NSWRL Junior Reps: Top 20 performers from Matts, Fiaola, Ball, Gale round one
NSWRL Junior Reps footy returned at the weekend and the big guns stood tall when it counted. We look at 20 of the top performers from all four grades across the weekend.
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The footy returned at the weekend and so did the big players who stood tall to get their team over the line.
We take a look at 20 of the top performers from round one of the Harold Matthews, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup competitions.
MORE ROUND ONE COVERAGE
Full wrap from around the grounds
20 talking points from round one
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
ANTHONY MAILANGI (SOUTH SYDNEY)
The young front rower couldn’t have been any more impressive as her tore through the Dragons with a couple of dominant spells.
He took the phrase ‘off the back fence’ literally as he showed no self-preservation in charging at the St George defensive line, and put on a number of massive shots.
What a way to make an impression.
JAKE GAFFNEY (WESTERN SUBURBS)
Came off the bench and finished the game as a Magpies hero, with the big front rower scoring four tries.
His strength close to the line was phenomenal as he barged through Balmain’s defence at will.
He looks one for the future.
CHINEDU UDEH (CANTERBURY)
A real captain’s knock from the Bulldogs skipper, who helped set the tempo for the rest of the game right off the bat.
Always looked a threat when he took the line on, evidenced with a nice effort to get the scoring underway after stepping inside the Raiders defence.
JETT BROOKFIELD (ILLAWARRA)
The attacking force of the Steelers was on full display as they ran riot against Melbourne, and halfback Jett Brookfield was the architect.
He held the shape of the team well, kicked to perfection and was able to free up his outside men to shine.
SAXON GAW (NORTH SYDNEY)
Brilliant first outing for the Bears five-eighth who finished the win over the Sydney Roosters with a try assist and playing a major hand in another two.
Formed a great partnership with centre Cohen Riddell on the left-hand edge that will ensure the Bears compete throughout the whole season.
For good measure Gaw was able to slot the penalty goal to win the game and end North Sydney’s winless drought in the U17s boys.
LISA FIAOLA CUP
EVELYN ROBERTS (CANTERBURY)
Canterbury did as they pleased at Kenthurst, making it difficult to single out one of a handful of key contributors. In the end, we couldn’t go past skipper and last season’s player of the year, Evelyn Roberts.
On song from the outset, the No. 6 dazzled behind a dominant pack, feeding a hungry backline and scoring two tries on her own.
TIA-JANE GOLDING (PENRITH)
It might have been the opening round, but Tia-Jane looked like she’d been playing with her teammates for years in the win over Cronulla.
Wearing the No. 13, everything revolved around the Penrith half who showcased a diverse range of skills with a key role in three tries.
MADDISON-RENAE SEUMANUTAFA (NEWCASTLE)
Definitely one to watch on the Knights’ right edge, Maddison-Renae was just as dangerous without the ball in the big win over Souths.
The mobile backrower scored a try and consistently punched holes in the line. She often attracted multiple defenders, freeing up Newcastle’s speedsters on the outside.
LEONIA VEI (PARRAMATTA)
Parramatta got the early jump on the Raiders, and while the backline dominated the highlights reel, it was Leonia Vei who made the early inroads.
Tall and mobile, the menacing prop carried defenders over the advantage line and at times created second phase play with her offloads.
MIA VAOTUUA (CENTRAL COAST)
Mia did what she does best in round one, scoring tries. With three in the Roosters’ victory over the Tigers, the five-eighth finished with the only hat-trick of the round.
Lit up the right edge with a pace and power, and capped off a great day with a couple of try assists.
SG BALL CUP
MARC TANNOUS (BALMAIN)
The rising half showed the benefits of an off-season alongside the NRL squad. Patient and meticulous, Tannous broke Wests’ resolve with a persistent mix of short and long kicks.
In a mature performance, the No. 7 waited for the game to open up in the second half, laying on a couple of crucial tries in Balmain’s breakthrough win.
MATTHEW HUMPHRIES (SOUTH SYDNEY)
Another half driving his side in a major boilover, Humphries blew away the Dragons’ defence with two solo tries in the opening 10 minutes.
A constant threat all day, he also landed eight conversions in a personal haul of 24 points.
JESSE MILIN (CANBERRA)
You can bet the last thing on Jesse’s mind as he laced up his boots at Belconnen was to return to the sheds with four tries against his name.
On a day the skyscraper prop will never forget, he toyed with a strong Canterbury pack, crashing over for the opening two tries and finishing as he started, powering across for a brace in the shadows of full time.
MAISON ONG (PARRAMATTA)
A coach’s dream, the busy lock checked off the one percenters in the win over Newcastle and was rewarded with a couple of handy tries.
Bumped off defenders to strike the first blow under the posts, and pushed up through the middle at the back-end to finish a Lincoln Fletcher bust.
OLIVER LESTER (CRONULLA)
Never far from the action, Lester kicked off the season with a dynamic display down back.
Played a hand in Cronulla’s first try, then after putting his body on the line to stop Penrith jumping 12 clear, the fullback bobbed up in the middle to help set up the Sharks’ comeback try.
TARSHA GALE CUP
KHYLIAH GRAY (PARRAMATTA)
Called into the starting side and didn’t disappoint. Despite being named at front rower she played as more of a roving lock.
Everything Gray touched turned to gold as her mobility around the ruck area left the Raiders with no answers at all.
She ended the game with four try assists, including one effort were she unselfishly handed off to a teammate where she could’ve scored herself.
LAHNAYAH DANIEL (CANTERBURY)
There were a host of Canterbury players that stood out in their big win over North Sydney, but Daniel was outstanding.
The back-rower got the ball rolling with the opening two tries on the back of her tenacity from close range.
Then she was able to complete a memorable outing by bringing up her hat-trick early in the second half. Looked dangerous with the ball and with her gravity as a decoy.
AYLAH MCCULLOCH (NEWCASTLE)
Was in just about everything for the Knights and she looked a class above, showing the benefits of a previous campaign in this grade.
The five-eighth had her hands on a host of Newcastle tries, showcasing her passing and kicking skills, and taking the line on to great effect.
MADISON WILSON (PENRITH)
The Panthers needed someone to step up over the closing stages of their clash with Cronulla and Wilson answered the call.
Scored a hat-trick in the space of just 14 minutes after coming off the interchange bench, but it was her 90m effort off a scrum to get on the outside of her marker and burn off the Sharks defence that was simply breathtaking at a key moment of the game.
ELLA WALKER (WESTS TIGERS)
One of the new faces at the Tigers and she made an immediate impression as they controlled the tempo throughout the first half.
Scored one of the tries of the round, taking on the line and carrying four defenders over the line before shrugging them off to touch down.
It proved vital in a low-scoring game.
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