2016 Junior Test match
Junior Kangaroos v Junior Kiwis
Saturday, May 7
Pirtek Stadium, 3:15pm (local time)
LIVE on Fox Sports 1
The last two Junior Test matches were settled by a field goal and a converted goal, so if recent results are anything to go by, expect a cracker of a match on Saturday afternoon.
Taking place this year at Parramatta’s Pirtek Stadium, Junior Kangaroos v Junior Kiwis games are always fiery encounters, perhaps even more so than their senior counterparts.
In 2014, tensions almost boiled over during the Kiwis pre-match haka, while tempers were flared on numerous occasions on the Gold Coast last year.
It’s easy to see why when you look back at past players who have worn the Junior Kangaroos and Kiwis jerseys and how important the fixture is in these young player’s careers.
Since 2010, 18 players from this fixture have gone onto represent their country at the highest level, including six of New Zealand’s senior side this weekend and one from Australia.
18 players from last year’s game have played first grade since then, including regular first graders like Valentine Holmes, Joe Ofahengaue, Jackson Hastings, Ashley Taylor, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and James Fisher-Harris.
This weekend’s Junior Kangaroos side features eight players who have made their NRL debut and six returning players from last year’s victorious side.
One of those returning players is Brisbane’s Tevita Pangai Junior, who plays his third game for the Junior Kangaroos, one of just four players to do so since 2010.
His three consecutive years of representation are a record of any Junior Kangaroo in that time frame.
Unfortunately the Kangaroos suffered a blow on the eve of the match, with winger John Olive fracturing his collarbone in training and being ruled out of the contest.
The Junior Kiwis have named a less experienced side, with only three returning players and just two with NRL experience.
One of those being James Fisher-Harris, who has become a regular for Penrith this season.
The imposing forward has solidified a spot on the bench for the Panthers and scored a double in their loss to Cronulla two weeks ago.
But lacking NRL experience in these fixtures hasn’t troubled the Kiwis in the past.
Their victorious side in 2014 featured just one NRL-experienced player, compared to the Kangaroos’ eight. Last year, they featured two NRL players to the Kangaroos’ seven and went down by just two points.
Just like the last two years, we’re expecting another quality encounter between these old rivals.
Head to Head
Since 2010, the teams have met 7 times for 4 Kangaroos’ victories. For a full list of these games, with team lists and scorers, click HERE.
Recent Results
2013 Junior Kangaroos 38 – 26 Junior Kiwis, WIN Jubilee Oval
2014 Junior Kiwis 15 – 14 Junior Kangaroos, Mt Smart Stadium
2015 Junior Kangaroos 22 – 20 Junior Kiwis, Cbus Super Stadium
Keep An Eye On
Dylan Edwards (Junior Kangaroos)
Outstanding at the back for ladder leaders Penrith, the Bellingen-Dorrigo junior has scored 11 tries so far in 2016 and averages a 198 metres a game. Edwards played on the wing in the Panthers’ NYC Grand Final win in 2015 and played almost every position possible during the season. Now at home at fullback, he leads the NYC in tackle breaks with 69 and is second in line breaks with 12.
Esan Marsters (Junior Kiwis)
A Mt Albert Lions junior, Marsters has been in fine form the last few weeks for the Wests Tigers. A difficult player to contain, Marsters has broken 56 tackles in 2016 and averages 147 metres a game. Despite playing second row, Marsters has no trouble finding the try line, having scored 7 tries this season, the most of any forward in the competition. Last season he scored 14 tries in his 21 games.
Individual Battle
Penrith team mates Tyrone May and James Fisher-Harris will pack into the scrum at lock for their countries this weekend in what looms as an intriguing match up. May, who has moved to five-eighth in recent weeks due to injury, is a ball playing forward with the ability to make metres and tackles, while Fisher-Harris, who spent the majority of his NYC career in the second row, is a damaging runner with a nice offload and has been likened to former international Gordon Tallis.
May played all over the park for Penrith in 2015, leading the way in most defensive and offensive categories. Mainly playing at lock this year, he’s averaged around 100 metres and 29 tackles per game. Since moving to five-eighth two weeks ago, May has 3 try assists and 3 line break assists.
In his few NYC games in 2015, Fisher-Harris terrorised opposition defences, averaging 132 metres and 3 offloads per game. Moving up to the NRL this year, he hasn’t looked out of place. In the best performance of his career so far, Fisher-Harris scored 2 tries, ran for 132 metres, broke 5 tackles and made 24 without loss against a very good Sharks’ pack.
Regardless of how these impressive young forwards will be used on Saturday, you can bet that both players will be influential if their on the result.
18TH MAN 