RLO Newsletter 25/7: NRLW returns
RLO Newsletter 25/7: NRLW returns
Plus a look at Flegg, a few Colts standouts and some signing news
🏉 Under-19 grads in the NRLW
The NRLW got underway last weekend and it was great to see several graduates from New South Wales and Queensland under-19 competitions. Seven of the debutants in the opening fixture between the Titans and Cowboys came through the pathways.
Five of the 16 graduates who debuted played in those competitions this past season.
Emma Barnes (Canberra) played nine games for Wynnum Manly in the QRL Under-19s the last three seasons. The hooker scored four tries in four games this season.
Jazmon Tupou-Witchman (Cronulla) played with the Roosters Tarsha Gale Cup side for two seasons. She represented Queensland U18 in 2019 and Queensland U19 in 2021.
Chantay Kiria-Ratu (Gold Coast) played just two games for Tweed in 2022 before being elevated to the senior BMD Premiership.
Sienna Lofipo (Gold Coast) played six games for Wynnum Manly over two seasons, including four in 2023 before she got promoted to BMD.
Destiny Mino-Sinapati (Gold Coast) played seven for Wynnum Manly before, like Lofipo, getting called up to their senior team.
Viena Tinao (Newcastle) played 12 games for Illawarra in 2019 and 2020, scoring six tries.
Krystal Blackwell (North Queensland) spent three seasons with Canberra’s TG Cup side, scoring nine tries in 15 games.
Bree Chester (North Queensland) played for Penrith in 2019 before heading home to Newcastle for the 2020 and 2021 seasons, playing 20 games in total.
Mia Middleton (North Queensland) scored 13 tries in 18 TG Cup games for Newcastle between 2020 and 2022.
Sera Koroi (North Queensland) played four games for West Brisbane in 2021, scoring three tries, before getting called up that season.
Ella Koster (St George Illawarra) earned an NRLW contract after her first season for Illawarra this year. She played 10 games.
Alexis Tauaneai (St George Illawarra) played six games this season for Canterbury after moving across from New Zealand this year.
Sophie Curtain (Wests Tigers) joined her sister Emily in the NRLW after playing 17 games for the Tigers over two seasons.
Ebony Prior (Wests Tigers) played for Penrith in 2020 before moving over to the Tigers in 2021, where she played six games.
Eliza Siilata (Wests Tigers) spent three seasons with the Tigers Tarsha Gale side, playing 16 games.
Folau Vaki (Wests Tigers), like Siilata, did three seasons with the Tigers. She played 23 games.
Heading into Round 2, 55 Tarsha Gale Cup and 13 QRL Under-19s grads have now played in NRLW.
🏉 Jersey Flegg Cup – Round 21
St George Illawarra are now level on 24 points with fifth-placed Melbourne after beating them 26–18. The Storm led 14–0 after 20 minutes before the Dragon scored three tries in six minutes before halftime and gained the lead shortly after the intermission. Storm winger Siulagi Pio scored three tries, while Dragons fullback Ben Rumble crossed twice and ran for 265 metres.
Penrith ended Canterbury’s five-game winning streak with a dominant 40–12 win. Just a month ago, the Bulldogs beat the Panthers 26–0 to kickstart their run. The second-place Bulldogs were never in it, trailing 24–6 at the break. Panthers’ five-eighth Blake Moore scored twice, with his teammate Liam Ison running for 190 metres. Penrith now sits three points behind Canterbury.
Cronulla extended their gap to fifth place with a come-from-behind 22–16 win over Manly. The Sharks trailed 16–6 after 45 minutes but go themselves the lead with three tries in 10 minutes. The middles led the way for both sides with Cronulla’s Lachlan Crouch running for 208 metres and Manly’s James Uesele running for 203. Manly are ninth, four points outside the Top 5, and only play teams above them on their run home.
Newcastle finally ended their five-game losing skid with a 22–14 win over South Sydney in Redfern. Elusive fullback Fletcher Sharpe scored twice for the Knights in their first win in seven weeks. The win was not enough to move them out of last place, they are still two points behind Canberra. The Rabbitohs are three points out of fifth with a bye still in hand.
