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

With everything on the line, who stood tall to keep their team’s season alive? We rate the 20 top performers from all grades in NSWRL Junior Reps round nine.

Spencer Swann. Picture: Adam Wrightson Photography

Everything was on the line in the final round of the NSWRL Junior Reps regular season with a number of players standing tall to be counted.

We look at the top 20 performers from the weekend Harold Matthews, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup action.

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Round nine wrap

Finals schedule/venues

HAROLD MATTHEWS

CHRISTOPHER MOALA (PARRAMATTA)

Not the first time the strike centre has featured on this list. Came up with a host of big plays to finish his stellar regular season on a high. Strong defensively and bagged a double. His effort to outleap the fullback, reach out and score was a tremendous show of his athleticism.

Lachlan Metcalfe. Picture: Adam Wrightson Photography

LACHLAN METCALFE (SYD ROOSTERS)

Scored the last try to win the match for the Roosters in New Zealand, but it was his composure in the second half that really stood out. Helped to orchestrate a comeback from 24-6 down to knock off the defending premiers.

DARCY FELTHAM (SOUTH SYDNEY)

Sparked South Sydney into life after a sluggish start against Canterbury. His brilliant support play got the Rabbitohs on the board, before he set up two key second half tries to get them in front and over the line.

Oliver Burton Picture Warren Gannon Photography

OLIVER BURTON (ILLAWARRA)

The minor premiership was on the line and Burton delivered in a big way. Continued his incredible tryscoring form with a hat-trick in a brilliant display of his speed and strength as one of the division’s elite fullbacks.

SPENCER SWANN (CRONULLA)

He was in just about everything in a dominant first half display that set the tempo early and helped Cronulla into the finals. Used his pace to score the opener before setting up another two in the period that left the Dragons speechless.

LISA FIAOLA

BETSY FIFITA (PENRITH)

The industrious dummy-half has been a constant off the bench for Penrith all season. With the Panthers rolling forward, the No. 14 always time her runs and darted across for a double in the win over Saints.

Zahri Lester. Picture Warren Gannon Photography

ZAHRI LESTER (CRONULLA)

Finals intensity came early for Zahri Lester as Cronulla held out the Tigers to book a place in the top four. With all the momentum in the final minute, Wests looked like levelling the scores until the backrower in white headgear arrived from nowhere, smashing the winger over the sideline.

MEG MCPHAIL (CENTRAL COAST)

The Roosters’ little general around the ruck, the clever No. 9 picked her moments to trigger a flow of early points for Central Coast. In a pointer to the bigger games ahead, the hooker also landed several telling conversions from out wide.

Ocean Kaiwai-Rangikauhata. Picture: Martin Ollman

OCEAN KAIWAI-RANGIKAUHATA (CANBERRA)

A key piece in the Canberra puzzle, Ocean was on the spot when the Raiders needed it most in the must-win clash with the Sea Eagles. With the game in the balance, the five-eighth backed up to score the go ahead try then flew solo to secure her side a finals spot in their debut season.

ASHA TAUMOEPEAU-WILLIAMS (CANTERBURY)

Another dominant display from the towering centre. Asha was lethal with a head of steam against the Eels. But it’s not just her raw power, with an ability to transfer the ball to either hand, she can fend with her left and right, making her almost impossible to contain.

SG BALL

SYLAS SIMON (CANBERRA)

The Raiders fullback was at his energetic best in a try-fest with the Magpies at Belconnen. Constantly pushed up through the middle and sizzled out the back of shape, scoring three tries in just over half an hour.

Sosaia Alatini. Picture: Martin Ollman

SOSAIA ALATINI (CANTERBURY)

One of the key reasons why Canterbury will play finals footy, the hard running backrower stuck to his lanes in the must win over Souths. Hit top speed for two crucial tries and challenged the defence with tough lines.

AAYMON FITZGIBBON (ILLAWARRA)

Illawarra secured a top four spot in style against Balmain, and Fitzgibbon set the wheels in motion with a game-changing hat-trick in a blitz either side of halftime. Long striding, the five-eighth torched the Tigers from close range and backed up in support to finish a try from long range.

Lewis Sargent-Wilson. Picture: Sean Teuma

LEWIS SARGENT-WILSON (ST GEORGE DRAGONS)

In a magic finish to the Dragons’ campaign, Sargent-Wilson signed off in style in the win over Newcastle. Behind a dominant pack, the No. 7 continually picked apart the Knights’ left edge and struck the opening blow after three minutes.

NIKORA WILLIAMS (CRONULLA)

Williams delivered in spades during Cromulla’s whirlwind victory over a resurgent Storm. Unstoppable early, the centre showed poise and footwork to score twice, and was there at the end, setting up the winning try along the right edge.

TARSHA GALE

ELLIE BARNETT (WESTS TIGERS)

Her injection into the game proved a masterstroke. Was on the field for a little over a minute when she caught Cronulla’s defence out, with some strong defence on display as well. Her goalkicking boot came in handy to lift the Tigers into the top four.

Holly Williams. Picture: Martin Ollman

HOLLY WILLIAMS (CANBERRA)

Was the vital link on a dominant right-side attack that helped halfback Summer Luamanu cause havoc. Finished the game with three try assists in a performance that Eliza Taylor was the beneficiary of.

KHYLIAH GRAY (PARRAMATTA)

We’ve seen her star in the middle this season, but at the weekend she got it done on an edge. Scored Parramatta’s opening try, but it was her flick pass when wrapped up by three defenders that was one of the plays of the round.

Danica Talitonu. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

DANICA TALITONU (PENRITH)

Another powerhouse effort from the front rower who has been a key cog in Penrith’s forward pack throughout the year. Was rewarded with a second half try against St George with another trademark burst.

TAMEIKA DORAHY (NORTH SYDNEY)

Was superb at the back for the Bears with two stunning individual efforts in the first half to help North Sydney get out to a handy lead. It ended up a draw, but Dorahy showed she’s a star of the future with a starring role.