Harold Matts & SG Ball - 2025 season

[Rooster_6]

Opening post reserved for squads once released by the club.

[Rooster_6]

Round 1 Harold Matts
North Sydney Bears 28 defeated Sydney Roosters 26

Was a back and forth game, Roosters lead 26-16 with 10 minutes to go but two late tries and a penalty goal just before the siren to North Sydney got them the win.

Best on ground
3 - Charleston Te Rore - The starting prop scored an awesome solo 60metre try and then also just powered over for a second close to the line. Just raw power and speed, super impressive for a big kid. Has a good offload in him too and played long minutes, not even sure I saw him go off for a rest.

2 - Baiston Armstrong - The left edge centre looks a really decent player, understands space well, runs good lines, scored a nice try and had another nice linebreak which he probably regrets kicking on but all in all a very strong performance

1 - Lachlan Metcalfe - The halfback I thought did a really good job of keeping the team organised in good ball, he plays very direct and isn't afraid to play into the line, has a nice left boot on him with good distance for such a young kid.

Other Thoughts
- Another performance of note was Jeziah Papa, just wasn't his day but the class and skill level in this kid was very evident. He's a very slick mover.

[Lindsay's Dentist]

Thanks for the post match report R6

[King Salvo]

Harold Matts would be kicking themselves to lose this one as would Tarsha Gale Cup - both 2 point losses in games they should win. The Pundits have the Dogs favourites to win all 4 junior rep comps - Lisa Fiaola Cup . Harold Matthews Cup , Tarsha Gale Cup and SG Ball.

[Rooster_6]

Round 1 SG Ball
Sydney Roosters 56 defeat North Sydney Bears 12

Completely one sided contest from the opening minutes right through to the end. Our forward pack was just overwhelming destructive and everything good we did came off the back of that.

Best on Ground
3 - Kanaan Magele - The starting prop was an absolute beast, barged over for the first try, every carry was strong in contact and made good post contact metres, looks to have some really good mobility and speed across the park and was strong in defensive contact all afternoon too.

2 - Jax Allen - The dummy half scored a nice barge over try early in the second half, kicked a beautiful 40/20, made a really nice linebreak but most impressive was his defence. Really good low tackle technique and seems to have a wire or two loose the way he went in to tackle a few of the big guys. Love it.

1 - Both second rowers* (Lachlan Dooner & Darcy Smith) - That felt like a love letter to their coach Boyd Cordner, both hit hard in defence, were super aggresive in their carries, ran really good lines. Super impressed with both. Darcy Smith has a really nice left foot step and Lachlan Dooner converting from centre into the second row hasn't lost any speed or agility with the size he's put on in the off-season.

Other thoughts
- A lot of really exciting talent coming through from the Central Coast systems (Brooklyn Rosemeyer Half, Darcy Smith 2nd Row, Josiah Fesolai Lock forward) all really impressed
- Lavakeiaho was a scary sight off the bench, picked up right where Magele left off.
- Rex Bassingthwaighte had some nice touches, scored a good try and was good in support but was quiet in the second half
- Tyson Walker, don't need a DNA test.. he's definitely part of the Walker family. First play in good ball was a short grubber for himself lol. Played well though, always easy to overplay your hand in a game like that but he had good pass selection and scored a nice try bouncing off his left foot step twice.
- Two penalties across both grades for incorrect play the balls.. wondering if we're due another crackdown in the NRL this year..

[Superdag]

Toby Rodwell no show today have they up his status.

[Rooster_6]

Toby Rodwell no show today have they up his status.

He is in the top 30 now, the halves pairing for NSW Cup will be hotly contested with Savala, Elliot, Rodwell & Reece Foley all in contention.

[Superdag]

Anyone try BarTV Sports today was just wondering what the security format is for giving them card detail for subscription

[King Salvo]

Toby Rodwell no show today have they up his status.

