Penrith District Rugby League: Opens and juniors, 40 grand final guns to watch
The Penrith RL grand finals take place at Windsor on Sunday in a massive day of local footy. We look at the future stars and best seniors with 40 players to watch in all five deciders.
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Community rugby league takes centre stage at Windsor on Sunday where the premiers will be decided in five local Penrith competitions.
From up-and-coming stars to seasoned veterans looking to hoist the trophy, a diverse spread of talent is looking to bring glory home to their teams.
To celebrate, we look at 40 players to watch from U17s through to the senior grades in this weekend’s grand finals.
U17 (TIER-B)
ALVAN BECKETT (WINDSOR)
Centre
An elusive centre, Alvan has scored seven tries for the table-topping Wolves since returning from rep commitments with North Sydney in the Harold Matthews Cup (under-17s). Gets through a mountain of work.
ETHAN SYMES (WINDSOR)
Centre
One of the smaller members of the Windsor backline, Ethan packs a punch in defence and has no trouble finding the line. One to watch, he proved a match winner in the semi final with two tries.
SHUWAN AHMAD (WINDSOR)
Hooker
A vital cog in the Wolves machine, Shuwan delivers premium service from dummy-half. Directs the traffic, and is accountable in defence.
DEAN SZYSZKA (WINDSOR)
Second row
With height and clever footwork, Dean regularly beats the first tackle. Known for his superior fitness, he’s a major threat on the right edge.
CODY JANSEN (WINDSOR)
Lock
They reckon the Windsor skipper doesn’t know how to stop. If he’s not crunching out tough metres in attack, then he’ll be racking up swags of tackles in defence.
ARCHIE SKINNER (BROTHERS)
Halfback
After two tries last week, the livewire half brings peak form to the decider. A former soccer player, Archie is a well balanced athlete and can score from anywhere on the park.
CALEB GROGAN (BROTHERS)
Prop
No-nonsense, no-frills. Caleb only knows one way with a Steeden tucked under his arm. An absolute workhorse, the menacing prop is an ace in the Brothers pack.
TYLER OTT (BROTHERS)
Hooker
Slightly built but always in the thick of the action, Tyler calls the shots around the ruck and isn’t afraid to pounce when the opportunities arise.
EMMANUEL JOSEPH POASA (BROTHERS)
Prop
Alongside Caleb, Emmanuel is a nightmare for the opposition. Similar in size, he refuses to back down and thrives in the heat of battle.
KURT WATERS (BROTHERS)
Lock/hooker
A serious gamebreaker, Kurt’s 10 tries are the most in the competition. A creative pocket rocket, he’ll strike at the first sign of fatigue.
U17 (DIV-1)
HUNTER BELL (ST MARYS)
Fullback
With a season-high 19 tries against his name, it’s easy to see why Hunter is already training with Penrith’s Jersey Flegg (under-21s) squad. A weapon down back, he’ll be desperate for the minor premiers to take the next step.
MARK YANGA (ST MARYS)
Wing
The big and powerful winger has thrived since stepping up from division-2. At his best when carrying the ball out of trouble.
COOPER FLOOD (ST MARYS)
Second row
A Penrith pathways regular, Cooper has played plenty of footy in the U19s this season. With Saints’ long list of injuries, the Mr Fixit is expected to cover in the back row.
ALEX FUTIALO (ST MARYS)
Prop
A member of the Peter Mulholland Cup winning Patrician Brothers Blacktown side, Alex brings the upfront physicality needed to win premierships. Has power and a dangerous offload.
MONE SISIFA (ST MARYS)
Prop
The other bookend in a formidable front row, Mone runs and hits like a truck. Can go it alone or create second phase play.
LEVI SIGLE (ST MARYS)
Lock
Levi has spent time perfecting his craft at centre and in the pack. Nearing the full package, this ball-playing lock now holds several keys in attack.
DANIEL FAGALIMA FAUMUI (BROTHERS)
Centre
A strong defender with reliable hands, Daniel is adept at defusing dangerous kicks. In possession, his exceptional positional sense often creates chances on the flanks.
JAYDEN CARTER (BROTHERS)
Five-eighth
Described as a natural footballer, the key to Jayden’s game is off-the-cuff attack. Knows how to position his support, or hit the afterburners and go it alone.
HAKARAIA BARRETT (BROTHERS)
Halfback
Light on his feet from a background in touch footy, the elusive playmaker is thriving in division-1. A magician with the ball, if the chips are down he can pull a rabbit out of the hat.
RYAN GONCALVES (BROTHERS)
Second row
The tall and lanky backrower is tough to contain when he hits the right line. In a breakout season, Ryan has already amassed a stunning 17 four pointers.
