Next-gen rising: 120+ SG Ball stars to make the leap to Jersey Flegg U21s this season

They’re rising fast. Over 120 SG Ball products have graduated to Jersey Flegg in 2025. These are the names you’ll want to remember as they continue to climb through the grades.

It’s the next step on the pathway to the NRL.

The end of the SG Ball (U19s) season earlier this season has opened the door for some of the game’s elite young talents to continue their journey in Jersey Flegg (U21s).

We look at the 120+ players who have made the leap this season:

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CANBERRA RAIDERS

After a very impressive U19s campaign that saw them reach the preliminary finals, Canberra has been well represented with nine players making the jump. Among those are quality halves Jamie Cowling and Braydan Darmody who look set for bigger things. Fullback Sylas Simon enjoyed a big end to the season and has been rewarded for that, along with flyer Cooper Johnston. Hookers Mitchell Brophy and Luke Cannon have been solid out of dummy half, with big forwards Jayze Tuigamala, Samuel Hyne and Roman Tuaimau also featuring.

Bronson Reuben. Picture: Martin Ollman

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS

Canterbury has blooded a few from their pathways in recent times, and seven SG Ball players are on the right path with Flegg appearances this season. Gun halves Bronson Reuben, Alex Conti and Mitchell Woods are two that have fired, with the former now a standout in NSW Cup. Kaawyn Patterson has continued his ascendancy since joining from New Zealand. Forwards Oliva Smith and Patrick Carey have taken the next step, along with talented outside back Jope Rauqe after two years in Ball.

CRONULLA SHARKS

Just the five Sharks have earned a call-up to Jersey Flegg, but it’s fair to say there is no shortage of quality among them. There are huge opinions on Nikora Williams, a NSW U19s representative who is a gun on an edge. He was joined in that U19s rep fixture by Queensland’s Prestyn Laine-Sietu who has been strong in Flegg. Oliver Lester is still a year young for SG Ball which makes his season more impressive, while Elijah Paea and Aaron Keppie have also featured at this level.

Brendan Couzens (left). Picture: Julian Andrews

MANLY SEA EAGLES

The Sea Eagles have blooded six of their U19s prospects in Flegg this season. Outside backs Brendan Couzens and Benjamin Keene-O’Keefe have been very solid, along with exciting forward prospect Simione Laiafi. Campbell Munn has shown plenty of muscle in the middle, as has edge forward Ezekiel Paulo. Zaidas Muagututia has been a success story, already playing 14 NSW Cup games this season.

MELBOURNE STORM

While just six Storm U19s have played Flegg, there are some high level players among them as they lead the U21s. Waka Hammond and Amaziah Murgha are two highly entertaining players in their ranks, while front rower Cooper Clarke represented the NSW U19s. Queenslander Frank Howarth and Norths recruit Ben Stringer have been strong, along with home-grown talent Lockyer Azile-Foliola. Kobi Floro has been selected as 18th man.

Kahu Capper. Picture: Julian Andrews

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS

We’ve seen nine Warriors take the field from their SG Ball squad in Flegg, 10 if you include Compton Purcell who has moved to Penrith. There’s good opinions on centre Kahu Capper, as there are for year-young fullback Joseph Ratcliffe. Halves Maui Winitana-Patelesio and Jack Thompson have earned a crack in Flegg, as has front rowers Tepatasi Laumalili and Gordon Afoa. Ezekiel Davidson-Faaiuaso, Paea Sikuvea and Dezman Laban are young guns on the rise. Noah Jensen has shown he is close after being picked as an 18th man.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

The strong Hunter Region has shown its junior pathways with 11 players rising from U19s to U21s. It’s no surprise that try-scoring machine Aidan Gow is one of those after his 20-try effort in Ball this season. He’s joined by backline members Haami Loza, Toby Winter, Zahn McKay and Wil Rosenbaum. Sosaia Latu has gone from Ball to Flegg to becoming a regular in NSW Cup. Hooker Taj Moore, along with front rowers Jack Hilliar and Xavier Lynch have been called upon, along with Ezekiel Ieti and Julian Stewart.

