NSWRL Junior Reps round five: 12 top performers from the weekend, full photo gallery
With the NSWRL Junior Reps season heating up, the big guns are standing tall. We look at the top 12 performers from round five action, plus check out the full photo gallery from the weekend.
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Statements were made and new contenders emerged as we powered through round five of the NSWRL Junior Reps season.
We rate the top performers from Lisa Fiaola, Tarsha Gale, Harold Matthews and SG Ball round five action.
LISA FIAOLA CUP
TAYLAH-JANE BELCHER (NEWCASTLE)
First games of the season don’t come more memorable than that of Taylah-Jane Belcher.
Stepping into the centres, Belcher looked every bit at home as she turned in a powerful display to finish with a hat-trick.
The pick of the three was a smart effort out of dummy half to catch the defence napping, and she adds a powerful weapon for the Knights’ halves to use out wide.
MILLA CAINE (CRONULLA)
We’ve seen Caine in different positions through the pre-season and regular season at Cronulla, but it’s safe to say the fullback jersey should be her own.
Looked safe at the back, and with the ball in hand she looked dangerous close to the line as she shrugged off two defenders with ease to score.
Then she added another for good measure when she beat one defender and spun through another to help the Sharks claim their first win of the season.
ELLA GREATZ (ILLAWARRA)
A masterful display from the talented Steelers halfback led her side to an upset win over the Roosters.
Really took over the game from the outset to set up the opening two tries with her evasiveness and long ball on full display.
With momentum swinging back to the visitors, she came up with the play of the game, an intercept to race more than 50 metres and give her team the win.
TARSHA GALE CUP
BELLA MCEACHERN (CANTERBURY)
As always there were a number of Bulldogs players that stood tall, but it’s hard not to be impressed with McEachern’s efforts on the weekend.
Took her season tally of tries to six with a double against North Sydney, but the biggest thing is the attention she draws from the defence.
McEachern brings in defenders and opens up so much space on the field. She played her role to perfection.
INDIE BOSTOCK (ILLAWARRA)
There’s just something about speed on the field, and Indie Bostock has it in droves.
Produced one of the tries of the season across all grades as she burst the line from her own 30-metre line, sold a dummy and sprinted away from the fullback.
Put on another classic show-and-go in the second half to come away with a double and cap off the upset win over the defending champs.
LILI BOYLE (MANLY)
When the game was on the line it was Sea Eagles lock forward Lilly Boyle who came up with the play of the day.
Trailing by four with time winding down, she put in a pinpoint chip that led to the try that forced a draw.
It was the icing on a strong performance in the middle from the Narrabeen Sports High.
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
CAMERON BAMBLETT (PENRITH)
What can only be described as a busy performance sees the five eighth honoured in this week’s list.
It looked like there were multiple Bamblett’s on the field as he had a hand in most things and was lethal any time he got near the ball.
Scored a double and played a key role in others as he turned it on.
ISAAC FOTU-MOALA (CENTRAL COAST)
It wasn’t easy as the Central Coast called on all their reserves to get the job done over North Sydney, but it was their five-eighth that lifted them.
Fotu-Moala was at his devastating best with a clinical running display to score the try of the game and break the game open.
His right-foot step helped him to beat six defenders on the way to score, before a lovely cut-out pass hit the chest of Tyriq Campbell to put him over with ease.
EZRA LEOTA (PARRAMATTA)
The Eels hooker was at his scheming best as his side escaped with a draw in one of the games of the year.
His agility for his size makes him a weapon around the ruck, and that was on show as he skipped around the Bulldogs defence to help set up their second try.
Then he was able to sell a dummy and run straight through the middle of two defenders to barge his way over in a brilliant individual display.
SG BALL CUP
FLETCHER HUNT (NEWCASTLE)
It was another attacking performance from the Knights and they were led beautifully by Fletcher Hunt.
Set the tempo with a towering bomb to set up their second try, before two try assists capped off a stellar first half.
Pinned the ears back and charged to the line to wrap it up with one of his own.
MICHAEL GABRAEL (CRONULLA)
Strong, powerful football from Michael Gabrael made the Cronulla centre an easy choice this round.
The recruit from Canterbury showed why he is regarded as a future NRL prospect with a hat-trick that would make some of the game’s powerhouse outside backs proud.
He beat defenders with his fend, step, speed and brute strength. Looks a very likely type.
