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Around the Grounds | Junior Reps Week One

Wrapping up some of the latest headlines from the opening day of Round One across the NSWRL's four metropolitan Junior Representatives competitions.

Tigers hang on for victory in Tarsha Gale Cup

The Wests Tigers recorded a hard-fought 12-10 win over Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy in the opening round of the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19s), staving off a strong second half from the visitors.

As both sides battled for the upper hand in the early exchanges at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, the Tigers eventually broke the deadlock in the 13th minute through back-rower Lucyannah Luamanu-Leiataua as Ella Barnett converted for a 6-0 lead.

Prop Ella Walker added four more points under the uprights just five minutes before the break before second Barnett conversion put the home side 12-0 ahead at the break.

The Roosters did well to fight back in the second half, keeping the hosts scoreless and managing two tries of their own with centre Tyra Ekepati and No.9 Mahlie Cashin. But with a two-point lead and eight minutes remaining the Tigers hung on for a memory Round One victory.

Click here for more results from Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup.

Panthers on song in Lisa Fiaola Cup

An unanswered 26-point start from the Penrith Panthers proved too great to overcome for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in Saturday’s Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup (Under 17s) Round One matchup.

Winger Kiah Taotofi scored the opener eight minutes into the contest, then at the 20-minute mark the home side found their rhythm with two quick tries before halftime courtesy of Kyla Pasene and winger Violet Hiku.

Centre Anita Ropati came up with a double to start the second half, scoring her first in the left corner before breaking the line off a midfield scrum and running away for the second.

The Sharks were next to score when No.14 Tahli Weigand found the line, before Vasaliva Feleti, the Panthers’ opposite centre, rounded out the tries for Penrith in the 55th minute.

In the final seconds the visitors managed another four-pointer through halfback Julliana Kolio, as the Panthers came away with the 26-10 win.

Click here for more results from the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup.

Harold Matthews and SG Ball Rabbitohs start season in style at Redfern

The South Sydney Rabbitohs kicked off the year in ominous fashion, with both the UNE Harold Matthews Cup (Under 17s) and UNE SG Ball Cup (Under 19s) teams scoring victories in a Round One double-header at Redfern Oval.

In the early clash the Rabbitohs flew out of the blocks with a pair of tries through James Davies and Asher Pung, before St George Illawarra Dragons’ winger Jake Lambert dived over in the corner.

While the home side looked to have last points for the half when fullback Darcy Feltham wove through to score under the sticks, it was Dragons No.1 Cody Field who hit back moments later through a gap down the left touchline.

With a 16-8 advantage South Sydney rallied in the second half with three more tries to seal a 32-10 win.

Next up in the SG Ball Cup clash, the hosts started fast against the defending champions with a double for halfback Matthew Humphries, then a try for Charlie Poynton on the wing just shy of the 20-minute mark.

By full-time the Rabbitohs ran away with a 58-12 win to cap off a successful start to the 2025 season for South Sydney’s Under 17s and Under 19s boys teams.

Click here for more results from the UNE Harold Matthews Cup.

Click here for more results from the UNE SG Ball Cup.

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