Another dominant second half saw the Roosters defeat Parramatta 30–16 for their fifth straight win. The ladder leaders trailed 10–6 at halftime before turning it on in the second, with four tries. The Roosters also have a bye in hand and are four points clear of second. The Eels are in eighth but still have a chance of finals, four points behind fifth spot.
I missed this last week but Canterbury half Sione Moala played his 50th Jersey Flegg game in Round 20, the most of any player since the competition was reinstated in 2018. Moala debuted back in 2019 for the Warriors as a 17-year-old, playing 15 games. After two years away from the competition, he returned in 2022 with the Raiders, playing 22 games, before moving to the Bulldogs this season. He played his 51st Flegg game this past weekend.
Team of the Week: 1 Ben Rumble (SGI), 2 Siulagi Pio (MEL), 3 Kyle McCarthy (NEW), 4 Jordan Swann (SYD), 5 Jahoiyakim Afoa (NEW), 6 Lykhan King-Togia (SGI), 7 Joseph Nohra (PEN), 8 James Uesele (MAN), 9 Kobie Wilson (CRO), 10 Sione Vaenuku (SYD), 11 Harrison Hassett (PEN), 12 Caleb Tohi (SYD), 13 Lachlan Crouch (CRO).
You can view the highlights from Round 21 here.
🏉 Colts on Holiday – Week 2
The second weekend of the Colts break, so let’s look at some standouts from each team after 12 rounds.
Brisbane Tigers: Fullback Lachlan West has been outstanding for the Tigers in 2023. The Casino junior has scored 14 tries in 11 games. In their Round 7 win over the Capras, he scored a hat trick and ran for 248 metres. Casey Morgan has started every game at prop, running for 211 metres in a loss to Tweed in Round 12. Joining him in the middle is Brock Ashton who regularly tops the tackle count for this side.
Burleigh Bears: Backrower Adam Christensen has been a force out wide for the Bears, scoring seven tries in eight games. He ran for 208 metres in Round 3 and 213 in Round 8. Centre Cruz Lasike became the second player to score five tries in a Colts game in Round 11. A week earlier he ran for 239 metres in a win over Tweed. Boston Tagg has played both five-eighth and halfback throughout the season and has been crucial in Burleigh’s current seven-game winning run.
CQ Capras: After making his Cup debut earlier in the year, prop Mitchell Leard-Lamont has been dominant in recent weeks. In Round 10 he ran for 221 metres and then 278 in Round 12, both off the bench. Papua New Guinean winger Bob Tenza is now a Cup regular but was electric in Colts, making big metres in every game. Halfback Marcus Tanner started the year with the Wests Tigers but has been a standout since returning to Rockhampton in Round 4.
Ipswich: Prop Max Banditt, who has the best name in rugby league, has topped the run metres in three of his six Colts appearances in 2023. Last time out he hit 180 metres in a loss to the Capras. Isaac Fels has played 10 games at either fullback or centre and earned a Cup debut two weeks ago. Ryan Balint started the year at halfback and has spent time at hooker, scoring four tries.
Mackay: Recruit Kobe Bone was relentless in the middle for the Cutters early in the season and has since become a regular in their Cup side. Fullback Kane Simon has topped 200 metres twice this year with 263 in Round 9 and 210 in Round 3. Baden Robinson has played all 11 games, starting all over the pack, racking up big tackling numbers.
Northern Pride: It’s been a rough year for the Pride but they still have some great talent. Hooker Hamish Davies is a hard worker who makes plenty of tackles. Twice he’s run for the most metres in his side. Props Bill Salameh and Corey Kennedy can also be proud of their efforts so far. Salameh ran for 220 metres in Round 4, one of four times he’s topped the yardage count.
Norths Devils: In his third year of Colts, Declan Haydon has spent time at fullback, five-eighth and halfback, scoring seven tries in 11 games. Ethan Jones has started every game in the front row, making plenty of metres in a side struggling to find wins. He ran for 198 metres in a Round 10 loss to Souths Logan. Captain Harry Walters is another big contributor in the pack, starting nine games in the second row.
