Southern Districts and Norths defeated last year’s grand finalists Gordon and Sydney Uni, while Randwick, Easts, Hunter and West Harbour also claimed impressive victories on the opening weekend of the season. 

Catch up on all the round one action below. 

Southern Districts 16-7 Gordon

Southern Districts began a new era under coach Jayson Brewer in style, defeating last year’s grand finalists 16-7 on a wet and wild afternoon at Forshaw. 

The Rebels, who finished last in 2022, dominated possession and territory for the majority of the first half but couldn’t find a way through Gordon’s resilient and well disciplined defensive line. 

In a bizarre passage of play, the referee then awarded four yellow cards, two to each side, in the final 15 minutes of the half. 

On the stroke of half time, Souths finally made the most of the dominant territory and possession they enjoyed throughout the first stanza, scoring from a driving maul to take a 7-0 lead to the break. 

Souths extended their lead with two penalty goals early in the second half and were unlucky not to go further ahead when what looked to be a perfect Will Thomas long ball was called forward. 

Midway through the second half, Gordon scored their first try of the day from a driving maul to set up a tense final 15 minutes, but couldn’t reduce the deficit any further. 

Souths kicked a penalty goal on full time to claim a morale boosting 16-7 victory. 

Randwick 22-15 Warringah

New coach Steve Hoiles wanted his Randwick side to be tougher and more resilient in 2023 and that’s exactly what they were in an impressive 22-15 victory over Warringah at Rat Park. 

After an early Warringah penalty goal, Randwick scored the opening try of the match with a slick backline movement that saw the ball pass through five sets of Galloping Green hands before impressive new No.9 Connor Tupai scored near the posts. 

Warringah hit back with a try from close range to hooker Jack Nettleton, but the Randwick forwards quickly responded. 

On the back of a dominant scrum, backrowers Joel Ellis and Mitch Watts combined to give the visitors a 14-10 lead early in the second half. 

The Randwick forwards helped extend the lead to seven after earning a scrum penalty, then set up the match defining try. 

Prop Hunter Stewart put a massive shot on to cause a turnover inside his own half. New lock Cormac Daly and Joel Ellis then broke away down field before offloading to Tupai who raced away for his second try of the afternoon. 

Warringah refused to go away though. 

Attacking deep in Randwick territory, flyhalf Wikita Hatu-Rees threw a wonderful long ball to winger Mosese Veremalua, who finished nicely in the corner to set up a grand stand finish. 

Trailing by seven, Warringah had an attacking lineout on the Randwick 5-metre line after the full time siren, but new Randwick lock Cormac Daly worked his way straight through the Warringah maul and took the Rats to ground to seal victory. 

Recruits Cormac Daly and Connor Tupai were particularly impressive in a strong Randwick 22-15 victory. 

Hunter 27-19 Manly

Hunter’s big bruising forward pack were at their big bruising best in a 27-19 victory over Manly in Newcastle. 

The Wildfires jumped out to a 17-0 lead midway through the second half following their opening try from a driving maul, then a second from a lineout over throw that popped up perfectly into the hands of centre Nate De Thierry who scored untouched. 

Manly looked set to respond minutes later before Hunter winger Deon Evans-Ao took an intercept from an offside position to stop a likely try. 

The Marlins were awarded a penalty try and Evans-Ao was sent to the sideline with the scores at 17-7. 

Manly then reduced the deficit further with a fantastic counter attack try from inside their own half. 

Winger Fraser Toohey showed great space to beat his defender, then offloaded to former Sydney Uni back and new Marlins recruit Angus Bell to score. 

The Marlins then took an unlikely lead into the half time break following their third try in 15 minutes. The Manly forwards linked brilliantly to get their side on the front foot. 

Backrower Justin Mataele then followed up a Yool Yool run and scored untouched to put his side ahead 19-17. 

The rain settled in after the break as the Hunter forwards took control of the match. In a more dour second half, replacement forward Ngaruhe Jones barged over from close range to score the only try. 

