Junior Reps 2025

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
Just watched the Steelers v Dragons mini-game for SG Ball, few comments:
  • Steelers Try 1: DMeafou sets it up with a decent run and a nice offload to a trailing Weatherall who crashes over on his first game back from suspension.
  • Steelers Try 2: leadup.. big run from Weatherall > Big run from DMeafou > big run from Langdon who spins and gets it down.. all 3 of these blokes werent available until recently.. 3 of the steelers best forwards.
  • Steelers Try 3: Stand-in centre Ezekiel Kennedy just gets low from dummy half and pushes 3 blokes out of the way for a try.. like he wasnt diving.. he was just crouched.. either hes freakishly strong or thats some really poor defence.
  • Dragons Try 1: J#14 Blanch from hooker just delivers a nice long ball to Boyle #6 who draws and passes and there is a big overlap already... the pass finds Meldrum #4 who puts away his winger Makhlouf #5 in the corner, I think the inside steelers defence was to blame there, it was 4 on 3 as soon as the hooker passed it... even with the fullback coming into the defensive line to assist..
  • Steelers Try 4: DMeafou charging at the line and very hard to stop.. just pops a nice little offload at the last moment to Phillips who goes in untouched.. 2nd try-assist for Daniel now.
  • Steelers Try 5: Halves working together, Reed throws a nice long ball behind a decoy Jackon.. to give Fitzy a little bit of room.. he gets in between 2 defenders and a simple pass to #12 Sadler who falls over the line.
  • Steelers Try 6: Breakspear #20 who is the 18th man.. hope that doesnt mean we had multiple HIAs.. gets it to Fitzy who shoots a long ball across several defenders to stand-in centre Elton #15 who scores a simple try..
A lot of tries thru the middle today.. Steelers in 2nd gear just too good for the Dragons, even with Kirk, Heidke, Timmo & Borg out.. I do hope some of them are back in weeks to come though, they are missing 4 out of 5 of their outside backs.. and a lot of class.
 

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
just takes 1 injury and you dont see a kid for an entire HM/SG season.. so frustrating.. Leeroy should atleast play the back half of flegg season I guess.
 

Mailroomsgi

SGI Jersey Flegg
Yeah surely he does, there’s some absolute dross in Flegg so I expect a fair chunk of the SG ball lads will move up
 

Mailroomsgi

SGI Jersey Flegg
I do wonder what the club does with Heidke and Buchanan contractually. They’ve both had very similar starts to their career in that they’ve been standouts in the centres for the Steelers.
2 completely different profiles though. One short and fast, the other big and powerful
 

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
With Buchanan moving up to NSW cup to cover Allans suspension.. there is almost noone left in flegg that ive been keen to watch.. hard to imagine that would be the case with the 2 strong SG ball sides last year.. but back end of the season you'd think there will be plenty move up.. I wouldn't mind even if they bought 2or3 up from U17's (Ollie, Ah Kee and perhaps CMeafou).. not sure if thats actually a thing or a no no....

But I reckon Timmo is good enough to be playing Flegg also (if fit), Heidke the other side.. and Buchanan perhaps staying up in NSW Cup.. if there is room.. I mean we have been kind of lucky with injuries to our backs so far, but that can change quickly.
 

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
This weekends schedule on BarTV:

SATURDAY:
  • 10AM (9AM QLD) - Jersey Flegg (in Fiji)
  • 12.30 (11.30 QLD) - Steelers HM
  • 2PM (1PM QLD) - Steelers SG Ball
SUNDAY:
  • Midday (11am QLD) - Dragons SG Ball
 

Edward

SGI NSW Cup
This weekends schedule on BarTV:

SATURDAY:
  • 10AM (9AM QLD) - Jersey Flegg (in Fiji)
  • 12.30 (11.30 QLD) - Steelers HM
  • 2PM (1PM QLD) - Steelers SG Ball
SUNDAY:
  • Midday (11am QLD) - Dragons SG Ball
How have the U19s been going? Since the regular season started, I haven't paid attention to it. Last I remember reading is that the Steelers keep on getting better but no improvement in the Dragons. Is that still true?
 

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
How have the U19s been going? Since the regular season started, I haven't paid attention to it. Last I remember reading is that the Steelers keep on getting better but no improvement in the Dragons. Is that still true?
Not great for the Dragons side sadly.. them and the warriors face off this week to probably avoid the spoon.....

