Round Five
North Beach Sea Eagles 40 – Joondalup Giants 0
By PETER ROWE
North Beach coach Phil Douche lost a number players in the three days leading up to the game, but still managed to shut our northern rivals Joondalup 40-0 in their round five NRLWA Fuel to Go and Play Premiership clash at Charles Riley Reserve.
Douche described the lead up to the game as crazy after losing key players Roydon Gillett, Brad Sparrow, Brody Whitehead, Kalum Gulliver Brown, Tyron Cranston and then Tom Fryer in the warmup with a hamstring injury.
Photo – Carmel Potter-Green
“A few of our young reserves stepped up and did a great job,” Douche said.
Cassius Wright made his debut in the back row and was very good.”
Wright recently signed for the Sea Eagles after moving west from NSW.
Lock Bowman Stein opened the scoring after seven minutes before hooker Kobi Aesi crossed 27 minutes later.
Fullback Bailey Millar then scored the first of this three for the day before Millar again, Ryan Bradley, Carney Solomon and Millar in the 65th minute rounded out the scoring for the day.
Photo – Total Sports Photography
“After losing so many players it was good to get the result, but there’s still lots to do,” Douche said.
“This week was almost like a new team. Defence I was happy with, but we still make too many errors.”
Darren Smith’s young Giants have an average age of just 20.
“It’s a rebuilding season for us,” he admitted after the game.
“We had no Gus Marshall in the halves – he was out with a virus, so Lincoln Williams stepped up. He’s only 17. And the other half Brody Dunn is only 18.
Photo – Total Sports Photography
“We were beaten on the edges and our lack of experience showed. We just ran out of gas late in the game.
“It’s all about footy IQ and that’s something our young guys will learn. We keep positive and move on to the next game.”
