Coming off a 17 win season and a preliminary final appearance in 2014, the Dragons head into 2015 with a good mix of experience and new talent. The likes of Matt Dufty, Adam Clune and Hame Sele have returned, while junior internationals Euan Aitken, Addin Fonua-Blake and Drew Hutchison join the NRL squad for 2015.
Abraham Atallah
Tom Carr Adam Clune
Josh Daley Matthew Dufty
Ryan Fletcher Tom Freebairn Jay Gallagher Dee Jay Harris
Patrick Herbert Leigh Higgins Bronson Hoani Jacob Host
Ryan James
Matt Jurd Jack Kavanagh
Paora Kemp Rowland Kotobalavu
Nathan Leatigaga Luciano Leilua
Jack Payne
Jordan Pinnock Hame Sele
Lachlan Stein
Kelly Tate
Topiese Taufa Izaac Thompson
William Tom Heheako Tuima
Keelyn Tuuta-Edward
Netani Vi Afu
Logan Yates
On the back of three seasons outside the top 8, the Sharks enter 2015 with a host of exciting young talent looking to take the club back to the finals. Returning players include 2014 Australian Schoolboys Jayden Brailey, Ashleigh Nisbet and Connor Tracey. Jack Bird, a Junior Kangaroo and NSW U20s rep, joins the club from the Dragons, while Travis Edwards joins from the Roosters.
Joshua Addo-Carr Jack Bird Jayden Brailey Jaden Clarke
Ryan Cummins Bradley Deitz Travis Edwards
Tepa Fuiava
Patrick Hasson
Ben Henderson
Scott Hogan Jamayne Isaako
John Leger Tuli Leota
Thomas Levi
Daniel Liddicoat
Jayden McDonogh
Tyler McIlroy
Daniel Miladinski Anthony Moraitis Harrison Muller Ashleigh Nisbet Liam O’Brien
Levy Sopi
Klane Stone Alec Susino Connor Tracey Leon Tupuola Semisi Vea Zane Walford Jayden Walker
NYC-eligible players in NRL squad
Valentine Holmes
Last year’s Auckland Nines tournament gave us an early glimpse at a number of talented youngsters who would go onto to make their NRL debut in 2014, including Valentine Holmes, Cameron Munster and Tuimoala Lolohea. Let’s a closer look at the NYC-eligible players who have been selected for the 2015 tournament.
Coen Hess (North Queensland Cowboys) Born: 14/8/1996 (Bundaberg, Qld) Position: Second Row Junior Club: Mt Isa Blackstars Rep Honours: Qld U18s (2014), Qld U16s (2012)
One of the most highly rated juniors from North Queensland, Hess scored a try on his NYC debut at age 17. He would play 16 games during the season and has trained with the Cowboys NRL squad in the 2015 pre-season.
Tepai Moeroa (Parramatta Eels) Born: 2/10/1995 (Cook Islands) Position: Second Row Junior Club: Seven Hills Kangaroos Rep Honours: NSW U16s (2011)
Born in the Cook Islands, Moeroa graduated to the Eels first grade team in 2014, playing 9 games. Moeroa is a multi-talented sportsman, holding state records in shotput and being a two time Australian Schoolboy in rugby union.
Christian Crichton (Penrith Panthers) Position: Wing/Fullback Junior Club: St Marys Rep Honours: Nil
Crichton started 2014 in SG Ball before moving up to Penrith’s NYC side, where he scored 7 tries in 11 games. He was a member of the Patrician Brothers Blacktown side that made the GIO Schoolboy Cup final.
Joshua Jay (Penrith Panthers) Born: 23/5/1995 (Hornsby, NSW) Position: Wing Junior Club: Brothers Penrith Rep Honours: Nil
Jay was one of Penrith’s most consistent players in 2014, scoring 11 tries in 22 games. He is one of the fastest players in the game, clocking a personal best of 10.73sec at the 2012 National Junior Championships.
Angus Crichton (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Born: 5/2/1996 (Temora, NSW) Position: Second Row/Centre Junior Club: Young Cherrypickers Rep Honours: Nil
A new recruit to the Rabbitohs in 2015, Crichton is a two-time Australian Schoolboy in rugby union and played 4 SG Ball games for the Roosters last year. Bunnies fans will get their first glimpse of the young forward in the Auckland Nines.