Isaac Jim (left) and Cameron Bamblett. Picture: Sean Teuma

PARRAMATTA EELS

It’s no surprise that one of the NRL’s best junior nurseries is seeing its young talent coming through the ranks at a rate of knots, with 14 SG Ball players from their grand final squad making the jump. Three-quarters of the grand final spine of Cameron Bamblett, Lorenzo Talataina and Lachlan Coinakis have played in Flegg this year, along with skipper Jeziah Funa-Iuta. Christopher Petrus has played U21s and claimed player of the tournament honours at the ASSRL. Their big forward pack featuring Isaac Jim, Elijah-Shane Tapau, Tom Summer, Ryda Talagi, Beau Lucien, Trace Beattie and Max Popo have all spent time in the higher grade, along with outside backs Dom Farrugia and Corey Leigh.

PENRITH PANTHERS

The Penrith production line continues to roll on with 10 young Panthers earning their stripes in Flegg. Hokafonu Lemoto was a NSW U19s squad member and has been one of Penrith’s best in 2025 along with new recruit Tyson Sangalang. Tua Patea, Luron’s younger brother, is at the club until 2027 and looks to have a lot of talent, along with Demiah Ainuu and SG Ball captain Kye Raven. Harry Wald, Hunter Bell, Jack Attard and Cooper Black are backs who have played U21s, as has mid-season NZ recruit Compton Purcell.

Charlie Poynton. Picture: Sean Teuma

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

The injury crisis at the Rabbitohs has seen plenty of young players filter through the grades, with 11 SG Ball players featuring in Flegg so far. Gun halves Matthew Humphries and Taj Alvarez have featured, with the latter also getting a taste of NSW Cup. Promising backs Jacob Fong, Charlie Poynton and Lancelot Tovio have also played in the 21s, along with utility Tylan Black Berryman. A strength of Souths in SG Ball was their forward pack, with Daniel Lua, Daniel Wright,Kaerangi Mathews, Harrison Rooke and Johannes Logan all making the leap.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

With contributions from both St George and Illawarra, the Dragons have called up 11 players to see on-field action in the U21s. St George’s SG Ball Player of the Year Cyrus Stanley-Traill has been joined by fellow 2024 premiership winner Zac Nachar. Talented outside backs Lucas Borg, Saifiti Junior Saifiti, Charles Heidke and Cooper Hale have been called upon, as has boom young halfback Kade Reed. Promising forwards Daniel Meafou, Drew Langdon, Viliami Hikila and Leeroy Weatherall have all made contributions. The departing Aaymon Fitzgibbon has filled the 18th man role.

A host of the SG Ball premiers have featured in Jersey Flegg. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

The SG Ball premiers have a strong presence in Jersey Flegg with 10 players stepping up to the next level. The big forward pack that propelled them to a title, including Itula Seve, Peter Benjamin Uini, Kanaan Magele, Kynan Toeavi and Phillip Lavakeiaho have all featured, as has Josiah Fesolai, the two-try hero from that grand final win over Parramatta. Premiership winning skipper Jaxson Allen has earned a call-up along with spine members Jackson Stewart and Toby Rodwell, who has earned a taste of NSW Cup action this season. Brooklyn Rosemeyer has also been impressive.

WESTS TIGERS

A total of eight Tigers have featured from the Wests and Balmain SG Ball squads, with some genuine up and comers among them. With the departure of Tallyn Da Silva, young hooker Jared Haywood has been earmarked as a future first-grader and has made the jump well. Fellow Balmain spine players Marc Tannous and Logan Deininger have also featured. Phoenix Godinet has a contract until 2027 with the club and is a recent Australian Schoolboys rep. Magpies captain Archie Duncombe along with fellow Wests reps Byronn Laupepa, Peter Taai and Jack Nicholas have also played Flegg.