NRL Almanac – Bondi v New Zealand – a local derby of sorts
It’s digging up a well-worn cliché to suggest that Bondi and its surrounds are littered with ex-pat Kiwis. This is despite the fact that according to the 2006 Census, only 3.8 per cent of Bondi Beach residents were born in New Zealand. Perhaps they’re all second generation ex-pats these days. At any rate, urban folklore has it that the airport transfer lounges for flights from Auckland to Sydney are far busier than the return legs.
All of which brings me to James Maloney. Beginning his career at Wentworthville in 2008, he spent 2009 learning at the feet of Craig Bellamy in Melbourne before gaining a regular first grade gig with the Warriors in 2010. Auckland is rarely the first place that New South Wales selectors look for their five-eighths though and with the lure of the Bondi lifestyle and Roosters’ chequebook too much to resist, Maloney will be sitting in that packed transfer lounge at season’s end; a three-year deal with the Tricolours having been inked for 2013.
The imminent departure/ arrival of Maloney made this the most intriguing Roosters v Warriors match since their 2002 Grand Final encounter. That premiership decider was most famous for an accidental head clash (claim Warrior fans) or deliberate head butt (in the eyes of Roosters fans) between Richard Villasanti and Brad Fittler. Adrian Morley shortened Villasanti up with a crunching tackle shortly thereafter and the Roosters reasserted their authority, going on to a convincing 30-8 victory.
My primary question going into this game that didn’t involve the words ‘James Maloney’ went to who were the most likely suspects if this 2012 encounter were to get as fierce as its predecessor of a decade earlier. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was the prohibitive favourite to be involved for the home team; a Kiwi native plying his trade in Sydney these days. Funny that. For the visitors the market was more open, with Sione Lousi and Russell Packer topping the bookies’ charts.
The game itself was primarily one way traffic in the end. The Roosters jumped out to a 16-0 in the first half hour with tries to Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Mitch Aubusson and Anthony Mitchell. Jerome Ropati scored in the 35th minute to get the Warriors on the board and when Glen Fisiiahi crossed with just over 20 minutes to go, the “Warriors! Warriors!” chant reverberated around the ground, affirming my view that Kiwis (ex-pat or otherwise) have a special bond with the east of Sydney.
That would be as close as the visitors got though, with the likes of Waerea-Hargreaves, Martin Kennedy and Frank-Paul Nuuausala (another Kiwi turning out for the red, white and blue) providing no shortage of punishing defence. A late try to Anthony Minichiello added the icing to the cake, but the game had already been signed, sealed and delivered by the efforts of the Roosters pack.
Warriors’ fans went home unhappy and concerned about a slow 2-3 start to the season; some had hours of travel across the Tasman Sea ahead of them, while others were already a matter of minutes away from their front door.
What of the evening’s ‘key protagonist’, James Maloney? Aside from setting up the try for Ropati, he had a reasonably quiet game. Roosters’ fans may not have seen a glittering glimpse of their future in 2013 and beyond, yet you get the impression they went home completely satisfied nonetheless. They, better than anyone else, understand that Auckland and Bondi are much closer than you might think.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 26 (Tries: Kenny-Dowall, Aubusson, Mitchell, Minichiello Goals: Anasta 5/7)
NEW ZEALAND 8 (Tries: Ropati, Fisiiahi Goals: Maloney 0/2)
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Crowd: 13,021
Votes: 3 – Martin Kennedy (Roo), 2- Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roo), 1- Anthony Minichiello (Roo)
Milestones: Brian Smith reached 300 wins as a first grade coach, joining Wayne Bennett and Tim Sheens as the only men to accomplish this feat – which makes him the only one to do it sans premiership success.
Thanks to Matt King/Getty Images AsiaPac for use of the photo