Tom Hughes (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Born: 22/8/1995 (Pambula, NSW) Position: Wing Junior Club: Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs Rep Honours: Nil
A big, strong winger from New South Wales’ south coast, Hughes scored 15 tries in 23 games in 2014. Hughes also played SG Ball for Souths and attended Sydney Boys High.
Euan Aitken (St George Illawarra Dragons) Born: 16/6/1995 (Pambula, NSW) Position: Centre Junior Club: Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs, Shellharbour Sharks Rep Honours: Junior Kangaroos (2014), NSW U18s (2013), NSW U16s (2011)
Aitken enjoyed a successful NYC season in 2014, finishing with 20 tries in 16 games and a Junior Kangaroos jersey. On the back of a glowing endorsement from Dragons team mate Benji Marshall, Aitken will be looking to have a big tournament.
Last year’s Auckland Nines tournament gave us an early glimpse at a number of talented youngsters who would go onto to make their NRL debut in 2014, including Valentine Holmes, Cameron Munster and Tuimoala Lolohea. Let’s a closer look at the NYC-eligible players who have been selected for the 2015 tournament.
Jackson Hastings (Sydney Roosters) Born: 4/1/1996 (Wollongong, NSW) Position: Halfback/Five-Eighth/Hooker Junior Club: Wests Illawarra Rep Honours: Australian Schoolboys (2013), NSW U18s (2013-14), NSW U16s (2012)
A talented half, able to play a number of positions, Hastings is one the NRL’s fastest rising stars. The Illawarra junior moved from the Dragons to the Roosters in 2014 and progressed from the NYC, to NSW Cup, to the NRL.
Taane Milne (Sydney Roosters) Born: 19/5/1995 (Auckland, NZ) Position: Centre/Wing Junior Club: Clovelly Crocodiles Rep Honours: Junior Kiwis (2014)
A skilful centre with pace to burn, Milne scored 13 tries in his second season of NYC with the Roosters. The New Zealand-born Milne was a schoolboy rugby union star in Sydney and represented the Junior Kiwis in 2014.
Tuimoala Lolohea (Warriors) Born: 23/1/1995 (Auckland, NZ) Position: Five-Eighth/Fullback Junior Club: Marist Saints Rep Honours: Junior Kiwis (2013)
Perhaps the Warriors most talented young player, Lolohea spent most of last season in the NSW Cup before returning to the Junior Warriors in their run to the Grand Final. He made his NRL debut in 2014 and will continue to push for a first grade spot in 2015.
Nathaniel Roache (Warriors) Born: 15/4/1996 (Auckland, NZ) Position: Five-Eighth/Centre/Hooker Junior Club: Richmond Rovers Rep Honours: Nil
A true utility for the Junior Warriors in 2014, Roache played centre in their Grand Final winning side, while also playing at five-eighth and hooker during the season.
Salesi Funaki (Wests Tigers) Born: 24/1/1995 (Sydney, NSW) Position: Second Row/Prop Junior Club: Holy Cross Rhinos Rep Honours: Nil
A local junior, Funaki has progressed to the Tigers NRL squad for 2015 after two seasons in the NYC. A very strong runner of the ball, Funaki played 25 gamed for the Tigers in 2014.
Lamar Liolevave (Wests Tigers) Born: 1/12/1995 (Auckland, NZ) Position: Second Row Junior Club: Marist Saints Rep Honours: Junior Kiwis (2014), Australian Schoolboys (2013)
A talented second rower from New Zealand, Liolevave played 26 NYC games in 2014 and is now a member of the Tigers NRL squad. He represented the Junior Kiwis last season and while attending Keebra Park, represented the Australian Schoolboys in 2013.
Last year’s Auckland Nines tournament gave us an early glimpse at a number of talented youngsters who would go onto to make their NRL debut in 2014, including Valentine Holmes, Cameron Munster and Tuimoala Lolohea. Let’s a closer look at the NYC-eligible players who have been selected for the 2015 tournament.
Jack Bird (Cronulla Sharks) Born: 20/3/1995 (Wollongong, NSW) Position: Centre/Second Row Junior Club: Berkeley Eagles Rep Honours: Junior Kangaroos (2014), NSW U20s (2014), NSW U18s (2013), NSW U16s (2011)
An off-season recruit from the Dragons, Bird is coming off a successful 2014, in which he represented Australia and NSW. After playing most off his career so far in the forwards, Bird has favoured a move into the backline in 2015.
