Claire Stegbauer
Round One of the NSWRL metropolitan Junior Representatives competitions delivered an impressive opening weekend, while regional teams continued to build momentum in Week Two. With fast starts, tight contests and standout individual performances, it was an action-packed weekend of Junior Reps Rugby League across NSW.
Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup
Sharks hold firm after late Knights fightback
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks opened their Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup campaign with a composed 16-10 victory over the Newcastle Knights at Maitland Sports Ground on Sunday, with early dominance proving decisive despite a late surge from the hosts.
Cronulla struck first through a strong right-edge set, with centre Makayla Vakauta charging into the defensive line from 20 metres out to put her side on the front foot. The pressure told soon after, as Manawanui James crashed her way over just to the right of the posts in the sixth minute. Ella Ropata added the extras to give the Sharks an early lead.
Only two minutes later, the Sharks struck again, this time through quick thinking around the ruck. Backing herself out of dummy half, Milla Caine darted down the short side and muscled her way over the line, with Ropata again converting to extend Cronulla’s advantage to 12-0.
Newcastle responded with a moment of class, led by halfback Addie Hagan. The Knights playmaker shaped the attack before delivering a crisp cut-out ball to winger Pandora Green, who crossed untouched in the corner in the 32nd minute. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the Sharks with a 12-4 lead at half-time.
Cronulla regained control early in the second half through Julliana Kolio, who backed herself on the fifth tackle and powered through the line to score in the 44th minute. The conversion attempt sailed wide, but the Sharks had stretched the margin to 16-4.
The Knights refused to fade, producing a well-worked try late in the contest. Again it was Hagan pulling the strings, placing a perfectly weighted grubber kick into the in-goal for centre Shikynah Pearson, who grounded the ball on the right edge in the 59th minute. Rubie Drake-Brockman converted to bring Newcastle within six points and set up a tense finish.
Despite the late pressure, the Sharks defended resolutely in the closing moments to secure a hard-fought Round One victory, showing composure and discipline to hold off the Knights’ late charge.
Laurie Daley Cup
Knights capitalise on key moments to down Bulldogs
The Newcastle Maitland Region Knights made the most of crucial opportunities to secure a 20-12 win over the North Coast Bulldogs in their Round Two Laurie Daley Cup clash at Port Macquarie Regional Stadium on Saturday.
Newcastle wasted no time opening the scoring, striking inside the opening minute with a slick set play. Sweeping left, the Knights linked through their five-eighth and fullback before shifting the ball into the hands of Asher Pung, who crossed to give the visitors an early advantage. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
The Bulldogs responded with a well-worked try of their own, sparked by strong involvement through lock Aidan Carey and captain Laine Paulson. The pair combined neatly, cutting in and out of defenders before Paulson backed herself to dive over and level the scores. Koby Bedwell added the conversion to put the Bulldogs ahead.
Following a Bulldogs dropout, the Knights hit back through a sharp short-side raid just 20 metres out. Hooker Billy Toms backed himself out of dummy half, breaking through two defenders to score, with Callum Elsley converting to restore Newcastle’s lead.
The arm wrestle continued into the second half, with the Bulldogs drawing level again through another moment of class from Paulson. With little space on offer, the captain placed a perfectly weighted grubber in behind the line, which Rhys Carrington won the race to ground. Bedwell converted to make it 12-12, with the contest finely poised.
Momentum briefly swung the Bulldogs’ way following a sin bin to the Knights, but Newcastle produced the defining moment of the match soon after. With the Bulldogs pressing hard on their line, centre Callum Elsley read a pass from Paulson perfectly, intercepting and racing 95 metres to score and reclaim the lead for the Knights. The conversion attempt went wide.
A late penalty gave Newcastle another opportunity deep in Bulldogs territory, and the Knights made it count. Billy Toms was again involved, linking with Aiden Whitaker, who crossed to the left of the posts to seal the result. Elsley added the conversion to put the game beyond reach.
Despite a spirited performance from the Bulldogs, the Knights’ ability to capitalise on key moments and execute under pressure proved decisive as they secured an eight-point victory in a hard-fought Round Two encounter.
UNE SG Ball Cup
Roosters’ late surge seals narrow win over Panthers
The Sydney Roosters opened their UNE SG Ball Cup campaign with a hard-fought 18-16 victory over the Penrith Panthers in a tense Round One clash at Mascot Oval on Saturday.
The Panthers dominated the opening stages, piling on three tries in a sharp nine-minute spell to surge to a 16-0 lead. Thomas Goodfield opened the scoring in the 19th minute before Ryan Goncalves and Zeik Selwood crossed in quick succession, with Hunter Bell converting two of the three tries.
The Roosters found a foothold late in the first half through winger Filipe Fakauho, who finished off a line break in the 32nd minute. Carter Mareko added the conversion to narrow the margin to 16-6 at the break.
Momentum swung dramatically after half-time as the Roosters lifted their intensity and began to turn possession into points. Darcy Smith sliced through the Panthers’ defence early in the second half, before Mareko backed up his own line break to score minutes later, levelling the scores at 16-16 after converting his own try.
With both sides trading sets and errors in the closing stages, the match was decided by Mareko’s nerve under pressure. The five-eighth slotted a penalty goal in the 63rd minute to give the Roosters a two-point advantage, which they defended through a frantic final period.
The Panthers pushed hard for a late response, but the Roosters’ resilience and composure proved decisive, securing an impressive comeback win to kick off their 2026 SG Ball Cup season.
Click here for more results from the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup.
Click here for more results from the UNE Harold Matthews Cup.
Click here for more results from the UNE SG Ball Cup.
Click here for more results from the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup.
Click here for more results from the Andrew Johns Cup.
Click here for more results from the Westpac Regional Lisa Fiaola Cup.
Click here for more results from the Laurie Daley Cup.
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