On a night recapping and celebrating the 2026 junior representative season, SG Ball outside back Thomas Beattie has scooped the pool in claiming three major awards.
At the Male Pathways Presentation event, held at Sharks at Kareela, Beattie joined the likes of current Sharks NRL squad members Blayke Brailey, Teig Wilton and Sam Stonestreet, as well as his 2026 SG Ball coach Chad Townsend, in being named the Junior Representative Player of the Year.
Beattie was the standout performer for a Sharks under-19 squad which saw 31 players represent the club, a number of those first-year players, who despite a late surge would finish ninth, two points shy of a Finals appearance.
In addition to the major award, Beattie was also named SG Ball Player of the Year and the SG Ball Players Player.
Beattie was the team’s top try scorer, while playing every minute of every game during the season, while covering multiple backline positions.
It was an emotional and proud Townsend, a first-year junior rep coach, who spoke of the 2026 season, one which saw the SG Ball Sharks record three wins and five losses. Highlight performances included victories over the Raiders then Panthers to finish the season, with the Penrith win coming while the Sharks opponents were entrenched in the top four on the competition ladder.
Also recognised were the efforts of the Sharks Matthews Cup team, who while finishing in13th place with just two wins, unearthed a number of talented players, the majority playing their first season of junior representative rugby league.
In emphasising how competitive the young Sharks were despite their ladder position, the Matts Cup Sharks pushed both grand finalists, losing by six points to the Roosters and by just two to the Knights in an away game played in Newcastle. Their best win came against the Storm in Melbourne.
Of the 27 players to represent at Harold Matthews Cup level, 10 were a year young, will be available to back up in 2027 and should be better for the experience this season.
Eparame Neemia, a first-year player with the Cronulla club hailing from Queensland, was justly rewarded for his efforts by being named Player of the Year.
Neemia averaged a team high in tackles and played the most minutes of any middle forward throughout the season.
Local De La Salle product Haiden Wooldridge, was the recipient of the Matthews Cup Players Player award.
Wooldridge, an edge backrower, averaged a team high of 85 running metres in what was his second year as a member of the Harold Matts squad.
The presentation event was attended by players, coaches, team support staff, pathways administration staff and sponsors, Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta and members of the Board of Directors.
NRL squad members Sam Stonestreet and Blake Hosking, both who have come through the club’s pathways system, presented awards on the night, as did former first grade player Aaron Raper. An Origin and Kangaroos representative, Raper recalled his experiences in Sharks junior rep teams some three decades ago.
Alan Wilson, another former Sharks and NSW Origin player, carried out the role as event MC.
Lead photo - Thomas Beattie, Sharks Junior Rep Player of the Year, launches himself into the Canberra defense.
