20 Illawarra Steelers Harold Matts, SG Ball, Lisa Fiaola, Tarsha Gale squad players to watch in 2025
After nabbing a premiership and three finals appearances this year, the Illawarra Steelers are looking to back it up in 2025. Here are 20 players across all four divisions who are set to fire.
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This season proved to be a fruitful one for the Illawarra Steelers.
Their Tarsha Gale Cup side went through as undefeated premiers while they were able to qualify two further grades for the finals.
With a strong base in the region and the south coast, they’ll be looking for a similar level of success this time around.
Here are 20 players across Harold Matthews, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup who can spearhead the charge.
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Harold Matthews - Lisa Fiaola - SG Ball - Tarsha Gale
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HAROLD MATTHEWS
MASON ANDREWS
The lock-forward enters his second season of Harold Matthews after performing strongly in 2024.
As well as playing up in reps, we saw him fire in the front row for the Kiama U18s. Can kick goals if needed and provides so much versatility in the middle.
JETT BROOKFIELD
The younger brother of Koffi, Jett also plays in the halves and he steps up for his maiden season of Harold Matthews.
A Kiama junior, Brookfield featured for Illawarra South Coast in the Johns Cup this year and is regarded by officials as a quality game manager.
MACE SCOFIELD
Made his mark as an interchange forward throughout the U17s season and will be mounting his case for a starting position.
The Koori U17s representative gives them plenty of muscle in the front row and the Stingrays junior is one who can take big steps next year.
TAJ BARRETT
The Berry junior will make the rise in grade from Andrew Johns Cup to Harold Matts after lining up with Illawarra South Coast this year.
We saw him feature at lock and in the second row, and with his size the Steelers may opt to exploit opposition sides out on an edge.
JAXON BALLINGER
Will enter the new year off a breakout season that saw him start with the Illawarra South Coast Dragons and progress into the Harold Matts side.
That taste of the higher level at the end of the year will serve as a great benefit for the young centre from Kiama who can also kick goals.
LISA FIAOLA
HALLE BARRETT
The daughter of club great Trent, Halle enters her second year of the U17s after impressing as an underage player in 2024.
Made the transition from the back row into the centres and looked right at home. Was rewarded with a Country U17s rep jersey and looks a very progressive type.
MADISON HEMOPO
Makes the move from the Sydney Roosters where she featured as an interchange dummy half in a strong side.
Played her club footy with Kiama so the move isn’t unexpected and she showed enough in her first year of Fiaola to suggest she will shape as an excellent recruit.
TAHANNI KAUFUSI
A front rower with plenty of mongrel and is another who has the benefit of a Fiaola campaign under her belt.
The Kiama junior had the benefit of training with the HNWP squad during the season and is someone the Steelers have big plans for in the coming years.
MICHALA HARDY
Really caught the eye this year as a 15-yaer-old who didn’t look out of place against the older girls.
Had time in both the centres and middle as a lock and was equally as impressive in both positions. Led the team for the year with eight tries.
HOLLY CZORNOBEJ
A fullback who is set to bring a lot to the side in 2025 with her dynamic ability and lightning pace.
Czornobej was a tryscoring machine for Albion Park Oat Flats at club level, finishing third on the scoring list for the competition, including five in one match.
SG BALL
KADE REED
Injury again interrupted his season but will get the chance to light it up in his second season of SG Ball.
The benefits of an NRL pre-season and partnering Lyhkan King-Togia in the halves will see the rising halfback come into his own next year.
LEEROY WEATHERALL
Makes the step up from Harold Matthews and you’d be brave to suggest the big second rower won’t handle it.
Recently signed a four-year deal with the Dragons that will see him eventually step up into the NRL program, such is the future the club sees in him.
DANIEL MEAFOU
Was given the captaincy honours last year in a great endorsement from coach Shaun Timmins and that showed in his play.
A talented back-rower, Meafou led from the front throughout 2024 and is one the Steelers can count on to again have a major impact.
JACK TALBOTT
Came into the Steelers Harold Matthews program last year after claiming honours as the 2023 Andrew Johns Cup Player of the Year.
Led the club in tries and points for the season. Backed that up for the Warilla-Lake South U18s, adding 18 tries and 212 points to help them reach the grand final.
TYRONE AMONE
Steps up for his second season of SG Ball after proving a valuable asset as a bench forward this year.
His impact from the interchange was crucial, as was his ability to feature in the front and second row. Will be pushing for a starting spot in 2025.
TARSHA GALE
KOFFI BROOKFIELD
We got a glimpse of what she could do when called up to the HNWP side at just 17 years of age after missing the Fiaola Cup season through injury.
To achieve a premiership in that grade so young will do wonders for the confidence of the young halfback coming into her first year of U19s footy.
SERIAH PALEPALE
A new recruit from Canterbury and she also brings a winning mindset as part of the Bulldogs’ Fiaola Cup success.
The front rower was unstoppable at times and scored an incredible seven tries for the season (ninth in the competition). A strong addition to a good side.
KIARA KOSTOVSKI
Makes the step up from U17s where she featured at fullback and on the back of her good form was given a shot at HNWP late in the season and didn’t disappoint, scoring a double on debut against St George.
There’ll be competition for spots, but she can put her best foot forward.
INDIE BOSTOCK
Rises from a development contract into the NRLW squad for next season and a strong U19s campaign will put her right in contention to make her first grade debut.
Did it all in 2024 - Bostock won a Tarsha Gale title, represented the NSW U19s and was part of the victorious HNWP side. There’s a reason the Dragons are keen to keep her in the system.
TORI SHIPTON
Another who will make the leap from Fiaola to Gale and she looks like she will handle the rise in class with ease.
The talented dummy half was a standout throughout last year and earned a shot at HNWP, holding her spot as a young player in the grand final win.
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