NRL 2022: Parramatta Eels’ grand final stars when they were juniors

Maika Sivo hadn’t had a lot of exposure to rugby league when he arrived in Australia, but he didn’t take long to make his mark. Read how every Eel made it big in our special feature.

Eels star Clint Gutherson, left, alongside Jake Trbojevic in the Blues under 16 team.

Strong, athletic, fast, determined – the champion qualities needed to be a rugby league star were evident early on in an Eels side that hopes to end decades of suffering for its fans.

Some of the coaches who helped guide the players in the early phase of their rugby league careers reveal their memories of the budding NRL grand finalists.

1. CLINT GUTHERSON

Geoff Riddington - coached Clint at Cromer Kingsfishers

“I coached him in rugby union and rugby league. He was a freak. In rugby league, he was more of a general. Liam Knight played in the same side. He was an unbelievable motivator and he would do things that you wouldn’t expect at that age. Things like drawing and passing, cutting out three players and hitting the winger on the full.”

Clint Gutherson, left, was a star junior and played under 16s for NSW alongside Jake Trbojevic.

2. MAIKA SIVO

Cameron Woo - coached Maika at Gundagai Tigers

“When he first came across he was very naturally gifted and athletic. Maika was pretty raw and hadn’t had a lot of exposure to rugby league but just had that natural instinct to find the tryline. His first touch of the ball was a trial game and he ran about 80m and beat six defenders. We knew he was going to be pretty special. In one game he scored five tries before halftime and didn’t play the second half because of injury.”

Maika Sivo was raw but very talented when he started playing for the Gundagai Tigers.

3. WILL PENISINI
Brad Arthur - coached Will at the Rouse Hill Rhinos

“Will was a matchwinner. He knew how to find ways to win a game when it was on the line. He was confident enough to come up with the big plays at the right time. Early on, he displayed leadership qualities. Will always had a good attitude to training and was always committed to getting better. He was willing to take on feedback. Will was also a nice, respectful kid who came from a good family.”

Will Penisini had plenty of confidence as a young player.

4. BAILEY SIMONSSON

Matty Johns - coached Bailey at the Harbord Devils

“He was a great kid, who came from a good family. I knew his dad Paul, who played for the All Blacks. Bailey was playing in the age group down and Paul came to see me and asked if Bailey could play one age up in my team. They were a great bunch of boys, they got on so well and there were some really talented kids. Our two big strike weapons were Bailey because of his speed out wide. And the other one was Stan Grant’s son, Dylan. He was never late to training, he always trained well. I’d go to the local gym, Paul would have Bailey in there showing him a bit of training. Three things are the vital combination are intelligence, talent and perseverance. That’s the magic formula and he had all three.”

Bailey Simonsson was an outstanding junior athlete.

5. WAQA BLAKE

Bruce Hartely - Brighton Seagulls president

“He wanted to play rugby union when his family first came here from Fiji and his mum told him to come down to the ground where we trained but he wasn’t aware it was a rugby league club when he signed up. He ended up playing for us for four years. Waqa was part of a really good team in 2005, I remember that side was undefeated in their respective competition scoring 623 points to 107 against. He wasn’t overly tall back then, he’s certainly grown. I couldn’t believe his size now compared to back then. Hopefully the height helps him against Nathan Cleary’s bombs on Sunday.”

6. DYLAN BROWN
Joe Rau - coached Dylan at the Hikurangi Stags and Northland Swords

“We took him away to a representative tournament but I remember he was reluctant to come. He was about to pull out to go on a provincial rugby tour that was on at the same time as the rugby league nationals. I pitched a vision to him, saying I think you’re good enough to come to nationals and good enough to get picked by an NRL club. He went, and was scouted by Parramatta and Cronulla and hasn’t looked back since. Dly was tough as nails and played with a big heart. He was a tough little bigger because he was quite small coming through the grades. But he’s had a growth spurt since then. But he also had a pretty advanced skill set and had a good kicking game. Dyl was always a humble kid. Even now when he comes home he runs the water at the club and he’s even a sponsor. As a grassroots club, we are grateful for his support.”

Dylan Brown always played with a big heart.

7. MITCHELL MOSES

Tim White - coached Mitchell at Holy Cross Ryde

“I first met Mitchell as an 11-year-old and the first thing I noticed is he always had a footy in his hand. He then started at my school Holy Cross where he had a family name that was synonymous with the college. He never let that phase him. He was very little but just needed time to grow and develop. I remember the day I made my mind up on him was at an athletics carnival where he carried the relay team to a state championship. So he had the skill, the brain and now I was convinced he had the speed. The next year I picked him in NSW and he made Australian schoolboys. People do not understand he is perhaps the smartest student of the game with almost Indigenous abilities to read the game. At schoolboy level, he was the best chaser of short kicks I’ve ever seen. It was Year 11 I knew he started to believe. All he needed was confidence and someone to believe in him and that’s the role I kind of filled. Very proud of the man he is today.”