Leading 27-19, the Hunter pack then repelled Manly’s efforts near their line and won a ruck penalty to seal the victory. 

West Harbour 17-15 Western Sydney

A dominant scrum and maul helped West Harbour celebrate their return to Concord Oval in style in new coach Cam Treloar’s first match in charge of the Pirates. 

Western Sydney appeared to have picked up where they left off last season, scoring two tries from close range through Ed Whyte and Paula Waqa to lead 12-0 after 30 minutes. 

But West Harbour in the wet, scoring a similar try through hooker Raukawa Neems to reduce the deficit to 12-7 at the break. 

The Two Blues looked to have extended their lead through a well weighted grubber from centre Reece Suesue but the attackers were ruled offside and the try was disallowed. The visitors added a penalty goal and led 15-7 early in the second half. 

With the match in the balance, a dominant West Harbour scrum and maul swung the momentum to the home side. 

In his first grade debut, flyhalf Hunter Hannaford kicked a long range penalty goal awarded from a scrum penalty to reduce the deficit. 

The Pirates then took a 17-15 lead through a penalty try after the Two Blues had no choice but to collapse a driving maul charging towards their try line. 

Western Sydney had one last chance to spoil the Pirates homecoming after the full time siren, but the West Harbour defence was resolute.

Eastern Suburbs 30-24 Eastwood

Easts’ young guns Jack Bowen and Jack Mossman combined after the full time siren to score and seal a famous 30-24 victory over Eastwood at Woollahra. 

In heavy rain, Eastwood led 10-6 midway through the first half after a Michael Icely try and a string of penalty goals to each side. 

Late in the first half, an Eastwood kick was fumbled by Bowen deep in Easts’ territory, allowing the visitors to spread the ball and score through No.7 Ratu Tuisese to take a 17-6 lead to the break. 

Easts’ set piece looked solid throughout the match, giving the Beasties good front foot ball. Teddy Wilson scooted from the base of the ruck early in the second half to score and reduce the deficit. 

Recruit Joel Cobbs then bumped off opposing centre Komiti Tuilaga to score Easts’ second try and give his side a 20-17 lead in the 50th minute. 

The home side pushed further ahead with a penalty goal in the 72nd minute, but Eastwood still had more to give. 

Attacking deep in Easts’ territory, Eastwood looked to have stolen victory when No.9 Lachie Albert took a quick tap and linked with Willie Leoso to score. Chris Bell, playing from the bench, calmly slotted the conversion to give Eastwood a 24-23 lead in the 78th minute. 

But the Woodies were unable to claim the restart and seal victory. After initially repelling the Easts’ raid, Easts were awarded an attacking scrum on their five metre line after the ball was passed into the referee. 

The Easts scrum was solid, allowing Bowen to attack on the front foot. He threw a beautiful 25 metre cut out ball to Mossman on the wing, who scored to steal back the lead. Bowen then slotted the conversion from the sideline to the cheers of a big Beasties’ crowd.  

Northern Suburbs 37-20 Sydney Uni

Former Sydney Uni backs Jude Gibbs and Henry O’Donnell have starred against their old club in a super impressive 37-20 Northern Suburbs’ victory over the reigning premiers. 

After both sides traded early penalties, Gibbs kicked a perfect grubber to winger Ratu Tagive for the first try of the afternoon. 

New Norths’ No.8 Luke Gersekowski then crossed from close range to extend the visitors lead, before Tagive scored his second from a perfectly executed midfield set play to give Norths a 22-3 lead at HT. 

Uni hit back through 19-year old fullback Tom Morrison early in the second half, before former Uni centre Henry O’Donnell barged over from close range to put his new side further ahead. 

Gibbs then set up the try of the match to seal a 37-20 victory. 

From inside his own, Gibbs chipped, regathered and offloaded to Gary Bautz. Bautz somehow passed to No.9 Nick Duffy who had far too much pace for the Uni defenders. 

While Uni scored two late consolation tries through Eddy King, it was well and truly Norths’ day.