Junior Reps Preview Finals Week One

Author: Raiders.com.au
Timestamp: Fri 14 Apr 2023, 11:58 AM

It's a big weekend for the Raiders junior reps sides with the Harold Matts and Tarsha Gale teams both playing in an elimination final at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday.

It is the first time all three Raiders junior rep sides have made finals, with the SG Ball side straight into week two of finals after finishing the regular season in top spot.

Harold Matthews Cup

The Raiders Harold Matts side face off against the Bulldogs this Saturday in an elimination final at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday.

It has been an impressive season so far for the Raiders, who won their opening four games of the year and finished in fifth place in what is a tight competition.

Coach Rourke O'Sullivan says the team are really excited to play finals footy and is proud of the efforts throughout the season so far.

"At the start of the season you want to put yourself into this position and we’ve put ourselves there now so the boys are really excited to play on the weekend," O'Sullivan said.

"I'm really proud, they are just a hard working team. They’ve put a lot of effort into the season and it’s paid off with semi-final footy this weekend.”

O'Sullivan says that while the Bulldogs are a strong team, his side is looking forward to the challenge.

“They’ve got a big forward pack and some good halves as well but we’ve really just been focusing on our game," O'Sullivan said.

"We know they’re a good side because they made the semi finals but we’re a good side as well which we’re looking forward to showing on the weekend."

With all three Raiders junior rep teams reaching finals, O'Sullivan says there as been a buzz around the teams at training.

“It’s awesome for the club, we’ve all been training at the same venue the last couple of weeks and there is a really good feeling amongst all the teams, players and staff as well so it’s great for the club and we’re looking forward to the next couple of weeks of finals footy," O'Sullivan said.

O'Sullivan has made a couple of changes to the side ahead of the clash this Saturday. Thomas Handsaker will start at prop, replacing Andrew Muir.

Harvey Gay has been named at second row, with Brock Apolevski moving to the interchange bench.

The Bulldogs finished the regular season in fourth place, with six wins and two losses throughout the season.

Kick off for the clash is at 3:15pm on Saturday April 15 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium Sydney.

Finals Week 1 - Finals Week 1 - Saturday 15 Apr

Full Time

Bulldogs

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Tallis McEwen-Welsh

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 James CROKER
Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Ratu Rinakama

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Lachlan Cunanan
Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Ayman MAARBANI

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Jake Cayfe
Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Hori FUA

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Harry Hudson
Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Jope Rauqe

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Patrick DAWSON
Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Bronson Reuben

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Braydan DARMODY
Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Mitchell Woods

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jonah Anderson

Forwards

Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Mohamed Hadid

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Thomas HANDSAKER
Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Noah BYRNE

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Mitchell Brophy
Prop for Bulldogs is number 17 Itula SEVE

Prop for Raiders is number 18 Jesse Milin
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Solomone TUPOU

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Harvey GAY
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Sosaia Alatini

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Samuel Griffin
Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Sheldon ABBEY

Lock for Raiders is number 14 Matthew COX

Interchange

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 8 Oliva Smith

Interchange for Raiders is number 13 Brock Apolevski
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Christopher MAKHLOUF

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Lucas Mcpherson
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 David Leota

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Cooper JOHNSTON
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 23 Tylah Slate

Interchange for Raiders is number 20 Samuel PATMORE

Reserves

Replacement for Bulldogs is number 20 Daniel Christodoulou

Replacement for Raiders is number 19 Jacob MAU-POHIVA

Last updated: 4/18/2023 2:44:18 AM

Tarsha Gale Cup

The Raiders Tarsha Gale Cup side will play their first ever finals appearance this Saturday in what is a massive achievement for the side.

They finished the regular season in sixth place and will take on the Knights, who finished in third place.

Coach Josh Hardy says that the side talked about playing finals before the season started and that the players are looking forward to playing this weekend.

"Yeah it's very exciting, we did it a difficult way but we got there. We worked hard and talked about making the top six in the pre-season and we’ve achieved our first goal," Hardy said.

Hardy is proud of how far the team has come this season so far and says the way the players have come together has been most pleasing.

"Their skill has improved but just the tight knit group and how they all play for each other is probably the most impressive thing," Hardy said.

The Raiders side take on the Knights, who have had an impressive season recording six wins and keeping opposition to one try on four occasions.

Hardy says that the big focus this week has been on themselves and making sure they are ready to go come Saturday.

“We’ve had a look at them but similar to most of the year we’re just worried about ourselves," Hardy said.

"We’ve talked about it a lot, the only team that can beat us on any given day is usually ourselves so we’ve just spent more time looking at us.”

There have been a few changes to the side from last week, with Samantha Nealon named at centre and Mya McGlynn on the wing.

Bonnie Brewer returns at hooker, with Kayla Fleming shifting to lock and India Dyball to prop.

Kick off for the match is at 5pm on Saturday April 15 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in Sydney.