Two clubs – Parramatta Eels and Sydney Roosters - are enjoying great success in the NSWRL Junior Representatives this year with teams making finals in all four competitions.
Six True Blues – Vanessa Foliaki (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Westpac Lisa Fiaola U17s Girls), Keeley Davis (Sydney Roosters, Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup U19s Women), Corban Baxter (with Davis), Isabelle Kelly (Central Coast Roosters, Lisa Fiaola Cup), Andrew Fifita (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Tarsha Gale Cup) and Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters, UNE SG Ball Cup U19s Men) - have coached sides through to the finals in 2025.
It is also the first time Melbourne Storm have made a Junior Reps finals match.
The Eels finished top of the ladder after nine rounds undefeated in UNE SG Ball Cup (Under 19s Men), eighth in UNE Harold Matthews Cup (Under 17s Boys), fifth in Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup, and third in Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup. (Pictured above: Eels SG Ball Cup halfback Lincoln Fletcher. Photo: Bryden Sharp)
The Sydney Roosters ‘family’ includes the Central Coast Roosters and the Indigenous Academy Roosters. The Sydney Roosters finished fourth in SG Ball, Central Coast finished second in both Harold Matthews and Lisa Fiaola Cup, and the Indigenous Academy was seventh in Tarsha Gale Cup.
All four Junior Reps feature a top-eight finals format across four weeks starting with Qualifying and Elimination Finals in Week One this Saturday and Sunday (11-12 April).
“Parramatta didn’t make the Under 17s Boys finals or Under 19s Women’s last year, so they had a real look at their pathways,” NSWRL Head of Competitions Yvette Downey said.
“They shuffled things around, made a few new staff appointments and it’s paid off. It’s a credit to Jamie Shephard, who is Head of Pathways, and the work he’s done.
“The Roosters have also done incredible work over the season to maintain their high standards and consistency.”
Westpac NSW Blues Women’s coach John Strange is Head of Female Pathways at the Roosters with James Hanson as Operations manager for both male and female pathways. Steve Deakin is the Head of the Central Coast Academy.
“The Storm also needs to be recognised for the work they are doing as it’s the first time they’ve made a finals series of Junior Reps,” Downey said.
“They have been around for several years but they were run by Victoria Rugby League and were known as the Thunderbolts and then the VRL Storm.
“But last year Melbourne Storm took over the pathways and they should be congratulated for that investment.”
Other highlights after nine rounds are:
- Raiders have made the Lisa Fiaola Cup finals in their inaugural season and Fiaola is the club’s Well-Being and Education Manager.
- Penrith Panthers have teams in both the Tarsha Gale Cup and Lisa Fiaola Cup without having a NRLW team.
- There are three clubs trying to defend their 2024 premierships – Warriors in Harold Matthew Cup, Illawarra Steelers in Tarsha Gale Cup, and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in Lisa Fiaola Cup.
- England International and former NRL star for the Canberra Raiders, Josh Hodgson, is coach of the Eels Harold Matthews Cup side.
- Roosters NRL premiership winner Jake Friend is head of the club’s male academy (Harold Matthews Cup and SG Ball Cup).
Click here for finals draw for UNE SG Ball Cup
Click here for finals draw for UNE Harold Matthews Cup
Click here for finals draw for Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup
Click here for finals draw for Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup
