By Claire Stegbauer
With NSWRL's Junior Representatives Preliminary Finals now wrapped up, the Grand Final picture is locked in for Saturday 2 May. After a weekend of high stakes, dominant performances and last-minute heartbreak, the Grand Final opponents in the UNE SG Ball Cup, UNE Harold Matthews Cup, Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup and Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup have been decided.
UNE Harold Matthews Cup | Illawarra Steelers v Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters booked their place in the UNE Harold Matthews Cup Grand Final with a thrilling 36-26 victory over the Illawarra Steelers at Leichhardt Oval, setting up a decider clash with the Newcastle Knights.
The Roosters struck first through Tai Skipps, but the Steelers responded quickly, with Preston Sager leading the charge. Off the back of a set restart, the Steelers shifted right finding Destin Tausala, who produced a sharp offload on the short side to Sager. He powered his way over giving Illawarra a 12-6 lead.
The Roosters hit back through Marquis Sando and Harper Boothroyd, before Skipps added his second to edge his side ahead. However, Sager completed a first-half hat-trick to keep the Steelers in the contest, then Kahuitara Te Ra Chase crossed late to reduce the margin to 20-18 at the break.
Illawarra carried that momentum into the second half and struck immediately through Asher Chapman in a brilliant coast-to-coast effort. The try pushed the Steelers in front 26-20 and had them on the brink of a major upset.
But the Roosters responded under pressure. Levi Scarlett sparked the comeback with a crucial try to close the gap. The defining moment came through Andy Toia, who muscled his way over to reclaim the lead and swing momentum back in the Roosters’ favour.
From there, the Roosters controlled the closing stages, with Amaziah Pritchard sealing the result late to cap off a strong second-half performance.
Despite the loss, the Steelers showed immense fight led by Sager’s hat-trick and a relentless attacking effort. Ultimately, it was the Roosters’ composure in key moments that proved the difference in their 36-26 finals victory.
Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup | Parramatta Eels v Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy
The Parramatta Eels continued their title defence in dominant fashion, booking their place in the 2026 Grand Final with a commanding 28-6 win over Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy at Leichhardt Oval.
Last year’s premiers wasted no time asserting control, racing out to an early lead through Taylah Falaniko. Freedom Crichton Ropati added to the advantage soon after, before Falaniko grabbed her second inside the opening quarter to push the score out to 16-0.
The Roosters showed resilience to stay in the contest, with Lahni Moore stepping the opposition fullback at speed and finding the line to help reduce the margin to 16-6.
Parramatta responded immediately after the break and never looked back. Irae Savea extended the lead early in the second half, capitalising on sustained pressure.
The turning point came midway through the half when the Roosters were reduced to 12 players following a sin bin. The Eels capitalised instantly through Zyon Ligaliga, the winger going over to score and effectively sealing the contest.
Jessamine Aloalii capped off the performance late, finishing another slick attacking movement to confirm Parramatta’s place in the decider.
It was a complete performance from the Eels, combining early dominance with disciplined defence and clinical execution. They now head into the Grand Final aiming to go back-to-back.
Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup | Parramatta Eels v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs snatched a dramatic 14-12 victory over Parramatta Eels with a clutch penalty goal on full-time sealing their place in the Grand Final at Leichhardt Oval.
In a tense, low-scoring finals battle, both sides traded momentum throughout, but it was the Bulldogs who held their nerve when it mattered most.
They struck first through Jaida Taoai in the opening minutes, capitalising on early field position to take a 6-0 lead after Meleane Hala’s conversion. The Eels found their breakthrough late in the first half through Georgia Wansey, shifting down the short side to bring her side within two points.
Momentum swung further towards the Eels in the 24th minute when Bulldogs forward Suraya Kingi was sent to the sin bin. The Eels built pressure and eventually levelled the scores through a Rylee Cash penalty goal, making it 6-6 heading into the break.
The Bulldogs responded first in the second half through Talita Haumono off a powerful carry, helping the Dogs edge back in front 12-6.
With just under 10 minutes remaining the Eels struck again through Hine Rikiti, splitting the defence and crossing on the right edge. Rylee Cash added the extras to lock things up at 12-12 and set up a grandstand finish.
For the final minutes the contest became a tense arm-wrestle, with both sides fighting for field position. The decisive moment came on full-time when the Bulldogs were awarded a penalty 15 metres in from the left touchline.
With the pressure at its peak Meleane Hala stepped up and delivered, slotting the penalty goal after the siren to break the deadlock and seal a thrilling 14-12 victory.
It was a heartbreaking finish for the Eels, who showed immense resilience to fight back, but Hala's composure under pressure was the difference-maker.
UNE SG Ball Cup | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles v Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights have stormed into the Grand Final with a dominant 40-6 victory over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Henson Park.
In a clinical performance, the Knights overwhelmed the Sea Eagles from the outset, running in eight tries to one in a one-sided finals display.
Newcastle wasted no time asserting their authority, with Melchizedek Nonu opening the scoring inside the first five minutes. Callum Elsley soon added to the tally, before Nonu crossed for his second midway through the half as the Knights began to pull away.
Ashton Allen then finished off a sharp movement to extend the lead, before Nonu completed a first-half hat-trick to cap off a dominant opening 30 minutes as Newcastle took a 24-0 lead into the break.
Manly showed some fight early in the second half and were rewarded when Ashton Large crossed, with Max Davies converting to get them on the board at 24-6.
The Knights responded immediately through Diesel Hagan, restoring control and swinging momentum straight back in their favour.
Toby Winter added further damage with a late double, finishing off two well-worked attacking sequences to round out the 40-6 scoreline.
With a convincing win, the Knights now head into the Grand Final full of confidence after a commanding 40-6 win.
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.