The Steelers side are decimated by injuries.. well.. I thought they were.. but 4 of them have been named to play in Borg, Heidke, Timmins & Weatherall.. who we feared were out for the season.. 3 games left, they have to probably win 2 of them.. would be a bit gutting if they miss out tbh.. a lot of that side will move forward to jersey flegg at some point...
 

Mailroomsgi

SGI Jersey Flegg
More teams make finals this year so Steelers should have enough to squeeze in with another 2 wins, they should beat bears and Penrith who have been bad this year. Balmain in the final round could be tough, they’ve been the surprise packet in Sg Ball this year.

Steelers don’t have the forwards to compete with parramatta/Canberra/wests if they play them in finals but against the rest they’re a chance.

St George as a whole have been massively disappointing, I can’t even think of one player besides Cyrus that could progress to flegg from that side
 
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TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
The Dragons have struggled hard in all the mens and womens comps.. just doesnt seem like the quality of junior to supplement those teams, unless they stay really busy on external recruitment... a lot of those teams struggled last year too, apart from the SG Ball side.

CST probably moves up soon into Jersey Flegg.. there are other guys like Nachar and Okusitino who have been decent for the Dragons, but you have to look at whos in front of them for Flegg spots.. and there are lots of good wingers and centres from the steelers SG side.. plus Williams (if hes staying) and there was Kirk but hes now gone for the year.. Smythe might get a bench spot in Jersey Flegg at some point..

Dragons Harold Matts, Ah Kee obviously the big gun to watch, maybe Phoenix Johns and Jack Lambert are hopefuls for the future.... Kavana the captain I think has something.. that side hasnt gone too badly.. and not sure on age as to whether they will move up next year.
 

Mailroomsgi

SGI Jersey Flegg
Yeah the external recruitment has to be very good for St George to do well, they got it absolutely perfect and had so many good players all in that SG ball side last year.

If resources were an issue for St George personally I would focus St George’s pathways on the SG ball side where they begin to get to that age (18/19) where you can sort of see their trajectory as a player and cherry pick the best players externally be it at schoolboys championships or school cup tournaments etc.

Canberra (who I think are run exceptionally well) have this sort of M.O, no real external kids in Matts but then start to fill the SG ball side with kids externally and find success.
Their pathways recruitment and ideology is very smart considering they know lots of NRL players don’t want to live in Canberra so get the best kids who are looking for an opportunity.and don’t care where they have to live.


case in point - Go look at the Canberra SG ball side that beat the Steelers in 2021 GF. There is 3 QLDer’s and 2 Kiwi kids in their 17. That’s not even including Trey Mooney who is a parramatta junior.

That’s the model for success IMO
 
I thought he had scored a great try earlier in the half too, must have been called an obstruction but if it was.. it seemed a long way away... rly sux not having a captains call or something in the lower grades.. but tbf they generally just get on with it.

He seems the ideal frame too, hes not lightning quick.. you can see several players coasting around him on his last try.. but hes more than quick enough.. as seem in several of his tries where he runs a good line and has far too much pace to be stopped.. physically he seems above average height.. and fairly solid, as if hes going to be able to tackle blokes and do his hitups.. a lot of our other fullback prospects have been very slight.. but this is theoretical as I never really see him tested much in defence.. but im hopeful that with his class and physicality.. that he he will pick up what he needs to pick up in time.. he did miss a 1on1 tackle in one of the wests tries.. pretty hard with someone running direct at you like that.. bu that is the job.. but the attacker was very fleet of foot...timed his step beautifully and left Burton grasping.

I saw Tartak liking the instagram post.. so im assuming he is one of his.. or will be..

