NSWRL Junior Reps: Full wrap, results, gallery from round eight of Matts, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale
The penultimate round of the NSWRL junior reps season has been run and won. Check who made our teams of the week for Harold Matts, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale, plus the 20 big headlines.
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ROUND eight of the NSWRL junior reps season is in the books, and it’s time to look at who made our Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup teams of the week.
HAROLD MATTS
1. Jaxen Edgar (Penrith)
2. Harry Wald (Penrith)
3. Hayden Buchanan (Illawarra)
4. Saint Fuatimau (Wests)
5. Finnley Egan (Illawarra)
6. Marc Tannous (Balmain)
7. Blake Dorahy (Newcastle)
8. Edwin Langi (Balmain)
9. Zane Bell (South Sydney)
10. Lochlin Moses (South Sydney)
11. Jezaiah Funa-Iuta (Parramatta)
12. Heinz Lemoto (Penrith)
13. Finau Latu (St George)
14. Ethan Jarmain (Newcastle)
15. Drew Langdon (Illawarra)
16. Braethan Bilich (South Sydney)
17. Cooper Clarke (Wests)
SG BALL
1. Benjamin Dufficy (Sydney Roosters)
2. Joven Gyemore (St George)
3. Ethan Ferguson (Newcastle)
4. Jonti Morshead-Feildel (South Sydney)
5. Jonathan Sua (Canterbury)
6. Luke Hanson (Penrith)
7. Brent Hawkins (South Sydney)
8. Zayvian Langkilde-Fale (Melbourne)
9. James Frazer (St George)
10. Luron Patea (Penrith)
11. James Walsh (Illawarra)
12. Dylan Egan (Illawarra)
13. Salesi Foketi (Sydney Roosters)
14. Fanafaou Seve (Canterbury)
15. Luke Keppie (Wests)
16. Ashton Ward (Illawarra)
17. Loko Tonga (St George)
TARSHA GALE
1. Krystal Bulmer (Roosters Indigenous)
2. Litia Fusi (Canterbury)
3. Lailani Montgomery (Roosters Indigenous)
4. Caitlin Peadon (Parramatta)
5. Mia-Rose Walsh (Illawarra)
6. Brooke Talataina (Roosters Indigenous)
7. Lateia Duckett (South Sydney)
8. Keturah Matoe (North Sydney)
9. Jayla Commins (Illawarra)
10. Ella Koster (Illawarra)
11. Bella Sandford (Parramatta)
12. Sulieti Ahio (Illawarra)
13. Bostyn Brown (South Sydney)
14. Kasey Quye (Parramatta)
15. Aaliyah Haumono (Manly)
16. Noaria Kapua (Canterbury)
17. Ilisapeci Bari (Canterbury)
20 TALKING POINTS
WITH a massive penultimate round of the NSWRL junior reps season in the books, catch up on what is making headlines in the Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cups.
WINLESS SIDES GET IT DONE
First on Saturday it was Melbourne breaking their SG Ball duck on home soil against Balmain.
Not to be outdone, Souths responded with a comeback victory to knock off the Sea Eagles in a thriller.
It’s been particularly tough for the Storm this season who have had some big scores posted on them, so it’s good to see them with a positive to get out of the year.
JONTI COOKS UP A COMEBACK
Jonti Morshead-Feildel brings a famous surname to the SG Ball, but he was absolutely the star in his own right at Redfern Oval.
The Souths centre scored a crucial second half double, including a try in the 67th minute to tie the game up, allowing for a late field goal.
No doubt father Manu would’ve been very proud watching a stellar performance.
PANTHERS STAMP THEIR AUTHORITY
Penrith was absolutely dominant in their SG Bal thrashing of Parramatta to really out themselves as a title contender.
Four tries in 16 minutes during the second half turned a tight game into a blowout, moving them into a share of top spot.
They’ve shown time and time again what a class outfit they are, and a win over a desperate Bulldogs can seal a top-two spot.
DRAGONS SIGNS OF THE FUTURE
St George has enjoyed a good run of late in the SG Ball, winning three of their past four, and no doubt their weekend would’ve been the most pleasing result.
Three late tries and a hat-trick to the in-form Joven Gymore saw them blitz their local rivals Cronulla late.
With Illawarra in the finals race, Dragons NRL fans have at least something to look for in the years to come.
