Rookies, veterans, try scorers, x-factors from each team chasing premiership glory in Illawarra Cup
It’s finals time. Check out the big four from clubs in the Illawarra Cup finals - their top rookies, veterans, x-factors and try scoring heroes.
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It’s that time of the year.
Finals are upon us in the Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup with just a few crucial games to play before the 2023 champions are crowned.
Four teams remain in the competition, with De La Salle, Collegians, Thirroul and Western Suburbs set to battle it out in the semi finals which kick off on the weekend.
Ahead of the finals, we’ve analysed every team and identified four unique game changers from each side that have the power to inspire their team to victory.
Check out the list of rookies, veterans, try scorers and x-factors to keep an eye on this finals series.
Rookies
Cruiz Devine (De La Salle)
A rookie backrower who has been a consistent presence for De La Salle all year while the team has rotated around him due to injuries.
Only 19-years-old, the De La junior has a promising future ahead of him with his physicality in defence and his damaging ball running ability.
Callum Gromek (Collegians)
A leading contender for the Paul McGregor medal in 2023.
From round one the talented fullback in his rookie Illawarra Cup season has looked as though he’s been a part of this Collegians system for years, sliding right into the No. 1 jersey and not looking out of place at all.
A dozen tries and countless try contributions in his debut year is a healthy return for the former Jersey Flegg player.
He could be the game changer for Collegians in the finals.
Dylan Palmer-Quigg (Wests)
Burst onto the first grade scene when first choice fullback Wyndham Peachey picked up an injury earlier in the year and has turned into a real asset for the Devils.
Defensively solid and bringing some real flare to the Devils attack, Palmer-Quigg provided one of the magic moments of the season with his terrific aerial take and offload to assist Kyle Hardie in round nine.
The young gun can turn a game on its head and is one to keep an eye on for the Devils.
Dane Courtney (Thirroul)
A young talent who has been influential when in Butchers colours this season.
Has been playing Jersey Flegg for the Dragons in 2023, but when available has been in either the fullback jersey or making an impact off the bench for the Thirroul side.
Try scorers
Tre Fotu (De La Salle)
Leading the way for De La Salle on the try scoring front with eight, Fotu is a talented centre that has been carving it up from out wide in 2023.
Coming off scoring a couple of tries in SG Ball with the Sharks, Fotu has been damaging with his speed, strength and power.
Sam McCann (Collegians)
This one picks itself, as more times than not this season Sam McCann has been charging over the white line for a four pointer.
For McCann though, it isn’t a case of his team feeding him the footy out wide for him to stroll in and score.
His tries are nearly always from his own hard work, whether it be rising above the pack to field a bomb, or using his big frame to muscle his way to the line, or using his speed to burst away down the wing.
McCann is a complete winger and that’s why he has a league-high 18 tries this season.
Lachlan Hurst (Wests)
Had it not been for the freakish numbers of Sam McCann, Lachlan Hurst could very well be leading the pack with 14 tries scored this season.
Not the biggest but a tough competitor and a natural finisher, whether it be with his speed out wide or his good aerial ability.
Josh Martin (Thirroul)
Martin has returned to the Butchers in 2023 after a stint in England with a bang and has crossed for 11 tries from the left flank.
His speed and aerial ability have contributed to this tally as he’s had to work for a lot of those tries.
X-factors
Jacob Taulani (De La Salle)
Brought into the side recently due to injuries and has really stamped his mark on the centre position.
A Cronulla junior and another 2023 SG Ball player who looks a constant danger whenever the footy is on his side of the park, having scored four tries in his past three games.
Zeik Foster (Collegians)
It was a flip of a coin between Zeik Foster and his halves partner Max Devlin, but Foster edges it for his consistency in the No. 7 jumper this season.
The former NSW Cup player is looking to steer his side to back-to-back premierships from halfback and has been instrumental in 2023 with his kicking and passing game, often providing assists for his forward pack with some clever switches of play.
Alongside Devlin they form arguably the most formidable halves partnerships in the competition.
Levi Pascoe (Wests)
2023 Country representative Pascoe has been a real standout for the Devils this season from second row.
For a big man he’s incredibly good at creating chances for himself and his teammates by busting through a hole in the opposition defence and showing off his pace.
He brings great physicality and knows how to find the line, having scored seven tries this season.
Steven Marsters (Thirroul)
Former NRL player Steven Marsters has been one of the form centres of the competition in 2023 and has nine tries to his name.
Forming a lethal right flank alongside Martin, Marsters is a damaging ball runner and a tough frame to tackle.
His influence from the centre role is phenomenal and he is the definition of an x-factor player.
Veterans
Eli Levido (De La Salle)
An older head who brings incredible maturity to the team and has played every game this season.
Has formed a terrific partnership with Jack Williams in the halves in their first season playing together, with both players bringing out the best in each other’s play styles.
A terrific short kicking game and great instinctive decision making that has led to countless try assists this season.
Not afraid to run the footy either and burst through a hole, having picked up four tries this season.
Blake Phillips (Collegians)
Who could ever forget his match winning try in the 2017 final at WIN Stadium to break Dapto hearts.
Captain Phillips has been in premiership winning Collegians sides in 2017, 2019 and 2022 and is hungry for more.
Phillips still has plenty of life left in the legs and has been in stellar form in 2023, highlighted by his inspirational performance against Thirroul in which he turned the game on its head with a try and last minute try assist.
Justin Rodrigues (Wests)
The ‘Sugar Man’ Justin Rodrigues has been nothing but class this season and was instrumental to the early season undefeated run that his side went on.
A 2018 premiership winner, he’s formed a terrific partnership with long-time teammate Mitch Porter in the halves and would be right up the top of the tally for most try assists in the league this season.
Celebrating his 100th game for the club earlier this year, he’s been arguably the best halfback in the competition in 2023 and will look to crown off a stellar season with another premiership.
Wayne Bremner (Thirroul)
The ever-reliable Bremner has been sorely missed over the past few weeks by the Butchers.
Brings premiership-winning experience to the side and contributes all over the park, whether it be his consistency in defence or his hard ball carries.
He has six tries this season and plenty of contributions to his teammates crossing the white line.
If he’s fit and firing the Butchers are always in with a shot.
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