Jackson_1994
Kennel Enthusiast
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2018
- Messages
- 2,295
- Reaction score
- 7,208
Via Telegraph Sport
By Fatima Kdouh
Western Sydney foes Parramatta and Canterbury dominated junior reps in 2023, but who has the best rising talent? We rank the top 19 youngsters poised to the NRL rivals into the future.
From Blaize Talagi, a Parramatta junior on the cusp of NRL selection, to Mitchell Woods, the Canterbury local considered one the best rugby league prospects in the country, the western Sydney rivals are banking on the fruits of their pathways systems.
The Eels reigned as SG Ball (under-19s) champions while the Harold Matthews Cup (under-17s) and Jersey Flegg (under-21s) titles went to the Bulldogs in 2023 as fierce NRL foes dominated the junior representative seasons.
But who has the best crop of up-and-coming talent to take the clubs into the future?
The Bulldogs also have high hopes for the crop of forwards like Harry Hayes and Lipoi Hopoi who impressed coach Cameron Ciraldo over the summer and were rewarded with selection in the trials.
“Harry is one to keep an eye on for sure, he’s unbelievably fit,” Bulldogs back-rower Jacob Preston said.
“Up there with the top in the squad. He can run for days. He’s up there with the fittest at the club. They are pushing the NRL boys to catch up to them fitness-wise.
“A lot of these young boys, it’s a credit to them, they brought a lot of intensity at training. They have stepped up to where they need to be.”
At the Eels, Talagi is on the cusp of an NRL debut, while Matt Arthur is viewed as the club’s future at hooker.
We ranked the top-19 rookies ready to take the Eels and Bulldogs into the future as the NRL rivals prepare to open their 2024 NRL campaigns on Saturday night.
18. Fanafou Seve
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Prop
Age: 18
Contract status: 2024
The powerhouse prop spent the latter part of 2023 playing above his weight in Jersey Flegg. Seve is a large body with great leg speed, who can break a defensive line with ease. He’s started 2024 in SG Ball but will feature in higher grades again this year.
16. Bailey Hayward
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Halfback
Age: 22
Contract status: 2025
Another of the club’s halves stocks, Hayward was the Bulldogs’ Jersey Flegg player of the year in 2022 and will be promoted into the top-30 in 2025. A Greenacre Tigers junior, Hayward is a traditional organising halfback but is showing promise at hooker.
15. Luke Smith
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Back row/Lock
Age: 19
Contract status: 2024
A standout in the fitness stakes, Smith impressed Ciraldo before the Christmas break as the youngster stayed on to train with the NRL side. Another of the club’s greater northern region finds, Smith has good hands and can run a good line to bust open defences.
14. Eli Clark
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Centre
Age: 21
Contract status: 2024
Athletic and strong, the centre is known to out-muscle opposition defences close to the line.
A product of the Bulldogs’ north coast academy, Clark made the most of his selection in the first trial, scoring a try untouched against Melbourne.
12. Lipoi Hopoi
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Prop/Backrow
Age: 20
Contract status: 2025
Canterbury have high hopes for Hopoi, who lead the charge for the Bulldogs in their 2023 Jersey Flegg title win alongside Jack Todd and can play at lock or on an edge. Hopoi has a big motor, is agile and routinely is a handful for opposition defences.
11. Harry Hayes
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Back row
Age: 21
Contract status: 2024
Hayes is a hardworking Back rower that has the potential to develop into a middle forward. The workhorse type player is edging closer to a debut, which could come later in the season. Hayes is also versatile and can cover in the outside backs.
9. Jack Todd
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Prop
Age: 21
Contract status: 2025
Hailing from Tamworth, Todd joined Canterbury almost five years ago and is rated one of the best forward prospects. A hard running prop that can bust tackles, Todd put in an impressive stint during the first trial and will be in the conversation for an NRL debut sooner rather than later.
6. Damon Marshall
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Lock
Age: 19
Contract status: 2025
Marshall isn’t the biggest body but his toughness and work ethic is unquestioned. What he lacks in size, Marshall makes up for with hard running and leg speed, and he’s also solid in defence. A Maroons under 19s representative, Marshall is earmarked as a future star but won’t be rushed into the NRL.
4. Mitchell Woods
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Halfback
Age: 17
Contract status: 2027
Woods has excelled at AFL, union and league. The halfback led the Harold Matthews side to a title in 2023. He’s locked in until 2027, after a tug of war with rival codes. Woods won’t make his debut in the next 12 months but his vision, killer step and ball playing make him one of top league prospects in the country.
3. Joash Papalii
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Fullback
Age: 19
Contract status: 2025
Papalii’s NRL debut is not a matter of if, but when. Skilful and quick off the mark, Papalii has excelled in a number of positions, especially at fullback. The Canterbury local junior also brings utility value and can play at five-eighth at hooker.
2. Joseph O’Neill
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Halfback
Age: 20
Contract status: 2024
One shot, in the first trial game, was enough for Canterbury fans to demand O’Neill’s acceleration into the NRL side. The rising no.7 is calm and composed with a well developed kicking game. He’ll spend the season in NSW Cup but has emerged as a genuine option for Cameron Ciraldo if his NRL halves plan fails to fire.
