St George Illawarra's hopes of making the NRL finals are fading fast after last Friday's 50-point drubbing at the hands of the Dolphins.They get a chance to put their playoff campaign back on track on Thursday night when they travel to Shark Park to take on traditional rivals Cronulla.Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has made several changes to the side that was thrashed 56-6 at Suncorp Stadium although he has been forced to make a couple of changes due to injury and State of Origin.Veteran centre Valentine Holmes is out after being retained by Queensland for next Wednesday's Origin clash in Perth with Corey Allan returning to the side in his place.Dragons winger Christian Tuipulotu has been sidelined after aggravating his hamstring injury early in the Dolphins defeat with Tyrell Sloan regaining his spot on the flank.Front-rower Blake Lawie has been dropped and second-rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner will also miss the Sharks showdown after suffering an asthma attack during last week's loss.Gerringong forward Hamish Stewart has been relegated to the bench after starting at lock against Redcliffe with Jack de Belin getting the No.13 jersey.Stewart made 36 tackles and only missed two but made just 66 running metres in 52 minutes of game time.He has played 11 matches in his rookie season and has started in the past five matches.Hame Sele and Emre Guler have been added to the pack to face Cronulla as St George Illawarra try to rebound after dropping to 11th place on the ladder with a 5-7 record.Flanagan said in the post-match media conference that the poor showing in Round 14 would not happen again."I'll make sure of it. Don't you worry. That's my job," Flanagan said."We can make excuses but we are not here to make excuses. It just wasn't up to standard. It is really disappointing."It's not acceptable for the Dragons."

Kiama surged to the top of the Illawarra District Rugby Union ladder over the weekend with a commanding 62-10 victory over the University of Wollongong.The dominant performance marked Kiama’s fourth consecutive win, with the team crossing the line for an impressive 10 tries.Kiama's Dante Patrick said he was impressed that they stayed focused by addressing their mistakes, even in a one-sided match.“We really made sure to focus on the negatives - turning over the ball, silly mistakes. We never got complacent. We’re always striving to be a bit better,” Patrick said.“Against a different team, those mistakes could have cost us. I think that’s what kept us on the right path throughout the game.”Patrick also acknowledged the effort of their opponents, praising the team's respect for a University side that’s rebuilding this season.“They were ready for a game, so we showed the same respect by giving them our best. Everyone’s had their time as the struggling side, and what you want is to challenge the top teams - that’s how you improve,” said Patrick.He went on to highlight the standout debut of Zechariah Taufa, who made his first-grade debut following strong performances in reserve grade.“He’s only 18, from a rugby league background, and switched codes this year. He’s been a shining light, ripping it up in second grade and earned his spot on Friday night,” said Patrick.A Kiama lineout from last week's win against the Vikings. Photo: Brian Scott“He didn’t look out of place at all - I think there’s plenty more first-grade footy ahead for him.”Looking ahead, Kiama will face a major challenge against third-placed Camden, who sit just two points behind them on the ladder.“Camden are a lot like us - unpredictable and dangerous. You’ve got to stay in front of them the whole time to shut them down,” said Patrick.“We always have a tough battle with them, so we’ve got a big week of prep to try and stay on top.”Kiama will host Camden at Kiama Showground on Saturday, 14 June.

The early indicative estimated cost of fully revamping Kiama Sporting Complex is expected to top more than $100 million as Kiama Council seeks feedback from the local community about how to upgrade the ageing facility.Both the Kiama Sporting Complex and South Werri Reserve masterplans are going up for public exhibition on Tuesday and will be on display on the Council website for 56 days.Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald is keen to hear what the community thinks about which direction Council should take with each project.“The public exhibition of these masterplans present different options for these locations, particularly the Kiama Sporting Complex, as to what the community might see as the future of these areas,” he said.“We know that the lighting at the Complex is less than ideal, the playing surfaces need upgrading, and the facilities haven't been upgraded for a number of years.“The Kiama and District Sports Association has been a great advocate for our sporting groups over a range of issues, including in support of bringing these master plans forward for public consultation.“We're really looking forward to receiving public feedback on what these areas might look like. It may be that these current plans are not the appropriate plans because they were the subject of previous consultation.“We've had the ability over a longer period of time to think about how those areas are being used and what options there might be for our community regarding their use.”For such a mammoth undertaking as overhauling the Kiama Sporting Complex, a combined effort will be needed from all levels of government to fund a project which could cost north of $100 million.“The different Complex plans have significant dollar values attached to them and a serious upgrade will not be possible without significant funding from federal or state governments” Cr McDonald said.“It's not something that will happen overnight but essentially the finalised plan will enable us to advocate for funding to ensure that the facility is the best it can be.“Short of that, we will also be looking at funding opportunities so that we can implement a staged process of upgrade for items that are necessary at this time, such as improved lighting, improved change room facilities so that those facilities are more suitable.”While the South Werri Reserve does not come with such an enormous price tag, Council is keen to hear from residents about their vision for its design and functionality.“There are a lot of users of the South Werri area, and considerations such as environmental and indigenous culture and history that we as a community are keen to protect, maintain and enhance” Cr McDonald added.“Similarly to the Kiama Sports Complex, its important to have a South Werri Reserve plan in place to be able to take advantage of funding when it is available to implement the final plan for the area that the public decide they would like to see.”