Valentine Holmes (Cronulla Sharks) Born: 24/7/1995 (Townsville, Qld) Position: Fullback/Wing Junior Club: Western Lions Rep Honours: Junior Kangaroos (2014), Qld U20s (2014), Qld U18s (2013)
In 2014, the Townsville junior scored 14 tries in 15 games in the NYC before moving up to the NSW Cup, and eventually, the NRL. The elusive fullback started the year at the Nines and ended it by scoring a double for the Junior Kangaroos in October.
Tom Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles) Born: 2/10/1996 (Sydney, NSW) Position: Fullback/Centre Junior Club: Mona Vale Raiders Rep Honours: NSW U18s (2014)
Trbojevic turned plenty of heads in 2014 and will look to impress once more at the Auckland Nines. He scored 20 tries in 18 games in the NYC and represented New South Wales under 18’s. He is the younger brother of Manly prop Jake Trbojevic.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Melbourne Storm) Born: 29/2/1996 (Wellington, NZ) Position: Lock/Second Row Junior Club: Upper Hutt Tigers Rep Honours: Junior Kiwis (2014)
The Wellington junior was Melbourne’s equal-leading NYC tryscorer in 2014, made the Team of the Year, made the move up to NSW Cup and represented the Junior Kiwis. Standing at 198cm and weighing in at 112kg, Asofa-Solomona won’t be hard to miss at the Nines.
Suliasi Vunivalu (Melbourne Storm) Born: 27/11/1995 (Fiji) Position: Wing Junior Club: St Kentigern College Rep Honours: Nil
Born in Fiji and educated in Auckland, Vunivalu played 8 NYC games in 2014 before moving up to the NSW Cup and is now training with the Storm’s NRL squad. At 192cm and 96kg, Vunivalu is a barnstorming winger who will be looking to make his presence felt at the Nines.
Danny Levi (Newcastle Knights) Born: 5/12/1995 (Wellington, NZ) Position: Hooker Junior Club: Randwick Kingfishers Rep Honours: Junior Kiwis (2014)
Levi captained the Knights to the Minor Premiership in 2014 and was rewarded with a spot in the Team of the Year and a Junior Kiwis jersey. The crafty dummy half may spend time in the NSW Cup in 2015.
Sione Mata’utia (Newcastle Knights) Born: 25/6/1996 (Liverpool, NSW) Position: Centre/Wing/Fullback Junior Club: Raymond Terrace Roosters/South Newcastle Lions Rep Honours: Australia (2014), NSW U20s (2014), NSW U18s (2014-13), NSW U16s (2012)
The youngest of the Mata’utia clan, Sione had a dream season in 2014, in which he went from the Holden Cup to Australia’s youngest ever debutant. Mata’utia should be a regular first grader in 2015 and will be a must watch player at the Nines.
Last year’s Auckland Nines tournament gave us an early glimpse at a number of talented youngsters who would go onto to make their NRL debut in 2014, including Valentine Holmes, Cameron Munster and Tuimoala Lolohea. Let’s a closer look at the NYC-eligible players who have been selected for the 2015 tournament.
Elijah Alick (Brisbane Broncos)
Born: 28/3/1996 (Brisbane, Qld) Position: Fullback/Wing Junior Club: Redlands Rep Honours: Aus Schoolboys (2013), Qld U18s (2013-14)
A Redlands junior who can play at fullback or on the wing, Alick will be entering his 3rd season of NYC in 2015 and will still be eligible in 2016, having already played 30 games for the Broncos.
Jayden Nikorima (Brisbane Broncos)
Born: 5/10/1996 (Palmerston North, NZ) Position: Hooker/Halfback Junior Club: Aspley Devils Rep Honours: Aus Schoolboys (2013), Qld U18s (2013)
Nikorima burst onto the scene last season, scoring 17 tries in 20 games. He sparked the Broncos second half comeback in last year’s NYC Grand Final and nearly sent the game into extra time. Nikorima was a member of the QRL’s Emerging Maroons squad in 2015.
