Shepparton Eagles’ men’s players Brent Falefitu, Vaai Vaai, Luis Talaave and captain Jopu Tunumafono have made the grade for Victoria Country.
This weekend, Melbourne’s suburb of Broadmeadows will be where Eagles dare to run it straight.
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Seven players from Shepparton Eagles Rugby League Club have been selected for NRL Victoria’s City versus Country exhibition match on Saturday.
Considering the club didn’t exist nine months ago, it's a fair old effort.
Promoted as a “Triple Treat”, Saturday’s event at Seabrook Reserve in Broadmeadows will feature a Wheelchair Rugby League pop-up, a master’s match as well as City versus Country’s debut.
Of the Eagles’ men, Brent Falefitu, Vaai Vaai, Luis Talaave and captain Jopu Tunumafono were included in the 22-strong Goulburn Murray Storm Premiership rep team out to sidestep and smash its metro counterparts.
Meanwhile, Lainey Sutton, Kyneisha Lammon and Nyeisha Lammon occupy three spots on Victoria Country’s women’s tag squad, hoping to whip down the wings and create history for the region.
Lainey Sutton, Kyneisha Lammon and Nyeisha Lammon.
It’s another jewel in the crown for the Eagles during what’s fast becoming a fantastic year.
After 10 rounds, the men’s side sits second on the ladder and trails top side Tumbarumba Greens on differential alone after knocking the previously undefeated team over last weekend.
Vaai, in particular, is having a stellar solo season, co-leading the try-scoring charts with 11 alongside Tumbarumba’s Ben Scott.
The Eagles girls aren’t flying far behind the men, either.
With four rounds left until the finals series begins, the Eagles are third with seven points to make up on top side CSU Mud Dogs.
Eagles committee member and women’s tag player Deborah Fili spoke about the raging success their club has witnessed since reviving rugby league in Shepparton after 16 years of dormancy.
“The men beat the top side last week which was pretty good, they were undefeated the whole season,” Fili said.
“So it could look either way for grand final, but I reckon the boys will definitely get there.
“The girls are still trying to push through, everyone’s trying to fight for top four in the girls.
“I know the men’s will go all the way, but the girls have still got to win the next few games just to hold their spot in that top four.”
On the road to make the four in 2024, vibes have been high for the Eagles.
As a by-product, player numbers have been too.
Fili indicated that about 40 men’s players were registered at the start of the season, but with clubs only permitted to name 20 a game, the Eagles were forced to send some over to other teams.
It’s a sign that the code’s pulse is strong in Shepparton, and with seven Eagles set to put the area on the map this Saturday, it seems the only way is up for league locally.
