HM / SG Ball Vs Illawarra Steelers Round 2

[Rooster_6]

HM / SG Ball Vs Illawarra Steelers Round 2

@Collegians Sporting Complex, Wollongong

Harrold Matthews - K/O 1:30PM
SG Ball - K/O 3:00PM

Harrold Matthews Team List
1. Harper Boothroyd
2. Levi Scarlett
3. Manamoui Toia
4. Andy Toia
5. Leonjay Salevao
6. Samuel Large
7. Charlie Webb
8. Isaiah Tonga
9. Caleb Zahra
10. Cordell Kirk
11. Cooper Tesoriero
12. Riley Smart
13. Marquis Sando

15. Thomas Bosley
16. Tai Skipps
17. Seu Fidow
18. Zachary Cavanna



SG Ball Team List
1. Zaylen Ekepati
2. Filipe Fakauho
3. Jeziah Papa
4. Bastion Armstrong
5. Joshua Fesolai
6. Brok Elliott
7. Carter Mareko
8. Charleston Te Rore
9. Ryan Tukapua
10. Agapetos Lote-Felo
11. Darcy Smith
12. James Finegan
13. Eddy Cayless

14. Jack Dean-Potaka
15. Cooper Gibbs
16. Nathan Lopamaua
17. Caleb Fesolai

[Rooster_6]

I will be watching the SG Ball game on replay due to kick off in Newcastle at 3:30PM for first grade but I will still post my thoughts and best on ground later tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Some cruical players missing from SG Ball up against a very tough side in Illawarra. Itula Seve, Rex Basingthwaighte & Lui Lee all playing first grade this weeked in the trials, Liam Bell out injured with HIA protocols and not sure what's happened to Xzavier Timoteo and why he's not playing at the moment.

[Bates]

HM / SG Ball Vs Illawarra Steelers Round 2

@Collegians Sporting Complex, Wollongong

Harrold Matthews - K/O 1:30PM
SG Ball - K/O 3:00PM

Harrold Matthews Team List
1. Harper Boothroyd
2. Levi Scarlett
3. Manamoui Toia
4. Andy Toia
5. Leonjay Salevao
6. Samuel Large
7. Charlie Webb
8. Isaiah Tonga
9. Caleb Zahra
10. Cordell Kirk
11. Cooper Tesoriero
12. Riley Smart
13. Marquis Sando

15. Thomas Bosley
16. Tai Skipps
17. Seu Fidow
18. Zachary Cavanna



SG Ball Team List
1. Zaylen Ekepati
2. Filipe Fakauho
3. Jeziah Papa
4. Bastion Armstrong
5. Joshua Fesolai
6. Brok Elliott
7. Carter Mareko
8. Charleston Te Rore
9. Ryan Tukapua
10. Agapetos Lote-Felo
11. Darcy Smith
12. James Finegan
13. Eddy Cayless

14. Jack Dean-Potaka
15. Cooper Gibbs
16. Nathan Lopamaua
17. Caleb Fesolai

I like Webb.

Big future!

[rcptn]

I like Webb.

Big future!

Have you ever seen him play?

[David Sutherland]

Charlie Webb is the son of Brent Webb former New Zealand Warriors and New Zealand Test Fullback.

The Roosters - Central Coast and Sydney Roosters are not short of talented up and coming halves.

The Roosters were flying him down from Queensland as he was attending Wavell State High School in Queensland at the time - not sure if that is still the case in 2026 as the Roosters have accommodation for Junior players

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPpyHSMmdpQ

[Rooster_6]

Round 2 SG Ball Review

Roosters 9 defeated Illawarra 8 @ Collegians Sporting Complex

Real good first half, could have easily had 2 or 3 tries in that first half. Finegan and someone else (can't remember) ruled to have dropped over the line, Joshua Fesolai held up over the line and Darcy Smith just flat out tackled in mid-air after catching a bomb was a certainty for a penalty try but didn't even get a penalty. 2nd half the script completely flipped and we were camped in our own half and it was only our great defence that held us in game. Ilawarra scored a very dubious try (offside steelers player clearly in the passing lane) with only a few minutes left in the game to make it 8-8 (missed conversion) and then after the restart of play we got the ball back and Carter Mareko knocked over a field goal that seemed to a large deflection off a defender.

All in all Cordner will be stoked with the way the boys defended their way to a win but will want to see much better ball control in yardage than what he saw in the second half. Should get some troops back next week with Liam Bell, Rex, Seve, Lote-Felo & Lui Lee all set to return.

Best on Ground

3 - Charleston Te Rore - Absolute beast up front, scored our only try through pure strength and made a huge 40m line break through the middle with speed and power. Most impressive he went about 50 minutes straight without a break. For a guy with so much power he's got a good engine on him. He was a real standout in HM last year but I didn't expect him to carry it straight into SG Ball. Had to play long minutes due to no Seve and Lote-Felo this week but geez he was impressive throughout. Doesn't shirk his defensive duties either.

