OFFICIAL Harold Matthews Cup

disappointing end to a great season but injuries to key players in the week leading up was always going to make the assignment tougher, although the occasion probably got to a few of our players.

today will either be the making or breaking of Alex Isdale. clearly did not put the ball in the right places either with his foot or his hands, but he has been near flawless most other weeks. big games are always different affairs, but I hope and expect he’ll learn from this.

Pheonix Godinet though, sheesh. kid’s a first grader through and through.
 
Hurts to lose a GF more than any other. Well done to the squad and hope once over the disappoint they can put it down to experience and be proud of a good season.
 
KingRobbie said:
34-16 defeat in the GF.

Congrats to Heamasi Makasini who was named the Player of the Season post-GF.
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I say again how is warriors aloud in the 17 comp??? A whole country to call from and we are in a pool of multiple Sydney teams. Why give them a leg up?? It’s not an international series, don’t get it. Maybe we should allow England to field a team. Joke
 
Honestly, who do people on here thing could have the step up, even to Flegg level not to mention NRL.
I'd rule out all of our backs other than Makasini, all too small and slow, don't have the skillset required to step up so higher levels imo.
Obviously the Large boys are up there, and there's a few forwards: CTP, Godinet, Taai but that's about it

Of course you never know who the late bloomers are but there's just not many players who currently have the necessary attributes to step up, just a few toilers mainly. Isdale, I've seen him play more bad games than good, Karnib just too small but competes a lot and may be want to be like a Corey Thompson type.

Our previous Matts winning squad had several players who were clearly stars in the making, this side just doesn't... But if you get a handful of first graders from a single junior side then that's usually seen as a positive
 
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Firstly, Congrats to the team for making it to the big dance.

That was a disappointing end to a strong season.

It was criminal not to utilise Makasini more, I don't recall him getting any early ball in attacking areas at all. Yes, he made a couple of errors, and it wasn't his best game, but there weren't anywhere near the good ball opportunities he has been so destructive with all season. If it was the gameplan, then that's on the coach, but we seemed to favour the other side all match.

Like most, I don't think many will kick on, but that's pretty normal. Makasini, Large and Moors are the only 3 who played yesterday; I think I can get there.
 
balmain boy said:
Honestly, who do people on here thing could have the step up, even to Flegg level not to mention NRL.
I'd rule out all of our backs other than Makasini, all too small and slow, don't have the skillset required to step up so higher levels imo.
Obviously the Large boys are up there, and there's a few forwards: CTP, Godinet, Taai but that's about it

Of course you never know who the late bloomers are but there's just not many players who have the necessary attributes to step up, just a few toilers mainly. Isdale, I've seen him play more bad games than good, Karnib just too small but competes a lot and may be want to be like a Corey Thompson type.

Our previous Matts winning squad had several players who were clearly stars in the making, this side just doesn't... But if you get a handful of first graders from a single junior side then that's usually seen as a positive
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I think we are likely to see more forwards potentially make it...Moors, Godinet, Taai and Fui looks good too (really missed him yesterday). The other would be Siotame Havea Jr. Need to remember he was a year young in this team. He could be an exciting prospect moving forward!

Hopefully we can lock up Makasini and the Large boys too. Every time Richo speaks to the media, he talks about a "centre" in the Harold Matts team, so you would think we are close to securing Makasini or he wouldn't be opening his mouth about a player who is leaving.
 
Tigers_Wests said:
I think we are likely to see more forwards potentially make it...Moors, Godinet, Taai and Fui looks good too (really missed him yesterday). The other would be Siotame Havea Jr. Need to remember he was a year young in this team. He could be an exciting prospect moving forward!

Hopefully we can lock up Makasini and the Large boys too. Every time Richo speaks to the media, he talks about a "centre" in the Harold Matts team, so you would think we are close to securing Makasini or he wouldn't be opening his mouth about a player who is leaving.
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I agree. The pick of the 17yos progressing to SG Ball next season IMO are ...

Makasini
Onitoni Large
Godinet
Taupau-Moors
Fui
French
Ta'ai

I think all of the above have NRL potential for what they have shown.

