NSW Junior Reps

20 Junior Reps Talking Points

by
dailytelegraph
23/02/2023

Skyla Adams makes a break (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

20 Junior Reps Talking Points

Author : Jason Hosken and Sean Teuma NewsCorp Sport

20 Junior Reps Talking Points

ROUND three of the NSWRL junior reps season is done and dusted, with the competition really starting to take shape now.

Take a look back on the weekend that was with our 20 major talking points from round three:

EDGAR SHINES BRIGHT

Penrith Harold Matts fullback Jaxen Edgar continued a very strong 2023 with another clinical display at the weekend.

With the game in the balance, his vision to spot a hole near the ruck, hit it at speed and put his teammate under the posts was pure class.

Keep an eye on this young gun.

Jaxen Edgar. Picture: Sean Teuma/NewsLocal

PANTHERS STAMINA SHINES THROUGH

Mascot Oval was like a furnace, but when the pressure was applied it was Penrith that stood tall over St George.

The Dragons were the better team early, but Penrith’s staying ability came to the fore with a clinical second half putting them away and keeping them in a share of first.

HOT PIES CONTINUE STELLAR FORM

Wests maintain a share of top spot in the Harold Matts after recording their third win from as many games.

They looked very good against the Rabbitohs on the back of a hot start, and despite those victories coming against winless sides, they’ve done so in impressive fashion as they look to go back-to-back.

WESTS BALL PULL NO PUNCHES

Six tries in the second half put the exclamation mark on a big Wests SG Ball win over South Sydney.

They are scorching the turf at the moment and currently have the best defensive record in the league to back that up. Shaping as a genuine contender.

ONE HALF IS ALL IT TAKES

Balmain’s Harold Matts season turned around in the space of 30 minutes, piling on seven tries in the first half against Norths and clocking 42 points.

It was a blistering half that matched the temperature, and it could prove to be the catalyst to really kickstart their year.

TIGERS FOLLOW MATTS’ LEAD

It was a big day for the Tigers at Leichhardt, as their SG Ball side got off the mark as well.

They left it late with Elijah Mataale scoring in the final five minutes to snatch victory from the Bears, but it keeps them alive approaching a key period of the season.

CENTRES FIRE TO GET SOUTHS OFF MARK

After a first round bye and impressive showing against competition heavyweights Canterbury, South Sydney were rewarded with a big win over the Tigers.

It was the centre pairing of Shanelle Lyons and Aneko Luamanu-Winitana that made big inroads, with both scoring doubles.

With a talented backline flexing their muscles, this could be the start of a run for the club.

WARRIORS GETTING THE JOB DONE

No club has faced more adversity than the Warriors in recent years, and the SG Ball side has endured its fair share in 2023.

Their only home game so far has been postponed, but they’ve gone 2-0 with wins over Souths and now Melbourne, doing so impressively against the latter.

With a league nursery starting to blossom, could they be the comp’s smokeys?

BUNNIES BOYS BACK TO DRAWING BOARD

It was a tough weekend for the Rabbitohs men’s teams, as the Matts and Ball both went down by big margins.

After fighting hard against Canterbury and leading throughout, the weekend’s results hit hard, particularly ahead of an upcoming road trip to Newcastle.

LATE TRY HURTS STEELERS

Illawarra’s impeccable Tarsha Gale Cup campaign was seconds away from continuing, before Siulolovao Vave spoiled the home party.

The winger crossed in the dying stages to grab a late point for Parramatta, keeping the Steelers in third place ahead of their clash with competition favourites Roosters Indigenous Academy.

EELS U19s HITTING THEIR STRAPS

There was a sense of confidence about Parra heading into this year’s SG Ball, and they’ve delivered on that early promise with three wins.

Their first half was clinical against the Steelers, virtually putting the game out of reach early on.

With a favourable draw, there’s every chance they can go through the regular season undefeated.

Lachlan Greatz. Picture: Thomas Lisson

ILLAWARRA LEFT HURTING

Two late tries ended the Steelers hopes of going 3-0 to start the Harold Matts season.

Two impressive wins to start the year keep them well within the finals race, but they will need to produce something big to knock off the Roosters this weekend ahead of the bye.

In a tight comp, their year could come down to this fixture.

DOONER’S MAGIC BOOTS SAVE ROOSTERS’ SEASON

Lachlan Dooner diving in for 1 of his 4 tries in Rnd 3 (Photo’s : Steve Montgomery)

In an extraordinary Harold Matts contest, the Roosters overcame an 18-point deficit to finish in front of the Sharks by just as many.

In a blistering opening 14 minutes Cronulla’s Blake Wardrobe had the magic touch, featuring in all three of the opening tries.

With the Roosters on track for a massive hiding, you’d be forgiven for thinking Wardrobe and his opposite Lachlan Dooner then swapped boots.

First, the Roosters No. 6 kicked a 40-20, then over the next 30 minutes tore the Sharks to shreds with four tries of his own.

ROOSTERS HALVES UNSTOPPABLE IN WIN

Winless after two rounds, the Roosters faced Cronulla desperate to keep their season alive.

Dynamic halves Cassius Tia and Haydan Ritchie brushed aside any concerns, featuring in eight of the Roosters’ 10 tries.

Tia opened his side’s account with an intercept try then set up the next, before Ritchie took over, setting up the third before crossing for the next two as the Roosters marched to an emphatic 54-12 victory.

Skyla Adams makes a break (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

SKYLA ADAMS STARS FOR ROOSTERS INDIGENOUS ACADEMY

No team has come close to matching the Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy in the Tarsha Gale Cup.

And with stars like Skyla Adams on the team list, the dominance looks set to continue.

On Saturday against the Sharks, the Queensland City rep stood out once again. Showing pace to score from halfway, she also played a part in four others, combining subtle hands and precision off the boot.

TARSHA BULLDOGS FLYING CANTERBURY FLAG

All three undefeated Canterbury junior teams headed to Newcastle with high hopes of extending their unbeaten run.

The boys’ teams fell short in quality contests, leaving the girls to fly the blue and white flag on the return trip to Belmore after their thrilling two-point win.

ROAD TRIPS NO WORRIES FOR CANBERRA

Canberra’s Harold Matts and SG Ball sides have brushed aside a hectic season opening to win all three of their contests on the road.

With their next three matches scheduled at home, both sides are poised for a golden run towards the finals.

Keahn Skipps. Picture: Scott Powick

RAIDERS PART TIMER DELIVERS WITH THE TEE

Both Canberra and Manly scored three tries each in a gripping SG Ball contest at Brookvale.

In the end, goal kicking proved the difference. And despite the absence of regular kicker Samuel Gash, Canberra five-eighth Keahn Skipps stepped up to deliver a faultless performance from the tee.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO BELCONNEN

Canberra’s first contest at home next Saturday doesn’t get any bigger.

In clashes of the unbeaten frontrunners, the highly fancied Magpies Harold Matts and SG Ball combinations will be desperate to leave Belconnen with the competition points.

SHIRE DERBY PROMISES PLENTY OF SPICE

Both sides are yet to register a win in this season, but you can bet there will be plenty of spice when St George heads to the Shire to face Cronulla in Saturday’s Tarsha Gale local derby.

With one draw each, both sides will be fired up to break the duck.