NSWRL Junior Reps: Full wrap of Harold Matthews, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball, Tarsha Gale prelim finals

The NSWRL Junior Reps preliminary finals are here to determine who will advance to the grand finals at Leichhardt Oval. Catch the latest as each match unfolds on Saturday and Sunday.

Jason Hosken and Sean Teuma

5 min read

April 26, 2025 - 5:44PM

News Sport Network

Catea Duff was a part of Parramatta’s epic victory in the Lisa Fiaola Cup. Picture: Martin Ollman.

Sport

Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.

The NSWRL Junior Reps preliminary finals are here with two big days to determine who will advance to the grand finals at Leichhardt Oval.

We have all the action covered from a huge weekend as 16 teams is set to become eight.

Follow along for our coverage of the female preliminary finals on Saturday and the male divisions on Sunday.

DAY ONE

EELS HANG ON IN THRILLER

In the upset of the season Parramatta are through to the Lisa Fiaola Cup grand final after the Eels staged a miracle, downing the previously unbeaten Canterbury 22-20 at The Oaks.

In an end-to-end thriller where the lead changed seven times, Canterbury looked set to strike in the final play of the game until Eels centre Georgia Wansey produced the stuff of dreams, dragging down Jayda Peo short of the line.

Canterbury started as the favourites after the reigning premiers hammered the third ranked Eels in round nine, and it looked set to continue when centre Asha Taumoepeau-Williams breezed past several defenders to score after just five minutes.

But it wasn’t to be as Parramatta kept finding answers. Bailey Ma-Chong quickly levelled the scores, one of several crucial plays from the skipper who also broke the 20-all deadlock with a pressure penalty goal three minutes before full time.

Parramatta hooker Bailey Ma-Chong came up with the clutch play against Canterbury. Picture: Martin Ollman

At their best from set plays, the Eels raced in two tries from scrums. Five-eighth Sharon Latapu sent Cody Tuimaseve steaming across to give her side a 12-10 halftime advantage.

Then after Taumoepeau-Williams put Canterbury back in front, winger Hine Rikiti found herself in space from another scrum play, racing 40m along the touchline to score in the left corner.

Evelyn Roberts was among Canterbury’s best. A solo effort from the quick thinking skipper gave the Dogs a 20-16 advantage, but it was short lived when the Eels levelled through halfback Temieke Withers.

In the end, a Bulldogs ruck infringement proved the difference. Even then, it was a close thing as Ma-Chong’s penalty kick struck the left upright before dropping over the crossbar.

EELS CONTINUE DAY OUT

Hot on the heels of their stunning Lisa Fiaola Cup victory, Parramatta doubled the misery on Canterbury, advancing to the Tarsha Gale decider in the second match of the day at Dudley Chesham Sports Ground.

In another win against the odds, the 18-8 victory continued an impressive surge by the Eels who finished the preliminary rounds four spots below Canterbury in fifth place.

Although they were never headed, the blue and gold girls were pushed all day by a resilient Canterbury outfit and only booked their grand final ticket when Tess McWilliams pounced on a Khyliah Gray grubber kick in the final two minutes.

It was a well deserved try for the menacing prop, who alongside Taylah Falaniko punched out key metres for the Eels.

Khyliah Gray set up the final try in Parramatta’s Tarsha Gale win. Picture: Martin Ollman

Ryvrr-Lee Alo also impressed upfront. The busy lock struck the first blow under the posts before Canterbury struck back in style midway through the opening half.

On the outside of clever hands from fullback Milahn Ieremia and Tia’ane Tavita Fesolai, Simina Lokotui scrambled into the left corner to get Canterbury back within two points.

It looked like being the halftime score until Eels winger Avena Racoma Ngata steamed onto a lucky bounce, turning the ball back inside for hooker Ava Jones to race across to make it 12-4.

Canterbury’s points in the second half came when Shafenior Lui exploded out of dummy half and brushed away several tacklers. With the hard work done the No.14 sent Tia’ane Tavita Fesolai dashing into the left corner.

CENTRAL COAST EARN THEIR STRIPES

In another finals classic, Central Coast advanced to the Lisa Fiaola Cup grand final after the Roosters contained a surging Wests Tigers 22-16.

In a fantastic advertisement for junior footy, this one had everything from start to finish.

The Tigers hit the ground running when back-rower Saige Tautalafua exploded off her left foot to open the scoring in the third minute.

Not to be out done, Roosters lock Anastasia Leatupue struck in almost identical fashion six minutes later, starting a golden 10-minute period that yielded three consecutive tries.

With back-to-back tries to winger Coco Butcher, Central Coast took an eight-point lead to the sheds and seemingly put last season’s grand finalists to bed when five-eighth Mia Vaotuua barged over to make it 16-4 to open the second half.

Mia Vaotuua put her body on the line for Central Coast in the Lisa Fiaola Cup. Picture: Sue Graham

The tide started to turn, but with a wealth of possession the Tigers just couldn’t crack the best defence in the competition.

They kept knocking and eventually inspirational hooker Dawn Tui unlocked the Roosters’ door.

Buoyed by a boisterous home crowd and repeat sets, the Tigers comeback grew an extra leg with just under 10 minutes to play when May Fuimaono crashed over to level the scores at 16 apiece.

What happened next wouldn’t have looked out of place in Origin.

On the end of an overlap, Charlotte Withers looked odds on to score the winning try, but the Tigers winger spilt the ball over the line when she was blindsided by the flying cover defence of Mia Vaotuua.

It was the break the Roosters needed, and with a few minutes left Talea Tonga did the rest. After putting Coco Marsters through a gap in the next set, the No.7 backed up and raced away with arm raised to put Central Coast into the decider.

ROOSTERS CONTINUE DREAM RUN

The Sydney Roosters are within reach of hoisting the Tarsha Gale Cup from seventh place after they eliminated reigning premiers Illawarra 30-14 in the final match on Saturday.

They won’t start as favourites against Parramatta in next week’s decider, but that won’t worry coach Keeley Davis after her side defied the odds again, this time out scoring the minor premiers six tries to three.

In a low scoring first half, Illawarra winger Charlotte Campbell struck first when she regathered a Tahlia O’Brien kick, and it was 4-all at the break after the Roosters levelled through captain Georgie Barrett.

Lacey Cross was outstanding for the Tricolours in the second half. Stationed on the left edge, the bustling backrower found space immediately after the restart, paving the way for hooker Mahlie Cashin to barge over.

Lacey Cross had a blinder for Sydney Roosters. Picture: Sean Teuma

Then with the Roosters holding a slender 18-14 advantage with 10 minutes remaining, Cross put the game to bed with an electrifying solo effort. Across 70m, the No.11 bumped and swerved past defenders before outlasting the cover in a mad dash to the line.

Sharing in the highlight reel moments, centre Tyra Ekepati also turned on the afterburners with a stunning 80m effort. While Cashin was never far from the action, scoring a second half double and helping Jayda Durham to score out wide.

For Illawarra, second-rower Siulolo Richter showed pace and power to barge over, and hooker Tori Shipton struck from close range after Bronte Wilson was held up short of the line.