Redcliffe: The Hoad twins, Ayden and Sully, have been in great form for the Dolphins. Ayden, a hooker, is the side’s top try scorer with nine, while Sully, a halfback, has five in eight appearances. Backrower Braith Major tops the side’s tackle count almost every week, recording six games with 30 or more. The NRL-experienced Taniela Otukolo has been strong in the middle or from dummy half, he ran for 194 metres in Round 12.
Souths Logan: Five-eighth Jaxen Yow has been on fire since returning from a stint with the Raiders, scoring 10 tries in seven games. In Round 11, he ran for 192 metres. Captain Max Pakai has started 11 games at lock, topping the tackle count in 10 of the game. He’s got 40 or more on four occasions. Fullback Byron Johnson has played five Cup games after eight appearances in Colts.
Sunshine Coast: Centre Mason Peut broke the Colts’ record when he scored six tries against the Pride in Round 12. A damaging runner, he ran for 224 metres in Round 5. Hooker Blake Ginman has played every game this season, as a reliable defender in the middle. He kicked the winning field goal against the Tigers in Round 9. His front-row partner Blake Woodford has also played every game, running for 192 metres in Round 8.
Townsville: Towering front rower Jeremiah Matautia has been a difficult one to stop in 2023. He ran for 210 metres in a Round 10 win over the Pride. Newsletter favourite Jesse Yallop makes huge metres from the wing each week. In Round 12, he ran for 313 and scored three tries against the Clydesdales. Hooker Jai Hansen has looked a class above in his nine Colts games. The Cowboys-contracted rake has made four Cup appearances in 2023.
Tweed: Fullback Jaylan De Groot was dominant in his three games before fracturing his leg in Round 4. He scored a hat trick and ran for 193 metres in Round 3. Captain and lock Jordan Stewart-Lewis is a tireless defender, topping the tackle count in six of his 10 games. Centre Malakhi Donovan has scored eight tries in 10 games. In Round 10, he score three tries and ran for 190 metres.
Western Clydesdales: Middle forwards Flynn Kaiser Capewell, Brock Patti and Darcy Carswell have been solid in a tough season for the Clydesdales. Almost every round, one of the three tops the team’s tackle count. In Round 2, Kaiser Capewell ran for 140 metres and made 43 tackles in a win over Ipswich.
Wynnum Manly: Prop John Radel has been a workhorse for the Seagulls, topping the tackle count five times. In Round 4, he ran for 245 metres in a win over Ipswich. Winger Blake Anders is the side’s top try scorer, with 10 in nine games. He crossed for four in a win over Mackay in Round 8. Centre Sefa Roache-Faimalo has run for over 200 metres four times, in Rounds 1, 2, 6 and 12.
🏉 Matt Foster departs Burleigh
Some big news out of the Colts world this past week, with head coach Matt Foster leaving the Bears to take charge of Keighley in the RFL Championship. Foster spent 11 years as a player at the Cougars, scoring 124 tries in 208 games. Foster has been a part of the Burleigh setup for 10 years, winning three A-Grade premierships. 2023 was his first season in charge of the Colts side and he had them in fourth, with eight wins from 10 games. Roy Leoni, who coached the side in 2022, takes over as interim for the remainder of the season.
🏉 Schoolboy Cup updates
The Top 4 all recorded victories in Round 5 of Southeast Queensland’s Allan Langer Trophy. As mentioned last week, Marsden defeated Redcliffe 69–22 in an early game. Then last Wednesday, Mabel Park got past Caloundra 28–22, Keebra Park SHS beat Wavell 18–8 and Ipswich SHS pipped Palm Beach Currumbin 16–14. Marsden is undefeated in first, while Keebra Park, Ipswich and Mabel have all suffered just one loss in 2023.
In central Queensland’s Dolphins Cup, Shalom College Bundaberg defeated Rockhampton Grammar 30–12 for the first win of 2023. In the second game, St Brendan’s Yeppoon scored on the siren to defeat Cathedral College Rockhampton 8–6. The win moves second-place St Brendan’s two points clear of Cathedral.
