NSWRL Junior Reps: Full wrap, latest results from Matts, Fiaola, Ball, Gale Cup round two
Round two of the NSWRL Junior Reps is off and running. Keep up with the latest from around the grounds with our rolling coverage of Matthews, Fiaola, Ball and Gale Cup action.
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With a bumper opening round of the NSWRL Junior Reps setting the tempo, round two promises to deliver in spades.
Follow along with all the latest results and action from around the grades in Harold Matthews, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup competition.
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Lisa Fiaola - Tarsha Gale - Harold Matthews - SG Ball
LISA FIAOLA
SHARKS RULE BEACHES DERBY
Cronulla opened their account in fine style, overpowering Manly 50-4 at Cronulla High School.
Coming off an opening round bye, a rusty Sea Eagles outfit paid the price for a succession of early errors and found themselves in hot water when Cronulla opened a 20-0 lead at halftime.
A fumble on their own line in the fourth minute led to winger Jade Pawson crossing in the left corner. Heni Mayers had a blinder upfront for the home side, crashing over shortly after the restart and then holding up several defenders before delivering an offload for lock Dhillon-Natalia Baker to dash across for the third try.
Livewire halfback Julliana Kolio bagged a brace within 10 minutes after the break as the Sharks went on with the job in the nine tries to one demolition.
Prop Paula Halaholo crossed for Manly’s only points.
PARRA’S PERFECT DOUBLE
Parramatta continued their perfect start to the season after the Eels downed North Sydney 48-10 at Kenthurst.
Norths looked dangerous in the opening minutes but found themselves trailing against the run of play when winger Sienna Bonello latched onto a grubber kick and ran the length of the field.
The Eels motored upfield from the restart, and they were in again when hooker Bailey Ma-Chong pounced from dummy-half after an excellent charge from prop Leonia Vei.
The skipper was at it again in the 22nd minute, crossing again off another dart from the base of the ruck.
Trailing 28-0 at the break, the Bears refused to rollover and struck back when centre Lily-May Price-Jones ran a perfect line to put her side on the board.
Fullback Timeka Collins scored Norths’ second, but Parramatta were too strong and finished the match with nine tries.
FLYER ON FIRE
A hat-trick of tries by Shakira Lui was the highlight in Canterbury’s commanding 38-4 win over Penrith at HE Laybutt Field.
The flashy winger made the right corner her own from the moment she latched onto an Evelyn Roberts cut-out pass in the third minute. She crossed from a similar play midway through the opening half, only this time after accepting a pinpoint ball from centre Asha Taumoepeau-Williams.
Penrith had their moments before the break, none better than when hooker Betsy Fifita caught the defence napping to breach Canterbury’s line for the first time this season.
But it was all blue and white in the second half. Lui accepted another Roberts pass to score her third, while centre Lala Vaea grabbed two as Canterbury finished with eight tries.
DRAGONS END DROUGHT
Renee Targett’s young St George Dragons are the pride of Kogarah after Monique Marshall burrowed across in the last minute to sink South Sydney 16-12.
Winless last season, the Red V showed glimpses of what was on the horizon in round one, but it all came together in a hectic closing at Redfern Oval.
Trailing 12-10 and on the attack with time almost up, hopes of a breakthrough victory soared as prop Alexis Fenton threw her body at the line. Souths’ defence held firm, but they had no answer when the crafty No. 9 squirmed over from the next play.
The Rabbitohs struck first through Victoria Loleni, the props converted try were the only points of the first half.
Back-to-back tries by Daniella Barton and Urshelah Kohunui put St George ahead 10-6, before Souths hit back through Taya Donovan to lead by two points with 11 to play.
ROOSTERS CONTINUE SHUTOUT
The Central Coast Roosters have kept their opposition scoreless for the second-straight week with a 26-0 win over Newcastle at Mascot Oval.
On the back of a 28-0 win over Wests Tigers to start the season, the Roosters showed why they’re among the major players in the Lisa Fiaola Cup in a five-try showcase.
