Who are the U16, U18 players to watch in City v Country rugby league matches

There’s the son of a footy legend, a 15-year-old NRL star in the making and a teen sensation nabbed from rugby. Players to watch in U16, U18 City v Country matches this weekend.

Some of the rising stars of the sport to watch at the City v Country fixture.

They have been forecast to be the two best games of the NSWRL City v Country rugby league fixture this weekend - battles between the rising stars of the sport.

The best players from the Laurie Daley Cup and the SG Ball for the under 18s and the Andrew Johns Cup and the Harold Matthews Cup for the under 16s have been selected in the City and Country sides to play at Bankwest stadium on Saturday.

The Country v City rep fixture has returned after a four year absence with eight games to be played in two different locations this weekend.

The rejigged concept will see Country v City matches played in wheelchair and physical disability rugby league, under 16s, under 18s, women’s and men’s open age.

The Manly Sea Eagles beat Parramatta Eels to win the Harold Matthews Cup.

CITY V COUNTY SCHEDULE

Saturday May 15: Bankwest Stadium

11.00am: Country vs City Under 16s

12.40pm: Country vs City Under 18s

2.30pm: NSW Country Women’s vs NSW City Women’s

Saturday May 15: Shellharbour Stadium, 9.30am: Country vs City Wheelchair Rugby League

Sunday May 16

Collegians Sporting Complex

10.00am: Country vs City Physical Disability

11.00am: Steel City Challenge Newcastle vs Illawarra Under 20s

12.30pm: NSW Country Men’s vs NSW City Men’s

2.30pm: Steel City Challenge Newcastle vs Illawarra

A youngster with a will known name. Manly's Lehi Hopoate on his way to scoring a try.

CITY V COUNTRY UNDER 16 PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM ANDREW JOHNS CUP AND HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP

NSWRL expert Matt Parish believes this could be the game of the day.

“It’s a typical City v Country situation. City will be big and strong and Country will be small and tough,’’ he said.

“It’s always a good traditional stoush. Country always want to bring their best against City. “

Parish identified Clay Baldock and Lehi Hopoate as players likely to set the game alight.

“Quite clearly Baldock (Illawarra) is one of the best players in his competition and Lehi was also sensational,’’ he said.

“The clash of the fullbacks will be big. Clay is big, strong, hardworking and with a strong kicking game from the Illawarra.

“Hopoate plays for Manly in the City team and has been fantastic for them in the Harold Matts. He is very brave for a slightly built player and very skilful.’’

Manly's Latu Fainu on the break in the Harold Matthews game between Manly and Penrith in March.

Another rising star of the game to watch is the much talked about Latu Fainu from the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

“The best player in the comp in Harold Matts was Latu from Manly,’’ Parish said.

“For country to go well they need to shut him down.

“That’s easier said than done. He is very skilful, he is a very special player.’’

Parish said a strength of the country side is the back row combination.

“The back row is Jake Elliott, Jeremiah Leatigag and James Miller. That’s two from Central Coast in Jake and James and Jeremiah is from the Macarthur West Tigers,’’ he said.

“They have been really good this year but will need to play well against a very strong city side.’’

Other players to watch for include Jesse McLean and Roy Quito’s-Mapusua from City.

Steelers Thomas Philips and Rabbitohs Davvy Moale and Josiah Karapani

Davvy Moale as a young Matraville Public School student.

CITY V COUNTRY UNDER 18 PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM THE LAURIE DALEY CUP AND SG BALL CUP

The standout player in this game to watch will be the much-vaunted and highly skilled youngster Davvy Moale.

Moale, who used to play rugby at Waverley College, is a teenage front rower with enormous talent with South Sydney.

“Davvy is outstanding, I think he’s going to be great. Souths already have him on the radar,’’ Parish said.

“Country will need to muscle up defensively to be a chance.’’

Parish said there are plenty of country players to watch in this match.

“I think Ben Rumble, the fullback for Country and from Illawarra, he’s a very good player. Big, strong, in the Tom Trbojevic mode.

