June 14, 2013, 10:39 p.m.
NEWCASTLE are on track to win a third-straight NSW Country Rugby League Championships after breezing through the Greater Northern Tigers 38-12 last night in their semi-final at Cessnock Sportsground.
New Rebels halfback Riley Brown starred along with Cessnock teammate Terence Seu Seu, scoring three times in the eight-tries-to-two victory.
It took the Rebels almost the entire first half to stamp their supremacy with the scoreline just 10-6 to Newcastle after 37 minutes, despite the Tigers barely leaving their own half.
But the brilliance of Seu Seu from dummy-half and Simon WIlliams out wide resulted in tries to Warren Schillings and Brown in the space of three minutes and suddenly the Rebels led 20-6.
From there the Tigers competed, but never threatened the Rebels from booking a country decider against either Illawarra or Canberra at Dubbo's Apex Oval on June 29.
In the second half the Rebels continued their dominance with four more tries to Brown (two), Chris Pyne and Williams.
Meanwhile, Lakes United have finally received some good news with Wests Tigers under-20s halfback Billy Kitt likely to debut for the cellar-dwellers tomorrow against Port Stephens at Cahill Oval.
Seagulls coach Rip Taylor will start Kitt in reserves if cleared in time, but expect the 19-year-old from Oberon to progress to first grade shortly.
"He's been in and out of the 20s, but from all reports in goes quite well," Taylor said. "A couple of mates said he wasn't getting a shot and he wasn't happy, so he thought he'd come up here.
"If he's looking like he's going all right there might be an opportunity possibly at the Knights."
The match against the Sharks is replay of the round eight match washed out a fortnight ago. Lakes are still striving for their first win and the Sharks, who have won just two games, presents as their best chance of breaking the duck.
"We've been close and the boys have been competitive, but it's almost the start of the second round and we need to put a few wins together and consolidate a little bit," Taylor said.
The Sharks are missing forwards Mitchell Cox (knee) and James McCabe (heel spurs) and Port Stephens coach Peter Walsh will play winger Willie Pole'o again in front row.
However, Walsh confirmed that English prop Peter Dobson had agreed to join the Sharks and would arrive on Monday in time for next weekend's game against Kurri Kurri.
In other catch-up games tomorrow South Newcastle host Macquarie at Townson Oval in a game that could determine second spot.
The Scorpions have three players in Nathan Cantor, Blake Gallen and Adam Swadling backing up from Rebels duty, while the Lions have just Matt Shipway.
At St John Oval, former Maitland centre Ryan Walker is back for Central after two weeks off to face the in-form Pickers.
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