NSWRL Junior Reps: 20 top performers from Matthews, Fiaola, Ball and Gale Cup round five
Who were the stars and standouts from across the board in the fifth round of NSWRL Junior Reps? We look at the 20 weekend standouts from Matthews, Fiaola, Ball and Gale Cup action.
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Who stood out and who starred as the NSWRL Junior Reps season reached the fifth round?
We take a look at our 20 top performers of the weekend from Harold Matthews, Lisa Fiaola, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup action.
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HAROLD MATTHEWS
BLESSING FOINI (CENTRAL COAST)
In a 24-minute stint Foini had the home fans at Woy Woy jumping with the big front rower picking up a double.
Used his size from close range to make light work of a good defensive side in Balmain.
TALEN RISATI (PARRAMATTA)
Just as Penrith started to mount a comeback, it was the brilliance of Risati who swiftly shut the door on Parra’s western rivals.
He went bang-bang midway through the second half with a pair of individual efforts that showed why he’s destined for bigger things in the future.
JACK KALMS (MANLY)
The Sea Eagles needed a spark against the unbeaten Rabbitohs and Jack Kalms delivered over the final 10 minutes.
Broke the game open when he busted through the line to tie things up, before landing the decisive blow just minutes later.
OLIVER BURTON (ILLAWARRA)
We’ve seen him produce some incredible displays so far this season and his 75m effort to win the game against Wests takes the cake.
The speed he showed to burn off the Wests defenders is something that can’t be taught.
CURTIS MULHERIN (NEWCASTLE)
In the right place at the right time with the barnstorming second rower causing chaos on an edge for the Knights.
Linked beautifully with Cooper Votano and Riley Rostron on his way to an impressive double.
LISA FIAOLA
MIA VAOTUUA (CENTRAL COAST)
Topped the tryscoring count last year and is well on her way to going back-to-back after crossing for five on the weekend.
She’s relishing her role as a running five-eighth with dividends shown in both her game and her outside players.
SHARON LATAPU (PARRAMATTA)
Strong game from the five-eighth as she turned a stalemate into a big win for the Eels.
Two try assists and another try involvement capped a dominant display in the halves, and her partnership with winger Freedom Crichton Ropati on the right-hand side is proving lethal.
MIA TONGA (WESTS TIGERS)
On an afternoon where the Tigers were at their attacking best, Tonga showed her class in a flawless display.
The halfback scored a double and finished the game with four try assists and a try involvement as they brought up the half century.
PATRICIA HEIHEI (PENRITH)
Blink and you’ll miss her.
Heihei was on fire with a hat-trick against the Bears, with three incredible solo efforts.
An 80m run capped off a great first half, before she backed it up by racing 85m from a scrum to complete her hat-trick.
KEIRA CALLAGHAN (NEWCASTLE)
Everywhere you looked, the Knights fullback was there.
Came up with a few big plays in the first half as the visiting Newcastle side got the jump on Illawarra, firstly setting up Ella Koen with a lovely cutout before catching the defence out to get one of her own.
SG BALL
RILEY BRANNOCK (MELBOURNE)
Had the ball on a string in New Zealand with his pinpoint kicking game as good as any halfback’s efforts so far this season.
Put a pair of dimes onto the chest of Waka Hammond as helped to extend Melbourne’s winning streak to three.
JAMIE COWLING (CANBERRA)
Continues to grow into the role of the leader of this team and has played his part in helping them to a 5-0 start to the season.
His greatest strength is his running game and the halfback made full use of that as he carved up Manly with a first half double.
TAJ ALVAREZ (SOUTH SYDNEY)
We’ve seen glimpses of his best this season and put in a stellar showing as Souths crushed Balmain.
Flashed a sidestep Freddy Fittler would be proud of to score early, before setting up another two both with his boot and his pace around the ruck.
CHRISTIAN TAUPAU-MOORS (WESTS)
The leader of the forward pack with the Magpies who did just that early on when hitting a gap close to the line.
Capped it off by steamrolling four Steelers defenders on his way to another Magpies victory.
ALEX CONTI (CANTERBURY)
Stepped up to the mark when it counted for the Bulldogs, scoring in the dying stages with a lovely stepping effort to break St George’s hearts and snatch a point.
Backed up a strong effort earlier in the game when he powered through two defenders - it’s not hard to see why he’s earmarked for Jersey Flegg.
TARSHA GALE
TAHLIA O’BRIEN (ILLAWARRA)
Is looking right at home in the No. 6 jersey.
Her presence on the left-hand side caused nightmares for Newcastle as she completely took over proceedings in the second half to ice the result with a pair of try assists for her outside players.
GEORGIE BARRETT (SYDNEY)
A captain’s knock from the five-eighth who was in just about everything as the Roosters took care of their old rivals Souths.
Was a focal point in attack as she controlled things to perfection, even picking up a meat pie of her own.
MARNIE ISEMONGER (CRONULLA)
It was billed as a battle between two star forward packs, but Cronulla won in a knockout over Parramatta.
Isemonger played a huge role in that middle dominance as they steamrolled their opponents in the first half, with the lock picking up a nice try and an assist as well.
FAITH MASINA (CANTERBURY)
Turned in her best performance of the season with her edge-running coming up clutch for Canterbury twice.
A strong player who is hard to stop from close range, she used that to her advantage on her way to a double.
KYRA-LEE WESTLAND (PENRITH)
Her abilities in the middle are a big reason for Penrith’s push for finals football.
A beautiful offload helped set up their opening try before some fancy footwork and a nice dash of speed put the game to bed early in the second half.
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Originally published as NSWRL Junior Reps: 20 top performers from Matthews, Fiaola, Ball and Gale Cup round five
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