What You Need to Know for the 2024 Tarsha Gale & Lisa Fiaola Cups

The NSWRL has run its eyes over the Junior Reps competitions starting this weekend (Saturday 3 February) to highlight a few of the personnel changes as well as motivational factors for some clubs in 2024.

The second and third competitions under the microscope are the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup for Under 19s and Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup for Under 17s:

Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup 

Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy looking for three-peat  

The Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy enters the 2024 season having won back-to-back premierships. The Roosters went undefeated through the 2023 season before narrowly defeating the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 26-22 in last year’s Grand Final.  

Helping them in their search for a three-peat are a number of faces from last year’s squad. 

Eight of last year’s Grand Finalists will return including try scorers Paige Lowe,  Brooke Talataina, and Lailani Montgomery (pictured above).

Bethany To’o ready to follow in brother’s footsteps at Panthers

NSW State of Origin representative and three-time premiership winner Brian To’o is not the only talented footballer in the family.  

Younger sister Bethany has been named in the Penrith Panthers squad for 2024 following impressive performances in the club’s Under 17s squad in 2023. 

To’o will be coached by former Jillaroo Karen Stuart, as the Panthers look to make the Under 19s finals having missed out last year.  

North Sydney set for an improved year

Since entering the Tarsha Gale Cup in 2022, the North Sydney Bears are keen for their first finals appearance in 2024.  

Guiding them this season is newly-appointed coach and NRL star Luke Phillips.  

Phillips brings winning-team experience, having played fullback as part of the premiership-winning Sydney Roosters in the 2002 NRL Grand Final. 

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs out for redemption after Grand Final heartbreak  

The Bulldogs took out the 2023 Minor premiership having moved undefeated through the competition.  

Despite leading 22-16 at halftime, the Bulldogs suffered a devastating 26-22 defeat to the Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy in last year’s Grand Final.  

While a large portion of last year’s squad will progress to the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership, the Bulldogs will be sure to use last year as fuel for the 2024 season.

Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup

All clubs out to impress in new competition 

The metropolitan arm of the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup consists of 13 teams, with each playing eight games across nine rounds.  

The teams fielding sides are: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Central Coast Roosters, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Illawarra Steelers, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Newcastle Knights, North Sydney Bears, Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers, South Sydney Rabbitohs, St George Dragons, Sydney Roosters, Wests Tigers.  

The regional arm for the Cup has six teams: Monaro Colts, North Coast Bulldogs, Northern Rivers, Northern Tigers, Riverina Bulls, Western Rams.

This new NSWRL competition gives many of the state’s young female players their first taste of representative action, with all clubs looking to make an immediate impact.