Junior Reps 2026

P

puff

SGI Jersey Flegg
Mailroomsgi said:
I’d argue Ah Kee is the most ‘gifted’ of all of our prospects. He’s enthralling to watch. He put St George on his back against the bulldogs last year and won us that game on his own. Seriously talented player

And Frank, I’ve learnt that it never shakes out that way with juniors as much as we’d like it too. The odds of the 4 youngsters you’ve named making it as an NRL starter are slim. If we’re lucky maybe 2 of them will be excellent players and as puff said they are still a long way away from first grade.

It is a positive that there are some outstanding spine players in pathways though. You can never have too many guns coming through
Click to expand...
Exactly. It's too early to predict first grade from Harold Matthews. Most Harold Matthews players don't get near first grade. A few years ago, we had an absolute gun centre called Brad Morkos. He didn't just get selected for Australian Schoolboys and NSW U 19s. He was considered to be in the bracket of the most likely to make NRL from these teams. Raiders poached him from us. He's 23 and has walked away from the game. He didn't play in the NRL. He was nearly guaranteed to make it when he was 2 years older than these HM kids.
It also goes the other way. Some eventual first graders couldn't even make Harold Matthews' teams. So we may have some future first graders who didn't even make these teams.
 
P

puff

SGI Jersey Flegg
I think all 4 junior reps will win this week. St George are playing Bears in both 17s and 19s. Steelers 19s should beat Dogs.
 
TheRev

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
Match Notes (Steelers U17's)
This is the only team that can challenge in finals so there is a lot more detail here in these notes + most of our young guns r in the side.. very dominant win today:

