NSWRL junior reps round three: Results, gallery, wrap of all the action from around the grounds
With a thrilling NSWRL junior reps round three in the books, we rate our teams of the week from every grade. PLUS check out the 20 talking points, weekend wrap and 60+ photo gallery from the weekend.
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CATCH up on the teams of the week from round three of Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup action.
HAROLD MATTHEWS
1. Jaxen Edgar (Penrith)
2. Ali Hicham Karnib (Wests)
3. Lochie Gray (Newcastle)
4. Marcellus Iakopo (Penrith)
5. Ratu Rinakama (Canterbury Bankstown)
6. Lachlan Dooner (Roosters)
7. Alex Conti (Balmain)
8. Hokafonu Lemoto (Penrith)
9. Zaidas Muagututia (Parramatta)
10. Risiate Smythe (St George)
11. Cyrus Stanley-Traill (St George)
12. Pheonix Godniet (Wests)
13. Alex Challenor (Cronulla)
14. Marc Tannous (Balmain)
15. Onitoni Large (Wests)
16. Jack Hilliar (Newcastle)
17. Samuel Griffin (Canberra)
SG BALL
1. Fletcher Sharpe (Newcastle)
2. Ethan Cliff (Illawarra)
3. Cooper Toy (Roosters)
4. Solomone Saukuru (Wests)
5. Cody Parry (Parramatta)
6. Lachlan Galvin (Wests)
7. Haydan Ritchie (Roosters)
8. Loko Tonga (St George)
9. Matthew Arthur (Parramatta)
10. Luron Patea (Penrith)
11. Elijah Salesa Leaumoana (Newcastle)
12. Kayliss Fatialofa (Warriors)
13. Myles Martin (Newcastle)
14. Cassius Tia (Roosters)
15. Luke Hanson (Penrith)
16. Jacob Laban (Warriors)
17. Hudson Brown (Penrith)
TARSHA GALE
1. Alysha Bell (Parramatta)
2. Georgia Willey (Canberra)
3. Shanelle Lyons (South Sydney)
4. Aneko Luamanu-Winitana (South Sydney)
5. Mia Barber (Roosters Indigenous)
6. Bonnie Brewer (Canberra)
7. Skyla Adams (Roosters Indigenous)
8. Hope Millard (Illawarra)
9. Ambryn Murphy-Haua (Canterbury Bankstown)
10. Latisha Smythe (Canterbury Bankstown)
11. Taneisha Gray (St George)
12. Noaria Kapua (Canterbury Bankstown)
13. Tavarna Papalii (Roosters Indigenous)
14. Evie Jones (Newcastle)
15. Montana McLean (Penrith)
16. Charlotte Barwick (Newcastle)
17. Sienna Yeo (Illawarra)
20 TALKING POINTS
ROUND three of the NSWRL junior reps season is done and dusted, with the competition really starting to take shape now.
Take a look back on the weekend that was with our 20 major talking points from round three:
EDGAR SHINES BRIGHT
Penrith Harold Matts fullback Jaxen Edgar continued a very strong 2023 with another clinical display at the weekend.
With the game in the balance, his vision to spot a hole near the ruck, hit it at speed and put his teammate under the posts was pure class.
Keep an eye on this young gun.
PANTHERS STAMINA SHINES THROUGH
Mascot Oval was like a furnace, but when the pressure was applied it was Penrith that stood tall over St George.
The Dragons were the better team early, but Penrith’s staying ability came to the fore with a clinical second half putting them away and keeping them in a share of first.
HOT PIES CONTINUE STELLAR FORM
Wests maintain a share of top spot in the Harold Matts after recording their third win from as many games.
They looked very good against the Rabbitohs on the back of a hot start, and despite those victories coming against winless sides, they’ve done so in impressive fashion as they look to go back-to-back.
WESTS BALL PULL NO PUNCHES
Six tries in the second half put the exclamation mark on a big Wests SG Ball win over South Sydney.
They are scorching the turf at the moment and currently have the best defensive record in the league to back that up. Shaping as a genuine contender.
