Author : Panthers Media

Panthers advance to semi finals

The Panthers are locked in for the semi finals of both the Tarsha Gale Cup and Lisa Fiaola Cup following their results in finals week one.

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After reaching the finals of both competitions in the same season for the first time, the Panthers have now penciled their name in for week two of the play-offs, where each team will face local rivals Parramatta.

The Panthers progressed in the Lisa Fiaola Cup (Under-17s) with a comeback win in their elimination final, while a qualifying final loss sees Penrith enter the knockout phase of the Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19s).

Panthers advance to semi finals (Photo : Panthers Media)

The Lisa Fiaola team, who reached the top eight in sixth place, came from behind to defeat the Knights 22-16 in an elimination final at Windsor.

The Panthers fell to an early 16-6 deficit, before rallying back with three unanswered tries before halftime. Penrith kept Newcastle at bay in a scoreless second half, holding on for victory to secure a semi final ticket.

The Tarsha Gale side, who finished fourth and faced Illawarra in a qualifying final, suffered a 32-4 defeat to the minor premiers in Wollongong.

An early second-half try kept the Panthers in the contest, but the Steelers finished strongly to earn a week off and advance directly to the preliminary finals.

The two Panthers teams will face Parramatta Eels in sudden-death semi finals on Saturday 19 April at Blacktown International Sports Park.

Lisa Fiaola Cup

Finals Week 2 – Saturday 19th April

Match: Eels v Panthers

Tarsha Gale Cup

Match: Panthers v Eels

Round 9 Results

Lisa Fioala Cup Round 9 full results, ladder & top point scorers

Tarsha Gale Cup Round 9 full results, ladder & top point scorers

Harold Matthews Cup Round 9 full results, ladder & top point scorers

SG Ball Cup Round 9 full results, ladder & top point scorers

NSWRL Junior Reps news

Three Sharks teams qualify for Junior Rep finals

International Junior Rugby League

Ghana rugby league partner to support young players

Knights dig deep to claim first Andrew Johns Cup

Dragons Pathways Wrap Round 7

Eels Well Placed For Finals Football

QRL Rnd 6 Junior Statewide Competitions

One up one down for Junior Sharks

Warriors SG Ball celebrating first win of season

Sea Eagles Junior Reps Rnd 7

Warriors Matts finals football a step closer

Regional Junior Reps Semi-finals

Mixed Results at Home for the Eels

Sea Eagles Pathways Wrap Rnd 4

A win and a loss for male junior rep Sharks

School Footy News

Cronulla High School Uni Shield

Wests Tigers rnd 2 report

Manly Junior reps wrap rnd 2

SG Ball Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Harold Matthews Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Tarsha Gale Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Lisa Fiola Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

The post Panthers advance to semi finals appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

Author : Richard Becht & photosport.nz

Warriors one win away from grand final

ASISC – Menace 5 – feel comfortable find speed

A powerful performance against the Sydney Roosters has catapulted the 2024 premiership-winning One New Zealand Warriors within a win of making the Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) grand final for the second year running.

A week ago they gave up what ought to have been a match-winning 24-6 lead to lose 24-26 to the Roosters in their final regular season clash against the Roosters in Pukekohe.

With the Roosters finishing second and the Warriors third it ensured the two sides would meet again in week one of the finals.

Bent on avenging last week’s disappointing effort, the Warriors were in no mood to be charitable to the Roosters again.

Two tries midway through the first half were just reward for their efforts.

First Alapati Soagia embarrassed the Roosters’ defensive line in the 13th minute.

He appeared to be covered but shrugged off a defender and darted through a hole on an angled run from 10 metres out.

Finals Week 1 – Sunday 13th April

Roosters 4 – 20 Warriors

Team Stats

Five minutes later brute power was on full display as second rower Bishop Neal blasted through multiple defenders after running from dummy half.

A lead of 10-0 increased close to halftime when impressive hooker Dreytin Marriott, a constant threat with his sniping runs, exploded out of dummy half to score from close range.

A 16-0 lead at the break was well earned as the Warriors put enormous pressure on the Roosters’ goal-line.

Their defence was their strength in the second half as they kept turning the Roosters away until the 48th minute when Charlie Webb, son of former Warriors and Kiwi fullback Brent Webb, finished off a sweeping attack.

The Roosters wouldn’t score again. Even when they had opportunities they were stopped by the resilient Warriors.