TYLER PECKHAM-HARRIS (ST GEORGE)
We’ve seen some good games from Peckham-Harris so far this season, but this was his best one yet at the weekend.
The classy fullback chimed into the backline perfectly in his role of putting on two tries on a platter for Jesse Williams.
He snagged one of his own when using his lightning agility to weave his way through the Melbourne defence.
WEEKEND TALKING POINTS
STEELERS GIRLS THE REAL DEAL
Illawarra had shown some great signs in their female pathways teams to start the season, but their true test came on the weekend against the benchmark side, the Sydney Roosters.
They passed the test with flying colours and were able to record a pair of comfortable victories on home soil.
Tarsha Gale remains undefeated through five rounds, and there’s no telling how far this group with NRLW and Australian Schoolgirls experience can go.
PANTHERS REDISCOVER THEIR GROOVE
After a lean fortnight, the might of Penrith showed they are still a force with a pair of essential victories in the male pathways over Illawarra.
They looked confident in the U17s and a hot start in SG Ball meant they were able to bring the Steelers’ run to an end.
With the likes of Jhett Sydir and Jett Cleary steering the respective ships, this result can be the catalyst for a late-season charge.
WARRIORS BUILD MOMENTUM
If there’s a team that has every chance to go on a tear in both males pathways divisions, it’s the New Zealand Warriors.
Currently they sit in ninth (Harold Matts) and sixth (SG Ball) following a pair of home wins over Balmain.
The big thing for them though is the rest of their schedule is purely home games, meaning they won’t have to leave the country for the rest of the regular season.
That’s a big advantage and they’ve shown they have the skill to make the most of it.
ROOSTERS LAST TEAM STANDING
And just like that, the Roosters are the last unbeaten team in the SG Ball Cup.
With the Steelers going down on Friday night and the Roosters taking care of business against North Sydney, they sit alone on top of the standings for the first time.
It will be interesting to see if they can maintain that position this weekend as they face off with St George in one of the most anticipated matches of the season.
CAN MAGPIES BE STOPPED?
Staying on undefeated teams, Western Suburbs enjoy that same luxury in the Harold Matthews Cup.
They’ve looked superb through the opening five rounds with a gun team full of future top-line talents, and are every chance of improving to 6-0 over the course of the next fortnight.
Their challenge will come in the final two rounds against the Roosters and Eels, but there’s every chance they finish the regular season with an unblemished record.
CENTRAL COAST IN THE HUNT
The Roosters mightn’t have the firepower of some of the bigger clubs in this competition, but they are certainly punching above their weight in both divisions.
Currently they sit in sixth in both Lisa Fiaola and Harold Matthews, and the boys will have three home fixtures in a row to try and secure their final spot.
It’s great to see one of the game’s great nursery regions thriving.
WESTS TIGERS BUILD CONFIDENCE
The Wests Tigers have been firing on all cylinders in the female division over the past fortnight and are making their charge at the right time.
Their gritty win over the Central Coast kept them in third position in Lisa Fiaola Cup coming into a bye round.
As for Tarsha Gale, they were able to make it back-to-back wins over Canberra, putting their slow start to the season behind them and making them a live finals chance as they also welcome a bye in round six.
KNIGHTS CONTINUE RAMPAGE
Newcastle has been on an attacking tear so far in the SG Ball Cup, reaching the half century for the second time this season.
So far their only defeat has come to Canterbury, who knocked off defending premiers Parramatta at the weekend, so the formlines are well and truly there.
What was most impressive was how quickly they were able to put their clash with Manly away, shutting them out in the opening 20 minutes.
SHARKS FIND THEIR BITE
Cronulla picked up its first win of the Lisa Fiaola Cup season, but judging by their performance you’d swear they were higher up the ladder.
It was an impressive display from start to finish as they proved too strong for South Sydney, who had to deal with 12 players for 17 minutes of the contest.
Still it’s a positive sign for the Sharks, who claimed a clean sweep in all grades on their home deck.
BULLDOGS FIRE IN FOUR
It’s been a memorable Junior Reps season so far for Canterbury and that continued against North Sydney and Parramatta.
Their female teams are the current benchmark and sit first in both competitions, while a draw against the Eels kept them in second spot in Harold Matts.
The only side out of the top six is the SG Ball, who claimed a huge upset by downing Parramatta, moving them to within one win of the finals.
With wins over the Knights and Eels this season, they can definitely make the six and go on a run.
WEEKEND GALLERY
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