The end of the regular club season of the Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup means we can now turn our heads and take a look at the top-five clubs heading into this year’s finals series.
1. St Marys Saints – 34 points
Finishing Minor Premiers for a second consecutive year, Saints have not taken their foot off the pedal since being crowned champions in 2023 with the 40-12 win over Wentworthville Magpies. Currently sitting seven points clear of second place, the reigning premiers have won 15 games and only lost three.
Across 18 rounds, Saints have scored 526 points averaging 30 points a game. Having another strong season for Saints has been halfback Zac Greene, who has helped guide his team around the park to another top-of-table finish along with scoring 136 points - eight tries and kicking 52 goals.
Finishing first on the ladder, the Minor Premiers will have the first week off and will play in Week 2 for a spot in this year’s Grand Final on 14 September.
2. Mounties – 27 points
After missing out on the finals in 2023, Mounties have bounced back to finish in second spot. Having 11 wins, one draw, and six losses on their scoresheet for 2024, Mounties finished on 27 points scoring 414 points – averaging 22 points a game.
Mounties fullback Abiarthur Toi Tuilaepa has been instrumental for Mounties this season featuring in all 18 games, scoring 10 tries including two doubles.
Mounties will come head-to-head with Wentworthville Magpies in the upcoming Qualifying final in Week 1 with the winner lining up against St Marys Saints in Week 2 for the Major Semi-final for a spot in the Grand Final.
3. Wentworthville Magpies – 26 points
The 2023 runners-up are looking to go one better this year and take home the club’s seventh Ron Massey Cup Premiership. Finishing the season in the same position on the ladder as last year, the Magpies finished the 2024 club rounds with 11 wins and seven losses to sit only a point behind Mounties.
In 18 games, the Magpies have scored 496 points – 28 points on average – and have the best defensive record in the competition having conceded only 307 points. Utility Liam O’Brien has been a standout for the Magpies across the season playing in multiple positions including five-eighth, centre, and halfback. O’Brien has scored 148 points in 13 appearances scoring eight tries, 57 goals and two field goals.
4. Glebe Dirty Reds – 26 points
The Glebe Dirty Reds finished the 2023 missing out on the Grand Final after being eliminated Week 3. Finishing fourth on the ladder this year (two positions lower than last year), the Dirty Reds sit equal third with the Magpies. However they sit in fourth spot due to for-and-against. Like Wenty, Glebe have won 11 games and lost seven – scoring 561 points, averaging 31 points a game.
Five-eighth Joseph Whitikama Temara Taipari has been a mainstay for the Dirty Reds throughout the season, playing in 16 of the 18 games and scoring 142 points – four tries and 63 goals.
Glebe will face Ryde-Eastwood Hawks in the opening week of the finals in the Elimination final with the winner moving on to Week 2 and the losing team bowing out for 2024.
5. Ryde-Eastwood Hawks – 21 points
The final spot of the top-five belongs to Ryde-Eastwood Hawks, who cemented their place edging out Penrith Brothers who finished sixth. After bowing out of the finals in Week Two last year, the Hawks will be aiming to win the club’s first Ron Massey Cup since entering the competition in 2003.
Hawks finished the regular season with seven wins, one draw and nine losses – scoring 396 points – averaging 22 points a game. Winger Anthony Raheb is no stranger to finding the try line, scoring 12 tries this season including scoring five tries in Round 17. He is the top try scorer across the competition.
With the Hawks locked in to face Glebe in the Week 1 Elimination final, they will need to win every game if they want to bring home the first RMC premiership since 2019.
