By Claire Stegbauer
Wrapping up the weekend’s action from the Preliminary Finals of NSWRL’s metropolitan Junior Reps competitions.
Indigenous Academy surge clear to book Tarsha Gale Cup Grand Final spot
The Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy have booked their spot in the 2025 Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup Grand Final with a strong 30-14 win over Illawarra Steelers, overcoming an early deficit to dominate the second half at Dudley Chesham Sports Ground.
It was the Steelers who made the brighter start, striking first through Charlotte Campbell. The winger snatched up a perfectly weighted kick from O'Brien to dive over in the corner (10’), giving Illawarra an early 4-0 advantage and setting a lively tone for the match.
The Indigenous Academy weren’t rattled, and soon after responded with a solo classy move down the left edge from Georgie Barrett in the corner (13’), but the missed conversion kept the scores level at four-all.
With the match still tightly poised, both sides had their chances, but it was Mahlie Cashin who broke the deadlock, slicing through the Steelers' middle defence from dummy-half to score just before the break (32’). Logan Fletcher added the extras to hand the Indigenous Academy a narrow 10-4 lead at half-time.
The Steelers came out firing in the second half and quickly reasserted themselves. Siulolo Richter muscled her way over (35’) to close the gap.
The Indigenous Academy lifted another gear, responding almost immediately. Jayda Durham crashed over from close range (38’), and although the conversion was missed, the scores were level at 14-all. From there, the Roosters outfit clicked into overdrive.
Tori Shipton sealed another four points for the Steelers, slipping under the defence from dummy-half right on the line (41’). Trinity Tauaneai nailed the conversion (43’), but that would be their final say.
Tyra Ekepati produced a powerhouse solo effort running 70 metres (47’) to edge the Roosters ahead. Two minutes later, they produced a replica, this time with Lacey Cross running 80 metres, palming and pushing, leaving defenders in her wake (49’). Logan Fletcher converted the Cross try, extending the margin to 24-14 and putting the Indigenous Academy firmly in control.
Fittingly, it was Mahlie Cashin who sealed the result. After opening the Indigenous Academy’s account earlier, she finished it as well, bursting through a tiring Steelers defensive line to bag her second try of the afternoon (55’). Fletcher’s third successful conversion pushed the final score-line to 30-14.
With the win, the Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy now march into the 2025 Tarsha Gale Cup Grand Final full of confidence, while the Steelers' long reign and spirited campaign came to an end just one game shy of the decider.
Eels stun Bulldogs to reach Lisa Fiaola Cup Grand Final
In one of the most thrilling contests of the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup season, the Parramatta Eels have stunned the previously dominant Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, clinching a hard-fought 22-20 victory to book their place in the Grand Final against Central Coast Roosters.
The Bulldogs, who had steamrolled opponents all year with big wins, got off to a perfect start. It was their powerhouse centre Asha Taumoepeau-Williams who set the tone early, palming off defenders and crashing through the line just left of the posts for the opening try (4’). Emacyn-Eden Ieremia added the extras, handing Canterbury-Bankstown a 6-0 lead.
Parramatta needed to settle, and it was their hooker Bailey Ma-Chong who stepped up, sneaking over from dummy half (11’) to post the Eels’ first points. She calmly converted her own try to level the scores at six-all, and from there, the arm wrestle was well and truly on.
The Bulldogs reclaimed momentum almost immediately. After forcing an error off the kick-off with a brutal tackle, they shifted the ball left and found winger Lala Vaea in space (14’), who crossed untouched. The conversion was waved away, but the Bulldogs had edged ahead 10-6.
The Eels answered back with a set-piece of their own. Off a scrum feed, they attacked the left edge, with centre Cody Tuimaseve bursting through a gap and showing blistering pace to score (19’). Ma-Chong’s second successful kick pushed Parramatta into their first lead of the afternoon, 12-10.
It remained a seesawing battle into the second half, and once again it was Taumoepeau-Williams who stood up for Canterbury-Bankstown. Five minutes after the break, a simple shift left caught Parramatta short and Asha slid over for her second try (35’). Another missed conversion kept the door open, but the Bulldogs led 14-12.
The Eels, showing immense resilience, struck back almost immediately. Off another scrum, they shifted wide to winger Hine Rikiti, who was dragged down just short but showed great strength to reach out and slam the ball down (38’), putting Parramatta back in front 16-14 after the missed conversion.
In a captain’s play, Bulldogs leader Evelyn Roberts muscled her side back into the lead. After a big surge from dummy half, she drew a penalty, took a quick tap and caught Parramatta napping to score beside the posts (42’). Ieremia made no mistake with the conversion, swinging the scoreboard back to Canterbury 20-16.
But the Eels refused to go away. Temieke Withers produced a moment of magic, fooling her defender with a dummy and slipping through to score the match-levelling try (48’). With the conversion missed, the game hung delicately at 20-all.
