Harold Matthews Cup Finals | Six players to watch

Author: Tayla Micallef
Timestamp: Thu 11 Apr 2024, 01:43 PM

Over the next two weeks, the top six teams from the UNE Harold Matthews Cup will battle it out for a spot in this year’s Grand Final (27 April).

Here are six players from the top-six clubs who could set the finals alight ahead of the decider.

1. Paul Johnson (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

The Bulldogs finished at the top of the ladder on 17 points after the regular season from seven wins and a draw. Apart from their Round Five 20-all draw with the Parramatta Eels, the Bulldogs were undefeated helping secure the club’s first Minor Premiership since 2020.

Canterbury-Bankstown was an attacking force in 2024 scoring 298 points in eight games at an average of 37 points per game – the most of any club in the competition. Winger Paul Johnson was responsible for 32 of those points, scoring eight tries – four of these from their Round Nine match against the Storm. Halfback Matthew Barakat has been close to perfect off the tee, kicking 30 goals in nine games.

2. Haemasi Makasini (Western Suburbs Magpies)

The Magpies finished with the same number of competition points as the Bulldogs (17) in 2024 but took second spot on points differential. Western Suburbs started the season off strong winning six games straight before finishing with a 16-all draw against the Eels.

Centre Heamasi Makasini has been a standout for the Magpies and played a pivotal role in leading his team to a top two finish. He scored 62 points in nine games and finished the season as leading try scorer with 10 tries.

3. Lincoln Fletcher (Parramatta Eels)

The Eels feature in their fourth straight finals series after finishing in the top three for the second consecutive season.Parramatta won six of their eight games and toughed outtwo draws against the two teams that finished above them on the ladder.

Four of the Eels players – fullback Cyrus Bloomfield, winger Lorima Rokosuka, halfback Lincoln Fletcher and back-rowerSamuel Polley – were the club’s top try scorers with four tries each. The No.7 also contributed to the points tally with 34 successful conversions across the regular season, along with three try assists and seven line breaks.

4. Oliver Lester (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

Improving on their sixth-place finish in 2023, the Sharks claimed fourth spot on the ladder. They finished the season with six wins and only had two losses, against the Eels (34-20) in Round Two and the Bulldogs (48-12) in Round Six.

Fullback Oliver Lester will be one to keep an eye on during the finals after his efforts during the regular season included seven tries, eight line breaks, and two tries assists.

5. Bailey Roberts-Lintmeijer (Sydney Roosters)

The Roosters bounced back to take out fifth spot in 2024 after missing out on the finals last season. Still chasing their inaugural UNE Harold Matthews Cup Premiership, the Roosters will be hoping to make a statement in the coming weeks.

Across eight games the Roosters scored 230 points, averaging 28 points a game. The two wingers, Bailey Roberts-Lintmeijer and EJ Mahu-Delamere, proved to be an attacking force scoring 64 of those points. Roberts-Lintmeijer scored nine tries – including one hat-trick and a double – while Mahu-Delamere crossed for seven tries.

6. Kaawyn Patterson (Warriors)

In their inaugural season in the UNE Harold Matthews Cup competition, the Warriors secured a spot in the finals in pursuit of the club’s first premiership. With five wins and three losses on the board, the Warriors took out the last finals spot after finishing sixth.

Playing through the middle throughout the regular season, hooker Kaawyn Patterson has been strong for his team. He has scored four tries and made five line breaks, and will be hoping to lead his team to a Grand Final berth.