But just on Fullbacks coming through, I was having a think about our stocks (with a rough guess on age):
  • Ben Rumble (Age 21): He was the try and try-assist machine in SG and JF.. I think he's still a chance to make it as an outside back.. but with his big tall frame, if hes good enough, maybe he can make it as a winger or centre.. im not sure hes quick enough for fullback though..my excitement has sort of washed off over the last 12-18ths.. and of course we have a lot of wingers competing for spots.. but as a centre.. pretty clear path potentially.
  • Lucas Borg (18-19): I think hes made a really good first of SG Ball, absolutely no complaints.. but his 2nd year in SG and a good side.. he should be that good.... but im not convinced he is a longterm prospect.. but you never know.. he might well end up the Jersey Flegg #1 for 12mths after this SG season finishes.. and its his jersey to lose.
  • TPH (19-20): Could be a very long burn.. I havent given up completely on him... but I suspect he is going to be the Flegg Fullback until Borg takes over, then injury cover... hes gonna have to adapt to the new grade quickly.
  • Ollie Burton (16-17): He seems like the most likely at this stage.. but he is 2yrs behind the other options..
  • Zailen Campbell-Cook (18-19): I have only seen highlight reels (such as this try), I have seen clips of him playing wing in schoolboy stuff.. but tiny little frame, could absolutely be the next Kini or Fuller.. but... same issue as TPH.. who was perfection at SG level... Zailen is gonna have to be some sort of genius to keep moving up the ranks.
All those guys have been exciting.. as was Treigh Stewart and Tyrell Sloan coming through.. but those 2 guys show you how damn hard it is to go all the way.. Stewart was a king up until nsw cup level... I personally think fullback is one of the hardest positions possible.. I've always thought that.. cause a good fullback is responsible for your attack and your defence.. you have to tick so many boxes..... every time you mover up a grade.
So my assertion that being the next big thing playing in juniors, then step up to ressies then its a stairway to 1sts is a pretty good analogy of how a player needs to continue to develop, not only physically, but mentally and his skillsets. Who would have thought?
 
I do wonder what the club does with Heidke and Buchanan contractually. They’ve both had very similar starts to their career in that they’ve been standouts in the centres for the Steelers.
2 completely different profiles though. One short and fast, the other big and powerful
I liked what I saw of Buchanan last week in ressies very quick scored a good try not so sure defensively.
 

TheRev

SGI NSW Cup
I liked what I saw of Buchanan last week in ressies very quick scored a good try not so sure defensively.
I agree, I thought Buchanan was rly good last week too.... now he has another pre-season and 6mths of growth under his belt, and he is looking far more competent at that level.. and tbf he was supposed to be playing in Jersey Flegg or SG Ball to start the year... but here he is in Reserve Grade.... Good signs.

How he actually compares to Heidke and Timmins though.. thats the interesting question for me.. they would all be the same age.. all 3 were in the Steelers U19 system last year.. but Buchanan has now had like 2 preseasons with 1st grade.. he has a huge headstart on the others.. but at a skill/physicality level.... are the 2 coming through the better prospects? Dunno but Buchanan is lucky imo, he has a window here with zilch competition for centre spots in NSW Cup.. well.. im not sure how serious they are about Lawson as a centre... but Hayden has a window before these next kids r ready.. I suspect we will see both Heidke and Timmins play Jersey Flegg later this year.
 

Mailroomsgi

SGI Jersey Flegg
I agree, I thought Buchanan was rly good last week too.... now he has another pre-season and 6mths of growth under his belt, and he is looking far more competent at that level.. and tbf he was supposed to be playing in Jersey Flegg or SG Ball to start the year... but here he is in Reserve Grade.... Good signs.

How he actually compares to Heidke and Timmins though.. thats the interesting question for me.. they would all be the same age.. all 3 were in the Steelers U19 system last year.. but Buchanan has now had like 2 preseasons with 1st grade.. he has a huge headstart on the others.. but at a skill/physicality level.... are the 2 coming through the better prospects? Dunno but Buchanan is lucky imo, he has a window here with zilch competition for centre spots in NSW Cup.. well.. im not sure how serious they are about Lawson as a centre... but Hayden has a window before these next kids r ready.. I suspect we will see both Heidke and Timmins play Jersey Flegg later this year.
I think Heidke is a lot closer to Buchanan than most think.
Id love to see where they’re both at this time next year. I get real Kotoni Staggs vibes about Heidke
 
I agree, I thought Buchanan was rly good last week too.... now he has another pre-season and 6mths of growth under his belt, and he is looking far more competent at that level.. and tbf he was supposed to be playing in Jersey Flegg or SG Ball to start the year... but here he is in Reserve Grade.... Good signs.

How he actually compares to Heidke and Timmins though.. thats the interesting question for me.. they would all be the same age.. all 3 were in the Steelers U19 system last year.. but Buchanan has now had like 2 preseasons with 1st grade.. he has a huge headstart on the others.. but at a skill/physicality level.... are the 2 coming through the better prospects? Dunno but Buchanan is lucky imo, he has a window here with zilch competition for centre spots in NSW Cup.. well.. im not sure how serious they are about Lawson as a centre... but Hayden has a window before these next kids r ready.. I suspect we will see both Heidke and Timmins play Jersey Flegg later this year.
I agree but it is my understanding that the coach who appears to be competent in ressies only played Lawson in the centres because our cpt Allan was suspended. It surprised me because I thought Lawson went well in the pre season games. I hope Buchanan gets another run against the Bears in round 4
 
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