NSWRL Junior Reps: Top 20 performers from Matts, Fiaola, Ball, Gale round two
The stars came out to play in the second round of the NSWRL Junior Reps. See who the top 20 performers were from across Harold Matts, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale competition.
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The stars came out to play in the second round of the NSWRL Junior Reps.
We take a look at our top 20 performers from across Harold Matthews, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup competitions.
MORE ROUND TWO COVERAGE
HAROLD MATTHEWS
JOSHUA VELLA (WESTERN SUBURBS)
If there was SuperCoach in Harold Matts, Vella would’ve scored off the charts.
A tall winger, Vella used his size to perfection to not only score two tries but set up another two, one with his boot and the other from an incredible leap.
BASTION ARMSTRONG (SYDNEY ROOSTERS)
A showcase of incredible skills from the centre. Came to the club this season after being scouted from NZ rugby, Armstrong used his size to score early before a pair of trick-shot passes helped his outside man Filipe Fakauho score two of his three tries for the arvo.
COOPER VOTANO (NEWCASTLE)
It’s impossible to miss the Knights five-eighth with his height, and the younger brother of promising fullback Connor thrived against North Sydney. Took full control of the attack and laid on a pair of tries, with the pick of the bunch a looping pass to Callum Elsley.
CHARLIE JONES (ST GEORGE)
Strong bounce-back game from the Dragons halfback against Balmain. Their attack is still building, but Jones showed signs that they are on the right track going forward. Set up a pair of tries and had his edge players running good lines.
CAMERON MAKEY (MANLY)
Makey continued the trend of front rowers getting rewarded on the scoreboard. Has plenty of size and used that to his advantage, scoring a double. His second helped to seal the result as he barged his way over from close range.
LISA FIAOLA
HENI MAYERS (CRONULLA)
The towering prop stamped her authority from the outset in Cronulla’s big win over Manly.
An ominous presence one off the ruck, Heni proved unstoppable in two of the Sharks’ opening three tries. She flew solo for the first, carrying three defenders over the line before refusing to go to ground and offloading for the next.
SIENNA BONELLO (PARRAMATTA)
There’s nothing quite like the sight of a winger in full flight to get the fans up and about, and that’s exactly what Sienna did early doors against the Bears.
Forced to recover a grubber from the in-goal, the dashing No.2 spun on her heels then broke away into the back field. Seemingly gassed near halfway, she shaped to pass before hitting top stride and completing the 100m dash with a celebratory dive.
AGNEWS FAAUI (WESTS TIGERS)
Wests proved far too strong for Canberra, but with Agnews on board the Tigers will fancy their chances against anyone in a tight one.
A genuine sharpshooter, the left-footer slotted six from seven in the comfortable win at Kirkham Oval.
Following a set routine the five-eighth showed poise and class, smashing them over from everywhere, including three from the touchline.
KEWA KAHUROA (CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS)
The Roosters are still to concede a try after two rounds and with the likes of Kewa Kahuroa patrolling the ruck it’s easy to see why.
The rough and ready middle toyed with the Knights in the opening exchanges at Mascot and was one of the prime reasons why they were forced to continually kick from inside their own 40m line.
With size and mobility, the No.10 from Wagga Wagga continually pushed oncoming traffic back across the advantage line and forced a turnover with one of several scrambling second efforts.
MONIQUE MARSHALL (ST GEORGE)
Monique not only scored the winning try for St George, the young hooker will go down in the club’s history books after sealing the Dragons’ first Lisa Fiaola Cup victory.
Her burrowing effort from dummy-half wasn’t the flashiest four-pointer of the round, but it meant the world to her adoring teammates and ticked off a major goal for the rising Red V outfit.
SG BALL
AAYMON FITZGIBBON (ILLAWARRA)
Illawarra roasted Manly’s right edge in their five tries to one victory at Brookvale, and Aaymon Fitzgibbon was never far from the action.
In tandem with Kade Reed, the rangy No.6 continued to feed off his halves partner with sweeping raids along the left edge. Pivotal in the Steelers’ final four tries, his short-ball for Zane Timmins’ second was all class.
JAXEN ALLEN (SYDNEY ROOSTERS)
In a thrilling draw, Allen’s second half double made sure the Roosters shared the points with Parramatta.
After a measured first half, the busy No.9 came into his own after the break. Jumped out of dummy-half to put the Roosters ahead with 30 to play, and struck again when all looked lost, scampering across in the closing minutes.
MUSTAPHA HAWCHAR (NORTH SYDNEY)
It looked like being a long afternoon for Norths when they conceded two early tries, but thanks to Mustapha Hawchar they returned serve in the blink of an eye to build a match winning halftime lead.
The slick hooker added his name to the scoresheet twice within the space of three minutes. The first, a 40m dash, came from a set play off the back of a scrum before he dotted down from dummy half to send his side 10 clear.
YASIN KUSCU (SOUTH SYDNEY)
The elusive Souths fullback was everywhere in the Rabbitohs’ trip to Melbourne.
A constant menace with the ball, Kuscu continually chewed up metres through centrefield and scored the go-ahead try just after the break. With the contest still in the balance, he struck again on the right edge, busting several tackles to put the result beyond doubt.
BRAYDAN DARMODY (CANBERRA)
The Canberra skipper had his fingerprints all over the eight-point win at Sharks Stadium.
Bouncy and weaving, the five-eighth proved a major threat in attack but it was his golden touch against the run of play that ultimately undid the Sharks.
Trailing by 12, Cronulla seemed certain to trap Darmody in-goal, only to see the No.6 slice through several tackles and return the ball to halfway. Two plays later, Canberra jumped 18 clear.
TARSHA GALE
KIRRAWAHN DUCKETT (CRONULLA)
Continues to impress in her new surrounds. A fullback with a great sense of poise and timing, that was on full display against Manly with her passing game unstoppable, netting two tries. She also chimed into the backline at the right times to score a hat-trick.
MODESTY TAFEUNI (WESTS TIGERS)
A new addition to the Tigers and she is having an immediate impact. Has a background in union as well. Showed her footwork and evasiveness to put over Elenoa Namua for the easiest of tries, before her speed was on display to nab one of her own.
KIANA VATABUA (CANTERBURY)
Left the Panthers stunned with one of the tries of the season at this early point. Received a pass from a kick return on her own 20m line and went straight for the sideline, racing down and fending a would-be defender off in a fantastic show of speed and strength.
RYVRR-LEE ALO (PARRAMATTA)
Strong performance from the Eels middle forward. Is quickly forming one of the more dominant partnerships in the competition with lock Khyliah Gray. Alo scored a double and every time she touched the ball the Bears defenders had trouble bringing her down.
KATELYN WHITEHEAD (SYDNEY ROOSTERS)
The Roosters win over Newcastle was about moments, and she came up with some big ones when they were needed. Trailing early, Whitehead burst through to score a terrific solo try. Then on a kick return she absolutely laid out the fullback, forcing an error and for Manisha Seebeck.
More Coverage
Originally published as NSWRL Junior Reps: Top 20 performers from Matts, Fiaola, Ball, Gale round two
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