Junior Reps 2021

[taraplains]

Disappointing to hear that Magpies HM player Thomas Fletcher has signed with the Rabbitohs.

Wests had all the time in the world to sign this top prospect but didn’t jump before 4 other NRL teams made offers. Just another one they let slip through their grasp.

 

[ALX22]

Congrats to Luke Laulilii (NSWCHS) and Aaron Keppie (NSWCHS) on their selection in the NSW U15 Merit Team after the recent Tri-Series.

Congrats to Luke Laulilii (NSWCHS U15), Jaxson Rahme (NSWCCC U18) & Markis Atoa (NSWCHS U18) on being named MVP's for their teams.

 

[ALX22]

Disappointing to hear that Tigers SG Ball player Jaxson Rahme has also joined the Rabbitohs.

 

[Guest]

Disappointing to hear that Tigers SG Ball player Jaxson Rahme has also joined the Rabbitohs.

Yeah this is disappointing - only heard good things about this kid and that's now another one who got away.

 

[coivtny]

Disappointing to hear that Tigers SG Ball player Jaxson Rahme has also joined the Rabbitohs.

Yeah this is disappointing - only heard good things about this kid and that's now another one who got away.

Souths seem to get a few of our good juniors. Might be time to repay the favour.

 

[TigerWest]

Disappointing to hear that Tigers SG Ball player Jaxson Rahme has also joined the Rabbitohs.

Never heard of the kid, but I thought the pathways program had started and would stop this, unless the club didn't want to stop it?

 

[ALX22]

Disappointing to hear that Tigers SG Ball player Jaxson Rahme has also joined the Rabbitohs.

Never heard of the kid, but I thought the pathways program had started and would stop this, unless the club didn't want to stop it?

Apparently a new pathways manager has only recently been installed in the job. So I'd say that these signings are due to the uncertainty. But there still seems to be a disconnect between juniors and the future pathways for them.

 

[Guest]

Disappointing to hear that Tigers SG Ball player Jaxson Rahme has also joined the Rabbitohs.

Never heard of the kid, but I thought the pathways program had started and would stop this, unless the club didn't want to stop it?

Apparently a new pathways manager has only recently been installed in the job. So I'd say that these signings are due to the uncertainty. But there still seems to be a disconnect between juniors and the future pathways for them.

I really hope Kimmorley can make some headway here - there's at least a dozen kids across Balmain/Wests SG Ball and JF that need to be prioritised and developed as the future of the WT.

 

[rihannafan1]

Disappointing to hear that Tigers SG Ball player Jaxson Rahme has also joined the Rabbitohs.

Never heard of the kid, but I thought the pathways program had started and would stop this, unless the club didn't want to stop it?

Apparently a new pathways manager has only recently been installed in the job. So I'd say that these signings are due to the uncertainty. But there still seems to be a disconnect between juniors and the future pathways for them.

I'm glad Pascoe is putting all the people in place to avoid this sort of nonsense, I just bloody hope he can manage comms between all of them.

 

[rihannafan1]

Aaron Keppie who I believe plays 9 in our Matts side got nominated by the guys on 5th and Last Podcast when talking about the best young talent they've seen (currently). Hope we wrap him up.

 

[ALX22]

Aaron Keppie who I believe plays 9 in our Matts side got nominated by the guys on 5th and Last Podcast when talking about the best young talent they've seen (currently). Hope we wrap him up.

Aaron should make the HM side next year a year young. Luke will also be backing up.

 

[rihannafan1]

Aaron Keppie who I believe plays 9 in our Matts side got nominated by the guys on 5th and Last Podcast when talking about the best young talent they've seen (currently). Hope we wrap him up.

Aaron should make the HM side next year a year young. Luke will also be backing up.

Thanks for the info.

 

[weststigerman]

Wow, hope he lives up to it, but that's a lot of expectation on a very young kid.

 

[ALX22]

2021 Balmain Tigers Junior Representative Award Winners

HAROLD MATTHEWS
Coach's Award - Cameron Kanaan
Players' Player - Elijah Mataale
Best Back - Levi Conti
Best Forward - Adam Mehrez
Best & Fairest - Adam Mehrez

SG BALL
Coach's Award - Trent Borthwick
Players' Player - Fonua Pole
Best Back - Livai Saukuru
Adam Gardiner Award Best Forward - Fonua Pole
Best & Fairest - Fonua Pole

CLUB AWARDS
Keith Barnes Top Point Scorer - Livai Saukuru (64 points - 2 tries, 28 goals)
Scott Gale Top Try Scorer - Harrison Henson & Braydon Guyan (6 Tries)

Keep an eye out for future award winners with our Western Suburbs Magpies and Wests Tigers Tarsha Gale Representative presentations to be held later this month.

