Welcome to Round 2 of the Junior Reps 2026 season.

The Eels were impressive in securing victories over the Wests Magpies in both of the male pathways games last weekend. They’ll be looking to continue their early season form today at Henson Park in what is an entire day of Eels footy for fans to feast on.

First up will be the Matts at 10:30am. Will Seuseu continue his blockbusting ways? He already has form against the Sharks in the trial, and I suspect he won’t be the only one to shine today.

Then at midday, the powerful Ball team will be without Fletcher and Talagi as they look to replicate their strong trial win without both of those stars, who incidentally will play in the NRL trial later in the day.

Join in on the blog by adding your opinions as the matches unfold.

 

 

 

Harold Matthews Team List

 

1	Liam Martin
2	Leonard Salter
3	Tyler Lama
4	Lorima Seuseu
5	William Memea Eve
6	Levi Perrett
7	Caleb Leiataua
8	Christopher Suaalii
9	Flynn Manu’a
10	Curtis Brown
11	Jake Capovilla
12	Khan Jackson
13	Hayden Bell
Interchange
14	Spencer Sorenson
15	Tyson Puleitu
16	Thomas Jackson
17	Winston Tahi
21	Nixon O’Connor
19	Elijah Alzahim
23 20	Danny Abuhamed Deon Haynes

 

First Half

Eels kicking off via Leiataua. Good metres from the Sharks and they kick deep to Eve who receives a penalty. Back to halfway in two hit ups. Martin surges into the red zone on the back of his pack’s efforts. Oh that’s a bad miss from the ref as the Eels kick is clearly knocked on and now the Sharks get a penalty.

Eve cleans up the Sharks last tackle grubber and again draws a penalty. Rinse and repeat as  Parra surges into the red zone. Heavy involvement from Bell this set but the last tackle kick from Perrett is easily dealt with. Sharks complete with a kick into Parra’s quarter and again good yardage from the Eels. The high kick on the last is taken by the Sharks winger as the sides settle into trading completions.

The Sharks kick finds touch 12 out. Eels restart from centre of the pitch. Good hit up by Capovilla. Late hit on Leiataua draws a penalty in the red zone. Unfortunately Perrett and Martin get their wires crossed and the ball goes down mid set.

Another completion from Cronulla as Martin fields the kick into his quarter. Mid set error from Brown is quickly wound back by a Sharks error and an Eels scrum on half way. Into the red zone now as Parra explores both edges. The last tackle kick to the in goal is fumbled by the chasers. Seven tackle set coming. Oops, a Sharks break into Parra’s red zone comes undone with the ball lost in contact. Eels scrum.

Seuseu unleashed this set and is just ankle tapped as he hit top gear. To the Right now and Alzahim who’s on the right wing goes close. The Sharks survive and get to Parra’s red zone with their kick but give away the penalty. Enterprising unstructured play evolves on the last as Salter at right centre and Alzahim combine and Alzahim’s kick just beats his chase to the dead ball line. We’re back for a Sharks error in there and an Eels scrum ten out. An error in front of the posts in contact relieved the pressure on the Sharks but they in turn hand the ball back around halfway. Parra are threatening down their right edge again. Back to the quarter as Capovilla drives into defenders and links with Martin who sprints into the space created and touches down in the corner. Wow the sideline conversion hits the upright.

Eels 4 lead Sharks nil after 24 minutes.

That was ugly from Parra. The kick off was allowed to bounce and the Eels make a meal of it. And the penalty is paid as the Sharks go wide left mid set and the centre releases the winger for a diving try in the corner.

Conversion is wide.

Eels 4 Sharks 4 after 27 minutes

Sharks complete the set after points. The Eels fail to replicate that as Seuseu makes a play the ball error on halfway. The Sharks break down the left wing after the scrum but are tackled into touch around the quarter. Perrett hands off to Seuseu early in the set and he again nearly busts them open. Eels penalty called. Barely time to complete the penalty set as Parra throw a few dodgy passes and Bell kicks the ball. The Sharks fullback fields it and is tackled into touch as the ref calls half time.

Half time – Eels 4 Sharks 4

 

Second Half

Sharks kick off. Parra make great use of a set restart and drive play to the Sharks red zone. They hit both edges, then back to the right on the last as Salter tries to set up Alzahim but the Sharks just manage to hold him up a half metre short of the line.

Hand over.

Eels are muscling up in defence and the kick comes from inside the 40.

Nice one handed offload from Capovilla there. The last tackle kick falls back for Parra but the second kick from Alzahim is well-fielded in front of the sticks. Sharks error late in the set 45 out from Parra’s line. Eels scrum.