1st Half:
  • Alright so this is an exciting week.. all our 2-week concussion periods are over so we are basically at full strength.. essentially to get our strongest team on the paddock we have a spine of 1. Burton, 6. Chapman, 9. Coehlo, our 3 strongest creators, and Fletcher Couchman in @13 which is new to him, but honestly his frame is rly too big for the halves.. so I think he has to bulk up like his brothers in years to come.. and make lock his spot to move forward.. and that brings Api and Fangupo as our starting props.. these are our 2 best props.
  • We defended well early and off the back of yet another bulldogs strip (I noticed when they dogs played dragons previously that they must train stripping in tackles.. cause it happens all the time) we are able to go on the attack and score first with a loose offload from Fangupo that hits the deck but Coehlo able to pick it up get outside his man and get a pass to Burton to Tausala who is a scary mofo I guess but the winger is drawn into him and he easily gets the ball away to Sager who has a nice turn of pace for a big winger and easily scores and improves the position... but damn Coehlo misses a very gettable kick 4-0.
  • Api is such a dominant body at this level, such a thicc boy that just dents the line.. that doesn't necessarily flow through to higher grades when everyone else is a big unit.. but I rly like what i c.. and anyway off that run I've had to rewind this a few times to understand what's happened.. Chapman has beaten a few tackles.. but is able to wriggle free as he's been tackled for a rly quick play the ball.. which brings Coehlo running to get there and a retreating defence.. he gets it to Burton who is there in support as always.. he is watching the defence and draws his man before slipping it to his ctr Berghuis (the 2 look identical in white headgear btw, actually there is usually 3 of them in the headgear) but in any case Berghuis draws the fullback and gets crunched but not before slipping it back to Burton who is too quick for the final defender and scores close(ish) to the sticks! ffs Coehlo has missed again this kid has been nailing sideline conversions for weeks.. are these conversions too easy or something.. 8-0.
  • ok so off a penalty we have Lewis to Chapman who is back very deep.. shows it, doesn't pass to his ctr but goes to Burton who is also deep behind him.. Burton dummies to his winger and just accelerates burning their ctr badly.. and gets it to his winger Efaraimo who puts on some rly nice footwork to beat his winger but the cover defence gets him (the dogs defenders r very quick).. he's tackled but they are at 6's and 7's and Te Ra Chase slips it to his Ctr in Berghuis for another try, out wide this time.. looks like Coehlo dumped as goalkicker.. Chapman pings it from out wide.. nice 14-0.
  • Right on half time we have another attacking set off a penalty.. Lewis again getting a ball out to Burton, they have create a 2on1 overlap, I think the ctr was in the tackle so it was clever.. too easy Burton puts Sager away in the corner.. Chapman just misses 18-0 half time.
2nd Half:
  • Ok this is slick.. Chapman with some subtle footwork gets his defender off balance and gets his nose through, gets an arm free. waits for his winger Efaraimo and flicks a ball under his arm about 10m away right in front of the wingers face and he dashes down field.. shades of Lomax only a) Asher was looking where he was flicking and b) the Flick actually went to his winger... Efaraimo is tackled (their cover defence is so fast), but he stays in play thankfully and we zing it to the opposite touchline (edge to edge) lots of good long passes.. I need to shout out to Lewis @7 also, I've been critical of his games @6 but today he has given good early ball to his outside men, and another good long pass here.. he's getting it to the right men.. Sager I thought had reached out for a lovely finish and damn it he's put a foot into touch.. my apologies I thought we had scored there.. but it was still very slick.. I'm realising that I think Sager has changed sides for this match, I'm sure he was on the right before... so still 18-0.
  • That was a big momentum shift after that missed try... and we went on to defend 2 sets on our line but we rly on song today.. off another penalty we get to attack.. Chapman is so dangerous with his footwork.. creating chaos.. twice in the set.. and off the back of it again the #14 Te Ra Chase who I rly like as a dynamic dummy half when Coehlo gets a rest.. puts a short ball in for his centre Berghuis who steps inside a defender and plonks it down.. Berghuis has rly grown into this season also.. rly does his job @ right ctr, pretty quick.. Chapman just slides the goal over.. 24-0.
  • Had to rewind this next attacking set.. bulldogs unlucky to knock on cleaning up a 5th tackle kick and we get a scrum feed.. so Chapman goes right into the line and takes a hit to get Berghuis into a gap and he almost scores.. off the back once again the #14 Te Ra Chase playing eyes up footy, scoots from dummy half and dives under the defence.. so dominant 30-0.
  • Things were a little sloppy here, we've had to defend our line a few times and Burton has been there with a nice pick up on the 5th to stay in field and keep us out of trouble.. a few sets later and Burton catches his bomb and I've literally been commenting during the week that its been a while since Burton has put one of his long range efforts and here it was... he steps through multiple defenders running 60+ metres to be pulled down on the 10m line... I dunno how the dogs defenders keep getting back to stop our tries must be some quick dudes in that side.. but it means nothing as we spread it from edge to edge yet again.. Berghuis with the final pass to Efaraimo to score in the far corner.. Chapman misses from the corner by about 5cm.. 34-0.
  • Farrrrrrrrrrrrkkk.. finally were back to full strength and dominant.. and Api has been knocked out again getting his head in the wrong position.. that's his 2nd HIA for the season.. that's a CAT1 also.. at least 2 weeks out.. maybe more given its a 2nd.. oh man at full strength we are such a force.. we defend yet another set on our line.. far out is there some steel in us today.
  • Ah damn 20secs left in the game and we concede a try finally to some good footwork from their winger.. shame but it was very dominant 34-6.
Overall:
Bit gutted by the last couple of minutes of the match, the HIA in particular, but overall it was completely 1-sided, this is the first game the Steelers look to have the line-up right across the park... we were at full strength (prior to Api's HIA) and it all worked.. the entire backline 1-7 is spot on.. all of them firing.. the halves worked beautifully.. the hooker rotation was golden.. the goalkicking was a mixed back we have 3 blokes who r all great goalkickers.. nice problem to have.. the forwards were strong.. not sure if Couchman will grow into a 13 long-term, needs some size in off-season's etc, but has good footwork.. Api is our best and the 2nd rowers r solid and its just all working rly well.. if we can keep em fit we should be able to take a real crack in finals (I hope), sometimes I guess when you dominate you can get a bit carried away, but the selection changes fixed the things that have been going wrong in the earlier rounds.. mostly Chapman @6 adds some real class into the mix, the rest were already playing well.. Lewis also had his best game today @7.
 
