NSW Cup 2025

[Dion Johnson]

James named on the pine with both train and trial players in Sykes and Patolo named in front of him, not a good start to the season for a player in the top 30 squad.

Team List:
1. Clayton Faulalo
2. Navren Willett
3. Jordan Swann
4. Aaron Schoupp
5. Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega
6. Brandon Wakeham
7. Jakob Arthur
8. Chris Patolo
9. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
10. Jacob Sykes
11. Michael Chee Kam
12. Zane Dunford
13. Dean Matterson

Interchange
14. Caleb Navale
15. Aitasi James
16. D'jazirhae Mia Pua'avase
17. Max Hayley

Reserves
18. Broden Konz

 

[Nordburg]

Viliami Fifita named on the bench,again,for Dragons reserve grade.Not a good start for a player so many on ST’s whinged about when the club released him

 

[Disco]

Navale down the pecking order too

 

[Dion Johnson]

The team looks better than I expected, a mixture of a few experienced players and some younger players looking to be better and give it their best.

 

[Dion Johnson]

Viliami Fifita named on the bench,again,for Dragons reserve grade.Not a good start for a player so many on ST’s whinged about when the club released him

He will find it hard to get a look in at the Dragons, they have some talented younger forwards that have jumped ahead of him.

He did look promising when he was at the club and played well in a couple of trials from memory.

 

[double hoops]

Matto and Navale should complement each other well at 13. Matto had some nice touches at five eight in the trials but not sure he has his hands on the ball often enough in the halves. He's the style of 13, that mobile ball playing lock which would be a nice to have in the a grade if he can handle the grunt work as well.

What Matto may lack in terms of punching straight Navale laps up. His speed always looks dangerous, plenty of half breaks he hopefully turns into actual line breaks in 25.

Different styles of lock. But together they should be a handful and a nice 1, 2 combo.

Whilst both players look good for 20 mins I got doubts about both handling the work rate at lock much longer.

The good part in that ressies team is you could rotate locks and backrowers, with ease.

 

[double hoops]

Some bugger said AOA was getting a run in ressies in another thread.

Ahh I should have fact checked it before I commented I guess.

Round 1 starting to feel like I'm short of a run for team list Tuesday Lol.

 

[LeonardCohen]

He will find it hard to get a look in at the Dragons, they have some talented younger forwards that have jumped ahead of him.

He did look promising when he was at the club and played well in a couple of trials from memory.

He was never a highly touted junior. I think people got carried away by a few bruising carries in a trial game and the fact his surname was Fifita, assuming he must be a future star. I'm not even joking; I honestly believe the surname led to a 'halo effect'. He was bench forward in GIO Cup.

 

[Ohgeez]

I don’t think Navale is ‘down the pecking order’ personally. Id say it’s more likely just a small punishment for his mental lapses in defence against panthers a couple weeks ago. A good reminder that you have to be switched on at all times if you want to be a starter. Id give it a couple weeks & he will be starting with matterson back to 2nd row

 

[Dion Johnson]

Sydney Shield not starting until next weekend, a few players having to wait for their chance in James Uesele and Charlie Thompson.

 

[Dion Johnson]

Matto and Navale should complement each other well at 13. Matto had some nice touches at five eight in the trials but not sure he has his hands on the ball often enough in the halves. He's the style of 13, that mobile ball playing lock which would be a nice to have in the a grade if he can handle the grunt work as well.

That’s one of the selections I like, players playing where they are best suited, I don’t think either Matterson or Navale would play on an edge in first grade.

MCK and Dunford on the edges both get a chance to play where they are best suited and press their chances for selection should injury or form command a start in first grade.

 

[double hoops]

The Newtown Jets secure a finals double-chance with narrow win over the Warriors - Newtown Jets

The Newtown Jets ensured themselves a double-chance in the 2024 NSW Cup semi-finals when they defeated the New Zealand Warriors 39-36 in the final home and away round played at Henson Park on Saturday.With the Canberra Raiders losing in an upset to the Sydney Roosters, Newtown finished in second...

www.newtownjets.com

Jordan Swann might be one to keep an eye on at centre.