There wasn’t a better example than eight minutes from time when Roosters fullback Triston Ross was rocketing towards the line only for Warriors winger Alexander Pua to pull off a brilliant try-saving tackle.

On the next play, halfback Lachlan Metcalfe hoisted a cross-field bomb wide to the right.

With the heat on him Warriors winger Hinckley Ioka not only defused the threat on his own line, but skipped away from two defenders and then sent his centre partner Parekaahu Keepa on a thrilling 80-metre surge to score to absolutely seal success.

The result gives the Warriors next week off before they line up in the preliminary final in two weeks.

Round 9 Results

Lisa Fioala Cup Round 9 full results, ladder & top point scorers

Tarsha Gale Cup Round 9 full results, ladder & top point scorers

Harold Matthews Cup Round 9 full results, ladder & top point scorers

SG Ball Cup Round 9 full results, ladder & top point scorers

NSWRL Junior Reps news

Three Sharks teams qualify for Junior Rep finals

International Junior Rugby League

Ghana rugby league partner to support young players

Knights dig deep to claim first Andrew Johns Cup

Dragons Pathways Wrap Round 7

Eels Well Placed For Finals Football

QRL Rnd 6 Junior Statewide Competitions

One up one down for Junior Sharks

Warriors SG Ball celebrating first win of season

Sea Eagles Junior Reps Rnd 7

Warriors Matts finals football a step closer

Regional Junior Reps Semi-finals

Mixed Results at Home for the Eels

Sea Eagles Pathways Wrap Rnd 4

A win and a loss for male junior rep Sharks

School Footy News

Cronulla High School Uni Shield

Wests Tigers rnd 2 report

Manly Junior reps wrap rnd 2

SG Ball Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Harold Matthews Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Tarsha Gale Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Lisa Fiola Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

The post Warriors one win away from grand final appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

Author : Margie McDonald NSWRL Media

Two clubs feature in every Junior Reps final

Two clubs – Parramatta Eels and Sydney Roosters – are enjoying great success in the NSWRL Junior Representatives this year with teams making finals in all four competitions.

PALADIN – We know rugby league

Six True Blues – Vanessa Foliaki (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Westpac Lisa Fiaola U17s Girls), Keeley Davis (Sydney Roosters, Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup U19s Women).

Corban Baxter (with Davis), Isabelle Kelly (Central Coast Roosters, Lisa Fiaola Cup), Andrew Fifita (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Tarsha Gale Cup) and Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters, UNE SG Ball Cup U19s Men) – have coached sides through to the finals in 2025.

It is also the first time Melbourne Storm have made a Junior Reps finals match.

The Eels finished top of the ladder after nine rounds undefeated in UNE SG Ball Cup (Under 19s Men), eighth in UNE Harold Matthews Cup (Under 17s Boys), fifth in Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup, and third in Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup. (Pictured above: Eels SG Ball Cup halfback Lincoln Fletcher. Photo: Bryden Sharp)

The Sydney Roosters ‘family’ includes the Central Coast Roosters and the Indigenous Academy Roosters. The Sydney Roosters finished fourth in SG Ball, Central Coast finished second in both Harold Matthews and Lisa Fiaola Cup, and the Indigenous Academy was seventh in Tarsha Gale Cup.

All four Junior Reps feature a top-eight finals format across four weeks starting with Qualifying and Elimination Finals in Week One this Saturday and Sunday (11-12 April).

“Parramatta didn’t make the Under 17s Boys finals or Under 19s Women’s last year, so they had a real look at their pathways,” NSWRL Head of Competitions Yvette Downey said.

“They shuffled things around, made a few new staff appointments and it’s paid off. It’s a credit to Jamie Shephard, who is Head of Pathways, and the work he’s done.

“The Roosters have also done incredible work over the season to maintain their high standards and consistency.”

Westpac NSW Blues Women’s coach John Strange is Head of Female Pathways at the Roosters with James Hanson as Operations manager for both male and female pathways. Steve Deakin is the Head of the Central Coast Academy.

“The Storm also needs to be recognised for the work they are doing as it’s the first time they’ve made a finals series of Junior Reps,” Downey said.

“They have been around for several years but they were run by Victoria Rugby League and were known as the Thunderbolts and then the VRL Storm.

“But last year Melbourne Storm took over the pathways and they should be congratulated for that investment.”

