The Cubs of 2023 and beyond

This time of the year, everyone writes up the same type of previews on players, players to watch and season predictions.

To save you reading the same piece that’s just cut in a different way, I thought I’d break away and do a deep dive into the Club’s junior rep stocks, strictly focusing on the teenagers you may not know of or know much about. 

While Justin Matamua and Brandon Tumeth, both of whom were eligible for junior reps this year, embrace being the faces of the Club’s junior rep pathways, they aren’t alone.

Let’s take a look at the best and most promising players in the Balmain and Wests ranks, ranging from those just leaving junior reps to those just beginning their journey.

Name: Zakauri Clarke
Position: Lock, Second Row
Age: 19 this year
Junior team/s: St Gregory’s Campbelltown, Eaglevale St Andrews Magpies, Wests Magpies Harold Matthews, Wests Magpies SG Ball
Rep honours: Australian Universities (2022) 
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies SG Ball

Clarke captained the Wests Tigers Cubs u17/18s on their NZ tour before leading Eaglevale St Andrews u18s to a grand final win over Easts Campbelltown in 2022.

Clarke is an aggressive ball runner, skilful and a noted tryscorer. He could well feature in Jersey Flegg in 2023 and there’s a lot to like about his game.

From Wests junior rep games to the tour game in NZ to games for Eaglevale St Andrews, Clarke consistently stands out.

Name: Taj’h Colquhoun
Position: Wing, Fullback, Five-Eighth
Age: 18 this year
Junior team/s: Eaglevale St Andrews Magpies, Patrician Brothers Fairfield, Wests Magpies Harold Matthews
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies SG Ball

What a 2022 for Taj’h! Kicked the winning field goal on full time in the NRL Schoolboys final while playing five-eighth, scored a hat trick to go along with 7 goals, for a personal haul of 26 points in the Harold Matthews grand final on the wing, where his team completed an undefeated season, finished as the Harold Matthews Top Point-scorer and then capped that off with a Macarthur u18 premiership win with Eaglevale St Andrews at fullback.

Colquhoun toured NZ with the Wests Tigers Cubs u17/18 where he lined up at fullback and shared the duties with Balmain junior Cameron Kanaan.

Possesses speed, a great left boot and exceptional finishing ability while his greatest strength at this time is his versatility.

Name: Alex Conti
Position: Halfback
Age: 17 this year
Junior team/s: Concord Burwood Wolves, St Patrick’s College Strathfield, Balmain Tigers Harold Matthews
Rep honours: NSW Junior Blues camp (2022)
2023 Age group: Balmain Tigers Harold Matthews

Conti has shown a great ability to manage games from halfback while also possessing a very impressive short and long kicking game for someone so young. Another strength for Conti is how naturally and effectively he straightens the attack for his Balmain side.

Alex had an outstanding u18 Australian Schoolboy Championships in 2022 for NSWCIS, even though he was playing against 17 and 18 year olds.

He is not only a talented league player but also a union player, where he was selected in the Australian Rugby u16s at the back end of 2022.

Conti is currently the most promising player in the Balmain Harold Matthews setup and his potential was rewarded with a place in the NSW Junior Blues camp last November.

Conti has been named as the Balmain Harold Matthews captain for 2023.

Name: William Craig
Position: Fullback, Centre
Age: 18 this year
Junior team/s: East Campbelltown Eagles, Westfields SHS, Wests Magpies Harold Matthews
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies SG Ball

Craig entered 2022 having spent most of his time at fullback in juniors and was subsequently moved to the centres, where he made an excellent impression.

“He went really well defensively but he’s also a young lad that can break some tackles on the edge there. He’s another one of our really solid players out wide” Head of Pathways Matt Betsey told The Daily Telegraph earlier this year.

Craig, like many of his teammates, recently extended their stay in the Wests Tigers Pathways program.

Will was a try scorer in the Wests Tigers Cubs u17/18s big statement win over the New Zealand Warriors u18s last year.