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The best footgolfers in the state and beyond will be heading to Jamberoo next weekend. Footgolfers? Yes, FootGolf.For those unfamiliar, FootGolf involves players kicking a standard soccer ball into enlarged golf holes, following rules and etiquette similar to traditional golf.Jamberoo Golf Club will host the 2025 NSW Open FootGolf tournament on 14-15 June.This year marks the third time Jamberoo has hosted the tournament, having also staged the inaugural event in 2016.“Jamberoo has supported the sport right from its very beginnings here in Australia,” said FootGolf ambassador and player Deryn Knott.“They have a permanent nine holes available for social players most afternoons, which enables us to not only practise there but to host competitions as well.”Knott explained that the way they build the courses is to dig the FootGolf holes in strategically placed positions along a golf course, typically on the edge of fairways.It's all about concentration. Photo: Suzanne Paul“When not in use,” said Knott. “We cover the holes with a man-hole style cover with an artificial turf surface, which allows for the usual upkeep of the golf course to continue uninterrupted and means the holes are barely visible to golf patrons.Players from around Australia and overseas - including Japan, Malaysia, and potentially New Caledonia - will travel to Jamberoo to compete, with results contributing to their global ranking.“Players will earn points towards their global ranking, which is what attracts international competitors,” said Knott.“Last year at the Australian Open, we had about 30 to 40 starters - roughly half international and half domestic players from states like Victoria, Queensland, and across New South Wales.”Knott has been playing the sport for several years and said it was a natural transition from football.“The thing that got me hooked was that it's an individual sport. In football, you're part of a team, and it's sometimes hard to measure your personal contribution,” he said.Japan and Malaysian players last year. Photo: Suzanne Paul“In FootGolf, there’s no argument - your score reflects how well you played. It allows you to gauge your achievement and track your progression.”He also noted the accessibility and affordability of FootGolf, compared to traditional golf.“With FootGolf, you can just grab a soccer ball and head out for a kick - take it as seriously or as casually as you like,” said Knott.“It’s less frustrating than golf too. In golf, the technicality of a swing can hold you back. But with FootGolf, if you want to curl it, you usually can.”Some big names are expected to compete, including Hilmi from Malaysia, who recently won a major tournament in Vietnam. But Australian Ryan Paisley, last year’s Jamberoo champion, remains the favourite.“Ryan’s been consistently winning for the last couple of years, so he’s likely Hilmi’s biggest challenger,” said Knott.The tournament features men's and women’s open divisions, as well as over-45s - and it's open to all, even first-time players.“It might seem intimidating to join the NSW Open as a beginner, but anyone can play at Jamberoo from 2pm most days,” said Knott.“You’re welcome to get some practice in before tee-off next week.”Spectators are also encouraged to come along, relax, and check out the action.“Anyone can come and watch. Sit at the bar, enjoy the BBQ, and experience a unique and exciting sport in a beautiful setting.”

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Gerringong’s Lucy Darragh has secured her fourth surfing state title, dominating the Under 16s division at the 2025 State Classics in Coffs Harbour - and making waves with a perfect 10-point ride along the way.Held over six days, the 2025 State Classics made history by combining five major titles - Junior, Masters, Longboard, SUP, and High School - under one event banner for the first time.Darragh stood out in a strong field of young surfers, posting a combined score of 17.60 in the final, including an impressive 9.23-scoring wave. Her closest rival, Madora Barton, finished with a total of 12.34.“The conditions were so good for the entire event,” said Darragh. “I’m really happy to have won my fourth NSW state title. It was a stacked field and the girls were surfing so well.”In round one, Lucy added a rare feat to her list of accomplishments - scoring a perfect 10 on a single wave.“Receiving a 10-point ride is a huge achievement for me. It’s really rare in competition, and I always go into events aiming for big scores,” she said. Lucy in action. Photo: Brian Scott.“I’ve been training hard and working on my technique - I think that’s why my surfing keeps improving, both in comps and in free surfing.”Next on the calendar for Lucy are the Krui and Nias Pro Qualifying Series events in Indonesia, kicking off in just a week.“My biggest goals for 2025 are to climb the Qualifying Series rankings, qualify for the World Surfing League Challenger Series, and make the final at World Juniors later this year,” she said.Once again, Lucy Darragh has proven she’s one of Australia’s brightest surfing talents - and there’s no doubt she’s only getting started.

