SG Ball Round 3 fixtures: Raiders to unleash Xavier Savage
Queensland league fans are about to get a taste of what they’re missing out on when Canberra unleashes one of the state’s quickest juniors this weekend.
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Round 3 of NSWRL junior representative competitions kick off on Saturday and footy fans can expect the cream to start rising to the top.
SG Ball ladder leaders the Canberra Raiders will battle the Illawarra Steelers to prove again that the club’s recent off-field drama won’t impact their season.
Last week, Canberra sacked four SG Ball stars over a glassing incident, but the Green Machine still managed to beat the Magpies in Round 2.
As the Raiders hunt down their third consecutive in this weekend, they’ll be further boosted by the inclusion of new recruit and sprint star Xavier Savage.
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The electric outside back — who can run 100m in a lightning 10.95 seconds — carved up at fullback and wing for Queensland’s under-16 side.
Penrith’s match up against the Knights will be another one to watch. The Panthers filed 64 points on the Dragons last week and head coach Jono Rolfe feels his side is starting to settle on a range of combinations.
“Our spine, our 7, 9, 6, 1 were unbelievable last week,” Rolfe said.
“Our no. 6 who plays like a halfback Connor Mason, our captain, he’s been slick and silky in attack.
“And our hooker as well, Ryley Smith, the cricketer. Those two were slick last week, they’re gelling well, they’ll be the difference (against the Knights).
“We’ve prepared well this week. We’re quietly confident, but we know that playing the Knights away is one of the toughest games in the draw.”
You can also expect Penrith’s Harold Matthews side to sniff out more tries this week – in two games, the young pups have scored an impressive 11 tries and conceded just one.
Today, however, they will be tested by an exciting Newcastle side coached by former Australian and NSW prop Mark O’Meley.
The Knights showed great potential last week, with fullback Fletcher Sharpe and halfback Taj Blackman combining to score two identical tries against the Tigers
Expect a great battle of the spines, as Newcastle takes on Penrith’s rising star Isaiya Katoa and NRL Schoolboy Cup standouts Tylor Bunting and Liam Ison.
NSWRL will be live streaming the Canberra Raiders v Illawarra Steelers SG Ball, Harold Matthews and Tarsha Gale Cup clashes via NSWRL TV via NSWRL Facebook
SG BALL ROUND 3
Magpies v Thunderbolts, 12pm, Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Sharks v Bears, 12pm, PointsBet Stadium
Knights v Panthers, 12:30pm, Cessnock Sports Ground
Tigers v Bulldogs, 1pm, Leichhardt Oval
Dragons v Souths, 1pm, Mascot Oval
Raiders v Steelers, 2pm, Belconnen Oval
BYE: Roosters, Eels, Manly
HAROLD MATTS ROUND 3
Sharks v Bears, 10am, PointsBet Stadium
Magpies v Central Coast Roosters, 10:30am, Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Knights v Panthers, 11am, Cessnock Sports Ground
Tigers v Bulldogs, 11:30am, Leichhardt Oval
Dragons v Souths, 11:30am, Mascot Oval
Raiders v Steelers, 12:30pm, Belconnen Oval
BYE: Roosters, Eels, Manly
TARSHA GALE ROUND 3
Tigers v Bulldogs, 10am, Leichhardt Oval
Dragons v Eels, 10am, Mascot Oval
Raiders v Steelers, 11am, Belconnen Oval
Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy v Knights, 2pm, Morry Breen Oval, Central Coast
BYE: Sharks
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