Future of the NRL on show as we look at the 70 SG Ball players who have risen to Flegg, NSW Cup
The SG Ball Cup season may be over, but some of the NSWRL’s brightest young guns are still in the picture. See the 70 talents who have stepped up to Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup so far in 2023.
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THE conclusion of the SG Ball season doesn’t mean the end of the year for our brightest U19s talents.
Since Parramatta took out the title in convincing fashion last month, we’ve seen a host of players get the call up to Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup.
We look at 70 talents who have got the call up to higher honours so far in 2023.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
A strong contingent of the SG Ball Cup minor premiers have received game time in Flegg this year. Jalen Afamasaga, Joe Roddy, Owen Pattie, Jack Clydesdale and Jaxon Lavendar have all spent time in the side, with Roddy and Afamasaga earning starting spots in the back-row and five-eighth respectively.
Jermaine Pangai, the younger brother of star forward Tevita, started the year at Canterbury before being picked up by the Raiders.
Gun fullback Chevy Stewart has had a taste of both Flegg and NSW Cup in 2022.
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
The pathways have been on full display for the Bulldogs, and with injuries hitting from the top, it’s had a flow-on effect to give more youngsters a shot.
Kallum Weatherall-Stacey, Daniel Corcoran, Maraki Aumua, Lajuan Vito, Jack Underhill, Fanafou Seve and Mohamad Rajab all featured in Flegg at the weekend as they rolled out a very young team against the Storm.
Jonathan Su’a and Michael Gabrael have both played throughout the season, while Jordi Mazzone and Joash Papali’i have spent time in NSW Cup as both continue to impress in the backline.
CRONULLA SHARKS
Felix Fa’atili has been named as a reserve in Jersey Flegg for the past few weeks, while lock Samuel McCullouch has moved up to train with the squad and should see game time in the near future.
MANLY SEA EAGLES
While it was a tough SG Ball season for the Sea Eagles, a few high achievers have got the call-up to Flegg.
Highly touted half Latu Fainu has already had a taste of Flegg, and now the 17-year-old has had a shot at NSW Cup.
Halves partner Tylor Bunting has had a few games of U21s along wit Lehi Hopoate, while Koby Douglas has been able to lock down a spot in the centres.
MELBOURNE STORM
Talented hooker Suliasi Prescott has been a regular on the bench for the Storm in Flegg after being shining lights in a challenging Ball season.
Zayvian Langkile-Fale has recently been promoted and is strong enough to hold his spot.
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
There’s plenty to get excited about for the future of the Knights as their players climb the ladder.
Fletcher Sharpe, Kyle McCarthy, Taj Blackman, Myles Martin, Jermaine McEwen, Caleb Garvie and Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana all took to the field for Newcastle in their latest outing at the weekend against the Dragons in Cessnock.
Recent South Sydney Rabbitohs signing Ethan Ferguson has played in the NSW Cup this season. All eight played in a narrow grand final loss to the Eels.
Jarome Falemoe was superb in the SG Ball prelim final, and has been rewarded with a starting spot in the centres.
PARRAMATTA EELS
The premiers have been rewarded for their efforts with a couple of players stepping up to Flegg.
Grand final man of the match Ethan Sanders and prolific tryscorer Richard Penisini were both strong in a win over Canberra at the weekend. Expect more of their teammates to join the side in the coming weeks.
Matthew Arthur and Apa Twidle did just that agaist the Rabbitohs, starting on the interchange and fullback respectively at the weekend.
PENRITH PANTHERS
The Penrith nursery continues to excel with a handful of players earning their place in the Flegg team.
Luron Patea has been a fixture within the side, with Billy Phillips locking down a bench spot in recent weeks.
Hudson Brown and Jakeb Vailalo have had a go in recent times, with Luke Hanson not far away after being named as a reserve.
Timothy Sielaff-Burns has made an immediate impact since coming onto the wing, slotting seven goals and scoring two tries in as many games.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
The next generation of Rabbitohs have been able to step up into the U21s throughout the year.
Outside backs Tyrone Munro, Dane Towns and Haizyn Mellars have all spent time in Flegg, with Munro an excitement machine on the wing.
New recruit Jye Gray is making the six jersey his own, with Thomas Fletcher and Liam Le Blanc also regulars in the side.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
With both the Steelers and Dragons feeding into their Jersey Flegg set up, St George Illawarra is strongly represented by its young guns.
The Steelers talent that has stepped up includes Wesley Pring, Te Umuariki Heremia-Tukere, Lyhkan King-Togia, Ashton Ward, Dylan Egan, Hamish Stewart, Jett Liu and Ethan Cliff in a real testament to the strong season they had.
Loko Tonga, Nicholas Tsougranis, Nicholas Quinn and Corey Ackers represent the Dragons contingent making the grade.
In a further coup for the club, Egan was named as a starter in NSW Cup at the weekend.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
After a semi finals appearance, Roosters duo Cassius Tia and Benaiah Ioelu. The pair were both strong throughout the SG Ball season at five-eighth and hooker respectively.
WESTS TIGERS
With contributions from Wests and Balmain, the Tigers have had a handful of their U19s players make the grade this year.
Josh Feledy and Tony Sukkar from the Tigers have experienced a lot of game time in Flegg this season, with Tallyn Da Silva, Jordan Miller and Kit Lauili’i recently earning their places in the side after the conclusion of the Magpies’ year.
They’ve also added Canterbury halfback and captain Iverson Matai in recent weeks, who has come off the bench.
Chris Fa’agutu made his long-awaited Flegg debut, coming off the bench against Penrith in round 12.
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