NSWRL Junior Reps Grand Final Day: Team of the week, 10 talking points, full wrap, gallery
For the final time in 2023, we rate our combined team of the week from the Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale grand finals. See who made the cut in our best 17 from grand final day.
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FOR the final time in 2023, we look at the team of the week from the three grand finals in Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup.
1. Krystal Bulmer (Roosters - Tarsha Gale)
2. Paige Lowe (Roosters - Tarsha Gale)
3. Christopher Makhlouf (Canterbury - Harold Matthews)
4. Ethan Ferguson (Newcastle - SG Ball)
5. Devonte Vaivela (Parramatta - SG Ball)
6. Mitchell Woods (Canterbury - Harold Matthews)
7. Ethan Sanders (Parramatta - SG Ball)
8. Caleb Garvie (Newcastle - SG Ball)
9. Matthew Arthur (Parramatta - SG Ball)
10. Mohamed Hadid (Canterbury - Harold Matthews)
11. Charlie Guymer (Parramatta - SG Ball)
12. Sosaia Alatini (Canterbury - Harold Matthews)
13. Tavarna Papalii (Roosters - Tarsha Gale)
14. Abby Aros (Canterbury - Tarsha Gale)
15. Tarli Dennis (Canterbury - Tarsha Gale)
16. Connor Votano (Newcastle - Harold Matthews)
17. Brooke Talataina (Roosters - Tarsha Gale)
10 TALKING POINTS
AS WE reflect on a huge day, here are the 10 talking points from grand final day in the NSWRL Junior Reps.
UNDERRATED MAKHLOUF DELIVERS AGAIN
He’s the bench player in the No.14 that never lets Canterbury down.
Wiry outside back Christopher Makhlouf launched his side’s finals campaign with the opening try in week one against the Raiders.
And with the Harold Matts decider in the balance with 10 minutes remaining, he powered through four tacklers, bouncing and spinning his way over the stripe to put a line through any hopes of a Newcastle comeback.
DOG FLYING HIGH
In the first half of the Harold Matts grand final, Canterbury’s Jope Rauqe was unlucky not to ground at least one towering bomb in the right corner.
But in what was a near faultless second half for the Bulldogs, the flying winger out lept his opponent, clinging onto a Mitchell Woods bomb to extend the margin to an unassailable 16 points.
IF ONLY NEWCASTLE HAD THEIR TIME AGAIN
Trailing 8-6 just before halftime, if the Knights had one Harold Matts wish it would be to replay the next five minutes.
With more luck, a Connor Votano penalty attempt would have levelled the scores. Then two minutes after the resumption, a Blake Dorahy bust could have finished with points.
Then to compound the heartache two minutes later. Ethan Jarmain was dragged down a blade of grass shy of the stripe, before Taj Moore lost the ball trying to burrow across from the very next play.
SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS
The SG Ball decider came with plenty of momentum shifts as both Parramatta and Newcastle wrestled for ascendency.
The Eels struck first with two quick tries, before the Knights hit back to level things at halftime and had their chance to go in front soon after the break.
Parramatta held their nerve to push back in front, and even hold off a late charge to claim yet another crown.
SANDERS THE MAN IN PARRADISE
Ethan Sanders took home the player of the match honours and deservedly so.
It was a fine halfback performance that saw him steer the ship and really take control of the game.
The Patrician Brothers product has been in the Junior Blues system and he showed on the weekend why there are big raps on him.
FERGUSON SHINES IN A LOSING EFFORT
Despite Newcastle going down, there were a few standout performers from their side.
One was Ethan Ferguson, a highly regarded centre who scored a key try and was very solid with the goalkicking boot.
His stature is very similar to that of Bradman Best, and hopefully for the young man he can make it to that elite level.
END TO END CHAOS
The first 20 minutes of the Tarsha Gale Cup final was pure chaos.
Attacking flair was the key as both sides threw everything they had at each other and capitalised on the other’s mistakes.
The Bulldogs in particular looked superb when throwing the ball around, creatig some good chances and opening up a healthy lead.
GRINDING IT OUT WHEN NEEDED THE MOST
For the first time this season the Roosters found themselves chasing points in the final 10 minutes of a contest.
They’ve been dominant throughout the whole season, but didn’t panic when they were behind.
They got themselves into a striking position and did just that, with Brooke Talataina breaking through off the back of a scrum to score.
ONES FOR THE FUTURE
Tavarana Papalii took out the player of the match award for her work in the middle and what she was able to get done for this side.
It capped off a really strong year from the Queenslander.
Another who was strong was Abby Aros at the back for Canterbury, who had a superb finals series.
Both look likely talents for the future.
THE END OF A BRILLIANT YEAR
That marks the end of the NSWRL Junior Reps season, where we saw 44 teams across three grades striving for their spot on top of the podium.
We witnessed the next generation of talent perform under pressure and take that next step in their footballing journey, with many destined for the heights of the NRL and NRLW.
Some have already graduated to Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup and the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership, and we look forward to bringing you their stories in the weeks to come.
GRAND FINAL WRAP + GALLERY
THREE thrilling grand finals caught the eye at Leichhardt Oval as the NSWRL Junior Reps season came to a conclusion.
Catch up on the wrap of every grade as the stars took centre stage in front of a packed crowd.
ROOSTERS COME BACK TO COMPLETE PERFECT SEASON
IT WAS a grand final befitting the two standout Tarsha Gale Cup teams, but ultimately the Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy launched a late comeback to down Canterbury 26-22.
With time winding down and the Roosters in need of something special, five-eighth Brooke Talataina stepped up and delivered, crossing for the matchwinner inside the final five minutes.
“It felt so good. Coming back and sealing it with that try felt really good,” Talataina said.