Name: Tallyn Da Silva
Position: Hooker
Age: 18 this year
Junior team/s: East Campbelltown Eagles, Westfields SHS, Wests Magpies Harold Matthews
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies SG Ball

‘Tal’ is one of the more well-rounded spine players the Club has had at 17/18 years of age. He has a dangerous running game, a more than handy short and long kicking game, can kick goals, has a great ability to manipulate the markers around the ruck and is coming along in leaps and bounds defensively. One area not mentioned which is arguably his strongest and most consistent trait is his service from dummy half.

Da Silva possesses the rare ability to be able to throw consistent, strong spiral passes both left to right and right to left from dummy half.

The concerns with young hookers coming through the Wests Tigers ranks since Robbie Farah have been that they all had strengths but also all had areas of concern or weakness. For example, Manaia Cherrington and Jacob Liddle both possessed above average running games but really lacked much else to fall back on, which showed as they progressed through the grades and the opportunities to run became less and less.

School and club teammate of Kit Laulilii and Solo Saukuru at Westfields and East Campbelltown Eagles. All three made their A Grade debut for East Campbelltown in the same game in 2022.

Tim Sheens has drawn comparisons between Da Silva and Farah, while Da Silva is one of the spine players that Sheens rates as good as any he has seen at the Club in his time.

Would expect Da Silva to at least play some Jersey Flegg in 2023, following the conclusion of the SG Ball season.

Da Silva is currently completing his first NRL preseason and it certainly won’t be his last. Wests Tigers staved off strong interest from the Canberra Raiders to lock Da Silva down and he’ll be developed with a view to being Api Koroisau’s long term replacement.

Name: Chris Faagutu
Position: Lock
Age: 19 this year
Junior team/s: Logan Brothers, Marsden SHS, Souths Logan Magpies, Rep honours: Queensland 16-18s Opens Schoolboys (2022), Queensland u19s Origin squad (2022), Australian Schoolboys (2022) 
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies SG Ball

Plain and simple, Chris Faagutu is elite. He finished his time at Marsden SHS having captained their Opens team for three straight years, making the Langer Trophy Team of the Year in all three years, was the joint winner of the Hodges Medal for Langer Trophy Player of the Year in 2021 then, in 2022 alone, he made the Queensland Schoolboys side, made the Queensland u19s Origin squad, selected as the Australian Schoolboys lock, led the Souths Logan under 19 Mal Meninga Cup side to the premiership, as well as making his Intrust Super Cup debut for Souths Logan, in a game where he scored a try and had over 100 metres off the bench as a school kid.

Faagutu moved to Sydney upon the completion of his schooling at the end of 2022 and commenced his 2nd preseason with Wests Magpies SG Ball. He, along with other Queensland based Tiger Cubs, spent time with the NRL squad during Magic Round this year, and was present for Junior Tupou’s NRL debut jersey presentation.

Currently, I would personally have Faagutu ranked #1 in terms of contracted junior rep players in the Wests Tigers system.

He’s explosive, mobile with great footwork and agility, has a great work rate, a compact build, is durable, a terrific trainer and has a good ability to ball play at the line. 

This is in no way a career trajectory or a hyperbolic piece labelling him the ‘next x’ but his playing style, build and traits are very reminiscent of Jason Taumalolo. 

Faagutu, along with Solomone Saukuru, have both spent time with the NRL squad towards the backend of preseason. He’s currently slated to play SG Ball this year, but I’ll be stunned if he doesn’t play a bulk of the year in Jersey Flegg, at absolute minimum. 

Barring any setbacks, should feature in the Club’s 2024/2025 Top 30.

Name: Josh Feledy
Position: Centre
Age: 19 this year
Junior team/s: Beacon Hill Bears, Guildford Owls, Manly Sea Eagles Harold Matthews, Manly Sea Eagles SG Ball, Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg
Rep honours: NSW Junior Blues camp (2022)
2023 Age group: Wests Tigers NRL Development Player, Balmain Tigers SG Ball, Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg

Feledy shot to fame after scoring 6 tries in a Harold Matthews game for Manly in 2021, a side which he would later captain to the premiership.

