BWG Pathways Prospects into 2027

[balmain boy]

Next week will feature Christian Azzi from Balmain SG Ball.

The club is extremely deficient in true game-managing & game-turning halfbacks imo. Curtis Lakeman is another at the same age as Azzi but I rate Azzi a bit higher for his speed & running game.

We have signed Matthew Barakat from the Bulldogs who should feature in Flegg next season.

We've also signed a kid who played 14 a lot for the warriors in Flegg this season but if apparently a halfback.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

This week for my series on my best 50-60 pathways prospects heading into 2027, I'm focused on our top prospects turning 19 next season.

This does not include Siotame Havea Jr who I have featured previously as NRL contracted players.

These guys will be the top-agers in SG Ball next season who I think could feature as 19yos in Jersey Flegg once the juniors reps season has concluded (especially the top 4 I have listed).

James Lanyon – 19 - Wing/Fullback – Left - 2027
-Super talented wing prospect with an exceptional ability to beat his man. Quick, elusive, good defender from what I've seen & goal kicker.
-Mid size in height and has a lot of filling out to do but the ability is there. Been playing fullback in Macarthur grade this season to develop his game.

Isaac Perkins – 19 - Prop
-Workhorse prop with good skills, exceptional in effort areas and tackle technique. Leadership personified.
-Just needs to keep working on his physical development but looks to have the frame to make a good mid-sized middle.

Christian Azzi – 19 - Halfback
-A classy half who has arguably the best all-round halves game in our pathways. Quick off the mark, good long & short kicking game. Can set up a try.
-On the smaller size but brings toughness.

Kye Penfold – 19 - Lock
-A solid hard-running lock forward who brings aggression, effort & leg speed. Solid in contact, runs & tackles hard without any glaring weakness.
-Just further physical development as he progresses.

Daniel Lafolafo – 19 - Prop
-A tall, powerful & aggressive prop who is a known tackle-breaker with excellent PCM. A very promising alpha middle in the club.
-Probably fitness to keep improving his tank & effort areas.

Jake Gaffney – 19 - 2nd Row
-A tall agile backrower with good line running ability, represented in Country U18s this year & played Macarthur A grade for Camden Rams.
-I think defence will be a big focus for Gaffney over the coming season.

Jermayne Fiafiu – 19 - 2nd Row
-Versatile & agile edge player comfortable as a backrower or centre. I like him at backrow as he can break the line, good in contact & has a good size (tall, agile) for backrow.
-Needs more physical development for the backrow but that will come with time & pre-seasons.

Braidyn Wood – 19 - Centre/Wing - 2028
-A tall, solid outside back who is good out of yardage, reasonably quick & solid defensively. Emerged as a strong contributor as an underager in a poor Balmain SG Ball team.
-No stand-out weakness so hoping he can progress in all areas both sides of the ball.

Jhevon Lele – 19 - Five-Eighth
-A tall, long-striding half who is good in all aspects of a half without being dominant in any if that makes sense.
-Needs to work on the defenisve side of his game & providing more impact in attack.

Next week I will feature my blue chip prospects in the club turning 18 next season lef by Kingston Finau, Iszak Isdale, Noah Vaotangi & Thomas Aroyan.

This week for my series on my best 50-60 pathways prospects heading into 2027, I'm focused on our top prospects turning 18 next season. These guys will be bottom-agers in SG Ball next season.

PS. IMO our most exciting age group coming through. It has a bit of everything! Speed, power, raw ability, footy IQ, size, power, leg speed, work ethic, aerial ability.

18yo Blue Chip prospects

Kingston Finau – 18 – Centre – Left - 2028
-Powerful, fast & skilful centre. Can break open a game in attack with his tackle-busting but arguably his strongest asset is his copybook defence.
-On the smaller side in height atm but solid with powerful & fast legs.

Iszak Isdale – 18 – Fullback - 2029
-Explosive, fast & skilful fullback who can also play in the halves. Genuine x-factor with great vision coupled with effort plays.
-Only diminutive in height but reasonably strong for his age.

Thomas Aroyan – 18 - Fullback
-Athletic and extremely fast fullback who can play wing. Deadly when chiming into a backline play, can goal kick & has shown good cover defence.
-No standout deficiencies, would just like to see him play in a dominant team.

Noah Vaotangi – 18 – Prop - 2030
-A big, tough hard-working prop with leadership qualities. Runs hard, tackles hard and never shirks his role.
-No real weakness but from what I have seen his ball carrying impact could improve.

James Kerr – 18 - Wing
-Tall and powerful try scoring winger. Strong with his yardage carries and has shown aerial ability. Brings x-factor out wide.

Apakuki (Ratu) Maafu – 18 - 2nd Row - 2028
-Powerful.athletic & tackle-breaking backrower with x-factor. Only raw with plenty of upside in his game.

Jerome Cosgrave – 18 – Lock - 2029
-Very talented & skilful lock forward, runs strongly, has ball skills, good vision & defends strongly.

Zephaniah Finau – 18 – Prop - 2028
-Powerful & impactful middle forward with good leg speed & contact on both sides of the ball.
- Arguably just fitness at this stage & consistency to play at a high level.

Levi Ellis – 18 – Hooker - A crafty & high IQ dummyhalf with vision and nippy running game. Can contact in defence despite his smaller frame at his age.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

18yo Blue Chip prospects

Thanks, BWG - Appreciate your work. But no half back or 5/8's.
Our "talent spotting experts" need to poach a half back or two to have a successful pathway program in place.
Christian Azzi the only half in ALL your talent assessments.
We need competition, choices and not all eggs in one basket.
This void needs urgent attention if we hope to nurture from within.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Thanks, BWG - Appreciate your work. But no half back or 5/8's.
Our "talent spotting experts" need to poach a half back or two to have a successful pathway program in place.
Christian Azzi the only half in ALL your talent assessments.
We need competition, choices and not all eggs in one basket.
This void needs urgent attention if we hope to nurture from within.

