OFFICIAL Jersey Flegg Cup

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cobarcats
  • Start date Start date
Lanyon was exceptional today. Very impressive.

Tavana with the usual highlight reel. Peter Taai at centre had me double checking the team list. But he did well. Increasing his utility value that's for sure. You wonder if he would have tasted more Flegg this year had he not had that sicking injury at the start of the year.

Yeah Roberts didn't go hunting for the ball, but they appeared to have lots of hogs on their team. A better game plan could have him brought into the game and that can open up opportunities for him to show some strength and brilliance. Would be nice if we can unlock him in 2026.

This Flegg side has been a pleasure to watch all year (even with their defensive collapses towards the ends of games)....well at least since Sultana took over anyway!
Can't believe all the salivating over Tavana? Haven't seen what his fan base have seen as must keep? Not his goal kicking that's for sure.
Having said that I think he has the speed and size to be a good centre. Thoughts?
 
Can't believe all the salivating over Tavana? Haven't seen what his fan base have seen as must keep? Not his goal kicking that's for sure.
Having said that I think he has the speed and size to be a good centre. Thoughts?
TS he has attributes that not many if any have in our club. But in summary,

- solid in yardage from the back-field (will improve with more size & strength as he develops).
- reasonable defence for a winger, makes good decisions, good low tackler, can be ineffective when he goes high 1-on-1 but I'm sure will improve with size & strength in an NRL system.
- close to elite already in the air both attacking kicks & defending kicks. So important in today's game as a 5th tackle attacking option, chasing a drop-out & defending.
- Elite finishing skills on the right wing with his athletic & gymnastic ability.
- Uncanny ability to beat multiple players with footwork almost like Starford To'a.
- Can produce the mercurial not just on the odd occasion but on average every 2 to 3 games - not just aerial but with his passing & hands.

Have I missed anything?
 
TS he has attributes that not many if any have in our club. But in summary,

- solid in yardage from the back-field (will improve with more size & strength as he develops).
- reasonable defence for a winger, makes good decisions, good low tackler, can be ineffective when he goes high 1-on-1 but I'm sure will improve with size & strength in an NRL system.
- close to elite already in the air both attacking kicks & defending kicks. So important in today's game as a 5th tackle attacking option, chasing a drop-out & defending.
- Elite finishing skills on the right wing with his athletic & gymnastic ability.
- Uncanny ability to beat multiple players with footwork almost like Starford To'a.
- Can produce the mercurial not just on the odd occasion but on average every 2 to 3 games - not just aerial but with his passing & hands.

Have I missed anything?
He is quite impressive in the air and as we see with Coates and Tupou wingers are untouchable in the air. Marry him up with halves that can land the ball in the right spot and you have a massive advantage over other teams. Some of the glimpses I have seen he is almost Coates like in terms of his vertical leap and ball handling.
 
TS he has attributes that not many if any have in our club. But in summary,

- solid in yardage from the back-field (will improve with more size & strength as he develops).
- reasonable defence for a winger, makes good decisions, good low tackler, can be ineffective when he goes high 1-on-1 but I'm sure will improve with size & strength in an NRL system.
- close to elite already in the air both attacking kicks & defending kicks. So important in today's game as a 5th tackle attacking option, chasing a drop-out & defending.
- Elite finishing skills on the right wing with his athletic & gymnastic ability.
- Uncanny ability to beat multiple players with footwork almost like Starford To'a.
- Can produce the mercurial not just on the odd occasion but on average every 2 to 3 games - not just aerial but with his passing & hands.

Have I missed anything?
TS he has attributes that not many if any have in our club. But in summary,

- solid in yardage from the back-field (will improve with more size & strength as he develops).
- reasonable defence for a winger, makes good decisions, good low tackler, can be ineffective when he goes high 1-on-1 but I'm sure will improve with size & strength in an NRL system.
- close to elite already in the air both attacking kicks & defending kicks. So important in today's game as a 5th tackle attacking option, chasing a drop-out & defending.
- Elite finishing skills on the right wing with his athletic & gymnastic ability.
- Uncanny ability to beat multiple players with footwork almost like Starford To'a.
- Can produce the mercurial not just on the odd occasion but on average every 2 to 3 games - not just aerial but with his passing & hands.