Overall, Feledy scored 29 tries in 17 junior rep games at Manly and is still eligible for junior reps in 2023. In an oddly encouraging sign, Feledy doesn’t have any traits that would provide a straightforward explanation for such a try scoring rate and most of his strengths will be transferable through the grades.

Usually in junior reps, dominant players will be considerably bigger, faster or more physically developed than their peers (see Joseph Suaali’i for example).

Feledy signed with Wests Tigers at the start of 2022 on a three year deal commencing in 2023 (Development followed by Top 30 in 2024 and 2025).

After being iced out following confirmation that his future move to the Tigers had been sorted, Feledy was able to gain an early release from Manly in 2022 and finished the season in the Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg side, debuting at just 17 years of age. No mean feat for a 17 year old walking into a top 4 u21s side.

Although Feledy is on a Development Player deal for 2023, he is also aligned with Balmain Tigers for this SG Ball season.

Feledy was announced as Balmain SG Ball co-captain for the 2023 season, along with Tony Sukkar, and will start at left centre for Balmain, but it’s hard to see Feledy lining up for Balmain for many games once other grades commence. It’s more than likely that Feledy will spend most of 2023 in Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup, before possibly pushing for an NRL debut as the season goes on.

Feledy won’t turn 19 until after the conclusion of the 2023 regular season, but that won’t stop Tim Sheens from blooding him if he believes he is good enough.

Personally, the nuggety centre reminds me a lot of Euan Aitken when he first entered the NRL scene. He plays a physical style and has good feet, balance, has shown enough speed while he also runs a good line for a centre and loves contact.

Feledy was one of four Wests Tigers Cubs selected to attend the NSW Junior Blues camp last November.

Name: Lachlan Galvin
Position: Second Row, Five-Eighth, Halfback
Age: 18 this year
Junior team/s: Eaglevale St Andrew’s Magpies, East Campbelltown Eagles, Westfields SHS, Wests Magpies Harold Matthews
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies SG Ball

Galvin had been lost to the Wests Magpies and Wests Tigers in 2020 and 2021 with the then half moving to the Parramatta Harold Matthews setup.

Thankfully for all involved, the half turned backrower returned ‘home’ for 2022 and was a standout performer on an edge for the undefeated Wests Harold Matthews side. 

Galvin’s long term position will be determined by how he fills out his frame. He’s very tall yet very slight and will likely have to bulk up to stay in the backrow as he progresses through the grades.

Wests Tigers Pathways Shannon Gallant has commented previously that there’s a good chance Galvin will likely return to the halves for SG Ball, where he plays his school footy, unless he was to fill out considerably. 

He possesses great vision and has a great skillset for a five-eighth/half and any positional change is really more to do with his size and possibly growing out of the halves.

On skillset and ability alone, Galvin is a very promising young five-eighth/half with a big future. Lachlan featured in the second row for the Wests Tigers Cubs u17/18s in New Zealand in 2022 but what stood out was his passing and decision making.

Galvin’s vision and execution is up there with the best of them in underage footy

Name: Alex Isdale
Position: Halfback
Age: 16 this year
Junior team/s: Westfields SHS, Cabramatta, East Campbelltown Eagles
Rep honours: u15 Australian Schoolboys Merit (2022)
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies Harold Matthews

Isdale was named alongside fellow Wests Magpies juniors Heamasi Makasini, Onitoni Large and Ashton Large in the under 15 Australian Schoolboys Merit side in July last year.

‘AJ’ is small in stature but manages the game well at halfback and plays well above his weight. Those involved with the Wests junior reps setup were able to get a preview of the potential partnership he and Onitoni Large could form in 2023 and beyond when both combined impressively in the halves for Macarthur Wests Tigers in their rout of Canterbury in mid-2022.

Isdale spent time in the Eels u16 development squad in 2021 but has fit into the Wests Tigers Pathways fold after moving to East Campbelltown Eagles.

The halfback also featured for the Wests Tigers Cubs u16s in their NRL curtain-raiser at Tamworth and is one of a handful of very promising traditional halfbacks in the Wests Tigers junior setup.

