NSWRL Junior Reps: Round eight Harold Matthews, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball, Tarsha Gale Cup wrap
With finals spots on the line, there’s plenty to play for in round eight of the NSWRL Junior Reps. Catch up on everything that happened in the penultimate round of the four divisions.
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The penultimate round of the NSWRL Junior Reps is off and running as teams look to make a last-ditch bid for the finals.
Catch up with all the latest from around the grounds in round eight action on a Super Sunday:
JUMP TO
Lisa Fiaola - Tarsha Gale - Harold Matthews - SG Ball
LISA FIAOLA
TIGERS POWER CLEAR EARLY
Wests Tigers ramped up its finals preparations with a 28-16 win over North Sydney at a drenched Leichhardt Oval.
Chasing another victory to maintain their standing inside the top-four, the Tigers kept pace with the clock, slapping on three quick tries to lead 18-0.
Winger Ana Taviliniu bagged a first half double, and kicked the Tigers into overdrive with a try in the opening minute. Centre Lilea Seville added another, weaving through Norths’ right edge defence.
But it was Khiarna Munro who came up with the highlight play, scooping up a Bears grubber and outpacing the cover in a length of the field solo effort that finished with the fullback sliding over under the posts.
The Bears struck just before the break when Tahira Armeda crashed over from close range to make it 22-4. And they edged to within 12 when five-eighth Asia Petusa sliced through with 22 minutes remaining.
May Fuimaono countered with the home side’s only four pointer after the break, while Norths had the final say through lock Asia Petusa.
STEELY EELS ON REBOUND
Parramatta have rebounded from last week’s surprise loss to completely shut-out Illawarra 20-0 at Eric Tweedale Stadium.
Almost assured of finishing the preliminaries among the top three sides, the Eels were all about defence in round eight after they conceded six tries in a big defeat to the Tigers.
In a tense first half, Kaizen Morgan-Pritchard terrorised the Steelers with ball in hand, and the backrower scored the only try of the first half, finishing a diagonal charge in the right corner.
The Steelers, for the most part, showed resilience in defence, but the constant wave of Parra ball carriers took its toll.
Still down by six with 10 to go and their top-eight prospects on the line, the Steelers cracked twice. Halfback Temieke Withers put Georgia Wansey across before five-eighth Sharon Latapu crossed for Parramatta’s third in the last two minutes.
In good signs for the Eels ahead of the finals, captain Bailey Ma-Chong had a perfect day with the boot landing four from four.
SOUND THE ALARMS
Cronulla confirmed its status as Lisa Fiaola Cup giant-killers with an against the odds 12-4 victory on the road against Newcastle.
After breathing life into their season with a major boilover against Central Coast, the Sharks headed north and doubled down, edging out the fifth placed Knights in a thriller.
Played in driving rain, Newcastle converted early field position into points when prop Lily Porter steamed onto a sublime cut-out pass from dummy-half, Ellazae Elers.
Up 4-0, Newcastle had the better of the opening half until hooker Isabella McDonald shifted the momentum, pouncing from close range to put Cronulla ahead 6-4 at halftime.
It remained that way until the closing minutes of the match when Cronulla landed the killer blow with a familiar play.
Just as she did last week, McDonald took control at the ruck, and in tandem with rampaging prop Manawanui James, the pair combined to extend the lead to an unassailable eight points.
ROOSTERS REBOUND IN STYLE
Central Coast hit back from its first defeat of the season with a crushing 48-0 victory over Manly at Berkeley Vale Oval.
Their success was set up in the first half, running in seven unanswered tries including the opener to Talia Berryman soon after kick-off and the sealer to Anastasia Leatupue on the stroke of halftime.
Second rower Jemma Wooden added a double in the second half to complete the romp, with the challenging weather conditions unfavourable for goalkicking, with the Roosters converting just two of their 11 tries.
The win secures a top-three finals spot.
CANBERRA ROLLS ON
The Raiders continued their stunning late-season revival with a 30-0 shutout of South Sydney at Redfern Oval.
The success takes them to three wins from their last four outings and keeps them in the hunt for a finals spot which seemed highly unlikely just a few weeks ago.
Jayda Cook scored a try in each half as they raced in six tries to none, turning their 16-0 lead into a 30-point clean sheet.
TARSHA GALE
CRUISE CONTROL TIGERS
Wests Tigers were untroubled in rounding out their fifth win of the season with a comprehensive 28-0 take-down of North Sydney.
Much like the Lisa Fiaola Cup contest, the Tigers came out roaring with four first half tries to lead 20-0 at Leichhardt.
