‘Brothers’ ‘dream come true’ fires up Raiders in the rain as finals clashes revealed
In a rain-lashed tune-up before the playoffs, Macquarie Raiders celebrated a 26-12 win over Parkes at Victoria Park, with brothers Tyson and Dane Fuller finally lining up together in the centres — a moment they both called a dream fulfilled.
The sodden surface and heavy middle turned the Ladies Day clash into a grind, and Parkes embraced the arm-wrestle. The visitors struck first when Joey Dwyer pounced on his own grubber in the 11th minute. Despite Parkes controlling much of the early possession, the Raiders dragged it back to level terms by the break through a close-range effort from Mason Williams, 6-6 at halftime.
Dane Fuller thought he had his first senior try for the club early, only for it to be scrubbed for obstruction after he cut in behind a teammate. Undeterred, the younger Fuller and his brother were pivotal in stiffening up the edge defense, repeatedly shutting down Spacemen raids and keeping the red zone clean through a gritty first stanza.
After the interval, the Raiders found their rhythm. Tyson Fuller’s understanding with left wing partner Clayton Daley — reunited after both served suspensions earlier this season following a melee in Nyngan — helped tilt the field position battle. While the pair didn’t cross themselves, their carries and quick shifts set the platform for a decisive burst of points.
Harry Kempston powered over to break the deadlock, Carlos Tarawhiti backed up through the middle for another, and Tristan Keed added polish as the Raiders consolidated control. The highlight was a dazzling 80-metre intercept from Charlie Kempston, who read the Spacemen’s shape, plucked the ball, and outpaced the chase to blow the game open. Parkes kept swinging, and Bailey Vaeau nabbed a late consolation, but the gap was too wide by then.
For Tyson and Dane, both former St John’s juniors, sharing a starting centre partnership at senior level was years in the making. Tyson, a mainstay since returning from Army service and a stint in Sydney in 2023, said the milestone was every bit as special as imagined. Dane, whose only previous top-grade outing came in a 2025 road loss at Nyngan, relished the chance to close the regular season on a high after his near-miss try. Accountability, talk, and a willingness to do the ugly work were the themes the brothers echoed from a night where the conditions demanded exactly that.
With the win, Macquarie locked in their top-four swagger and now face a blockbuster qualifying final on the road against the minor premiers, Mudgee Dragons. Coach Matt Lane expects his side to give the ladder leaders a proper shake. Thanks to the double-chance format, the Raiders will host a second opportunity if results go against them next week.
Finals picture
- Qualifying final: Mudgee Dragons vs Macquarie Raiders (in Mudgee)
- Qualifying final: Dubbo CYMS vs Forbes Magpies (Apex Oval)
- Elimination final: Orange CYMS vs Bathurst Panthers
- Elimination final: Orange Hawks vs Bathurst St Pats
Parkes, meanwhile, bow out after a season defined by injuries and a deliberate youth push that saw a raft of under-24 locals blooded. They arrived in Dubbo on the back of two straight wins and refused to fold, particularly through the first half when captain-coach fullback Sam Dwyer and halfback brother Joey steered the tempo in the wet. The familiar frustration was a late fade after halftime, something Dwyer framed as the growing pains of a young roster that has nonetheless shown strong buy-in with solid training numbers and commitment.
Looking ahead, Dwyer confirmed he’ll be back in 2027, with Parkes targeting a couple of key signings to complement the emerging core. The club expects a few homegrown players to return from stints elsewhere, and there’s talk of at least one recruit with top-tier experience to help flip close games next year.
As for the broader landscape, Parkes joins Nyngan, Lithgow Workies, and Wellington Cowboys in retooling for 2027. For the Raiders, the focus narrows to execution: with Daley and Tyson Fuller both back and combinations settling, the message is simple — get early ball, run hard, and keep the mistakes low in Mudgee.
Scoreboard
Macquarie Raiders 26 (Tries: Mason Williams, Charlie Kempston, Carlos Tarawhiti, Harry Kempston, Tristan Keed; Goals: H. Kempston 3) def. Parkes Spacemen 12 (Tries: Joey Dwyer, Bailey Vaeau; Goals: Jett Rudd 2).