BULLDOGS SEASON REMAINS ALIVE
Canterbury needed a big showing in Auckland to keep their SG Ball finals hopes alive, and they did just that.
An early blitz and a double to Jonathan Sua in the space of nine minutes saw them take full control of the game early.
As it stands they will need a side above them to stumble in the final week, plus take down Penrith if they are going to play past the Easter break.
EELS IN DRIVERS SEAT TO ADVANCE
A really polished team effort saw Parramatta take down Penrith in the Tarsha Gale Cup.
They clicked on either side of the break to get the job done, putting them in fifth spot with one round remaining.
Qualification isn’t guaranteed however, with a big game against Canterbury coming up in the final round, with the Bulldogs looking to complete a perfect season, and both contenders under the Eels with games against bottom-seven teams.
RABBITOHS SHOW GLIMPSES OF BRILLIANCE
We’ve seen the good and the bad of South Sydney’s Tarsha Gale side throughout 2023.
They’ve tested the Bulldogs, but also dropped some winnable games and conceded points in the process.
Saturday though was their good side, as they looked super impressive in comfortably accounting for the Sea Eagles, led by a rampaging forward pack.
BULLDOGS TUNE UP FOR FINALS IN STYLE
Canterbury’s unbeaten Tarsha Gale run continued with a second half blitz of Cronulla on the road.
They were simply breathtaking in the second stanza, scoring eight tries and devoiding the Sharks of any ball at all.
They’re right in the mix for the title, and no one would be upset if they landed in the finals against the Roosters Indigenous Academy.
TIGERS, SOUTHS CLINGING ONTO HOPE
They sit in ninth and tenth respectively in the Harold Matts, but both Balmain and Souths are an outside chance of advancing to the post-season.
They did it with hard-fought wins over the Central Coast and Manly, leaving the door open just enough.
Of course they will need to rely on other results going their way, but stranger things have happened in this competition.
THE PATHWAY CONTINUES TO ROLL
The Penrith production line doesn’t look like stopping anytime soon.
They scrapped out a gritty six-point win over the Eels in a high quality contest at Cabramatta, boosting them up to second in the Harold Matthews standings.
Combine that with their share of top spot in the U19s, there are a lot of names we will see for many years to come in the top flight.
WIN AND IN FOR THE SHARKS
Cronulla had enough points in the back to keep a late St George comeback off the cards at the weekend.
Now their destiny is in their own hands in the Harold Matthews as to whether they make the finals or not.
Their game against the Steelers is an enticing one for both sides, with the winner advancing and the loser a real danger of missing out.
SHOULDER OF STEEL
Illawarra were never headed in their Tarsha Gale Cup clash, but with a player in the sin bin the door was open for a Canberra comeback.
Enter Ella Koster. With a kamikaze left shoulder, the Steelers firebrand forced a turnover and in the next set crashed over to put the result beyond doubt.
HAIR-PULL BRUSHED ASIDE
With an accidental handful of ponytail, Illawarra’s Sulieti Ahio stopped Canberra centre Elli Beecham in her tracks.
Far from putting the Steelers backrower off her game, the unfortunate penalty she conceded worked like a charm.
Returning after the break, the damaging No. 12 powered over for two tries and had a hand in another.
BUCHANAN EXTENDS TRY SCORING BLITZ
Consecutive hat-tricks and seven tries in his last three outings, that’s Hayden Buchanan, Illawarra’s go-to man in the Harold Matts.
Strong, fast and equally evasive off both feet, the powerfully built centre is a star on the Steelers’ right edge and one to watch in the finals.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Illawarra halfback Ashton Ward played a blinder in his side’s upset win over Canberra in the SG Ball, but not everything came off at the first attempt.
Up 4-0, the No. 7 thought he’d doubled the lead only for his magic cutout pass to an unmarked winger to be ruled forward.
Undeterred, the young playmaker dusted off the same playbook 10 minutes later. This time Jacob Haeata was awarded the four points, and the Steelers went to the sheds with a match winning lead.
RAIDERS’ WAKE-UP CALL
Despite dropping their first match of the SG Ball season, Canberra haven’t lost any ground. With a superior differential, the Green Machine still maintains top spot.
If they lost anything against the Steelers, it was desire. Now with the finals looming, it could be the result that sharpens their focus in the run home.
REIGNING MATTS PREMIERS TO MISS FINALS
Following four consecutive defeats, Harold Matts reigning premiers Wests returned to the winner's circle with a win over North Sydney.
