OFFICIAL SG Ball Cup

BlackWhiteGold said:
I'm excited by this encounter.

I agree the spine of Balmain with the highly talented fullback Logan Brookes-Deininger, Australian schoolboy rep hooker Jared Haywood, NRL pre-season trialist Marc Tannous & top-ager Cohen Benson look superior with 3 of those 4 playing together in SG Ball last season.

However the Magpies have a very strong pack & potent backline albeit most of them bottom agers. Top-ager prop Kohan Lewis is one to watch after playing Macarthur senior A grade last season, an absolute workhorse. He is joined by Harold Matts player of the year Christian Taupau-Moors & Laurie Daley Cup POY Archie Duncombe in the middle with highly talented middles Peter Ta'ai & Dane Ransom on the bench. Ransom (like Logan Brookes) is from Kirwan SHS in NQ and comes with big wraps. Can't wait to see Pheonix Godinet this season, an absolute gem in our system who I hope we have pinned down long-term especially as a backrow prospect.

It's an exciting backline with Makasini, Karnib, tall strong winger Jack Nicholas & top-ager and Junior Blues camp member from 2 years ago Riley Oitmann (size is probably what holds him back atm), ever-improving & developing fullback Ali Karnib and interestingly bottom ager Glassie Glassie edged out Callum McMenemy for the right centre spot.

From the Tigers perspective, they do have some solid top-agers in the pack Matt Aitchison, Jordan Bunt & Adam Meslemani and some exciting prospects in the centres. I hope for one Xavier Tauaifaiga lines up against Makasini as Xavier is highly rated by the Wests Tigers and locked away until 2027, be a great duel. While the other centre Ben Moughan is a big strong outside back from the NZ schools rugby union system.

Should be a ripper. Magpies by 10 but Tigers to impress.
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Brilliant summary as always BlackWhiteGold 👍
I know we can’t keep them all, but geez there is plenty of quality ex Magpies and Tigers players now playing SG Ball at other clubs.
Hopefully Richo comes up with a plan to try and keep our best 13 in each junior age group at the club moving forward,
The positive is we still have Makasini, Godinet, Taupau-Moors and Haywood who are all very close to the best of their age group in their positions.
I’m very interested to watch the progress of fullback Brooks, centre Moughan and 5/8 Benson at the Tigers and winger Nicholas, lock Duncombe and prop Lewis at the Magpies.
Hopefully a few other improvers to pop as surprise packets as well.
 
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BlackWhiteGold said:
I'm excited by this encounter.

I agree the spine of Balmain with the highly talented fullback Logan Brookes-Deininger, Australian schoolboy rep hooker Jared Haywood, NRL pre-season trialist Marc Tannous & top-ager Cohen Benson look superior with 3 of those 4 playing together in SG Ball last season.

However the Magpies have a very strong pack & potent backline albeit most of them bottom agers. Top-ager prop Kohan Lewis is one to watch after playing Macarthur senior A grade last season, an absolute workhorse. He is joined by Harold Matts player of the year Christian Taupau-Moors & Laurie Daley Cup POY Archie Duncombe in the middle with highly talented middles Peter Ta'ai & Dane Ransom on the bench. Ransom (like Logan Brookes) is from Kirwan SHS in NQ and comes with big wraps. Can't wait to see Pheonix Godinet this season, an absolute gem in our system who I hope we have pinned down long-term especially as a backrow prospect.

It's an exciting backline with Makasini, Karnib, tall strong winger Jack Nicholas & top-ager and Junior Blues camp member from 2 years ago Riley Oitmann (size is probably what holds him back atm), ever-improving & developing fullback Ali Karnib and interestingly bottom ager Glassie Glassie edged out Callum McMenemy for the right centre spot.

From the Tigers perspective, they do have some solid top-agers in the pack Matt Aitchison, Jordan Bunt & Adam Meslemani and some exciting prospects in the centres. I hope for one Xavier Tauaifaiga lines up against Makasini as Xavier is highly rated by the Wests Tigers and locked away until 2027, be a great duel. While the other centre Ben Moughan is a big strong outside back from the NZ schools rugby union system.

Should be a ripper. Magpies by 10 but Tigers to impress.
Click to expand...
What happened to Ashton Large - did he shift when Onitoni left?
 
balmain boy said:
Balmain have a good fullback and hooker, that's about it. Their halves were shocking last year and are the same. I don't Tannous at all, so it's on him to show what he can do.

As has been mentioned Wests pack looks far superior, as do their backs.
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Yep agree with the bottom line. I believe Wests will get the win, but the Balmain lineup should put in a better showing than what we expected of them in previous years.

As BWG said, they must see something in Tannous to give him an nrl pre season. You would hope that is reflected in greater onfield performances in 2025.
 
Pretty even contest for the 1st half. Both teams have had their chances, aswell as their fair share of errors at crucial moments. Fairly dubious call of penalty try on the stroke of halftime awarded to Magpies.

For Balmain, both centres have been good. The guy opposite Makasini has kept him quiet whenever he has touched the ball (albeit very little). Xavier Tuifaga looks about the most dangerous on the ground when he runs it. Happy to put his hand up for plenty of carries too. Haywood and Brookes very quiet.

Wests well known players havent stood out much yet. Ali Karnib made up for an early error and has been oretty involved since. Been impressed with Laupepa and Lewis in the pack.
 
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