Other highlights after nine rounds are:

Raiders have made the Lisa Fiaola Cup finals in their inaugural season and Fiaola is the club’s Well-Being and Education Manager.
Penrith Panthers have teams in both the Tarsha Gale Cup and Lisa Fiaola Cup without having a NRLW team.
There are three clubs trying to defend their 2024 premierships – Warriors in Harold Matthew Cup, Illawarra Steelers in Tarsha Gale Cup, and Canterbury-Bankstown

Bulldogs in Lisa Fiaola Cup.

England International and former NRL star for the Canberra Raiders, Josh Hodgson, is coach of the Eels Harold Matthews Cup side.
Roosters NRL premiership winner Jake Friend is head of the club’s male academy (Harold Matthews Cup and SG Ball Cup).

Click here for finals draw for UNE SG Ball Cup

Click here for finals draw for UNE Harold Matthews Cup

Click here for finals draw for Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup 

Click here for finals draw for Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup

FULL RESULTS Rnd 9

Lisa Fioala Cup Round 9 Full results, Ladder & top point scorers

Tarsha Gale Cup Round 9 Full results, Ladder & top point scorers

Harold Matthews Cup Round 9 Full results, Ladder & top point scorers 

SG Ball Cup Round 9 Full results, Ladder & top point scorers

NSWRL Junior Reps news

Three Sharks teams qualify for Junior Rep finals

International Junior Rugby League

Ghana rugby league partner to support young players

Knights dig deep to claim first Andrew Johns Cup

Dragons Pathways Wrap Round 7

Eels Well Placed For Finals Football

QRL Rnd 6 Junior Statewide Competitions

One up one down for Junior Sharks

Warriors SG Ball celebrating first win of season

Sea Eagles Junior Reps Rnd 7

Warriors Matts finals football a step closer

Regional Junior Reps Semi-finals

Mixed Results at Home for the Eels

Sea Eagles Pathways Wrap Rnd 4

A win and a loss for male junior rep Sharks

School Footy News

Cronulla High School Uni Shield

Round 8 Results

Lisa Fioala Cup Round 8 full results, ladder & top point scorers

Tarsha Gale Cup Round 8 full results, ladder & top point scorers

Harold Matthews Cup Round 8 full results, ladder & top point scorers

SG Ball Cup Round 8 full results, ladder & top point scorers

Wests Tigers rnd 2 report

Manly Junior reps wrap rnd 2

SG Ball Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Harold Matthews Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Tarsha Gale Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Lisa Fiola Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

The post Two clubs feature in every Junior Reps final appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

Author : Dragons.com.au

Dragons Pathways Wrap Round 7

Check out our wrap of all the results from Round 7 of the NSWRL’s Junior Reps season over the weekend.

The Steelers went four-for-four in their home double-header whilst a gutsy St George SG Ball squad were bested by the Warriors at Kogarah.

Full NSWRL TV matches are now available on BarTV.

Sat March 29 3:00 PM – DRAGONS vs STORM @ Home – Secure your seat

LISA FIAOLA CUP

Steelers 38 – 8 Sea Eagles

A Halle Barrett hat-trick propelled Illawarra’s Lisa Fiaola Cup unit past Manly 38-8 in a welcome boost for their postseason chances.

Barrett got the hosts on the board just four minutes in before Ella Churchill followed her up to make it a double-digit Illawarra advantage early.

Paula Halaholo found a try for the Sea Eagles just shy of half-time to drag them back within a half-dozen.

What followed was a Steelers flurry with Brad Reh’s squad pouring on four tries in the space of 15 minutes to surge out to a 28-point lead.

Charlotte Nicolson was the first to cross before Barrett snagged tries No.2 and No.3 and Holly Czornobej found one as well.

Manly stopped the bleeding courtesy of a Katie Andrews try, but the Steelers sealed things with Juliet Merheb notching a final try as the seconds ticked away.

Ella Greatz took home the Remara Player of the Match.

HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP

Steelers 30 – 10 Bears 

The Steelers’ Harold Matthews Cup squad took down Norths 30-10 at Collegians to remain the competition’s only undefeated team on the year.

The hosts got off to a strong start with Jett Brookfield nabbing an early try before Cooper Morrison and Ollie Burton followed him to make it 14-0 just a quarter of the way in.