Riding behind a dominant pack, Olivia Saley had a field day around the ruck and the hooker dived over from close range to open the scoring in the 13th minute.
Tiresa Leasuasu was tireless upfront, and with her second run in the set, the punishing No. 10 made it 8-0.
Full of running, the Tigers added another two tries before the break. Backrower Juanita Jang barged over near the posts and winger Chaela-Lee Falls found space along the hill side touchline.
Norths stemmed the flow of points after the break, conceding two four-pointers. Five-eighth Evie McGrath showed great pace for the first, before Falls finished off a backline spread nine minutes before the final siren.
AGAINST THE ODDS
In a battle of two of the competition’s heavyweights, the Illawarra Steelers have shocked Parramatta 16-10 after trailing for the majority of the contest.
Down 10-0 at the break, Illawarra struggled to contain Parra through the middle, only to return from the sheds, turning the tables with 16 unanswered points.
Five-eighth Tahlia O’Brien orchestrated the comeback with a couple of pinpoint kicks to the left corner, resulting in tries to Billie Va’a and winger Kiara Kostovski.
With the scores locked at 10 apiece in the final five minutes, it looked like both sides would walk away with a point each. But no one told Steelers No. 8, Seriah Palepale.
Stationed on the right edge, the bustling prop took matters into her own hands, busting through at least five defenders in a matchwinning run of 20m.
Earlier, Parra dominated the ruck. Prop Tess McWilliams got the scoring underway, and fellow bookend, Armarni-Lea Auvae, followed it up to make it 10-0.
SHARKS BLINDSIDED
In another cliffhanger, the Knights struck late to sink Cronulla 14-10 in Newcastle.
Fighting for their season, the eighth ranked Knights looked to have blown a commanding 10-point halftime advantage until Aylah McCulloch delivered the magic play, breaking a 10-all deadlock with just minutes to play.
Needing a win to keep their season alive, the Knights pressed the line in the 57th minute and shaped to spread right until McCulloch stepped into dummy-half.
Sensing danger on the short side, the rangy No. 6 exploded from the ruck and forced the ball over the line to complete the comeback.
Earlier, Newcastle shot to a double-digit lead with tries to outside backs Ava Glassie and Jayda Maniapoto. Cronulla picked up the slack, and levelled through Mikayla Langer and Alianna.
ROOSTERS DENY SEA EAGLES
Sydney Roosters remain alive in their quest for a top-four spot after knocking off Manly 30-0 at Berkeley Vale Oval.
On the back of two-straight defeats, the Roosters resembled the best version of themselves with a clinical opening that saw them post four tries in the opening 22 minutes.
By the time the 44-minute mark rolled around, winger Fa’agase Tupuola-Palale had piled on four tries.
It went with a double to opposite winger Manisha Seebeck.
HAROLD MATTHEWS
ROOSTERS BIG SCALP
The Sydney Roosters have landed a major scalp, overpowering ladder leaders Illawarra 12-0 in a soggy slugfest at Mascot.
Needing a win to all but secure the minor premiership, the Steelers dominated early field position as both sides traded errors in a scoreless first half.
First points eventually came in the 44th minute, when halfback Lachlan Metcalfe slotted an easy two points following an Illawarra high tackle.
And it was 6-0 four minutes later when centre Bastion Armstrong sent Filipe Fakauho across untouched in the left corner.
With the game still in the balance, the Steelers pressed the Roosters’ line in the final two minutes. But hopes of drawing level were dashed by Charlie Webb, after the Tricolours five-eighth latched onto an attacking Jett Brookfield chip-kick and sprinted 90m to put the result beyond doubt.
On a log-jammed ladder, the victory keeps the Roosters inside the top-four for another week.
RAIDERS RUN HOT
Canberra proved too strong for North Sydney at Belconnen, downing the Bears 24-10 in a match that saw the visitors finish with 12 men.
The Raiders fired out of the blocks and quickly put the result to bed with three tries in the first 20 minutes to lead 18-0. Hooker Campbell Lloyd struck first and was followed across the stripe by Mitchell Sleigh and centre Viliami Siale.
Isaac Khoudair pegged one back for the Bears, but BJ Pumpa increased Canberra’s lead to 24-4 just after the resumption.
In a scrappy finish, Raiders fullback Kye Anderson was sin-binned for a ruck infringement, while Bears playmaker Saxon Gaw was sent off in the 52nd minute after being called out by the referee after a penalty was awarded to Canberra.
KNIGHTS HOLD ON
Newcastle were forced to dig deep before the Knights finished over the top of Balmain 18-10.
Playing on home turf, the finals bound Knights weren’t expected to have too much trouble accounting for the Tigers, who headed up the freeway in 13th spot.
