City-Country: We rate the top performers from the rugby league showcase across all divisions

The future Origin stars were on show in the annual City vs Country fixtures. We rate the top performers from all fixtures, PLUS see a try that has to be seen to be believed in the Physical Disability division.

Wet weather might have forced a venue change, but it didn’t douse the hot on-field action in the annual City-Country fixtures.

A shift from Brookvale to Kogarah helped the games to go ahead, with City taking honours across the two days.

Here’s how the action played out:

U16 BOYS

This was a procession for the City boys, running out dominant 44-0 winners.

It took 16 minutes for them to break through, eventually doing so when Payton Tarau took on the line from a scrum to get over the line.

That led to a surge with Thomas Aroyan the beneficiary of some lovely lead-up work from Charlie Xuereb and Altas Atiulua, before it was Tarau again, this time making a break to put Riley Rostron over.

Xuereb kept things rolling early in the second half, breaking through defenders before hurling a Hail Mary out to Rostron to put Zack Fitzgerald over with ease.

The result was sealed with a pair of tries out of dummy half to Aroyan and Caleb Leiataua.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Payton Tarau (City)

Payton Tarau was on fire for City. Picture: Sean Teuma

U18 BOYS

The U18s was a much different story, with Country flying out of the gates to score first after a lovely flick from Glassie Glassie gave Archie Wheeler an easy passage to the line inside two minutes.

Cameron Bamblett hit back for City when he busted through the line to put Itula Seve over under the sticks, before Toby Batten hit back with a superb individual effort to edge Country ahead just before the break.

That’s before Oliver Lester made a break, found Bamblett who in turn put a lovely ball on the chest of Paul Johnson to give City the halftime advantage.

City put the game to bed early in the second half with back-to-back tries to Seve and Lester to take victory 30-14.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Darcy Smith (City)

U17 GIRLS

Georgia Wansey stole the show with a four-try effort as City came away with an impressive 28-8 win over Country.

Mere Sivo got things rolling in just the second minute, before a lovely effort down the sideline saw Marley Gristwood tie things up for Country.

She had a first-half double, but two to Wansey had City just in front 12-8 at halftime.

Wansey completed her hat-trick early in the second half when getting under a Talea Tonga bomb and racing to the line.

Her stellar showing on the wing was completed with a diving effort in the 48th minute that sealed the victory.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: May Fuimaono (City)

May Fuimaono was on fire Picture Warren Gannon Photography

U19 GIRLS

The closest match of the weekend saw City escape with a thrilling 27-26 golden point victory over Country.

A back-and-forth opening saw City poke their noses in front when Danielle Seckold posted a double in a matter of minutes, before Indie Bostock helped Country take a 16-14 lead at halftime.

It looked like City had done enough when Ava Jones scored to make it 26-20 with five minutes to play.

That was before Elise Simpson came up with the play of the game, making a 60m burst down the sideline, beating three defenders on her way to level the scores with seconds remaining on the clock.

That forced golden point, and it was Kiara McGregor who stepped up for City, slotting it from 22m out with a left-foot strike to send the girls in gold into raptures.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Kiara McGregor (City)

OTHER MATCHES

Jacob Kernick was crowned player of the match as Country took out its only win of the weekend, prevailing 26-14 in the men’s fixture.

It was a largely even contest as the two went toe-to-toe, with City’s Steven Taupau Sako making it a four-point game with under 30 minutes to play.

The result was sealed 10 minutes from full-time with a strong effort from Kernick, powering through defenders and staying alive to score his second and guide Country home.

In the Physical Disability division, it was Bryce Crane who starred in a City win.

Crane has just one arm, but that didn’t stop him from scoring a hat-trick in a solid 26-14 victory.