Sixes and sevens: The 24 SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup halves on the cusp of Junior Reps glory

Some already have NRL and NRLW contracts, while others are keen to show they can stand up under pressure and deliver on the big stage. Meet the 24 halves still in the hunt for SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup glory.

The 24 halves remaining in the SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup competitions.

As the respective SG Ball and Tarsha Gale U19s competitions sit at six teams remaining, the stakes have never been higher for the 24 halves lining up.

A few have NRL and NRLW contracts, others are on development deals and some are looking to show over the next few weeks why they deserve a shot at higher levels.

We take a look at each remaining halves pairing on the road to grand final day,

SG BALL CUP

LORENZO TALATAINA and LINCOLN FLETCHER (PARRAMATTA)

The duo led Parramatta to an undefeated minor premiership, complementing each other to perfection. Talataina has been a pathways star after two years of Harold Matts and is now in his second season of SG Ball. Lincoln Fletcher is an Australian Schoolboys representative playing a year young.

BRAYDAN DARMODY and JAMIE COWLING (CANBERRA)

Two that will no doubt rise to Flegg once this season is complete. Darmody has been in the Raiders system for years and finished this season as the competition’s top pointscorer in his second year at U19s level. Cowling recently inked a NRL Development Pathways Contract with the club.

Taj Alvarez (left) and Matthew Humphries. Picture: Sean Teuma

TAJ ALVAREZ and MATTHEW HUMPHRIES (SOUTH SYDNEY)

Alvarez and Humphries are the traditional halves pairing with the organising seven and running six, although the latter is lethal when taking on the line. Alvarez finished the season as second in tries scored in SG Ball (11 tries), linking with the Rabbitohs after a stint with the Central Coast. Humphries played in an NRL trial earlier this year against Manly.

TYSON WALKER and TOBY RODWELL (SYD ROOSTERS)

The duo has only played limited games together, but judging by how dominant they were against Parramatta, you’d think they’d been a pairing for a decade. It’s only a matter of time before Rodwell gets a shot in the top flight. He joined the top-30 this year until the end of 2028. Walker, the younger brother of Sam, joined the Roosters from Ipswich.

ALEX CONTI and MITCHELL WOODS (CANTERBURY)

A scary halves pairing for any team to come up against. Conti is in his second season with the Bulldogs after joining from Balmain and has already had Jersey Flegg experience this year. Woods is in Canterbury’s top-30 and lines up for his second game of the season after an injury-interrupted beginning to 2025.

Jordan Hamlin Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

JORDAN HAMLIN and RILEY BRANNOCK (MELBOURNE)

A brand new halves pairing that has led the Storm to their best ever U19s season. Brannock was picked up from the St George pathways while Hamlin was picked up from the Northern Tigers in the Daley Cup. No player kicked more goals than Brannock this season and the duo have clicked beyond coach Matt Duffie’s wildest expectations.

TARSHA GALE CUP

TAHLIA O’BRIEN and HEREWAKA POHATU (ILLAWARRA)

A pairing with just two games together, but they’ve clicked at the right time. There could be a code battle for O’Brien in the coming years, with the five-eighth also an Australian U18s Sevens rep. Pohatu got a taste of Harvey Norman last year after winning the Tarsha Gale with the Steelers.

Amirah El-Abdallah. Photo: Bryden Sharp

AMIRAH EL-ABDALLAH and SHAQUAYLAH MAHAKITAU-MONSCHAU (CANTERBURY)

Spearheaded the powerful Bulldogs attack as a dominant force. Abdallah has been a role model as a local Milperra junior coming good at this level and will be pushing for a HNWP spot. Mahakitau-Monschau was a netball star in New Zealand and is now part of Canterbury’s inaugural NRLW squad.

EVIE MCGRATH and SIENNA-MAE MONTGOMERY (WESTS TIGERS)

The most experienced halves pairing the competition. Montgomery was recruited from the Roosters for her second season of Tarsha Gale after making her HNWP debut with the Central Coast. McGrath won the U19s with Illawarra before going on to make her NRLW debut with the Tigers, winning two of her three games.

CHLOE PALLISIER and NAIOKA TUIPULOTU (PENRITH)

Finding form at the right time of the year. Pallisier was recruited from the Western Clydesdales in Queensland where she played a handful of BMD Premiership games. St Marys junior Tuipulotu is a NSW Oztag rep who has relished running the show. Both are right in the frame for Penrith’s inaugural HNWP season.

Aaliyah Soufan. Picture: Martin Ollman

KHYLIAH GRAY and AAYLIAH SOUFAN (PARRAMATTA)

We’ve seen Gray feature in a number of positions in 2025, but she’s looked best linking in the halves with Soufan. Incredibly Soufan went from Lisa Fiaola to HNWP last year with Wentworthville. Gray did the same with South Sydney after coming from a union background that saw her play with the Australian Schoolgirls.

GEORGIE BARRETT and JAYLA DICKER (SYD ROOSTERS)

A new pairing that has really hit its straps in recent weeks. Barrett is in her second season with the Roosters after being scouted from Orange and the Western Rams. Dicker comes from a netball background but has been a natural in league, with the Roosters recruiting her from North Sydney.