Juniors - Pathways General Discussion

[balmain boy]

What does anyone know about Alex Futialo that we signed, other than was captain of dragons in Matt's?

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

What does anyone know about Alex Futialo that we signed, other than was captain of dragons in Matt's?

Posted this in another thread BB.

Played for St Marys U19s in the Penrith comp to finish the season. They lost to Windsor in the GF but Alex was often in the best players in News Corp's regular weekly match reviews. Good signing for the Magpies as a SG ball top ager next season.

Among the top front rowers in the comp, the barnstorming prop is also a dominant figure for the St George Dragons in SG Ball. Super strong through the hips, Alex just continues rolling forward.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Zero Tackle have published most of the SG Ball squads and a few of the Harold Matthews squads.
Interesting that Ali Karnib has swapped from Wests to Balmain.

I've had a bit of a dive into the Wests Magpies SG Ball squad for 2026. Most of the external recruits look to be very good depth players.

Alex Futialo, who will be a top-ager next season i.e. turning 19, looks to have the best pedigree as a former Dragons Harold Matts captain (2024), Dragons SG Ball starting prop (2025) and a destructive ball runner for St Marys U19s in the Penrith district comp to finish the season.

The Magpies look to have recruited some good outside back depth from the Penrith district comp in wingers Sioli Tamasaeu, Boston Lauvao & Junior Tutavake.

A few ones to watch from U18 comps last season will be prop Fungavaka (Junior) Tupou from the Northern Thunder in the Storm system & lock Cruz King from the premiership winning Illawarra team in the Laurie Daley Cup.

An interesting back-up half will be Luke Tiberti who was an Australian U18 OzTag rep this year & halfback for Patrician Brothers Fairfield in the schoolboys comp.

Now my First 17 on 2025 form (and excluding Godinet & Taupau-Moors who I'm assuming will be playing Flegg upwards) is ...

1 Aaron Paea
2 James Lanyon
3 Glassie Glassie
4 Elijah Lapu'aho
5 Aiden Richards
6 Jhevon Lele
7 Curtis Lakeman
13 Siotame Havea Jr
12 Peter Taai
11 Tomasi Tavui
10 Dane Ransom
9 Brooklyn Milford
8 Leviticius Tovia
14 Alex Futialo
15 Kye Penfold
16 Teancum Epati
17 Lorima Cosgrave

A very strong team across the park and some great depth in the summer squad. Still unsure where Josh Vella is as he'd be my winger (instead of Richards).

 

[Vicious]

I've had a bit of a dive into the Wests Magpies SG Ball squad for 2026. Most of the external recruits look to be very good depth players.

Alex Futialo, who will be a top-ager next season i.e. turning 19, looks to have the best pedigree as a former Dragons Harold Matts captain (2024), Dragons SG Ball starting prop (2025) and a destructive ball runner for St Marys U19s in the Penrith district comp to finish the season.

The Magpies look to have recruited some good outside back depth from the Penrith district comp in wingers Sioli Tamasaeu, Boston Lauvao & Junior Tutavake.

A few ones to watch from U18 comps last season will be prop Fungavaka (Junior) Tupou from the Northern Thunder in the Storm system & lock Cruz King from the premiership winning Illawarra team in the Laurie Daley Cup.

An interesting back-up half will be Luke Tiberti who was an Australian U18 OzTag rep this year & halfback for Patrician Brothers Fairfield in the schoolboys comp.

Now my First 17 on 2025 form (and excluding Godinet & Taupau-Moors who I'm assuming will be playing Flegg upwards) is ...

1 Aaron Paea
2 James Lanyon
3 Glassie Glassie
4 Elijah Lapu'aho
5 Aiden Richards
6 Jhevon Lele
7 Curtis Lakeman
13 Siotame Havea Jr
12 Peter Taai
11 Tomasi Tavui
10 Dane Ransom
9 Brooklyn Milford
8 Leviticius Tovia
14 Alex Futialo
15 Kye Penfold
16 Teancum Epati
17 Lorima Cosgrave

A very strong team across the park and some great depth in the summer squad. Still unsure where Josh Vella is as he'd be my winger (instead of Richards).

Brock Achurch is another well regarded youngster who is not on the list.
He would possibly be our first choice number 9 if he was available.
A couple of promising Qld recruits on the Balmain list.

 

[Demps]

Brock Achurch is another well regarded youngster who is not on the list.
He would possibly be our first choice number 9 if he was available.
A couple of promising Qld recruits on the Balmain list.

We've had a few "Achurches" over the years, I believe.

 

[Vicious]

We've had a few "Achurches" over the years, I believe.

This youngster Brock was regarded as one of the elite players in his age group from the MacArthur region over the past few years, it would be strange if we have not tried very hard to keep him.