Feedback from many involved in the u15 Schoolboy Championships was that Isdale was a top 3 player in the age group throughout the tournament, bested only by the Large brothers, Onitoni and Ashton.

Name: Cameron Kanaan
Position: Fullback, Wing
Age: 18 this year
Junior team/s: Strathfield Raiders, Holy Cross Ryde College, Balmain Tigers Harold Matthews
2023 Age group: Balmain Tigers SG Ball

Kanaan shared the fullback and wing roles with Colquhoun for the Wests Tigers Cubs u17/18s in New Zealand.

With promising fullback Cathane Hill returning home to North Queensland permanently, and Wests Tigers wanting to give their own kids the chance to push through to first grade, Kanaan has a real chance to put his name up in lights and force his way onto Benji’s radar for the future.

Kanaan is a well balanced runner who is an excellent support player. While his playmaking is improving, he’s very comfortable roaming around the ruck and through the middle in the more traditional ‘goalpost to goalpost’ fullback role.

2023 will be Kanaan’s first year of SG Ball.

Cameron Kanaan’s long range effort for Holy Cross

Name: Ali Karnib
Position: Fullback, Centre
Age: 16 this year
Junior team/s: Guildford Owls, Marconi, East Campbelltown Eagles, Westfields SHS
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies Harold Matthews

Karnib’s highlights package from the Macarthur Wests Tigers trials last year have done the rounds on social media (can be found here for those that haven’t seen them: https://fb.watch/hytxuumI65/?mibextid=qC1gEa). Karnib features heavily at fullback, which is his preferred position, however is also comfortable in the centres and had an outstanding u15 Australian Schoolboys Championships in the second row. 

Karnib had been a part of the Parramatta Eels Development squad in 2021, along with fellow Wests Magpie Alex Isdale. A hugely positive sign to see players of their calibre jumping from a club that has had more success of late. 

Ali also featured for the Wests Tigers Cubs u16 in Tamworth and will no doubt turn heads in 2023 and beyond with his footwork and creativity.

Name: Luke Keppie
Position: Halfback
Age: 18 this year
Junior team/s: Picton Magpies, Narellan Jets, Wests Magpies Harold Matthews
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies SG Ball

While the cupboard is quite bare when it comes to halves currently knocking on the door of the NRL setup, the depth and competition has never been greater in the junior ranks with the likes of Conti, Isdale, Galvin, Keppie, Onitoni Large and Heath Mason garnering league-wide attention and acknowledgment.

From a long term, progression point of view, Keppie’s size may determine his career ceiling, but his toughness and ability to manage a team stood out in Wests’s undefeated season.

Keppie started at hooker for the Wests Tigers Cubs u17/18s in New Zealand.

Name: Onitoni Large
Position: Five-Eighth, Centre
Age: 16 this year
Junior team/s: Campbelltown City Kangaroos, The Scots College
Rep honours: u15 Australian Schoolboys Merit (2022)
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies Harold Matthews

While Fa’agutu would be #1 on my junior reps rankings in terms of current ability of the juniors in the Tigers pathways, Large would be #1 with a bullet if it was solely on potential and ‘what could be’.

Onitoni is too young and has too far to go before there should be NRL expectations but he should be in a tier of his own when it comes to having the tools to make it.

A graceful athlete who is a joy to watch on a footy field, he possesses great vision, a great passing and running game, is willing defensively and the most striking aspect of his game is that he plays at his own speed. Onitoni almost looks to do everything at half speed.

Game to game, Large looks like he is playing multiple age groups too low. Watch him once and you’ll have to remind yourself regularly that he’s still only 15. He had 3 try assists, multiple line breaks and line break assists through 30 minutes against the Bulldogs for Macarthur Wests Tigers in July, and barely looked to have raised a sweat.

For every good young player who hasn’t made it, there was always a concern that was overlooked, even for some who did make it! It’s hard to find a weakness in Large’s game at this point and it appears that all of his strengths are transferable as he progresses through the grades.

We are a couple years off even entertaining the idea but it would not surprise me in the slightest if we are talking about the possibility of an 18/19 year old five-eighth breaking into a Tigers side coached by the most famous 18 year old five-eighth in the Club’s history.

