RLO Newsletter 26/9: Bulldogs win the Jersey Flegg
St Helens win the SL Academy final and Australia win in PNG
For the first time in 20 years, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are the Jersey Flegg Cup premiers after defeating the Sydney Roosters 22-20 in Sunday’s Grand Final.
The title caps off a great year for the club’s junior rep program, as their under-17 side won the Harold Matthews Cup in April and their Tarsha Gale Cup girls’ side finished as runners-up.
The sides traded tries in the opening 25 minutes, with the Roosters opening the scoring in the 11th minute through winger Xavier Chatfield-Mooka. The Dogs hit back five minutes later through their winger Jordi Mazzone, who was on the end of some slick passing.
The roles reversed minutes later when the Bulldogs took the lead thanks to backrower Harry Hayes before the Roosters replied three minutes later when Chatfield-Mooka scored a near identical try to his first. The Tricolours led 14-10 going into halftime after bench prop Tayson Fakaosi scored in the 31st minute.
After the break it was Canterbury with all the momentum, punishing the Roosters’ ill discipline with tries to Danny Gabrael and Mazzone to lead 22-14. The Roosters got back in it with eight minutes remaining when Salesi Foketi barged over. They had a huge chance to steal three minutes later with a full set on the Dogs’ line but dropped it early in the set.
Another Roosters error in the final minute sealed it for the Bulldogs, who claimed their 10th Jersey Flegg Cup, a competition record. Their halfback and captain Joseph O’Neill was named Player of the Match.
🏉 St Helens win Academy title, Wigan booted
St Helens are the 2023 Super League Academy champions after a strong 22-6 win over Warrington on Sunday. Saints led 10-0 at halftime with tries to Owen Dagnall and Ben Will. They pushed the lead to 22 after a Harvey Braddish double before a late try to Warrington’s Adam Whalley.
Yes, I know what you’re thinking, “Wait, Warrington? I read last week, in this very newsletter, that Wigan were going to play in the Grand Final.” You are correct but also incorrect because Wigan were kicked out of the match.
Last Friday, two days before the game, Wigan were removed by the RFL after it was discovered that they had used 12 interchanges, four over the limit, in their tight 18-12 win over Warrington.
After doing some digging it seems like Academy games had unlimited subs during the regular season but used Super League rules (eight subs) for the finals series. There was also no sideline official so it was down to the individual coaching staff to keep track of substitutes. You’ve got to feel for the Wigan lads who missed out on a final because someone forgot how (or possibly even chose not) to count. Peak rugby league. Truly the greatest game of all.
🏉 Australian Schools Teams Successful in PNG
The Australian Schoolboys and Schoolgirls sides both picked up wins against their junior Papua New Guinea opponents on Sunday.
The Schoolboys did it tough, winning 20-16 thanks to a very late winner from Penrith’s Jaxen Edgar. The Junior Kumuls were led by Townsville fullback Ragarive Wavik, fresh off his star performance in the Colts Grand Final, who scored a try and kicked two goals.
The Schoolgirls did it easier in the earlier game against the Junior Orchids, running out 26-0 winners. This was the Junior Orchids’ first-ever game and the second for the Schoolgirls, who played Fiji last year. The Schoolgirls ran in six tries, with doubles to wingers Mercedez Taulelei-Siala, Caley Tallon-Henniker, and centre Ebony Raftstrand-Smith.
The boys’ game is available here, and the girls’ game is here.
🏉 Queensland Country do the double
The under-17 boys and girls Queensland Country sides were successful over their City counterparts, both snatching victory in the final minutes in Logan this past weekend.
The Country girls opened the day with a 24-20 win over City. A tight first half saw the scores locked at 16-all going into the break. City regained the lead shortly after the resumption through centre Te Rina Pearse. Country hit back five minutes later when their centre Jennifer Kimber scored out wide. The winner came in the last minute when halfback and player of the match Chloe Pallisier threw a cutout pass for winger Zaleah Mosby-Nona, who ran 50 metres to score.
