Vikings player of the year
Canberra Vikings have named centre Jordan Jackson-Hope as their 2018 NRC player of the year, following a stellar season from the 22-year-old local product.
Jackson-Hope was in ripping form for the entire season, scoring 31 points, leading the club’s try-scorers with five, alongside Lausii Taliauli, and kicking three conversions as icing on the cake. He was also recognised for his consistent instinctive playmaking, demonstrating his knack of creating space for his outside backs.
Raiders gun extends stay
New Zealand international forward Joe Tapine will wear lime green until the end of 2023 after signing a new deal.
The 24-year-old gun second rower was a priority signing for the Green Machine, and was due to come off contract at the end of the 2019 season.
Tapine said coming to Canberra was the best move of his career to date.
“I’m confident in the group of players and coaches we have that we can keep improving and be a better and more consistent team,” he said.
Solo performances can’t save Caps
The UC Capitals took their first loss of the season on Sunday 28 October, going down to the Deakin Melbourne Boomers 84-78 at the National Convention Centre, Canberra.
Holding off a late charge, the Boomers got the job done defensively as they held the Caps to 33% shooting for the game.
Canadian international Capitals guard Kia Nurse led all scorers with 29 points in the Caps’ first loss of the season, while the Boomers’ Kelsey Griffin scored 19 points and plucked 11 rebounds.
The Capitals will look to get their campaign back on track when they host the Sydney Uni Flames at the National Convention Centre on 4 November; wnbl.com.au
Heat off to blistering start
Canberra’s elite female and male volleyball players got their 2018 Australian Volleyball League (AVL) campaigns off to a blistering start last weekend. They turned up the heat against their Sydney rivals, UTSSU Volleyball Club, with 7 wins from 7 games.
This weekend, the Heat women and men will travel to Brisbane to take on the Queensland Pirates. They then host their first home games at the AIS on 10-11 November against the Queensland Pirates, and 17-18 November against UTSSU; volleyballact.com.au.
Footy for early 2019
UNSW Canberra Oval will host the Giants for an AFLW and JLT men’s pre-season match, after scheduling was announced in late October.
The AFLW will see the Giants play Geelong on Friday 15 March at 7.15pm, while the JLT clash will be against the Adelaide Crows one week earlier on Friday 8 March at 7.10pm. Tickets will be available via afl.com.au
Alaalatoa re-signs
The Brumbies have re-signed 24-year-old Wallaby prop Allan Alaalatoa to a four-year deal, retaining him at the club until the end of 2023.
The retention of the international front-rower, who has appeared 59 times for the team since making his debut in 2014, provides the Brumbies with a cornerstone of their pack for the next four seasons.
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