OFFICIAL Harold Matthews Cup

balmain boy said:
Given Balmain's struggles in both grades, we had apparently signed a couple of top youngsters from Newcastle Charlie Jones, a half-5/8 and Harrison Aeokie who's pushing 190cm at 17.
Any Newcastle region peeps who've heard anything about these boys? Wonder if they're still in Balmain. Surely if they were they would have been given a run given the sides struggles this season
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Interestingly enough they've both been named this week. Maybe the coach is on here taking pointers? 😂
 
TIGERS YOUNG GUN TURNING HEADS
The Tigers have some great young players coming through the ranks, and officials are especially excited with Western Suburbs Magpies Harold Matthews Cup centre Heamasi Makasini.

The Magpies are flying in the under-18 competition, no player moreso than Makasini, who has bagged five tries and booted 17 goals in the opening three rounds - that's 54 points in three games.

But Wests already face stiff competition for the youngster. He also plays rugby union, and represented Australia in their under-16s side last year. www.
 
AmericanHistoryX said:
TIGERS YOUNG GUN TURNING HEADS
The Tigers have some great young players coming through the ranks, and officials are especially excited with Western Suburbs Magpies Harold Matthews Cup centre Heamasi Makasini.

The Magpies are flying in the under-18 competition, no player moreso than Makasini, who has bagged five tries and booted 17 goals in the opening three rounds - that's 54 points in three games.

But Wests already face stiff competition for the youngster. He also plays rugby union, and represented Australia in their under-16s side last year. www.
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AHX you are exactly right here .. this kid Heamasi Makasini (17 yrs young this July) is already big for his age .. he looks a monster out in the centres running around with kids in the Harold Matthews Cup comp .. Aust Rugby have this kid pencilled in as the next big thing (aka: the next Israel Falou). We have a real job at hand keeping this kid at the club let alone in the Rugby League.
 
The-moP said:
AHX you are exactly right here .. this kid Heamasi Makasini (17 yrs young this July) is already big for his age .. he looks a monster out in the centres running around with kids in the Harold Matthews Cup comp .. Aust Rugby have this kid pencilled in as the next big thing (aka: the next Israel Falou). We have a real job at hand keeping this kid at the club let alone in the Rugby League.
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I think the NRL should have a good, hard think about how we keep these good young players in our game. No single club will be able to compete with a cap-less ARU. These days the good young kids play league and union and the ARU will be able to pick off the good-uns with huge offers and the clubs won't be able to match them.
 
there's a pretty significant worry about Union blowing other clubs out of the water, but the ARU is currently in a place of consolidation. there was talk they were going to pull the plug on the Suaalii mega-deal, and costs also blew out on the recent World Cup tour by millions.

we are lucky in the sense that Heamasi is already in our system and, as I understand it, will do a few sessions here and there with first grade this year. that's a huge leg up on rival clubs.

obviously he and Onitoni play for both state and country for Union, but given the state of Union, having Onitoni and a few others locked up, him being a local junior, plus time with the first grade side should assist in us keeping Heamasi at WT. hell, he even plays in the centres in League whereas in Union he plays on the sting. that might help us too.

there's a number of threats to keeping him, but there's plenty of positives as well. hopefully the club locks him down pretty soon. similar to Galvin and Latu in the future, Onitoni and Heamasi will be playing first grade when they're 18. they will improve us to no end once they begin to play regular grade.
 
jrtiger said:
there's a pretty significant worry about Union blowing other clubs out of the water, but the ARU is currently in a place of consolidation. there was talk they were going to pull the plug on the Suaalii mega-deal, and costs also blew out on the recent World Cup tour by millions.

we are lucky in the sense that Heamasi is already in our system and, as I understand it, will do a few sessions here and there with first grade this year. that's a huge leg up on rival clubs.

obviously he and Onitoni play for both state and country for Union, but given the state of Union, having Onitoni and a few others locked up, him being a local junior, plus time with the first grade side should assist in us keeping Heamasi at WT. hell, he even plays in the centres in League whereas in Union he plays on the sting. that might help us too.

there's a number of threats to keeping him, but there's plenty of positives as well. hopefully the club locks him down pretty soon. similar to Galvin and Latu in the future, Onitoni and Heamasi will be playing first grade when they're 18. they will improve us to no end once they begin to play regular grade.
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If we are lucky enough to still have these talented and gifted kids (Galvin, Large, Makasin, and Fainu) still on our books come the time they are all able to step up to the NRL .. the Tigers are going to be a force (team) to be reckoned with .. which is promising within itself .. !! I'm getting excited thinking about it .. :)
 
coivtny said:
I think the NRL should have a good, hard think about how we keep these good young players in our game. No single club will be able to compete with a cap-less ARU. These days the good young kids play league and union and the ARU will be able to pick off the good-uns with huge offers and the clubs won't be able to match them.
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A significant amount of the Rugby junior rep teams (and even higher portion of the backs) are filled with players from private schools who play rugby. A lot are on scholarships, so have to play rugby for the school

Almost all of backs are also in junior rep programs from NRL clubs, and this has been the case for a few years. A few may choose rugby, however there are a lot more opportunities in league.
 
