NSWRL Junior Reps: Full wrap of Harold Matthews, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball, Tarsha Gale prelim finals
The preliminary finals of the NSWRL Junior Reps are in the books. See who starred in the penultimate week of the four major grades, PLUS the full grand final schedule.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The NSWRL Junior Reps preliminary finals have been run and won with eight big games across a huge weekend.
Catch up on all the action below, plus see the full grand final schedule for Leichhardt Oval next weekend.
DAY TWO - MALE PATHWAYS
ROOSTERS DENY GRITTY RAIDERS
The Sydney Roosters are aiming to win their first SG Ball Cup grand final since 2010 after downing Canberra 28-16 at Lidcombe Oval.
Akin to their regular season encounter, both teams came out with attacking intentions, although it was the Raiders who struck first through Cooper Johnston.
The Roosters hit back soon after however when Toby Rodwell sold a dummy to defence and sliced through to score.
They had their first lead in the 25th minute when EJ Mahu-Delamere was set up by Rodwell to score in the corner.
Canberra looked destined to take a slender lead into halftime when Jayze Tuigamala was too strong from close range, before Mikey Nassar pounced on a Raiders mistake deep in their own territory to put them ahead 16-12.
That margin was stretched when Lui Lee busted through defenders and reached out to score in a lovely individual effort, before James Croker made it a one-score game with 15 minutes to play after he chipped, regathered and scored down the right-hand touchline.
The Raiders had their chances late to force extra time, but it was Rodwell’s second of the afternoon that sealed the result and put the Roosters into the grand final.
EELS POWER PAST SOUTHS
Parramatta has surged into its second SG Ball Cup grand final in three years after a 34-4 demolition over South Sydney at Redfern Oval.
An early mistake proved costly for the Rabbitohs, with Lincoln Fletcher putting in a grubber for Christopher Petrus to cross inside three minutes.
Souths had their chance to attack and forced a pair of goal line dropouts, but on both occasions the Eels were able to regather.
It was another error that gifted Parramatta their second try, with Ryda Talagi busting through four defenders on his way to score after Souths dropped it off a penalty tap.
The Eels then targeted their right-hand attack and it paid dividends with Dom Farrugia picking up a quick double.
That was before Jacob Fong gave the Rabbitohs a much-needed boost on the stroke of halftime to trail 22-4 at the break.
Souths couldn’t make any further inroads in the second half, and when Aidan Kebourian crossed over the other side the margin was past three converted tries.
Five-eighth Lorenzo Talataina put the finishing touches on the win when he stepped through some tired Rabbitohs defence.
KNIGHTS SNATCH WIN LATE
Curtis Mulherin proved the hero for Newcastle, scoring a late try to give the Knights a 26-20 victory over the Central Coast to qualify for the Harold Matthews Cup grand final.
The two sides were locked at 20-all heading into the final five minutes, when Cooper Votano made a break after a few offloads close to halfway.
The five-eighth surged and drew the fullback to perfection, putting Mulherin over to send them into their second grand final in the past three seasons.
Up to that point it was an arm wrestle throughout, with the Knights holding a 12-8 lead at the break on the back of Chase Butler’s goalkicking.
Corbin Devaney’s second try of the afternoon edged the Roosters ahead, before Callum Elsley hit back soon after.
The two traded tries through Samuel Michie and Kade Paton to set up a grandstand finish.
WARRIORS HANG TOUGH ON ROAD
The New Zealand Warriors are into their second-straight Harold Matthews grand final after overcoming South Sydney 28-8 at Redfern Oval.
The Rabbitohs had a dream start, forcing a mistake with the very first play of the game.
But it was an error deep in their own half that allowed the Warriors to attack and capitalise as Jeremiah Lemana took advantage of numbers on the right to go himself and open the scoring.
Errors and penalties while defending their line opened the door for another Warriors raid, but after six consecutive sets of defence the Rabbitohs were able to hold solid.
Souths had their best chance 20 minutes into the contest when 11 had space near the line, only to be denied by strong Warriors cover defence.
They finally broke through in the 27th minute when Darcy Feltham crossed, in a double blow for the Warriors that saw Tyson Hansen come from the field with a leg injury.
It was almost the perfect start for the Rabbitohs in the second stanza, with a set restart moving them downfield, only for Payton Tarau ruled to have lost it when attempting to ground the ball.
Souths had all the attacking ball to start the half and it was Feltham who proved evasive once again, getting outside his marker to score his second, making it 10-8 with 20 to play.
The tide turned and the Warriors were able to put one foot into the grand final when Lemana hit a hole at speed and stepped through multiple defenders for his second, giving the Warriors an eight-point margin.
That result was sealed eight minutes form full-time when Ronan Byford was able to bump off one defender on his way to the line.
DAY ONE - FEMALE PATHWAYS
EELS HANG ON IN THRILLER
In the upset of the season Parramatta are through to the Lisa Fiaola Cup grand final after the Eels staged a miracle, downing the previously unbeaten Canterbury 22-20 at The Oaks.
In an end-to-end thriller where the lead changed seven times, Canterbury looked set to strike in the final play of the game until Eels centre Georgia Wansey produced the stuff of dreams, dragging down Jayda Peo short of the line.
Canterbury started as the favourites after the reigning premiers hammered the third ranked Eels in round nine, and it looked set to continue when centre Asha Taumoepeau-Williams breezed past several defenders to score after just five minutes.
But it wasn’t to be as Parramatta kept finding answers. Bailey Ma-Chong quickly levelled the scores, one of several crucial plays from the skipper who also broke the 20-all deadlock with a pressure penalty goal three minutes before full time.