Huge charge from Tahi sets Cronulla on the back foot. Left now as Seuseu cuts back towards the middle and he’s through this time. The centre is unstoppable as he plants the ball beside the posts. Conversion from Martin is thrown over.

Eels 10 Sharks 4 after 40 minutes.

Bell slices through beside the ruck in the set after points but a Sharks defender jolts the ball from his grasp 30 out. Sharks scrum.

A penalty for holding down goes to the Sharks. Poor ruck defence from Parra as Martin is forced to tackle the runner in front of the posts. Simple stuff follows with a pass to Longbottom just to the left of the posts and he isolates the defender to score

Conversion successful

Eels 10 Sharks 10 after 44 mins

Well both times Parra has scored they have failed to complete the set after points and Cronulla has struck back immediately.

Eels next possession sees them get a last tackle grubber towards the posts with chasers driving the fullback in goal but the ref has found a penalty.

Sharks complete their next set. Big last tackle kick from Parra follows at the end of their next set but Alzahim can’t quite make the spectacular catch.

Sharks now make an error late in their set 32 metres out from Parra’s line. Scrum.

Parra keep driving in behind the ruck this set. To the left now and Thomas Jackson splits them to sprint 15 metres to the line before improving the position to behind the posts.

Conversion from Martin

Eels 16 Sharks 10 after 53 minutes.

Let’s complete this set!

They do with a Perrett bomb that forces an error. Quick shift right as Salter dives over and celebrates but the Sharks player has the ball. No try as the ref calls play on and then line drop out as the Eels make the tackle in goal.

Salter fields the awkward restart. Bell goes close with a charge at the line. Likewise Sorenson. Left now to Perrett who delivers the deftest of passes to Khan Jackson to run through the gap and score.
Conversion misses.

Eels 20 Sharks 10 after 57 minutes.

i think that’s Capovilla catching the short restart. Well that’s three incomplete restarts out of four as the Eels are tackled into touch on the next play.

Sharks surge into the red zone but they too make an error. Sets are traded before Cronulla get a penalty 20 out . What’s going on there??? The Eels charge down a kick and the bouncing ball comes off the hand of one Shark and is picked up ten metres downfield by another! Have I seen that badly wrong or did the ref? No matter as the Sharks are soon tackled into touch and full time is blown.

Eels 20 defeat Sharks 10

 

SG Ball Team List

 

1	Cameron Bamblett
2	Lorima Rokosuka
3	Nathan Howlett
4	Kordell Pritchard
5	Cyrus Bloomfield
14	Riley Davis
7	Oliver Walker
8	Steven Nunn
9	Jireh-Trey Stewart
10	Maison Ong
11	Michael Nauer
12	Stirling Faumui
13	Jackson Koina
Interchange
15	Wesley Pakoti
16	Samuel Polley
17	Nicholas Kotarac
18	Billy Fanene
14	Riley Davis
21	Coby Raven

 

First Half

Davis is playing at fullback.

Sharks kicking off. Eels complete the set with a kick to the Sharks quarter. An error from Cronulla 25 out and the players fire up a bit. Right from the scrum now a big charge from Nunn and Ong and Nunn again. The last tackle kick is fielded in goal for a seven tackle set. I think that was Bloomfield making a mess of catching the bomb. Two penalties for the Sharks in the red zone. Possession is king as the Sharks pound the Eels line near the posts then head left for the winger to get outside Rokosuka and dive over in the corner.

Conversion misses.

Sharks 4 Eels nil after 8 minutes

Cronulla again complete their set and this time Davis makes the error. Scrum 15 out.

Looks like a HIA for Ong before the scrum sets. Pakoti takes the field. The Sharks fullback looks elusive this set beating multiple Eels defenders in a weaving run. They go right on the fifth then the dummy half goes short side on the last and the Eels defence eats it up.
Parra penalty.

Wow, just wow. The Eels work play towards the quarter and as the ball finds Bamblett there’s nothing on. But suddenly there is as he pulls out of tackles then weaves his way to the last defender and finds Davis in support for the try out of nothing!

Conversion successful

Eels 6 Sharks 4 after 13 minutes.

Yet another incomplete set after points. It’s my bugbear!

Cronulla apply the pressure and the last tackle grubber is ushered over the dead ball line by Davis.

Koina getting attention for his neck. He seems ok. Drop out sails well over the sideline but no penalty?

Sharks hit the Eels left. That’s not good as the dummy half catches the Eels ruck defence napping for the simplest of tries.