They weren’t able to crack the Knights until the 19th minute, when five-eighth Mia Vaotuua sliced and diced her way through the defence before laying on the pass for Ayva Papalii to score with ease.
Meg McPhail caught the defence lacking when she scooted over from dummy half, and when Vaotuua got on the end of a Talea Tonga grubber early in the second half, the result was as good as done.
The Roosters are coached by NRLW premiership winner Jayme Fressard, who said she was impressed with their defensive resolve once again.
“We’ve kept two teams scoreless but for me it’s the girls working really hard for each other,” she said.
“Effort after effort. Defensively they’ve been strong. Last week we were on our goal line for about 10 minutes and the girls held them out.
“That comes down to their mindset of working really hard for each other.”
TIGERS FIND THEIR BEST
After being held to zero in the season opener, the Wests Tigers responded in emphatic fashion by hammering Canberra 40-6.
The two teams were level midway through the first half with Isabel McMenemy and Frankie Cappello trading blows.
That’s before the Tigers were able to strike twice before the break to open a comfortable 18-6 advantage at the break.
They took that momentum into the second half, running in another four unanswered tries to get their campaign off the mark.
TARSHA GALE
EELS RELENTLESS ON THE ROAD
Parramatta flexed its attacking muscles once again to dismantle North Sydney 48-8 at Kenthurst.
A hot start saw the Eels race out to a 14-0 lead inside 11 minutes, before the Bears found some momentum to trail 20-8 at the halftime break.
From that point on it was all Parramatta as they piled on five second-half tries in a dominant display.
Captain Ryvrr-Lee Alo had a double along with Khyliah Gray and Alleya Scrivens, who finished with a personal haul of 20 points after kicking six conversions as well.
DOGS HOLD OUT PANTHERS
Penrith showed fight, but ultimately found the challenge of Canterbury too great as the Bulldogs continued their perfect start with a 32-16 victory at Blacktown.
The Panthers had their tails up after Sarah Morley gave them the perfect start inside six minutes, before the Bulldogs found their footing in a big way.
In the space of 35 minutes they were able to take full control of the game with six tries, starting with a double to Kiana Vatubuta, as they led 32-4 with 13 minutes to play.
Monica Ben and Malena Lavea helped bring some respectability to the score late in the contest.
SHARKS LAY BITE ON SEA EAGLES
Cronulla produced its first Tarsha Gale win of the season, piling on the points in a 48-6 drubbing of Manly at Cronulla High School.
The Sharks raced in nine tries without response before the Sea Eagles broke the deadlock in the final minutes.
New recruit Kirrawahn Duckett was unstoppable at the back for the Sharks, racing in three tries while centre Mona Taleo had a double.
SOUTHS KICK TO FIRST WIN
The boot of Kiara McGregor proved the difference as South Sydney held off a St George charge to prevail 22-18 at Redfern.
The two sides traded blows throughout the first half, with the Dragons outscoring the Rabbitohs three tries to two, including a Bronte Morrison double, with scores tied 12-all at the break.
Shaylee Haines and Josephine Zapantis gave the home side breathing room midway through the second half, before Gezreyal Maiuu’s second of the afternoon cut the margin to four.
Souths found enough to hold on and take their first win of the season.
TIGERS BUILD STREAK
Wests Tigers made it a perfect two from two to start the Tarsha Gale season with a comfortable 34-0 win over Canberra.
They looked on from the opening whistle and sent shockwaves through the Raiders when front rower Tiresa Elika got through five defenders to score the opener.
Another mistake from the visitors allowed the Tigers perfect field position and it was Elika again who bounced off defenders with ease to have a double inside the opening 10 minutes.
The Tigers were never troubled from that point on as they raced away to sit equal top on the standings.
ROOSTERS BOUNCE BACK
After going down narrowly in their opener, the Roosters responded in a big way to push aside Newcastle 30-6 at Mascot Oval.
