NSWRL Junior Reps Finals: 16 top performers from preliminary finals, GF fixtures revealed

With the NSWRL Junior Reps grand final fixtures set, it’s time to take a look back on a wet and wild preliminary final weekend. Here are the 16 top performers from the grand final qualifiers.

Heamasi Makasini was a standout for Wests. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

There was plenty on the line across all four grades as teams booked their place in this weekend’s grand finals.

See who the top performers were in the NSWRL Junior Reps preliminary finals:

LISA FIAOLA CUP

PAIGE ATTARD (WESTS TIGERS)

Doubts would’ve crept into the Tigers camp when they found themselves down early against Illawarra, but the crafty dummy half helped to calm the nerves.

She was instrumental in helping Wests take control, setting up the first try before catching the defence napping to grab one of her own soon after.

Rhiannon Bonner. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

RHIANNON BONNER (WESTS TIGERS)

Was exactly the type of game you’d want from the fullback, stamping her authority and getting involved in key moments.

She was too strong for the defence to score the opening try, and was directly involved in their first two scores after halftime to push their lead out to a match-winning break.

OLIVIA VAALELE (BULLDOGS)

The Bulldogs’ little general stepped up to steer the ship in difficult conditions in the comfortable victory over Newcastle.

A constant threat on the right edge, the halfback’s pinpoint cut-out pass was instrumental in the first try, and not even a nasty head cut diminished her on-field presence.

ALIAHANA FUIMAONO (BULLDOGS)

In a menacing pack, Fuimaono is sure to feature near the top of the Tigers’ list of players to watch heading into the grand final.

The busy middle continued to crunch out the metres against Newcastle and her barging effort before halftime effectively wrapped up the contest.

TARSHA GALE CUP

KASEY REH (ILLAWARRA)

To say her short kicking game caused Cronulla nightmares would be an understatement.

The Steelers halfback had the Sharks scrambling on multiple occasions with her boot proving money for the U19s women, leading to Maria Paseka opening the scoring, and then Ella Koster crashing over in the second half after a mad scramble for the loose ball.

Kasey Reh. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

HEREWAKA POHATU (ILLAWARRA)

While Reh’s kicking game was on song, the short passing of Herewaka Pohatu was inch perfect when it mattered the most.

On the stroke of half and full-time it was Pohatu who set up Mia-Rose Walsh and Darcy Eade respectively with fantastic balls that defenders simply had no answer for.

LILLY-ANN WHITE (KNIGHTS)

The flying fullback has already been signed to an NRLW development contract and she showed why with another busy effort against Canterbury.

Continually kept the defence guessing and broke the contest open with a crucial break to start the second half before crossing for Newcastle’s fourth try.

Newcastle’s Evah McEwan playing for the Country under-17 women's side in 2023. Photo: Bryden Sharp

EVAH McEWAN (KNIGHTS)

It’s not the first time McEwan has been highlighted in these pages. A quality force on the right edge, the dynamic back-rower was at her damaging best in the upset win over Canterbury.

Turned the contest with two second half tries including a long range effort to settle the contest.

HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP

KAAWYN PATTERSON (NEW ZEALAND)

It was a true captain’s knock from the hooker as the Warriors overcame the odds to knock off Canterbury.

He set the tone early and played to the conditions with his well-timed darts out of dummy half, before turning under Lennox Tuiloma close to the line to cap off an early blitz.

Hassan Rabaa. Picture: Sean Teuma

HASSAN RABAA (CANTERBURY)

Rabaa was given just over 18 minutes to try and make something happen out of dummy half for the Bulldogs as they trailed by eight.

A busy performance off the bench saw him add a much-needed spark to the minor premiers, including scoring out of dummy half in the dying stages to give them one last hope of qualifying.

HEAMASI MAKASINI (WESTERN SUBURBS)

It was only appropriate that he continued his stellar regular season form into the game that mattered the most to this point.

The aerial threat proved just that early on for the Magpies as he outleapt his marker to set up Tyson Walker for the team’s only try, with his boot proving the difference in the end.

KADEN GARNER (CRONULLA)

Came up with a clutch play that gave the Sharks a fighting hope towards the back end of the contest.

With a mad scramble for a loose ball being juggled by Walker, Garner held off and avoided making contact with it, before ripping the ball free from the arms of Ali Hicham Karnib to score and set up a grandstand finish.

Alex Conti shapes to pass. Picture: Sean Teuma

SG BALL CUP

ALEX CONTI (CANTERBURY)

Conti has been a man on a mission throughout the finals so far to help the Bulldogs keep their premiership hopes alive.

With the game in the balance just before halftime, Conti caught the ball one off the ruck and strolled through the Roosters defence from 40 metres out in the moment of the game.

Backed it up with another try and also finished the game with two try assists in a memorable outing.

TYLER PECKHAM-HARRIS (DRAGONS)

It was a tough call to leave hat-trick hero Jesse Williams off the list, but we simply couldn’t ignore the magnitude of the fullback’s dominance.

Fierce with every touch, he played a key role in St George’s first four tries and served Williams his first two on a plate.

