CLUB WEEKEND RESULTS – 8th March, 2025

Some vital wins and some disappointing losses highlighted a mixed weekend for the Roosters junior representative sides with four wins and three losses amongst the seven teams.

S.G. Ball Cup (Men’s Under 19s)

The Sydney Roosters S.G. Ball Cup team have kept in contact with the Top 6 with a very important 25-14 win over Cronulla-Sutherland at Cronulla.

The Roosters went into the match missing forwards Peter Benjamin Uini, Itulu Seve and Eddy Cayless and fullback Rex Bassingthwaite (out for the season) but also lost outside backs Jackson Stewart and Lui Lee late in the week, leaving the side well down on troops and facing a quality opponent in the Sharks.

In the absence of Uini and Seve, starting props Phillip Lavakeiaho and Kanaan Magale understood that they were key to any Roosters victory. Their first stint was superb with both scoring tries and helping the Roosters lead 12-0 after just eight minutes. However, after 15 minutes star halfback Toby Rodwell was forced off the field to undergo an HIA and soon after momentum shifted and the Roosters lead was cut to 12-6. Fortunately, Rodwell was cleared to return and in the final minute of the first half, the NRL squad member kicked a brilliant 40/20, and from the ensuing tap kick potted a vital field goal to give the Roosters a 13-6 half time lead.

These are the type of plays that make so many excited about what Rodwell may produce in the years ahead.

Both teams scored two tries each in the second half with Roosters interchange forward Kynan Toevai and hooker Jaxson Allen crossing for the Roosters. Five eighth Tyson Walker kicked four from four on his return to the side, enabling the Roosters to run out 25-14 winners.

The Roosters next play 4th placed Balmain Tigers at Leichhardt Oval in a match that may well decide if the Roosters play finals for the fifth season in succession.

Harold Matthews Cup (Men’s Under 17s)

The Sydney Roosters Harold Matthews Cup team has returned to the winner’s circle and the Top 6 with a deserving 24-12 win over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Cronulla. The Roosters led 12-6 at half time, with first half tries to Kiwi centre Bastion Armstrong and local interchange forward Kobi Sitala.

In the second half it was again two tries to one, with Roosters halves Lachlan Metcalf and Charlie Webb showing their tremendous skill set to snuff out the chances of a Sharks comeback. It has taken a little bit of time but the Roosters halves give the team a real chance to make an impression on this competition, a competition no Roosters side has ever won.

The Roosters now have their destiny in their hands with three round remaining. Next, they play Canberra in Belconnen. The Raiders are 11th, but only two points behind the 4th placed Roosters.

Meanwhile, the Central Coast Roosters have won their fourth successive match, and moved into 2nd place on the ladder, with a 40-12 victory over Canterbury-Bankstown at Woy Woy.

The Roosters scored seven tries, with right winger Corbin Devaney crossing for three of his own (taking his season tally to seven tries in just four games). The combination of halfback Carter Mareko and fullback Zaylen Ekapati, particularly on the right side, was too much for the Bulldogs defence, and they laid on a number of those Roosters tries.

Central Coast Sports College right centre Joshua Fesolai, who has two brothers also in the Roosters system (team mate Caleb in the Central Coast Harold Matthews team and Roosters S.G. Ball Cup lock Josiah), was very powerful with his carries and scored his first try of the season. It is unlikely to be his last.

The impressive Roosters now play the 17th placed Melbourne Storm at Woy Woy on Saturday week as they seek a fifth successive win.

Tarsha Gale Cup (Women’s Under 19s)

In what can only be called a disappointing performance, the Sydney Roosters Indigeous Academy team have suffered their second loss of the season with a 22-18 loss to the Canberra Raiders at Woy Woy,

Both sides scored four tries each but it was the Roosters errors that, not for the first time this season, proved very costly for the home team. Right centre Tyra Ekapati was a constant threat to the Raiders defence and scored a brilliant individual try in the first half.

Fortunately, the Roosters remain in the Top 6 but may not be able to afford any more slip ups to stay there, with just three regular rounds remaining.

The weekend after next they play 5th placed Cronulla-Sutherland at Cronulla in a real crunch game.

Lisa Fiaola Cup (Women’s Under 17s)

The undefeated run of the Central Coast Roosters Lisa Fiaola Cup team continues, with another thumping win at Woy Woy. The Roosters have beaten the Canberra Raiders 32-0, the fourth of five matches this season where they have kept their opponents tryless.

For the first time this season, captain Mia Vaotuua, moved this week from five eighth to left centre, was not the most dominant Roosters player, with major contributions from returning prop Kewa Kahuroa, hooker Meg McPhail and interchange forward Veronica Sefo, whilst left winger Shenae Cassidy crossed for a double in the first thirteen minutes of the match.

The Roosters scored seven tries and led 18-0 at half time.

The Roosters are one of three undefeated teams (the others being Canterbury-Bankstown and Parramatta) who are dominating this 2025 competition. Between them the three teams have scored 662 points and conceded 66 (just 8 of those are from the Roosters). Unfortunately, the draw does not pit the Roosters against either of those sides prior to the finals, but the Bulldogs and Eels play each other in Round 9, with the loser likely to finish outside the Top 2.

Next assignment for the Roosters is 6th placed Cronulla-Sutherland at Cronulla on Saturday week.

Laurie Daley Cup (Men’s Regional Under 18s)

The Central Coast Roosters Laurie Daley Cup team has completed its 2025 season with a 24-6 loss to the Newcastle-Maitland Region Knights at Raymond Terrace which likely means that the Roosters will not progress further in this season’s competition.

Three wins and two losses is the season tally for the Roosters in a year highlighted by their come from behind win over the Titans in Round 4.

In the Round 5 clash at Raymond Terrace, the Roosters were well and truly beaten with the Knights scoring five tries to one. That one try, however, to Bodie Jeffries, brought his season tally to an impressive six from five games.

Andrew Johns Cup (Men’s Regional Under 16s)

A second successive loss, after being undefeated for close to two years, looks to have ended the opportunity for the Central Coast Roosters Andrew Johns Cup team to seek a third successive premiership. In a nail-biting finish, the Newcastle-Maitland Region Knights have kicked a field goal in the final minute of the match to defeat the Roosters 17-16 at Raymond Terrace, after the Roosters led 12-6 at half time.

Highlight of the first half was the brilliant chip and chase by five eighth Tukia Fotu-Moala that led to the 12th minute try to halfback Matthew Norman. However, it was the start to the second half that proved to be the key segment of the game, with the Knights running in two converted tries in the first eight minutes of the half to turn a 12-6 half time deficit into a 16-12 lead early in that second half.

A long rage intercept try to right winger Chayse Dobson in the 44th minute got the scores back level but the conversion from the sideline was missed and despite a number of opportunities in the last 15 minutes, the Roosters couldn’t score again.

The Roosters unearthed a number of highly promising players in this year’s competition, in which they won three matches from five games) and I’m sure we will see a number of them in next year’s Central Coast Roosters Harold Matthews Cup team.

See the latest results below for all the Junior Representative sides: