Rising stars: The 110+ SG Ball players who have made the rise to Jersey Flegg in 2024

The conclusion of SG Ball hasn’t marked the end of the rep season for NSW’s brightest young league talents. We take a look at more than 110 U19s players who have stepped up to Jersey Flegg.

The SG Ball Cup players stepping up to Jersey Flegg in 2024

The Jersey Flegg competition has long served as a key pathway for talented young players to continue their climb through the ranks.

With the SG Ball season concluding in April, a number of the game’s brightest players have stepped up to the U21s level in a show of the faith clubs have in their young guns.

We take a look at the 115 players who have made the step up in grade so far this season.

CANBERRA RAIDERS

We’ve seen a few promising young guns from Canberra move through the ranks in positive signs for Raiders fans.

Perhaps none have had a bigger impact than Queenslander Keahn Skipps, who recently made his NSW Cup debut.

Toowoomba duo Jai Purser and Bailey Nash continued their development with a handful of Flegg games.

Progressive forwards Owen Hromow and Xavier Cacciotti have looked good, while Ethan Alaia, Jordan Uta and Taylor Withington have enjoyed strong seasons.

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS

Canterbury enjoyed a dream run to make the grand final of the SG Ball Cup, and that has seen a number of players graduate to Jersey Flegg.

The biggest name is Mitchell Woods who claimed U19s player of the year honours while bottom age.

Halves partner Alex Conti has also received his chance, as have outside backs Ratu Rinakama and Sosaia Kaufusi.

The entire starting forward pack from their grand final against St George has tasted Flegg, namely Fanafou Seve, Mitchell Rogers, Oliva Smith, Logan Spinks, Sosaia Alatini and Bud Smith.

Add in stints from Patrick Young, David Leota, Jed Reardon and Bronson Reuben, and that is a big number of Bulldogs who are pushing for higher honours.

CRONULLA SHARKS

Some highly promising Sharks have made the leap from the U19s through to Jersey Flegg so far.

Michael Gabrael was an off-season recruit from Canterbury and has emerged as one of the best young outside backs in the club.

Riley Pollard came across from Penrith and has excelled, while Max McCarthy and Nikora Williams have been regulars at the U21s.

Adrian Sandy, Pharrell Gray and Jai Davies are another trio who are on the rise.

MANLY SEA EAGLES

A handful of Sea Eagles have been given the opportunity to step up to Jersey Flegg after their U19s campaigns ended.

Alton Naiyep is one who has been a regular in the centres and is a tryscoring threat.

Forwards William Lane, Campbell Munn, Jett Jackson and Simione Laifai have shown a lot of promise as well.

MELBOURNE STORM

It’s no secret that the Storm are looking to build their pathways, and a key component is the SG Ball high achievers tackling a new challenge.

Hugo Peel was a standout fullback through the U19s season and has locked down a spot in Flegg.

We’ve seen glimpses of talented halves Ioane Lui and Tulloch McLellan, with Suli Pole and Siulagi Pio also getting their chance.

Chase Paterson has been a regular in recent times as an impact forward.

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS

The pathways at the Warriors are in a rebuilding phase at the moment with the impacts of Covid still being seen.

That will improve over the coming years off the back of a Harold Matthews premiership and over 10 players from SG Ball already getting the call up to Flegg this season.

Captain JD Auloa and excitement machines Sio Kali and Motu Pasikala have made the progression well, along with flyer Raphael Sio.

Key forward Rodney Tuipolotu-Vea, Alvin Chong Nee and Francis Tuimauga have added some starch in the pack.

Cross-code convert Hiraka Waitai-Haenga has locked down a spot in the centres and Kayliss Fatialofa has done the same in the second row.

Nganatatafu Vake, Jeriko Talisau and Siale Faeamani have also played in the U21s this year.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Newcastle enjoyed a typically solid SG Ball Cup campaign and it’s no surprise to see a strong representation of their players at the U21s level.

Gun fullback Connor Votano headlines a backline that has received a lot of recognition, with outside backs Jeremy Trappett, Wilson De Courcey and Sosaia Latu also in the frame.

Classy halves Fletcher Hunt and Haami Loza have been easy selections, as has NSW U19s representatives Cody Hopwood and Jermaine McEwen.