Up north, the Aaron Payne Cup took the week off but returns with the local blockbuster Kirwan State High vs. Ignatius Park College on Thursday, July 27. The rivals played out a 12–all draw last month.
And, finally, Schoolboy Cup action resumes in New South Wales with six games set to take place this week. The action gets underway on Tuesday, July 25 when undefeated sides Erindale College and Patrician Brothers’ Fairfield meet at Seiffert Oval for the top spot in Central Pool 2. On Wednesday, July 26, newcomers Central Coast Sports College can secure first in Northern Pool with a win over Hunter Sports High. Later that afternoon, Westfield Sports and Hills Sports will also play for first place in the Seeded Pool.
🏉 University Origin and Australian University team
The New South Wales and Queensland University sides met for their annual clash last Saturday, with New South Wales running out 16–8 winners at North Sydney Oval. There were several current Colts players on both sides. Wests Tigers duo Jay Kirk and Mitchell Chester, Eels’ half Riley Lack, Dragons’ hooker Ryan Barbuto and Rabbitohs’ backrower Cruise Tweedie played for New South Wales. Magpies SG Ball backrower Zakauri Clarke was also in the team. The Queensland team featured Cutters’ pair Kane Simon and Ethan Sweet, Magpies’ fullback Byron Johnson, Wynnum Manly lock Cooper Hewett and Bailey Black and Harry Farimbella from the Brisbane Tigers.
Following the game, Simon, Hewett, Clarke, Kirk, Tweedie, Sweet, Lack and Black were all selected for the Australian University side to tour New Zealand later this year. Clarke, Tweedie, Hewett and Simon also represented the side in 2022. Current Brisbane Tigers’ Queensland Cup coach Matt Church will coach the team.
🏉 Here and There
As has been heavily reported, Latu and Samuela Fainu, have signed with the Wests Tigers until the end of 2027. Samuela captained the victorious NSW U19 side two weeks ago, while Latu started at five-eighth.
Canberra won the race for Eels’ Jerse Flegg halfback Ethan Sanders. The two-year deal is set to begin in 2025, with the NSW U19 halfback contracted to Parramatta until next year.
Bulldogs’ Jersey Flegg captain and halfback Joseph O’Neill has re-signed with the club until 2024. The Berala junior has played 11 Flegg games and three NSW Cup games this season.
Queensland Schoolboys centre/winger William Semu has signed with Melbourne until 2025. Formerly with the Titans, Semu has come through the Souths Logan system and currently attends Marsden State High.
While the Titans have lost Semu, they have signed his club and schoolmate Javon Andrews until the end of 2025. Andrews, a five-eighth, has scored three tries in five games for Marsden SHS this year.
The Cowboys and Titans played their annual Under-19 fixture at Queensland Country Bank Stadium last Saturday night. The Cowboys won it 24–18 after trailing 14–12 at halftime. Jamal Shibasaki scored the winning try for the Cowboys in the final minutes of the contest.
Around the grounds
For more information on all games head to 18thman.com.
Jersey Flegg Cup – Round 21
St George Illawarra 26 (B Rumble 2, T Heremia-Tukere, D Purcell, H Rudd tries; A Ward 3 goals) def. Melbourne 18 (S Pio 3, M Jennings tries; K Russell-Smith goal) at Ziems Park. Referee: A Sirianni. Halftime: 14–all. Tackles: P Vetenibua-Finnerty 32 (SGI), G Satrick 27 (MEL). Run metres: B Rumble 265 (SGI), P Manu 180 (MEL).
Penrith 40 (B Moore 2, S Lane, J Nohra, L Philp, T Sielaff-Burns, P Taateo tries; J Nohra 6 goals) def. Canterbury 12 (D Corcoran, J Glover tries; J Glover 2 goals) at Windsor Sports Complex. Referee: B Williams. Halftime: PEN 24–6. Tackles: H Hassett 25 (PEN), L Smith 33 (CBY). Run metres: L Ison 190 (PEN), T Johannssen 114 (CBY).