They had to play from behind however, as a Saxbii Shaw chip bounced perfectly for Maronay Smuts to open the scoring.
A big finish to the first half proved the difference, as the Roosters raced in three tries before the break, including a simple unders play from Mahlie Cashin allowing a barnstorming Tyra Dymock to crash over.
Jayda Durham kept that momentum going just minutes after halftime to get them on the board in 2025.
HAROLD MATTHEWS
MAGPIES TAKE FLIGHT
Wests Magpies showed their title credentials after getting the better of Canterbury 34-18.
Both sides arrived at Hammondville Oval in search of back-to-back victories, but it was the Magpies who took flight with four first half tries to lead 22-12.
Winger Joshua Vella struck twice in the opening 30 minutes after Canterbury five-eighth Chinedu Udeh struck an early blow.
Wests extended the margin to a handy 20 points midway through the second half when centre Elijah Sefo and winger James Lanyon crossed for consecutive tries.
DRAGONS HANG ON
St George have opened their account for the season after the Dragons held off a fast finishing Balmain 14-10 at Lidcombe Oval.
Following tries to backrowers Lino Tamaseu and Jaeden Kavana, it was all St George, and they appeared to have the contest in hand when winger Jack Lambert added a third for a 14-0 halftime scoreline.
Running to what turned out to be the scoring end, Balmain seized all the momentum with the next two tries. Playmaker Izaac Mascarenas was the first to put the Tigers on the board, and when winger Braidyn Wood narrowed the margin to four points, there were still six minutes to play.
MANLY DOWNS NORTHERN RIVALS
Manly has come away with a confidence-boosting 34-10 win over the Central Coast at Brookvale.
They were on from the opening whistle as Tahj Hamilton gifted them the perfects start inside two minutes.
Cooper Gibbs restored order soon after as the Roosters levelled things up, before Cameron Makey and Oscar Crotty helped the Sea Eagles take a 10-point advantage at halftime.
When Carter Mareko crossed it was back to a four-point game with 15 minutes to play, before Manly surged away with four late tries to comprehensively finish off the game.
KNIGHTS DENY NORTH SYDNEY COMEBACK
A hot start from Newcastle was almost evaporated by North Sydney, before the Knights regained composure to prevail 24-22.
The Knights were almost matching the clock as a Callum Elsley double put them in front 16-0.
The Bears responded with three tries on either side of halftime to level the scores against the odds.
Noah McNamara and the boot of Chase Butler again gave the Knights breathing room, and despite the evasiveness of Cohen Riddell cutting the margin back to two, the Knights were able to hold on.
SOUTHS FIND WINNING BLOW
It was a tale of two halves at Seabrook, as South Sydney lifted late to overcome Melbourne 24-18.
Souths hooker Zane Hill barged over from dummy half as the visitors raced out to an 18-0 lead at halftime.
Wivenshalom Tyrell posted two tries soon after the break as the Storm were able to level proceedings with 15 minutes remaining.
Big front rower Anthony Mailangi took the initiative to jump into dummy half, and proved too powerful close to the line in what would prove the decisive blow for the visitors.
ROOSTERS RESPOND WITH BIG WIN
The Roosters have responded from a disappointing round one defeat to knock off Parramatta 30-6 at Mascot Oval.
Sydney was overcome late by North Sydney last week after letting a lead slip, but learnt from the experience with a complete performance.
Bastion Armstrong and Filipe Fakauho pushed them in front early before Cobi McCloskey looked to turn the tide.
That resistance was overcome as Fakauho posted his double minutes prior to the break.
The hat-trick was completed early in the second half as the Roosters ran away with the victory in the end.
SHARKS OUTCLASS RAIDERS
Cronulla turned on a strong display to maintain its good start to the new year, defeating Canberra 34-8 at Sharks Stadium.
The closest the Raiders came was after Viliami Siale brought them back to within two after the visitors conceded early, before the Sharks raced out to a 16-4 lead at halftime.