But with only one round remaining and languishing in 10th place, the Magpies’ finals charge is a week or two late.
BEARS END HIBERNATION
It was good to see North Sydney surge to their first victory of the season in the Tarsha Gale Cup.
After draws earlier in the season against finals contenders Cronulla and Canberra, the Bears have had their chances. But they weren’t to be denied against the Tigers, charging home after the break with four unanswered tries.
SPIRITED KNIGHTS PUT ROOSTERS ON NOTICE
In last year’s Tarsha Gale Cup grand final Newcastle finished an agonising two points adrift of the undefeated Roosters Indigenous Academy.
On Saturday they finished 12 shy, the second closest of any side this season.
The numbers say they’re no closer to toppling the Bondi juggernaut, but with the Bulldogs and Steelers also in form, there could be a finals twist.
KNIGHTS MASTER BOTH ENDS OF THE DRAW
What is it with the cardiac Knights in the SG Ball?
Back in round six they led Wests by 10 points with eight minutes to play, only to fall asleep and walk away with a 32-all draw.
Then on Saturday, the Roosters had them on toast, but with two tries in three minutes, the Knights managed to share the competition points with a miraculous 36-all draw.
ROUND EIGHT WRAP
TESTING conditions greeted our next generation of league stars as the NSWRL junior reps entered the penultimate round.
Catch up on all the action from round eight of Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup.
PENRITH TAKES THE SPOILS OVER WESTERN RIVALS
A composed Eels side struck first blood at New Era Stadium, coming out 24-6 winners in the Tarsha Gale Cup over Penrith.
With both teams entering the round on equal points, the Panthers struck first blood in just the second minute of play through Yasmine Baker,
The home side eventually settled into their groove and took back the contest with two quick tries before halftime.
Caitlin Peadon struck not long after the break, with Alysha Bell putting the finishing touches on an impressive display after 47 minutes.
The Harold Matts encounter lived up to the hype, as Penrith escaped with a 22-16 success.
The Panthers opened up a commanding 16-4 lead at the break on the back of a double to winger Harry Wald.
Jordan Uta helped narrow the gap, before he was sent to the sin bin in the 48th minute.
Moments later Joseph Partch met the same fate for Penrith, and the Eels tied things up through Zaidas Muagututia to set up the grandstand finish.
It was Wald that would prove the difference, landing his hat-trick and gifting the Panthers victory in the dying stages.
Points flowed early in the SG Ball, and Penrith was able to sustain the pressure to come on top with a 42-14 win.
Both sides went try-for-try throughout the opening 25 minutes, with the boot of Riley Pollard helping the Panthers to an 18-10 advantage.
The Eels struck first in the second half to cut the lead back to four, but from that point on it was all Penrith, racing in four unanswered tries to land a huge win.
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RABBITOHS FIND FORM OVER MANLY
The Rabbitohs overcame a sluggish start to account for Manly 30-12 at Redfern Oval, keeping them alive in the race for the Harold Matts finals.
Samuel Vandermade gifted the visitors a dream start inside 90 seconds, before a sin bin turned the game on its head.
Nelson Lau was sent for 10, with Souths scoring three tries with the extra advantage.
The game remained tight at 14-6 for a long period, before Lochlin Moses helped to stretch the lead out beyond the Sea Eagles’ reach in the 44th minute.
Souths’ big day continued at Erskineville Oval, with their Tarsha Gale side scoring a 30-8 win.
In what was their second success of the year, a big second half lifted them into a share of ninth spot on the ladder.
With the game in the balance at 8-4, three quick tries to their key forwards opened proceedings right up, with Shyla Mundine putting the finishing touches on in the shadows of halftime.
That run looked like coming to a finish, before an incredible comeback lifted Souths to a 29-28 victory.
The Sea Eagles started hot and piled on three early tries, including a Teapo Stoltman double inside 16 minutes, to race the clock at 16-0.
Souths hit back however, with Drew Williams and Dane Towns getting them back to within a converted try at halftime.
Manly started the second stanza in a similar fashion, racing in three quick tries to open up a 28-10 lead with 25 minutes to play.
Jonti Morshead-Feildel gave the Rabbitohs a sniff, Towns’ second with nine minutes to play gave them a live chance, and the second of the afternoon to Morshed-Feildel saw them level up with just two minutes to play.
Enter Brent Hawkins, who stepped up and slotted the winning field goal to complete a red and green sweep.