JAYDEN BROWN (BROTHERS)
Second row/prop
Jayden is set to pack down in the front row on Sunday. Not that it makes any difference to this gifted utility, who goes all day and continues to roll forward after contact.
COBY RAVEN (BROTHERS)
Lock
The younger brother of Penrith pathways rep Kye Raven, Coby is a ball playing lock with similar skills and attributes. Loves to inspire his teammates with a tough carry.
U19 (DIV-1)
CHAS RIDDLE (ST CLAIR)
Fullback
Brings winning form after scoring a try for Patrician Brothers Blacktown in their Peter Mulholland Cup grand final victory. Tall and balanced, Chas has a formidable carry at either end of the field.
MARCUS PATIOLE-JOHNSON (ST CLAIR)
Second row
One of the Comets’ most dangerous players, Marcus is an edge backrower with the skills of a centre. Does it all in attack and defence, and kicks goals too.
HOSEAH NELI (ST CLAIR)
Prop
An absolute wrecking ball from close range, Hoseah can read the play and knows when to strike.
JACK ATTARD (COLYTON)
Fullback
An Australian Schoolboys rep, the Colyton No.1 does it all. Four tries and five goals last week says as much, and he’s bound to cause more headaches for St Clair.
ZAC MERRIMAN (COLYTON)
Five-eighth
Originally a hooker, Zac shifted to lock before making the No.6 jersey his own. Still a year young, he’s been a revelation for the Colts in a breakout finals series.
VILI MOATA’ANE (COLYTON)
Prop
A fiery prop with tonnes of ability, Vili has been fantastic in the finals. Hits the line super hard, and showed class in the semi final, when he sent Attard away with a clever flick pass.
JAN CAMERON (RESERVE GRADE)
BEN SALGADO (WINDSOR)
Second row
Deceptive and unassuming, Ben is a backrower who can craft points out of nothing. When the Wolves downed Emu Plains by four in the semi final, it was the No.11 who changed the contest with a couple of clever solo tries.
CLAYTON BARKER (WINDSOR)
Hooker
Another of Windsor’s strike weapons in attack, Clayton knows when to flick the switch. Always sweating on a weakness around the ruck, the crafty hooker will be hoping to increase his season tally of 14 tries.
CONNOR POTTER-JUGOVAC (WINDSOR)
Halfback
No slouch in accumulating points, Connor is a rangy playmaker with nine tries against his name and an ability to kick goals. Expect the alarm bells to sound when he jumps into dummy-half.
LACHLAN MASON (EMU PLAINS)
Fullback/wing
The jack-in-the-box outside back started the season in the top grade where he notched 10 tries on the wing. In a club blessed with plenty of speedsters, Lachlan will be eager to finish the year on a strong note.
JAIDEN PAEPAEREI (EMU PLAINS)
Lock
A hard running lock, Jaiden is a gifted tackle-breaker with a sharp turn of pace. Caught the St Clair defenders asleep at the wheel last week, racing more than 50m to help swing the result.
GREGORY LEKKAS (EMU PLAINS)
Halfback
An experienced No.7, Gregory pulls the strings in this side. Knows what's needed and points the big men in the direction the team needs to go.
DON FELTIS CUP (FIRST GRADE)
CAMERON WILLIAMS (EMU PLAINS)
Halfback
Coming into his own at the back-end of the season, the competitive half thrives in big games and will looking to place another premiership medal alongside the one he collected in the Macarthur comp last year.
GREG ALDERSON (EMU PLAINS)
Centre
Another new face in an Emu Plains team chasing back-to-back titles, Alderson is towering ballplayer who can deliver in the pack or out wide. Quicker than he looks, he’s tough to contain and isn’t used to losing.
BLAKE MCDERMOTT (EMU PLAINS)
Centre
McDermott has spent plenty of time on the sidelines, but since returning from suspension the energetic centre has played a key role in the side’s late season surge. Runs tough lines and knows how to rattle ribs.
DAMON FINN (COLYTON)
Halfback
One of the key figures in Colyton’s mid-season resurgence, Finn has found his feet in command of centrefield. In the decider, look for him to control the tempo through his hands and off the boot.
JESSE POULSEN (COLYTON)
Fullback
The dynamite at the end of Colyton’s backline, Poulsen knows when to appear and usually walks away with four points. In the semi final, his hat-trick proved the difference in an epic extra-time victory over St Clair.
LEO TUPE (COLYTON)
Prop
The big forward continues to get better every week. With three successive finals wins under his belt, the prop’s fitness and confidence has gone through the roof. At his barnstorming best, Tupe will challenge a confident Emu Plains forward pack.
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