Promising Juniors Thread.

[Just a Mug Fan]

How fkn good. Honestly, he could be the best out of the entire bunch. He's already had key leadership roles & wins MOTM in big games. Getting ignored by the Panthers after his injury has created an extra motivation factor to his footy imo.

Another MotM award in today's game.

 

[Edward]

Another MotM award in today's game.

Damn. Forgot it was on. Is it on You Tube?

 

[RedVictory]

Looks like watching a Fifita clone.

 

[TheRev]

I see a lot of Fifita too... only he doesnt have the height I suspect.. I think maybe he is a prop in time.. maybe just need to see how he grows as hes only 17... not sure how well he would handle it etc.. and also I think forwards thesedays are all about getting to their belly quickly, so he might need to adjust as he goes up the grades instead of trying to carry them.. but we shall see.. there is a place for both.

He's a hell of a unit.. won nearly everything this year... of course hes still got a couple of teenage years left yet and we gotta keep him happy.

 

[GCRV]

I see a lot of Fifita too... only he doesnt have the height I suspect.. I think maybe he is a prop in time.. maybe just need to see how he grows as hes only 17... not sure how well he would handle it etc.. and also I think forwards thesedays are all about getting to their belly quickly, so he might need to adjust as he goes up the grades instead of trying to carry them.. but we shall see.. there is a place for both.

He's a hell of a unit.. won nearly everything this year... of course hes still got a couple of teenage years left yet and we gotta keep him happy.

Only 17. Hopefully grows another couple of cms. Otherwise might be a good lock.

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

I see a lot of Fifita too... only he doesnt have the height I suspect.. I think maybe he is a prop in time.. maybe just need to see how he grows as hes only 17... not sure how well he would handle it etc.. and also I think forwards thesedays are all about getting to their belly quickly, so he might need to adjust as he goes up the grades instead of trying to carry them.. but we shall see.. there is a place for both.

He's a hell of a unit.. won nearly everything this year... of course hes still got a couple of teenage years left yet and we gotta keep him happy.

Jake's already 18, he's finished growing.
He's bulid will depend on what position he plays. We need to upgrade him and lock him up before we lose him.

 

[jodragon40]

Well I went to Pizzey Park and watched the one sided game. Our young forwards were just far too big strong and fast for the frogs end score 56 - 6 which is a shame but highlights the fall of the French from their dizzying heights of the 60s.

Young Halangahu was very good, many strong runs and scored a meat pie as well. He is promising but in my time I've seen it all before. He reminded me of a young David Fifita in the way he plays on the edge with his damaging runs and ability to offload. You have to temper your praise and enthusiasm for the youngster because of the poor quality of that opposition.

Would I keep him? Yes, don't forget he is only 17

 

[Ryan]

It seems the past coaches Like Mary , Hook not sure about Flanno yet , seem to be reluctant to give them ago because they were and are worried about keeping their jobs so hence the journey men players ......... So as I see it existing coach , if they have another season like they did he will be replaced ........

That's the way it seems but coaches have to submit plans to the board. To go in and say something like, "I'm going to recruit Eisenhuth and RFF and keep Couchman's in reserve grade for most of the year." And to do it over and over. Who was keeping Robson out of first grade? What about Luicano before he went on his tour of Australia? It shouldn't fly. Surely Craig Young wasn't beaten around the head so much as to think recruiting McGuire, Lafai, Macca was a good idea instead of loading up to poach a few young players from other clubs.

 

[Ryan]

Looks like watching a Fifita clone.

I remember the first time I saw Fifita. In the first week of the finals against the Dragons. He was only 18. He looked bigger than most forwards when he was 18. Halagahu looks just as strong but not as mobile. I think he might end up as middle forward.

 

[TheRev]

Jake's already 18, he's finished growing.
He's bulid will depend on what position he plays. We need to upgrade him and lock him up before we lose him.

Not so much height, but how thicc is he gonna get in the next few years.. might decide whether he needs to be a glenn lazarus type bloke with a low centre of gravity whos going to walk thru the defensive line.. or is he going to stay agile enough to handle 2nd row?