Unfortunately, Large has already attracted Benji comparisons, even though his game doesn’t really mirror young Benji at all, however, it’ll be hard to avoid further hyperbole as he gains greater media and fan attention.

Arguably the biggest compliment paid to Large so far was the Roosters managing to position themselves to have Onitoni and his younger brother Ashton in their Harold Matthews Development squads in 2021.

Thankfully for Wests and Wests Tigers, Large is now contracted to Wests Tigers pathways and the plan is for Ashton to follow, once he is old enough to sign with an NRL club.

Onitoni and Ashton (who was 13 years old at the time of the Championships) were both selected in the Under 15 Australian Schoolboys and their selections were the most obvious of the lot. Both were simply dominant.

THE one to keep an eye on.

Large does everything with ease

Name: Kit Laulilii
Position: Lock
Age: 18 this year
Junior team/s: Liverpool Catholic Club, East Campbelltown Eagles, Wests Magpies Harold Matthews
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies SG Ball

The most common feedback on Kit is how good of a leader he is for someone so young. A real alpha of the group who commands respect and attention through his words and actions.

Laulilii captained the Wests Magpies Harold Matthews side to an undefeated premiership in 2022 and was integral to their success, through both his leadership and performances at lock. 

Kit is a mobile, hard running middle with a compact build, in a mould similar to Fa’agutu.

Laulilii is currently completing his first NRL preseason, at just 17 years of age, and is one of up to a half dozen very promising teenage middle forwards currently in the system.

Kit is that highly rated as a leader that he has been named Wests SG Ball captain, in his first year.

Name: Luke Laulilii
Position: Fullback
Age: 17 this year
Junior team/s: Liverpool Catholic Club, East Campbelltown Eagles, Wests Magpies Harold Matthews
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies Harold Matthews

The younger brother of Kit, Luke has been making his own name at fullback.

Luke is currently slated to be one of only a couple of players from the Harold Matthews premiership side to return in 2023.

Laulilii is a powerful and dynamic ball runner, and while he is yet to really develop a passing game, improvement in that area as he develops and matures could really see him push through the grades over the next couple of years.

Impressed at fullback for the Wests Tigers Cubs u16s in their curtain-raiser in Tamworth.

Like his brother Kit, Luke is highly regarded as a leader and will replace Kit as the Wests Harold Matthews captain for 2023.

Laulilii is an explosive ball-runner

Name: Keenan Lawandos
Position: Second Row
Age: 18 this year
Junior team/s: Holy Cross Rhinos, Holy Cross Ryde, Balmain Harold Matthews
2023 Age group: Balmain SG Ball

Lawandos enters his first year of SG Ball as a great prospect. Lawandos was the 2022 Holy Cross Ryde captain and Balmain Harold Matthews captain.

He would go on to dominate the end of season awards, picking up Balmain’s Best Forward, Players’ Player and the side’s Best and Fairest awards.

Lawandos runs some great lines with good intent and is reliable defensively. 

The big bodied edge back-rower crossed for 5 tries last season and will form a dangerous left edge with he and Josh Feledy either side of Levi Conti.

He’ll be one to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

Name: Oliver Lawry
Position: Five-eighth, Halfback
Age: 19 this year
Junior team/s: Halswell Hornets, Junior Crusaders
Rep Honours: NZ u18s Schools
2023 Age group: Balmain SG Ball

Lawry joins the Wests Tigers Pathways in 2023 after making the move from New Zealand.

Lawry is described by Balmain coaching staff as ‘a big unit at over six foot tall, and has great skills’. 

The five-eighth has already shown that he’s a terrific ball runner with great balance and power, while also showing his vision and execution in his play making. 

Lawry spent time with the NRL squad during preseason and, along with Josh Feledy, will be ones to keep an eye on from the Balmain SG Ball side.