Cronulla 22 (L Crouch, K Dixon, F Faatili, T Waitere tries; K Dixon 3 goals) def. Manly 16 (C Brown 2, C Cromarty tries; C Thompson 2 goals) at PointsBet Stadium. Referee: M Ford. Halftime: MAN 10–6. Tackles: K Wilson 36 (CRO), C Navale 37 (MAN). Run metres: L Crouch 208 (CRO), J Uesele 203 (MAN).
Newcastle 22 (F Sharpe 2, J Afoa, J Linnane tries; J Afoa 3 goals) def. South Sydney 14 (D Hawe-De Thierry, A Marcy, J Saldanha tries; E Ferguson goal) at Redfern Oval. Referee: P Eden. Halftime: NEW 16–4. Tackles: R Cook 34 (SOU), J Cullen 31 (NEW). Run metres: L Grossemy 160 (SOU), J Afoa 163 (NEW).
Sydney 30 (T Henare-Schuster, J Smith, J Swann, V Tamati, C Tohi tries; V Tamati 5 goals) def. Parramatta 16 (E Martin 2, M Komolafe tries; E Sanders 2 goals) at St Marys Leagues Stadium. Referee: B Mani. Halftime: PAR 10–6. Tackles: B Ioelu 36 (SYD), M Arthur 34 (PAR). Run metres: S Vaenuku 140 (SYD), E Martin 150 (PAR).
Ladder: 1st Roosters (36 pts), 2nd Bulldogs (32), 3rd Panthers (29), 4th Sharks (28), 5th Storm (24), 6th Dragons (24), 7th Rabbitohs (21), 8th Eels (20), 9th Sea Eagles (20th), 10th Wests Tigers (20), 11th Raiders (20), 12th Knights (18).
NRL Schoolboy Cup
Allan Langer Trophy – Round 5
Marsden State High 69 (C Black 2, S Innes 2, B Teuila 2, J Andrews, X Atoa, D Gallagher, C Rangihuna-Ruri, W Semu, L Symonds tries; C Black 10 goals, field goal) def. Redcliffe 22 (J Evans, J Fineanganofo, B Haji, H Roshan tries; J Fineanganofo 3 goals) at Kayo Stadium.
Mabel Park State High 28 (C Day, J Howe, C Kolone, R McCann, O Tavita tries; J Howe 4 goals) def. Caloundra State High 12 (C Paterson, T Roselt tries; T Roselt 2 goals) at Tinonee Oval.
Keebra Park State High 18 (D Lotaki, J Soric, X Tauaifaiga tries; Z Tarawa-Herlihy 3 goals) def. Wavell State High 8 (R Jenkins, C Ka tries) at Wavell State High School.
Ipswich State High 16 (T Peckham-Harris 2, X Kirk tries; I Mafi 2 goals) def. Palm Beach Currumbin State High 14 (B Donald, C Kelly-Donovan, B McConnell tries; Z Harrison goal) at North Ipswich Reserve.
Ladder: 1st Marsden (9 pts), 2nd Keebra Park (8), 3rd Ipswich (8), 4th Mabel Park (8), 5th Palm Beach Currumbin (5), 6th Wavell (2), 7th Caloundra (0), 8th Redcliffe (0).
Dolphins Cup – Round 4
Shalom College Bundaberg 30 (L Campbell 3, T Kelly, N Law, B Powter tries; T Kelly 2, B Powter goals) def. Rockhampton Grammar 12 (H Becker, S Young tries; H Clift 2 goals) at Rugby Park.
St Brendan’s Yeppoon 8 (T Green, M Tapau-Bon tries) def. Cathedral College Rockhampton 6 (E McKay try; Z Bateman goal) at St Brendan’s College Yeppoon.
Ladder: 1st Emmaus College (8 pts), 2nd St Brendan’s (6), 3rd Cathedral College (4), 4th Shalom College (4th), 5th Rockhampton Grammar (2)
Cowboys vs. Titans U19 game
North Queensland 24 (K Briggs, R Foley, T Penaia Te’o, J Shibasaki tries; K Simon 4 goals) def. Gold Coast 18 (J Tamepo 2, E Tagiilima, R Williams tries; M Liles goal) at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.