MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE
July 2022: Volume 3 Edition 3
The naming of the Lidcombe Oval grandstand in honour of the late Tommy Raudonikisprovided the Westsfaithful with a heart warming ceremony prior to the NSW Cup game against Newtown.
With Rick Waydeacting as master-of-ceremonies, Tom’s widow Trish Brown had the honour of officially unveiling the large plaque. Amusing stories involving the great halfback and lessons learned, were delivered by Mick Liubinskasand Tim Sheens.
Mick recalled his own first grade debut against Newtown at the ground in 1974 when he missed a tackle, allowing Paul Hayward to slip pasthim to score. As Westsawaited the Bluebags conversion attempt, Tommy pulled his rookie forward to one side and tore strips off him. Mick adding that the ferocity of the spray guaranteed it was the last time he would let his captain down.
Tim Sheens had everyone chuckling with his yarn about visiting Lidcombe for the first time. He was a young Penrith prop at the time. Pointing toward the far corner, Tim recalled being bitten in a tackle and reacting to the sly attack by getting up swinging, the referee duly penalizing Sheens for his seemingly unprovoked aggression. Looking down at the wound, he knew instantly it was Tommy who’d had a chomp as the Magpie half had two missing front teeth, leaving a signature like red welt.
Disappointingly, the naming of the grandstand was totally ignored by WestsTigers social media, podcasts, forums etc …
All photographs were taken by Andrew Stark, unless otherwise credited.
© Andrew Stark 2022
email: 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com
ISSN: 2652-4406
MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE is
front cover: Jake Kambos, with Johnny Mitsiasand Kieran Wyld, celebrates scoring his third try against the KaivitiSilktails. (Photo -AndewStark)
Written, Photographed, Designed & Published by Andrew Stark.
-- Andrew Stark Andrew Stark
WESTS POWERING HOME WESTS POWERING HOME
WayneLambkin’’syouthfulNSWCupsidehaveputahorrorstartto syouthfulNSWCupsidehaveputahorrorstartto 2022behindthemandarepushingintoearlywinterwithrenewed 2022behindthemandarepushingintoearlywinterwithrenewed zestandaseriesofhighlyencouragingperformances. zestandaseriesofhighlyencouragingperformances.
WayneLambkin
BacktoLidcombeDayprovidedathrilling21alldrawwithcompetition heavyweights,Newtown,beforeadingdongbattleatRedfernagainstan experiencedSouthsendedinaluckless36-32defeat.
Animpressive30-20winovertheBlacktownSilvertailsatWestsTigers spiritualhomeground,CampbelltownStadium,hasrocketedthemighty Magpiesupthecompetitionladder.
Asweheadintothefinalthreemonthsoftheseason,teamsatthebottomof theeightarebeginningtoglancenervouslyoverwearyshoulders.
Ablack&whitejuggernautisgainingirrestiblemidyearmomentum.
Septemberisnestingseasonandatthebusinessendofproceedings,the Magpiescanbeguaranteedtoswoopmaniacallywithrazorsharpbeaks.
MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE ©Andrew Stark
Boom Westsjunior, Justin Justin Matamua Matamua in action against Souths.
Story & Photos Andrew Stark
Tyronne Peachey strips Newtown fullback LachieMiller of the ball, late in the drawn game against Newtown. Fellow Magpies; Fonua Pole, Junior Pauga, Justin Matamua& Nu Brown mobilize in the background. The ensuing set culminated in Jock Madden kicking the equalizingfield goal.
Above:
MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE ©Andrew Stark
Photo Andrew Stark
Above left: Michael Maguire and Warren McDonnell with a thermos of cha. enjoy the WestsNSW Cup game at Redern. Three days later, Madge would be sacked as WestsTigers head coach. .
Westsfavourite son, Dave Nofoalumaon the fly against the Jets
Photos Andrew Stark
MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE ©Andrew Stark
Magpies utility Nu Brown in need of support.
LEO LEO’’S LADS LOOM LARGE S LADS LOOM LARGE
ledthewayastheMagpiesupset ledthewayastheMagpiesupset theflamboyantFijians30 theflamboyantFijians30--26atachillyMascotOval. 26atachillyMascotOval.
