Gosford Rugby League: the Eye of the Storm magazine - May/June 2022

GOSFORD RUGBY LEAGUE

Issue No.46 --- May/June 2022 ISSN: 2652-4570

We’re Back!

Ripping into

2022 - Est. 2014 -

the

HERE COME THE TOWNIES The Early History of Gosford Rugby League Available online from Lulu Publishing

An in-depth look at the history of Central Coast footy.

From its kick off back during the late nineteenth century, through to the modern day competition.

Written & Published by Andrew Stark ISBN: 9780958198035 Published January 2020.

504 page, A4 sized, paperback

THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE 2022

MAGPIE MEMOIR MAGAZINE One Man’s Tribute to the Western Suburbs DRLFC Available via 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com

More fanzine than magazine, this labour of love showcases one of the games great foundation clubs.

The latest edition focuses on Wests brilliant Matthews Cup triumph, the boys in black & white traversing the season undefeated en route to their first premiership in two decades.

Written & Published by Andrew Stark Quarterly - ISSN: 2652-4406 Latest edition published May 2022.

20 page, A5 sized, paperback

Vol 46: May/June 2022

Woohoo, we’re back !

Following on from our COVID induced lay off, Gosford Rugby League: the Eye of the Storm magazine has returned. With eight GK teams to cover in 2022, the Eye has been frantic during the hiatus; stockpiling pixels, windexing optics and recalibrating our editorial game plan. This season represents our ninth year of operation. Rugby League has certainly changed a lot since our inaugural July 2014 edition. Owing to a series of nasty head knocks suffered in my role as a sideline snapper (touchies can get nasty when you push into their channel), I have no recall as to what those changes may be ...

This magazine is humbled and honoured to have been voted Narara Valley’s most popular sporting publication in four of the past six years (we were pipped in 2018 by Cage Fighting Monthly and in 2021 by Totem Tennis Australia). Within the 13-man code’s literary sphere, we have outlasted industry heavies, Rugby League Week and Big League Magazine, while I’m currently scribbling a regular column for Rugby League Review in a covert attempt to white ant our one remaining competitor.

This season, the Eye aims to work tirelessly in showcasing the efforts of the club sporting ‘Gosford’ & ‘Kariong’ within its name. The club whose home ground is situated in Narara, and who will playing most of its games at Tuggerah. A club whose tentacles branch out across the Central Coast like an old school topographic map that features an extensive water basin with heaps of rivers, creeks, tributaries and trickles going every which way ... and more.

The Gosford Kariong Storm RLFC touches near every facet of the modern game. From our very own NRL star - Matt Ikuvalu, NSW Cup player - Ryan Jones, Denton Cuppers - Lachie Bell & Harry Mulligan, through to a host of Storm juniors who represent from Flegg Cup down to Andrew Johns Cup. GK has it covered baby! The eight teams who are pulling on the Storm jersey in 2022 represent our latest glittering crop. These boys and girls are ‘generation next’, and the Eye will once again be front-and-centre, covering the latest chapter in a long and proud rugby league tradition.

© 2022 Opinions expressed in this publication are derived solely from the scattered & random thoughts of the author; none of which are necessarily shared by the GKS club … nor anyone else on the planet really.

YIKES!

Vale Geoff Walker A life member of both the Gosford RLFC & Central Coast Rugby League, The Eye is saddened to report the death of Geoff Walker who passed away on the morning of May 14th, aged 72 years.

Geoff was a previous committee member of our club, his involvement spanning the three incarnations of the Gosford juniors; Townies – Giants – Storm. He rose to become CCJRL Secretary and General Manager. Geoff also coached, most notably overseeing the Central Coast under 15s rep team who won the inaugural State Championships in 1990 (pictured below).

Condolences go out to Geoff’s family and friends.

THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE 2022

Photos: Andrew Stark

THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE MAY-JUNE 2022

FORMER EYE COVER BOYS RIPPING IN FOR THE CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS

During the soggy months of late summer, Wyong’s Morry Breen Oval did closely resemble an open air reunion of former Eye of the Storm cover boys. Gosford Kariong juniors have led the charge for the Central Coast rep teams in 2022 and ole Kodak has been on hand to capture all of the action. Benji Keene-O’Keefe, Lorenzo Godoy, Jackson Pennell, Jack Kidd & Cody Starr have all featured in junior representative teams.

The Roosters Andrew Johns Cup (under 16) campaign kicked off with an unmistakeable Storm vibe.

During the sides opening round victory over Newcastle, the first hit up was undertaken by Lorenzo Godoy, the first try scored by his old GK team mate, Benji KeeneKeene-O’Keefe.

Keefe Benji is pictured above gracing the cover of the September 2016 edition of this publication. The contemporary image (right) captures Benji racing 75 metres to score a spectacular try against Northern Rivers in round 4.

THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE Story & Photos Andrew Stark

FORMER EYE COVER BOYS Proud fathers Phil Keene & Rod Godoy were captured (right) watching on as sons Benji & Lorenzo took on the Northern Rivers Titans during round 4 of the Andrew Johns Cup. Phil is of course the coach of the mighty Gosford Kariong under 11s, while Rod is a former Storm coach and committee member.

Lorenzo Godoy was a starting prop for the Andrew Johns Cup team (under 16) during this season’s country based competition. An old school styled front rower, Lorenzo works hard in both defence and attack with minimal fuss.

