The race for the 2026 Harrigan Cup minor premiership tightened even further in Round 11, with Collegians, Corrimal and Thirroul all recording crucial victories as just four rounds remain in the regular season.
The Weekend Wrap, brought to you by Steelers
Collegians 22 def. Wests 20
Collegians kept their top three hopes alive with a dramatic 22-20 win over defending premiers Wests at Parrish Park. Both sides, last year’s grand finalists, scored two converted tries each and a penalty goal in the opening half.
With the scores tied at 14-all at halftime, Collegians were immediately put under pressure when the second-half kick-off bounced dead. The Devils seized the opportunity in the following set, as Braith Lawrence-Foye pounced on a pinpoint Dane Chisholm bomb. Chisholm added the extras, giving the Devils a 20-14 advantage they held until James Lee crossed out wide for the visitors on the hour mark, trimming the deficit to four.
With time running out, Cooper Barnes crossed in the 76th minute to snatch victory for the visitors in one of the games of the season.
Corrimal 37 def. Dapto 30
Corrimal continued their remarkable season, edging Dapto 37-30 in a thrilling contest between two genuine premiership contenders. This marked their fifth straight win, with their only recent defeat coming against Dapto in Round 6.
The two sides traded blows throughout an entertaining, high-scoring encounter that featured a double from Cougars second-rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner and a hat-trick to Canaries second-rower Jack Gibbons.
Trailing 30-24, the Cougars found another gear in the closing stages, scoring 13 unanswered points in the final 10 minutes. A clutch field goal from rookie halfback Lewis Sargent-Wilson, flanked by tries from Faitala-Mariner and Peni Misale, proved decisive and clinched a crucial victory for Corrimal. Both goalkickers were flawless: Saifiti Saifiti landed six from six for the Cougars, while Dapto’s Troy Pieper converted all five attempts.
The win strengthens the Cougars’ hold on second place and keeps them within striking distance of the competition leaders.
Thirroul 34 def. Sutherland-Loftus 18
Competition leaders Thirroul were forced to dig deep after Sutherland-Loftus threatened to produce the upset of the season.
The Butchers found themselves trailing 18-6 before closing the gap to 18-12 at halftime, setting the stage for a dominant second-half response. Thirroul ran in four unanswered tries after the break, with centre Luke Maddaford crossing for a double as the ladder leaders stormed home for a 34-18 victory and maintained their grip on top spot.
Harrigan Cup Ladder Implications
Round 11 has further compressed an already fiercely competitive ladder.
Thirroul remains on top with 16 competition points, while Corrimal has claimed outright second on 14 points following five wins on the trot.
Behind them, Wests, Dapto and Collegians are locked together on 12 competition points, setting up a thrilling run home with just four rounds remaining. Every match from here carries enormous significance as the race for finals positions and the minor premiership reaches its climax.
Lower Grades
In Harrigan Plate action, Thirroul defeated Helensburgh 34-0 to strengthen their lead at the top of the table, while Wests edged Collegians 22-20. In the Harrigan Shield double-header at Dandaloo Oval, ladder-leaders Norths scraped past Avondale Greyhounds 12-10, and Avondale Wombats overcame Mt Kembla Lowries 8-2 to remain on the heels of the Bulldogs. At Boronia Park, Figtree dispatched Corrimal 28-12, and Berkeley prevailed over Windang 18-10.
Photo Credit: Denis Ivaneza