Is in the Top 30 squad so not sure if he will start in Jersey Flegg or NSW Cup in 2025 - One figures Hugo Savala will be one of the halves in NSW Cup - Half Back more than likely.

NSW Cup only

Hugo Savala - 22 - 23 in April 2025 - half back/5/8

Jersey Flegg Under 21's or NSW Cup

Jake Elliot - 19 - 20 in April 2025 - 5/8
Toby Rodwell - 18 or so - a half back
Reece Foley - 20 - 5/8

[King Salvo]

Anyone try BarTV Sports today was just wondering what the security format is for giving them card detail for subscription

I signed up but of course will be keeping an eye on the account payments each month.

https://www.bartvsports.com.au/account-sharing/

https://www.scamadviser.com/check-we...vsports.com.au

[nayfo]

Thanks R6. Great insight and write up. Getting me excited for the season.

As someone who lives on the coast and knows a lot of the kids coming through our system I agree that we have some great talent coming through the pathways. The next crop a part of the Harold Mats central coast system has some generational talent.

They had a bye this week.

[King Salvo]

Thanks R6. Great insight and write up. Getting me excited for the season.

As someone who lives on the coast and knows a lot of the kids coming through our system I agree that we have some great talent coming through the pathways. The next crop a part of the Harold Mats central coast system has some generational talent.

They had a bye this week.

Be interesting to see how Semi Leweniqila goes as he was a standout in Andrew Johns Cup on the wing for the Central Coast Roosters who won that comp in 2024.

[Superdag]

Ok king thanks but do you thing we are one year late trying to bleed these kid into fg I personally think we should of started last year knowing the personal that were leaving 2025 ,it has made it harder for these Young kids,I know sam knee injury happened late in the season but we all know Manu and Joseph would not be here in 2025 and I hope Chad and sandon prove me wrong but its going to put a lot of pressure on Smith and toia, yes Smith and toia for me I have watched marky Nawaqanitawase play for new and Australia in union seem a bit lazy think he need at least a couple of months game time if he is to play in the centers but the kid who I think will step up is toia this kid has the hole package if Smith holds up (injurys) I think toia will preform.

[Davo]

Lavakeiaho and Magele were absolute standouts, powerful runs breaking the first line of defence constantly, dragging defenders. Lavakeiaho had numerous offloads that created breaks, top prospects both of them. I watched De La Vaa last year at the same venue, he was powerful then, but these 2 were more destructive. I rate them better than Vaa'a. Hope her proves me wrong in first grade this year.

[King Salvo]

Ok king thanks but do you thing we are one year late trying to bleed these kid into fg I personally think we should of started last year knowing the personal that were leaving 2025 ,it has made it harder for these Young kids,I know sam knee injury happened late in the season but we all know Manu and Joseph would not be here in 2025 and I hope Chad and sandon prove me wrong but its going to put a lot of pressure on Smith and toia, yes Smith and toia for me I have watched marky Nawaqanitawase play for new and Australia in union seem a bit lazy think he need at least a couple of months game time if he is to play in the centers but the kid who I think will step up is toia this kid has the hole package if Smith holds up (injurys) I think toia will preform.

I thought the last game of the year vs Souths was an opportunity to give more of these youngsters an opportunity to play NRL as the Roosters had wrapped up a top 4 spot. Only De La Salle Va'a got a run and Mark Nawaqanitawase got his first taste of NRL.

I have confidence in the new squad players and those taking on bigger roles due to departures of others plus injuries having seen them come through the pathways and their progression as players onto senior reps and some onto NRL.

The Roosters pathways system for both Men's and Women's players is right up there with the other top one's i.e Sydney and Central Coast Roosters plus their academies and partnerships/academies in NZ and Ipswich.

Sure the preparation for the season is only tested in real game situations when coming up against possibly more experience teams and players but the only way players will get experience is playing and hopefully the preparation whether pre-season or leading up to a match has been good enough to enable them to cope with the rigours of NRL week in and week out.