Souths Juniors Mid-Year Review: Top performers, young guns, every club’s run to the finals
We’re at the halfway point of the Souths Juniors season. We take a look at the top performers so far, the young guns standing tall and every team’s run to the finals over the concluding rounds.
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It’s been the most unsettled Souths Juniors A-grade season in recent memory.
With four of the first nine rounds washed out due to ground closures, teams have just once played in back-to-back weekends.
Nonetheless there are just six rounds remaining as teams look to make their move and ensure they earn a spot in the top five.
Here’s a look at how all eight teams are travelling in our mid-year review:
ALEXANDRIA ROVERS
Record: 5-1 (1st)
Standout players: Craig McKenzie has been one of the recruits of the season. The centre has been unstoppable at times and gives the Rovers a real strike force out wide. Denver Burns is Mr Consistency for Alexandria. He gives his all every week in the back row and refuses to take a backwards step.
Young guns: Kieran Mundine is lightning fast and has shown some real potential in his outings with the club. Toesami (TJ) Toevai has been incredible in the front row for the Rovers. A Rabbitohs player, he continues to push his claims for higher honours week in, week out.
Analysis: If there were any question marks about how the Rovers would adapt to A-grade, they’ve been swiftly answered through the first part of the season. When the weather has hit they’ve remained committed to their training and that fitness has been on show right from the first round. Their only loss of the season saw them swiftly respond the following week, something coach Tommy Leal was super impressed with. They’re a close-knit group and they believe that has them in good stead for a real tilt at the title.
Run home: Matraville, BYE, Marrickville, South Eastern, Coogee Dolphins
COOGEE DOLPHINS
Record: 4-2 (4th)
Standout players: JC Lole-Ngarima and Jarvis Leafa are two of their Souths allocated players who have had a major impact when running out for the Dolphins this year. They both look set to take the next step in their careers. James Barran came across from England with good expectations and he has lived up to them so far.
Young guns: Brothers Aidan and Cody Kelso have been great additions to the club and always put their hands up to take the tough carries and get through work. Bene Bonsembiante and Tom Cutler are impressive union converts who have taken to league with ease.
Analysis: Big things were expected of the Dolphins this season, and so far they’ve delivered. A strong opening saw them pick up wins over Redfern, Matraville and the Wombats before faltering to Alexandria. They’re expecting some big names to return from injury over the next few weeks to give them the best shot of a top-three finish. With over 40 showing up to training each and every week across their senior grades, they’re hoping the buy-in will pay off over the most important rounds of the regular season.
Run home: Mascot, Matraville, Coogee Wombats, Marrickville, Alexandria
COOGEE RANDWICK WOMBATS
Record: 4-2 (3rd)
Standout players: Captain Tim Bennett has been a rock on an edge in the second row for the Wombats. His leadership has been a big reason for their success. Bear Williams has never let the team down when he’s come back from the Rabbitohs, as has developing player Sam Taylor.
Young guns: Jake Tobin is leading the competition in tries with nine in six games and the fullback has been dynamite in his start to the year. Ethan Le Blanc, the brother of Rabbitoh Liam, has played the last few games and performed really strongly. Eden Potter has been fantastic out of dummy half as well.
Analysis: There’s been a lot to like about the Wombats’ return to the top flight. They’ve taken some big scalps over the first six games and will welcome former Rabbitoh Jason Clark to a more active playing role over the next five. After the flu and injuries took down a few key men, they’re expecting their full complement of troops back on deck for the run to the finals and with the attitude they’ve brought so far, they believe a top-three finish is well within their capabilities with a good run home.
Run home: Marrickville, Mascot, Coogee Dolphins, Matraville, BYE
MARRICKVILLE KINGS
Record: 1-5 (7th)
Standout players: Big forwards Michael Apikotoa and Maylee Semu have been strong throughout the season. Semu has been powering through the middle and Apikotoa is one of the stronger edge players in the league. His experience at the junior reps level previously has come in handy.
