NSWRL Junior Reps: 20 top performers from Matthews, Fiaola, Ball and Gale Cup round eight

Who were the stars and standouts from across the board in round eight of the NSWRL Junior Reps? We look at the 20 weekend standouts from Matthews, Fiaola, Ball and Gale Cup action.

Braith Sloane. Picture: Martin Ollman

Who stood tall with everything to play for in round eight of the NSWRL Junior Reps competitions?

We rate our 20 top performers from Harold Matthews, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup competitions.

MORE COVERAGE

Full round eight wrap

20 talking points from round eight

Finals run home

HAROLD MATTHEWS

CAMPBELL LLOYD (CANBERRA)

Masterful display from the hooker who broke the game open early with a smart effort from dummy half to open the scoring before putting Mitchell Sleigh over. Finished the game with a pair of try assists after guiding BJ Pumpa through a huge hole.

Riley Davis. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

RILEY DAVIS (PARRAMATTA)

It was a low-scoring affair against Central Coast, and the flying fullback came up clutch with a big showing. Lobbed a pass over the top for Cobi McCloskey to open the scoring and followed up on the inside for the winger to return the favour and put Davis over to win the match.

BRAITH SLOANE (CANTERBURY)

The Bulldogs blitzed Cronulla early and it was Braith Sloane who led that charge. A lovely in-and-away put Wesley Papalii-Afoa over early, then he stepped his way past seven defenders in one of the great individual efforts of the weekend.

Jeremiah Lemana Picture Warren Gannon Photography

JEREMIAH LEMANA (NEW ZEALAND)

A fleet-footed fullback who had one of his best outings of the season. Starred in the first half as he skipped across field to put Kaian Olsen over, before showing his strength to reach out and score one of his own.

COOPER TOWNSEND (NEWCASTLE)

The glue in the middle for the Knights who got them on the front foot with his characteristic big charges and strong defence. Played out the entire contest and was a key man in Newcastle’s gritty win over Balmain.

LISA FIAOLA

KHIARNA MUNRO (WESTS TIGERS)

There’s nothing quite like a momentum shift against the run of play to get fans up and roaring, and that’s exactly what Khiarna did when she fielded a Bears attacking kick on her own line.

Nevermind taking the safe option and diving back into the field of play, the Tigers fullback simply pinned her ears back, racing the length of the field to score a memorable four-pointer.

KAIZEN MORGAN-PRITCHARD (PARRAMATTA)

The towering backrower set the tone for Parramatta in the win over Illawarra. Raised the bar in defence with several punishing hits, and backed it up in attack, opening the scoring with a slashing solo effort.

Cronulla’s Isabella McDonald finds support. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

ISABELLA MCDONALD (CRONULLA)

The scheming No.9 is fast developing into one of the smartest players in the comp.

After rattling the Central Coast with the match winning play a week earlier, Isabella doubled down against the Knights, delivering the perfect pass for prop Manawanui James to seal the result from close range.

ADELAIDE NORRIS (CANBERRA)

All class in the No.7 jumper, the half had the ball on a string in Canberra’s win over Souths.

Popped up on the right edge with a pinpoint cutout ball to help open the scoring, and did it again, this time one wide of the scrum, holding up a perfect ball for Canberra’s second.

Adelaide Norris sets off on an attacking raid for Canberra. Picture: Martin Ollman

AALIYAH TEMETE (CENTRAL COAST)

Untouchable in the opening exchanges, the wrecking ball lock punched holes through Manly’s front six. Made sure her efforts went rewarded, scattering several defenders in a long range charge to score the Roosters’ fourth try.

SG BALL

AIDAN GOW (NEWCASTLE)

It’s a case of rinse and repeat for the Knights winger.

Never far away from points, Aidan owned the left corner in the victory over Melbourne, scoring a double to take his season tally to 18 in just eight appearances.

COOPER BLACK (PENRITH)

One of the tallest playmakers going around, Cooper had a blinder in Penrith’s draw with competition heavyweights Illawarra.

Set up a short side raid to open Penrith’s account, and put them ahead in the closing stages with a stunning long-ball to unmarked winger Harry Wald.

Newcastle winger Aidan Gow scored two crucial tries in the win over Melbourne. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

PRESTYN LAINE-SIETU (CRONULLA)

The livewire centre kept the Balmain defence guessing all afternoon at Shark Park.

Good on his feet, the No.4 weaved through traffic to score against the odds, and backed up before halftime to score his second.

BYRONN LAUPEPA (WESTERN SUBURBS)

The busy backrower brought the energy in the Magpies’ narrow win over Manly.

Fast around the ruck, his quick play-the-balls unsettled the Sea Eagles and he was everywhere in defence, defusing a promising raid that could have broken Wests’ spirit.

Byronn Laupepa continued his great form against Manly. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

MIKEY NASSAR (SYDNEY ROOSTERS)

The flying winger crossed twice in the Roosters’ big win over Canterbury, with one piece of magic lighting up the highlights reel.

Confronted by a Bulldogs counter attack, Nassar struck gold, latching onto an improbable intercept to scoot across untouched.

TARSHA GALE

TAHLIA O’BRIEN (ILLAWARRA)

Terrorised Parramatta with her short kicking game. With the Steelers down by 10 at the break, O’Brien set up a pair of tries with two pin-point accurate kicks that helped to turn the game on its head and spark their comeback.

Olivia Saley Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

OLIVIA SALEY (WESTS TIGERS)

Put together a near-perfect performance in testing conditions at Leichhardt. Was constantly getting out of dummy half with her scoots leading to tries two and three players later. Scored one and set up another in a dominant showing.

AYLAH MCCULLOCH (NEWCASTLE)
Continued her stellar season with a matchwinning effort for the Knights. Landed a gem of a cutout on the chest of Ava Glassie to get things underway, before breaking the deadlock late in the game when she caught Cronulla’s defence out from dummy half.

Jaida Faleono. Picture: Martin Ollman

JAIDA FALEONO (CANBERRA)

In her 42-minute stint off the bench Faleono proved more than a handful for South Sydney as she took control of the middle. Broke through the middle at pace to set up Uta Uatisone Poka for an easy try before getting her own opportunity in the second half to slice the defence.

FA’AGASE TUPUOLA-PALALE (SYD ROOSTERS)

An incredible showing from the Roosters winger with a four-try effort to leave the Sea Eagles stunned. We saw speed, strength and sheer class as she powered her way across the line. The pick of the bunch was a nice burst down the touchline in the first half.