Sydney Roosters have announced changes to their 2023 roster, with four up-and-coming talents graduating from their pathways systems.
Thomas Deakin, Vuate Karawalevu, Sandon Smith and Robert Toia will all take the next step in their journey to become NRL footballers after being named amongst the club’s development players for 2023.
Deakin made nine appearances at hooker for the North Sydney Bears in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup in 2022, finishing with 36 running metres and 16.6 tackles per game.
It was his first year playing senior football after featuring in the SG Ball Cup in 2021 and playing a pivotal role in the Roosters’ charge this season towards the Minor Premiership in the Jersey Flegg Cup.
Karawalevu burst onto the scene in 2021 after playing for the Kaiviti Silktails in the Ron Massey Cup before progressing to the Roosters Jersey Flegg Cup side, where he compiled an incredible highlight reel.
Vuate Karawalevu | 2021 Jersey Flegg Cup Highlights
The 21-year-old featured in Fiji’s 2021 Rugby League World Cup campaign, making three appearances and finishing with 12 tackle busts, a try assist, two linebreaks and 144 running metres per game.
Karawalevu only played six games in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup in 2022 but he made his presence felt after scoring seven tries - including a hat-trick against the Jets in Round Nine - and averaging 125 metres per game.
While Deakin and Karawalevu had limited opportunities in 2022, Smith was a crucial figure in the Bears success. The halfback finished the year with 23 games, 23 try assists (second in the competition), 26 linebreak assists, 12 forced drop outs and 86 running metres per game.
Smith’s brilliant passing game helped him form lethal combinations with his outside backs, resulting in several tries for the Bears.
Toia turned heads at centre during the Roosters’ 2022 SG Ball Cup campaign. He helped the Tricolours to an undefeated Minor Premiership and Grand Final appearance, where they fell just short against the Panthers.
Toia is yet to feature in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup although that could change in 2023.
