Leading Illawarra’s next generation: Illawarra Steelers captains announced for 2024 junior rep season
The Illawarra Steelers have announced their captains to lead their troops into battle for the 2024 junior rep season. Hear from the emerging skippers ahead of kick-off.
Local Sport
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Final preparations are taking place across all junior rep camps this week, as the 2024 season beckons for commencement this weekend.
With team list announcements this week also came the announcement of the young captains leading their troops into battle, with four exciting prospects presented with the armbands across the four grades for the Illawarra Steelers.
Lock forward Daniel Meafou will captain the SG Ball side, halfback Kasey Reh will captain in Tarsha Gale, halfback Lexin O’Dea will take the reins of the Harold Matthews side, and second rower Tahlia O’Brien leads the Lisa Fiaola Cup side.
SG Ball head coach Shaun Timmins spoke on his decision to appoint Meafou as captain, highlighting how impressed he’s been by the attitude of his young forward.
“It was an easy decision in the end,” Timmins said.
“I liked his leadership qualities. He’s not much of a talker, I don’t mind that in a captain, he just leads by his actions.
“He’s been in the Steelers system for a couple of years now and sort of plays like a leader type, and the boys seem to follow him and have a lot of faith in him.”
Meafou, who comes from a rugby union background but plays club rugby league for Western Suburbs, was a humble recipient of the armband and keen to repay the faith Timmins has put in him.
“I’m just very grateful, not only to get a starting spot in the team, but to have the opportunity to captain these boys,” Meafou said.
“Obviously my first goal was to make the side. Once I got that, naturally the next thing was to try and become a leader around training. To be fortunate enough to become captain then is a big honour.”
Meafou is keen to line-up in the forward pack alongside Devils teammates Viliami and Tyrone Amone, a menacing forward pack set to unleash on the Rabbitohs in round one.
And while it’s a big personal achievement for Meafou, he’s not taking his foot off the gas yet.
“For me personally, it’s about not being complacent,” Meafou said.
“It’s a great opportunity to get that captain role but you can’t stop pushing now. For the team this weekend, I’ll just be bringing that energy from the start.”
2023 Australian U18 Schoolgirls representative Kasey Reh has been entrusted with the captain’s responsibility for the Tarsha Gale girls, having been the standout leader in the eyes of coach Courtney Crawford.
“It was easy, but also difficult, there’s quite a bunch of those players that would have stepped into that role pretty easily,” Crawford said.
“But for me, Kase leads with her actions, and then with her voice. She’s got the sort of voice that other players react to and follow quite quickly.
“For her I think it’s about changing nothing in that way that she does things and just leaving it how she naturally plays.”
Reh, who was a key part of the dominant Illawarra Steelers Lisa Fiaola Cup side in 2023, is embracing the challenge of taking the captain’s armband in her first season of Tarsha Gale Cup footy.
“Training has been a big step up this year. I think the fitness side of things has definitely improved, we’re really being pushed at training,” Reh said.
“Definitely a bit more physical, a bit more challenging.
“We’ve got a great leadership group within the girls, everyone knows their role and is great at what they do, so to be captain for them is a big honour.”
A Stingrays of Shellharbour junior and champion with the U18s in 2023, Reh has plenty of Stingrays company to link up with this weekend, with the likes of Mia Rose Walsh, Bianca Jones, as well as her halves partner Evie McGrath all joining her in Steelers colours.
“I definitely love lining up with Evie. She’s one of those girls you want to be playing alongside, she’s got a lot of energy, she’s a great leader and a great player,” Reh said.
“Honestly they’re all great … there’s no one else I’d rather be playing with than these girls.
“I’ll be pushing myself to be better, and that comes with playing with these girls, they’ll be pushing me to be better as well.
Round one fixtures:
All games at Collegians Sporting Complex, Figtree | Saturday February 3
10.30am – Lisa Fiaola Cup | Steelers v South Sydney Rabbitohs
12.00pm – Tarsha Gale Cup | Steelers v South Sydney Rabbitohs
1.30pm – Harold Matthews Cup | Steelers v South Sydney Rabbitohs
3.00pm – SG Ball Cup | Steelers v South Sydney Rabbitohs
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