He was a popular figure during his time at GK and along with perennial team mate Benji, was only forced to leave our club when the Storm failed to come up with the numbers to continue fielding a team in his age division.

Lorenzo was featured on the May, 2016 edition of this publication (see left).

Story & Photos Andrew Stark

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FORMER EYE COVER BOYS

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Jackson Pennell was a try scoring wiz during his years at Gosford Kariong. A strike three-quarter in Robbie Campbell coached teams, Jackson graced the cover of the July, 2015 edition of this magazine.

Jacko played on the left wing for the Central Coast Roosters Matthews Cup team during 2022. Watching Jacko during the Roosters thrilling final round draw with Souths, it was pleasing to note that he’s finally discarded that God-awful Parramatta Eels headgear he wore so religiously during his GK Storm days.

Story & Photos Andrew Stark

FORMER EYE COVER BOYS

2012 Cody Starr (above) & Jack Kidd (below) were never afforded cover boy status.

They did however both cut their Story & rugby league teeth at Carrington Photos Street. Cody headed north at a very Andrew young age however Jack featured as Stark a key member of Greg Eather’s team 2022 for a number of seasons.

I can exclusively reveal (Breaking News Alert) that Jack Kidd was pencilled in to be on the cover of the opening edition of 2015. A substitute was hastily arranged however, when news filtered through that young Jack had signed with Woy Woy.

2022

2012

Before & after photos of Cody & Jack.

As members of the Storm under 8s in 2012, and as Rooster rep players in 2022

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Fleggin Good GK Juniors ----- ELITE LEVEL UNDER 21S ----Story & Photos Andrew Stark

This season’s Jersey Flegg Cup competition has included two GK products. Ryan Jones (pictured above) is a key member of the Parramatta team. A tough-as-teak lock forward, Ryan has linked with the Eels in 2022 having previously played at Souths. During mid April, Ryan made his NSW Cup debut.

Sione Vaenuku (pictured right) injured his ankle during the opening rounds of the Flegg Cup competition. A gifted ball playing prop, Sione is one of a number of Central Coast lads in a Sydney Roosters side which looms as a genuine premiership threat.

THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE

-- EYE EXCLUSIVE --

Devilish 666 Drop in Numbers

The Gosford Kariong RLFC has seen a dramatic 66.6% drop in competition teams over the past 6 seasons.

In 2016 the club fielded nine competition teams, including an Open Grade side in the senior sphere. This year we have been reduced to just three.

A 66.6% drop in 6 seasons. The decline is so devilish it has reportedly impacted one of our clubs most famous supporters. The Eye has learned from our Hollywood sources, that Storm fanatic Linda Blair has become so perturbed by the club’s marked numerical shortcoming, that a nasty recurrence of her previous head spinning complaint has returned.

In a worrying trend for Central Coast rugby league in general, many of the smaller clubs are experiencing a similar retraction. Most notably, our good friends at St Eddies who are fielding just half of one junior competition team this season.

The tremendous growth in female participation is somewhat masking this worrying trend. For while overall numbers look healthy, once you drill down into the detail, that’s when the pea soup really starts to fly around the metaphorical bedroom.

The ever growing shift of players from smaller clubs to the bigger clubs is one avenue that has to be addressed. The CCJRL needs to sprinkle a little holy water on the issue before we are left with just a handful of super clubs.

Upon hearing news that GK are down to 3 comp teams, Storm fanatic and former Kariong Kookaburra’s U9s playmaker, Linda Blair has suffered a nasty recurrence of the chronic free-wheeling-neck-dislocation that forced her early retirement from the game. The Eye wishes Linda all the best for a speedy recovery.

Photos below:

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Hey Buddy, You’re Blocking My View

THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2022

Purchasing Photos …

It’s Just So Easy!

Sling the guy with the camera a lobster ($20), and within days he’ll email you a couple of photo’s (jpeg files), featuring your little champion (or not so little champion) captured in full flight for the mighty Gosford Kariong Storm.

Simply hand over one, crisp, orangey note, along with your email address, and sit back & marvel as the old bloke goes frantically to work on your order.

Purchases can also be made using Paypal for $22.

Email: 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com

GOOD CHAT ! on the bench with Paulette Just rip in and charge at that lazy A-defender.

Target his inside shoulder.

THE EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE

Find your front and play the ball quickly !

My favourite colour’s blue.

What’s yours ?

Photos: Andrew Stark

2022 COMPETITION LADDERS As of May 22nd

U15(2)s Berkeley Vale Toukley St Eds/Our The Entrance North Lakes Terrigal Wyong Gosford Kariong Warnervale Umina Blue Haven

Pts 8 8 8 6 6 4 2 2 1 1 0

U12(2)s Umina Budgewoi The Entrance Terrigal Warnervale Gosford Kariong North Lakes Erina Wyong

Pts 8 6 6 5 5 2 0 0 0

U11(1)s

Pts

Kincumber Berkeley Vale Wyong The Entrance Terrigal Woy Woy North Lakes Gosford Kariong Toukley

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2022

8 8 6 6 6 2 2 0 0

Photos: Andrew Stark

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‘Gosford Rugby League: the Eye of the Storm’ e-mag compiled, photographed, written & designed by Andrew Stark © 2022