The 2005 Rising Star Conference kicked off today in fine fashion, with fans treated to a thrilling grand final rematch between premiers Sunshine Coast and the runner up Ryde Eagles.

RESULTS

The first game of the RSC year saw Birchgrove and Balmain battle it out in a game pitting two of the most star-studded lineups against one another. The Storm proved too good at home, triumphing 20-12.
Balmain: Alwyn Simpson, Brady Payne 2, and Bronson Harrison. Penningrove 2/4
Birchgrove: Clint Greenshields and Jeff Preston. McLean 2/3
PoM Points: Chris Muckert 3, Brady Payne 2, and David Howell 1.

Gisborne have pipped Cairns in an exciting game played in northern Queensland, a late Francis Cummins try lifting the side to a 14-12 victory.
Cairns: Michael Gordon and Vince Barry. Martin 2/5
Gisborne: Francis Cummins and Ryan Hodgson 2. Cummins 1/4
PoM Points: Ryan Hodgson 3, Danny Brough 2, and Richard Moore 1.

Hawthorn have signalled their coming of age as a club, scoring a solid 22-10 victory over newcomers, Glen Innes, to start off their year with a win.
Glen Innes: Grant Rovelli and Daniel Spiteri. Rovelli 1/2
Hawthorn: Mitch Brown, Tsai Tui, Alan Rothery, and Blake Green. Delaney 3/5
PoM Points: Blake Green 3, Alan Rothery 2, and David Shillington 1.

Hunter have triumphed in a low scoring, dour encounter against Johannesburg today - with just one try scored in the 9-0 victory to the Bantams.
Hunter: Matt Cooke. Eaton 2/3. Campbell 1 fg.
Johannesburg: None.
PoM Points: Nicky Saxton 3, Matthew Petersen 2, and Lee Radford 1.

Kensington's star recruit George Carmont has had a big impact in the club's first game of the season, tearing Katherine apart and leading his new club to a 26-14 victory.
Katherine: Gordon Ross and Rhys Lovegrove. Adams 3/3
Kensington: Scott Staniforth, Aaron Barba 2, Phil Vickery, and David Raimes. Rice 3/5
PoM Points: George Carmont 3, Adam Cook 2, and Aaron Barba 1.

Northern Territory and North West have continued what has been a close round of RSC football, with the newly reinstated Lions triumphing 22-18 on the back of a surprisiging man of the match performance from Reg Randell.
North West: Goerdan Murphy, Anthony Del Santo, and Huw Thomas. Fisher 3/3
Northern Territory: Desi Kadima, Andrew Price, David Furlongu, and Darren Mason. Randell 3/5
PoM Points: Reg Randell 3, Sebastian Jowe 2, and David Furlongu 1.

Another game and another thriller, Port Hedlands scoring a win on their return to the Rising Star Conference with an exciting 23-14 victory over the Port Kembla Voodoo.
Port Hedlands: Frankie Grills, Tiri Tumanga, Stefano Saghini, and Simon Friend. O'Loftus 3/4. Tumanga 1 fg.
Port Kembla: Liam Botham and Magro Boyd 2. Murrell 1/3
PoM Points: Mal Kaufusi 3, Tiri Tumanga 2, and Frankie Grills 1.

A late Kevin Brown field goal has ensured that the Sunshine Coast Wizards and Ryde Eagles have begun the year on level footing, locking scores at 8 all after a too and fro battle.
Ryde: Simon Cooke. Smith 2/3
Sunshine Coast: Nathan Hinton. Brown 2/2
PoM Points: Ken Rogers 3, Alex Moore 2, and Nautake Haga 1.

The Entrance Tigers remain a strong club in 2005 it seems, easily accounting for Western Suburbs 22-12 in today's clash.
The Entrance: Nick Bradley, Charlie Tonga, Cameron Phelps, and Isaac Kaufmann. Dean 3/4
Western Suburbs: Ben Kusto and Romeo Magro. Montabe 2/3
PoM Points: Trevor Thurling 3, Nate Mules 2, and Craig Emmerton 1.

Wests have proven far too strong for the debuting Wodonga Badgers in their battle today, leaping to the top of the RSC ladder with a comprenehsive 34-10 victory.
Wests: Nick Parfitt, Brenton Bowen 2, Adam Mogg, and Sam Perret 2. Barnes 5/6
Wodonga: Gary Broadbent and Nick Shaw. Dobson 1/2
PoM Points: Berrick Barnes 3, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs 2, and Siose Muiliumu 1.

RSC Table
1. Wests Panthers - 2 +24
2. Hawthorn Hurricanes - 2 +12
3. Kensington Highrollers - 2 +12
4. The Entrance Tigers - 2 +10
5. Port Hedlands Jets - 2 +9
6. Hunter Bantams - 2 +9
7. Balmain Storm - 2 +8
8. Northern Territory Lions - 2 +4

9. Gisborne Heat - 2 +2
10. Sunshine Coast Wizards - 1 +0
11. Ryde Eagles - 1 +0
12. Cairns White Pointers - 0 -2
13. North West Kookaburras - 0 -4
14. Birchgrove Pistoleers - 0 -8
15. Johannesburg Hyenas - 0 -9
16. Port Kembla Voodoo - 0 -9
17. Western Suburbs Raiders - 0 -10
18. Katherine Kings - 0 -12
19. Glen Innes Magpies - 0 -12
20. Wodonga Badger s- 0 -24

Ah george carmont, truly the nectar of the RSC. Does anybody else see a green and gold jersey on the cards? I know theres already a band of rabid Carmontnatics out there baying at the doors of the selectors...

Unlikely, given that he's a Kiwi. :P

i don;t see how he would get a aussie jersey when he won't be getting a kiwi jersey even

Never say never, Doug. If he gets enough Poms, you'll have to pick him :P Besides, he made the Kiwi train on squad last year IRL

their is no poms in my team sorry. the kiwis are for kiwis. :P i will bring a hammer to training if he has to be picked.

newsflash: george carmont has now been ruled out of the test with a broken skull.