CRONULLA FENDS OFF DRAGONS CHARGE
Cronulla survived a late scare from rivals St George to claim a 14-10 Harold Matthews victory at Cronulla High School.
Bailey Leach started things off with a try inside two minutes, before tries on either side of the break put them in front 14-0 through 32 minutes.
Tyrus Siana Salanoa hit back moments later to get the Dragons on the board, with Finau Latu’s try in the final minute giving them one last shot, with the Sharks holding solid.
The Sharks couldn’t complete the double, with the Dragons staging a major comeback to land the spoils 26-20.
Despite a hot start, Cronulla found itself behind 10-8 at halftime after James Frazer crossed in the 32nd minute.
The home side found their groove soon after however, with Richard Whalebone’s second of the afternoon extending the margin out to 10 points with 20 left to play.
Not ones to lay down, St George again hit back to level up the scores inside the final 10 minutes with Joven Gyemore crossing for his second of the day.
It was that man Gyemore right in the action again, landing his hat-trick and giving the Dragons their third win of the season.
TIGERS CLAW ONTO MATTS HOPE
Balmain kept its slim Harold Matts finals hopes alive with a 23-8 win over the Central Coast Roosters.
Back-to-back tries midway through the first half to Michael Nassar and Ilai Esau got the visitors on the front foot, with a heads-up play from Alex Conti gifting them an extra point before the break.
The Roosters showed some fight in the second half, but were ultimately kept at a safe distance for much of the game.
Melbourne secured its first win of the SG Ball season with a 22-18 defeat of Balmain at Comely Banks.
A back-and-forth opening saw the Storm open up an early 12-0 lead, before Ioane Lui’s sin bin helped Balmain get on the board soon after.
A second half double to Matthew Logopati saw the Storm take the lead inside the final seven minutes, an advantage they would not relinquish.
STEELERS END THE RAIDERS’ UNBEATEN RUN
Locked together in fourth place, the Steelers and Raiders squared off in what promised to be a Tarsha Gale Cup blockbuster at Shellharbour.
In the end, it was a mismatch in attitude with Illawarra dominating from start to finish in a comfortable 44-6 win.
Illawarra prop Hope Millard set the scene in the opening minute, crashing through some flimsy Canberra defence. From there, the Illawarra girls were unmatched for intensity in posting another three to lead 22-0 at the break.
Canberra’s best chance to level came in the fifth minute, only to be held up in-goal twice in the same set. Once they regained possession, Steelers centre Mia-rose Walsh did it all on her own.
Following on from last week’s double, the No. 4 stepped clear and out paced the chasers in a 60 metre dash for the first of an impressive hat-trick.
Illawarra’s third try oozed class and showed all the hallmarks of a well drilled outfit.
On the attack, hooker Jayla Commins was all hands directing traffic from dummy-half, and when she hit Ella Koster with a well rehearsed inside-ball, the prop steamed over the line.
Kayla Fleming got the Raiders on the board in the second half, but it was only a momentary lapse in proceedings before Illawarra raced in the final three of the day.
Koster crossed for another while second-rower Sulieti Ahio underlined Illawarra’s midfield dominance with a second half double.
In the Harold Matts, Illawarra’s promising young centre Hayden Buchanan proved unstoppable as the Steelers moved another step closer to the finals after knocking off third placed Canberra 30-12.
Needing a win to consolidate their position inside the six, Illawarra struck early through winger Finnley Egan and they almost doubled the advantage a few minutes later.
Coming off last week’s hat-trick, Buchanan cruised into the back field only for his final pass to hit the deck with a certain four-points on offer.
After Canberra almost drew level through winger Cooper Johnston, Buchanan took it upon himself to give Illawarra a 10-0 halftime advantage.
A 20 metre restart was all the right centre needed, and with silky footwork and blistering speed he did the rest.
Winger Patrick Dawson dived into the left corner to get Canberra within striking distance but it was quickly counted by Buchanan’s second.
But the Raiders weren’t done and trailed 16-12 when skipper Jonah Anderson burrowed across from dummy half.
But just as he’d done before, Buchanan replied in a flash, powering onto a perfectly weighted ball before improving his position under the posts.
Leading 22-12, Illawarra went on with the job in the final stages. Drew Langdon pounced on a grubber before Buchanan sent winger Harry Wililo on a dash to the right corner in the final minute.
