The Newcastle Knights capped off a tremendous finish to the regular season with all four of its elite junior representative sides qualifying for the NSWRL final series.
It follows wins over the North Sydney Bears at Hills Grammar on Saturday.
In the SG Ball Cup, Newcastle made light work of the Bears, recording a 38-4 win in a nine-try romp, with Mel Nonu, Archie McIlwain and Cooper McKenzie all crossing for doubles.
But, the Knights had an off day with the boot, converting just one goal from nine attempts, leaving up to an extra 16 points out there.
They registered a five-win, three-loss record to finish in seventh position on the ladder in what has been a significant learning curve for the side in how to play a consistent brand of football to a high standard.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs edged out the Melbourne Storm to finish with the minor premiership on for and against by a margin of 58 points differential on the competition table.
Newcastle’s Harold Matthews Cup coach Matt McLaren was very pleased with his side’s grinding 28-6 win over the Bears to see out an undefeated 8-0 perfect season in his first year in charge at the club, clinching the minor premiership.
“While today was a great effort, we will enjoy the win, but we realise as a coaching staff, as do the playing group, that the job is only half done at the moment,” he said.
“I personally couldn’t be prouder of the whole squad, but a new competition starts next week and that’s our focus.”
The Knights finished with 18 competition points, edging South Sydney by a solitary win.
For the locals, Riley Rostron continued his stellar form, picking up a double, as Newcastle showed their ascendancy in the forwards, allowing the team’s backline to show off its speed and skill in a comprehensive performance.
In the Lisa Fiaola Cup, the Knights handed out a 34-4 spanking of North Sydney to complete their undefeated season.
But, they were edged out from winning the minor premiership by the Parramatta Eels by a points differential of a mere 46 over the regular season.
Jarrah Young played her best game of the season, scoring a spectacular try in the opening stages, while Molly Fitzhenry scored a double to continue to add to her regular season tally.
The Knights finished the season statistically with the third-best attack and the third-best defence in the competition.
From the shaky starts early in the season against Cronulla and Wests Tigers, the Lisa Fiaola squad has well and truly found its feet and remains a genuine finals threat.
In the Tarsha Gale Cup, Newcastle mauled the Bears by a season-record margin of 62-6 for the Knights to finish their season, at time of writing, in fifth position, which will most likely be sixth with Penrith expected to make light work of the Dragons on Sunday.
The side put on 11 tries, with Tameika Dorahy claiming a hat-trick and Addie Hagan picking up a personal haul of 18 points from a try and seven goals from the Newcastle halfback.
The Knights’ scoring rate was more than a point a minute as they looked to make a statement heading into the final series.
The Tarsha Gale team, coached by Alicia Kate Hawke, finished with a five-win, three-loss record and, while they have been inconsistent in patches, have the firepower to win the competition with some good luck and good fortune.
The New South Wales Rugby League final series for the junior representative competitions is due to be finalised by 9am on Monday on www.nswrl.com.au
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