Andrew Johns/Laurie Daley Cup: Rolling season preview for all clubs competing in 2025
The Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cup comps are the premier regional pathway for young rugby league talent. We preview all teams across the two divisions.
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The Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cup comps are the premier regional pathways for young male talent looking to break through at the next level.
With 10 teams spanning the majority of the state, the competition is set to showcase hidden gems of the rugby league landscape.
In the lead-up to round one on February 8, we progressively preview all teams ahead of the new season.
ANDREW JOHNS CUP
CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS
Captain: TBC
Coach: Ryan Southam
Last season: Premiers (6-1-0)
Why they will be competitive: One of the heavyweights of junior rep footy in recent years, the Central Coast Roosters will remarkably be going for a hat-trick of title in the Andrew Johns Cup competition.
“The Roosters have been up here a while now and they’ve invested in it heavily,” said pathways co-ordinator Steve Deakin. “Everything we do comes from the top. So all our skills, drills, principles are coming from the top and we’re just hammering them in.”
And while the crop of 2025 might not have as many of the up-and-coming superstars of previous seasons, Deakin is confident the side will be highly competitive once again.
“Although we don’t have as many explosive players as we did last year, we have some players that are developing nicely,” he said.
“We’ve got a good team that are bonding well and the coaches are doing a good job. We’ll be there or thereabouts.”
Key fixtures: Knights (Away – Round 5). In what has become a regular fixture over the years, the Roosters take on local rivals Newcastle in the final round of the regular season in what is often a showcase of two top-of-the-table teams.
Players to watch: Leading the line in the current group is the versatile Samuel Michie, who is a hard-running football who can play in the halves, back-row and at lock.
In terms of creativity, young half Tukia Fotu-Moala will be looking to impress after coming back from an injury while NSW Indigenous representative Allan Lardner is an explosive centre tipped for big things.
Elsewhere, no-nonsense prop forward Joey Thorne has been setting the standards for the pack all pre-season and looms as a key enforcer.
“He’s an aggressive tackler, he can hit and he makes his presence felt. He’s very mobile for a middle,” said Deakin.
Squad: Aidan Harrison, Alex Taylor, Allan Lardner, Austen Flakus, Billy McDonald, Chayse Dobson, Cooper Rubagotti, Cooper Smith, George Kaifa, Harry Calkin, Huge L’estrange, Jake Kirkwood, James Hagistefanis, Joey Thorne, Kaiyan Sinclair, Khidyn Tutaki, Manni Campbell, Matt Norman, Nate Ross, Rayne Fale, Romeo Altavilla, Samuel Michie, Sandon Stuart, Semi Wara, Tukia Fotu-Moala, Will Gencur, Will Hamilton, Zac Barton
MONARO COLTS
Captain: TBA
Coach: Jack Bramley
Last season: 3rd in Southern Pool (2-3)
Why they will be competitive: While Covid might seem like a distant memory to many, some coaches involved in junior sport have highlighted the ongoing effect it has had on promising young players after competitions were cancelled in 2020 and 2021.
Monaro coach Jack Bramley said that while the rep teams of recent years seem to have been somewhat hindered by the disruptions, this current group shows no signs of those shortcomings.
“People might not see the damage that Covid did to local junior football,” he said. “The two or three teams before this missed a lot of football in that prime age of 12/13/14, whereas these guys have had a bit more coaching.
“A lot of teams in the past few years have relied on natural talent and the ability to pick things up quickly whereas this year we’ve got a good variety of natural talent as well as some kids who are happy to learn at training.
“We’ve got some size, we’ve got some speed, we’ve got some skill so hopefully we can put it all together on the park.”
He added: “It’s a very well-rounded team this year. It’s good to see the depth that we’ve got from one through to the 26.”
Key fixtures: Northern Rivers Titans (Away – Round 1). As their first year in the junior rep system, the Colts will be bursting at the seams for the round one clash with the Northern Rivers Titans. On top of being the season opener, the game in Murwillumbah will also be an exciting opportunity for the team to experience away-game football.
Players to watch: With a string of Monaro players having represented the ACT under-15 Schoolboys team last year, there is plenty of exciting talent in the squad. Perhaps no more so than in the halves, where halfback Drew Kemp and five-eighth Jack Ryan have been impressive over the course of the pre-season.
Elsewhere, Goulburn backrower/lock Marlowe Young has really caught the eye with his attitude and footy IQ.
“He’s just shown pure leadership the whole way through,” said Bramley.
“His football brain is untapped at the moment and that’s one of the hardest things to find. You can have natural talent, you can have speed, you can have strength, but if you don’t have the hardware between the ears it’s a bit of a flaw and Marlowe’s got that hardware. He’s been very impressive.”