ONE HALF IS ALL IT TAKES
Balmain’s Harold Matts season turned around in the space of 30 minutes, piling on seven tries in the first half against Norths and clocking 42 points.
It was a blistering half that matched the temperature, and it could prove to be the catalyst to really kickstart their year.
TIGERS FOLLOW MATTS’ LEAD
It was a big day for the Tigers at Leichhardt, as their SG Ball side got off the mark as well.
They left it late with Elijah Mataale scoring in the final five minutes to snatch victory from the Bears, but it keeps them alive approaching a key period of the season.
CENTRES FIRE TO GET SOUTHS OFF MARK
After a first round bye and impressive showing against competition heavyweights Canterbury, South Sydney were rewarded with a big win over the Tigers.
It was the centre pairing of Shanelle Lyons and Aneko Luamanu-Winitana that made big inroads, with both scoring doubles.
With a talented backline flexing their muscles, this could be the start of a run for the club.
WARRIORS GETTING THE JOB DONE
No club has faced more adversity than the Warriors in recent years, and the SG Ball side has endured its fair share in 2023.
Their only home game so far has been postponed, but they’ve gone 2-0 with wins over Souths and now Melbourne, doing so impressively against the latter.
With a league nursery starting to blossom, could they be the comp’s smokeys?
BUNNIES BOYS BACK TO DRAWING BOARD
It was a tough weekend for the Rabbitohs men’s teams, as the Matts and Ball both went down by big margins.
After fighting hard against Canterbury and leading throughout, the weekend’s results hit hard, particularly ahead of an upcoming road trip to Newcastle.
LATE TRY HURTS STEELERS
Illawarra’s impeccable Tarsha Gale Cup campaign was seconds away from continuing, before Siulolovao Vave spoiled the home party.
The winger crossed in the dying stages to grab a late point for Parramatta, keeping the Steelers in third place ahead of their clash with competition favourites Roosters Indigenous Academy.
EELS U19s HITTING THEIR STRAPS
There was a sense of confidence about Parra heading into this year’s SG Ball, and they’ve delivered on that early promise with three wins.
Their first half was clinical against the Steelers, virtually putting the game out of reach early on.
With a favourable draw, there’s every chance they can go through the regular season undefeated.
ILLAWARRA LEFT HURTING
Two late tries ended the Steelers hopes of going 3-0 to start the Harold Matts season.
Two impressive wins to start the year keep them well within the finals race, but they will need to produce something big to knock off the Roosters this weekend ahead of the bye.
In a tight comp, their year could come down to this fixture.
DOONER’S MAGIC BOOTS SAVE ROOSTERS’ SEASON
In an extraordinary Harold Matts contest, the Roosters overcame an 18-point deficit to finish in front of the Sharks by just as many.
In a blistering opening 14 minutes Cronulla’s Blake Wardrobe had the magic touch, featuring in all three of the opening tries.
With the Roosters on track for a massive hiding, you’d be forgiven for thinking Wardrobe and his opposite Lachlan Dooner then swapped boots.
First, the Roosters No. 6 kicked a 40-20, then over the next 30 minutes tore the Sharks to shreds with four tries of his own.
ROOSTERS HALVES UNSTOPPABLE IN WIN
Winless after two rounds, the Roosters faced Cronulla desperate to keep their season alive.
Dynamic halves Cassius Tia and Haydan Ritchie brushed aside any concerns, featuring in eight of the Roosters’ 10 tries.
Tia opened his side’s account with an intercept try then set up the next, before Ritchie took over, setting up the third before crossing for the next two as the Roosters marched to an emphatic 54-12 victory.
SKYLA ADAMS STARS FOR ROOSTERS INDIGENOUS ACADEMY
No team has come close to matching the Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy in the Tarsha Gale Cup.
And with stars like Skyla Adams on the team list, the dominance looks set to continue.
On Saturday against the Sharks, the Queensland City rep stood out once again. Showing pace to score from halfway, she also played a part in four others, combining subtle hands and precision off the boot.
