Junior Sharks bounce back with two big wins

The Sharks Matthews Cup and SG Ball teams have rebounded following last start losses with two impressive round four victories in matches played at PointsBet Stadium.

In their first appearances on home soil so far in 2023, the Matthews Cup Sharks started the ball rolling with a 36-6 win over the Central Coast Rooster, before the under-19 SG Ball side proved too good in beating the Melbourne Storm 34-16.

The win for the Matthews Cup team was its third in four games, with coach Brad Kelly pleased to put the disappointment of the previous week behind them.

“I was really happy with that performance. We were disappointed with last week’s effort in the second half but this week the effort right through the game was a heap better,” Kelly said.

“Discipline wise we were better, we controlled the ball a lot better and we capitalised on our opportunities.”

After giving up an 18-0 lead in a loss to the Sydney Roosters last week, this time around the Sharks jumped out to a similar advantage against the Central Coast team, three first half tries seeing the Cronulla side in front 16-0 at the half time break.

This time around the under-17 Sharks kept the foot firmly planted on the throat of their opponents and in a performance characterised by a strong defensive attitude, went on to register a win which sees them firmly entrenched at the top end of the Matthews Cup competition table.  

“They defended really well, there was a lot of intent in their tackling. Only giving up one try was a good result and very happy with their defensive resolve today. It still wasn’t perfect, but happy to get back on the winning horse, to put the two points on the ladder and to move onto next week,” Kelly added.

As for his best on the day, while pleased with the overall team performance, Kelly singled out Xavier Singh on the wing and centre Jayze Tuigamala who moved from the backs into the forward pack for this week’s game.

“Xavier Singh got three tries and Jayze Tuigamala, playing out of position in the middle of the field, they did a really good job for us,” Kelly offered. “We lost two front rowers this week with injury, Jayze had to step up and play a role for us today.”  

In the SG Ball match to follow the more senior Sharks outfit built on the momentum created by their younger counterparts, two tries in the opening 20 minutes, then another shortly before half time and the score mirrored the earlier match with the Cronulla team up 16-0 against the visiting Melbourne Storm.

A try to big front rower Felix Faatili in the early moments of the second period, converted by Bryce Sait, pushed the lead out to 22-0 and while the Storm would put some respectability onto the scoreboard with three tries in the final 10 minutes of the match, the end result was never in doubt.

Pleased, but also relieved, SG Ball coach Dave Howlett was proud of the efforts of his team in turning around a disappointing performance the week prior.

“I’m happy with the win, on the back of the performance the week before. We put humpty dumpty together again today,” Howlett said.

“I just wanted the boys to play with some energy and positivity, connection with each other and to play like a team and I thought the boys did that. The second half we got a little sloppy at times, but I was really happy with the first half performance.”

With two wins from four matches this season the SG Ball Sharks sit in eighth position on the ladder but within striking distance of the leading teams, while the Matthews Cup Sharks are third, as the two competitions approach the half way point.

The Sharks junior rep teams are at home again next weekend for round five matches against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

MATTHEWS CUP
SHARKS 36
Xavier Singh 3, Kaden GARNER, Kailan REHAYEM, Oliver LESTER, Nathaniel XIROS tries, Nikora Williams 4 goals
beat
CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS 6

SG BALL
SHARKS 34
Dylan Christensen, Samuel McCulloch, Tre Fotu, Felix Faatili, Dylan Coutts, Lawson Cotter tries, Bryce Sait 5 goals
beat
MELBOURNE STORM 16