The boys side completed the double with a 13-12 win over City. Halfback Zac Herdegen was the matchwinner, kicking a field goal four minutes out from full-time. The sides traded tries in the first half, first through Country prop Zac Garton and then City hooker Cory Pearse, to go into the sheds at 6-all. Country bench hooker Jai Bowden barged over from close to put his side in front two minutes into the second before City backrower Jac Finigan broke several tackles to score his side’s second in the 50th minute.
It’s the third straight year of these fixtures, with both Country sides now up 2-1 over City.
🏉 15s / 16s Secondary Schools Championships
The boys under-15s and girls under-16s schools championships kicked off in Port Macquarie over the weekend. Four days are complete as of writing this, with the finals set to begin on Wednesday, September 27.
In the boys, the usual school sides are competing for the A title - ACT, NSWCCC, NSWCHS, NSWCIS, Queensland Maroon and Queensland White, with the First Nations Goannas, Northern Territory, Victoria and Western Australia playing in the B competition. Queensland Maroon and NSWCHS top their pools with two wins and zero losses, while the Goannas and WA lead Pool B.
For the girls, two groups of four compete for the championship. In Pool A, NSWCHS finished first undefeated with NSWCIS in second. In Pool B, Queensland went undefeated with Victoria behind them.
Under-15s is an age group I know very little about and I haven’t watched any of the game, so I can’t comment much. Usually, two merit Australian sides (Pool A and B) are picked after the competition but they weren’t last year and it doesn’t seem like they will this year.
Going back to 2007, 55 of the 168 players chosen in the A side have gone on to play first grade. That includes the likes of Jason Taumalolo, Payne Haas, David Fifta and Kalyn Ponga (who was picked twice).1 In 2018, Ezra Mam, Jeremiah Nanai and Jonah Pezet were all selected. The B side, which consists of Affiliated States players, has had nine NRL graduates.2
Around the grounds
For more information on all games head to 18thman.com.
Jersey Flegg Cup – Grand Final
Canterbury 22 (J Mazzone 2, D Gabrael, H Hayes tries; J Papalii 3 goals) def. Sydney 20 (X Chatfield-Mooka 2, T Fakaosi, S Foketi tries; C Tia 2 goals) at CommBank Stadium. Referee: K Irons. Halftime: SYD 14-10. Tackles: L Hopoi 36 (CBY), A Holten 37 (SYD). Run metres: T Johannssen 185 (CBY), M McCathie 42 (SYD). Player of the Match: J O’Neill (CBY).
Super League Academy – Grand Final
St Helens 22 (H Braddish 2, O Dagnall, B Will tries; M McGucken 3 goals) def. Warrington 6 (A Whalley try; N Booth goal) at Totally Wicked Stadium. Halftime: STH 10-0.
Rep Games
Australian Schoolboys 20 (L Aoake, W De Courcey, J Edgar, L Galvin tries; R Pollard 2 goals) def. Junior Kumuls 16 (F Glare, A Naiyep, R Wavik tries; R Wavik 2 goals) at Santos National Stadium.
Australian Schoolgirls 26 (Caley Tallon-Henniker 2, Ebony Raftstrand-Smith 2, Mercedez Taulelei-Siala 2 tries; Caley Tallon-Henniker goal) def. Junior Orchids 0 at Santos National Stadium.
U17 Qld Country Boys 13 (J Bowden, Z Garton tries; Z Herdegen 2 goals, field goal) def. U17 Qld City Boys 12 (J Finigan, C Pearse tries; C Black 2 goals) at Logan Metro Football Fields. Halftime: 6-all. Player of the Match: B Sharpley (Country).
U17 Qld Country Girls 24 (T Thompson 2, J Kimber, Z Mosby-Nona, C Tanner tries; C Tanner 2 goals) def. U17 Qld City Girls 20 (R Olomalii 2, T Pearse, I Talau tries; I Talau 2 goals) at Logan Metro Football Fields. Halftime: 16-all. Player of the Match: C Pallisier (Country).
Ponga was selected in 2012 and 2013, first while attending Mackay State High and then Anglican Church Grammar. He was just the second 14-year-old to ever make the side.
They are Kurt De Luis, Royce Hunt, Jackson Topine (WA), Sua Faalogo, Mahe Fonua, Dean Ieremia, Richie Kennar (Victoria), Sam Irwin, and Chris Smith (NT).