TheGreekinternationalforwardranfreelyoffhishalf,Nautu’aMasimato notchaspectacularhattrickoffirsthalftries.Theteamswenttoorangesat 16apiece, beforeWestswereabletoaddtwofurthertriesinthesecond stanzatooutlasttheKaivitiinanentertainingafternoonoffooty.
TheMagpieshaveimprovedmarkedlysincetheopeningroundsof2022 andspiritswithinthesidelookhigh.WithLeoEpifania, RobRowlandSmithandMickLiubinskasridingeveryplayfromthesideline,ourMassey Cupteamrollsup-fieldtothesonorousechoofablack&whitepast.
Heroofthedaywasundoubtedlyourcoverboy,JakeKambos.AMatraville Tigersjunior,Kambosplayedjuniorrep’satSouths(alongwithJohnny Mitsias)andsubsequentlyattheRoosters,beforelinkingwithWestern Suburbslastseason.AlongstridingedgeforwardinthemouldofSteve Menzies,JakerepresentedGreeceinWorldCupqualifiersduringlate2019, scoringtriesingamesagainstScotlandandSerbia.
MasseyCupskipper,Jake MasseyCupskipper,JakeKambos Kambos
MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE
©Andrew Stark
Story & Photos
Andrew Stark
Jake Jake Kambos Kambos nabs a Mascot Oval hattrick
riding every play
Getting into the Mascot spirit, Jerome Jerome Taulaga Taulaga losses his luggage mid flight
MAGPIE
Eli Eli Leilua Leilua doing the tough stuff
Matt Matt Craparotta Craparotta goes for a dart
MEMOIR MAGAZINE
©Andrew Stark
Leo & Rob Leo & Rob riding every play riding every play
Jake Jake Kambos Kambos scores scores his first of three his first of three
Photos Andrew Stark
A Few Random Pic’s From The Files …
Wests winger
Michael Hayes is pictured late in the 1996 Matthews Cup quarter final thriller against the Central Coast. Lidcombe Oval played host as the second placed Magpies took on the Coasties in a do-or-die struggle. Watching on keenly are; centre Adam Graham, half NedolSaleh&
hooker Grant Little (I’m not sure who the Central Coast defender is).
Wests won four of their five games during a concise under 15s season, their only loss coming at the hands of the Gosford based team who edged them out 20-18 in a round 3 clash at Hillier Oval. The Tony Austin coached Magpies recorded rousing victories over Norths46-20, Canberra 52-10, Manly 38-14 and the Roosters 40-4, heading into the quarter final rematch with Central Coast.
The game signalled Wests first appearance in a Matthews Cup finals game in over a
decade and the club acknowledged the achievement by parading theteam in front of a Campbelltown home crowd prior to the previous weekend’s first grade fixture against Sydney City.
HaroldMatthewsCupQuarterFinal–April1996–LidcombeOval MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE
©Andrew Stark
Photo: Andrew Stark
The first half of the quarter final saw the game settle into a ding-dong struggle. Six-apiece at the break. The Coasties scored first in the second halfto lead 12-6 before Drew Dalton crashed over to narrow the deficit to two. Talented 14-year-old fullback Greg Bussellhad quite amazingly kicked nine from nine in the big win down at Canberra earlier in the year, however on this occasion, he fluffed an easy conversion attempt to leave Wests a couple in arrears. The Maggies kept coming and Bussell went within a whisker of scoring soon after. The crucial try finally came and the Magpies led 14-12 in the shadows of fulltime. Sadly, Umina Bunnies junior Luke Abbott snatched the victory from Wests grasp when he scored a scintillating solo try. Central Coast five eighth Scott Ella (nephew of Steve) kicked a late field goal to set in stone his sides 17-14 win.
It had been a tremendous game of junior rep footy and both sidesreceived heartily delivered plaudits for their gutsy effort. Terry Williams writing in the Sydney League News noted that Wests, didn’t lose any friends and can hold their heads high.
The Coast boys played with similar ticker the following week, before going down to eventual premiers Illawarra 26-20.
