Wests Tigers are proud to recognise and celebrate the recent success of the club’s junior representative teams, with several reaching the finals of their respective competitions.
Friday morning will see two of our teams in Week 1 finals action. Balmain Tigers SG Ball Cup side plays Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs at St Mary’s, while Wests Tigers play the Illawarra Steelers in the Tarsha Gale Cup finals at Wentworthville.
And it doesn’t stop there. Western Suburbs Magpies have earned the weekend off after finishing top of the ladder in the Harold Matthews Cup, going unbeaten through their eight-game season.
The club’s Andrew Johns Cup and Laurie Daley Cup squads can also be extremely proud of their achievements too, both defeated in hard-fought finals matches over the past fortnight.
Harold Matthews Cup
What a season, and we aren’t done yet. Western Suburbs Magpies have finished atop the Harold Matthews Cup ladder, going unbeaten through their eight-game season.
The Magpies finished the season with the second best attacking and defensive records in the competition, proving their prowess with and without the ball.
This success was on display in the team’s final three matches of the season, where they scored ninety points and conceded just sixteen in games against the Rabbitohs, Bulldogs and Sea Eagles.
By finishing first, the Magpies have earned the week off and will face the winner of the elimination final between the Cronulla Sharks and Parramatta Eels, which will be played on Friday morning.
Should they emerge victorious from that clash, the Magpies will advance to the Grand Final and earn their chance to win the first ever Harold Matthews Cup title for either side of the joint-venture.
Coach Robbie Mears says there are a number of reasons why his team has been successful, “We’ve had thorough commitment by every one of our 27-plus squad.
We have strong leadership in Kit Laulilii. And we have players who want to listen and learn. As a coach I couldn’t ask for a more dedicated and capable playing group
Robbie Mears
SG Ball Cup
The Balmain Tigers have qualified for the first week of the SG Ball Cup finals, finishing the regular season in third position.
The Tigers will be full of confidence ahead of Friday morning’s match at St Marys Leagues Stadium, entering the clash on the back of two straight victories.
Fullback Cathane Hill has struck a rich vein of form over the past fortnight, scoring three tries and slotting six conversions in high-scoring encounters against the Sea Eagles and Sharks.
Hill’s success has come off the back of several strong performances from the Tigers’ imposing forward pack, led by captain Cayne Nicolas at hooker.
Balmain will face stiff opposition in the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, who have seen recent success against the Tigers by winning five of the last six SG Ball Cup encounters between the two clubs.
The Tigers’ young stars will be eager to see this trend reversed as the club looks to book its place in the qualifying final against the Newcastle Knights.
Coach Gaven Sheehan says his players have worked their butts off,
I’m just so happy for them. They really have worked hard for each other to get to this stage and they just don’t quit.
Gaven Sheehan
"Hats off too to our Pathways team. We have so much support that I have not seen in my previous roles at other clubs. People like Noddy (Brett Kimmorley - Pathways Coaching Manager), Betsie (Matthew Betsey - Head of Pathways) and Sirro (Paul Sironen - Pathways Development Manager, Balmain)."
Tarsha Gale Cup
Following the success of their counterparts in the SG Ball Cup, the Wests Tigers Tarsha Gale Cup side have earned their spot in the final’s series.
Ending the season with three consecutive victories, Wests Tigers will do battle with the Illawarra Steelers on Friday morning at Ringrose Park.
The side will be hoping that Katie Edwards can carry the momentum built through her recent success into Friday’s encounter, with the five-eighth scoring three tries in the team’s last two matches.
The squad will be battle-hardened following a fiery encounter against Cronulla in the final round of the regular season, which saw three players sent to the sin bin as Wests Tigers overcame a first half deficit to win.
Coach David Faounuku says making the finals is something to be proud of, “It’s always great to make finals and for this team it’s no different.
“The girls understand the significance of maintaining the club’s streak of finals appearances at Tarsha Gale level over the past few years.
“Now it’s about getting better with each match from here on in.
I think it’s been a terrific achievement across the whole club in the lower grades. It speaks volumes for our Pathways system that we are represented at all levels in the finals
David Faounuku
A victory on Friday morning would see Wests Tigers face off against the ladder-leading Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy or Parramatta, for a spot in the Grand Final.
