NSWRL Junior Reps: 20 top performers from Matthews, Fiaola, Ball and Gale Cup round four
Who were the stars and standouts from across the board in the fourth round of NSWRL Junior Reps? We look at the 20 weekend standouts from Matthews, Fiaola, Ball and Gale Cup action.
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There was individual brilliance and incredible showings throughout the fourth round of the NSWRL Junior Reps.
We rate our top 20 performers of the weekend from Harold Matthews, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup action.
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HAROLD MATTHEWS
CHASE BUTLER (NEWCASTLE)
Was the man to come up trumps when Newcastle needed somebody to stand tall against Cronulla.
Some forward thinking saw him give Thomas Beattie an option on the back of some chaos play to score in the corner.
Then it was a chip and chase from the opposition 45 and a set of quick hands that put Kyron Nixon-Croaker over to win it for his side.
BILL ANTONOPOULOS (BALMAIN)
The second half at Lidcombe Oval was a defensive war between Balmain and Norths, and when it looked like the Bears would break their hearts late, the Balmain hooker came up big.
A couple of trysaving efforts right at the death highlighted a stellar defensive display from Antonopoulos, showing the determination the club has been looking for.
CHARLIE WEBB (SYD ROOSTERS)
In an incredible team showing, five-eighth Webb was superb in his best outing of the season.
Completely took control of the game early in the second half as he swooped upon a loose ball to score before busting the Panthers up the middle to set up Payton Gifford.
His partnership with Lachlan Metcalfe has turned the Roosters fortunes around.
KYE ANDERSON (CANBERRA)
An absolute gun at the back who was at his unstoppable best.
Finished the game with a stunning try as he sliced and diced through the defence and a pair of try assists as well.
The pick of the bunch was a runaround set play from a scrum that left the defence in awe.
BISHOP NEAL (NEW ZEALAND)
The Warriors might’ve suffered their first defeat, but it wasn’t through a lack of effort from the star second rower.
Neal added to his tryscoring tally with one of the individual efforts of the season.
He chipped from his own 45m, regathered the ball before it hit the ground, and then fended off three defenders as he sprinted to the tryline.
LISA FIAOLA
INDIANNA CARROLL (NORTH SYDNEY)
The Bears are yet to open their account, but with players like Indianna on the books a breakthrough victory can’t be far away.
The five-eighth’s desperate try-saving tackle near halftime kept Norths in the contest and they pushed hard until Cronulla broke away late in a tight contest.
VASALIVA FELETI (PENRITH)
The Penrith centre was tough to contain in the win over Manly. Showed power and strength to get her side on the scoreboard in the first few minutes and continued to dominate the right edge all match.
Ended the day with a double, and in addition to churning out big metres, Vasaliva showed good footwork to help set up another.
PAUA-LEE GOING (CANBERRA)
The long striding Raiders centre looked all class as she raced away to score Canberra’s first in the big win over the Dragons.
A genine tackle-breaker with a neat right-foot step, she is one to keep an eye on as Canberra look to move up the ladder in the back half of the season.
ELLA CHURCHILL (ILLAWARRA)
Ella was among a handful of Steelers outside backs to revel in the open space against South Sydney.
Worked well in combination with halfback Ella Greatz and owned the right edge, playing a key role in a couple of four-pointers.
KEIRA CALLAGHAN (NEWCASTLE)
The busy Knights fullback continually pushed up through the middle all day, proving a handful for the Tigers defence.
Had a hand in the opening try and was rewarded with the match-winner, weaving past several tired defenders on the way to planting the ball under the sticks.
SG BALL
ALEX CONTI (CANTERBURY)
Set up Canterbury’s first try in the win over Norths with a clever grubber kick and the No.7 never let up in a fine all-round performance.
Beat the Bears’ pack with clever foot work to extend the halftime lead and crossed for another just before full time.
SONNY EDWARDS-MOEKE (WESTERN SUBURBS)
Was instrumental in Wests’ first win of the season. Behind a dominant pack, the halfback played his role to perfection.
Pinned the Dragons in their own half with pin-point kicks, and with ball in hand created space out wide and troubled the scorers with an electric individual effort.
COOPER JOHNSTON (CANBERRA)
Lightning quick, the electric Raiders speedster put his side on the road to victory against the Roosters with two scorching individual first half tries.
With nothing seemingly on offer from a scrum, the No.2 exploded from 60 metres out and gapped the cover along the left touchline to score Canberra’s first. Struck again before the interval, catching the defence off guard with a big left-foot step from close range.
NATHAN HOWLETT (PARRAMATTA)
The everywhere man in Parramatta's massive comeback victory over South Sydney, the opportunistic fullback showed pace and deft touch on both sides of the field.
Kick-started the Eels’ resurgence with an overhead pass to his unmarked winger, and returned after the interval opening the way for two significant four-pointers in the left corner.
YURI HROMOW (CRONULLA)
The backrower came up with two game changing plays in Cronulla’s win over the Knights.
In a sign of what was to follow, the No.11 stepped of his right to extend the Sharks’ lead before the break. Then with the game still in the balance in the closing stages, he struck again off the same foot, before racing away to seal the contest under the posts with his second try.
TARSHA GALE
MERINDA MIHAJLOVIC (ST GEORGE)
The Dragons needed a hero and found it in Mihajlovic.
Previously in the Roosters system, she showed her skills at dummy half to captailise on a quick play the ball to give her side the lead over Canberra.
Then a nice piece of deception to turn Kamanu Li’i Dennis under helped seal a win.
FELILA FAKALELU (CRONULLA)
Helped change the game and solidify the win for Cronulla in a key stretch after halftime.
In her 30-minute stint she proved hard for Norths to contain, including scoring a double.
Her second had to be seen to be believed.
Receiving the ball on the 20m line, seven different players made an attempt to bring her down, all to no avail.
KAYLA HENDERSON (PENRITH)
Putting together an impressive season as she builds her combination with new halfback Chloe Pallisier.
Scored two tries, the second of which was a stellar display of her speed and poise to beat her opposition fullback close to the line.
Helped put the finishing touches on the win with an assist to finish the game.
TORI SHIPTON (ILLAWARRA)
The Steelers started fast against South Sydney and the young rake was the one to get the ball rolling.
Wore a brutal shot in the opening minutes but recovered to sneak out of dummy half. Caused havoc and proved elusive as she tore through the middle to add a second within the opening 16 minutes.
A nice offload set prop Seriah Palepale on her way for a 50m solo effort, capping off a game where she had four line breaks.
FANE FINAU (NEWCASTLE)
A lot to like about the efforts of the second rower in an impressive team display from the Knights.
Scored a try and set up another as her physicality and strength proved too much for the Tigers to handle.
The likes of Maronay Smuts and Leilani Ahsam were also strong.
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