Joe Ofahengaue (Brisbane Broncos)
Born: 15/9/1995 (Auckland, NZ) Position: Prop Junior Club: Ipswich Brothers Rep Honours: Junior Kangaroos (2014), Qld U20s (2014), Qld U18s (2013)
In 2014, Ofahengaue started the year at the Auckland Nines and ended it with a Junior Kangaroos jersey. The prop forward was near unstoppable in the Broncos run to the Grand Final and may spend most of 2015 playing against the big boys in the Intrust Super Cup.
Luke Bateman (Canberra Raiders) Born:23/1/1995 (Toowoomba, Qld) Position: Lock/Prop Junior Club: Miles Devils, Souths Logan Magpies Rep Honours: Qld U20s (2013-14), Qld U18s (2012-13)
A tough lock in the Dallas Johnson mould, Bateman played for Canberra at last year’s Auckland Nines. He has been a regular in Queensland junior rep sides and made the step up to the Intrust Super Cup in 2014 with Souths Logan.
Lachlan Croker (Canberra Raiders)
Born: 12/12/1996 (Goulburn, NSW) Position: Five-Eighth/Halfback Junior Club: Goulburn Bulldogs Rep Honours: NSW U18s (2014)
One of the least experienced NYC players at the Nines, Croker is a highly regarded half/five-eighth from Goulburn. Croker played 4 NYC games in 2014, scoring 19 points, and represented the New South Wales under 18’s.
Brenko Lee (Canberra Raiders) Born: 10/10/1995 (Brisbane, Qld) Position: Centre/Wing Junior Club: Logan Brothers Rep Honours: Qld U20s (2013-14), Qld U18s (2012), Qld U16s (2011)
After scoring 20 tries in the NYC in 2013, Lee made his NRL debut in 2014, scoring 3 tries in 4 games, and spent time with Souths Logan in the Intrust Super Cup. Lee will look to use the Nines to push his claims for a starting spot in the Raiders backline in 2015.
Tevita PangaiJnr (Canberra Raiders) Born: 4/2/1996 (Ashfield, NSW) Position: Second Row Junior Club: South Newcastle Lions Rep Honours: Junior Kangaroos (2014), NSW U18s (2013-14), NSW U16s (2012)
One of Canberra’s most impressive young talents, Pangai graduated through the Raiders junior ranks to the NSW Cup last season, despite having 3 seasons of NYC eligibility left. He is a member of the Raiders first grade squad in 2015.
The 2014 Premiers and most successful club in the NYC will look to continue their dominance in 2015 with a host of returning players and new young talent. The returning players include Bunty Afoa, Nathaniel Roache and Brad Abbey, who may spend time in the NSW Cup. Kauri Aupori, Sheldon Pitama, Tualima Tualima and Tiaan Wilkins return to New Zealand after stints with clubs in Australia.
Brad Abbey Bunty Afoa Tomasi Aoake
Kauri Aupouri Mikaere Beattie
Erin Clark
Isaiah Cooper-Tetevano
Mose Esera Mattais Heimuli Mafoa’aeata Hingano
Tamati Ioane-Niko Jazz Tevaga
Fabien Kiri
Junior Lisone Matiu Love-Henry
James Mafi
Levi McBirney
Tyler Mohi Marata Niukore Ofahiki Ogden
Koli Oneone
Eddie Paealiki
Fetalaiga Pauga Sheldon Pitama Joseph Price Nathaniel Roache Toafafoa Sipley
Lewis Soosoomea
Siosaia Taufateau John Wesley Tauti
Tualima Tualima
Amoni Tufui
Roman Tuhimata Paul Tuli Semisi Tyrell Paul Ulberg
Tiaan Wilkins
NYC-eligible players in NRL squad
Tuimoala Lolohea
South Sydney suffered their third straight first week finals exit in 2014 and, with a host of returning players, will be looking to advance further in 2015. Junior Kiwi Tulsa Saumamo is one of those returning players, as are Australian Schoolboys John Olive and Tevita Cottrell. Joining the club in 2015 is highly touted junior Angus Crichton, an Australian Schoolboy in rugby union the last two years.