Cruz Parkin and Sidney Trurnog pushed that out to 28-4, before Kuluni Vaipuna gave the Raiders a late consolation.
SG BALL
BULLDOGS TAKE DOWN MAGPIES
Canterbury is on the board in SG Ball after a hard-fought 24-10 defeat of Western Suburbs at Hammondville that was overshadowed by an injury early in the contest.
Just seven minutes into the clash, Wests lock Peter Taai was left on the ground after a tackle went wrong, prompting a lengthy delay as officials tended to him.
Despite leading by just two points at the break, the Bulldogs swiftly lifted to another gear early in the second half.
Azariah Toki-Mautairi was able to use his strength close to the line to carry defenders over the line, before some lovely offloading from Sosaia Alatini and Jai Callaghan allowed Kaawyn Patterson to make it back-to-back tries for the home side.
BALMAIN GOES BACK-TO-BACK
They went winless in 2024, and now the Balmain Tigers have consecutive wins after knocking off St George 32-26 at Lidcombe.
Playing from behind after the Dragons scored the first 10 points, the Tigers responded with three tries in the space of eight minutes to take an unlikely 16-10 lead at the break.
Jared Haywood extended the lead soon after the break, and a double to Logan Deininger had Balmain roaring with a 32-10 lead with 20 minutes to play.
The Dragons wouldn’t lie down however, getting back to just six points down inside the final three minutes to give them one last shot at a draw.
However they left their run too late against a side playing with confidence.
STEELERS DROP THE HAMMER
A professional display from Illawarra saw them account for Manly 32-4 and remain undefeated in the SG Ball Cup.
On the back of a hot start that saw them pile on three tries in a nine-minute stretch, the Steelers raced out to an 18-4 lead at the break and were never seriously challenged.
Tom Kirk scored minutes into the second half to push their lead out further, with Kade Reed slotting four conversions and two penalty goals to kick the Sea Eagles out of the game.
BEARS CAUSE BOILOVER
North Sydney has caused an early upset in the SG Ball season, knocking off Newcastle 24-22 at Kenthurst.
Newcastle started fast on the back of an Aidan Gow double inside 10 minutes.
As the game settled, a key run midway through the first half saw Mustapha Hawchar score two tries in three minutes as the Bears opened up an 18-8 lead.
Tainyn Clarken made it four tries in a 16-minute period to open up a 16-point margin.
Newcastle refused to surrender, as Noah Sefo scored and Gow completed his hat-trick to get them back in the contest.
Gow was denied a fourth due to a forward pass, although minutes later completed the rare four-try haul after touching down in the corner with six minutes to play.
It gave Blake Dorahy a chance to tie the game from out wide, but he hooked it left as Norths held on to seal the win.
SECOND HALF BLITZ LIFTS RABBITOHS
South Sydney piled on an impressive second half to knock off Melbourne 34-22 at Seabrook Reserve.
The two sides went toe-to-toe early before Souths opened up a 16-6 advantage, only for the home side to storm home with Amaziah Murgha and Kobi Floro putting them in front by two at the break.
A mistake with their first set after halftime gifted Souths a scrum on the attacking 10m line, and it’s all Yasin Kuscu needed as he skipped across-field to score in the corner.
Another error proved costly for Melbourne, this time off a kick with Jacob Fong scooping up a loose ball to add another four-pointer, before Kuscu’s second extended the margin to 12.
Joseph Vela cut the margin late but it was too little, too late to stop Souths from making it back-to-back wins to start 2025.
Anything but smooth sailing for Americans ahead of SailGP
The world’s most technologically advanced sailing boats lit up Sydney Harbour ahead of this weekend’s SailGP, although the Americans ran into a spot of bother.
‘It’s scary’: Speed race has SailGP guns on edge
SailGP gun Kyle Langford has given an insight into the wet, wild and high risk speed chase that could see 100km/h broken on Sydney Harbour – and the fear and pain involved.