This Sunday, 8 June, marks the 11th annual Kiama Red Cross Fun Run, an event that brings the community together for a good cause along one of the region’s most scenic routes.Despite a windy forecast, the day is expected to be sunny as runners and walkers make their way along Kiama’s stunning coastline to raise funds for the Red Cross.“Proceeds from this event go to Red Cross to be used locally to help needy and vulnerable people,” said Judi O’Brien, President of Kiama Red Cross.“Join in on the fun and help raise funds for the Red Cross."Participants can choose from three different runs:The 21.1km half marathon starts at 7am from Coronation Park, Surf Beach Kiama, extending to Dunmore and back.The 8km run begins at 9am from James Oates Reserve at the Minnamurra River entrance and finishes at Surf Beach Kiama.The 5km event kicks off at 9am from the North Bombo Beach carpark and also finishes at Surf Beach. This shorter course welcomes walkers, runners, prams, and dogs on leashes.Walk-up entries are welcome on the day, but participants are encouraged to arrive early to ensure a smooth start.To register, check race details, or be eligible for early bird prizes, visit: kiama.com.au/whats-on/kiama-fun-run.

“It all happened so fast.”After seven years away - two at Tocal College and five working on a farm in Beckom - 25-year-old Nathan Tiyce had just returned to his hometown of Gerringong. He was back to play local rugby league while working for a contractor, driving tractors and trucks. Then, everything changed.Just a few games into the season with the Gerringong Lions, Tiyce suffered an injury that sidelined him. While recovering, a simple scroll through Instagram unexpectedly set him on a completely new path.“I was scrolling on my phone and saw a post about a guy getting drafted into the NFL at 30. I thought, ‘How do you even do that?’” Tiyce said.“So I looked through his profile and found out he’d gone through a program called Pro Kick Australia. I emailed them asking for a trial.”Pro Kick Australia is a specialised program that trains and mentors Australian athletes to transition into American football, preparing them for college scholarships and professional careers as punters and kickers.At first, Tiyce didn’t hear back and assumed it wasn’t going anywhere. But months later, an unexpected email arrived - he’d been invited to a trial in Sydney.“I had literally never kicked an NFL ball before,” he laughed. “So I went to Rebel Sport, bought one of those fake ones, and went out to the field the day before the trial. As soon as I kicked it, it popped - it was that bad.”While he had some kicking experience from junior rugby league and a bit of Aussie rules, punting with an American football was uncharted territory.Tiyce will begin his four year college scholarship without ever having played a game of college football beforeTiyce attended the trial on November 23, 2023. Despite feeling like he didn’t kick particularly well, Pro Kick Australia offered him a spot in the program on the spot. Just two months later, on January 24, he moved to Melbourne for full-time training.“I was training almost every day, in the gym three times a week, just working hard,” he said.In April 2024, Tiyce joined Pro Kick on a three-week tour of the United States, an experience that solidified his commitment to the journey.“We went over there to get a feel for the size and scale - how big college football actually is. You can’t fully grasp it until you’re there. The colleges were massive, the programs were so personalised - everyone had their own nutritionist, for bigger players Lamborghini's came and picked them up. It was unreal,” he said.Then, on December 24, Tiyce was offered a four year scholarship to Mississippi State - and he didn’t hesitate.Because he left school in Year 10, Nathan had to complete six months of study in Central Queensland to qualify for the academic component of the scholarship, which includes both football and university education.Now, he's flying out to the United States on Thursday.In less than two years, Tiyce has gone from never touching an NFL ball to preparing for his first college football game as a punter, scheduled for August 30.“From what I’ve heard, there’ll be about 50,000 people at that first game,” he said. “Our fifth game is at Texas A&M University - they get 105,000 people in the stands, and they sell out every time.”As a punter, Tiyce will be aiming for precision and consistency.“Ideally, you’re trying to hit it 45 yards with four and a half seconds of hang time - that’s the standard. Then there are Aussie-style drop punts, which go about 35 yards - you just try to kick them as high as you can.”Surprisingly, it’s not the massive crowds that make him nervous.“It’s going to be so overstimulating with that much noise,” he said. “But honestly, I’d probably be more nervous kicking at Gerringong footy fields in front of 10 mates than in front of 100,000 strangers. What I’m most anxious about is meeting the team, meeting the coaches, and proving that I can actually kick.”From farming and playing local footy, to the huge stadiums of College Football - Nathan’s story is a testament to the power of saying yes to unexpected opportunities. The Bugle wishes him the best of luck!