At their best from set plays, the Eels raced in two tries from scrums. Five-eighth Sharon Latapu sent Cody Tuimaseve steaming across to give her side a 12-10 halftime advantage.
Then after Taumoepeau-Williams put Canterbury back in front, winger Hine Rikiti found herself in space from another scrum play, racing 40m along the touchline to score in the left corner.
Evelyn Roberts was among Canterbury’s best. A solo effort from the quick thinking skipper gave the Dogs a 20-16 advantage, but it was short lived when the Eels levelled through halfback Temieke Withers.
In the end, a Bulldogs ruck infringement proved the difference. Even then, it was a close thing as Ma-Chong’s penalty kick struck the left upright before dropping over the crossbar.
EELS CONTINUE DAY OUT
Hot on the heels of their stunning Lisa Fiaola Cup victory, Parramatta doubled the misery on Canterbury, advancing to the Tarsha Gale decider in the second match of the day at Dudley Chesham Sports Ground.
In another win against the odds, the 18-8 victory continued an impressive surge by the Eels who finished the preliminary rounds four spots below Canterbury in fifth place.
Although they were never headed, the blue and gold girls were pushed all day by a resilient Canterbury outfit and only booked their grand final ticket when Tess McWilliams pounced on a Khyliah Gray grubber kick in the final two minutes.
It was a well deserved try for the menacing prop, who alongside Taylah Falaniko punched out key metres for the Eels.
Ryvrr-Lee Alo also impressed upfront. The busy lock struck the first blow under the posts before Canterbury struck back in style midway through the opening half.
On the outside of clever hands from fullback Milahn Ieremia and Tia’ane Tavita Fesolai, Simina Lokotui scrambled into the left corner to get Canterbury back within two points.
It looked like being the halftime score until Eels winger Avena Racoma Ngata steamed onto a lucky bounce, turning the ball back inside for hooker Ava Jones to race across to make it 12-4.
Canterbury’s points in the second half came when Shafenior Lui exploded out of dummy half and brushed away several tacklers. With the hard work done the No.14 sent Tia’ane Tavita Fesolai dashing into the left corner.
CENTRAL COAST EARN THEIR STRIPES
In another finals classic, Central Coast advanced to the Lisa Fiaola Cup grand final after the Roosters contained a surging Wests Tigers 22-16.
In a fantastic advertisement for junior footy, this one had everything from start to finish.
The Tigers hit the ground running when back-rower Saige Tautalafua exploded off her left foot to open the scoring in the third minute.
Not to be out done, Roosters lock Anastasia Leatupue struck in almost identical fashion six minutes later, starting a golden 10-minute period that yielded three consecutive tries.
With back-to-back tries to winger Coco Butcher, Central Coast took an eight-point lead to the sheds and seemingly put last season’s grand finalists to bed when five-eighth Mia Vaotuua barged over to make it 16-4 to open the second half.
The tide started to turn, but with a wealth of possession the Tigers just couldn’t crack the best defence in the competition.
They kept knocking and eventually inspirational hooker Dawn Tui unlocked the Roosters’ door.
Buoyed by a boisterous home crowd and repeat sets, the Tigers comeback grew an extra leg with just under 10 minutes to play when May Fuimaono crashed over to level the scores at 16 apiece.
What happened next wouldn’t have looked out of place in Origin.
On the end of an overlap, Charlotte Withers looked odds on to score the winning try, but the Tigers winger spilt the ball over the line when she was blindsided by the flying cover defence of Mia Vaotuua.
It was the break the Roosters needed, and with a few minutes left Talea Tonga did the rest. After putting Coco Marsters through a gap in the next set, the No.7 backed up and raced away with arm raised to put Central Coast into the decider.
ROOSTERS CONTINUE DREAM RUN
The Sydney Roosters are within reach of hoisting the Tarsha Gale Cup from seventh place after they eliminated reigning premiers Illawarra 30-14 in the final match on Saturday.
They won’t start as favourites against Parramatta in next week’s decider, but that won’t worry coach Keeley Davis after her side defied the odds again, this time out scoring the minor premiers six tries to three.
In a low scoring first half, Illawarra winger Charlotte Campbell struck first when she regathered a Tahlia O’Brien kick, and it was 4-all at the break after the Roosters levelled through captain Georgie Barrett.
Lacey Cross was outstanding for the Tricolours in the second half. Stationed on the left edge, the bustling backrower found space immediately after the restart, paving the way for hooker Mahlie Cashin to barge over.
Then with the Roosters holding a slender 18-14 advantage with 10 minutes remaining, Cross put the game to bed with an electrifying solo effort. Across 70m, the No.11 bumped and swerved past defenders before outlasting the cover in a mad dash to the line.
Sharing in the highlight reel moments, centre Tyra Ekepati also turned on the afterburners with a stunning 80m effort. While Cashin was never far from the action, scoring a second half double and helping Jayda Durham to score out wide.
For Illawarra, second-rower Siulolo Richter showed pace and power to barge over, and hooker Tori Shipton struck from close range after Bronte Wilson was held up short of the line.
More Coverage
Originally published as NSWRL Junior Reps: Full wrap of Harold Matthews, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball, Tarsha Gale prelim finals
Join the conversation
The Tackle: Ross doesn’t need to apologise for high standards
Ross Lyon gave his troops a spray after an insipid first term, and then subbed out a young gun. He shouldn’t have to apologise for trying to lift standards. See Jay Clark’s likes and dislikes in The Tackle.
Read more
Djokovic’s shock retirement admission
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic made the shocking admission after being bundled out in the first round of back-to-back tournaments.
Read more