Squad: TBA
NORTH COAST BULLDOGS
Captain: TBC
Coach: Geoff Batten
Last season: 4th in Northern Pool (1-4)
Why they will be competitive: After both Johns and Daley Cup sides finished fourth out of five teams in last year’s Northern Pool, the Bulldogs have tweaked their approach for 2025 by placing a greater focus on fitness and foundational skills.
“We’ve tried to teach them a lot in a short time,” said coach Geoff Batten. “Usually by this point they’ve absorbed everything you’ve put into them and we get to start to mould a bit of a squad. They’re reacting pretty well.”
Indeed, in addition to the training, Batten said the nature of the squad and the competition for starting spots will put the team in good stead ahead of round one.
“I just think we’ve got a bit more balance,” he said. “Last year we had some size that we hadn’t had for a while but I think that blinded us a little bit. We had some flair but we lost that early (through injuries).
“But this year I think we’re just a lot more consistent across the squad. There are a lot of like for likes and that brings a lot of competition into the squad to try and get those spots for round one. I think we just look more balanced across the entire squad.”
Key fixture: Northern Tigers (Away – Round 4). With both zones falling under the Canterbury Bulldogs’ pathway system, there is more than just bragging rights on offer when these two teams face off, with the young guns fighting it out for attention as scouts from Belmore cast their eyes over the regional rep competition.
Players to watch: One to impress so far in the pre-season is Port Macquarie back-rower Cooper Bannon. A powerful runner and solid defender, Bannon was selected in the NSWCCC side last year and looms as a key player for the Bulldogs.
Elsewhere, Wauchope’s Noah Langdon has shown not only his ability at fullback but also fantastic leadership skills in the group, while Sawtell half/five-eighth Javier House looms as a key playmaker for the side.
“He’s looked comfortable at that next level with training and what we’ve learned – he’s taken all of that on,” said Batten.
Squad: Aiden Lockwood, Aiden Hardy, Angus Bowen, Axl Pope, Bailey Pickvance, Chayse French, Connor Laverty, Cooper Bannon, Deion Cafe, Jairah Sheppard, Javier House, Kai Sjoberg, Kaleb Zamore, Koby Bedwell, Levi Newton, Logan Clarke, Malakye Clark, Mason White, Mitchell Hornick, Noah Langdon, Rafferty Gordon, Rhys Carrington, Rily Schafer, Xavier Fittock
MACARTHUR WESTS TIGERS
Captain: TBA
Coach: Adam Whitelaw
Last season: Grand finalists (4-1)
Why they will be competitive: For head coach Adam Whitelaw, he said the collective buy-in of the group is one of the main reasons they will be in good stead come the end of the regular season.
“I was involved with the program last year and this pre-season has been a tough one,” he said.
“The boys have stood up and brought into what we’re all trying to achieve. We have the philosophy that if one hurts, we all hurt. The camaraderie has been good.
“We hope they all develop. We have a very talented group of young men and we think the sky is the limit for them.
“They compete on everything. Everything they do at training, all the little battles and the mental battles in the pre-season, they’ve answered every single one of those challenges.
“We have a wide talent pool. All the sides in the age group (at a local level) have been neck and neck all year.
“There’s good competitions for spots and depth in numerous positions. It’s been a hard selection process to get the squad down from 52 to 28.”
Key fixture: Riverina (Home – Round 1). With three games on the road it’s crucial that the Tigers make a statement when at home, starting with the always competitive Riverina Bulls in the season opener.
Players to watch: Ashton Dewanto is an East Campbelltown junior who has really pushed himself throughout the pre-season to put him in the frame for the starting hooker role. Sonny Mills is a back-rower who started out in the Harold Matthews program and has taken the side to another level since coming back due to his professionalism and work ethic.
Squad (summer): Tyreze Esera Alo, Cooper Bangs, Nick Breski, Declan Brown, Caden Burns, Cooper Butler, Malaki Cooper-McGrath, Jewlius Cowley, Dvonde Dean-Va’alepu, Marcus Desira, Ashton Dewanto, Ghaleb El Hussein, Ryder Faiai, Kye Fittler, Sam Francis, Ryder Goff, Llandon Granger, Fauna Hall, Christopher Katu Feaunati, Harrison Keane, Jett Kelloway, Nathaniel Leal, Jeremiah Leota-Brown, Hunter Lesa Jim, Phoenix Manu, Brayden McInnes, Christian Muagututia, Etuate Neiufi, Tahura Paul-Blake, Sebastian Pei, Connor Potts, Kruze Rapaea, Joshua Ratu, Logan Robertson, Isiah Saleh, Issac Searle, Axel Steel, Xavia Tanea, Brode Tooala, Cohen Warren-Marsden, Justin Wiggins, Harrison Woolford
LAURIE DALEY CUP
CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS
Captain: TBC
Coach: Damian Hargreaves
Last season: 2nd in Northern Pool, eliminated semi-finals (4-1-1)
Why they will be competitive: With some of the brightest under-18s on the Central Coast either signing on for the Roosters’ SG Ball Cup squad or being poached by rival clubs, 2025 will provide an opportunity for some of the region’s unsung heroes to take their opportunity to shine at rep level.