Lachlan Quigley read the script, and the prop only needed one minute to add his name to the scoresheet. Fullback Riley Rostron added another, but it was just before the break as a committed Balmain refused to roll over.
Trailing 12-0, halfback Christian Azzi reduced the deficit to a converted try and they got within two points when Jarrod Kanaan crossed in the 52nd minute.
Desperate to record a sixth victory, Quigley finished like he started, crossing in the final minute as Newcastle rounded out a tough eight-point victory.
WHIRLWIND ESCAPE
In a low scoring epic at Eric Tweedale, Parramatta struck late to defeat the high flying Central Coast Roosters 10-6.
In a willing contest, there was no tomorrow for the Eels who needed a victory to remain inside the top eight, and they took a four-point advantage to the sheds when winger Cobi McCloskey finished slick hands in the right corner.
With tensions threatening to boilover, Carter Mareko darted across to put Central Coast up 6-4 midway through the second half.
A melee followed, and both teams were reduced to 12 when backrowers Michael Nauer and Cooper Gibbs were ordered to cool down in the sin bin.
Both sides battled hard through the middle, but a penalty gave the Eels a chance draw level with 10 minutes to play. They opted for the two, and Talen Risati split the sticks to set up a magic finish.
Destined to finish as a draw with one minute remaining, the Eels pulled the get out of jail card.
And it was that man McCloskey. Shown the touchline, the speedster shot clear before fullback Riley Davis loomed on the inside, accepting the pass to score the winning try.
WARRIORS WIN AT THE DEATH
The Warriors moved into top spot on the ladder with a last-ditch 20-18 victory over South Sydney in Pukekohe.
It looked like the Rabbitohs had sealed an epic win when captain Keone Anitelea Tsioussis scored off the back of a Charlie Bateup break straight through the middle of the field with less than three minutes to play.
New Zealand was able to regather the short kick-off and threw the ball around on the last play of the game, Alapati Tusa Soagia put a chip over the top.
Souths couldn’t contain the ball with Hinckley Ioka there to clean up the scraps and seal the win after the siren.
MANLY MAKES STATEMENT
Manly has all-but secured a spot in the finals with a dominant 30-6 defeat of St George at Kogarah.
It was all too easy for the Sea Eagles in the first quarter as Ashton Large burrowed over from dummy half and Kai Brennan carried three defenders over the line to open up a 12-point margin.
That was 18 when halftime rolled around when Max Prykiel opted to run it on the last inside his own 40m line, spreading the ball and leading to a break, before the ball found its way back to him to complete a brilliant team try.
Manly kept things rolling in the second half while adding two more, including a 50m effort from Sifa Oldfield off a scrum to cap the big win.
BULLDOGS DENT SHARKS’ HOPES
Canterbury threw a spanner into the works for Cronulla’s hopes of making the finals with a 24-22 win at Shark Park.
The Bulldogs came into the contest with just one win to their name for the season, but looked a team inspired with a four-try first half that saw them lead 18-6 at halftime.
They needed less than two minutes to score the opener through Wesley Papalii-Afoa to leave Cronulla chasing from the outset.
The Sharks responded after the break, piling on two quick tries to Brodie Johnson and Oliver Te Hira to tie the scores in the blink of an eye with 20 minutes to play.
A simple step close to the line Chinedu Udeh undid the hard work of the Sharks, getting the visitors ahead once again.
Cronulla didn’t lie down and were back in the hunt after Spencer Swann hit Johnsen on the chest with a chip for him to touch down for his second, getting them to within two with six left on the clock.
The Sharks received a penalty beside the posts with two minutes left, but opted to chance their arm. Ultimately Canterbury’s defence held staunch to take the win.
SG BALL
THIEF IN THE KNIGHT
The Knights are alive.
In stunning scenes, Ezekiel Ieti struck late to help Newcastle pull off a sensational come from behind victory over the high flying Storm in Melbourne.
Entering the contest in 11th spot, Newcastle needed to return home with a victory to have any hope of making the finals, and that’s exactly what they did, despite trailing 18-16 with nine minutes to play.
As usual, try-scoring winger Aidan Gow was in the thick of the action. Displaying great hands, the flyer got the Knights away to a perfect start in the opening minute, and he was there at the end, barging over to narrow the margin to two points before Ieti sealed his side’s fourth win.
In a cracking contest, the Storm trailed 12-0 before levelling at the break with tries to man mountain Kobi Floro and hooker Lockyer-Azile Foliola.
Full of running, Jordan Hamlin pounced on a pinpoint kick from halfback Riley Brannock for the go ahead try, but it wasn’t enough to repel a plucky Knights, who pending other results, could remain in contention for another week.
