NSW Junior Reps

Juniors Reps Team of the week

by
newscorpsport
21/04/2023

Juniors Reps Team of the week (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

Juniors Reps Team of the week

Author : Sean Teuma and Jason Hosken News Corp Sport

Juniors Reps Team of the week

Juniors Reps Team of the week talking points, full results from week one

With the opening weekend of NSWRL Junior Reps finals in the book, we rate the best 17 players across all grades, plus check out the 12 talking points from the weekend and the round two schedule.

HERE is the team of the week from the first week of NSWRL Junior Reps finals, featuring the best 17 players across the Harold

Magpies celebrate on of Heath Masons’ Elimination Final tries (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup.

Mia-Rose Walsh (Steelers Tarsha Gale) dives for for an Elimination Final try (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

1. Heath Mason (Magpies SG Ball)
2. Kyle Colburn (Knights SG Ball)
3. Charlotte Barwick (Knights Tarsha Gale)
4. Mia-Rose Walsh (Steelers Tarsha Gale)
5. Apa Twidle (Eels SG Ball)
6. Ethan Sanders (Eels SG Ball)
7. Mitchell Woods (Bulldogs Harold Matthews)
8. Mikayel Tito (Eels Harold Matthews)
9. Malachi Smith (Knights SG Ball)
10. Itula Seve (Bulldogs Harold Matthews)
11. Jezaiah Funa-Iuta (Eels Harold Matthews)
12. Keisha Johnston (Knights Tarsha Gale)
13. Charlie Guymer (Eels SG Ball)

14. Lilly-Ann White (Knights Tarsha Gale)
15. Mark Williams (Eels Harold Matthews)
16. Lachlan Bush (Magpies SG Ball)
17. Christopher Makhlouf (Bulldogs Harold Matthews)

12 TALKING POINTS

WITH the first round of the NSWRL junior reps finals in the book, it’s time to look at the major headlines from the Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cup weekend.

DESPERATE DEFENCE LIFTS EELS

Parramatta was there to be beaten in the Harold Matthews against Cronulla.

There were times where the Sharks were camped on their line, throwing everything they had at them.

It saw them held up over the line mulitple times, with the scramble defence of the middle forwards and fullback Corey Leigh shining throughout the day.

It kept them in the game when it was on the line.

FORWARDS FIND THEIR FRONT

When they were able to get a roll on, the big Parramatta forward pack proved very hard for the Sharks to contain.

Mikayel Tito and Jordan Uta regularly got the Eels on the front foot and moving in their sets, with Ocean Vaivela and Mark Williams bringing that intensity for the bench.

Tito was rewarded with the crucial try after 45 minutes.

Mikayel Tito scores a crucial try for Parramatta. Picture: Thomas Lisson

A STAR IS BORN

Lilly-Ann White, take a bow.

The Knights fullback put on a clinic in her side’s Tarsha Gale Cup win over the Raiders.

She was setting up tries, scoring them and saving them, all in a night’s work.

Every time she touched the ball she looked dangerous, and her presence in a stacked side give the Knights a chance at causing an upset in the prelim.

CAPTAIN’S KNOCK FROM OLLERTON

Leah Ollerton has odone a great job in the hooking role for Newcastle this year, and her leadership continues to grow.

The captain really used her forwards to great effect on Saturday, a big reason why the Knights were able to win the middle and ultimately the game.

Sophia Dungay and Cheyenne Baker formed a good tandem, while Keisha Johnston was outstanding on an edge.

SMITH CLINICAL IN SG BALL

There was something about Newcastle dummy halves and starring at Campbelltown.

Malachi Smith turned in a man of the match performance in the SG Ball against the Roosters, helping them overcome a disstrous start to win comfortably.

He scored two tries through sheer desire, simply getting to the spot quicker than his opponents, and had a hand in others on the night.

Keep an eye on him coming through the grades, because that was a sctinillating effort.

The Roosters kick off in the SG Ball Cup. Picture: Thomas Lisson

WINGERS PUT ON A SHOW

We take for granted just how athletic wingers are in the modern era.

We’re used to seeing them fly through the air with incredible put downs in the NRL, and that is translating into the junior reps.

Kyle Colburn (Newcastle) and Siaosi Kaliti (Roosters) impressed with some remarkable efforts to touch down for their teams, making the highlight reels with their acrobatics.

PARRA’S DROPOUTS HIT THE SPOT

Parramatta finished Wests’ season in the SG Ball, but it may have been an entirely different result if not for a healthy mix of precision and nous.

Down 4-0 and camped on their own goal line at the start of the second half. On two occasions the Eels recovered short dropouts, worming their way out of trouble to post the next try.

MASON’S BLINDER GOES UNREWARDED

Heath Mason Wests Magpies SG Ball Cup in action in the NSWRL Elimination Final (Photo : Steve Moontgomery)

After their narrow SG Ball defeat, Magpies fans couldn’t help but feel for talented fullback Heath Mason.

Scoring both his side’s tries, including a scorching effort from a kick return, the Junior Blues star had a blinder. And with his one-on-one try saving tackle on Eels flyer Devonte Vaivela, there was little else the whiz in the headgear could have done.

Heath Mason sets up another raid. Picture: Thomas Lisson.

YOUNG GUNS TO RETURN BIGGER AND BETTER

Despite bowing out, eight players from Wests’ SG Ball line-up featured in last season’s premiership winning Harold Matts side. Still eligible for the under-19s next season, the Magpies are once again expected to be a finals force.

RAIDERS AND BULLDOGS JOINED AT THE HIP

With identical for-and-against records heading into the Harold Matts finals, it was no surprise to see Canberra and Canterbury neck and neck as the finish line loomed at Campbelltown Stadium.

Locked at 18-all with 11 minutes on the clock, after 10 weeks of parity, it was the Raiders who blinked first, allowing the Bulldogs to sneak home in a thriller.

WOODS’ COMPOSURE PERFECT FOR FINALS

Juniors Reps Team of the week (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

Mitchell Woods had another blinder (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

Ice cool under pressure, Mitchell Woods’ field goal secured Canterbury’s win in the Harold Matts.

The skipper and playmaker is central to everything the young Bulldogs do. And it was his guile and leadership in the closing stages that stood out as he positioned his teammates for the knockout blow.

Mitchell Woods launches the Steeden. Picture: Thomas Lisson

STEELERS FIND THEIR STEEL

Illawarra’s reward for ending Parramatta’s Tarsha Gale Cup season is another clash against the unbeaten Bulldogs.

When the sides last met in round six, the Steelers conceded seven unanswered tries. In the four games since, Illawarra have raised the bar and only conceded six four-pointers. With the same steel, a major boilover might just be on the cards.