Junior Reps Finals Preview: Steelers prep for home triple-header

Author: Joel Beatton dragons.com.au
Timestamp: Fri 11 Apr 2025, 09:03 AM

Illawarra's Tarsha Gale Cup, Harold Matthews Cup, and SG Ball Cup squads will be in action in a trio of postseason showdowns at Collegians on Sunday.

The Tarsha Gale and Harold Matthews sides will be playing for a chance at a Preliminary Final berth having finished the regular season atop their respective ladders whilst the SG Ball squad find themselves in a do-or-die fifth-versus-eighth showdown.

Full NSWRL TV matches are now available on BarTV.

SUNDAY, APRIL 13TH

Collegians Sporting Complex, Figtree

11:30AM Tarsha Gale | Steelers vs Panthers
1:00PM Harold Matthews | Steelers vs Knights
2:30PM SG Ball | Steelers vs Storm

TARSHA GALE CUP (11:30AM, STEELERS V PANTHERS)

The minor premier Steelers host the fourth-place Panthers as they look to continue their title defence bid.

The winner will advance straight to a Preliminary Final in a fortnight's time.

Herewaka Pohatu and Makayla McFayden are the only members from last year's Grand Final 17 named to appear on Sunday.

Kiara Kostovski lines up at fullback with Tahlia O’Brien partnering Pohatu in the halves and Tori Shipton starting in the No.9 jersey.

Captain Trinity Tauaneai and front rower Seriah Palepale headline a powerful pack for Head Coach Courtney Crawford.

The Steelers won seven of their eight regular season outings with a two-point loss to Canterbury in Round 3 their only blemish.

The Panthers meanwhile finished the year on a five-game winning streak after starting the year 1-2.

The Steelers and Panthers did not face each other in the regular season.

Finals Week 1 - Sunday 13th April

Full Time

Steelers

Panthers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Steelers is number 1 Kiara Kostovski

Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Kayla Henderson
Winger for Steelers is number 2 Maddalyn Bullock

Winger for Panthers is number 2 Audrey Nadaya-Harb
Centre for Steelers is number 3 Billie Va'a

Centre for Panthers is number 3 Dejah Tuliau
Centre for Steelers is number 4 Sienna Leslie

Centre for Panthers is number 4 Samantha Hanrahan
Winger for Steelers is number 14 Charlotte Campbell

Winger for Panthers is number 5 Madison Wilson
Five-Eighth for Steelers is number 6 Tahlia O'Brien

Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Chloe Pallisier
Halfback for Steelers is number 7 Herewaka Pohatu

Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Naioka Tuipulotu

Forwards

Prop for Steelers is number 8 Seriah Palepale

Prop for Panthers is number 8 Danica Talitonu
Hooker for Steelers is number 9 Tori Shipton

Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Vaitafao-Gisele Masun-Feleti
Prop for Steelers is number 16 Makayla McFayden

Prop for Panthers is number 10 Aaliyah Nikua
2nd Row for Steelers is number 11 Siulolo Richter

2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Julie Notise
2nd Row for Steelers is number 12 Rhian Yeo

2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Matilda Vella
Lock for Steelers is number 13 Trinity Tauaneai

Lock for Panthers is number 13 Jennifer Tuilagi

Interchange

Interchange for Steelers is number 15 Scarlett Newton

Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Ella Knowles
Interchange for Steelers is number 17 April Gray

Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Tolutoluhama Fakalangi
Interchange for Steelers is number 18 Mackayla Hutchinson

Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Monica Ben
Interchange for Steelers is number 20 Madison Hobbs

Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Mya Muller

Reserves

Replacement for Steelers is number 22 Maddison Lewis

Replacement for Panthers is number 18 Kahlanie Hebden-Salase

Last updated: 06:54 pm Monday 14th April 2025

HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP (1:00PM, STEELERS V KNIGHTS)

Fresh off a maiden Harold Matthews minor premiership, the Steelers take on the Knights for a shot at a Preliminary Final.

Fullback Ollie Burton has pieced together a stellar campaign for the Steelers scoring eight tries from eight outings including several late in tight contests.

Burton heads a potent backline which includes the likes of co-captain Cooper Morrison and winger Jaxon Ballinger.

Halves pairing Tayler Humphries and Jett Brookfield have steered the side around the park throughout the year along with hooker Asher Chapman.

Api Amone, Creighton Meafou, and Mace Scofield have led the forward pack strongly and will look to leave their mark on Sunday's clash from the outset.

Illawarra notched seven wins from their eight encounters with their only loss coming to the Sydney Roosters in Round 8.

Newcastle meanwhile also finished with six wins after starting the year 1-2 and are fresh off a final round bye.

Sunday's clash will be the first meeting between the Steelers and Knights this season.

