Author : NSWRL

Tigers create history with Andrew Johns Cup win

Macarthur Wests Tigers coach Adam Whitelaw had challenged his players this season to create history and become the first team from the region to claim the Andrew Johns Cup,

They answered the call in style today after beating Newcastle Maitland Region Knights 26-16 in the Grand Final at Port Macquarie Regional Sports Stadium.

The Tigers recovered from a shaky start, after the Knights scored a try in the opening minute, to score four unanswered tries and take control of the decider.

It was the region’s first title and made up for the disappointment of their last appearance in 2024 when they lost to Central Coast Roosters, with back-rower Bryce Blatch a deserved Player of the Match.

“This is big,” Whitelaw said.

“Our mantra at the start of the year was create history. No team in Macarthur has won the comp and we’ve done it today so our name’s in the history books forever.

“All the hard work these kids have put in. We knew we had something special from the start and we delivered today. I’m so proud of these kids.”

Adding to the occasion today was the fact the Knights, from the Northern Pool, and the Tigers, from the Southern Pool, had gone through the regular season unbeaten and were meeting for the first time at Port Macquarie.

The Knights got off to a flying start when a kick from five-eighth Koby Skuthorpe was allowed to bounce by the Tigers.

Newcastle winger Izaac Barber batted the ball up before regathering and passing back infield to centre Noah Blundell, who in turn found Skuthorpe in support to race away and score in the opening minute.

Fullback Harlem Blair converted for a 6-0 lead.

The match then turned into a genuine arm wrestle as both teams looked for the ascendency, but defence was winning the day.

The Knights came close again through winger Terrence Smith but the last pass went to ground.

Another chance late in the first half to Knights winger Barber also came up short after the defence arrived in time to bundle him into touch.

“We knew they were going to come, we knew they were a tough opposition,” Whitelaw said.

“They’ve been the benchmark all year and pretty much what we’ve done on the other side of the draw. They didn’t give up either and kept coming. Great effort by them and hats off to Newcastle and their staff.”

The Tigers finally found their groove and came close to scoring on the back of a bullocking run from Blatch only to be denied by some determined goal-line defence.

The Tigers received another opportunity after the Knights failed to clean up a kick from halfback Masen Mallia and they were quick to capitalise.

Centre Zedric Vaiau did well to pop a pass after a strong charge, and replacement Adam El Masri did even better to catch the pass behind him before releasing winger Lucas Bentham down the sideline to score.

Mallia landed the sideline conversion to lock the scores up at 6-all.

The Tigers received another opportunity after Knights fullback Harlem Blair spilled a bomb and they soon turned that into points after El Masri burrowed his way over from dummy-half to score next to the posts.

Mallia converted to send his team into the half-time break with a 12-6 lead.

The Tigers went further in front when play resumed after Blatch proved too strong for the goal line defence and scored a well-deserved try.

Mallia converted and then added a penalty goal a short time later to give the Tigers a handy 20-6 lead.

Any hopes the Knights had of a fightback faded further after a powerful charge from prop Alex Mau paved the way for replacement Hamish Butler to crash over the line on the next play.

Mallia continued his flawless display with the boot to extend the lead to 26-6.

The Knights never gave up and scored two tries at the end – including a spectacular chip and chase from Barber down the touchline – but the damage had been done either side of half-time by the Tigers as they celebrated a 26-16 win.

Full Time

Macarthur Wests Tigers 26

TRIES : Lucas Bentham, Adam El Masri, Bryce Blatch, Hamish Butler
GOALS : Masen Mallia 4

Newcastle Maitland Region Knights 16

TRIES : Koby Skuthorpe, Tyrese Vaipulu, Izaac Barber
GOALS : Harlem Blair 2

Related Links

Tigers create history with Andrew Johns Cup win

Northern Tigers secure maiden Lisa Fiaola Cup

Port Macquarie to host NSWRL Regional Representatives Grand Final Day

Koori Under 16s tour leaves lasting impact on Vanuatu Rugby League

The post Tigers create history with Andrew Johns Cup win appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

Author : NSWRL

Port Macquarie to host NSWRL Regional Representatives Grand Final Day

The NSWRL is pleased to announce that Port Macquarie will host the NSWRL 2026 Regional Representatives Grand Final Day with five games to be played on Saturday 28 March featuring the best regional teams from Major and Junior Representatives competitions across the state.

The titles will be decided for the Andrew Johns Cup (Under 16s Boys), Westpac Regional Lisa Fiaola Cup (Under 17s Girls), Laurie Daley Cup (Under 18s Boys), Men’s Country Championships and Women’s Country Championships at Port Macquarie Regional Sports Stadium.

It is the first time the NSWRL’s Regional Representatives Grand Final Day has been held at Port Macquarie and follows a proud tradition of taking the showpiece event to Rugby League heartland around NSW with Canberra, Cessnock and Woy Woy hosting previous editions.

“The NSWRL Regional Representatives Grand Final Day is always a special occasion as it represents the first of our Grand Final Days for the season but moreover, it is a wonderful celebration of regional Rugby League,” NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said.