“We’ve got a lot of new faces, and some of those are boys who were on the fringe last year and are looking to step up,” said pathways co-ordinator Steve Deakin.
And while on paper the Roosters might not have the star-studded line-ups of previous seasons, the success and culture of the Central Coast junior rep sides means that the Chooks will once again compete with the very best from the bush.
“I feel we’ve got a great DNA on the Coast,” said Deakin. “We’re a working class area. Although we’re seen as the city slickers in the country comps, we can roll our sleeves up with the best of them.”
Key fixtures: Northern Tigers (Away – Round 1). It will be a blockbuster start to the season as the Tigers and Roosters open their campaigns with a huge clash in Tamworth. They were the best two teams in the Northern Pool last year, with the sides playing out a stunning 26-all draw in what was one of the games of the season in 2024.
Players to watch: The skipper of the 2023 Andrew Johns Cup-winning side, lock Riley Ilham will return to rep footy action this year after suffering a serious injury that hampered much of 2024. A tough but skilful player, Ilham will look to set the example for his side both on and off the field.
Elsewhere, young half/hooker Brok Elliott looms as another key player for the Roosters. The brother of NSW under-19 Origin representative Jake, who is one the verge of an NRL debut in 2025, Brok has impressed in the pre-season after spending time training with the Roosters’ SG Ball squad.
“That young man could be anything he wants,” said Deakin. “I think this is his year to put a stamp on a team.”
Squad: Blade Marquart, Blake Field, Bodie Jeffreys, Brodie Mangan, Brok Elliot, Caleb Peterson, Charlie Baldwin, Cooper Hall, Covelle Jurd, Jacob Flaherty, Jaxson Watene, Jye Hilder, Kaidyn Peckham, Kaleb Burke, Keenan Tufi, Koby Jones, Kian O’Riordan, Kye Nowlan, Lachlan Gatt, Lincolhn Turnbull, Max Taylor, Riley Ilham, Ryan Tukupua, Samuel Flakus, Samuel Logan, Tali Kolofale, Tayte Bayley, Zac Stokes
MONARO COLTS
Captain: TBA
Coach: Brendan Bradley
Last season: Champions (6-1)
Why they will be competitive: While Monaro took out the Laurie Daley Cup last year, it will be a completely different-looking Colts side in 2025, with no players backing up from 2024’s triumph.
And although the team might not have some of the big-name players that have come through the ranks in previous years, coach Brendan Bradley is nevertheless confident his chargers will be competitive and keep the Colts’ strong recent record alive in the competition.
“It’s a pretty good group, we’ve got some size about us. I think we’ll be right,” he said.
“We try and set the standards high every year, especially after being successful the last two years, winning one (grand final) and losing one. Being there or thereabouts is definitely something I emphasise to the group from day one and there’s no reason why we can’t continue to do it.”
Motivation is another factor driving the squad, which hasn’t had the same level of success as other age groups coming through the junior rep system.
“I think the camaraderie of the group and the willingness of them will be a positive. They’ve really bought into what it’s about it,” said Bradley.
“They haven’t had much success as a group coming through. In the 16s they probably missed the boat and the boys who were involved in Harold Matts (with Canberra) weren’t so competitive, so there’s got to be a bit of fire there to excel now that they’re getting a bit older.”
Key fixtures: Riverina (Home – Round 4). While all games are important in a short, five-round season, the Colts always look forward to the southern NSW derby with Riverina, given that both zones fall within the Canberra Raiders’ development system.
Squad: TBA
NORTH COAST BULLDOGS
Captain: TBA
Coach: Peter Wood
Last season: 4th in Northern Pool (1-4)
Why they will be competitive: Some underwhelming results in previous years has prompted the Bulldogs to alter their approach in 2025, with a more sharpened focus on game fundamentals expected to result in improved performances.
“We’ve really focused on the one per centers, the things that have led to errors and cost us in games, and we’ve really upped the ante with fitness and strength,” said coach Peter Wood. “We’ll wait and see how that pans out.”
