Final squads for the Illawarra Steelers 2024 NSWRL Junior Representative season have been confirmed. Almost two-thirds of the SG Ball Cup squad and all but three players in the Tarsha Gale Cup squad have represented the Steelers previously.
Only the Steelers Tarsha Gale team (U19 Girls) made it to the finals last season, while Harold Matthews Cup (U17 Boys) and SG Ball (U19 Boys) came agonizingly close to playing finals football. Both sides finished seventh, one point shy of the top six. After winning all four development games last year, it is the first season of competition for the Lisa Fioala Cup side.
On the coaching front, Shaun Timmins takes charge of SG Ball and is supported by Mark ‘Piggy’ Riddell. The experienced Brad Reh (Lisa Fioala) and Courtney Crawford (Tarsha Gale) remain in charge of their respective teams, while Jamie ‘Scissors’ Szczerbanik takes the helm of Harold Matts.
Sibling Rivalry
There will be plenty of sibling rivalry across the squads this season, with seven sets of siblings: Three sets of brothers, including twins Lexin and Rhys O’Dea (Harold Matts), two sets of sisters, and two brother/sister pairings.
Keeping it in the family, Hudson Bailey is the son of former Steeler and Dragon Luke Bailey; Bohden & Halle Barrett’s father, Trent, played 45 first-grade games in the famous Scarlet & White in the mid-90s.
Aaymon Fitzgibbon’s father, Craig, played 20 first-grade games for the Steelers in 1998; grandfather Allan was the inaugural coach of the Steelers, guiding them through their first two seasons in the NSW Rugby League premiership in 1982-83 and again in 1985.
Brothers
- Daniel & Creighton Meafou
- Clay & Beau Baldock
- Lexin & Rhys O’Dea (Twins)
Sisters
- Herewaka & Rangitaiki Pohatu
- Rhian & Sienna Yeo
Brother/Sister
- Bohden & Halle Barrett
- Jack & Ella Koster
Steelers & Dragons Family Connections
- Hudson Bailey (son of former Steeler Luke Bailey)
- Bohden & Halle Barrett (son and daughter of former Steeler Trent Barrett)
- Aaymon Fitzgibbon (son of former Steeler and current Cronulla Sharks first grade coach Craig Fitzgibbon)
- Hope Millard (daughter of former St George Illawarra Dragon & current Dragons Recruitment and Pathways manager Shane Millard)
- Zane Timmins (nephew of former Steeler and current SG Ball Coach Shaun Timmins)
- Kasey Reh (niece of Lisa Fioala Cup Coach Brad Reh and former Illawarra Steelers/NRL players Brett & Glenn Stewart)
- Leeroy Weatherall (brother of former Steeler & St George Illawarra Dragons NRLW player Maddie Weatherall)
SG Ball (Under 19 Boys)
Tyrone Amone, Viliami Amone, Hudson Bailey, Clay Baldock, Bohden Barrett, Lucas Borg, Hayden Buchanan, Aaymon Fitzgibbon, Charlie Heidke, Eden Hodges, Lyhkan King-Togia, Tom Kirk, Tom Knox, Drew Langdon, Isaac Laughton, Bailey Marks, Daniel Meafou, Lincoln Miners, Ramses Munro, Seth Pearman, Braith Plecas, Kade Reed, Jackson Rieck, Toby Rumble, Jackson Smith, Jarrah Treweek, Lachlan Weir, Harry Wililo. Head Coach: Shaun Timmins
Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19 Girls)
Charlotte Basham, Indie Bostock, Ashlyn Breust, Runi Cowan, Darcy Eade, Bianca Jones, Ella Koster, Sienna Leslie, Brielle Luccitti, Ruby Marshall, Makayla McFayden, Evie McGrath, Hope Millard, Talea Miller, Maria Paseka, Herewaka Pohatu, Rangitaiki Pohatu, Kasey Reh, Chelsea Savill, Teagan Smede, Mia Walsh, Bronte Wilson, Rhian Yeo, Sienna Yeo. Head Coach: Courtney Crawford
Harold Matthews Cup (Under 17 Boys)
Mason Andrews, Axel Antony, Beau Baldock, Jacob Birta, Luke Butler, Caden Hooper, Tayler Humphries, Phoenix Johns, Kapene Karaitiana, Cruz King, Jack Koster, Ruben Mayers, Creighton Meafou, Cooper Morrison, Lexin O’Dea, Rhys O’Dea, Cruz Pimanovas, Likamani Richter, Mace Scofield, Noah Sepulveda, Noah Skippen, Jack Talbott, Zane Timmins, Aidan Turner, Leeroy Weatherall, Hayden Whatman. Head Coach: Jamie Szczerbanik
Read More>> Scissors Keen For Young Guns To Make The Cut
Lisa Fioala Cup (Under 17 Girls)
Kayliah Alvey, Halle Barrett, Koffi Brookfield, Maddy Bullock, Holly Czornobej, Alex Down, Alysha Eti, April Gray, Ella Greatz, Michala Hardy, Arley Hourn, Kate Howle, Tahanni Kaufusi, Kiara Kostovski, Jayda Lalic, Maddison Lewis, Bella Lord, Sibeal McNamara, Halle Muik, Tahlia O’Brien, Bridget Shearer, Tori Shipton, Skye Spencer, Armani Tanioria, Eliza Taylor. Head Coach: Brad Reh
2024 Apparel Partners
- Long-term partner Coastwide Engineering is again the front-of-jersey sponsor, while Boab Services will have its logo on the jersey sleeve for a fifth consecutive year. Harrigan Motor Group remains the top-back of the junior jerseys for a second year.
- PIMS Group, who has supported the Steelers SG Ball side for the last four years, has renewed their agreement for the next two seasons and will also feature below the number on the Tarsha Gale Cup jersey.
- South32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal features on the shorts of all four teams. It continues supporting the game’s growth as junior, women’s, and girls’ naming rights partner in the Illawarra.
- BaiMed Physiotherapy also appears on the shorts, acknowledging their long-term provision of physiotherapy services.
The Steelers will take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs at home on February 4 at Collegians Sporting Complex in the opening week of the nine-round competition.
Read More>> Steelers 2024 Season Draw Snapshot
