Junior Reps Results | 3rd May, 2025

Roosters claim S.G. Ball Cup title with epic grand final victory.

S.G. Ball Cup (Men’s Under 19s)

The Sydney Roosters have won their fifth S.G. Ball Cup title, and their first since 2014, with a thrilling 33-26 extra time victory over minor premiers Parramatta in the Grand Final at Leichhardt Oval. The Roosters welcomed back hooker and captain Jaxson Allen for the Grand Final, after seven weeks out with a broken jaw, but went into the decider missing outside backs Rex Bassingthwaite (shoulder), William Pappas (knee) and Lachlan Dooner (knee).

The match started poorly for the Roosters, which due to a number of errors spent little time in Parramatta territory early in the game, and after ten minutes the Roosters found themselves 12-0 behind. The Roosters first try was a little fortunate when an attempt kick from five eighth Tyson Walker missed his foot but from a deflection off his leg it bounced into the arms of right edge James Finegan and with the conversion the Roosters trailed 12-6.

The teams exchanged tries beyond that, the Roosters try to winger E.J. Mahu-Delamare in the 24th minute, and at half time the Eels led 16-12. The Roosters took the lead for the first time in the match early in the second half when Finegan scored his second try of the game following a long break by Eddy Cayless. That lead didn’t last too long and the Eels scored consecutive tries to lead 26-18 with ten minutes remaining. The Roosters lost a number of opportunities to mount attacks due to errors and with 90 seconds remaining the Roosters were eight behind and heading for defeat. However, the Roosters managed to put a quality set of six together and it resulted in a crash over try to lock Josiah Fesolai, which got the Roosters to within four points, and with the scores at 26-22 to Parramatta the Roosters turned down the conversion attempt as the clock ticked down to the final minute.

From the kick off the Roosters marched their way downfield before they were awarded a penalty close to the Eels line with seconds remaining. The professional foul conceded by Parramatta led to the sin binning of Eels half back Lincoln Fletcher. From the tap kick, as the siren was about to sound, the Roosters spread the ball to their right and into the hands of replacement right centre, and local junior, Brooklyn Heath, who dived over near the sideline to lock up the scores at 26-26. The Walker conversion was missed and the teams were off to extra time.

The Roosters handled extra time superbly against the twelve-man Eels outfit. From the first set of six the Roosters got within field goal range and halfback Toby Rodwell wasted no time in taking a shot and the Roosters took the lead 27-26, which they held till early in the second stanza of extra time. With four minutes remaining, a now dominant Roosters put lock Josiah Feslolai over the line and with the Walker conversion, the Roosters were ahead 33-26 and the Cup was theirs.

The Roosters premiership success was on the back of the great work being done at the Roosters Academy with so many Academy players in the 2025 S.G. Ball Cup team. We expect to see many of these players in higher grades at the Roosters over the next few years. Full credit as well to Roosters Coach Boyd Cordner, who took the team to a title in his first season in charge. Just a great achievement for the Club.

Harold Matthews Cup (Men’s Under 19s)

The New Zealand Warriors have defeated the Newcastle Knights 30-16 at Leichhardt Oval to win the 2025 Harold Matthews Cup Grand Final. It was the Warriors second successive Harold Matthews Cup title in just their second season in the competition.

The Central Coast Roosters, who finished fifth in the regular season were bundled out after a Preliminary Final defeat whilst the Sydney Roosters, who finished second in the regular season, reached the second week of the finals.

Tarsha Gale Cup (Women’s Under 19s)

The Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy, in their fourth grand final of the past five seasons, have lost the Grand Final 28-16 to Parramatta at Leichhardt Oval. The Roosters were dominant early and after 17 minutes led the Eels 16-0, with tries to prop Te Raukura Leafe, hooker Mahlie Cashin and lock Luca-Bella Ngatuere-Ongley. However, momentum shifted quickly to Parramatta as errors and penalties proved very costly to the Roosters and by half time the Roosters lead was cut to 16-12.

The second half was all the Eels and they ran in three more tries to win convincingly. It was a disappointing finish for the Roosters, but having finished seventh in the regular season, the Roosters did marvellously well to win three finals matches and reach the Grand Final. They should be proud of their efforts.

Lisa Fiaola Cup (Women’s Under 17s)

The Central Coast Roosters have unfortunately left their worst performance of the season for the match that mattered the most, going down 26-10 to the Parramatta Eels in the Grand Final at Leichhardt Oval. Poor discipline and errors were plentiful in the Roosters display, particularly in the first half, and the Eels gained great confidence as they dominated possession and field position.

The Eels led 18-0 at half time and despite second half tries to Roosters interchange players Pesalili-Star Combo and Ayva Papalii, which got the Roosters back to within eight, with 20 minutes remaining, the Eels scored again five minutes later and were too strong for a disappointing Roosters.

Despite the loss the Roosters showed through the season that were a highly talented team with many players capable of one day playing NRLW. The future is bright for many of them.

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

Competition completed for 2025 (Premiers: IIlawarra South Coast Dragons)

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

Competition completed for 2025 (Premiers: Newcastle-Maitland Region Knights)

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