Tristan Alvarado
Joe Besgrove Aaron Booth Liam Coleman Tevita Cottrell
Angus Crichton Tim Davidson
Josh Ellison Joseph Gardiner Bronson Garlick
Damon Goolagong Brock Gray
Gabriel Hamlin Jordie Hedges Haimona Hiroti Tom Hughes Treyvon Leuluai PJ Los’e Devon Makoare-Boyce
Jacob McCudden
Emiliano Mikaele Zane Musgrove
John Neil
Chad O’Donnell John Olive
Tom Perrin Hayden Preece Tulsa Saumamao Irae Simone
Morgan Stevens Eden Syme
Sifa Talakai Wallace Tangiiti
Dominic Timoteo Cheyne Whitelaw
James Widders-Leece Clayton Williams
The Eels were seconds away from advancing to the Grand Final last season and will be looking to have another successful year in 2015. Returning players include Junior Kiwi Josh Aloiai and Australian Schoolboys Nathan Davis, Tyrell Fuimaono and Joey Lussick. Aaron Pene joins the club from the Bulldogs, while Perth junior Kurt De Luis joins from the Cowboys.
Josh Aloiai Tom Amone Jack Anderson Erickson Aukafolau Alec Bush
Jared Clarke Nathan Davis
Kurt De Luis
Michael Doolan
Craig Field
Tom Field
Bevan French Tyrell Fuimaono
Aitni Gafa
Shane Hunt Dylan Izzard
Anthony Katrib Paula Kaufusi Joey Lussick Jeff Markus
Jermaine Mati-Leifi
Abbas Miski Jack Morris
Jonathan Mose Jordan Muna Tui Oloapu Aaron Pene Brandon Raeli
Faimanifo Seve
Reimis Smith
Brad Speechley
Jamie Stowers
Suliasi Suli Tepai Tepu-Smith
Denzal Tonise Alex Twal
Jason Vidal
Sean Walpole
NYC-eligible players in NRL squad
Zach Dockar-Clay
Tepai Moeroa
The Tigers will be looking to build on a solid 2014 with a number of returning players and exciting junior talent. Junior Kiwi and Team of the Year member Te Maire Martin will lead the side around again in 2015 and will be joined by Watson Heleta, Hala Masila and Marion Seve, whose 2014 was cut short due to injury.
Sione Alofi Tiawharangi Aranui
Makaere Bush Tyler Cassel
Mason Cerruto
Dane Coskerie
JJ Felise
Jacob Follent Thomas Grealy
Tom Harris Watson Heleta
Jamie Hill Jamian Iroa Ryland Jacobs
Hayden Johnston
Obed Karwhin Dwayne Lemafa Eli Levido Jacob Liddle
Veiru Mapesone Jeremy Marshall-King
Esan Marsters Te Maire Martin Hala Masila Mark McCormack
Te Kapua Murray
Marcel Owen
Blake Rickard Tom Satterthwaite Marion Seve
Jaleel Seve-Derbas
Bayley Sironen
Pio Sokobalavu Peter Ta’auso Junior Tatola John Tohi
Jack Wheelhouse Jayden Wheelhouse Matthew Woods
NYC-eligible players in NRL squad
Salesi Funaki
Lamar Liolevave
The Cowboys 2015 squad features a host of exciting young talent who will be looking to get the club back to the finals. The squad includes a number of players from the Townsville Stingers 2014 National Championship winning side and returning players such as Viliame Kikau and Andrew Niemoeller. Braden Uele, a Junior Kiwi rep in 2014, joins the Cowboys from the Sydney Roosters.
Delayne Ashby Cooper Bambling
Ross Bella Yamba Bowie Jack Brock
Nicholas Brown Conor Carey Ty Carucci Bill Cullen
Mitchell Dunn
Rhein Frank
Kaleb Fuimaono Regan Grieve
Jonico Hardwick Coen Hess
Trey Kemp Jordan Kenworthy Viliame Kikau Ben Mathiou Cody Maughan
Gideon Mosby-Gela David Munro Andrew Niemoeller Kurt Perry
Jesse Pomare-Anderson
Kalyn Ponga Rainer Power
Tyrone Pritchard Kieran Quabba
Bacho Salam Scott Schulte
Brandon Smith
Sam Smith Akeripa Tia Kilifi
Cyrus Timo-Latu
Nathan Traill
Tahanui Tutavake Braden Uele
(Players in bold played an NYC game)
See more at: http://www.cowboys.com.au/team/player-profiles.html
It was another tough year for the Titans in 2014, with the side looking to make the finals for the time in five years in 2015. Returning players include Anthony Colman, Deacon Fletcher, Shaun Hudson and Tevita Folau, who missed the entire 2014 season through injury. Halfback Brayden Torpy joins the club after playing 21 games for the Storm last season.