By Fatima Kdouh
Western Sydney foes Parramatta and Canterbury dominated junior reps in 2023, but who has the best rising talent? We rank the top 19 youngsters poised to the NRL rivals into the future.
From Blaize Talagi, a Parramatta junior on the cusp of NRL selection, to Mitchell Woods, the Canterbury local considered one the best rugby league prospects in the country, the western Sydney rivals are banking on the fruits of their pathways systems.
The Eels reigned as SG Ball (under-19s) champions while the Harold Matthews Cup (under-17s) and Jersey Flegg (under-21s) titles went to the Bulldogs in 2023 as fierce NRL foes dominated the junior representative seasons.
But who has the best crop of up-and-coming talent to take the clubs into the future?
The Bulldogs also have high hopes for the crop of forwards like Harry Hayes and Lipoi Hopoi who impressed coach Cameron Ciraldo over the summer and were rewarded with selection in the trials.
“Harry is one to keep an eye on for sure, he’s unbelievably fit,” Bulldogs back-rower Jacob Preston said.
“Up there with the top in the squad. He can run for days. He’s up there with the fittest at the club. They are pushing the NRL boys to catch up to them fitness-wise.
“A lot of these young boys, it’s a credit to them, they brought a lot of intensity at training. They have stepped up to where they need to be.”
At the Eels, Talagi is on the cusp of an NRL debut, while Matt Arthur is viewed as the club’s future at hooker.
We ranked the top-19 rookies ready to take the Eels and Bulldogs into the future as the NRL rivals prepare to open their 2024 NRL campaigns on Saturday night.
18. Fanafou Seve
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Prop
Age: 18
Contract status: 2024
The powerhouse prop spent the latter part of 2023 playing above his weight in Jersey Flegg. Seve is a large body with great leg speed, who can break a defensive line with ease. He’s started 2024 in SG Ball but will feature in higher grades again this year.
16. Bailey Hayward
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Halfback
Age: 22
Contract status: 2025
Another of the club’s halves stocks, Hayward was the Bulldogs’ Jersey Flegg player of the year in 2022 and will be promoted into the top-30 in 2025. A Greenacre Tigers junior, Hayward is a traditional organising halfback but is showing promise at hooker.
15. Luke Smith
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Back row/Lock
Age: 19
Contract status: 2024
A standout in the fitness stakes, Smith impressed Ciraldo before the Christmas break as the youngster stayed on to train with the NRL side. Another of the club’s greater northern region finds, Smith has good hands and can run a good line to bust open defences.
14. Eli Clark
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Centre
Age: 21
Contract status: 2024
Athletic and strong, the centre is known to out-muscle opposition defences close to the line.
A product of the Bulldogs’ north coast academy, Clark made the most of his selection in the first trial, scoring a try untouched against Melbourne.
12. Lipoi Hopoi
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Prop/Backrow
Age: 20
Contract status: 2025
Canterbury have high hopes for Hopoi, who lead the charge for the Bulldogs in their 2023 Jersey Flegg title win alongside Jack Todd and can play at lock or on an edge. Hopoi has a big motor, is agile and routinely is a handful for opposition defences.
11. Harry Hayes
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Back row
Age: 21
Contract status: 2024
Hayes is a hardworking Back rower that has the potential to develop into a middle forward. The workhorse type player is edging closer to a debut, which could come later in the season. Hayes is also versatile and can cover in the outside backs.
9. Jack Todd
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Prop
Age: 21
Contract status: 2025
Hailing from Tamworth, Todd joined Canterbury almost five years ago and is rated one of the best forward prospects. A hard running prop that can bust tackles, Todd put in an impressive stint during the first trial and will be in the conversation for an NRL debut sooner rather than later.
6. Damon Marshall
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Lock
Age: 19
Contract status: 2025
Marshall isn’t the biggest body but his toughness and work ethic is unquestioned. What he lacks in size, Marshall makes up for with hard running and leg speed, and he’s also solid in defence. A Maroons under 19s representative, Marshall is earmarked as a future star but won’t be rushed into the NRL.
4. Mitchell Woods
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Halfback
Age: 17
Contract status: 2027
Woods has excelled at AFL, union and league. The halfback led the Harold Matthews side to a title in 2023. He’s locked in until 2027, after a tug of war with rival codes. Woods won’t make his debut in the next 12 months but his vision, killer step and ball playing make him one of top league prospects in the country.
3. Joash Papalii
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Fullback
Age: 19
Contract status: 2025
Papalii’s NRL debut is not a matter of if, but when. Skilful and quick off the mark, Papalii has excelled in a number of positions, especially at fullback. The Canterbury local junior also brings utility value and can play at five-eighth at hooker.
2. Joseph O’Neill
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: Halfback
Age: 20
Contract status: 2024
One shot, in the first trial game, was enough for Canterbury fans to demand O’Neill’s acceleration into the NRL side. The rising no.7 is calm and composed with a well developed kicking game. He’ll spend the season in NSW Cup but has emerged as a genuine option for Cameron Ciraldo if his NRL halves plan fails to fire.