Kiama Rugby Club’s first-grade side continued their winning streak over the weekend, edging out the Wollongong Vikings 27-21 in a hard-fought contest.Kiama started strongly, dominating early play and producing what player Dante Patrick described as their best rugby of the season so far.“That first half was probably the best half we've played all year. We just didn’t allow them to have any ball, and anything they threw at us, we backed our defence and shut it down,” Patrick said.“Everything was going our way - we felt almost untouchable at that time.”However, momentum shifted when Kiama received a yellow card just before halftime, followed by another in the second half. With only 14 men on the field for significant periods, the Vikings capitalised and clawed their way back into the game.“It was a good effort from the boys, but it got a bit touch-and-go letting them back in during the second half,” Patrick said.Kiama made it three wins in a row on the weekend despite two yellow cards. Photo: Brian Scott“But we stuck to our processes and really backed ourselves. We just didn’t feel like we were going to lose - we were still riding that high from the first half.”The victory marks Kiama’s third consecutive win and they are now third on the ladder, largely due to having played only four games this season, while other teams have played up to six.“This weekend is round eight, and we’ve only played four games so far, which has been tough and a bit frustrating," Patrick said. "But I’m glad we’re coming good at the right end of the season and starting to move up the ladder.”“It’s all about timing and preparation, and I think we’ve been nailing that over the past few weeks.”Fortunately for Kiama, instead of having a bye over the long weekend, they will play a catch-up match on Saturday away to University of Wollongong.“They’re very competitive, very fit, and very young - it’s unpredictable preparing for a team like University,” Patrick said. “Because of their fitness and their willingness to turn up every single time, you can’t prep for something like that. So we’ve just got to make sure we don’t take them lightly, no matter where they are on the ladder.”In the lead-up to the match, Kiama will focus on discipline and cutting out costly errors.“I think on game day, we can be our own worst enemies - those piggyback penalties let teams back in, along with our own mistakes,” he said.

There was no magic in the air for local teams Gerringong Lions and Jamberoo Superoos during Group 7 Rugby League’s inaugural Magic Round.Eight of the nine teams in the competition played back-to-back in four consecutive matches at Royal Artie Smith Oval in Bomaderry on a picturesque Saturday.With Kiama having the bye, Jamberoo was the first local team to take the field, lining up in the second game of the day against fourth-placed Albion Park Oak Flats Eagles. The Superoos entered the match sitting fifth on the ladder.Superoos coach Jono Dallas was looking for more consistency and discipline from his side.Unfortunately for Jamberoo, the game got off to a disastrous start when five-eighth Nathan Gallastegui suffered an early injury and the Eagles drew first blood, scoring their first try in the seventh minute.Playing one man down, Jamberoo struggled to stem the tide. Albion Park capitalised with three more tries before the break, taking a commanding 20-0 lead into halftime.James Gilmore offered the Superoos a lifeline with a try in the 43rd minute, narrowing the margin to 20-6. However, the Eagles struck back just five minutes later and ran away with the game, sealing a convincing 42-12 win.Later in the day, Gerringong Lions faced the competition leaders - the Stingrays of Shellharbour - in the final match under the lights at Royal Artie Smith Oval.Gerringong in action for the last game of the day at Royal Artie Smith Oval. Photo: Game Face PhotographyThe Stingrays struck first in the ninth minute with a crisp backline play that ended in a try in the corner. Former NRL star Tim Lafai extended the lead just before halftime, making it 10-0 at the break.It appeared the scoreline would remain unchanged until Gerringong finally broke through in the 69th minute, with Tyrell Taione pouncing on a well-placed kick from Rixon Russell to score.The final 11 minutes were tense, including a last-second chip-and-chase effort from the Lions, but the Stingrays held firm to secure a 10-6 victory.In other results from the day, the Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs cruised past Berry 40-12, while the Shellharbour Sharks defeated hosts Nowra-Bomaderry Jets 32-16.Group 7 Operations Manager Ashton Sims estimated that approximately 3,000 people attended the inaugural Magic Round, which featured beers from 17 breweries and eight food vendors.“It was about bringing rugby league and the community together to ensure our competition is doing things we haven’t done before,” said Sims. “New supporters and new people are enjoying our great game.”As the teams head into the long weekend break, both Jamberoo and Gerringong will be searching for improvements to get their seasons back on track.

KIAMA POWER GIRLS UNDER 17 VS FIGTREE KANGAROOS