TheRev

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
I've fallen completely behind all these games, 3 going on at once now.. will switch to Flegg after some lunch, which is a different thread.

Caught a couple of the Steelers SG Ball tries, Cooper Morrison has a real threat from ctr on left, Marley put on a nice kick for CMeafou also... will have a closer look later but too much footy going on today...
 
P

puff

SGI Jersey Flegg
TheRev said:
Match Notes (Steelers U17's)
This is the only team that can challenge in finals so there is a lot more detail here in these notes + most of our young guns r in the side.. very dominant win today:

1st Half:
  • Alright so this is an exciting week.. all our 2-week concussion periods are over so we are basically at full strength.. essentially to get our strongest team on the paddock we have a spine of 1. Burton, 6. Chapman, 9. Coehlo, our 3 strongest creators, and Fletcher Couchman in @13 which is new to him, but honestly his frame is rly too big for the halves.. so I think he has to bulk up like his brothers in years to come.. and make lock his spot to move forward.. and that brings Api and Fangupo as our starting props.. these are our 2 best props.
  • We defended well early and off the back of yet another bulldogs strip (I noticed when they dogs played dragons previously that they must train stripping in tackles.. cause it happens all the time) we are able to go on the attack and score first with a loose offload from Fangupo that hits the deck but Coehlo able to pick it up get outside his man and get a pass to Burton to Tausala who is a scary mofo I guess but the winger is drawn into him and he easily gets the ball away to Sager who has a nice turn of pace for a big winger and easily scores and improves the position... but damn Coehlo misses a very gettable kick 4-0.
  • Api is such a dominant body at this level, such a thicc boy that just dents the line.. that doesn't necessarily flow through to higher grades when everyone else is a big unit.. but I rly like what i c.. and anyway off that run I've had to rewind this a few times to understand what's happened.. Chapman has beaten a few tackles.. but is able to wriggle free as he's been tackled for a rly quick play the ball.. which brings Coehlo running to get there and a retreating defence.. he gets it to Burton who is there in support as always.. he is watching the defence and draws his man before slipping it to his ctr Berghuis (the 2 look identical in white headgear btw, actually there is usually 3 of them in the headgear) but in any case Berghuis draws the fullback and gets crunched but not before slipping it back to Burton who is too quick for the final defender and scores close(ish) to the sticks! ffs Coehlo has missed again this kid has been nailing sideline conversions for weeks.. are these conversions too easy or something.. 8-0.
  • ok so off a penalty we have Lewis to Chapman who is back very deep.. shows it, doesn't pass to his ctr but goes to Burton who is also deep behind him.. Burton dummies to his winger and just accelerates burning their ctr badly.. and gets it to his winger Efaraimo who puts on some rly nice footwork to beat his winger but the cover defence gets him (the dogs defenders r very quick).. he's tackled but they are at 6's and 7's and Te Ra Chase slips it to his Ctr in Berghuis for another try, out wide this time.. looks like Coehlo dumped as goalkicker.. Chapman pings it from out wide.. nice 14-0.
  • Right on half time we have another attacking set off a penalty.. Lewis again getting a ball out to Burton, they have create a 2on1 overlap, I think the ctr was in the tackle so it was clever.. too easy Burton puts Sager away in the corner.. Chapman just misses 18-0 half time.
2nd Half:
  • Ok this is slick.. Chapman with some subtle footwork gets his defender off balance and gets his nose through, gets an arm free. waits for his winger Efaraimo and flicks a ball under his arm about 10m away right in front of the wingers face and he dashes down field.. shades of Lomax only a) Asher was looking where he was flicking and b) the Flick actually went to his winger... Efaraimo is tackled (their cover defence is so fast), but he stays in play thankfully and we zing it to the opposite touchline (edge to edge) lots of good long passes.. I need to shout out to Lewis @7 also, I've been critical of his games @6 but today he has given good early ball to his outside men, and another good long pass here.. he's getting it to the right men.. Sager I thought had reached out for a lovely finish and damn it he's put a foot into touch.. my apologies I thought we had scored there.. but it was still very slick.. I'm realising that I think Sager has changed sides for this match, I'm sure he was on the right before... so still 18-0.