TARSHA BULLDOGS FLYING CANTERBURY FLAG
All three undefeated Canterbury junior teams headed to Newcastle with high hopes of extending their unbeaten run.
The boys’ teams fell short in quality contests, leaving the girls to fly the blue and white flag on the return trip to Belmore after their thrilling two-point win.
ROAD TRIPS NO WORRIES FOR CANBERRA
Canberra’s Harold Matts and SG Ball sides have brushed aside a hectic season opening to win all three of their contests on the road.
With their next three matches scheduled at home, both sides are poised for a golden run towards the finals.
RAIDERS PART TIMER DELIVERS WITH THE TEE
Both Canberra and Manly scored three tries each in a gripping SG Ball contest at Brookvale.
In the end, goal kicking proved the difference. And despite the absence of regular kicker Samuel Gash, Canberra five-eighth Keahn Skipps stepped up to deliver a faultless performance from the tee.
ALL ROADS LEAD TO BELCONNEN
Canberra’s first contest at home next Saturday doesn’t get any bigger.
In clashes of the unbeaten frontrunners, the highly fancied Magpies Harold Matts and SG Ball combinations will be desperate to leave Belconnen with the competition points.
SHIRE DERBY PROMISES PLENTY OF SPICE
Both sides are yet to register a win in this season, but you can bet there will be plenty of spice when St George heads to the Shire to face Cronulla in Saturday’s Tarsha Gale local derby.
With one draw each, both sides will be fired up to break the duck.
ROUND THREE WRAP
SWELTERING conditions made their mark across Sydney this weekend, but luckily the action on the fields was just as hot.
Round three of the NSWRL junior reps is upon us with the Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cups all in action.
Here’s a look at how the round played out:
PENRITH PUTS IT TOGETHER WHEN IT COUNTS
Penrith made light work of a long road trip and sweltering conditions to record two wins and a draw in round three action against St George at Mascot Oval.
The Panthers overcame a first half scare to make it back-to-back wins in the Harold Matthews Cup, courtesy of a 28-18 defeat of the Dragons.
Captain and fullback Jaxen Edgar stole the show, scoring a try and setting up one, as his side raced out to a 10-0 lead.
The Dragons weren’t to be outdone, hitting back with two of their own to lock the scores at the break.
Danny Johnstone ran an unstoppable line to take back the lead, before Edgar’s brilliance shone through.
His blistering pace caught St George defenders napping, racing through the line before finding Jack Attard to give them an unassailable advantage.
The skipper said they’ve worked hard to overcome their first round defeat, to firmly put themselves in the finals race.
“We’re looking pretty good now,” Edgar said.
“We started the season not too well. We’ve got to training, worked harder and got the little details right. We all put in the work and got it done today.
“Last year was a good experience (in Harold Matts) against the older boys. This year it’s good to give back.”
They trailed early, but a dominant finish has kept Penrith’s unbeaten SG Ball season alive after accounting for St George 38-12.
The Dragons crossed first through Loko Tonga, however the visitors were able to level up when back-rower Hudson Brown scored, and held a slender two-point lead through the boot of Riley Pollard after a late shot on Luke Hanson was penalised.
Penrith extended the advantage to eight and it was again cut to just two, before the Panthers went into overdrive, with a Luron Patea double capping off four tries in 14 minutes to put the exclamation mark on the contest.
It leaves Penrith in a lofty spot with a share of the lead, with the Dragons still searching for their first success of 2023.
The road trip clean sweep was denied late in the piece with a late try helping St George share the points with the Panthers as they tied 14-all.
Safa Rifei got things underway for St George to cap off a hot start, before back-to-back tries in the shades of halftime to Montana McLean and Yasmine Baker gave Penrith a 10-4 lead.
Mele Ketuu helped cut the lead back to two, but Bella McEachearn pushed it back out to a converted try approaching the final stages.
With time winding down Taneisha Grey came up clutch, with Rifei converting to split the result.
MAGPIES FLY HIGH OVER RABBITOHS
Honours were split at Camden between Wests and South Sydney.
