NRL stars in the making to watch in this weekend’s City v Country clashes
An Eels playmaker who has been compared to Mitchell Moses, a Wests Tiger sitting his HSC and the son of a Wallabies legend headline the crop of future NRL stars coming together for this weekend’s City v Country match-ups.
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A Parramatta whiz-kid with shades of Mitchell Moses, a $1 million Wests Tigers centre, and a Rooster who is the son of a Wallaby headline the City v Country representative action featuring some of the best teenage prospects in the game this weekend.
Lincoln Fletcher (Parramatta Eels, SG Ball, halfback)
There’s hope in the horizon for the Eels in junior halfback and Australian schoolboy, Lincoln Fletcher.
The highly-touted talent is a commanding half who can unlock his outside backs and dominate teams with the boot, and is an impressive goal kicker to add to it.
Cue the Mitch Moses comparisons.
Fletcher was the second-highest pointscorer in the Harold Matthews competition in 2024 and backed up in 2025 to successfully lead Parramatta’s SG Ball side to the grand final.
He led from the front with a try and try assist in a narrow loss to the Roosters and despite a late sin bin, showed why he should be the club’s future.
It’s also why selectors have him leading the City under-18s.
The good news for Parramatta fans — he last year signed a three-year deal with the club, along with another player further down on in this list.
Even if Lachlan Galvin also doesn’t make his way to the blue-and-gold, they may very well have a teenage sensation of their own waiting in the wings.
Heamasi Makasini (Wests Tigers, SG Ball, centre)
The $1 million boy still in high school, the Tigers knew they would have to fight tooth and nail to ward off not just other clubs, but also other codes for Makasini.
The 17-year-old Newington College student fended offers from rugby union to stick with his pursuit of NRL and has so far been rewarded with a spot on coach Benji Marshall’s development list this year.
His three-year deal believed to be around the seven figure mark came off the back of two standout seasons in the Harold Matthews competition, where he was named the player of the year in 2024 with 92 points and 10 tries in as many games.
In promising news for Wests fans, the towering SG Ball centre trained with the first team in April while on school holidays and though he will likely nail a top-30 spot in 2026, he becomes eligible to play in the NRL as soon as July 27 this year when he turns 18.
In the meantime, he’ll be a destructive force for Tigers fans to catch a glimpse in the City under-18s. If his double two years ago in the under-16s is anything to go by, he’ll be hard to stop at Brookvale.
James Finegan (Sydney Roosters, SG Ball, second row)
Despite boasting World Cup winning Wallaby Owen Finegan as his father, Finegan’s career is destined for rugby league first grade.
One of the SG Ball’s best players in 2025 is proving himself one of the most serious threats coming up the ranks on the right edge attack for the Roosters with the ability to put himself through defensive holes and take tough carries.
Atop his elite running game, Finegan is also a modern second rower who poses an aerial threat on the try line similar to the likes of Melbourne’s Eliesa Katoa.
That talent was on display in the Roosters SG Ball grand final against Parramatta. Finegan posted up two tries for his sides first premiership since 2014.
The second-rower will be looking to keep his good form going in the under-18s City back row on Saturday.
Thomas Dellow (Cronulla Sharks, SG Ball, lock)
An old-fashioned rugby league power unit, Dellow is the gritty, tough player most teams would love to have in their middle and a captain in the making.
A local junior in Cronulla’s pathways since 14, the youngster was upgraded this year to into SG Ball after leading his 2024 Harold Matthew’s side close to victory.
He also swept the club’s coaches award, player’s player award and player of the year award and earned selection to the Australian schoolboys as part of a spine including the highly touted Mitchell Woods and Toby Rodwell.
Though they aren’t part of the City under-18s makeup this year, expect Rodwell to be a commanding force in the No.13 jumper.
Ryda Talagi (Parramatta Eels, SG Ball, prop)
While the surname he shares with brother Blaize precedes him, don’t be fooled. Ryda Talagi is an impressive player in his own right.
And a very different one too. The barnstorming front rower in a menace in the middle of the field with a knack for busting through tackles and who wants the footy in hand as much as possible.
His performances didn’t go unnoticed last year earning Parramatta’s Harold Matthews best forward before Australian schoolboy appearances against France and Papua New Guinea as an impact off the bench.
Although Parramatta couldn’t convince his brother to stick around, Ryda has seen something promising in his side’s youthful ranks to ignore rival interest and commit to the club until 2027. That should excite Parramatta fans.
Off the back of a disappointing SG Ball Grand Final loss, he’ll be looking to get back in the winner’s circle with City’s u18s.
Tyler Ennis (Newcastle Maitland Region Knights, Andrew John’s Cup, halfback)
Tucked away up the New South Wales coast, Tyler Ennis quietly emulated his competition’s namesake in a courageous grand final performance a little over a month ago.
In wet conditions and a low scoring game, the halfback commanded his Knights side across the field and led with the boot via a 40/20 and crucial try assist.
The most impressive part — a cool, calm and collected Ennis nailed the final sideline conversion through pelting rain to keep his side ahead at the final buzzer.
Ennis earned not just the Robert Lowrie medal for player of the match, but also a well-deserved call up to the Country u16s.
Jack Milne (Monaro Colts, Laurie Daley Cup, lock)
The comparisons to Craig Fitzgibbon and Corey Parker are fair to place on this young spine member.
It’s not just in their direct ball running capabilities and tough approach to the game — they also share the unique title of forwards who can kick goals.
That edge to his game had Milne finish at the highest point scorer in the Laurie Daley cup this season with 23 successful conversions to go with four tries.
The young lock’s assets will be helpful in more ways than one when he takes on the mammoth of City stars when he lines up this weekend for the Country u18s.
Freedom Crichton Ropati (Parramatta Eels, Tarsha Gale Cup, winger)
The niece of Penrith winger Brian To’o has proved a valuable winger and centre in her own right in 2025 in an enormous season for the Parramatta Eels in the Tarsha Gale Cup.
Ropati’s standout nine tries and 15 line breaks in 11 games was capped off with a Grand Final win before the inevitable call up to City’s u17s female squad.
Expect the youngster to be heavily featured in their Sunday clash, one of eight Parramatta players in the squad.
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