Canberra’s unbeaten start to the SG Ball season has come to a shuddering halt with a 26-10 defeat to a classy and enthusiastic Illawarra Steelers.
Stuck in eighth spot before kick-off, the Steelers were given little chance of upsetting the title favourites. Now with three wins on the trot, Illawarra shapes as a finals dark horse.
Steelers winger Ethan Cliff finished a full width spread in the left corner for the first of three unanswered opening half tries.
Full of running and offloads, Illawarra continued to pepper the Raiders’ line and looked to have another only for halfback Ashton Ward’s final pass to be ruled forward.
The points eventually came through backrower James Walsh, who beat a handful of defenders in a diagonal charge that saw him bounce out of the final tackle and land under the posts.
A try to winger Jacob Haeata just before the break put Illawarra clear 14-0.
With a halftime rev-up, Canberra lifted and closed to 20-10 with tries to Atini Tuialii and Jacob Iosefa.
But it was Illawarra’s day and with centre Te Umuariki Heremia-Tukere having the final say, the Steelers’ 16-point victory margin was a true reflection of their dominance.
MAGPIES FLY HIGH ABOVE BEARS
In the first of three matches at Campbelltown Stadium, following four consecutive defeats, Wests simply had to beat North Sydney to keep their Harold Matts season alive.
A 24-10 victory suggests the Magpies had it all their own way. But at halftime the winless Bears only trailed 10-4, and weren’t without a chance.
Super-sub Cooper Clarke struck twice after the restart, and at 20-4, the power forward’s efforts breathed life into the Magpies’ season.
Brady McMillan pegged one back for Norths, but Wests backrower Pheonix Godinet had the final say in his side’s 14-point win.
Wests have brushed aside last week’s surprise SG Ball loss to Canterbury with a 10-try 50-24 demolition of North Sydney.
The Magpies finished the contest with eight different try scorers on a day where halfback Luke Keppie scored a hatrick and kicked five goals for a personal tally of 22 points.
Norths centre Bernard Wilson showed his class, bagging two as the Bears showed promising signs in scoring five of their own.
The North Sydney Bears have overcome a halftime deficit to break through for their first win of the Tarsha Gale season with a 22-6 victory over the Wests Tigers.
Tries were exchanged early and at the break the Tigers led 6-4.
Having already finished on level terms twice in the opening seven rounds, Norths clicked into gear after the break with four unanswered tries.
Winger Ruby Watterson put Norths in front, and from there they never surrendered in what was a proud afternoon for the club.
KNIGHTS STRIKE LATE IN KURRI KURRI
The Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy extended its unbeaten run to seven in the Tarsha Gale, but in the Knights, they’ve found a willing title contender.
The Roosters prevailed 22-10 at Kurri Kurri, but after a fast start they more than found their match in a willing Newcastle.
When Imogen Hei and Paige Lowe crossed inside the opening eight minutes, it looked headed for another Roosters blowout.
But Newcastle settled and the points dried up until Roosters centre Lailani Montgomery crossed for a double with the space of three minutes either side of the interval.
Down 16-0, Newcastle could have rolled over, instead they hit back through hooker Leah Ollerton.
The Roosters struck again, but Ollerton’s second in the dying minutes gives the Bondi girls plenty to think about.
Newcastle made it three straight wins in the Harold Matts after accounting for the Sydney Roosters 20-6.
Needing a victory to continue their finals push, punishing Roosters lock Zac Fitler threw his weight around with a first minute try. But the Knights regathered and quickly levelled through winger Kyran Blair.
Locked at 6-6, it was the Knights who struck first after the break with a penalty goal to Connor Votano.
Blake Dorahy crossed to increase the margin to eight, and the five eighth repeated the dose minutes later to round out Newcastle’s fifth win of the season.
Two late tries have seen Newcastle pinch a 36-all draw with the Sydney Roosters in a 13-try thriller in the SG Ball.
In a mouth-watering clash between two sides unbeaten since round two, with seven minutes left to play the Roosters looked home and hosed. Up by 12 thanks to fullback Ben Dufficy’s second half double, the fifth placed Roosters were on the up.
In an astonishing finish, Ethan Ferguson’s third try kept the Knights in the hunt and with the centre’s conversion they trailed by six.
With the clock counting down, winger Kyle McCarthy got Newcastle with two, and they drew level when Ferguson landed his fourth conversion from seven attempts.
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