Lawry’s try assist against Souths

Lawry’s individual try against Souths

Name: Ofele Lene
Position: Wing
Age: 19 this year
Junior team/s: East Campbelltown Eagles, Wests Magpies Harold Matthews, Wests Magpies SG Ball
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies SG Ball

Lene possesses a killer left foot step, good speed and is an aggressive ball carrier. 

While Lene may not be the tallest winger, he goes about his work and only knows one speed.

Ofele scored in the Wests Tigers Cubs u17/18 win in New Zealand and has a similar profile and style to that of David Nofoaluma.

Name: Heamasi Makasini
Position: Centre
Age: 16 this year
Junior team/s: Newington College
Rep honours: u15 Australian Schoolboys Merit (2022)
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies Harold Matthews

A big, rangey, powerful left centre with a big right fend who was a standout at last year’s u15 Australian Schoolboy Championships. 

Makasini played outside Onitoni Large, on their side’s left edge, which only enhanced both player’s performances.

Will feature heavily in the 2023 Wests Harold Matthews side with fellow under 15 Australian Schoolboy selections Alex Isdale and Onitoni Large. Arguably the #1 outside back to watch coming through the junior reps.

Name: Heath Mason
Position: Five-Eighth
Age: 18 this year
Junior team/s: Thirlmere Roosters, St Gregory’s Campbelltown, Wests Magpies Harold Matthews
Rep honours: NSW Junior Blues camp (2022)
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies SG Ball

“A born footy player. He’s a bright student at St Gregory’s college and is a real student of rugby league also. Has that ability to set up teammates and continually take the right option. Importantly, never goes missing either. At the 78th minute, he’ll be the guy who stands up for you. That can’t be coached.” was the opinion on Mason from Wests Tigers Pathways Shannon Gallant to The Daily Telegraph last year.

He couldn’t be more accurate. Whether it’s a run, a kick, a pass, Mason  regularly makes the right decision and is a player you want on the ball in the important moments of games.

Joined Conti, Feledy and Riley Oitmann at the NSW Junior Blues camp.

Name: Jordan Miller
Position: Prop
Age: 18 this year
Junior team/s: Liverpool Catholic Club, Eaglevale St Andrew’s Magpies, Patrician Brothers Fairfield, Wests Magpies Harold Matthews
Rep honours: Australian Schoolboys (2022) 
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies SG Ball

Standing well over 6 foot tall at 17, Miller stands over his peers like Nelson Asofa-Solomona does to his.

Of Fijian heritage, Miller’s rise is one that was not always certain. He went from the fringes of the Wests setup to player of the grand final, Wests’s Best and Fairest and an Australian Schoolboy rep in the same year. 

Has the physical frame and makeup to be absolutely anything in the NRL but it’ll really come down to how he develops. While he currently has a huge frame, it’s very evident physically that he’s still just a kid. Multiple years of focused conditioning and development could really mould him into a ‘1 of 1’ type player.

As it stands, Miller is incredibly raw and, in my opinion, will be a ‘slow burn’ and if developed correctly may push for a bench role in the NRL once he hits 20-21 years of age. 

Probably the local junior who requires the most development from the Club in the coming years but could prove to be a real point of difference. In terms of a ‘project player’, Miller is a coach’s dream.

Name: Michael Nassar
Position: Fullback
Age: 17 this year
Junior team/s: Holy Cross Ryde, Concord Burwood, Balmain Tigers Harold Matthews
2023 Age group: Balmain Tigers Harold Matthews

The highly rated fullback played 3 games in his first year of Harold Matthews, scoring 5 tries from the wing.

Nassar was behind second year fullback Cameron Kanaan and will this year get first crack at the position and be a key member of the side.

The fullback suffered a knee injury which saw him miss the Wests Tigers Cubs u16 game in Tamworth.

Nassar scored a try and looked dangerous with each carry from the backfield in last weekend’s Harold Matthews trial against Souths.

Name: Riley Oitmann
Position: Wing, Fullback
Age: 17 this year
Junior team/s: Camden Collegians, Camden Rams, Macarthur WT (SLE Andrew Johns Cup)
Rep honours: NSW Junior Blues camp (2022)
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies Harold Matthews

Oitmann finished 2022 with 7 tries in 7 games on the wing for Macarthur Wests Tigers in the Andrew Johns Cup. 

