The Illawarra Steelers host the St George Dragons (Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale Cup) and Melbourne Storm (Harold Matthews and SG Ball Cup) at Collegians Sporting Complex in Round 1 on Saturday, 1 February.
The experienced Kade Reed has been named at halfback in SG Ball paired with Thirroul’s Aaymon Fitzgibbon (main picture) at five-eighth. Tom Kirk, in his fourth consecutive season in the scarlet and white will play wing. Jackson Smith will pack down in the backrow.
Maria Paseka, Tori Shipton and Rhian Yeo, who all featured in last year’s grand final winning team, have been named in Courtney Crawford’s Tarsha Gale Cup line-up, which also includes Makayla McFayden and Tahlia O’Brien stepping up from last seasons U17’s.
Halle Barrett, Holly Czornobej and Michala Hardy line-up for their second season in Lisa Fiaola Cup, while Mason Andrews has been selected at front row in the U17 boys alonside Mace Scofield.
Round 1 – Saturday, 1 February – Collegians Sporting Complex
- 11.30am – LFC v St George Dragons
- 1.00pm – TGC v St George Dragons
- 2.30pm – HMC v Melbourne Storm
- 4.00pm – SGB v Melbourne Storm
Team Lists
| Position | Lisa Fiaola (U17s) | Tarsha Gale (U19s) | |
| 1. | Ella Churchill | Maria Paseka | |
| 2. | Juliet Merheb | Maddy Bullock | |
| 3. | Halle Barrett | Billie Va’a | |
| 4. | Holly Czornobej | Liesl Hopoate | |
| 5. | Elli Young | Kiara Kostovski | |
| 6. | Chloe Reh | Herewaka Pohatu | |
| 7. | Skye Spencer | Alex Down | |
| 8. | Charlotte Nicolson | Seriah Palepale | |
| 9. | Lila Miller | Tori Shipton | |
| 10. | Jayda Lalic | Makayla McFayden | |
| 11. | Laila Poto | Siulolo Richter | |
| 12. | Tahanni Kaufusi | Rhian Yeo | |
| 13. | Michala Hardy | Tahlia O’Brien | |
| Interchange | |||
| 14. | Ally Hamilton | Charlotte Campbell | |
| 15. | Madeleine Ceccato | Madison Hobbs | |
| 16. | Manawa-Jen Tukere | Sienna Leslie | |
| 17/19. | Anissa McCue | Armani Tanioria | |
| Reserves | |||
| 17. | n/a | Trinity Tauaneai | |
| 18 | Mia Davis | Mackayla Hutchinson | |
| 19. | Soraya Amone | n/a | |
| 20. | Halle Muik | Scarlett Newton | |
| 21. | Sienna Young | April Gray | |
| 22. | Levini Latu | Maddison Lewis | |
| 23. | Loata Latu | Maddie Smith | |
| Coach | Brad Reh | Courtney Crawford | |
| Position | Harold Matts (U17s) | SG Ball (U19s) | |
| 1. | Oliver Burton | Lucas Borg | |
| 2. | Jaxon Ballinger | Saifiti Saifiti | |
| 3. | Cooper Morrison | Charlie Heidke | |
| 4. | Sonny MacGregor | Zane Timmins | |
| 5. | Jack Goulder | Tom Kirk | |
| 6. | Tayler Humphries | Aaymon Fitzgibbon | |
| 7. | Jett Brookfield | Kade Reed | |
| 8. | Mace Scofield | Zechariah Taufa | |
| 9. | Asher Chapman | Mason Phillips | |
| 10. | Mason Andrews | Ben Jackson | |
| 11. | Creighton Meafou | Jackson Smith | |
| 12. | Taj Barrett | Likamani Ritcher | |
| 13. | Halaapiapi Amone | Hudson Bailey | |
| Interchange | |||
| 14. | Kahuitara Te Ra Chase | Noah Parker | |
| 15. | Jordan Barlow | Connor Sadler | |
| 16. | Logan Fenwick | Tyrone Amone | |
| 17/24. | Callum Cooney | Thomas Nelson | |
| Reserves | |||
| 18 | Finn Davy | Brodie Breakspear | |
| 19 | Hunter Fangupo | Malokai Tomo | |
| 20 | n/a | Joseph Elton | |
| Coach | Jamie Szczerbanik | Shaun Timmins | |