Wests Tigers have recognised the efforts and achievements of more than 240 players from its eight pathways teams at the club’s Junior Representative Awards, which coincided with Sunday’s triple-header at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Wests Tigers had three pathways teams reach grand finals in 2024, with Wests Magpies Harold Matthews (U/17s), Wests Tigers Lisa Fiaola Cup (U/17s) and Macarthur Wests Tigers Andrew Johns Cup (U/16s) teams falling short in their respective deciders.
Several award-recipients have since progressed to the club’s senior NRL, NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg, NRLW and NSW Women’s Premiership squads respectively, after strong seasons at junior representative level.
Macarthur Wests Tigers Andrew Johns Cup (U/16s)
Macarthur Wests Tigers Andrew Johns Cup team had an outstanding 2024 campaign, just falling short to Central Coast Roosters in the Grand Final in Cessnock.
Powerful lock forward Kye Penfold was a consistent standout and received two awards for his efforts this season.
Player of the Year: Kye Penfold
Players' Player: Kye Penfold
Coaches' Award: Andrew Sio
Wests Magpies Harold Matthews (U/17s)
Wests Magpies Harold Matthews side was another to reach the Grand Final in 2024, with some gritty late-season performances getting them to the decider at CommBank Stadium.
Heamasi Makasini received the Player of the Series award as the best player in the 2024 Harold Matthews Competition, while the likes of Christian Taupau-Moors and Alex Isdale also impressed throughout the season.
Player of the Year: Christian Taupau-Moors
Players' Player: Heamasi Makasini
Coaches' Award: Maddax Fui
Balmain Tigers Harold Matthews (U/17s)
Balmain Tigers Harold Matthews team had a challenging season, finishing without a win, but with some 16 players playing up a year.
Zeke Edmed and Jonathan Zoghaib were the team’s standout performers.
Player of the Year: Zeke Edmed
Players' Player: Zeke Edmed
Coaches' Award: Jonathan Zoghaib
Wests Tigers Lisa Fiaola Cup (U/17s)
Wests Tigers Lisa Fiaola Cup team were outstanding in 2024, coming from fifth spot on the ladder to reach the Grand Final at CommBank Stadium.
Rampaging back-rower Lucyannah Luamanu-Leiataua was among the side’s best on their charge to the decider and is one of a number of players from this group to have since progressed to the NSW Women’s Premiership Development squad.
Player of the Year: Lucyannah Luamanu-Leiataua
Players' Player: Lucyannah Luamanu-Leiataua
Coaches' Award: Sienna Robertson
Macarthur Wests Tigers Laurie Daley Cup (U/18s)
Macarthur Wests Tigers Laurie Daley Cup team developed into a very well-rounded squad which was rewarded with a place in the semi-finals this season.
Player of the Year Archie Duncombe has since moved on to the Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg Cup team, while Saint Fuatimau was both the top try-scorer and point-scorer for the Macarthur Wests Tigers program in 2024.
Player of the Year: Archie Duncombe
Players' Player: Lucas Rossi
Coaches' Award: Kurtis Dupond
Wests Magpies SG Ball (U/19s)
Wests Magpies SG Ball team missed the semi-finals this season but provided several players to the club’s senior teams, including a handful who made their NRL debut.
Heath Mason, Luke Laulilii, Jordan Miller, Tallyn Da Silva and Kit Laulilii have all since featured at NRL-level this season after playing a part in the 2024 SG Ball campaign.
Player of the Year: Tallyn Da Silva
Players' Player: Luke Laulilii
Coaches' Award: Heith Pritchard
Balmain Tigers SG Ball (U/19s)
Balmain’s U/19s side experienced a tough season in 2024, and like the Tigers’ Harold Mathews side, they had many players playing above their age level and had an unusually high injury toll.
Archie Riley was the group’s best this season, while exciting fullback Cameron Kanaan received the Scott Gale Memorial Award as the Balmain program’s leading try-scorer.
Player of the Year (Adam Gardiner Memorial Award): Archie Riley
Players' Player: Archie Riley
Coaches' Award: Jared Haywood
Wests Tigers Tarsha Gale Cup (U/19s)
It was a mixed campaign for Wests Tigers Tarsha Gale Cup team, finishing ninth with a 3 and 5 win/loss record for the season.
The standout players from this group have gone on to progress further, with Tiana Lee Thorne joining the NRLW Top 24 for this season, while Claudia Brown and Iemaima Etuale have earned NRLW development contracts.
Player of the Year: Claudia Brown
Players Player: Claudia Brown
Coaches Award: Myracle Matara
Top Point-Scorers
Macarthur: Saint Fuatimau (24 points)
Balmain (Keith Barnes Shield): Marc Tannous (22 points)
Wests: Heamasi Makasini (102 points)
Women’s: Ellie Barnett (48 points)
Top Try-Scorers
Macarthur: Saint Fuatimau (6 tries)
Balmain (Scott Gale Memorial Award): Cameron Kanaan (5 tries)
Wests Programs: Heamasi Makasini (10 tries)
Women’s: Lucyannah Luamanu-Leiataua & Paige Attard (7 tries)
Congratulations to each and every player from all eight pathways teams, as well as all coaching staff, for your efforts throughout the 2024 season.
