We preview our Wests and Balmain U/19 teams before they kick off their respective seasons against each other this Saturday at Wests Tigers Club Day.
WESTERN SUBURBS MAGPIES
Head Coach: Nathan Lakeman
Assistant Coach: Mitch Tyler
Assistant Coach: Harrison Fox
Captains: Archie Duncombe and Denzel Schaafhausen-Mino
In 2024, the Magpies SG Ball team lost several key players throughout the season, with the likes of Tallyn Da Silva, Heath Mason and Luke Laulilii all moved to senior squads during the year.
With the Harold Matthews U/17’s side reaching the Grand Final though, the new-look SG Ball lineup contains many extremely talented young Pathways players.
Heamasi Makasini is a member of this team, with the 17-year-old centre currently completing his first NRL pre-season with Wests Tigers.
Nathan Lakeman is the new Magpies SG Ball Head Coach in 2025 and the former Wests player is excited for the season to get underway.
“ We've trained really hard and got ourselves in the condition where we can compete hard for long periods of time, which is good,” Lakeman said.
“Our two captains, Archie and Denzel, will lead the squad moving forward. Denzel suffered a minor injury recently and will miss round one, but he'll be back helping lead the charge following that.
“Pheonix Godinet is another one, he brings raw talent and ability to the team. He provides a bit of X-factor for us and he’s such a big, powerful runner of the football.
“ I think the biggest strength we've got as a team is that the boys work really hard for each other and I think their fitness levels are high enough for us to work at that high level.”
BALMAIN TIGERS
Head Coach: Shane Sultana
Assistant Coach: Mick Daley
Assistant Coach: Andrew Kazzi
Captain: Jared Haywood
New Balmain SG Ball Head Coach, Shane Sultana, is aiming to turn the team’s fortunes around after a tough 2024 campaign.
Coming into this season with a much more experienced side, their new campaign is shaping up as a promising one.
Halfback, Marc Tannous, has completed pre-season with the NRL side over the summer and hooker/half, Jared Haywood, was selected in the 2024 Australian Schoolboys side in July.
Sultana also believes their strong preparation over the summer will hold them in good stead.
“ They came into preseason with a lot of energy, a lot of effort and a lot of excitement,” said Sultana.
“They're willing to learn and willing to put the effort in, which is good. Their understanding of the game now and the effort that we're putting into preseason in terms of footy education has been pretty high.
“Jared Haywood, our captain, brings a lot of enthusiasm and he brings a lot of energy. He actually brings the standards of the group up, just through his communication, through his talk.
“Marc Tannous has come back to our group with excitement and I think he's appreciating the fact that he gets to control this team around the park and show them where he needs them to be.”