I'll throw Isdale & Glassie into this list although both had their worst games of the season in the GF. Isdale is a very good game-managing halfback with good speed/acceleration. Whilst his long kicking game lacks distance atm, he is only 17 and it will improve as he grows & gets stronger. Glassie has potential, just needs better game IQ.

Our 16yos in Ashton Large, Thomas Goodfield, Jhevon Lele & Siatame Havea Jr will have another year of Matts & will be joined by the likes of Curtis Lakeman, Kye Penfold, Forigiveness Tila, Andrew Sio, Jonas Peni, Brock Achurch & Elijaf Sefo from our GF Macarthur Andrew Johns Cup this season so we'll be contenders once again if we can keep them together & fit.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
I agree. The pick of the 17yos progressing to SG Ball next season IMO are ...

Makasini
Onitoni Large
Godinet
Taupau-Moors
Fui
French
Ta'ai

I think all of the above have NRL potential for what they have shown.

I'll throw Isdale & Glassie into this list although both had their worst games of the season in the GF. Isdale is a very good game-managing halfback with good speed/acceleration. Whilst his long kicking game lacks distance atm, he is only 17 and it will improve as he grows & gets stronger. Glassie has potential, just needs better game IQ.

Our 16yos in Ashton Large, Thomas Goodfield, Jhevon Lele & Siatame Havea Jr will have another year of Matts & will be joined by the likes of Curtis Lakeman, Kye Penfold, Forigiveness Tila, Andrew Sio, Jonas Peni, Brock Achurch & Elijaf Sefo from our GF Macarthur Andrew Johns Cup this season so we'll be contenders once again if we can keep them together & fit.
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I think your summation’s pretty good. beyond Makasini who I regard as elite and Isdale who I think is a decent prospect, Pheonix has been brilliant this year, as have Moors and Fui. I’d be tying down those three to development deals for 2025/26. Taai is probably next category down and a player I’m keen to see perform in SG, and French has performed admirably.

in regards to the year youngs, Havea is our long term first grade 13, of that I have no doubt. excellent defensively and has a brilliant pair of hands, plus can bend the line. Teancum Epati is a year young too and burst onto the scene late in the year and should improve further. Goodfield is a diamond outside back prospect imo. must keep. Ashton Large elite but as far as I’m aware out the door.

I think there’s at least four or so first graders amongst this crop, and potentially more depending on how they develop. I’m hopeful we get a bit more insight once preseason rolls around in November with who is seen as a priority.
 

2025 Harold Matthews Cup Season Preview: Western Suburbs Magpies​

How far will they go this season?​

www.zerotackle.com

2025 Harold Matthews Cup Season Preview: Western Suburbs Magpies

How far will they go this season?
www.zerotackle.com www.zerotackle.com

Ethan Lee Chalk
WRITER | January 10, 2025 - 12:58pm
1605

One win away from securing the 2024 Harold Matthews Cup title, the Western Suburbs Magpies will look to go one better this season as they enter the 2025 season.

As the 2025 Harold Matthews Cup season slowly approaches the opening round, Zero Tackle will provide a season preview for all 17 teams made up of players of the next generation.

First...the Western Suburbs Magpies.

One win away from securing the 2024 Harold Matthews Cup title, the Western Suburbs Magpies will look to go one better this season after being defeated by the New Zealand Warriors.

The Magpies enter the competition with a new-looking roster consisting of five players from last year's squad and players from the Andrew Johns Cup competition.

While they have lost the likes of Alex Isdale, Heamasi Makasini, and Onitoni Large, among others, a new bunch of talented kids have arrived and will take centre stage for the Magpies.

"Unfortunately, we fell short of the last season, but we're ready to go again," Magpies head coach Stephen Isdale told Zero Tackle.

"I've got a good crop of kids that have come through the Andrew Johns Cup system so they're hungry and I think a year under their belt of a junior rep season helps them.

"The goal is to obviously go one further but make sure they're all developing and moving along the food chain in the development side of things.

Players to Watch​

Jhevon Lele: Leading the team in the halves, Lele enters his second season of the competition after sitting behind Onitoni Large and Alex Isdale in the halves last season. Coach Stephen Isdale said, "Jhevon's matured a fair bit in the pre-season and he's looking forward to the challenge of leading the boys around the park."

