Future league stars: City vs Country squads revealed ahead of Leichhardt Oval showcase
The bright young stars of rugby league are on show with NSW jerseys on the line. We take a look at the latest squads from the bumper City vs Country festival of footy at Leichhardt Oval.
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City vs Country has turned into a showcase of the brightest young men and women across the state.
Four underage divisions mixed in with an open mens, wheelchair, disability and two Police fixtures creates a festival of football at Leichhardt Oval across 17 and 18 May.
With squads starting to roll in, we take a look at the young stars who will step up next weekend.
U16 BOYS
There will be more than just NSW Origin jerseys on the line as Country look to hit back after going down 30-0 to City in last year’s under-16s clash.
This year’s Andrew Johns Cup premiers the Central Coast Roosters are well represented in the Country squad with six players, led by skipper and lock Alexander Stephenson, crafty half Jack Dean-Potaka and tryscoring machine Semi Leweniqila on the wing.
Unsurprisingly, all four Johns Cup semi-finalists are well represented, with four Western Rams players making the cut and three each from the Macarthur Wests Tigers and Newcastle-Maitland Region Knights. Western fullback Taj Jordan, Newcastle five-eighth Chase Butler and Macarthur lock Kye Penfold will be among those looking to build on their excellent rep season form in the clash.
Meanwhile City will be out to extend its excellent recent record in the fixture with a squad heavily dominated by the competition heavyweights.
Grand finalists Western Suburbs and third-placed Parramatta both have four players each in the squad, while fellow finals side the Roosters (three) and Cronulla (two) are represented, with centre Braith Sloane the only player picked from minor premiers Canterbury.
Country: Chase Butler (Newcastle Maitland Region Knights), Kalen Cashin (Central Coast Roosters), Logan Coombes (Western Rams), Jack Dean-Potaka (Central Coast Roosters), Jake Gaffney (Macarthur Wests Tigers), Duncan Gatt-Smith (Central Coast Roosters), Koby Houghton (Central Coast Roosters), Taj Jordan (Western Rams), Semi Leweniqila (Central Coast Roosters), Billy Mulheran (Northern Rivers Titans), Curtis Mulherin (Newcastle Maitland Region Knights), Kye Penfold (Macarthur Wests Tigers), Kemp Riches (Western Rams), Triston Ross (Western Rams), Andrew Sio (Macarthur Wests Tigers), Mitchell Sleigh (Illawarra South Coast Dragons), Alexander Stephenson (Central Coast Roosters), Chip Valentish (Newcastle Maitland Region Knights). Coach: Shaun Davison.
City: Cyrus Bloomfield (Parramatta Eels), Talmage Brown (Penrith Panthers), Liam Challenor (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Jamie Curran (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Cruz Death (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Darcy Feltham (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Thomas Goodfield (Western Suburbs Magpies), Siotame Havea Jr (Western Suburbs Magpies), Ashton Large (Western Suburbs Magpies), Leo-Stipe Latu (Penrith Panthers), Jhevon Lele (Western Suburbs Magpies), Lachlan Metcalfe (Sydney Roosters), Michael Nauer (Parramatta Eels), Jeziah Papa (Sydney Roosters), Samuel Polley (Parramatta Eels), Talen Risati (Parramatta Eels), Braith Sloane (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Paula Teisina (Sydney Roosters). Coach: Frank Pritchard.
U17 GIRLS
Parramatta is the most represented club with six girls in the City side, while the Central Coast has the same number of girls who will don the Country colours.
After an undefeated Lisa Fiaola Cup campaign, the Bulldogs have been rewarded with four players chosen for City, including the competition’s leading pointscorer Oliva Vaalele.
The Wests Tigers advanced to the grand final and will feature four players, with Hannah Ison the only Panther to wear City colours.
Mia Vaotuua (CC Roosters) was the leading tryscorer in the Fiaola Cup and is a well-earned Country representative.
Teuila Ahkey had the honour of most tries during the regional Fiaola Cup, and she is one of four Monaro Colts in the Country side.
