Junior Reps Preview Round One 2023

Author: Raiders.com.au
Timestamp: Fri 3 Feb 2023, 10:19 AM

Junior representative competitions kick off this weekend, with the Raiders Harold Matthews and SG Ball Cup sides both playing away in their round one matches.

UNE Harold Matthews Cup

The Raiders Harold Matthews Cup side travel to the Central Coast on Saturday to take on the Roosters in their opening round clash.

After a long pre-season, which started in November, the side has been preparing well under new head coach Rourke O’Sullivan.

There are many fresh faces in the squad, with O’Sullivan proud of the way the players have come together and ripped in during training.

“We’ve got boys from the Canberra and Queanbeyan region, some from down at the South Coast, and a few from out at the Riverina as well, so we’ve got players from all around the Raiders footprint which is awesome,” O’Sullivan said.

“They’ve all built a camaraderie with each other and are all excited for the weekend.”

Having been an assistant coach of the Harold Matthews side over the past couple of seasons, O’Sullivan has taken the reins as head coach this year and has been loving the new role.

“I’ve been really enjoying it. I’ve been involved over the last couple of years as an assistant coach but it’s been awesome to be coaching with my other assistant coaches and having a bit more responsibility,” O’Sullivan said.

“The boys have been a massive part of that, they’ve done everything that we’ve thrown at them. They’ve just taken it with open arms and are just all willing to learn.”

The Harold Matthews side take on the Central Coast Roosters this weekend, who have several exciting players join the side this year and will be looking to start their season off strongly.

O’Sullivan says his team is looking forward to the match and it’ll be a good indication of where the side is at after a long pre-season.

“They are always a tough team the Central Coast and the travelling is a bit of a factor for us as well,” O’Sullivan said.

“It’ll be a really good test for us first up and keen to see how we go and hopefully build into the year this weekend.”

Kick-off for the match is at 3pm on Saturday 4th February at Morry Breen Oval, Central Coast.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Saturday 4 Feb

Full Time

CC Roosters

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for CC Roosters is number 1 Demetrius Kilisimasi

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Braydan DARMODY
Winger for CC Roosters is number 2 Samisoni Talakai

Winger for Raiders is number 2 James CROKER
Centre for CC Roosters is number 3 Bailey Sigsworth

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Lachlan Cunanan
Centre for CC Roosters is number 4 Brendan COUZENS

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Harry Hudson
Winger for CC Roosters is number 5 Cooper DEAN-POTAKA

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Emmett SMITH
Five-Eighth for CC Roosters is number 6 Sean Bullen

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Sam Chapman
Halfback for CC Roosters is number 7 Chaice Bayley

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jonah Anderson

Forwards

Prop for CC Roosters is number 8 Devonte Vaotuua

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Zildjian TAFILI
Hooker for CC Roosters is number 9 Travis JACKSON

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Mitchell Brophy
Prop for CC Roosters is number 10 Billy Brown

Prop for Raiders is number 19 Jacob MAU-POHIVA
2nd Row for CC Roosters is number 11 Coby Thomas

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Samuel Griffin
2nd Row for CC Roosters is number 12 Josiah Fesolai

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Harvey GAY
Lock for CC Roosters is number 13 Taj Matthews

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Andrew MUIR

Interchange

Interchange for CC Roosters is number 14 Brooklyn Rosemeyer

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Lucas Mcpherson
Interchange for CC Roosters is number 15 Trey WATSON

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Brock Apolevski
Interchange for CC Roosters is number 16 Lorenzo Godoy

Interchange for Raiders is number 18 Jesse Milin
Interchange for CC Roosters is number 17 Joshua Kopua

Interchange for Raiders is number 22 Callum Rossiter

Reserves

Replacement for CC Roosters is number 18 Bailey VAEAU

Replacement for Raiders is number 20 Patrick DAWSON

Last updated: 2/7/2023 10:26:37 AM

UNE SG Ball Cup

The Raiders SG Ball Cup side kick off their 2023 campaign against the Melbourne Storm on Saturday.

The Raiders finished the 2022 season in ninth place, just one win outside the top eight, and will be looking to build on that this year.

A few new players have been signed for this season, while many of the Harold Matthews players that reached the semi-final last year have joined the team.

Chevy Stewart will be a key player to watch, with the fullback joining the Raiders system this year.

Stewart and Noah Martin have been training with the NRL squad over the first block of pre-season, a very valuable experience for the young pair as they look to bring that experience to their team.

Coach Peter Marrapodi has named a strong team in the round one clash this weekend. Stewart has been named at fullback, with Niu Mariota named in the front row alongside Jake Clydsdale.

The Raiders take on the Storm, who finished bottom of the table last season.

Kick-off for the round one clash is at 11:30am on Saturday 4th February at Comely Banks Recreation Reserve in Officer, Victoria.