“Rugby League plays an important role in regional NSW as it helps bind communities together and has also produced some true legends of our game who have gone on to represent at the highest level.

I am confident some of the players we will see on Saturday will follow the same path.

“I congratulate all the teams who have made it through to their respective Grand Finals and I wish all the players the very best of luck as they proudly represent their region.”

The day will kick off with a new premier to be crowned in the Westpac Regional Lisa Fiaola Cup with Northern Tigers taking on Riverina Bulls.

The Tigers will be hoping for a case of third-time lucky after making the Grand Final for the past two seasons only to come up short against the Western Rams (2024) and North Coast Bulldogs (2025), while the Bulls are shooting for their first title.

Macarthur Wests Tigers and Newcastle Maitland Region Knights will follow in the Andrew Johns Cup.

The Knights will be aiming to make it back-to-back titles after beating Northern Rivers Titans last year, while the Tigers last made the decider in 2024 only to go down to Central Coast Roosters.

Macarthur Wests Tigers will also feature in the Laurie Daley Cup when they take on Northern Rivers Titans.

The Tigers made the decider last year but will be hoping for better fortunes after losing to Illawarra South Coast Dragons, while the Titans are looking for their first title.

If Macarthur Wests Tigers are successful in both deciders, they will become the first region since the Central Coast Roosters in 2021 to claim the Andrew Johns Cup and Laurie Daley Cup in the same year.

Newcastle Rebels will be out to make it four straight titles in the Men’s Country Championships when they take on Central Coast Pelicans.

Newcastle have downed the Riverina Bulls (2023), Monaro Colts (2024) and Northern Rivers Titans (2025), while the Pelicans are into their first decider and will be hoping they can be the first team to break the Rebels’ stranglehold.

Western Rams will also be looking to continue their domination of the Women’s Country Championships and make it three consecutive titles when they take on Northern Rivers Titans.

The Rams beat the North Coast Bulldogs (2024) and were comfortable winners last year over the Titans, who will be keen to turn the tables after beating Monaro to make another decider.

Tickets are available at the gate and are only $10 for an adult, $5 for children aged 12-16, while children aged 11 and under and pensioners are free.

NSWRL Regional Representatives Grand Final Day

Port Macquarie Regional Sports Stadium

Saturday 28 March

Westpac Regional Lisa Fiaola Cup

10am: Northern Tigers v Riverina Bulls

Andrew Johns Cup

11.30am: Macarthur Wests Tigers v Newcastle Maitland Region Knights

Laurie Daley Cup

1.15pm: Macarthur Wests Tigers v Northern Rivers Titans

Men’s Country Championships

3pm: Newcastle Rebels v Central Coast Pelicans

Women’s Country Championships

4.45pm: Western Rams v Northern Rivers Titans

Related Links

Port Macquarie to host NSWRL Regional Representatives Grand Final Day

Koori Under 16s tour leaves lasting impact on Vanuatu Rugby League

The post Port Macquarie to host NSWRL Regional Representatives Grand Final Day appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

2025 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final

29/03/2025 14 - 6 N/A NRM Knights vs Titans

Round 7 Ladder

2025 Andrew Johns Cup Round 7 Ladder

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	NRM Knights	7	6	0	1	139	114	25	12
2	Ill SC Dragons	6	5	0	1	166	66	100	10
3	M Wests Tigers	6	4	0	2	176	108	68	8
4	Titans	7	4	0	3	154	102	52	8
5	CC Roosters	5	3	0	2	134	101	33	6
6	NR Tigers	5	2	1	2	66	114	-48	5
7	Colts	5	2	0	3	86	128	-42	4
8	Rams	5	1	0	4	118	154	-36	2
9	NC Bulldogs	5	0	1	4	92	160	-68	1
10	Bulls	5	0	0	5	44	128	-84	0

Top Point Scorers

Top Try Scorers

Top Goal Kickers

Top Penalty Goal Kickers

Top Field Goal Kickers

The post 2025 NSWRL Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

2025 Andrew Johns Cup Round 6 Draw

23/03/2025 14 - 20 N/A Ill SC Dragons vs Titans
23/03/2025 22 - 18 N/A NRM Knights vs M Wests Tigers

Round 6 Ladder

2025 Andrew Johns Cup Round 6 Ladder

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Ill SC Dragons	6	5	0	1	166	66	100	10
2	NRM Knights	6	5	0	1	125	108	17	10
3	M Wests Tigers	6	4	0	2	176	108	68	8
4	Titans	6	4	0	2	148	88	60	8
5	CC Roosters	5	3	0	2	134	101	33	6
6	NR Tigers	5	2	1	2	66	114	-48	5
7	Colts	5	2	0	3	86	128	-42	4
8	Rams	5	1	0	4	118	154	-36	2
9	NC Bulldogs	5	0	1	4	92	160	-68	1
10	Bulls	5	0	0	5	44	128	-84	0

Top Point Scorers