By Claire Stegbauer
Some thrilling contests were the highlight of another action-packed weekend for the NSWRL's Junior Representatives competitions.
UNE Harold Matthews Cup
Steelers stun Eels with late fightback in Kellyville thriller
The Illawarra Steelers produced a remarkable comeback to defeat the Parramatta Eels 22-18 in a dramatic Round Four UNE Harold Matthews Cup clash at the James Hardie Centre of Excellence on Saturday.
Parramatta made a fast start and controlled the early exchanges. A rolling set laid the foundation, with halves Levi Perrett and Caleb Leiataua combining neatly before Leiataua launched a perfectly weighted kick. Leonard Salter timed his run beautifully, rising to collect and score the opening try in the sixth minute. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but the Eels had early momentum.
The home side extended their lead soon after through slick left-edge play. Khan Jackson broke the line before linking with Lorima Seuseu, who found William Memea Epe hugging the touchline. The ball was worked back inside to Seuseu, who grounded it despite heavy contact to push the score to 8-0.
The Steelers hit back in the 32nd minute following a strong attacking set. Opting to run it on the last tackle, they sent a short ball to Hunter Fangupo, who crashed over under the posts. Oliver Burton converted to narrow the margin to 8-6 at half-time.
Parramatta regained control early in the second half. With Caleb Leiataua steering the side around the park, the Eels shifted right where Leonard Salter crossed for his second try in the 41st minute. Although the conversion was missed, the momentum remained with the hosts.
Minutes later Salter completed his hat-trick in near-identical fashion, scoring untouched in the 48th minute. Liam Martin added the extras to extend the lead to 18-6, and at that stage it appeared to be Parramatta’s game to lose.
In the 52nd minute, fullback Oliver Burton sparked the resurgence, stepping across field and engaging defenders before slipping a short ball to Preston Ruiz, who powered over in the corner. The conversion was successful, reducing the deficit to six.
Illawarra continued to build pressure, and signs of fatigue began to creep into the Eels’ defence. Tyler Lewis muscled through contact and flicked the ball to Destin Tausala, who beat two defenders to score in the 57th minute. The conversion attempt went wide, leaving the Steelers just two points behind with three minutes to play.
Burton again chimed into the line in the final set, probing for opportunity. Kahuitara Te Ra Chase produced a moment of brilliance, launching a chip-and-chase before regathering as the Eels’ cover slipped. Chase calmly offloaded out the back to Noah Fitzgerald, who grounded the ball just right of the posts in the 59th minute to secure the lead in extraordinary fashion. Ryland Coelho converted to seal a 22-18 victory.
The Steelers’ never-say-die attitude proved decisive, overturning a 12-point deficit in the final 10 minutes. For Parramatta, missed conversions throughout the afternoon ultimately proved costly, as the fine margins came back to haunt them in a thrilling Round Four encounter.
Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup
Raiders snatch late draw in Canberra
The Canberra Raiders and Melbourne Storm played out a gripping 16-all draw in Round Four of the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup at Raiders Belconnen on Saturday, with a dramatic final-minute try denying the visitors victory.
Melbourne wasted no time asserting themselves. Just one minute into the contest, fullback Dandelian Luamanu sparked the opening play off a scrum, steering the Storm deep into Raiders territory. Ocean Kaiwai-Rangikauhata combined on the inside before Luamanu produced a sharp flick pass to Anaviela Weatherby, who crossed untouched in the corner. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but the Storm had an early 4-0 lead.
Canberra responded quickly through their own scrum opportunity. Daisy Pipe sliced through the defensive line before linking with fullback Saige Fattore, who accelerated through a gap and stepped past defenders to score a classy individual try in the ninth minute. Fattore converted her own try to give the Raiders a 6-4 advantage.
The Storm hit back through clever dummy-half work from Keira Collins. After Caroline Lolohea laid a strong platform through the middle, Collins spotted a retreating marker and darted out of dummy-half, diving between defenders to score in the 13th minute. The conversion went astray, but Melbourne regained the lead.
Collins struck again minutes later, again capitalising on tired defenders around the ruck. Spotting space, she repeated the tactic to cross for her second in the 16th minute. Storm held a 12-6 lead heading into half-time after another missed conversion.