I feel like its important.. cause if hes trying to make it as a prop, its a tougher proposition I imagine.. brutal in there.. and then hes up against Tonga and Latu and those ilk, even though he must have just hit 18 those boys would still have 12-18mths on him.

Rly want to see him play Flegg next year.. I dont want to diss.. but hes dominating these younger age grades, but rly need to see him reset, have a preseason... and get into the weekly grind against bigger bodies and see if he can still be a real point of difference... hopefully we will be able to judge him mid 2025 and make a call.

 

[Dave03]

Two of the most impressive aspects of Jacob footy is his ability to hit the correct line, it shows he's got footy IQ & his ability to drive through tackles, helping us with PCM. I don't think he's got the acceleration of a Fifita but he's defs already covered him in mongrel, IQ & leadership. I see his style of play as a shorter AFB, especially with his leg drive & similar to a Paul Gallen who Flanno loved.

Jake's already 18, he's finished growing.
He's bulid will depend on what position he plays. We need to upgrade him and lock him up before we lose him.

Surely we're not dumb enough to lose him. It looks like he has a good relationship with Kyle Stanley, Willie Talau & other younger players. I hope we lean into that connection when trying to extend him. He looks like the perfect Flanno player. Looks like he's signed until end of 2025. Do you know when we would likely start negotiations with his management?

 

[Dave03]

Finau Latu seems to be signed on until end of 2025 & Loko end of 2026. Couchman twins 2025 too. Surely we extend all of them asap. I would hate to lose any of these players.

 

[Eric]

Steelers Summer Squads
Both very strong squads, Matts have a lot of class in their squad
View attachment 423View attachment 424

• Tyrone Amone is the cousin of Junior Amone, isn't he?
• Taj Barrett any relation to Trent?
• Sonny McGregor any relation to Paul?

 

[TheRev]

• Tyrone Amone is the cousin of Junior Amone, isn't he?

Viliami Amone I'm told is out of age for SG Ball, the fact that we havent see him in Flegg I think must indicate he isnt moving forward, not sure on Tyrone yet.. I guess we will see how he progresses in his 2nd year.

And then Api Amone has popped up in the HM list.. a lot of footy players out of that family!

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

• Tyrone Amone is the cousin of Junior Amone, isn't he?
• Taj Barrett any relation to Trent?
• Sonny McGregor any relation to Paul?

Yes
Taj and Cooper are related but not to Trent, his kids are Halle and Bohden.
Sonny Macgregor* is a country boy.

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

Surely we're not dumb enough to lose him. It looks like he has a good relationship with Kyle Stanley, Willie Talau & other younger players. I hope we lean into that connection when trying to extend him. He looks like the perfect Flanno player. Looks like he's signed until end of 2025. Do you know when we would likely start negotiations with his management?

I think we are, Kyle and Willie are pathways and have no say in top 30 recruitment.
He is contract till 26 but we need to be upgrading him rather than giving SL contracts to journey men.

 

[Just a Mug Fan]

Not so much height, but how thicc is he gonna get in the next few years.. might decide whether he needs to be a glenn lazarus type bloke with a low centre of gravity whos going to walk thru the defensive line.. or is he going to stay agile enough to handle 2nd row?

Jake with his mum and dad and Charlotte Basham.
They best indication that he has finished growing.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

This is the ILLAWARRA part, Lots of missing info, let me know.