Dr_Ice said:
A significant amount of the Rugby junior rep teams (and even higher portion of the backs) are filled with players from private schools who play rugby. A lot are on scholarships, so have to play rugby for the school

Almost all of backs are also in junior rep programs from NRL clubs, and this has been the case for a few years. A few may choose rugby, however there are a lot more opportunities in league.
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Yes, that is my impression too. It seems that NRL clubs are in a better position to snap up young talent when they leave school than is Rugby.

I seem to recall that Rugby was unable to offer Angus Chrichton a senior full time contract and a pathway into super rugby when he was 18. So he chose Souths' offer.

Suaalii was locked up when he was still at school. Rugby couldn't compete.

It seems that it may be easier to retain our juniors when they leave school. But if they prove to be successful then Rugby will come sniffing with a big deal. Although the ARU is strapped for cash so there is probably a limit on the number of NRL players they are able to target.
 
fibrodreaming said:
Yes, that is my impression too. It seems that NRL clubs are in a better position to snap up young talent when they leave school than is Rugby.

I seem to recall that Rugby was unable to offer Angus Chrichton a senior full time contract and a pathway into super rugby when he was 18. So he chose Souths' offer.

Suaalii was locked up when he was still at school. Rugby couldn't compete.

It seems that it may be easier to retain our juniors when they leave school. But if they prove to be successful then Rugby will come sniffing with a big deal. Although the ARU is strapped for cash so there is probably a limit on the number of NRL players they are able to target.
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Makasini is at Newington.
During the past decade or so, their Ist XV has featured: Joey Lussick, Tepai Moeroa, Cam Murray, Taane Milne, Bailey Simonnson, Tolutau Koula and Angus Bell.

So League has been quite successful in securing/retaining talent from Newington
 
UNE Harold Matthews Cup - Round 8 vs. Sea Eagles

Saturday, March 23 - 1:00 p.m. AEDT
4 Pines Park, Sydney

BALMAIN TIGERS
1. Jonathan Zoghaib
2. Zach Seckold
3. Harrison Aoake
4. Filipe Huahulu
5. Amram Paita-Pepo
6. Charlie Jones
7. Tyler Birnie
8. Zane Farr-McKay
9. Kayden Kanaan
10. James Baranowski
11. Michael Boustany
12. Hayden Elkris (c)
13. Isaac Perkins

14. Felise Taufa'ao
15. Taj Handsaker
16. Zeke Edmed
17. Christian Dolfo

18. Jarrod Kanaan
Coach: Tony Bazouni
 
UNE Harold Matthews Cup - Round 8 vs. Roosters

Saturday, March 23 - 1:00 p.m. AEDT
Kirkham Oval, Camden

WESTERN SUBURBS MAGPIES
1. Ali Hicham Karnib
2. Tyson Walker
3. Glassie Glassie
4. Heamasi Makasini
5. Thomas Goodfield
6. Jhevon Lele
7. Alex Isdale (c)
8. Maddax Fui
9. Ashton Large
10. Christian Taupau-Moors
11. Teancam Epati
12. Pheonix Godinet
13. Peter Taai

14. Lorima Cosgrave
15. Siotame Havea Jr.
16. Malcolm Mailo
17. Peter French

18. Henare Reti
19. Jordan Vandermade
20. Leviticus Tovia
21. Mase Hillcoat
Coach: Stephen Isdale
 
KingRobbie said:
UNE Harold Matthews Cup - Round 8 vs. Roosters

Saturday, March 23 - 1:00 p.m. AEDT
Kirkham Oval, Camden

WESTERN SUBURBS MAGPIES
1. Ali Hicham Karnib
2. Tyson Walker
3. Glassie Glassie
4. Heamasi Makasini
5. Thomas Goodfield
6. Jhevon Lele
7. Alex Isdale (c)
8. Maddax Fui
9. Ashton Large
10. Christian Taupau-Moors
11. Teancam Epati
12. Pheonix Godinet
13. Peter Taai

14. Lorima Cosgrave
15. Siotame Havea Jr.
16. Malcolm Mailo
17. Peter French

18. Henare Reti
19. Jordan Vandermade
20. Leviticus Tovia
21. Mase Hillcoat
Coach: Stephen Isdale
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Good challenge for the boys over the next 2 weeks to see how they stand against 2 other top teams.

On another note, Crown Sports Management posted Makasini and I assume his old man at the Centre of Excellence today with Benji. Hopefully there was a pen and paper involved!
 
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