Conversion successful

Sharks 10 Eels 6 after 16 minutes

This set after points is problematic for both teams as the Sharks cough up the pill in their red zone. This time Parra reaps the rewards as they shift left with quick hands and Nathan Howlett scythes through the defence to score.

Bloomfield converts from out wide

Eels 12 lead Sharks 10 after 20 minutes.

A much better set after points from Parra is finished off by a great kick and chase. Cronulla try to ruck it out from their red zone but again spill the ball.

Eels scrum 20 out. Right through Steward and Davis but Pritchard pass finds the ground instead of Rokosuka. Now a Sharks penalty runs salt into the wounds.

Massive crossfield bomb on the last to Bloomfield’s wing but the Sharks chaser knocks on. Unfortunately Parra return the handling favour. The Sharks get to the last and the chaser executes a tap back but the Eels clean it up. Bloomfield is in the middle for a hit up but the ball comes loose. Another incomplete set as the Sharks get the scrum feed. They complete the set but again choose to run it on the last in the red zone. Hand over.

Finally a completion from Parra with a kick down the right wing. Sharks penalty late in the set as Rokosuka goes high. Sharks go right and the ball goes down five out. Howlett picks it up and attempts to offload in the tackle but it’s a low pass. No advantage. Eels scrum ten out. No, no, no. Another error from Parra ten out. Sharks scrum in the shadows of half time. The siren sounds late in the count and an offside Eel knocks the ball out of the dummy half’s hands. Simple penalty and a chance to level up.

The five-eighth nails it.

Half time – Eels 10 Sharks 10

Second Half

I’ve said it many times. The greatest threat to this Eels team is their own errors and there have been far too many. Hopefully they get a handle on that in this second half.

Well that’s a statement. An impressive set from the Eels to commence the second half is finished by Davis cutting back from the left edge on a 20 metre run and scoring between the posts!

conversion successful

Eels 18 Sharks 12 after 38 minutes

That’s better. The Eels complete the set after points. The kick is a shallow bomb and the Sharks player has no idea about catching it. It comes off his hands into touch. Full set in the 20 incoming. Geez Koina goes close as he drives to the line late in the set. Right for the grubber kick but too many weetbix today as it rolls dead for a seven tackle set.

Eels now rucking it out of their red zone after a Sharks completion. This time Cronulla left winger makes a good catch. Oops – Sharks clearing kick is out on the full. Eels ball 40 out.
Some text book footy as Parra goes left to Bloomfield who’s tackled a metre or so out. The grubber kick goes to the right edge and the Sharks clean it up.

The Sharks fullback asks questions once again in Parra’s red zone and goes perilously close to scoring. Left now and the error comes with Rokosuka scooping up the ball and pummeling his way 25 metres up field. The Eels turn it over and once again have to defend their line. They do so and work their way rapidly back to the other end of the field. It comes left late in the count and Davis chips an ultra short kick for the chasing Howlett who juggles the catch but somehow grounds it over the line.

Bloomfield adds an angled conversion

Eels 24 Sharks 12 after 52 minutes

The Eels complete the set after points as Polley challenges the defence and receives a penalty about 35 out. Into the quarter and back right to Polley again and he’s not going to be denied as he gets the ball down over the line.

Conversion successful

Eels 30 Sharks 12 after 55 minutes

What a difference set completions make as the Eels forwards punish defenders in their way and the last tackle kick earns the drop out. Great set follows as the forwards lay the platform for Walker to have a run at the line – he looks to have grounded it but the ref rules lost ball as it rolls away over the line.

The teams trade completed sets then the Sharks try to get expansive down their right wing. An attempted tap on goes astray and Koina quickly scoops it up and distributes it to Bloomfield who streaks 50 metres to the posts.

He now adds the extras

Eels 36 Sharks 12 after 62 minutes

Ah the Nunn sidestep in action late in the set after points as he charges through the defence and into space then tramples the fullback before the cover brings him down just short.

Heres what effort means. The Sharks winger breaks downfield next set and for all money is over on the left corner. Davis sprints across to tackle him right on the line both forcing him into touch and jolting the ball free.

What? The ref has found fault with the Eels in possession next set and awarded a penalty ten out. Quick hands right does the trick as the Sharks narrow the margin. Conversion misses.

Eels 36 Sharks 16 after 66 minutes

Sharks error in the set after points. Scrum 45 out.

Down To the red zone via Nauer. Short left through Faumui to Howlett to Bloomfield. Try time!

Conversion misses

Eels 40 Sharks 16 after 69 minutes.

An error in the set after points but the siren sounds.

Full time Eels 40 defeated Sharks 16

 

Sixties