Junior Reps Results: Round 1

The Panthers were chased down by the Sharks in a 26-18 season-opening defeat.

The Panthers found themselves on the attack from the outset, and took the early opportunity with both hands.

The Panthers staged a perfect backline play, as fullback Jack Attard found winger Harry Wald with a cut-out pass to open the scoring.

Halfback Cooper Black cut through Cronulla’s defence with a show-and-go in his own half, before putting a chip-and-chase over the Sharks fullback. He came close to completing a stunning try, but a poor bounce forced him to settle for a dropout.

Sustained pressure eventually paid off for the Panthers, as prop Hokafonu Lemoto crashed over and muscled his way to the try line. Jack Attard’s conversion made it a 10-0 lead after 18 minutes.

A kick-off error put the Panthers straight back on the attack, and they continued to convert chances into points.

Hunter Bell scored the Panthers third try, skipping through the Sharks defence with speed and skill on the left edge.

Harry Wald appeared to have scored a spectacular second try when he soared onto Jhett Sydir’s kick out wide, but a cruel knock-on ruling denied him.

It proved a big moment for the Sharks, who moved the ball upfield and scored an important try for a flattering 14-6 scoreline at the break.

The Sharks took another bite out of the Panthers lead early in the second half, their second try narrowing the margin to two points.

Just as the Sharks returned to attacking territory and set their sights on the lead, Panthers centre Tua Patea took a crucial intercept and sprinted 90 metres to the try line.

However the visitors bounced back again, scoring another two tries to hit a 24-18 with 10 minutes remaining.

The Panthers pushed for late points to snatch a result, but it was not to be as a penalty goal sealed the deal for Cronulla.

FULL-TIME: Panthers 18 (Tries: Harry Wald, Hokafonu Lemoto, Hunter Bell, Tua Patea; Goal: Jack Attard) defeated by Sharks 26.

Harold Matthews Cup

A positive start was not enough for the Panthers as they suffered a 30-16 loss to the Sharks in Round 1.

The Panthers got off to a flying start, forcing an error from the kick-off and scoring with their first possession.

Cruz Death darted out of dummy half on the last tackle of a perfectly executed attacking set, and punished the Sharks defence with the opening try. Halfback Owen Knowles added the conversion for an early 6-0 lead.

After completing their first defensive assignment of the day, the Panthers went back on the attack and scored their second.

The crafty Cruz Death delivered out of dummy half again, as his pinpoint service sent prop Talmage Brown over the stripe. Another Knowles conversion made it a 12-point lead in as many minutes.

The Sharks recovered from their slow start, finishing the first half strongly with back-to-back tries to level the scores at halftime.

Picking up where they left off, the Sharks returned from half-time with enthusiasm. The visitors capitalised on some sluggish Panthers play, bagging another pair of tries to hit a 24-12 lead.

Leo-Stipe Latu took matters into his own hands to keep the Panthers in the contest, surging through six defenders and scoring a powerful try.

However, the Sharks eventually put the game to bed with a fortunate try in the latter stages.

FULL-TIME: Panthers 16 (Tries: Cruz Death, Talmage Brown, Leo-Stipe Latu; Goals: Owen Knowles (2)) defeated by Sharks 30.

Tarsha Gale Cup

The Panthers defied the odds in an unlikely 18-10 comeback victory over Cronulla in Round 1.

Madison Wilson was the difference with a heroic hat-trick in the final 15 minutes, after a trailing Panthers side seemed down and out for much of the second half.

Cronulla dominated and led for much of the second half, before Wilson’s three late tries snatched an unlikely win.

After a cagey start to the match, the Panthers right edge rolled up the sleeves to put their team on the front foot.

When the Sharks made a threatening line break out wide, Panthers centre Samantha Hanrahan crunched Cronulla’s runaway winger over the sideline.

The Panthers took possession, and some crafty second-phase play and ball movement paved the way for second-rower Jennifer Tuilagi to storm to the try line.

The Sharks responded shortly before half-time, locking up the scores at 4-4.

The Panthers had their backs to the wall for much of the second half, with momentum favouring Cronulla comfortably.

Shortly after the break, the Sharks took a 10-4 lead through fullback Kirrawahn Duckett.

The visitors were well placed to finish the job, dominating possession and field position for extended periods.

That was, until Panthers winger Madison Wilson tipped the game on its head.

The Panthers took full advantage of a rare attacking opportunity with 15 minutes to play by spreading the ball wide, where Wilson touched down and reduced the deficit to two points.

After conceding possession from the kick-off, the Panthers were forced to soak up more Sharks pressure.

From a scrum inside their own red zone, the Panthers boldly shifted the ball to the wing. Wilson took possession, burst outside her opposite number, and dashed 90 metres untouched to snatch the lead.

The Panthers had work to do with 10 minutes remaining, but kept their composure and held Cronulla at arm’s length.

In the final play of the day, the Panthers put the icing on the cake. Fittingly, Madison Wilson completed her hat-trick to seal an outstanding comeback win for the Panthers.

FULL-TIME: Panthers 18 (Tries: Madison Wilson (3), Jennifer Tuilagi; Goal: Chloe Pallisier) defeated Sharks 10.

Lisa Fiaola Cup

The Panthers kicked off the 2025 season in tremendous style, dominating the Sharks in a 26-10 triumph.

A physical performance saw the Panthers come away with a six-tries-to-two victory, with Tia-Jane Golding, Anita Ropati and Kayla Horvat standing out.

The Panthers showed their class early on, as an outstanding cut-out pass by captain Tia-Jane Golding sent winger Kiah Taotofi over for the opening try.

Momentum turned in Cronulla’s favour, but the Panthers impressive last-ditch defence kept the visitors at bay.

Kayla Horvat, Betsey Fifita and Isabella Ferguson led the Panthers out of danger and back up the field, where Kyla Pasene showed her strength to score a big try. Isabella Ferguson added the conversion to put the Panthers ahead 10-0 22 minutes.

The Panthers found themselves back on the attack within minutes, and landed another blow on the stroke of halftime.

Tia-Jane Golding placed a clever kick over the top of the Sharks compressed defensive line, and Violet Hiku pounced to hand the Panthers a 14-0 half-time lead.

The Panthers hit the ground running in the second half, with Anita Ropati scoring a quickfire double to open the floodgates.

The boom centre slammed the ball down from a backline play in the first minute of the half, before scoring the try of the day moments later.

Shifting the football left from a midfield scrum, five-eighth Patricia Heihei unleashed Ropati with a great short pass. Ropati exploded into the backfield and dashed away to make it 22-0.

As the second half unfolded, the Panthers flexed their defensive muscles. The Sharks were shut down by the Panthers physicality on several occasions, with big tackles from Vasaliva Feleti, Violet Hiku and Kyla Pasene.

Cronulla eventually pulled one back through Tahli Weigand, but the Panthers were already out of reach.

Vasaliva Feleti put an exclamation point on the impressive outing, bulldozing through the defence for a barnstorming sixth Panthers try.

Although the Sharks snagged a late consolation try, a crunching tackle by Violet Hiku in the closing stages brought the crowd to its feet and typified a dominant Panthers display.

FULL-TIME: Panthers 26 (Tries: Anita Ropati (2), Kiah Taotofi, Kyla Pasene, Violet Hiku, Vasaliva Feleti; Goal: Isabella Ferguson) defeated Sharks 10.