If NRL star Nathan Cleary is Penrith’s “Iceman”, then Denton Engineering Cup rookie Steven Dengate is Central Newcastle’s equivalent.
With the Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League (Real NRL) fixture on the line at the weekend, and the Butcher Boys needing a win to stay in the semi-final race, the young playmaker “iced” the big moments to secure the victory and inflict further pain on a brave Kurri Kurri outfit.
After the full-time siren, with one play in hand thanks to a late penalty, Dengate fired a bullet pass out wide to Randall Briggs, who crossed in the corner to level the scores at 32-all.
He then stepped up to the plate, nailing the sideline conversion to sink the Bulldogs 34-32.
The triumph saw the team move into seventh spot on the ladder, just four points outside the top five.
“I can’t really sum that [match] up,” Dengate said.
“To be honest, it shouldn’t have come down to it.
“But, we held on in the end, fighting back from 28-16 and digging deep.
“The guys deserve a lot of credit for hanging in there.
“However, you always dream of kicking a goal like that to win the game [after the bell].
“What can you say, really?
“Thankfully, it just worked out for me.”
Dengate, a Muswellbrook Rams junior, spent a couple of seasons with the Western Suburbs Rosellas but is now revelling in his role at the Butcher Boys.
“I’ve got a couple of mates who are playing here (Central Newcastle) and sort of came across to play reserves with them,” he said.
“Then I got the call-up and I’m starting to play a bit more first grade, which is good.
“The club’s been great, too.
“There’s a real good culture, the boys really get around it.
“But, it was nice to make my debut this year.
“Footy-wise, it’s [Real NRL] a lot tougher, however it’s easier as well if that makes sense… because everyone knows their job and what they’re doing.
“So, I’m loving my time with the Butcher Boys.
“Phil’s [coach Phil Williams] also good.
“He’s all about the club; he just loves it like any good mentor, which makes it better to play for him.”
Central Newcastle faces one of its toughest tests in round 13 when it hosts fifth-placed The Entrance Tigers at St John Oval on Sunday 25 June.
“It will be another hard game,” Dengate told the Newcastle Weekly.
“We only played them earlier this month and won 8-4.
“So, we know they’ll be fired up.
“Plus, we’ll probably lose a couple of boys [from Saturday] due to suspension.
“However, we will see how we go.
“After losing more than a dozen players in the off-season, I think we’ve done well to be still in contention.
“We’ve got a really young side and everyone’s sort of just playing for each other at the moment.
“That’s the culture we’re building.
“But, also, everyone wants to win.
“It’s beginning to pay off a bit now in the back end of the season, so it’s good.
“The belief’s there (in the squad)… we just want to make the semis and see where we finish from there.”
In other encounters, on Saturday 24 June, the Bulldogs will welcome the South Newcastle Lions to the “graveyard” (Kurri Kurri Sports Ground), defending premiers Maitland Pickers tackle the Cessnock Goannas at No 1 Sportsground and the Wyong Roos lock horns with the Macquarie Scorpions at Morry Breen Oval.
On Sunday 25 June, the Rosellas host the Lakes United Seagulls at Harker Oval.
Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League
Denton Engineering Cup
Round 12 results:
- Wyong Roos d Lakes United Seagulls 30-18
- Central Newcastle Butcher Boys d Kurri Kurri Bulldogs 34-32
- The Entrance Tigers d Western Suburbs Rosellas 30-25
- South Newcastle Lions d Macquarie Scorpions 40-18
- Maitland Pickers d Northern Hawks 52-10
- Bye: Cessnock Goannas
Round 13 draw:
Saturday 24 June
- 3pm: Kurri Kurri Bulldogs v South Newcastle Lions (Kurri Kurri Sports Ground)
- 3pm: Maitland Pickers v Cessnock Goannas (No 1 Sportsground)
- 3pm: Wyong Roos v Macquarie Scorpions (Morry Breen Oval)
Sunday 25 June
- 3pm: Western Suburbs Rosellas v Lakes United Seagulls (Harker Oval)
- 3pm: Central Newcastle Butcher Boys v The Entrance Tigers (St John Oval)
- Bye: Northern Hawks
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