  • That was a big momentum shift after that missed try... and we went on to defend 2 sets on our line but we rly on song today.. off another penalty we get to attack.. Chapman is so dangerous with his footwork.. creating chaos.. twice in the set.. and off the back of it again the #14 Te Ra Chase who I rly like as a dynamic dummy half when Coehlo gets a rest.. puts a short ball in for his centre Berghuis who steps inside a defender and plonks it down.. Berghuis has rly grown into this season also.. rly does his job @ right ctr, pretty quick.. Chapman just slides the goal over.. 24-0.
  • Had to rewind this next attacking set.. bulldogs unlucky to knock on cleaning up a 5th tackle kick and we get a scrum feed.. so Chapman goes right into the line and takes a hit to get Berghuis into a gap and he almost scores.. off the back once again the #14 Te Ra Chase playing eyes up footy, scoots from dummy half and dives under the defence.. so dominant 30-0.
  • Things were a little sloppy here, we've had to defend our line a few times and Burton has been there with a nice pick up on the 5th to stay in field and keep us out of trouble.. a few sets later and Burton catches his bomb and I've literally been commenting during the week that its been a while since Burton has put one of his long range efforts and here it was... he steps through multiple defenders running 60+ metres to be pulled down on the 10m line... I dunno how the dogs defenders keep getting back to stop our tries must be some quick dudes in that side.. but it means nothing as we spread it from edge to edge yet again.. Berghuis with the final pass to Efaraimo to score in the far corner.. Chapman misses from the corner by about 5cm.. 34-0.
  • Farrrrrrrrrrrrkkk.. finally were back to full strength and dominant.. and Api has been knocked out again getting his head in the wrong position.. that's his 2nd HIA for the season.. that's a CAT1 also.. at least 2 weeks out.. maybe more given its a 2nd.. oh man at full strength we are such a force.. we defend yet another set on our line.. far out is there some steel in us today.
  • Ah damn 20secs left in the game and we concede a try finally to some good footwork from their winger.. shame but it was very dominant 34-6.
Overall:
Bit gutted by the last couple of minutes of the match, the HIA in particular, but overall it was completely 1-sided, this is the first game the Steelers look to have the line-up right across the park... we were at full strength (prior to Api's HIA) and it all worked.. the entire backline 1-7 is spot on.. all of them firing.. the halves worked beautifully.. the hooker rotation was golden.. the goalkicking was a mixed back we have 3 blokes who r all great goalkickers.. nice problem to have.. the forwards were strong.. not sure if Couchman will grow into a 13 long-term, needs some size in off-season's etc, but has good footwork.. Api is our best and the 2nd rowers r solid and its just all working rly well.. if we can keep em fit we should be able to take a real crack in finals (I hope), sometimes I guess when you dominate you can get a bit carried away, but the selection changes fixed the things that have been going wrong in the earlier rounds.. mostly Chapman @6 adds some real class into the mix, the rest were already playing well.. Lewis also had his best game today @7.
Click to expand...
Dogs' defence was poor. Plenty of opportunity to attack. Steelers' defence was mostly good. Steelers defence is improving. I think they can win this comp, but there are 4 or 5 other good teams.
"...sometimes I guess when you dominate you can get a bit carried away,..."
Yes, because we are dominating a team that is weaker than the previous opponents (except perhaps Manly). Steelers have had a tough draw until now. They were better today, but it was easier today.
 
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