Country: Teuila Ahkey (Monaro Colts), Halle Barrett (Illawarra Steelers), Ellie Brander (Central Coast Roosters), Mahlie Cashin (Central Coast Roosters), Macey Cox (Newcastle Knights), Paula-Lee Going (Monaro Colts), Emilee-Rose Hall (Central Coast Roosters), Isla Hodgson (Newcastle Knights), Ella Knowles (Central Coast Roosters), Emily Macarthur (Newcastle Knights), Tahlia O’Brien (Illawarra Steelers), Molly Pittman (Central Coast Roosters), Makenna Ravouvou (Monaro Colts), Tori Shipton (Illawarra Steelers), Maronay Smuts (Newcastle Knights), Uta Uatisone Poka (Monaro Colts), Mia Vaotuua (Central Coast Roosters), Joshalynn Walker (Northern Rivers Titans). Coach: Jayme Fressard.
City: Paige Attard (Wests Tigers), Rhiannon Bonner (Wests Tigers), Lacey Cross (Sydney Roosters), Aliahana Fuimaono (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), May Fuimaono (Wests Tigers), Khyliah Gray (Parramatta Eels), Hannah Ison (Penrith Panthers), Anastasia Leatupue (Sydney Roosters), Logan Lemusu (Parramatta Eels), Lucyannah Luamanu-Leiataua (Wests Tigers), Bailey Ma-Chong (Parramatta Eels), Angel Schaafhausen-Mino (Wests Tigers), Alleya Scrivens (Parramatta Eels), Danielle Seckold (Parramatta Eels), Trinity Tauaneai (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Fontayne Tufuga (Parramatta Eels), Olivia Vaalele (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Kiana Vatubua (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs). Coach: Charlotte Henry.
U18 BOYS
There are plenty of familiar faces for City in the under-18s, with eight of those who took part in the 36-12 victory in the under-16s clash in 2022 backing up again in this year’s squad.
They include halves pairing Mitchell Woods (Bulldogs) and Toby Rodwell (Roosters), outstanding St George back-rower Jacob Halangahu and Newcastle pair Jack Hilliar and Connor Votano.
The premiership-winning Dragons team and beaten grand finalists Canterbury both have three players in the squad, as do semi-finalists Newcastle, while returning rep players Luke Laulilii (Western Suburbs) and Hokafonu Lemoto (Penrith) are one of two representatives selected from both the Magpies and Panthers respectively.
Meanwhile, there is a very strong Monaro flavour to the Country side, with the Laurie Daley Cup premiers contributing an incredible eight players, plus coach Brendan Bradley, to the squad.
They include the excellent young halfback Jonah Anderson, hooker Mitchell Brophy and front-row pair Alex Hardy and Jesse Milin.
Beaten grand finalists the Northern Tigers have two players in the squad in the form of halfback Jordan Hamlin and fullback Reece Josephson, while fellow semi-finalists Macarthur and the Central Coast have four and two representatives respectively.
Elsewhere, the squad is bolstered by outstanding Western five-eighth Cooper Black, who had a brilliant junior rep season for the Rams.
Country: Jonah Anderson (Monaro Colts), Cooper Black (Western Rams), Mitchell Brophy (Monaro Colts), Billy Brown (Central Coast Roosters), James Croker (Monaro Colts), Archie Duncombe (Macarthur Wests Tigers), Joseph Elton (Monaro Colts), Josiah Fesolai (Central Coast Roosters), Saint Fuatimau (Macarthur Wests Tigers), Jordan Hamlin (Northern Tigers), Alex Hardy (Monaro Colts), Harry Hudson (Monaro Colts), Reece Josephson (Northern Tigers), Kohan Lewis (Macarthur Wests Tigers), Jesse Milin (Monaro Colts), Dylan Smith (Macarthur Wests Tigers), Zechariah Taufa (Illawarra South Coast Dragons), Luke Tuialii (Monaro Colts). Coach: Brendan Bradley.
City: Hayden Buchanan (Illawarra Steelers), Alex Challenor (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Jezaiah Funa-Luta (Parramatta Eels), Jacob Halangahu (St George Dragons), Jack Hilliar (Newcastle Knights), Cody Hopwood (Newcastle Knights), Finau Latu (St George Dragons), Luke Laulilii (Western Suburbs Magpies), Hokafonu Lemoto (Penrith Panthers), Heamasi Makasini (Western Suburbs Magpies), Zaidas Muagututia (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Kye Raven (Penrith Panthers), Ratu Rinakama (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Toby Rodwell (Sydney Roosters), Cyrus Stanley-Traill (St George Dragons), Connor Votano (Newcastle Knights), Nikora Williams (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Mitchell Woods (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs). Coach: Peter Marrapodi.