Oitmann was also a try scorer for the Wests Tigers Cubs u16s and one of four Wests Tigers Cubs selected to attend the NSW Junior Blues camp in November this year.

Ended the season as Macarthur Wests Tigers’s Best & Fairest in the Andrew Johns Cup and will move into the Wests Magpies Harold Matthews side in 2023.

Oitmann is fast and a terrific finisher.

Name: Solomone Saukuru
Position: Centre, Second Row, Prop
Age: 19 this year
Junior team/s: Bankstown Bulls, Westfields SHS, Canterbury Bulldogs Harold Matthews, Wests Magpies Harold Matthews, Wests Magpies SG Ball
Rep Honours: u15 Australian Schoolboys Merit (2019) 
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies SG Ball

‘Solo’ is the younger brother of NRL Top 30 squad member Apisalome and the brother of Wests Magpies Harold Matthews forward Livai.

Saukuru has shown his versatility as a centre, a second rower and as a middle forward for his Club and in representative footy. He has good footwork and is a constant threat with ball in hand.

Saukuru joined the NRL preseason to finish the 2022, where he trained with the outside backs. 

Both he and Fa’agutu, who is also completing NRL preseason, would be two of the leading contenders to at least gain an NRL Development contract for 2024.

Would expect to see Solomone in the Jersey Flegg setup during the 2023 season.

Name: Tony Sukkar
Position: Prop, Second Row
Age: 19 this year
Junior team/s: Strathfield Raiders, Balmain Tigers Harold Matthews, Balmain Tigers SG Ball
2023 Age group: Balmain Tigers SG Ball

Sukkar was a noted try scorer in Harold Matthews for Balmain, where he captained the 2021 Tigers side.

He has a good work rate and has great versatility with the ability to play on an edge or in the middle. The Balmain junior is also one of a number of talented goalkickers coming through the Wests Tigers pathways. 

Sukkar was awarded the Best Forward award for Balmain’s SG Ball, started at prop for the Wests Tigers Cubs u17/18s on their New Zealand tour and capped off 2022 by being invited to complete NRL preseason.

Sukkar was named Balmain SG Ball co-captain along with Josh Feledy for season 2023.

Name: Metuisela ‘Junior’ Taungatua
Position: Second Row, Lock
Age: 19 this year
Junior team/s: Wavell SHS, Norths Devils Juniors, West Brisbane Panthers, Wests Magpies SG Ball 
2023 Age group: Wests Magpies SG Ball

Taungatua earned a reputation as a damaging, line running edge forward while at Wavell SHS. Was a standout on the edge in the Langer Trophy before he was struck down by injury.

Made the move to Sydney with Kienan Tempest and Herman Tofaeono for 2022 and featured at prop and second row in his first season of SG Ball.

‘Junior’ made his A Grade debut for Camden Rams following the completion of the 2022 SG Ball season.

Name: Navren Willett
Position: Centre, Fullback, Five-eighth
Age: 18 this year
Junior team/s: Taree Panthers, Taree City Bulls, Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews
2023 Age group: Balmain SG Ball (Willett will complete preseason then return home to continue playing for Taree in 2023 while he completes his schooling)

Willett, who already stands at 6’6 (not a typo), has signed a four year deal with Wests Tigers through until the end of 2026. 

The first year of Willett’s deal will see him complete preseason with Balmain SG Ball before returning home to complete his schooling, where he’ll continue playing for Taree City.

As you would expect, Navren is a threat in the air and stands well above players his age, while also being a superb athlete. 

Willett spent time in the Knights junior rep system where he impressed before returning home. Wests Tigers saw off interest from other NRL clubs and the Sydney Swans to secure Willett’s signature.

Like Jordan Miller, Navren possesses a unique frame and one that can become a real threat through the grades if developed properly. 

At this stage, one to keep an eye on for 2024 more than 2023.

nothingbutwt__

The Cubs of 2023 and beyond

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The Cubs of 2023 and beyond

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