Josh Berkers
Ropene Bruce Jackson Clarke Anthony Colman Jayden Connors
Max Elliott
Simione Fatafehi Deacon Fletcher Tevita Folau Sam Grant Shaun Hudson Harrison Hughes Rory Humphreys
Tuitama’i Alfred Hunkin James Iodice
Cameron Kelleher Brian Kelly
Corey Langton Karl Lawton
Cade Maloney
Daymeric Pelo Daniel Schwass Hayden Schwass
Tom Sly Zac Spring
Brett Stratton Sam Swift Brayden Torpy Oshae Tuiasau Jenan Wedderburn-Parrish Nathan Wilson Parahi Wilson
Shane Wright
(Players in bold played an NYC game)
See more at: http://www.titans.com.au/team/player-profiles.html
The Raiders went through a difficult season in 2014 but were able to blood a lot of new players who will be better for it in 2015. Returning players include winger Lachlan Hurst, who scored 25 tries in 23 games last year, and halves Lachlan Croker and Lachlan Lewis, who represented New South Wales and Queensland Under 18’s respectively in 2014. Chevi Ellis, a Kiwi by way of Townsville, joins the club after making his debut for the Roosters last year.
David Afemui
Tevita Ahosivi Jordan Aiono
Tevin Arona
Jordyn Ballard Cameron Booth
Morgan Boyle Lachlan Croker Thomas Cronan
Daniel Dole Chevi Ellis
Shaquille Gafa
Billy Gilbert
Jack Hickson Ezra Howe Lachlan Hurst
Andrew Iro
Kyle Kris Lachlan Lewis
Adam Lucas
Charlie Mackenzie
Jordan Mago Cleveland McGhie Dylan McGrath Jared McIlwrick
Tim Middleton
Nela Moa
Terry Nimmo
Connor Purcell
Kiyan Shaw Brett Solomon
Jayden Thomas Tevita Tuinauvai Jack Williams
Zac Woolford
Charlie Valeni
NYC-eligible players in NRL squad
Brenko Lee
Tevita Pangai Jnr
The Queensland Rugby League have announced their 2015 QAS Emerging Origin squads.
The system has undergone a slight revamp with the senior squad expanding to 18 players and the Junior Emerging Origin squad being replaced by a combined Emerging Maroons.
The new squad features current and recently graduated NYC players and players with both Intrust Super Cup and NRL experience.
The following 2015 NYC-eligible players were selected in the two squads:
David Nofoaluma playing for the Junior Kangaroos in 2013 (Photo: Gregg Porteous)
Junior Kiwis v Junior Kangaroos Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
Live in New Zealand on Sky Sport 2, 7:00pm Live in Australia on Fox Sports 2 (Press red), 5:00pm (NSW)/4:00pm (Qld)
The Junior Kangaroos will be aiming for their third straight victory over the Junior Kiwis, as they venture to New Zealand for the first time since 2010.
When the sides last met in New Zealand, they played a two game series, with both teams grabbing a victory.
On Saturday night, the Kangaroos will head into the clash as favourites, with 9 of their 18 man squad playing first grade in 2014. On the other side, second rower Joseph Tapine is the only Junior Kiwi to play in the NRL.
Last year, the Junior Kangaroos fought back from 10 points down to defeat the Junior Kiwis 38-26 in Sydney. Patrick Mago and Willis Meehan are the only returning players for the Kangaroos, while Manaia Cherrington, Zach Dockar-Clay and Tapine.
Team lists Junior Kiwis: (in alphabetical order) Josh Ailoai (Eels), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Manaia Cherrington (captain) (Tigers), Zach Docker-Clay (Eels), Addin Fonua-Blake (Dragons), Watson Heleta (Tigers), Sione Katoa (Panthers), Danny Levi (Knights), Lamar Liolevave (Tigers), Sam Lisone (Warriors), Sam Manulelua (Rabbitohs), Te Maire Martin (Tigers), Taane Milne (Roosters), Kodi Nikorima (Broncos), Chance Peni (Knights), Joseph Tapine (Knights), Adam Tuimavave-Gerard (Warriors), Braden Uele (Roosters). Coach: Brent Gemmell.