We have a few solid halves for their age group but none who stand out as up there in the top echelon, Azzi is definitely the pick of the crop atm. Yeah will be interesting to see if we bring any in from outside for next season's junior reps.

 

[boonboon]

We also have 2 halves in NRL squad who are 19 and 21 in Andrews and Latu. Sure you can have more coming through but you dont need 2 new ones every season

 

[Tiger Stripes]

We also have 2 halves in NRL squad who are 19 and 21 in Andrews and Latu. Sure you can have more coming through but you dont need 2 new ones every season

No, but a couple of 15,16,17-year-olds as halfback insurance would be a good starting point.
Not convinced Latu has the staying power and if the $500k/per year offer by WT is any indication, they are not convinced either.

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

NRL Top 30 & Contracted (Development / Train & Trial) in 2027

• Haemasi Makasini
• Jared Haywood
• Javon Andrews
• Christian Taupau-Moors
• Pheonix Godinet
• Jack Attard
• Siotame Havea Jr
• Blake Van Drie

There will be others that the Club announce on Development or T&T over the coming weeks - some speculation that Archie Duncombe & Glassie Glassie could find themselves on this list.

I'm not going into great detail on each player - just age next year, position, side preference, contract expiry, main strengths & main area/s to develop in their game imo.

Hopefully this table copies across ok!

NRL TOP 30

Haemasi Makasini - 20 - Wing/Centre - Left - 2029
-Tall, powerful & reasonably quick ball runner with strong right fend. Ideally next stage of development is left wing.
-Needs to continue to work on physical strength, aerial ability for a winger and defensive decision making.

Jared Haywood - 21 – Hooker - 2028
-Smart, deceptive & quick hooker with an excellent passing game, great vision & ability to bring forwards onto the ball. Can cover halves if required.
-Development in physical strength and 1-on-1 defensive contact.

Javon Andrews - 21 - Five-Eighth - Left - 2028
-High IQ 5/8 with superb vision and passing game in good ball, deceptive strength in running game & nice short kicking.
-Continued work on defensive decision making & tackle technique + more experience in game management long kicking.

NRL CONTRACTED (DEV / T&T)

Christian Taupau-Moors - 20 - Prop - 2028
-Tall & strong ball carrier with an offload. Strong & physical in defensive contact.
-Continued work on more explosive (than lumbering) carries.

Pheonix Godinet - 20 -2nd Row - Right - 2027
-Strong & skilful ball carrier who can break tackles & gain post contact metres. Can hit in defence.
-Physical strength in defence close to the line. Needs to work on involvement.

Jack Attard - 21 - Fullback - 2028
-Fast, agile & skilful with superb acceleration. Great support play in the middle and nice passing game to create attack.
-Physical strength and contact as last line in defence due to size.

Siotame Havea Jr - 19 - Lock/Hooker - 2027
-High IQ ball playing & ball running lock. Possesses good line speed, tackle technique & strong contact in defence. Rated for leadership qualities.
-Played predominantly at dummyhalf in '26 where he lacks deception atm. Hopefully reverts back to primarily lock in '27 & dummy half pinchhitter.

Blake Van Drie - 20 - Lock/Hooker - 2027
-High energy smaller-framed lock who can run strongly, link beautifully & ball play. Generates line speed in D & exceptional involvement rate.
-Continued development of his body - size, strength & power.

I really love and appreciate this insight into our future players…thank you so much!

 

[Bellend]

The problem with Pheonix Godinet he needs to stop believing the Hype and roll the sleeves up and dig in.Has the potential.

 

[jadtiger]

The problem with Pheonix Godinet he needs to stop believing the Hype and roll the sleeves up and dig in.Has the potential.

He wouldn't be the first "star junior" to believe all he has to do is turn up and it will all be ok because without the dedication and hard work required he will be just another underachiever.All clubs have had elite players who don't put in the work and fail miserably,hopefully Godinet realises this and avoids taking all the easy options and proves through hard work that he wants to be what he can achieve.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

He wouldn't be the first "star junior" to believe all he has to do is turn up and it will all be ok because without the dedication and hard work required he will be just another underachiever.All clubs have had elite players who don't put in the work and fail miserably,hopefully Godinet realises this and avoids taking all the easy options and proves through hard work that he wants to be what he can achieve.

From what I understand, Godinet is as committed as they come for his age and is a very hard trainer, I think it's solely what he delivers on the field atm especially his involvement rate (partly how he is coached & partly how he commits himself to getting involved).

 

[ROZELLE.O.G]

He's one of my faves @Bellend ... has the tools to become a top notch outside back. Hopefully this experience at the RLWC will do him wonders and show him what he needs to work on to become elite.

Has that ability to produce special moments in both attack & defence. I also liked how he matched motors in a chase this season when Mikey Nassar took an intercept and ran the length in Flegg. Glassie didn't lose ground from memory in the first 40-odd metres.

It was a great chase, they were both of a standing start and Glassie was going hard because Mikey is very quick and pulled away in the last 30. Great future for the club having some decent speed with Averillo too, we will hopefully be able to match it with any club in the near future.

BWG I haven't seen anywhere on any reports that Mikey is locked away, has he officially signed with the club ?

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

It was a great chase, they were both of a standing start and Glassie was going hard because Mikey is very quick and pulled away in the last 30. Great future for the club having some decent speed with Averillo too, we will hopefully be able to match it with any club in the near future.

BWG I haven't seen anywhere on any reports that Mikey is locked away, has he officially signed with the club ?

I haven’t seen any updates. Only your intel + The Mole had a story a couple of months back that he was returning. Hope so.