The Illawarra Steelers have clinched the minor premiership in the Harold Matthews Cup with an impressive 32-10 victory over the Balmain Tigers in the final round of the NSWRL Junior Representative competition.
The Steelers also finished first in the Tarsha Gale Cup after a close 26-24 win against the Sydney Roosters. The SG Ball team advanced to the finals following a dominant 54-6 victory over the Balmain Tigers, marking a successful season for the club as they head into the Finals Series.
However, the Steelers finished ninth in the Lisa Fiaola Cup, missing out on the finals after losing to the Central Coast Roosters 28-0 in a must-win game.
The Weekend Wrap, brought to you by Steelers.
Burton Hat-trick Helps Steelers Secure Matts’ Minor Premiership
Steelers fullback Oliver Burton scored a hat-trick in his side’s 32-10 victory over the Balmain Tigers in the final round of the Harold Matthews Cup.
Leading 16-0 at halftime, Jamie Szczerbanik’s U17’s extended the margin to 26-0 with back-to-back tries in quick succession before the Tigers got their first try on the board.
The newly-crowned minor premiers scored six tries to two in a confidence-boosting win leading into next week’s 1st Qualifying Final against the fourth-placed Newcastle Knights, their first match-up this season.
[Watch] Steelers Fullback Oliver Burton scores his second try from a clever scrumbase play
TGC Finish On Top In Nailbiter
Courtney Crawford’s Tarsha Gale Cup outfit secured their minor premiership with a nail-biting 26-24 victory over the Central Coast Roosters in Woy Woy.
The visitors were ahead 14-8 at halftime after tries to Billie Va’a, Maddalyn Bullock, and captain Trinity Tauaneai. They quickly increased their lead to 20-8 shortly after the break with a converted try to Tori Shipton.
The Roosters responded by scoring two consecutive tries, narrowing the gap to 20-18. However, Steelers centre Indie Bostock gave her team some crucial breathing room by scoring the Steelers’ fifth. Tauaneai converted the try, extending the lead to eight points.
The hosts reduced the deficit to two points with four minutes left in the game; however, this margin was enough to secure the Steelers’ victory.
The win was especially sweet for the Steelers when their co-competition leaders, the Canterbury Bulldogs, were defeated 20-18 by the Eels, handing them the top spot.
They will face the Penrith Panthers in the 1st Qualifying Final next weekend.
[Watch] Steelers centre Indie Bostock scores the match winner
SG Ball Win Big On Way To Finals
The Steelers finished the regular season with a 54-6 win over the Balmain Tigers in SG Ball.
Five-eighth Aaymon Fitzgibbon scored a hat-trick in the nine tries to one victory, including a length-of-the-field effort that began when fullback Lucas Borg scooped up a dropped ball from the Tigers on his own goal line.
This win placed the Steelers in equal third place with South Sydney and the Roosters; however, they finished fifth due to an inferior points differential.
Prop Leeroy Weatherall crashed over for two tries, while captain Kade Reed scored a try and achieved a perfect record with the boot, successfully kicking eight conversions from eight attempts in the 48-point winning margin.
Shaun Timmins’ men will play the 8th-placed Storm, who they beat 20-12 in Round 1, in the 1st Elimination Final.
[Watch] Aaymon Fitzgibbon runs the length for his second try
LFC Finals Hopes Dashed
The Steelers faced a challenging 24 hours in the Lisa Fiaola Cup, suffering a 28-0 defeat against the Central Coast Roosters. They then had to anxiously await the outcome of the Sunday Raiders vs. Sea Eagles match, needing a win by Manly to qualify for the finals.
Unfortunately, the Raiders beat the Sea Eagles 24-8, resulting in the Steelers losing their chance for an 8th-place finish.