Young guns Michael Gabrael and Niwhai Puru have been honoured with selection in the NSW Cup Team of the Year after starring for Sharks feeder club Newtown in their run to the finals.
The NSW Cup Team of the Year was selected based on the opinions of nswrl.com.au from the performances of players throughout the 2025 season.
Gabrael, who recently re-signed with Cronulla until the end of 2027, cemented his place by scoring 17 tries in 19 matches during his first full NSW Cup campaign.
The electric centre also produced 14 line breaks, seven try assists and 47 tackle busts, earning selection for the NSW Under 19s along the way.
Regarded as one of the brightest talents at the club, Gabrael will look to continue his outstanding form and push for an NRL debut in 2026.
After helping the Jets secure the NSW Cup premiership last season, halfback Puru picked up where he left off in another dominant campaign.
He was a stabilising force for Newtown during a season in which they regularly lost players to injuries or NRL selection, featuring in every regular-season match.
The playmaker's statline included 21 try assists – the second-most in the competition – 12 tries, 19 line-break assists, 11 forced drop-outs and 362 average kick metres. It was enough to lead Newtown to a fourth-place finish, but a pectoral injury in the last round of the season prevented Puru from suiting up in the finals.
With their star No.7 sidelined, Newtown were pipped 24-20 by the Raiders in a sudden-death clash, bringing an end to their ambitions of defending their title.
Like Gabrael, Puru is a member of Cronulla's full-time NRL training squad and will continue his pursuit of a first-grade berth after re-signing until the end of 2026.
THE KNOCK-ON EFFECT NSW CUP 2025 TEAM OF THE YEAR
1) Cody RAMSEY (St George Illawarra Dragons)
2) Asu KEPAOA (Penrith Panthers)
3) Cassius TIA (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
4) Michael GABRAEL (Newtown Jets)
5) Tom RODWELL (Sydney Roosters)*
6) Jonah GLOVER (St George Illawarra Dragons)
7) Niwhai PURU (Newtown Jets)
8) Trey MOONEY (Canberra Raiders)
9) Danny LEVI (Canberra Raiders)
10) Tom ALE (Warriors)
11) Kayliss FATIALOFA (Warriors)
12) Noah MARTIN (Canberra Raiders)*
13) Kalani GOING (Warriors)**
*Denotes NRL debut in 2025
**Denotes 2025 The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Player of the Year