Have I missed anything?
Nothing worth mentioning.
But reminds me of Taylan May type of player, who was a winger!
 
JERSEY FLEGG SEASON REVIEW

The team placed 7th with 12 wins, 10 losses & 2 draws.

However, our season changed when Shane Sultana took over as coach from Round 12 when we recorded 9 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw.

In good news Shane Sultana has been appointed Jersey Flegg coach for 2026.

Best Players

This is how I ranked them but tbh there is very little between Lanyon as my POY & Matai at the bottom of this list. Plus Haywood, Brookes & Mataale only came in part-way through the season.

Josese Lanyon (21, lock, hooker utility)
Max Taotua (20, right centre)
Tino Tavana (21, right wing)
Solomone Saukuru (21, right edge backrow)
Jared Haywood (19, hooker)
Logan Deininger-Brookes (19, fullback)
Elijah Mataale (21, prop)
Max Liles (21, halfback)
Iverson Matai (21, 5/8)

I hope & am fairly confident all in this list will be retained for NSW Cup at the very least next season, if not NRL T&T. We know Saukuru (top 30), Haywood (dev), Tavana (T&T) & Lanyon and Brookes have contracts of some sort for ’26.

Personally, I think both Max Taotua & Tino Tavana can progress rapidly next season. Max is physically ready for NSW Cup, has the ability in attack & defence, plus the club has a lack of depth at right centre which is Max’s specialty.

Tino is highly regarded evidenced by playing an NRL trial this season and has amazing athletic, acrobatic ability & magic using the ball that is very rare. If he can develop a bit more physically in the off & pre-season and work on his strength in contact in 1-on-1 defence, Tino could be anything in the NRL.

Highly Commended

Lenny Plati (20, bench prop)
Jeremiah Leatigaga (20, bench lock)
Mitch Taotua (20, backrow, centre utility)

Important SG Ball players given a taste (in addition to ones listed above)

Pheonix Godinet (18, right edge backrow)
Jack Nicholas (19, left wing)
Archie Duncombe (19, lock)
Christian Taupau-Moors (18, prop)
Byron Laupepa (19, left edge backrow)
Peter Taai (18, backrow, lock, centre)

Player expected more from

Lachlan Broederlow (21, backrow, middle)

This is not to say he had a poor season, he had a good season. But given he played a lot of NSW Cup against men last season & was given a development contract for 2026 early this season, I thought he would take Flegg by storm this season. Unfortunately his major deficiency - lateral defence – does not look to have improved greatly, and he was transitioned in the middle ¾ through the season with Godinet & Laupepa coming up. He did not look to be a dominant middle either do big ??? on his future prospects imo.

Possible Round 1 team 2026

Brookes
Nicholas
Max Taotua *
Xavier Tauaifaiga
Oitmann
Cohen Benson
Javon Andrews
Duncombe
Mitch Taotua
Godinet *
Delaney
Haywood
Ethan Roberts *
-
Pritchard
Taupau-Moors
Plati
Laupepa
Taai
Luani Tuifua
Leatigaga

NOTE 1 *: I reckon Max Taotua will start in NSW Cup next season and a very good chance Godinet & Roberts do too depending on how our senior forwards perform in the pre-season.

Whilst Godinet didn’t play a huge amount of the Flegg season (maybe 1/3), the way he progressed in looking comfortable out there was rapid and got him good NSW Cup minutes in the last round. He is one player with a huge off & pre-season to develop physically who could continue a rapid rise in 2026 – the sky is the limit really. Remember Jeremiah Nanai debuted as an 18yo.

NOTE 2: Whilst it was limited, gee I loved how Peter Ta’ai looked at right centre in the final round of the season. Have only seen him play lock & backrow in pathways but his PCM and defence was very strong and speed looked ok.

WATCH OUT FOR: Siotame Havea Jr, Blake Van Drie, Jhevon Lele, James Lanyon & Glassie Glassie given a taste of Flegg later next season.
 