The Rabbitohs started proceedings at Kirkham Oval with a dominant 26-0 Tarsha Gale Cup win over the Wests Tigers.
After pushing title contenders Canterbury last week, the Rabbitohs got on the board with a five try effort.
Shanelle Lyons and Aneko Luamanu-Winitana led the way with doubles.
That’s where the joy would end for the Rabbitohs, with both men’s teams suffering big defeats.
Wests started strong an opened up enough off a buffer to keep Souths at bay 32-12 in the Harold Matthews Cup.
Saint Fuatimau added a double during a nine-minute stretch, before Pheonix Godinet crossed for a double of his own to hold an 18-point lead at the break.
Two tries to Yasin Kuscu for the Rabbitohs was merely a consolation as they fell to their second-straight defeat.
The Magpies had nine different scorers in a 50-4 rout in the SG Ball Cup.
Tallyn De Silva set the tempo early in the second minute, helping Wests out to a 16-4 lead at the break.
Five tries in 16 minutes helped to put the result beyond any doubt as the Magpies flexed their premiership credentials in a comprehensive display.
TIGERS TAKE DOWN BEARS
An incredible first half has lifted the Balmain Tigers to a 46-22 win over North Sydney in the Harold Matthews Cup at Leichhardt Oval.
The Tigers scored seven of their eight tries in the opening stanza, with the Safi boys, Adrien and James combining for three, to help them to a 42-6 lead at halftime.
A Ben Stringer hat-trick was the bright spot on a tough outing for the visitors.
Balmain is back in the winner’s circle in SG Ball following a last-ditch 16-12 win over North Sydney.
The Tigers led approaching the final 15 minutes of the game, before hooker Thomas Peters darted his way over to give the Bears the lead.
That would be taken form them in heartbreaking fashion, with Elijah Mataale crossing in the final five minutes.
PARRA LEAVES IT LATE AGAINST STEELERS
A big day at Collegians Sporting Complex commenced in thrilling fashion, as Illawarra and Parramatta played out a 10-all draw in the Tarsha Gale Cup.
The Steelers looked home in the dying stages, before Siulolovao Vave got across the line to steal a point in the final seconds of the game.
Parramatta left late again to seal things in the Harold Matthews Cup, but two tries in the final 10 minutes saw them scrape home 22-12.
Winger Dominic Farrugia and fullback Corey Leigh halted any chance of an Illawarra fightback after they kept themselves in the fight.
A late hat-trick from Ethan Cliff wasn’t enough to help the Steelers overcome the might of Parramatta, falling 36-20.
A pair to Eels winger Cody Parry set the tempo for the visitors, who started strong and maintained their advantage throughout the contest to remain unbeaten through three games of the U19s competition.
KNIGHTS KNOCK OFF CONTENDERS
A gutsy Newcastle Knights have bounced back to form knocking over frontrunners Canterbury 20-12 in the Harold Matthews Cup.
A first half double to winger Ratu Rinakama saw the unbeaten Bulldogs skip clear 12-4.
Staring down the barrel of a repeat of last week’s heavy loss to Penrith, the Knights dusted off the doubt and found themselves in front only three after the resumption of play.
Speedster Kyran Blair touched down inside the opening minute of the second half, and Newcastle led 14-12 just a couple of minutes later when fullback and skipper Connor Votano scored.
With the game still in the balance in the closing stages, Knights prop Jack Hilliar stood tall, plunging over to secure a well deserved Newcastle victory.
Newcastle showed its SG Ball credentials with a comprehensive 32-14 victory over the previously unbeaten Bulldogs.
After comfortable opening round wins over the Dragons and Rabbitohs, Canterbury shot out of the blocks with an early try to captain Iverson Matai.
From there the Knights kicked into action. Fullback Fletcher Sharpe crossed twice as Newcastle jumped clear 22-4.
The Bulldogs hit back after the break with tries to backrower Lajuan Vito and Alekolasimi Jones, but it was never enough and Newcastle rounded their second win with late tries to Travis May and winger Kyle McCarthy.