Interesting to note that the Wests team was captained by powerhouse prop Nick Duffy who in later years would play many seasons of Shute Shieldrugby for Sydney University. While Manly were skippered by Alex Moore, who would later reach first grade at Manly. The subject of the main photograph, Michael Hayes, is today employed as head greenkeeper in Sandhausen, Germany at the BWT-Stadionam Hardtwald. The ground houses the German Bundesligaclub, SV Sandhausen. Hayes previously worked as a greenkeeper at the Royal Sydney Golf Club.
Above Photos (left to right): Mercurial Magpie fullback Greg Bussell, Central Coast’s match winner Luke Abbott, Wests skipper Nick Duffy (Photos –Andrew Stark)
MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE
Photos: Andrew Stark
Sandhill Warrior
Rob’s Back in the Magpie’s Nest
Rob Rowland Rob Rowland--SmithSmithhas been training athletes in and around Sydney for over five decades. He became Wests first grade trainer back during the mid1970s, working with the Don Parish coached teams that included Magpie legends; Raudonikis, Donnelly, Boyd O’Grady, DorahyFoster and co. He later shifted to Parramatta as head conditioner as the Eels entered their golden 1980s era.
Rowland-Smith was educated at The Kings School during the 1960s and his greatest sporting achievement as a young man was rowing in the bow seat of the School’s 1st VIII Head of the River victory in 1969. The son of NSW Sports Minister Bob Rowland-Smith, he is a fitness fanatic known around Sydney’s northern beaches as ‘The Sandhill Warrior’. Rob taught physical education at The Kings School for two decades from 1976 before branching into private practice.
He loves rugby league, yet Rowland-Smith conceded in a 1990 Sydney Morning Herald interview, I wasn’t born to be a footballer. I was born to lead people in training. Aside from the Wests & Parramatta rugby league clubs, Rob has also overseen the fitness of the Gordon rugby club, and champion surfers Kelly Slater and Layne Beachley. A long term mate and training partner is former Wests favourite Steve Knight. Rob claims that Knight, along with Eric ‘Guru’ Grothe, were the strongest footballers he was ever associated with.
This season Rob is back in black & white. Four and a half decades on from his last stint at Wests, the Sandhill Warrior returns to oversee the physical conditioning of the Magpies 2022 Massey Cup team. .
MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE ©Andrew Stark
Photo:Andrew Stark
Top:
Above: Rob Rowland-Smith leads the Wests Massey Cup boys in pregame stretches before the clash with Ryde at the TG Milner Field back in March.
Opposite Page -Top: Rob Rowland-Smithrunning the Western Suburbs Magpies Massey Cup team through their paces in 2022.
Rob Rowland-Smith at The Kings School -as a 2nd XV rugby player in 1969, a teacher in 1984 (photo –Fairfax Media), and Rob the rower in 1968 (2nd from rear)
Photo:Andrew Stark
“He’s murder and I hate him, but he’s made a huge difference to us this season”.
- Geoff Foster
on
Rob Rowland-Smith 1976
MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE ©Andrew Stark
Sandhill Warrior
Sandhill Warrior
“I think we all got to hate him; but it’s been worth all the effort, he has worked wonders with the team”.
-Ron Giteauon Rob Rowland-Smith 1976
Top: Rob Rowland-Smith (back left) as Wests First Grade conditioner in 1976.
Above: Rob leads the Wests Massey Cup boys in the pregame warm up at Mascot Oval prior to the recent win over the Silktails.
MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE
Photo –Andrew Stark.
TevitaAmone
Pictured above as a 16-year-old, on the charge for the WestsSG Ball Cup team during 1997. The Magpies crushed the Shane Flanagan coached Eels26-2 at RingrosePark on this afternoon with Amonecrossing for one of Westsfive tries.
The black & white under 17s shocked the pundits to finish third in 1997, before bowing out to defending premiers Illawarra 22-10 in a keenly contested semi final. The Sydney Roosters would ultimately edge out Newcastle 11-10 in the decider.