JERSEY FLEGG SEASON REVIEW

The team placed 7th with 12 wins, 10 losses & 2 draws.

However, our season changed when Shane Sultana took over as coach from Round 12 when we recorded 9 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw.

In good news Shane Sultana has been appointed Jersey Flegg coach for 2026.

Best Players

This is how I ranked them but tbh there is very little between Lanyon as my POY & Matai at the bottom of this list. Plus Haywood, Brookes & Mataale only came in part-way through the season.

Josese Lanyon (21, lock, hooker utility)
Max Taotua (20, right centre)
Tino Tavana (21, right wing)
Solomone Saukuru (21, right edge backrow)
Jared Haywood (19, hooker)
Logan Deininger-Brookes (19, fullback)
Elijah Mataale (21, prop)
Max Liles (21, halfback)
Iverson Matai (21, 5/8)

I hope & am fairly confident all in this list will be retained for NSW Cup at the very least next season, if not NRL T&T. We know Saukuru (top 30), Haywood (dev), Tavana (T&T) & Lanyon and Brookes have contracts of some sort for ’26.

Personally, I think both Max Taotua & Tino Tavana can progress rapidly next season. Max is physically ready for NSW Cup, has the ability in attack & defence, plus the club has a lack of depth at right centre which is Max’s specialty.

Tino is highly regarded evidenced by playing an NRL trial this season and has amazing athletic, acrobatic ability & magic using the ball that is very rare. If he can develop a bit more physically in the off & pre-season and work on his strength in contact in 1-on-1 defence, Tino could be anything in the NRL.

Highly Commended

Lenny Plati (20, bench prop)
Jeremiah Leatigaga (20, bench lock)
Mitch Taotua (20, backrow, centre utility)

Important SG Ball players given a taste (in addition to ones listed above)

Pheonix Godinet (18, right edge backrow)
Jack Nicholas (19, left wing)
Archie Duncombe (19, lock)
Christian Taupau-Moors (18, prop)
Byron Laupepa (19, left edge backrow)
Peter Taai (18, backrow, lock, centre)

Player expected more from

Lachlan Broederlow (21, backrow, middle)

This is not to say he had a poor season, he had a good season. But given he played a lot of NSW Cup against men last season & was given a development contract for 2026 early this season, I thought he would take Flegg by storm this season. Unfortunately his major deficiency - lateral defence – does not look to have improved greatly, and he was transitioned in the middle ¾ through the season with Godinet & Laupepa coming up. He did not look to be a dominant middle either do big ??? on his future prospects imo.

Possible Round 1 team 2026

Brookes
Nicholas
Max Taotua *
Xavier Tauaifaiga
Oitmann
Cohen Benson
Javon Andrews
Duncombe
Mitch Taotua
Godinet *
Delaney
Haywood
Ethan Roberts *
-
Pritchard
Taupau-Moors
Plati
Laupepa
Taai
Luani Tuifua
Leatigaga

NOTE 1 *: I reckon Max Taotua will start in NSW Cup next season and a very good chance Godinet & Roberts do too depending on how our senior forwards perform in the pre-season.

Whilst Godinet didn’t play a huge amount of the Flegg season (maybe 1/3), the way he progressed in looking comfortable out there was rapid and got him good NSW Cup minutes in the last round. He is one player with a huge off & pre-season to develop physically who could continue a rapid rise in 2026 – the sky is the limit really. Remember Jeremiah Nanai debuted as an 18yo.

NOTE 2: Whilst it was limited, gee I loved how Peter Ta’ai looked at right centre in the final round of the season. Have only seen him play lock & backrow in pathways but his PCM and defence was very strong and speed looked ok.

WATCH OUT FOR: Siotame Havea Jr, Blake Van Drie, Jhevon Lele, James Lanyon & Glassie Glassie given a taste of Flegg later next season.
Very good post BWG
 
Another one who I think is a bit under rated and has good potential to be a very good 13/9 is Lorima Cosgrave.
Nuggety, but has good speed off the mark and very aggressive.
Vicious

Did not mention him but Lorima best asset is his football brain, good kid, big future and hopefully not rushed will develop.
 
Back
Top