Joseph Wesserr found the Bears’ first soon after before Mason Andrews powered his way over to make it 20-4 the way of Illawarra heading into the sheds.

Sonny MacGregor scored back-to-back tries on the other side of the break to grow the Steelers’ lead out to 30-4.

Jayden Dabit snagged a late Bears try, but it proved in vain as the Steelers marched to a sixth-straight win.

Asher Chapman was named the Remara Player of the Match for the Steelers.

TARSHA GALE CUP

Scored 22 – 12 Sea Eagles

The Steelers notched a handy 22-12 Tarsha Gale Cup win over Manly at Collegians on Saturday.

Manly struck first through Lexus Christie Talau Brown before the Steelers hit back prior to the break with back-to-back tries to Tori Shipton and Maddy Bullock.

Teuila Robertson found a response for the visitors on the other side of the break before Shipton grabbed her second to give the Steelers a nice buffer.

Rhian Yeo crossed in the 53rd minute to seal it for the Steelers as they continue their run towards the finals.

Tori Shipton was awarded the Remara Player of the Match.

SG BALL CUP

Dragons 12 – 20 Warriors

The Dragons fought hard but fell to the Warriors 20-12 at Kogarah on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors jumped out to a double-digit edge via tries to Tepatasi Laumalili and Connor Bowden.

The Dragons were able to hit back courtesy of a Zac Nachar try prior to half-time.

Bowden found a second on the other side of the break before Compton Purcell crossed to extend their lead.

Cyrus Stanley-Traill found a late try for the Red V, but their fightback had unfortunately been left too late.

Viliami Hikila was awarded the Remara Player of the Match for St George.

SG Ball Cup

Steelers 50 – 14 Bears 

A Kade Reed masterclass helped lead the Steelers to a 50-14 win over Norths at Collegians on Saturday afternoon.

Drew Langdon crossed 10 minutes in for the Steelers before Saifiti Junior Saifiti followed him the next set.

Colby Martin stopped the bleeding for the visitors before Langdon nabbed a second and Aaymon Fitzgibbon scored to make it 22-4 headed into the half.

Reed would score the next three tries for Illawarra before sending Daniel Meafou over as the scoreline began to balloon.

Charlie Heidke snagged a late try to put the icing on the cake for the hosts.

Reed was unsurprisingly named the Remara Player of the Match thanks to his three-try, 26-point performance.

LAURIE DALEY CUP

Ill SC Dragons 31 – 18 NMR Knights

The Illawarra South Coast Dragons are Grand Final bound having downed the Newcastle-Maitland Region Knights 31-18 at Collegians.

Skipper Archie Wheeler got the Dragons on the board first before Jack Koster found a try 25 minutes in to make it 12-0.

The Knights scored two quick tries prior to the break through Fletcher O’Doherty and Ethan Jarmain to tie things up.

Jack Talbott and Beau Baldock both scored on the other side of the half for the hosts to earn them a handy lead before Wheeler grabbed a second.

Kyran Blair crossed an hour in to give the Knights a faint chance only for a Talbott field goal to seal it for the Dragons.

Dragons Pathways Wrap Round 7

Eels Well Placed For Finals Football

QRL Rnd 6 Junior Statewide Competitions

One up one down for Junior Sharks

Warriors SG Ball celebrating first win of season

Sea Eagles Junior Reps Rnd 7

Warriors Matts finals football a step closer

Regional Junior Reps Semi-finals

Mixed Results at Home for the Eels

Sea Eagles Pathways Wrap Rnd 4

A win and a loss for male junior rep Sharks

School Footy News

Cronulla High School Uni Shield

Round 4 results

2025 NSWRL Lisa Fioala Cup Rnd 4 results, ladder & top try scorers

2025 NSWRL Tarsha Gale Cup Rnd 4 results, ladder & top try scorers

2025 NSWRL SG Ball Cup Rnd 4 results, ladder & top try scorers

2025 NSWRL Harold Matthews Cup Rnd 4 results, ladder & top try scorers

2025 NSWRL Laurie Daley Cup Rnd 3 results, ladder & top try scorers

2025 NSWRL Andrew Johns Cup Rnd 3 results, ladder & top try scorers

Wests Tigers rnd 2 report

Manly Junior reps wrap rnd 2

SG Ball Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Harold Matthews Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Tarsha Gale Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Lisa Fiola Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Tarsha Gale cup Rnd 1 team lists

SG Ball Rnd 1 team lists

The post Dragons Pathways Wrap Round 7 appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

Author : Manly Media

Manly Junior reps wrap rnd 2

A brief review of Manly Warringah Sea Eagles junior representative matches over the weekend.