STEELERS SG BALL CUP SQUAD 2025
Tyrone Amone	Illawarra JNR + Illawarra Sports High	2nd Row /Prop
Kye Andrews	Illawarra JNR	Fullback
Axel Antony	Illawarra JNR	Hooker / Lock
Hudson Bailey	Illawarra JNR	Lock
Beau Baldock	Illawarra JNR	Five-Eighth
Cooper Barrett	Illawarra JNR	Wing
Joshua Boicheski	Illawarra JNR	Prop
Lucas Borg	Illawarra JNR	Fullback / Wing
Brodie Breakspear	Illawarra JNR	Hooker/ Five Eight
Ryder Brown	Illawarra JNR	2nd row
Hayden Buchanan	Illawarra JNR	centre
Dreau Clark	Illawarra JNR	2nd row
Finn Egan	Illawarra JNR	Wing
Thomas Eirth	Illawarra JNR
Joseph Elton	Monaro Colts	2nd ROW
Aaymon Fitzgibbon	Illawarra JNR	Five-Eighth
Charlie Heidke	Illawarra JNR	centre
Ben Jackson	Illawarra JNR	Prop
Kapene Karaitiana	NSW Country	Prop
Ezekiel Kennedy	Illawarra JNR	centre
Tom Kirk	Illawarra JNR	Fullback / Wing
James Kunkler	Illawarra JNR	Lock
Drew Langdon	Illawarra JNR	2nd row
Letham Manago	Illawarra JNR	Prop
Levi McGuinness	West Tigers	Winger
Daniel Meafou	Illawarra JNR	Lock
Max Morgan
Thomas Nelson
Jye Nightingale	Illawarra JNR	Lock
Noah Parker	Illawarra JNR	Hooker
Mason Philips	QLD + Canterbury Bulldogs	Hooker
Riley Plekan	Illawarra JNR	Wing
Kade Reed	Illawarra JNR	1/2back
Likamani Richter	Illawarra JNR	2nd row
Jett Rorie	Illawarra JNR	2nd row
Connor Saddler
Saifiti Junior Saifiti	QLD + Ipswich jets	Wing
Jackson Smith	Northern Tigers	Five-Eighth
Jack Talbott	Illawarra JNR	Fullback
Zechariah Taufa	Illawarra JNR	Prop
Zane Timmins	Illawarra JNR	centre / Five Eight
Malokai Tomo	Illawarra JNR	centre
Leeroy Weatherall	Illawarra JNR	PROP
Hayden Whatman	NSW Country	PROP
STEELERS HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP SQUAD 2025
Api Amone	Illawarra JNR
Mason Andrews	Penrith JNR + Kiama High School	Lock / Centre
Dylan Bagnall	Illawarra JNR
Jaxon Ballinger	Illawarra JNR	Fullback
Jordan Barlow	Illawarra JNR	Five-Eighth
Taj Barrett	Illawarra JNR	2nd row
Jett Brookfield	Illawarra JNR	1/2 Back
Oliver Burton	Illawarra JNR	Fullback
Asher Chapman	Illawarra JNR	1/2 Back
Kahuitara Te Ra Chase	Illawarra JNR	Five-Eighth
Callum Cooney	Illawarra JNR
Finn Davy	Illawarra JNR	2nd row
Hunter Fangupo	Illawarra JNR
Logan Fenwick	Illawarra JNR	Prop
Jack Goulder	Illawarra JNR	Wing / Centre / Fullback
Arlan Grose	Illawarra JNR	1/2 Back
Samuel Guevara	Illawarra JNR	Prop
Harry Hertsch	Illawarra JNR
Taylor Humphries	Illawarra JNR	1/2back
Darcy Larkin	Illawarra JNR	Hooker
Benjamin Levy	Illawarra JNR	centre
Sonny MacGregor	Western Rams	centre
Cruz McGuinness	Illawarra JNR + Manly	Prop
Creighton Meafou	Illawarra JNR	2nd row
Ashton Moore	Illawarra JNR	Lock
Cooper Morrison	Illawarra JNR	centre / Fullback
Levii Poching	Illawarra JNR
Lacom Poching	Illawarra JNR
Mace Scofield	Illawarra JNR	Lock
Ashton Tsagalas	Camden	centre
D'rtanyon Vaivai	QLD + Ipswich jets	2nd Row
Tom Voase	Illawarra JNR	2nd row

 

[TheRev]

I assumed you had your feet up for the off-season AyiosYiorgos , clearly not, thankyou once again!

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

I assumed you had your feet up for the off-season AyiosYiorgos , clearly not, thankyou once again!

Nah was looking forward to doing this, get to read about some of the juniors coming through, catch some highlights while searching for them, we may not have great backs coming through now, but some of these junior guys in the backs are looking good, Phoenix Johns, Malokai Tomo looking forward to their development..