back premiers to provide another stern test.
“They’re one of the form sides of the competition and they’re back-to-back premiers for a reason,” he said.
“We have to stay locked in and can’t afford to become complacent. They’ll be hungry, but we also understand how much we value sitting at the top of the ladder and how long we want to stay there.”
Murdoch-Masila Boost
The Cougars could receive another boost with former NRL forward Ben Murdoch-Masila nearing a return from a biceps injury.
“The good news is it’s not as bad as we originally thought,” Tabet said.
“We could potentially have him back this weekend or possibly the week after, which is really positive news.”
The emergence of several younger players has also strengthened Corrimal’s campaign, including lightning-quick fullback Lorima Sakura, who played SG Ball with the Dragons earlier this year and has since joined their Jersey Flegg training squad.
“When people first saw him, they probably underestimated him because of his size,” Tabet said.
“He has really lit up the competition over the past six weeks. He’s probably the player we’ve added who has made the biggest difference to our results.”
Tabet also praised co-captain Tom Carr for the consistency and leadership he has provided in the centres.
“He was my first signing when I came to the club and he’s Mr Consistent,” he said.
“Every week he wants the toughest assignment and the toughest centre to defend. His performances are really reflecting his leadership.”
With Wests coming off a strong victory over Dapto and Corrimal carrying considerable momentum, the third meeting between the clubs shapes as one of the most anticipated contests of the round.
File Image Credit: Denis Ivaneza