Tyler Peckham-Harris takes off for St George. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

CYRUS STANLEY-TRAILL (DRAGONS)

Simply outstanding in the early exchanges, the No.12 typified the energy St George brought to the contest.

A weapon on the right edge, he showed strength to plant the ball down early, and backed it up with second-phase class to ignite the second.

TYREECE TAIT (SYDNEY ROOSTERS)

His lightning speed was almost enough to get the Roosters out of jail with some huge plays over the concluding stages.

Tait completed his double after regathering a grubber and taking it 90 metres to race away, before moments later racing down the touchline to put Cooper Toy over to give the minor premiers the faintest of hope.

Western Suburbs took down Cronulla in Harold Matthews. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

WEEKEND TALKING POINTS

Eight teams are set for the pinnacle of the NSWRL Junior Reps season.

An extraordinary preliminary finals weekend gave us a bit of everything across two grounds with the only thing wilder than the weather was the play on the field.

With the grand finals set for the Lisa Fiaola, Harold Matthews, Tarsha Gale and SG Ball Cup competitions, here are the 10 key talking points from the NSWRL Junior Reps preliminary finals:

WEEK OFF DEBATE

Eight teams earned a week off after finishing in the top two, just four went on to win their preliminary final and earn a spot in the grand final.

With a week off following the final round of the regular season, it meant some teams were having their first outing in three weeks.

Is there merit in saying they were punished for their lofty ladder positions, or is it merely an excuse after the fact?

HENSON PLAYS INTO WARRIORS HANDS

One such team that fell was Canterbury in Harold Matthews at Henson Park, where the conditions definitely suited the Warriors.

The boys from New Zealand were able to get out to a big enough lead and grind their way to a two-point victory.

The wind, rain and cold resembled their homeland in winter and they looked right at home as they pulled off a stunning upset.

DARING TO DREAM?

The rise of this Warriors team has been nothing short of remarkable.

They started the season with losses in their opening two games and were just seconds away from a loss against South Sydney before pulling out a win on the buzzer.

Now they’re in the grand final of their inaugural season after knocking off two previously undefeated teams in succession.

They’re the ultimate fairytale team of the Junior Reps season.

DOGS FIND THEIR BITE

Speaking of teams rising from the dead, Canterbury’s SG Ball season looked all but over after four rounds, sitting in 12th with just five rounds remaining.

They proceeded to go on a five-game win streak to cement their spot and now look a live chance of taking it all out.

The Bulldogs took the fight to a strong Roosters forward pack early on and it paid dividends, taking out the unbeaten minor premiers to set up a showdown with St George as they case their first title since 2009.

Sienna Robertson had a good impact off the bench for the Wests Tigers. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

TIGERS AIMING FOR A KNOCKOUT

They say a champion team always comes out on top against a team of champions, and the Wests Tigers are proving that in the Lisa Fiaola Cup.

Every time a challenge has been put in front of them they have responded in emphatic fashion, this time piling on seven-straight tries to knock off a very good Illawarra team.

There is talent all over the park in this side, and despite going down to the Bulldogs earlier in the year, there’ll be a sense of belief they can cause the upset this weekend.

LEVELLED BY RAIN

Despite going down to Canterbury, a gallant Knights held their own in the Lisa Fiaola qualifier. Although, the 22-4 scoreline doesn’t show the amount of points the Bulldogs squandered.

With a mountain of field position, Canterbury had enough ball to score several more tries but came unstuck in the slippery conditions. Come Saturday’s decider against the giant killing Wests Tigers, they’ll be even more dangerous on a dry track.

FINALS BUZZ

When it comes to junior reps, there’s no prizes for peaking in February, and no side knows it better than Newcastle in Tarsha Gale. Given next to no chance of upsetting the Bulldogs, the Knights blew away their more fancied opponents with skill and unrivalled enthusiasm.

They’ll start underdogs against Illawarra in the decider, but in a season full of surprises, the biggest twist may yet play out.

TURNING POINTS

Opportunities. Every coach craves them, but not every team takes them. We see it every week where one teams back luck is quickly punished with points at the opposite end of the park.

And there was no more compelling case than in the Tarsha Gale on Saturday. After Newcastle had all the early running, Canterbury appeared certain to draw level. Then after being turned away, the Knights immediately struck and never looked back.

Evelyn Roberts scored a try for Canterbury in the Lisa Fiaola Cup qualifier. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

DRAGONS REWIND

It’ll be a big weekend for Dragons diehards at Comm Bank Stadium for Saturday’s grand final with Canterbury. The last time the Red-V hoisted the SG Ball Cup was in 1992 when they outclassed the Bulldogs 20-0.

Back then, one of the young rising stars was Anthony Mundine.

ZIP ZIP

Still on St George. In a weekend of outstanding team efforts, the Dragons were arguably the best.

Big, mobile and skilful, the under-19 boys brought an unrelenting intensity that if replicated, will be difficult to match in the big one.

That said, they face a Canterbury side featuring plenty of players from last season’s winning Harold Matts combination who are well conditioned to pulling off a major upset.