Source: Wests Tigers Junior Pathways and Development Facebook [28/08] & https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2021/08/29/wests-tigers-congratulate-balmain-junior-representative-award-winners/

 

[balmain boy]

South West pathways programs continue to grow for 2022 and beyon

Wests Tigers is extremely pleased to see continued growth in its junior rugby league network throughout South-West Sydney in 2021, leading into the new Macarthur Conference Competition for the start of the 2022 campaign.

The new Macarthur Conference Competition, which will see Wests Tigers Macarthur Junior Rugby League, Group 6 Junior Rugby League and Group 6 Senior Rugby League, all play in combined competitions from U/13’s to first-grade next year — further building the foundation for future growth in the area and pathways through to Wests Tigers.

Despite having consecutive seasons affected by COVID, Wests Tigers Macarthur and Group 6 competitions enjoyed a healthy rise in participants throughout the year by almost ten percent, with the biggest improvement in the 13 to 15-year-old range.

At a Schoolboys level, Picton Magpies junior Aaron Keppie and Liverpool Catholic Club junior Luke Laulilii will both move into the 2022 Harold Matthews team for Western Suburbs, after strong individual seasons that culminated in NSW Schoolboys Merit Team selection.

Luke Laulilii and Aaron Keppie©Supplied

Finishing the regular season in the top four, the entirety of the Magpies’ Harold Matthews spine and lock are also all eligible for the competition again in 2022 while over 500 applicants will take part in 2022 Harold Matthews and SG Ball trials in the South West.

Recent additions to Wests Tigers’ pathways program demonstrate the club’s continued efforts to strengthen its junior development network.

Matt Betsey (Head of Pathways), Brett Kimmorley (Pathways Coaching), David Fauonuku (JRL Coaching) and Kate Mullaly (Wellbeing) have recently joined the likes of Paul Sironen (Balmain JRL), Shannon Gallant (Wests & Group 6 JRL) and Fita Hala (Talent ID) in delivering the next generation of Wests Tigers talent, while the pending return of Tim Sheens from England will add further experience and knowledge to the pathways program.

Wests Tigers forward Luciano Leilua with Luke Keppie

Specifically in South West Sydney, the club continues to invest in a number of talented coaches blending experience, development capability and previous playing experience such as Robert Mears, Joey Saukuru, Leon Bott, Joe Galuvao and Nathan Lakeman.

Wests Tigers also enjoy a strong partnership with St. Gregory’s College and base the two Western Suburbs junior representative programs from the school with full access to fields, gym, recovery pools, rehabilitation and video review rooms.

As the 2022 season approaches, the club’s annual Brydens Lawyers Wests Tigers Academy continues to operate virtually with a digital execution of the weekly programs for the club’s elite juniors. The elite group of U/17’s and U/19’s players from Balmain, Wests and Group 6 regions started the annual academy at the beginning of June prior to lockdown restrictions before adjusting the program to virtual platforms throughout August and September.

A select number of those players will then transition into the 2022 pre-season in November with Wests Tigers as well as their respective junior representative commitments.

 

[ALX22]

A step in the right direction. Was just reading up on how the club lost another junior from this region.

 

[Guest]

A step in the right direction. Was just reading up on how the club lost another junior from this region.

Who did we lose this time?

 

[ALX22]

A step in the right direction. Was just reading up on how the club lost another junior from this region.

Who did we lose this time?

I stumbled across (possibly old news but didn't know) that the Roosters have signed Lachlan Dooner from Group 6 who'd have likely made the Magpies HM side for 2022 a year young. Looks like Tigers were too slow and lacked the star power.

 

[Tiger5150]

you guys realise that we actually want to lose the majority of each JF squad. There is only room for 3-4 of each years squad to really make it. Every year we are going to lose the majority of the squad and the majority are not going to make it in NRL. Let just hope we keep the good'uns....like Pole

 

[balmain boy]

We're not going to keep all of our young players. We've got some very good ones, as well the Fautimau bros, Saukuru brothers all signed up for the next couple of years. Also just signed a wingers from Wests Matts for a few more years. It's quite possible that we get at least 4 first grade from this year and the next couple of years' flegg squads.