Finals Week 1 - Sunday 13th April

Full Time

Steelers

Knights

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Steelers is number 1 Oliver Burton

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Riley Rostron
Winger for Steelers is number 2 Jaxon Ballinger

Winger for Knights is number 2 Callum Elsley
Centre for Steelers is number 3 Cooper Morrison

Centre for Knights is number 3 Chip Valentish
Centre for Steelers is number 4 Sonny MacGregor

Centre for Knights is number 4 William Manning
Winger for Steelers is number 5 Jack Goulder

Winger for Knights is number 5 Kade Paton
Five-Eighth for Steelers is number 6 Tayler Humphries

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Cooper Votano
Halfback for Steelers is number 7 Jett Brookfield

Halfback for Knights is number 7 Chase Butler

Forwards

Prop for Steelers is number 8 Mace Scofield

Prop for Knights is number 8 Ashton Allen
Hooker for Steelers is number 9 Asher Chapman

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Zane Hopkins
Prop for Steelers is number 10 Mason Andrews

Prop for Knights is number 10 Lachlan Quigley
2nd Row for Steelers is number 11 Creighton Meafou

2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Kade McKay
2nd Row for Steelers is number 12 Taj Barrett

2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Curtis Mulherin
Lock for Steelers is number 13 Halaapiapi Amone

Lock for Knights is number 13 Cooper Townsend

Interchange

Interchange for Steelers is number 14 Kahuitara Te Ra Chase

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Kyron Nixon-Croaker
Interchange for Steelers is number 15 Jordan Barlow

Interchange for Knights is number 15 Noah McNamara
Interchange for Steelers is number 16 Ashton Moore

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Cody Baker
Interchange for Steelers is number 17 Hunter Fangupo

Interchange for Knights is number 17 Sione Haukinima

Reserves

Replacement for Steelers is number 19 Callum Cooney

Replacement for Knights is number 18 Cooper McKenna

Last updated: 05:28 pm Monday 14th April 2025

SG BALL CUP (2:30PM, STEELERS V STORM)

The final clash of the day is an elimination final between the fifth-place Illawarra Steelers and eighth-place Melbourne Storm.

The winner will go on to face-off against the loser of the Eels and Roosters clash.

Both of Illawarra's centres Charlie Heidke and Zane Timmins have enjoyed strong campaigns this season whilst Aaymon Fitzgibbon and Kade Reed have proven to be one of the competition's most dynamic halves duos.

The midseason returns of middle forwards Daniel Meafou and Leeroy Weatherall added some handy grunt to the side's pack whilst Mason Phillips' craftiness out of hooker has proven key throughout the year.

The Steelers finished the year with six wins, a draw, and a pair of losses and finished just five for-and-against points out of the Top 4.

They went unbeaten in their final four and chalked up 50-plus points in two of their final three matches as the attack began to hit its straps.

The Storm finished the year with five wins and four losses but lost their final two outings by a combined eight points.

Illawarra hosted Melbourne at Collegians in Round 1 with the hosts coming away with a 20-12 victory.

Finals Week 1 - Sunday 13th April

Full Time

Steelers

Storm

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Steelers is number 1 Lucas Borg

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Amaziah Murgha
Winger for Steelers is number 2 Saifiti Junior Saifiti

Winger for Storm is number 4 Alize Clarke
Centre for Steelers is number 3 Charles Heidke

Centre for Storm is number 3 Victory Isaako
Centre for Steelers is number 4 Zane Timmins

Centre for Storm is number 12 David Tuariki
Winger for Steelers is number 5 Kye Andrews

Winger for Storm is number 18 Joseph Vela
Five-Eighth for Steelers is number 6 Aaymon Fitzgibbon

Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Waka Hammond
Halfback for Steelers is number 7 Kade Reed

Halfback for Storm is number 7 Riley Brannock

Forwards

Prop for Steelers is number 8 Ben Jackson

Prop for Storm is number 8 Kobi Floro
Hooker for Steelers is number 14 Noah Parker

Hooker for Storm is number 9 Lockyer-Azile Foliola
Prop for Steelers is number 10 Leeroy Weatherall

Prop for Storm is number 15 Phoenix Woods
2nd Row for Steelers is number 11 Drew Langdon

2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Kyu Fiaui
2nd Row for Steelers is number 16 Jackson Smith

2nd Row for Storm is number 17 Frank Howarth
Lock for Steelers is number 13 Daniel Meafou

Lock for Storm is number 10 Cooper Clarke

Interchange

Interchange for Steelers is number 9 Mason Phillips

Interchange for Storm is number 5 Edward Lyons
Interchange for Steelers is number 17 Likamani Richter

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Jai Bowden
Interchange for Steelers is number 19 Kapene Karaitiana

Interchange for Storm is number 16 Charbel Kheirallah
Interchange for Steelers is number 24 Zechariah Taufa

Interchange for Storm is number 19 Micah Warena