Team List Tuesday brought to you by South32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal
The Illawarra Steelers SG Ball side get their 2024 finals campaign underway this Saturday against the Newcastle Knights in a sudden-death Elimination Final at Leichhardt Oval.
The Steelers finished sixth at the end of the regular season with a 6-3 win-loss record, after an impressive 38-12 win over the North Sydney Bears in the final round.
The Knights (7-2) lost just two games, a 28-26 loss to the Bulldogs in round two and a 32-22 loss to eventual Minor Premiers, the Sydney Roosters, in round seven, securing third place on the ladder.
A berth in the finals looked assured early in the season as the Shaun Timmins-coached Steelers won their first four games over the South Sydney Rabbitohs (26-12), Canberra Raiders (42-18), Melbourne Storm (34-12), and Parramatta Eels (30-16).
However, the U19s boys hit a speed bump in round five, going down to the Panthers 24-16 before a huge come-from-behind 32-24 win over the Warriors across the ditch.
With injuries taking their toll mid-season, the Steelers lost consecutive games to the Dragons (18-4) and suffered their heaviest loss to the Bulldogs (46-16) before the bounce-back win over the Bears to ensure they would play finals footy.
Meanwhile, it’s another week off for our Steelers Tarsha Gale Cup U19 girls. The Minor Premiers will face this week’s lower-ranked Elimination Final Winner in Week 2 for a spot in the Grand Final. In the inaugural Lisa Fiaola Cup, the Steelers U17 girls will play the higher-ranked Elimination Final Winner in Week 2.
Illawarra last won the SG Ball and Tarsha Gale Cups in 2019. The Under 19 boys defeated the Manly Sea Eagles 34-23, and the girls beat the Knights 24-12.
Team News
In team news, five-eighth Lykhan King-Togia (pictured) makes a timely return to the starting side after being injured since round five, with Aaymon Fitzgibbon moving to the interchange bench.
This reunites coach Shaun Timmins’ starting halves pairing of King-Togia and Kade Reed for the first time since round three, both having spent extended time on the sideline through injury.
Seth Pearman also returns to the starting side at hooker replacing Jackson Rieck, the new concussion sub. Tyrone Amone also comes onto the interchange bench.
SG Ball Finals | Week 1 | Leichhardt Oval | Saturday, 13 April
- 4.45pm – Illawarra Steelers (6) v Newcastle Knights (3)
Team List
| Position | SG Ball (U19s) |
| 1. | Lucas BORG |
| 2. | Clay BALDOCK |
| 3. | Hayden BUCHANAN |
| 4. | Zane TIMMINS |
| 5. | Toby RUMBLE |
| 6. | Lyhkan KING-TOGIA |
| 7. | Kade REED |
| 8. | Jackson SMITH |
| 9. | Seth PEARMAN |
| 10. | Lachlan WEIR |
| 11. | Braith PLECAS |
| 12. | Jarrah TREWEEK |
| 13. | Viliame AMONE |
| Interchange | |
| 14. | Aaymon FITZGIBBON |
| 15. | Ramses MUNRO |
| 16. | Tom KNOX |
| 17. | Tyrone AMONE |
| Concussion Sub | |
| 19. | Jackson RIECK |
| Coach | Shaun Timmins |
The Finals Series is a Top 6 knock-out style under the following format
>>Elimination Finals | Week One – Saturday, 13 April
· Elimination Final A – Team 3 v Team 6
· Elimination Final B – Team 4 v Team 5
*1st and 2nd placed teams week off
>>Qualifying Finals | Week Two – Saturday, 20 April
· Semi-Final A – Higher ranked elimination final winner vs 2nd
· Semi-Final B – Lower ranked elimination final winner v 1st
>>Grand Final | Week Three – Saturday, 27 April
· Grand Final – Two winners from Week Two
Main picture: Steelers halfback Lykan King-Togia gets an offload away against the Rabbitohs in round one.