In particular, the coaching staff have kept a close eye on attitude and the willingness of their young guns to keep on pushing when the going gets tough.
“You look at their attitudes towards training and towards the hard work,” said Wood. “How many of them grit their teeth, bite down on their mouthguard and have a crack? That’s what the pre-season that we’ve just gone through is about.”
Key fixtures: Northern Tigers (Away – Round 4) and Central Coast Roosters (Away – Round 3). While the round four Bulldogs development derby with the Northern Tigers is always one that is pencilled into the calendar early on, the team will be looking forward to testing itself against one of the junior rep heavyweights in the Central Coast Roosters.
“There’s a bit of a rivalry with the Central Coast as well,” said Wood. “I always feel there’s a little bit more on the line when we play against the Roosters. In the last few years each time we’ve played them it’s only been a matter of two or four points.”
Players to watch: The Bulldogs will have one of the most talented halves pairings in the competition in the form of Rielly Laverty and Toby Batten.
Long identified as gun juniors, the pair enjoyed breakout seasons playing A-grade football for Macksville and Nambucca respectively in the Group 2 competition in 2024, and have since been called down to Belmore to take part in Canterbury’s summer training squads.
“They’ve got some eyes on them and are making themselves very well known. It’s a pleasure to work with those kids. They’re not just talented footballers, they’re good human beings,” said Wood.
“It’s their attitude, it’s their application to training. They’ll do extras, they’ll go down to the park by themselves to practice their kicking for hours. When they do it on the football field everyone goes, ‘Oh wow, they’re pretty talented.’ But they put in the work.”
Elsewhere, another player looking to take his game to the next level is tough-as-nails middle forward Gus Single. A good ball-carrier and excellent defender, Single played the entire Group 2 season in first grade for Macksville and will look to set the platform for his halves.
Squad: Aidan Langham, Alfie Walsh, Antwone Quinlin-Randall, Brennan Cuffe, Cale Ogilvy, Cooper Lorger, Cooper Armfield-Stevens, Gus Single, Jesse Stevens, Jett Hanson, Karl Turner, Koby Toomey, Laine Paulson, Logan Bes, Rave Brazier, Rielly Laverty, Sam Schilt, Sam Eggins, Tashiem Abbott, Tim Broderick, Toby Batten, Tyler Abbott, Tynan Forsyth, Wes Le Rougetel, Zayne Shutes
MACARTHUR WESTS TIGERS
Captain: TBA
Coach: Brody Dooner
Last season: Semi Finalists (4-1)
Why they will be competitive: Mentor Brody Dooner has been impressed with the way his squad has been able to handle the rigours of the early training sessions through to where they’re at now.
He said there is a group of fighters who will put themselves right in contention if they can continue to stick together.
“We have a good group of boys in the mix and they’re always putting their best foot forward,” he said.
“The effort areas are something we build on at the Tigers and this whole group of boys are competitors.
“A lot of them want to play NRL and get into these squads. My main job is to develop them. Winning the comp would be great as a bonus, and we have the cattle to do it.
“There’s some real potential here and we want to see them stick around and see where each of them end up next year.
“They’re all local juniors who have played with and against each other. The way they work together is what made training better. They work for each other on and off the field.”
Key fixture: Monaro (Away – Round 2). The Colts handed them their only defeat of the regular season last year and what better way to make a statement than knocking off the defending premiers on their home turf.
Players to watch: Riley Ingersole has grown immensely since his U18s season with East Campbelltown as a year-young halfback. His maturity and willingness to ask for where he can improve has impressed officials. Jake Jones from Camden is someone who has worked super hard. He’ll do whatever job is asked of him and is the voice you can hear from a mile away.
Squad (summer): Cade Anderson, Jeff Aneriueta, James Bengura, Riley Bentham, Kurtis Catford-Potter, Riley Edmunds, Anapapa Faapoi, Solonon-Joseph Falefata, Thomas Galvin, Tyler Gnany, Nuku Gray, Riley Ingersole, William Jenkins, Jake Jones, Isaac Leulu, Ryan Mackander, Julius Muliaga, William Nau, Aaron Paea, Aaron Prodromou, Hunter Redman, Aiden Richards, Richard Roache, Tyler Schuberg, Elisha Sefo, Brodey Taateo, Jerome Taateo, Ethan Tifa, Patrick Toomalatai, Jesse Urqueza, Nehemiah Vaki, John van der Walle, Jordan Vandermade, Tyler Volcov, Keontrell Zaglas
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Originally published as Andrew Johns/Laurie Daley Cup: Rolling season preview for all clubs competing in 2025
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