U19 WOMEN
On the back of Illawarra’s success with an undefeated Tarsha Gale Cup premiership, they will feature an incredible 12 players in the Country side, as well as head coach Courtney Crawford.
That dozen includes recent NRLW signings Charlotte Basham, Kasey Reh and Bronte Wilson.
Roosters duo Tess McWilliams and Tyra Ekepati will reconnect with their Country upbringings, with Oriana Epati the lone City selection from the tricolours.
Canterbury is the dominant team in the City side with seven players chosen, while Taneisha Gray overcame a tough season with St George to shine bright and earn her place in the side.
City coach Karen Stuart will be presented with a selection dilemma, with both Abby Aros and Tia-Jordyn Vasilovski starring at fullback for the Bulldogs and Sharks respectively this season.
Country: Cheyenne Baker (Wests Tigers), Charlotte Basham (Illawarra Steelers), Indie Bostock (Illawarra Steelers), Makaah Darcy (Newcastle Knights), Tyra Ekepati (Sydney Roosters), Evie Jones (Newcastle Knights), Ella Koster (Illawarra Steelers), Evie McGrath (Illawarra Steelers), Tess McWilliams (Sydney Roosters), Hope Millard (Illawarra Steelers), Maria Paseka (Illawarra Steelers), Herewaka Pohatu (Illawarra Steelers), Kasey Reh (Illawarra Steelers), Chelsea Savill (Illawarra Steelers), Mia-Rose Walsh (Illawarra Steelers), Lilly-Ann White (Newcastle Knights), Bronte Wilson (Illawarra Steelers), Sienna Yeo (Illawarra Steelers). Coach: Courtney Crawford.
City: Ryvrr-Lee Alo (Parramatta Eels), Abby Aros (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Lili Boyle (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Claudia Brown (Wests Tigers), Oriana Epati (Sydney Roosters), Taneisha Gray (St George Dragons), Kayla Henderson (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Waimarie Martin (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Bella McEachern (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Evah McEwen (Newcastle Knights), Rory Muller (Parramatta Eels), Ambryn Murphy-Haua (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Audrey Nadaya-Harb (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Raphaella Perigo (Parramatta Eels), Pauline Suli-Ruka (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Manilita Takapautolo (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Lindsay Tui (Parramatta Eels), Tia-Jordyn Vasilovski (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks). Coach: Karen Stuart.
OPEN MEN
Country have stuck with a tried and tested approach as they look to defend their title, with an incredible nine Newcastle players selected in the squad, the same amount that took part in the 26-20 victory last year.
The Newcastle contingent is highlighted by five-eighth Chad O’Donnell, hooker Luth Huth and fullback Cameron Anderson, the brother of Melbourne Storm outside back Grant, who was handed man-of-the-match honours in the Rebels’ Country Championships final victory over Monaro.
There are also some famous rugby league names in the ranks, with Ryan Glanville, the son of former Newcastle forward Marc, and Jayden Butterfield, the nephew of Knights great Tony, making the cut.
Elsewhere, former Souths and Cook Islands international Steven Marsters will add some firepower out wide, while Riverina trio James Morgan, Lachlan Munro and Royce Tout have ensured that the Bulls are well represented.
As for City, the squad will be announced after round eight of the Ron Massey Cup this weekend.
Country: Cameron Anderson (Newcastle Maitland Region Knights), Joshua Ayers (Monaro Colts), Jake Brisbane (Macarthur Wests Tigers), Jayden Butterfield (Newcastle Maitland Region Knights), Joshua Dowel (Illawarra South Coast Dragons), Ryan Glanville (Newcastle Maitland Region Knights), Lewis Hamilton (Newcastle Maitland Region Knights), Luke Huth (Newcastle Maitland Region Knights), Steven Marsters (Illawarra South Coast Dragons), James Morgan (Riverina Bulls), Lachlan Munro (Riverina Bulls), Chad O’Donnell (Newcastle Maitland Region Knights), Ryan Shaw (Central Coast Roosters), Matthew Soper-Lawler (Newcastle Maitland Region Knights), James Taylor (Newcastle Maitland Region Knights), Royce Tout (Riverina Bulls), Honeti Tuha (Newcastle Maitland Region Knights), Jake Woods (Central Coast Roosters). Coach: Wade Forrester.
City: TBC
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