NRL Grand Final 2021: Junior rugby league clubs behind Rabbitohs v Panthers
Some were local juniors but others honed their talent out west, up and down the coast and in the country. The men and NSW junior rugby league clubs behind South Sydney’s success.
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It’s one of the most anticipate grand finals in recent memory - the battle between the men from the Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
We take a look at players and their NSW junior clubs helping shape the South Sydney squad hoping to win their first NRL crown since 2014.
In 2014, Souths ended a 43-year premiership drought with their win over the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs.
Now they hope to win their first one since against a side who last won back in 2003 but made the season decider in 2020.
ADAM REYNOLDS
Captain and halfback Adam Reynolds is Sydney born and bred.
The 31-year-old made his debut for the Rabbitohs against the Roosters back in 2012.
But his rugby league career kicked off at junior clubs including St Peters JRLFC, Alexandria Rovers, La Perouse Panthers and Kensington United.
ALEX JOHNSTON
The Souths winger is 26 and grew up in Rabbitohs territory.
He made his debut for the Rabbitohs six seasons ago and is a South Sydney Junior who was also a talented cricketer.
He played his junior footy with the La Perouse Panthers.
BLAKE TAAFFE
This young halfback made his debut for the Rabbitohs against the Brisbane Broncos in June this year.
The 22-year-old is Sydney born and played his junior football with the La Perouse Panthers and The Entrance Tigers.
BRAIDON BURNS
The South Sydney winger hails from a town which loves its rugby league in Dubbo in the central west.
He made his NRL debut in 2017 for South Sydney against Manly.
Burns played his junior football with the well-known Coonamble Bears.
CAMPBELL GRAHAM
Another local who has played at both centre and wing this season.
Just 22, he made his debut for South Sydney against the St George back in 2017.
He honed his football skills at the Coogee Wombats and Maroubra Lions.
CODY WALKER
The five eighth hails from the NSW south coast.
Well known for his charity work in the indigenous community, he was born in Nowra, and at 31, is a veteran of the game.
He made his debut back in 2016 against the Roosters and played his junior football with teams including the Casino Cougars, Windsor Wolves and North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup.
DEAN HAWKINS
The 22-year-old halfback is another local boy, hailing from Randwick.
He made his debut this season off the bench in round five against the Broncos.
He is a local junior hailing from the Matraville Tigers.
JED CARTWRIGHT
The centre is 24 and came to Souths from the Penrith Panthers.
He made his debut for the Panthers against the Gold Coast Titans in 2019. He played his junior football with the Warragamba Wombats and the Tugan Seahawks.
His father John played for Australia.
JOSH MANSOUR
Mansour came to the club this season after spending eight seasons with the Penrith Panthers.
However he was a South Sydney Junior and grew up playing the game with St John’s Eagles and the Kingsgrove Colts.
Now 31, he made his debut for the Panthers back in 2012 against Melbourne Storm.
LATRELL MITCHELL
Has missed the entire NRL finals as part of a ban extending into next season.
The 24-year-old superstar was born in Taree and made his debut in 2016 against the club he now plays for.
He played his junior club rugby league with the Taree Red Rovers.
CAMERON MURRAY
He is 23 and made his debut in 2017 for South Sydney against the Brisbane Broncos.
He is also another product of the South Sydney Junior program and played his junior football with the Mascot Jets.
He was also a top schoolboy rugby talent.
DAMIEN COOK
The veteran hooker is 30 and has previously played with the Dragons and the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs.
He made his debut for the Dragons back in 2013.
He grew up in the Illawarra and played his junior football with the Helensburgh Tigers. he was also a top surf life saver.
DAVVY MOALE
A young an extremely talented footballer who was actually born in New Zealand but has been in Sydney most of his life.
He is also a talented rugby union player.
Just 18 he made two appearances this season and played his junior football with Coogee Randwick Wombats.
HAME SELE
The 24-year-old lock hails from Kogarah. He made his debut for the Dragons in 2017 and came to Souths via the Penrith Panthers.
He played his junior rugby league for the Kingsgrove Colts.
JACOB HOST
The second rower was born in Padstow and made his debut for the Dragons back in 2016.
A former Australian Schoolboy and now 25, he played his junior football for Renown United. and later had outings for the Illawarra Cutters.
KEAON KOLOAMATANGI
The 23-year-old prop was born in Sydney and made his debut for the Rabbitohs in 2020.
He is a Souths Junior from the same junior club as Cameron Murray in the Mascot Jets.
He was also a talented swimmer as a teenager growing up in Ashfield.
LIAM KNIGHT
The prop was actually born in Alice Springs.
But he played his junior football with The Entrance Tigers and Berkeley Vale Panthers and came to Souths via stints at Manly Warringah and the Canberra Raiders.
He made his debut for Manly against the Gold Coast Titans in 2016.
MARK NICHOLLS
The veteran prop is 31 and one of the veterans of the squad who made his debut for the Canberra Raiders back in 2012.
He has also played with Melbourne Storm.
Originally hailed from Leeton, he played his junior footy with the Leeton Raiders and the Gungahlin Bulls.
PETER MAMOUZELOS
The young hooker made his debut for South Sydney against the Knights in June this season.
Just 20 he cut his teeth in rugby league at the Maroubra Lions and has played rugby league for Greece.
TEVITA TATOLA
Souths prop hailing from Auburn in western Sydney.
He made his debut for Souths in 2018 against the New Zealand Warriors and has previously played for West Tigers.
Tatola played his junior football with the Holy Cross Rhinos and the Berala Bears before signed by the Tigers.
LACHLAN ILIAS
This young five eighth is just 21.
He made his debut against the Dragons this season.
Ilias came through the Balmain Tigers system and attended Trinity College where he also played rugby.
He actually made the Australian schoolboys rugby union team and hails from Five Dock in Sydney’s inner west.
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