Junior Kangaroos: Clint Gutherson (Sea Eagles), Valentine Holmes (Sharks), Jack Bird (Dragons), Euan Aitken (Dragons), Jake Mamo (Knights), Drew Hutchison (Dragons), Ryan Matterson (Eels), Matthew Lodge (Wests Tigers), Cameron McInnes (captain) (Rabbitohs), Joe Ofahengaue (Broncos), Patrick Mago (Raiders), Tevita Pangai (Raiders), Kelepi Tanginoa (Eels). Interchange: Brett Greinke (Broncos), Willis Meehan (Roosters), Cameron Munster (Storm), Andy Saunders (Panthers), Jackson Hastings (Roosters). Coach: Kelly Egan.
Queensland Under 20’s representatives Valentine Holmes and Brett Greinke have been called into the Junior Kangaroos side following the withdrawals of Nene Macdonald and Waqa Blake.
The match will be played on Saturday, October 18 at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland.
Stacey Jones (middle), with Mason Lino and Sam Lisone (Photo: warriors.co.nz)
Premiership winning coach Stacey Jones has been announced as the new Warriors NSW Cup head coach for 2015.
2014 coach Rohan Smith is headed to the Titans next season, opening up the spot for Jones.
In Jones first year coaching in the NYC, he took the Warriors from 8th place to the Grand Final, where they defeated Brisbane 34-32.
“We’ve always seen a big future for Stacey as a coach,” said Vodafone Warriors general manager football Dean Bell.
“He has done a brilliant job winning the premiership with our NYC side, coming from eighth to first in a season when he didn’t have the use of many of our best juniors for most of the season.
“Due to our philosophy of developing NRL players, many who were eligible to play in the NYC this year were used the next level up in the New South Wales Cup and also the NRL in the case of David Fusitu’a and Tuimoala Lolohea.
“This resulted in Stacey having a very young group of players for most of the year with a number of 17-year-olds making their debuts. Despite that he has taken us to success in the NYC. It’s a huge achievement.”
McFadden said he wanted Jones to not only move up to the NSW Cup level but to also have a heavier involvement with the club’s NRL players.
“He has been really impressive coaching our young players and coming through our pathway,” he said.
“I’m excited about having him involved around our NRL players and bringing the expertise and knowledge he has to help them.
“Stacey also has an unrivalled understanding of and attachment to the club. It has been such a big part of his life.”
The Warriors have held off a spirited come back by the Brisbane Broncos to win the 2014 Holden Cup.
A first half hat trick, the first in an NYC Grand Final, by centre Solomone Kata saw the Warriors take a commanding 22-6 lead into half time.
Two more tries after the break got the Junior Warriors out to a 34-6 lead with 30 minutes to play.
The Broncos fought back though thanks in part to a double to winger Paul Byrnes.
Jayden Nikorima scored near the sideline with three minutes to play and brought the Broncos within two points, with a conversion to take the game into golden point.
The 18-year old missed the kick and the Warriors captured their third NYC premiership, winning 34-32.
Kata was awarded the Jack Gibson Medal for man of the match thanks to his three try effort.
Gold Coast Titans halfback Kane Elgey has been named the 2014 Dally M NYC Player of the Year at this evening’s Dally M Awards in Sydney, despite his side finishing in 15th place.
He wins the award just three weeks after being named on the bench in 2014 NYC Team of the Year, capping off a fantastic year for the half.
A co-captain of the club in 2014, Elgey finished the season as the Titans’ top try scorer and top point scorer.
Elgey recently signed his first NRL contract with the club and will join the team’s first grade squad for pre season training before Christmas.
Player Profile Kane Elgey(pronounced El-gee) Born: 14/1/1994 (Gold Coast, Qld) Junior Club: Tugun Seahawks Position: Halfback/Five-Eighth Rep Honours: Australian Schoolboys (2011) NYC Debut: v North Queensland, Dairy Farmers Stadium, Rd 1, 2012 NYC career stats: 59 games, 33 tries, 70 goals, 266 points NYC 2014 stats: 21 games, 16 tries, 32 goals, 128 points
18TH MAN 