BOOMING ROOSTERS
With a massive 36-4 demolition of Canterbury, the Roosters’ season looks like extending into the post season.
It shaped as a contest between two evenly matched sides, and it continued that way until the Roosters hit the afterburners with four unanswered second half tries.
Marcellus Iakopo put Canterbury ahead 4-0 in the seventh minute, but it was all downhill from there, with the defeat leaving the Bulldogs treading water on the fringe of the top eight with one round to play.
Darcey Smith opened the Bondi boys’ account in the 25th minute, and they jumped to a 10-4 lead through centre Lachlan Dooner on the stroke of halftime.
Dooner struck again after the break, and was matched by winger Mikey Nassar who finished with a double of his own.
DEADLOCK ON THE COAST
In a massive afternoon of upsets and comebacks, Penrith looked to have done enough in Gerringong before the Steelers struck late to force a 16-all draw.
With little to play for, the Panthers delivered one of their best performances of the season against a Steelers side destined to finish in the top four.
Tries were traded for a 4-4 halftime scoreline, and the tit for tat continued in a topsy-turvy contest that saw the lead change three times.
But when Cooper Black found an unmarked Harry Wald with a sublime long-ball, the winger’s second try looked to be the matchwinner as Penrith shot clear 16-10 with five to play.
Not to be outdone, Illawarra five-eighth Aaymon Fitzgibbon had the final say, holding up a perfectly weighted pass that saw backrower Likamani Richter cross out wide.
Still needing a conversion to share the points, Illawarra skipper Kade Reed stepped up and did the rest.
EELS SOLIDIFY TOP SPOT
In the late game on Saturday, Parramatta edged closer to the minor premiership after dominating North Sydney 38-4.
It took a while for the Eels to click into gear, but the tries kept flowing from the moment second-rower Christopher Petrus breached the defence after half an hour.
Lorenzo Talataina made it 10-0 at halftime, and the Eels went on with the job adding another five in the second half.
Norths’ points came through a try to backrower Buster Hindmarsh.
WARRIORS HOLD SOUTHS
New Zealand almost pulled off the upset of the season, drawing with South Sydney 16-all at Redfern Oval.
The typically strong-starting Rabbitohs found themselves behind inside 10 minutes after Tepatasi Laumalili busted the line in broken play and offload to Joseph Ratcliffe to score.
The visitors kept the pressure on and added a second in the 22nd minute when Rico Lemalie stormed into dummy half and barged his way over, giving them a 10-0 margin they would take into the break.
Souths came out of the sheds with a renewed intensity, piling on two quick tries to Elijah Keung and Dayne Jennings to take the lead.
It didn’t last long, with Tyrone Hurt-Pickering stepping through the defence and putting the Warriors ahead 16-12 with 15 to play.
With time winding down it was Charlie Poynton who got the Rabbitohs back on level pegging, scoring from a set play at the scrum with three minutes remaining.
A last-ditch field goal attempt from Matthew Humphries was charged down, meaning both teams came away with a point.
RAIDERS FIND THEIR GROOVE
Canberra is back into third spot on the U19s ladder after downing St George 42-8 at Kogarah.
Coming into the match on the back of two losses, the Raiders came out firing with Mitchell Brophy crossing inside the opening four minutes.
A simple crash play saw big Jesse Milin add to his tryscoring tally for the year as the visitors led 12-0 at the break.
They needed just 71 seconds in the second half to extend that margin with a break down the right-hand side finished off by James Croker.
Chaev Kolone pushed it out to 24 just minutes later, before Ratu Cayuqueo finally gave Dragons fans something to cheer about in the 43rd minute.
Halfback Jamie Cowling added a double to put the finishing touches on a solid performance.
WESTS RUN HOT
A stretch of five unanswered tries was enough to lift Western Suburbs to a thrilling 28-24 defeat of Manly at Seddon Park.
The Magpies found themselves down by 12 through as many minutes after Brendan Couzens and Beau Alexander provided Manly with a hot start.
Riley Oitmann and Luani Tuifua responded just before the break to level things up at the break.
They added another three soon after halftime to rocket to a 28-12 lead, before the Sea Eagles added a few late bring the margin back.
SHARKS DESTROY BALMAIN
Cronulla climbed to sixth and gave their finals hopes a major boost after downing Balmain 38-10.
The Tigers were left to rue another slow start as doubles to Elijah Paea and Prestyn Laine-Sietu propelled the home side to a 26-6 halftime lead at Shark Park.
Ocean Vaivela cut the margin to three tries midway through the second half, but the Sharks finished with a late flourish to extend once again.
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