Mitchell Moses was small but extremely talented as a junior.

8. REAGAN CAMPBELL-GILLARD

Scott Jones - coached Reagan at Hills Sports High School

“He was in our athletics program and I taught him in class and he was the most annoying kid you’ve met. He played a game in the Hunter and he was strong so we thought we’d give him a crack. He was starting prop in 2011. He was so determined.”

9. REED MAHONEY

Andrew Stevens – coached Reed at Beerwah Bulldogs in under 10-12

“He used to get upset if things didn’t go our way. He put his heart and soul into it. He’d be in tears — he used to get penalised a bit, and I used to say he was only getting penalised for tackling too hard. It wasn’t his fault, they weren’t dangerous they were just hard tackles. He was always a tough kid and tough competitor. He was always going to be a little superstar, he was head and shoulders above the other kids. We struggled a bit back then, we didn’t win a real lot of games but he was just a leader. He used to play a bit of five-eighth and also hooker.”

Reed Mahoney was a tackling machine as a junior.

10. JUNIOR PAULO

Chris Bradbury - coached Junior at Parramatta Harold Matthews

“His work ethic was second to none. He had brilliant ball skills and had terrific defensive efforts. In the following season he played SG Ball a year young and started the season at prop. He won the competition’s player of the year award. It was very clear that he had a very bright future ahead.”

11. SHAUN LANE

Dave Howlett - coached Shaun at Endeavour Sports High School

“He literally grew a foot taller in the last 12 months at school. It changed him from a short, pudgy kid into a tall athletic and dominant force with genuine potential to kick on. He was in the same year as fellow NRL players Alex Johnston and Billy Tsikrikas and the three of them were highly intelligent and fiercely competitive in the class room. Johnston just pipped Lane for dux of the school. He is still strongly connected to the school and rugby league program.”

Shaun Lane in action for Endeavour Sports High.

12. ISAIAH PAPALI’I

Haden Johnson - coached Isaiah at the Te Atatu Roosters

“Right away it was obvious he had what it takes to be an NRL player. He had the drive, the support of his family, determined and was a cut above the rest of the kids. Some of the other kids developed a little earlier but he was always really good at everything, whether it was weightlifting or rugby. Obviously the other kids caught up as they got older but he was still streaks ahead. His ball-handling skills back then weren’t as good as some of the other players but that was cancelled out by his work ethic. He had a massive engine on him as well. The weight-lifting helped him a lot, he was so strong as a 13-year-old, he was throwing off kids in tackles here and there. The contact and post-contact for someone that young was incredible. He’d make contact and throw one kid off but keeping throwing them off, he was hard to tackle.”

13. RYAN MATTERSON

Lawrence Karam - coached Ryan at Bankstown Bulls

“Even at 15 Ryan was so dedicated and focused on the one per centers. He was never one to cut corners and more importantly played with true grit. He was a skinny, lanky kid who could take a hit and then get back up with a smile. Punched well above his weight.”

14. NATHAN BROWN

David Puckeridge - coached Nathan at Five Dock Dockers

“Nathan’s ball-playing skills were exceptional. He was the type of player that was gifted with natural rugby league ability but that didn’t stop him working hard on his defence. He was a pleasure to coach and if he ever wanted to coach at the highest level in rugby league he would also excel at that.”

15. JAKE ARTHUR

Greg Beacroft - coached Jake at Patrician Brothers College

“Jake is a really level-headed and mature kid. He had a really good passing game and could pass a flat ball 30 to 40 metres. He would always put his body on the line and lead through his action.”

Jake Arthur has always had a good passing game. Picture: Brett Costello

16. OREGON KAUFUSI

Scott Jones - coached Oregon at Parramatta Eels Harold Matthews Cup

“He was a union kid so his skill was very union-based. He lent into his carries and lost his legs in defence. You could see he had the potential to play both sports. Every bit of feedback he received he worked really hard.”

17. MARATA NIUKORE

Paulie Taumihau - Mangere East Hawks chairman
“Even back then he was just a big body that had skills that were superior to the other kids in his age group. His size, as a 13-year-old, stood out. He put his size, speed and power to good use every time he got the ball. You knew back then when you watched him play if he put in the hard work, had the right attitude, he would make it in the NRL and do very well. He was always a polite, nice boy who got along with everyone at the club. I‘m a Broncos fan, so I won’t be putting on any Eels gear on the weekend, but I’ll be cheering Marata on definitely. He’s coming home to the Warriors next year, it would be special if he comes home as a premiership winner.”

18. BRYCE CARTWRIGHT

Greg Beacroft - coached Bryce at Patrician Brothers College

“He was a freak. In the 2011 schoolboys grand final we beat Endeavour and Bryce was man of the match. He played against Shaun Lane that day and got the better of him. He was the best player in his age group.”

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