The final round of the 2024 junior representatives season takes place this weekend with several Dragons and Steelers squads in the thick of the postseason race.
Both of the club's SG Ball units are eyeing finals berths with the Dragons having secured their spot and the Steelers in a 'win-and-in' scenario whilst the Steelers Tarsha Gale Cup and Lisa Fiaola Cup sides have strong shots at top two finishes.
SG BALL CUP
St George Dragons
Willie Talau's under-19s squad secured their spot in the SG Ball finals last week courtesy of a 54-16 victory over the Raiders at Forshaw Park.
The Red V (2nd, 12pts/+112) sit at second on the competition ladder trailing only the undefeated Roosters (1st, 16pts/+137) and tied with the Knights (3rd, 12pts/+106) on 12 competition points.
Just a half-dozen for-and-against points separate the two sides with this weekend's results set to determine who earns the week off in the opening week of the postseason.
The Knights will this Saturday take on the Tigers (16th, 0pts/-177) at Leichhardt Oval whilst the Dragons face the Warriors (10th, 7pts/+40) across the ditch on Sunday.
Both the Warriors and Tigers are out of finals contention but will be eager to finish their years on a high.
It will be the first time since 2013 that the Dragons appear in the SG Ball postseason.
Jesse Williams will be looking to add to his league-leading try tally of 14 and wrap up the competition's top try-scoring gong, which would be a deserved accolade for the talented winger.
Illawarra Steelers
Shaun Timmins' Steelers will be in need of a win when they face off against the Bears (15th, 2pts/-220) at Collegians on Saturday.
The Steelers (6th, 10pts/+30) are currently in possession of the final spot of the top six but have the Magpies (7th, 9pts/+26), Sharks (8th, 9pts/+20), and Raiders (9th, 8pts/-40) breathing down their neck.
The good news for Timmins' side is that a win guarantees them a finals berth and that they are within striking distance of both the Bulldogs (4th, 11pts/+96) and Eels (5th, 10pts/+64).
There is a tonne on the line for the Steelers - who sit just two points behind the 2nd-place Dragons and just two ahead of the 9th-place Raiders - heading into Round 9.
TARSHA GALE CUP
Illawarra Steelers
Courtney Crawford's Steelers have enjoyed a dominant Tarsha Gale Cup season thus far having all but secured the minor premiership with last week's 62-0 win over the Panthers.
The Steelers (1st, 16pts/+282) currently sit two points clear of both the Roosters Indigenous Academy (2nd, 14pts/+212) and the Bulldogs (3rd, 14pts/+184).
The Roosters Indigenous Academy have a bye this weekend whilst the Bulldogs take on the Dragons (13th, 2pts/-326).
The Steelers meanwhile host the Sharks (6th, 11pts/+60) at Collegians on Saturday with a win locking up the minor premiership and a week off.
Five-eighth Evie McGrath currently sits atop the competition's try-scorers list with 10 but is being trailed by teammates Indie Bostock (9) and Darcy Eade (7).
McGrath also leads the Tarsha Gale Cup in try assists (14) and line break assists (12).
LISA FIAOLA CUP
Illawarra Steelers
The Steelers Lisa Fiaola Cup group have also enjoyed a standout year having lost just one of their seven games en route to what they hope is a top two finish.
Brad Reh's squad (2nd, 14pts/+122) take on the Sharks (8th, 6pts/-42) - whose are no longer in finals contention - at Collegians on Saturday.
Whilst catching the high-flying Bulldogs (1st, 16pts/+322) is seemingly out of reach, a win on Saturday would secure the Steelers a top two finish and subsequent week off come the opening round of the finals.