In a top of the table clash that didn’t disappoint, the Bulldogs held off a determined Newcastle 22-20 to record their third straight win in Tarsha Gale action.
The Knights jumped early, crossing twice in the opening eight minutes and led 14-4 after centre Charlotte Barwick’s first half double.
But the Dogs found their yap, racing in three tries within a breath taking 12 minute period to lead 18-14 midway through the second half.
Newcastle kept coming, and regained the ascendancy with a converted try to playmaker Evie Jones.
But their hearts were broken in a tense final ten minutes by Ambryn Murphy-Haua. The Bulldogs hooker found the line with the game’s final and decisive final try.
DOONER MAGIC LIFTS ROOSTERS
A four-try masterclass by Lachlan Dooner has helped the Sydney Roosters overcome a horrible start and topple the Cronulla Sharks 36-18 in the Harold Matts at Henson Park.
In a battle of the playmakers, Sharks five-eighth Blake Wardrobe had his fingerprints all over the opening as Cronulla slapped on three tries to lead 18-0 in the 14th minute.
From there, Dooner took the wand and the No. 6 cast his own spell as the Roosters piled on 36 unanswered points in forty minutes.
Hooker Jaxson Allen struck first for the Roosters, then Dooner backed it up with another to get his side within six-points at the break.
Riding a tidal wave of momentum, winger King Manu crossed as the Roosters closed within two points just minutes after halftime. Then they hit the front four minutes later when Dooner bagged his double.
Having a day out, the rangy five-eighth backed up to score a fabulous team try then barged over late to confirm Cronulla’s first loss of the season.
The previously winless Sydney Roosters have brushed aside a hapless Sharks 54-12 in a fast and furious 10-try SG Ball romp at Henson Park.
Fullback Zac Sarfati and halfback Haydan Ritchie scored doubles and were joined by six other try scorers as the Roosters eased through the gears following a frustrating opening two rounds.
Up 20-12 at the break, the Tricolours went on with the job adding another six tries as the Sharks slumped to their second straight defeat.
The Sydney Roosters Indigenous juggernaut shows no signs of slowing after the Tarsha Gale champions cruised past the Sharks 34-4 at Henson Park.
Stand out half Skyla Adams scored one of the Bondi girls’ seven tries on a day where winger Mia Barber crossed for a first half double.
Yet to be tested after three rounds, the Roosters have amassed a whopping 82 points at an average of more than 27 a match.
RAIDERS OFF THE MARK IN GALE CUP
Canberra headed north to Brookvale and downed Manly 28-20 to open their Tarsha Gale season account.
Coming off a first round bye and big loss to the Roosters, the Raiders conceded the first try but headed to the sheds leading 16-12 following a double to fullback Georgia Willey.
The Green Machine’s task was made easier, scoring twice after Sea Eagles replacement Monica Fasavalu-Fa’amausili was marched to the sin bin in the 15th minute.
Manly drew level with a try to Matilda Oliver just after the interval, but the Raiders counted quickly through five-eighth Bonnie Brewer, and they were never headed when prop Beyonce Marela plunged over in the dying stages.
The Raiders continued their unbeaten start to the season in the Harold Matts on a day where all three Canberra sides departed the northern beaches with a win.
Fresh after a round two bye, Manly got away early and took a 10-6 lead to the break following tries to Josh Weightman and Fakavale Tonga.
Canberra made a perfect start to the second half with fullback James Croker crossing to level the scores, and there was no looking back after Braydan Darmody added the extras.
Winger Lachlan Cunana notched a second half double as the Green Machine clicked into gear on the way to a five tries to three victory.
SG Ball ladder leaders Canberra have edged out Manly 18-14 in a thriller at 4 Pines Park where each side scored three tries.
Manly centre Koby Douglas and Canberra backrower Joseph Roddy traded early tries before Manly jumped ahead 10-6 with a try to Teapo Stoltman nine minutes into the second half.
As the temperature climbed, the Raiders struck in quick succession to open an 18-10 buffer. Fullback Chevy Stewart grabbed the first before Keahn Skipps put the contest out of Manly’s reach four minutes from full-time.
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