“It was hard. Credit to the Bulldogs for giving us a tough game. I was so proud of our girls, we stuck to it, stuck to our structure and came out hard in the second half.
“I picked my moments, especially when we were down, as a half I tried to change the tempo.”
The Roosters had a dream start, with a Skyla Adams bomb and kick pressure from Joy Levy forcing an error, and Paige Lowe diving over from the ensuing scrum to post first points.
Canterbury hit back soon after however, as Ambryn Murphy-Haua’s cross-field kick was fumbled, with Tatiana Finau there to pick up the scraps.
They held the lead soon after as Tarli Dennis caught the defence napping, regathering her own grubber.
When the kick-off went out on the full, Amelia Pasikala put Noaria Kapua into open space, racing 40m to extend the lead to 18-6 through 16 minutes.
The Bulldogs couldn’t contain the kick-off, and were punished through Jaydah Tofae, who barged over untouched from close range to score.
Canterbury flipped the script on the next set, as the Roosters dropped the ball from the restart of play, and a fleet-footed Abby Aros gliding to the line, giving them a 22-12 lead.
Not to be outdone, back-to-back penalties helped the Roosters get prime field position for the last raid of the half, and they duly obliged with Krystal Bulmer cutting the margin back to six.
Sydney had the first real chance of the second half and they used it to perfection, with a backline movement finished off by winger Leilani Montgomery getting them back to within two.
Dropped balls plagued both teams through much of the half as the rain started to set in, with a number of good chances going to waste.
The Roosters completed their comeback with five minutes to go as Talataina crossed to secure their second consecutive title and completing an undefeated season.
EELS HOLD OUT DOGGED KNIGHTS
PARRAMATTA twice fended off the charge of Newcastle to take the SG Ball title with a 28-22 victory.
The Eels had the early running in both halves, with their defence holding solid at the right time to see them land the premiership from fourth.
Hooker Matthew Arthur was among the best on ground, and said
“The boys really dug deep. It was a back and forward game and a great game of footy, but we dug deep,” he said.
“We turned up for each other despite the swings in possession.
“We’re all best mates and we love each other. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
A backline movement in the sixth minute saw Arthur give Ethan Sanders an opening, putting Domenico De Stradis through a gaping hole, before turning it back inside to Sanders to open the scoring.
That advantage was doubled to 12 just minutes later, this time with a Joshua Guymer short ball putting Charlie Guymer into space, linking with Devonte Vaivela to continue Parramatta’s dominance.
A dropped ball from the Eels on their own line 25 minutes in gave the Knights their best chance of the half, and eventually capitalised as Beau Slade wrestled his way through four defenders on a barge play to spin his way over the line.
In the shadows of halftime they levelled the scores at 12-all after a pinpoint Jye Linnane kick was knocked back by Kyle McCarthy into the arms of a waiting Ethan Ferguson to cross in the corner.
The Knights continued that momentum into the second half as they attacked the Eels line, but were thwarted and countered as Parramatta went down the field and re-took the lead through skipper Charlie Guymer, who hit the line and broke through under the posts.
They maintained that pressure and again extended the lead as a diving Richard Penisini was clever enough to use the conditions to his advantage to touch down before going out.
Not ones to lie down, quick hands from prop Caleb Garvie gave Mayson Metcalf a passage to the line from close range to bring the score back to 22-18 with 15 minutes remaining.
Their comeback was temporarily put on ice, as Vaivela crossed for his second on the back of a bouncing Apa Twidle pass.
It was then the individual brilliance of Fletcher Sharpe and a superb chip and chase that gave the Knights prime field position, with Taj Blackman taking advantage of a depleted defensive line to get his team back to within six.
They had a late chance to tie it up, however Parramatta held solid to close out a determined win.
BULLDOGS UPSET KNIGHTS TO CLAIM HAROLD MATTS TITLE
Canterbury-Bankstown are the new kings of the Harold Matthews Cup after powering past Newcastle 32-6 in a pulsating grand final.
In the first of three NSWRL Junior Reps deciders played at Leichhardt Oval, the Bulldogs overcame an early deficit before running away in the second half to hoist the club’s fourth under-17s trophy.
Finishing fourth on the ladder, the win was Canterbury’s second successive scalp after knocking off minor premiers Penrith in last week’s prelim.
For skipper Mitchell Woods, the victory was the culmination of months of hard work.
“We lost to both Penrith and Newcastle earlier in the season,” Woods said.
“It was a bit of a grudge match today, but we’ve been building for this. The team has made so much progress over the past few weeks and it was a real team effort across the park.”
With a spirit that never wavered, Woods also paid tribute to some club heavyweights.
“First grade coach Cameron Ciraldo and club legend Mark O'Meley spoke to the boys about the club’s proud history and the old Dogs of War,” he said.
It may well have been the impetus that promoted the side’s change of fortune after skipper Connor Votano put Newcastle in front 6-0.
From the moment Canterbury’s Sosaia Alatini took aim at the Knights pack just before the interval, the Bulldogs never turned back.
The backrower burst through the Newcastle line to set up a try to fullback Tallis McEwen-Welsh, then his bust from the restart ended in a penalty, and with Bronson Reuben’s goal, Canterbury opened an unlikely 8-6 halftime.
“I've never met someone as strong as him, he definitely got us going forward,” Woods said. “I’m lucky he’s on my side, he’s a real handful at training, he’s a freak.”
Newcastle had several chances after the break, but when big Bulldogs prop David Leota offloaded for Mohamed Hadid to crash over, Canterbury were not to be denied.
Up 14-6 and with the scent in their nostrils, the Bulldogs didn’t let up on the way to posting another three tries in the final 11 minutes of play.
In a fitting finale, Woods put the icing on the premiership when he crashed over in the last minute.
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