Siotame Havea Jr: The captain of the squad, Havea enters his second season of the Harold Matthew Cup and will be the go-to guy in the middle of the field. Following a strong pre-season, he will be handed the No.13 jumper after spending last season off the interchange bench.

Combine-Players-11-696x392.png.webp
Jhevon Lele with Lachlan Galvin. (Photo: Wests Tigers Pathways Media)

Player Movements​

Gains: AJ Epati, Daniel Lafolafo, Drake Ayers, Elijah Sefo, Jaziyah Taiatu, Kingston Finau, Ronel Ribucan, Sebastian Taylor, Tyler Peken, Will Finianos, Zephaniah Finau

RELATED >> 2025 Harold Matthews Cup Player Movements

Losses: Alex Isdale (Sharks), Boston Lauvou, Brooklyn Milford, Henare Reti, James Bengura, Jayden Innes, Jordan Vandermade, Leviticus Tovia, Lorima Cosgrave, Maddax Fui, Malcolm Mailo, Mase Hillcoat, Onitoni Large (Sea Eagles), Peter Taai, PJ French, Stirling Faumui, Teancum Epati, Tomasi Tavui, Tyler Volcov, Tyson Walker

Best 17 and Full Squad​

1. Thomas Goodfield
2. Joshua Vella
3. Elijah Sefo
4. Kingston Finau
5. Mawin Tema Soa'ai
6. Jhevon Lele
7. Curtis Lakeman
8. Jake Gaffney
9. Brock Achurch
10. Jaziyah Taitau
11. Andrew Sio
12. Ashton Chan Sau
13. Siotame Havea Jr (c)

Interchange
14. Daniel Lafolafo
15. Markus Fonua
16. Kye Penfold
17. Ruben Toga

Rest of Squad
18. Ronel Ribucan
19. Zephaniah Finau
20. William Finianos
21. Tyler Peken
22. Sebastian Taylor
23. James Lanyon
24. AJ Epati
25. Jordan Truckle
26. Siosefa Spears
27. Cooper Williams

After making the Grand Final last season, the same coaching staff will return, with Stephen Isdale being named head coach and Alec Bush and Steven Butler working under him as his assistants.

"Alec controls the defence, and he's still playing the game down in the Wollongong competition, so he's experienced, and defensively, he's really tied the middle down with the boys and really worked hard with them," Isdale said.

"Steven comes from an OzTag background, and he owns the Catch-Pro Bands, so he sort of controls our ball skills drills, and he's got a wealth of knowledge through that OzTag arena."
 
lathami said:
I say again how is warriors aloud in the 17 comp??? A whole country to call from and we are in a pool of multiple Sydney teams. Why give them a leg up?? It’s not an international series, don’t get it. Maybe we should allow England to field a team. Joke
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I think it’s good for the sport mate . The elite NZ kids get to play against truely elite kids ,and over time they improve . Then if they improve so does most of the pacific island nations as those kids usually come from multiple backgrounds so they pick and choose which nationality they want to represent .
Strengthening the whole game internationally . Tonga and Samoa being competitive has really lead to an uptick in participation in the islands , so it’s all linked .
Bigger , faster stronger , whilst maybe leads to less results for predominantly Anglo teams in Aus , will eventually lead to better footy players long term .
The strongest iron is forged in the hottest fires .
If you think about it another way , the warriors don’t win most years , so each team that does win , has pretty much just beaten the nz u17s team on the way to the title .
I actually think the RFL should send 2x academy sides for the first 3-4 months of the year , and compete as well . Maybe a Yorkshire team for example .
they come out and train and play against the best juniors in the world , and get a gauge on how far behind they are , both with coaching , fitness , recovery , etc . And they then return every year to stock up and try again either in sg ball , or with a fresh crop .
A stronger base and bigger pool to pick from can only strengthen the nrl .
The only reason RL is less than rugby is because the elite aristocracy during world war 2 , killed it off especially in France and the southern parts of England . Working man’s sport” .
Rugby league is a far better game , and the more the nrl gets a foothold internationally the more it will eat into hardline old fashion bias’.
It’s already happening in NZ .
 
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