With minutes ticking down, Parramatta were awarded a penalty directly in front of the posts. In a composed decision, they opted to take the two points, with Ma-Chong slotting the goal to edge her team ahead 22-20 — a lead they desperately defended until the final whistle.
Tug-of-war triumph for the Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights have secured their spot in the 2025 UNE Harold Matthews Cup Grand Final after surviving a rollercoaster 26-20 victory over the Central Coast Roosters at Lidcombe Oval on Sunday.
It was a dream start for the Knights, who needed just one set to stamp their authority. After marching upfield with strong carries, they swung the ball right, where Cooper Townsend threw a well-timed dummy and sliced straight through the Roosters’ defence to score in the opening minute. Chase Butler converted to hand Newcastle an early 6-0 advantage.
The Roosters found their footing midway through the first half. After two powerful carries from Samuel Tracey, captain Carter Mareko threw a cut-out ball to winger Corbin Devaney, who dove over for their first points (18’). The conversion attempt missed, leaving Newcastle clinging to a 6-4 lead.
The Knights hit back soon after, with Butler once again orchestrating the play. Dancing across the defensive line, he opened space on the right and found Chip Valentish, who crossed untouched to stretch the lead (22’). Butler added the extras for a 12-4 margin.
But the Roosters refused to go away. With limited options on the short side, Mareko executed a clever left-foot kick that found Semi Leweniqila in the corner (26’), keeping them in the contest despite another missed conversion. Then, on the back of sustained pressure, Devaney bagged his second try of the afternoon (31’) on the right edge. This time Mareko nailed the kick and the Roosters surged ahead 14-12, taking the lead for the first time.
Newcastle needed a response after the break, and they found it through Callum Elsley. Exploiting an overlap on the right edge, the Knights shifted wide to send Elsley over (41’) to wrestle back a 16-14 advantage, though the missed conversion kept the game within reach.
The seesawing continued as the Roosters again found an answer. Samuel Michie backed himself close to the line (46’) and forced his way over to hand the Roosters a 20-16 lead after a successful conversion, setting up a tense final quarter.
With the game in the balance, the Knights’ left side finally clicked. Kade Paton finished off a sweeping backline move to score out wide (49’), locking the scores at 20-all after another missed conversion.
The winning moment came shortly after. Cooper Votano burst through a tired Roosters defensive line, drawing the fullback and finding Curtis Mulherin looming in support. Mulherin sprinted away to plant the ball under the posts, sending Knights fans into raptures and sealing a thrilling 26-20 win.
With the victory, Newcastle Knights will now meet the Warriors in next weekend’s Harold Matthews Cup Grand Final, after the Warriors secured their spot with a win over South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Parramatta power past Rabbitohs to book Grand Final date
The Parramatta Eels have marched into the 2025 UNE SG Ball Cup Grand Final, producing a commanding 34-4 victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Redfern Oval on Sunday.
It was the Eels who struck almost immediately, setting the tone for the afternoon. After an aggressive opening set, Parramatta shifted the ball left where Christopher Petrus found space to dive over in just the third minute. Although the conversion was waved away, the Eels had landed an early blow (4-0).
Momentum stayed firmly with Parramatta, and before long they were back on the attack. After a strong build-up through the middle, Ryda Talagi capitalised on a fast play-the-ball, crashing over to extend the lead (15’). This time Lincoln Fletcher made no mistake from the tee, stretching the margin to 10-0.
With the Rabbitohs struggling to contain Parramatta’s relentless pressure, the visitors added two more tries in quick succession before the break. Dom Farrugia showed his strength and timing, crossing twice in the space of four minutes (25’, 29’) to blow the game wide open. Fletcher coolly slotted both conversions, and at half-time the Eels were in complete control leading 22-0.
South Sydney desperately needed a spark to start the second half and found a glimmer of hope when Jacob Fong muscled his way over the line (34’). However, the missed conversion meant the Rabbitohs still trailed 22-4, and any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished.
Parramatta hit back with another surge of points, with Aidan Kebourian finishing a left-edge movement to score in the 48th minute. Although Fletcher missed the ensuing conversion, the Eels continued to dominate both possession and territory.
As South Sydney’s energy faded, the Eels remained ruthless. They took a penalty goal from right in front through Fletcher (63’) to nudge further ahead. Moments later, Lorenzo Talataina iced the result, sliding over for the Eels' sixth try of the afternoon (66’), with Fletcher adding his fourth successful goal.
With a dominant 34-4 victory, Parramatta now charge into the SG Ball Cup Grand Final full of confidence. The Eels will face the Sydney Roosters next week, who defeated Canberra Raiders 28-16 in their Preliminary Final.
Click here for results from the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup.
Click here for results from the UNE Harold Matthews Cup.
Click here for results from the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup.
Click here for results from the UNE SG Ball Cup.