Forwards Malachi Smith, Jack Hilliar and Te Kaio Cranwell have spent decent time in Flegg and haven’t looked out of place at all.

Despite playing five-eighth in SG Ball, Hunt has been used predominantly as a fullback, with Votano playing last week in the six jersey.

PENRITH PANTHERS

The next gen from the Panthers production line has some very exciting prospects that will ensure their success for years to come.

Jaxen Edgar is a fullback with massive wraps, and it’s not hard to see why given he was playing a year up in SG Ball.

While he may be off to the Warriors next season, Jett Cleary has shown New Zealand has a good one on their hands.

Poutoa Hotere-Papalii is a talented Queenslander while Jenson Tuaoi looks a very likely type out of dummy half.

Emerging Talent Award winner Hokafonu Lemoto and Judah Galuvao are forwards who look to have a bright future with the club.

PARRAMATTA EELS

Parramatta’s SG Ball numbers in Flegg haven’t been as strong in recent years due to a top-age year in 2023 that resulted in them winning the competition.

Still, there are a few names that are definitely ones to keep on the radar.

Mohamed Alameddine is a winger who recently made his NSW Cup debut after impressing in Jersey Flegg.

Big forwards Javahn Stevenson-Hala and Jezaiah Funa-Iuta have done a good job adapting to the higher level, as has fullback Oliver McCarthy.

Queensland recruit Devonte Vaivela has shown why the Eels wanted to bring him south as a classy outside back.

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

Injuries have forced the hand of the Rabbitohs across all grades and they’ve seen a handful of their players step up to the U21s level.

Promising halfback Matthew Humphries has been joined by outside backs Daniel Wright and Zane Rugless as those to step up.

Queenslanders Jason Hallie and Mikael Ibrahim, as well as back-rower Bailey Smith have also spent time in the U21s.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

With St George winning the SG Ball competition and Illawarra making the semi finals, it’s no surprise the Jersey Flegg side has called on the young guns to step up to the plate.

The Dragons have featured 15 players from both U19s teams throughout 2024 in a great sign for the future.

Steelers standouts Lyhkan King-Togia, Wesley Pring, Isaac Laughton, Hayden Buchanan, Ashton Ward and Tom Kirk are among those who have received a chance so far.

An incredible 10 players from St George’s SG Ball winning side have received the call up so far this year.

Classy backs David Afu, Tyler Peckham-Harris and Jesse Williams are among those players, as well as hooker Isaiah Fagalilo.

St George’s forward pack was immense this year, and that has seen Finau Latu, Loko Tonga, Jacob Halangahu, Cyrus Stanley-Traill and Ryan Hutchinson all spend time up in grade.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

A strong SG Ball season that saw the Roosters finish the competition as minor premiers has resulted in a strong contingent rising in grade to Jersey Flegg.

Flying outside backs Cooper Toy, Demetrius Kilisimasi, Tyreece Tait, Kade Maguire and Enzo Griffier have earned higher honours.

The Queensland brigade of De La Salle Va’a, Peter Uini, Aholoka Toia and Reece Foley are among those who have impressed, with Va’a also rising to NSW Cup level.

Erina’s Jackson Pennell is another to put his best foot forward, along with highly regarded prospects Ethan Roberts, Zac Sarfati and Zack Visconti.

Blake Steep captained the SG Ball side, but he has risen straight to NSW Cup and has made his NRL debut.

WESTS TIGERS

Much has been made of the production line of juniors coming through the Wests Tigers ranks and for good reason.

In a normal year this list would be bigger, but such is the class of some of their young guns, they’ve skipped straight past Ball and Flegg.

Lachlan Galvin has been parachuted into the NRL side and hasn’t looked like being dropped, while Tallyn Da Silva has been a regular in NSW Cup when not in first grade.

Classy outside backs Will Craig and Navren Willett were among the best of the Ball players when at that level.

Brothers Mitchell and Maxwell Taotua came across from Manly and are rising through the grades.

Australian Schoolboys representative Jared Haywood made a natural progression, with talented duo Heith Pritchard and Archie Duncombe both getting starts in Flegg as well.

Originally published as Rising stars: The 110+ SG Ball players who have made the rise to Jersey Flegg in 2024