Young guns: William Leha is still only 17 and the Manly Sea Eagles junior reps players has acquitted himself well against grown men. He’s been playing as a lock forward and holding things down well.
Analysis: The return to A-grade hasn’t been a successful one thus yet for the Kings, but there’s plenty of time to turn their season around. Their round four narrow defeat to South Eastern is the type of performance that will see them challenge more teams. Finals looks out of reach unless they can go on an extraordinary run to finish the year, but coach Francis Langifisi, who has put the boots on to lead by example, wants to see them finish off 2024 strong and build a strong platform for the years ahead.
Run home: Coogee Wombats, South Eastern, Alexandria, Coogee Dolphins, Mascot
MASCOT JETS
Record: 2-4 (6th)
Standout players: Big front rowers Sione Tovo and Wes Lolo have been instrumental in setting the platform in the middle for the side. Their experience will come to the fore in the run to the finals.
Young guns: Tali Toetu’u continues to impress whether he plays at fullback or in the halves. A versatile talent who can break a game open. Billy Kovacevic and Joseph Touma are two U18s players who have made their A-grade debuts this season. They’ve shown they’re up to this level.
Analysis: Things were looking tricky for the Jets with an 0-2 start to the season, but they’ve responded in good fashion. A few narrow losses leave them in a predicament where they will need a strong finish to the season to ensure their spot in the post-season, but they certainly have the roster to do just that. They’ve been competitive in most games and are confident they can jag a few results to go their way in the coming weeks. Mascot’s destiny is in their hands, with their next three games set to define their 2024.
Run home: Coogee Dolphins, Coogee Wombats, South Eastern, BYE, Marrickville
MATRAVILLE TIGERS
Record: 4-1-1 (2nd)
Standout players: Eli Roberts was their key signing in the off-season and the classy centre has delivered so far. Kyle Wilson continues to solidify his place as one of the league’s best fullbacks - an excitement machine with every touch of the ball.
Young guns: Marco Moretti has floated in and out of reserve grade with the Rabbitohs and always shows his class when wearing the Matraville colours. Ned Hicks is a former Rabbitohs pathways player who looks to have settled in nicely at five-eighth for the Tigers.
Analysis: They’ve been in the last two grand finals and are in the sort of form that will have them contending at the business end of the season. There’s just the one blemish on their record, and their ability to win close games is becoming the identity of the team. They’ve won three of their four games by six points or less, with a draw against South Eastern as well. With some big moves from other clubs, Matraville is flying under the radar and positioned itself nicely for a big final five rounds.
Run home: Alexandria, Coogee Dolphins, BYE, Coogee Wombats, South Eastern
SOUTH EASTERN SEAGULLS
Record: 3-1-2 (5th)
Standout players: Connor Higgins is a veteran in the side who looks to have found his place at five-eighth. His English experience has been immense. Fraser Graham is the older brother of Rabbitohs star Campbell and he has been driving the standards off the field, and has enjoyed a breakout year. Mateo Tatola (younger brother of Junior) has also been a key forward throughout the season.
Young guns: Lachlan Scott and Zac Williams are two reggies from last year who have made the step up to regular A-grade footy. They’ve looked the goods so far. Rylan Barnes is a young player who has stepped up when required and really done a job in the outside backs for the Seagulls.
Analysis: The Seagulls are gearing up for a big tilt at the title during the second half of the season with former England international and NRL premiership winner George Burgess and local junior Jackson Garlick coming back to the club. The interchange rule took a bit of time to get used to, but the Seagulls are hitting their straps now and are up to a standard that can see them really contest to break their premiership drought. There’s a belief instilled by coach John Sutton on just how far this club can go in 2024.
Run home: BYE, Marrickville, Mascot, Alexandria, Matraville
The Redfern All Blacks have withdrawn from the A-grade competition.
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