Canberra stayed composed and kept building pressure. In the 32nd minute Jade White challenged the line before the Raiders shifted left through quick hands. The ball found winger Lilly Pickering, who crossed untouched to bring the Raiders back within two points. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving Melbourne ahead 12-10 at the break.
The Storm extended their lead midway through the second half. After absorbing three tough tackles on their own line, Canberra’s defensive resolve began to waver. Siulepa Peteru produced a sharp flick pass to centre Makerita Seinafolava, who burrowed her way over in the 44th minute. Again the conversion was missed, but Melbourne pushed out to a 16-10 lead.
With time winding down, the Raiders needed something special and they found it.
With less than a minute remaining, Fattore launched a desperate grubber into the defensive line. Alaiela Dargin-Bell chased hard, the ball bouncing awkwardly before she regathered and slammed it down to score in the 57th minute.
The pressure now fell on Fattore’s boot. From out wide, she struck the ball cleanly right-to-left, watching it float over the upright to level the scores at 16-all in a clutch moment that ensured the Raiders would not leave empty-handed.
Andrew Johns Cup
Bulldogs run riot as Hoolahan orchestrates 10-try masterclass
The North Coast Bulldogs produced a dominant display in Round Five of the Andrew Johns Cup, overwhelming the Northern Tigers 56-12 at Scully Park, Tamworth.
The Bulldogs wasted no time asserting control, and it was their captain and halfback Zac Hoolahan who lit up the contest from the outset, steering his side around the park with composure and creativity.
It took just four minutes for North Coast to open the scoring. After sustained pressure on the Tigers’ line, Jack Curry backed himself, pushing through three defenders to crash over under the posts for the first points of the afternoon. Tobias Rowlatt converted to give the visitors a 6-0 lead.
The Bulldogs struck again soon after. Quick ball movement created space for Rocky Mann, who sliced through the defensive line in the eighth minute to extend the advantage. Rowlatt’s accuracy off the tee made it 12-0.
The defining moment of the first half came in the 17th minute. Arlie Atchison launched a beautifully weighted kick towards the left edge. In an athletic aerial display, Khan Penney regathered the ball mid-air, twisted his body to stay in the field of play and planted it down in one motion, a momentum-shifting try that pushed the Bulldogs further ahead.
Penney grabbed a second soon after as North Coast’s centres continued to find space, combining sharply on both edges. Hoolahan’s direction through the middle and Rowlatt’s support play kept the Tigers under constant pressure.
To their credit, the Tigers hit back in the 25th minute through Lewis Crough, narrowing the margin to 22-6 after the conversion. But any hint of a shift was short-lived.
Rocky Mann grabbed his second try in the 30th minute in what proved to be a backbreaker before the break. The Bulldogs surged down the right-hand side on a short-side raid, with Rowlatt firing a sharp ball back inside to Mann, who stepped past the final defender to score.
Cooper Anderson added another just before half-time, sending the Bulldogs into the sheds leading 34-6.
North Coast resumed with the same intensity after the break. In the 41st minute, Hoolahan produced a classy show-and-go within 10 metres of the line before slipping a short ball to Mann, who once again placed himself perfectly in support. The captain and centre combined seamlessly throughout the afternoon, and Mann’s hat-trick highlighted the Bulldogs’ clinical execution.
Northern Tigers managed a second try through Lewis Brown in the 51st minute, but the Bulldogs’ response was immediate and ruthless.
Jack Curry crossed for his second in the 55th minute after another powerful set wore down the Tigers’ line. Two minutes later, Mann claimed his fourth try of the afternoon, finishing off a sweeping movement that showcased North Coast’s speed in transition and relentless attacking intent.
The final word belonged to Archie Newton, who crossed on the stroke of full-time to cap a comprehensive 10-try performance.
Click here for results from the Andrew Johns Cup.
Click here for results from the Westpac Regional Lisa Fiaola Cup.
Click here for results from the UNE Harold Matthews Cup.
Click here for results from the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup.
Click here for results from the Laurie Daley Cup.
Click here for results from the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup.
Click here for results from the UNE SG Ball Cup.