Lisa Fiaola Cup

The Sea Eagles Lisa Fiaola Cup team (U17s) suffered a heavy defeat in their first match of the season, beaten 50-4 by the Sharks at Cronulla.

Sharks 50 – 4 Sea Eagles

Down 16-0 after 17 minutes, it was a tough slog for our girls in the Shire, against a very talented Sharks outfit.

The Sea Eagles trailed 20-0 at half time and that soon became 32-0 before prop Paula Halaholo forced her way to the line with about 12 minutes remaining to score the Sea Eagles’ first and only try of the match.

The Sharks ran in nine tries to one to secure their first win of the season after a loss to the Panthers in Round 1.

Tarsha Gale Cup

The Sea Eagles Tarsha Gale Cup team (U19s) also suffered a heavy defeat in their first match of the season, beaten 48-6 by the Sharks at Cronulla.

Sharks 48 – 6 Sea Eagles

Much like our U17s, our U19s got off to a slow start, conceding three tries in the first 17 minutes and from there it was an uphill battle.

A powerful Sharks side scored five unanswered tries to lead 26-0 at half time, running in a further four unanswered tries after the break.

Manly was the last to score, in the 60th minute, when winger Janita-Lily Leota-Brown found the line.

Mirroring their Lisa Fiaola team, the Sharks ran in nine tries to one to score their first win of the season after a loss to the Panthers in Round 1.

Harold Matthews Cup

The Sea Eagles Harold Matthews Cup team claimed its first win of the season on Saturday with an emphatic 34-10 victory over the Central Coast Roosters at 4 Pines Park.

Sea Eagles 24 – 10 CC Roosters

The home side led 14-4 at half time, running in four second half tries, including a second four-pointer to prop Cameron Makey.

Manly Junior reps wrap rnd 2 (Photo : Sea Eagles Media)

A near perfect start saw Sea Eagles fullback Tahj Hamilton open the scoring in the second minute of play, before the Roosters levelled the score with a try of their own 10 minutes later.

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Makey crossed from close range before a clever try out wide to centre Oscar Crotty, who collected his own kick off a sweeping backline play.

The Roosters were first to score in the second half when replacement forward Eli Bennett stormed over to make it 14-10.

Captain Sifa Oldfield showed grit and intent to find the line before Makey bagged his second to have the home side up 26-10.

Late tries to winger Sonny Colella and fullback Jack Kalms put a full stop on a well deserved win.

Next up for our U17s is a bye before a Round 4 match against the Storm in Melbourne.

SG Ball Cup

The Sea Eagles suffered a 32-4 loss to the Illawarra Steelers in Round 2 of the SG Ball Cup at 4 Pines Park on Saturday.

Sea Eagles 4 – 32 Steelers

After a solid win against the Warriors in Round 1, a poor start against the Steelers saw the home side concede three unanswered tries in the opening 15 minutes.

The Steelers left side attack caused Manly’s right edge plenty of problems, with the first three tries scored from close range.

The Sea Eagles first try came about 10 minutes before half time when winger Ben Askew crossed in the northeastern corner to have his side trailing 16-4.

A curving grubber in behind the line from five-eighth Onitoni Large bounced kindly for Askew to score his second try of the season.

Steelers half Kade Reed kicked a 44m penalty goal on the stroke of half time, adding to his three successful conversions, to make it 18-4 at the break.

The visitors extended their lead early in the second half when winger Tom Kirk accepted a clever flick pass to cross in the corner. Reed adding the extras from the sideline to make 24-4.

The Sea Eagles had some chances but were denied on a couple of occasions by a hungry Steelers’ goal line defence.

The visitors scored a fifth and final try, again down Manly’s right side, when centre Zane Timmins – nephew of Steelers coach Shaun Timmins – crossed five minutes from time.

A penalty goal from Reed, who booted six from seven attempts, completed the 32-4 victory for the Steelers.

Next up for Manly’s SG Ball team is a Round 3 match against Balmain Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday 15th February.

