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If you’re a league fan in Macarthur there’s a couple of mouth watering matches on offer this afternoon.
In one, the 2016 premiers of the Sydney Shield, East Campbelltown Eagles, host Guildford Owls at Waminda Oval from 2.30pm in a round 11 match.
As this is the half way point of the 2017 premiership it’s about the right time for one of these teams to start their run to the finals.
At present they are seventh (Eagles) and eighth (Owls) on the ladder.
They are both on 10 points from four wins and a bye each, with the Eagles a little higher on the ladder bigger of better for and against percentages.
The Campbelltown club sprung one of the biggest upsets in league history last year when they won the title after finishing the minor premiership in fifth spot.
Incredibly, it was their second title in three years, having joined the Sydney Shield set up after parting ways with Group 6.
But the Eagles know that the price they pay for being premiers is they can’t surprise anyone this year.
They most definitely on the radar this season so will need a top two finish to mount a serious defence of their title.
Across Campbelltown at Fullwood Reserve and at exactly the same time, the Campbelltown City Kangaroos will be hosting Thirlmere Roosters in a Group 6 premiership clash.
Coached by Wests Tigers legend Liam Fulton for the first time this year, the Kangaroos are shaping up as big threat to break up the Picton Magpies and Camden Rams duopoly of Group 6.
The dominance of the Magpies and the Rams – who incidentally are playing each other today at Picton – has arguably been bigger than that of the big four banks in the financial world.
No doubt the aim of the Kangaroos is to spoil this footy monopoly and do it this season if possible.
The Kangaroos come off a bye, while the Roosters played well for 60 minutes against Picton last weekend before falling away in the last 20 minutes to concede four tries and the match.
But the wily Fulton will be telling his charges to be wary of the wounded Roosters, even if it’s away from their home roost.
The only pity is that both these potentially cracking games of rugby league are on at the same time.
Either way we’d like to wish the local [Campbelltown] teams the best of luck this afternoon and the rest of the season.