2 - Eddy Cayless - Thought his defensive work around the middle was excellent, had to make some crucial tackles to keep us in the game and he came up big every time. Had some good carries but in a the second half some of his defensive efforts in the middle were crucial.

1 - Filipe Fakauho - Mixed game but hard to pick another standout due to how much defending we had to do. The bad - he got sin binned late and picked up a ball that was going dead for all money but other than that his carries out of our own end all game were enormous. He carries back with so much aggression, had one standout play where he attacked a Steelers attacking cross field bomb, came down with it and then ran 50m to give us the field position that we would eventually hold onto to set up our only try of the game. So in terms of impact on the game there was a lot more good than bad.

Other Thoughts
- I thought Ekepati was great again at fullback, will be interesting to see how they fix Rex and Ekepati into the same side. Both outstanding young talents.
- Carter Mareko is silky some of the deception he plays with is so nice to watch.
- Nathan Lopamaua debuted who was a highly regarded signing from New Zealand, I thought the young prop went well but interested to see more and what all the hype is about.
- Carter Gibbs has shown a lot of aggression off the bench, can't remember who shouted him out on here but for what he lacks in size he certainly makes up for with aggression in the front row. If he fills out he could be one to watch.

[theGman]

We sure have prodigy in this team.

Pretty certain Carter Gibbs is the son of Dr Nathan.

Really surprised but pleased of course that Nathan's young bloke is wearing our colours and not Souffs, a team his Dad captained and was a stalwart.

This says a lot about our set up and development.

[rcptn]

His name is Cooper Gibbs and he is from last seasons CC Roosters Harold Matthews Cup.

[rcptn]

Just confirmed via a phone call with a Roosters supporting mate who knows Nathan Gibbs that his youngest of 3 sons Jude who is about 24 is playing Rugby in Japan currently.

[theGman]

Just confirmed via a phone call with a Roosters supporting mate who knows Nathan Gibbs that his youngest of 3 sons Jude who is about 24 is playing Rugby in Japan currently.

My bad

["gaz"]

Hopefully Ron's son not Barry's

["gaz"]

Round 2 SG Ball Review

Roosters 9 defeated Illawarra 8 @ Collegians Sporting Complex

Real good first half, could have easily had 2 or 3 tries in that first half. Finegan and someone else (can't remember) ruled to have dropped over the line, Joshua Fesolai held up over the line and Darcy Smith just flat out tackled in mid-air after catching a bomb was a certainty for a penalty try but didn't even get a penalty. 2nd half the script completely flipped and we were camped in our own half and it was only our great defence that held us in game. Ilawarra scored a very dubious try (offside steelers player clearly in the passing lane) with only a few minutes left in the game to make it 8-8 (missed conversion) and then after the restart of play we got the ball back and Carter Mareko knocked over a field goal that seemed to a large deflection off a defender.

All in all Cordner will be stoked with the way the boys defended their way to a win but will want to see much better ball control in yardage than what he saw in the second half. Should get some troops back next week with Liam Bell, Rex, Seve, Lote-Felo & Lui Lee all set to return.

Best on Ground

3 - Charleston Te Rore - Absolute beast up front, scored our only try through pure strength and made a huge 40m line break through the middle with speed and power. Most impressive he went about 50 minutes straight without a break. For a guy with so much power he's got a good engine on him. He was a real standout in HM last year but I didn't expect him to carry it straight into SG Ball. Had to play long minutes due to no Seve and Lote-Felo this week but geez he was impressive throughout. Doesn't shirk his defensive duties either.

2 - Eddy Cayless - Thought his defensive work around the middle was excellent, had to make some crucial tackles to keep us in the game and he came up big every time. Had some good carries but in a the second half some of his defensive efforts in the middle were crucial.

1 - Filipe Fakauho - Mixed game but hard to pick another standout due to how much defending we had to do. The bad - he got sin binned late and picked up a ball that was going dead for all money but other than that his carries out of our own end all game were enormous. He carries back with so much aggression, had one standout play where he attacked a Steelers attacking cross field bomb, came down with it and then ran 50m to give us the field position that we would eventually hold onto to set up our only try of the game. So in terms of impact on the game there was a lot more good than bad.

Other Thoughts
- I thought Ekepati was great again at fullback, will be interesting to see how they fix Rex and Ekepati into the same side. Both outstanding young talents.
- Carter Mareko is silky some of the deception he plays with is so nice to watch.
- Nathan Lopamaua debuted who was a highly regarded signing from New Zealand, I thought the young prop went well but interested to see more and what all the hype is about.
- Carter Gibbs has shown a lot of aggression off the bench, can't remember who shouted him out on here but for what he lacks in size he certainly makes up for with aggression in the front row. If he fills out he could be one to watch.

Brilliant.
Thank you Rooster_6

[Rooster_6]

His name is Cooper Gibbs and he is from last seasons CC Roosters Harold Matthews Cup.

Yeh, you're right.. not sure where I got Carter from.