SG Ball Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Harold Matthews Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Tarsha Gale Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Lisa Fiola Cup Rnd 2 Full Results, Ladder & Player Stat’s

Tarsha Gale cup Rnd 1 team lists

SG Ball Rnd 1 team lists

The post Manly Junior reps wrap rnd 2 appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

Author : Margie McDonald NSWRL

Dragons and Warriors ready to defend titles

NSWRL has spoken to the coaches of last year’s premiership-winning teams in Junior Reps boys (metropolitan) competitions to see how they are shaping up ahead of Round One this weekend to kick off the 2025 season.

UNE SG Ball Cup (Under 19s)

Incoming St George Dragons coach Darren Nicholls wants to continue the attractive playing style that previous coach Willie Talau instilled in his players, that led all the way to winning the UNE SG Ball Cup Grand Final last year.

“Winning the premiership was a great achievement,” Nicholls said of the 40-18, eight tries to four victory over Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2024.

“I thought Willie did a great job and the style of football they played – you could see it in the grand final – was not an Under 19s style. It was a mature, more hardened footballer type of game that was really good to watch.

“Sort of where I see myself is wanting to have the same sort of impact and get enough players to progress through to Jersey Flegg (Under 21s) and NSW Cup and onto first grade.”

Nicholls is in the early years of his coaching career. He was assistant coach with his former St George Illawarra reserve grade coach Matt Head in Queensland Cup (Wynnum-Manly) in 2023 before returning to the Dragons Academy last year.

A former halfback, he played three NRL games for the Dragons (2018-2019) and 144 across both The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup and Queensland Cup (2014-2022), scoring 46 tries.

St George’s win last year was their first title in SG Ball Cup – the oldest NSWRL Junior Reps competition – since 1992. And Nicholls walks straight into the furnace, willingly.

It is a lot of pressure

“It is a lot of pressure… obviously we’re striving for our own success as I think I’ve only got four players, who will go around again from last year’s squad as naturally players move up into Flegg and (NSW) Cup.”

That foursome is winger Zach Nachar, who scored a double in the grand final, and forwards Cyrus Stanley-Traill, Viliami Hikila, and Risiate Smythe.

“I’m leaning on those boys to get their experience and energy to rub off onto the other players,” Nicholls said.

“We are a different team this year and we’ve got to earn that respect again as a key club in SG Ball and Harold Matts for that matter.

“We’ve already played two high-quality teams in trials this year in the (Sydney) Roosters and Illawarra Steelers. Unfortunately we got beaten in those two games but the good thing is we didn’t lose two competition points either.

“What the trials did was identify our strengths and weaknesses. Myself and the coaching staff only get to see so much in training but in matches you get to know players a lot better.”

The Dragons begin their 2025 campaign against South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round One this Saturday (1 February) at Redfern Oval.

UNE Harold Matthews Cup (Under 17s)

The memories of the Warriors’ historic Harold Matthews Cup premiership last year still bring a broad smile to the face of coach TJ Ashford.

He is back again to lead the New Zealand-based club after their 34-16, six tries to three win over Western Suburbs Magpies in 2024 to become the first team to win the competition in their maiden year.

And they did it the hard way from sixth – the last spot in the finals. They beat third-placed Parramatta Eels and Minor Premiers Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to get to the grand final.

Warriors players celebrate their 2024 SG Ball Cup Premiership win. Photo: Bryden Sharp

“It’s been an amazing 12 months for the players and the club,” Ashford said of the impact of last April’s finals.

“The club has been buzzing still.

“All those boys now become a part of history for the One NZ Warriors club and it’s an achievement we can all be proud of.”

But now the hunters and the hunted and Ashford has been carefully crafting the message to his players that success 10 months ago can’t be repeated without effort.

“We have spoken about this,” he said.

“We understand we are now the hunted, but that’s an awesome opportunity for these boys to stamp their own mark on the competition and leave their own legacy in the Warriors jersey.

“We have a really young side this year… very new and raw. The boys have been working on some combinations with real determination.

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“But our depth in the club is really building and I have all the faith in the world that these boys coming through the development pathways at the club will come in and do a really good job for us.”

The Warriors begin their premiership defence against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles next Sunday (2 February) at 4 Pines Park.

All Junior Reps games in 2025 will be streamed live on NSWRL TV following a strategic alliance with media and production company, BarTV Sports.

Click here for more information or to subscribe.

The post Dragons and Warriors ready to defend titles appeared first on OurFootyTeam.