TevitaAmonehad a tremendous 1997 season playing all eleven games for the Magpies, earning himself selection in the front row for the NSW under 17s side MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE
©Andrew Stark
Photo:Andrew Stark
which took on Queensland. It was a baby Blues squad which also featured Anthony Minichielllo, Luke Patten, Phil Bailey, Chad Robinson & Mark ‘Piggy’Riddell (to name a handful), and they went on to eclipse the Maroons 38-14.
Samoan born, the powerhouse Westsforward also represented the Junior Kiwis in 1997 and made his top grade debut for the Magpies two seasons later. Playing off the bench, the 18-year-old Amonenotched his first game against a red hot Penrith at Penrith Park, the Panthers recording a hefty 60-6 score line against Tommy Raudonikis’men.
Eight NRL appearances for Westsduring 1999 was highlighted by a 20-18 win over Southsin round 7. This fixture would be the only game TevitaAmonestarted in the top grade and it also signalled his lone victory.
The following year saw the great club diluted by a garish orangehue. Amoneplayed the next two and a half seasons with WestsFirst Division side (NSW Cup) before picking up a contract with the North Queensland Cowboys. In 2002he featured in a further three NRL games, all off the bench, and all rather heftylosses. The Cowboys released the Westsjunior at season’s end.
An interesting family connection involves TevitaAmone’snephews; Manase, Sione, Latu& SamuelaFainu. Hailing from Western Sydney, the elder brother, Manaise linked with the Sea Eagles after being overlooked at the junior rep’level by his local club, Parramatta. His brothers have duly followed the same lead.Dummy half ManaseFainumade his NRL debut for Manly in 2018, at Penrith Park, the same ground on which Uncle Tevitamade his debut 21 seasons earlier.
Latu& SamuelaFainu (pictured below) starred in Manly’s2012 Matthews Cup team, which edged out Wests, Parramatta & Penrith for the under 17s title. Five eighth Latu Fainu (below left) is widely considered to be one of the hottest prospects running around in today’s junior ranks. Tearaway prop SamuelaFainu (below right) plays very much in the moldof his uncle, TevitaAmone.
MAGPIE
MAGAZINE
MEMOIR
Photos:Andrew Stark
Sione Sione Fainu Fainu departed the Sea Eagles to link with the WestsTigers in March of 2022
The powerful prop is pictured at Lidcombe Oval, in action for Wests Jersey Flegg team during late May
MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE
Photo:Andrew Stark
Mason Cerruto Mason Cerruto Mason Cerruto Mason Cerruto Mason Cerruto
He represented Westsin the Matthews Cup (2011& 2012), SG Ball Cup (2013 & 2014) and played half the 2015 season with the WestsTigers U20s, before switching to Parramatta. During 2016, while continuing to play with the Eels NYC side, Cerruto made his Test debut for Italy. Sporting an impressive bushrangers beard, the 20-year-old fullback scored four tries in a remarkable international debut as Italy eclipsed Serbia 62-14 in a World Cup qualifying clash in Belgrade. Joining Penrith in 2017, the Magpies junior ended the year starring in the Panthers NSW Cup grand final win over Wyong. He then represented Italy at the 2017 World Cup. Bulldogs recruitment chief Warren McDonnell enticed Cerrutoto Canterbury in 2018 and a further NSW Cup title came his way when the Dogs edged out Newtown in the reggies decider. An ACL injury suffered in preseason training thwarted Mason’s rise and he subsequently headed home to captaincoach the Camden Rams.
MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE
Photos: Andrew Stark
Mason Cerruto on the charge during Wests22-18 victory over Newcastle in a 2013 Lidcombe Oval Matthews Cup clash
began playing with the Camden Rams under 11s.
Stark
Photos –Opposite Page: Luke Laulilii (City U16s), Amazon-Paul Pua’avase (Country U16s)
Photos Above –Top Row: CallumMcMenemy (Country U16s), Jordan Miller (City U18s), RemiMant (Country U18s). Middle Row: Nathan Gallagher (City U16s), Kimball Liufau, Riley Oitman (Country U16s). Bottom Row: Aaron Keppie (Country U16s), Tom Fisher (Country U18s), Lachlan Dooner (City U16s)
Photos Andrew Stark
Story & Photos Andrew Stark