“Number 9, Tyler Moriarty for Central Coast, was outstanding. He played very well. He just never stops. He is a good defender and he reads the game very well and has a good feel for it.’’

City players to watch include Branden Morkos from Illawarra and Ethan Sanders from Parramatta.

“For country to win this game they need to stop the Souths prop Davvy Moale,’’ Parish said.

“He is sensational, he is something else. Souths had a big opinion of him. The country to win they have to do a job on him.’

Edward's College player Tyler Moriarty, third from left, celebrating the win over Farrer in the last NR: Schoolboy Cup.

UNDER 16S CITY V COUNTRY TEAMS (11am Bankwest Stadium)

Country: Tyreece Arama (Central Coast Roosters), Clay Baldock (Illawarra South Coast Dragons), Mark Connors (Monaro Colts), Lane Davis (Monaro Colts), Jai Duncan (Illawarra South Coast Dragons), Jake Elliott (Central Coast Roosters), Malakai Folau (Western Rams), Atticus Fotofili (Central Coast Roosters), Dextar Grant (Illawarra South Coast Dragons), Caleb Hall (Illawarra South Coast Dragons), Aymn Hamilton (Central Coast Roosters), Jeremiah Leatigaga (Macarthur Wests Tigers), Bailey Marks (Illawarra South Coast Dragons), Peter Milin (Monaro Colts), James Miller (Central Coast Roosters), Malachi Smith (Central Coast Roosters), Israel Taiatini (Monaro Colts), Connor Vardanega (Western Rams). Coach: Shaun Davison.

City: Lachlan Araullo (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Tallyn Da Silva (Western Suburbs Magpies), Latu Fainu (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Lehi Hopoate (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Owen Hromow (Canberra Raiders), Siamani Leuluai (Canberra Raiders), Tyrese Lokeni (Parramatta Eels), Heath Mason (Western Suburbs Magpies), Jermaine McEwen (Penrith Panthers), Jesse McLean (Penrith Panthers), Tana Papu (Penrith Panthers), Roy Quiroz-Mapusua (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Ethan Roberts (Sydney Roosters), Blaize Talagi (Paramatta Eels), Mitchell Taotua (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Cooper Toy (Sydney Roosters), Sam Tuivaiti (Parramatta Eels), Zedrick Tupulua (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles). Coach: Stephen O’Dea

Manly's Latu Fainu getting plenty of attention from his rivals.

UNDER 16S CITY V COUNTRY TEAMS (12.40pm Bankwest Stadium)

Country: Brody Briggs (Central Coast Roosters), Peter Conroy (North Coast Bulldogs), Ryan Couchman (Illawarra South Coast Dragons), Mitchell Henderson (Northern Tigers), Keegan Kenny (Monaro Colts), Darcy Leadbitter (Western Rams), Lachlan Mears-Crabble (Central Coast Roosters), Tyler Moriarty (Central Coast Roosters), Finnley Neilsen (Western Rams), Jessi O’Neill-Petherbridge (Central Coast Roosters), Daniel Peters (Central Coast Roosters), Braye Porter (Western Rams), Ben Rumble (Illawarra South Coast Dragons), Kane Rushton (Monaro Colts), Mark Simon (Northern Tigers), Luke Smith (Northern Tigers), Matthew Wheatley (Monaro Colts), Michael Whitton (Central Coast Roosters). Coach: Jason Kelly.

Brett Kimorley is coaching the City side.

City: Michael Asomua (Canberra Raiders), Jock Brazel (Parramatta Eels), Jack Cole (Penrith Panthers), Bayley Cox (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Samuela Fainu (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Jabriel Kalache (Parramatta Eels), Myles Martin (Parramatta Eels), Justin Matamua (Western Suburbs Magpies), Davvy Moale (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Brandon Morkos (Illawarra Steelers), Larry Muagututia (Parramatta Eels), Jonah Pezet (Melbourne Storm), Ethan Sanders (Parramatta Eels), Ryley Smith (Penrith Panthers), Siteni Taukamo (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Brandon Tumeth (Balmain Tigers), Lajuan Vito (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Turoa Williams (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs). Coach: Brett Kimmorley.

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