A 72nd-minute Zac Lomax field goal and a late Sebastian Kris try has proved the difference in a thrilling under-18s Origin match, NSW under-18s winning 35-28 against Queensland.
After claiming a 26-0 victory in the corresponding clash against Queensland last year, Brad Fittler’s under-18s were determined to continue their winning ways – and they did on the back of some inspirational play from their captain Payne Haas and a hat-trick to halfback Luke Metcalf… in addition to a couple of clutch plays.
With the scores tied 28-all late in the match, Lomax stepped up to kick the decisive field goal, before a final-minute try off a beautiful ball from Haas and a sideline conversion from Lomax sealed the result. NSW got off to an ideal start in the match, scoring after seven minutes through Metcalf. On the back of a left-to-right shift, the ball found the Cronulla Sharks half, who breezed and bobbed his way past the Queensland defence to go over the line on his hands and knees.
NSW winger Kris extended the young Blues’ lead just six minutes later, the recipient of a beautiful cut-out ball from five-eighth Jaeman Salmon. Lomax’s touchline conversion stretched the NSW lead to 10. Queensland, however, soon ate into the Blues’ the lead, with a left-side break resulting in a try to Treymain Spry.
The Maroons’ conversion took the score to 10-6. A determined run from Queensland centre Ronaldo Mulitalo just a couple of minutes tied things up, with the kick between the posts giving the game a new leader – and a huge shift in momentum.
Just before half-time the Maroons’ other centre Murray Tauilagi crossed, benefiting from a short-side raid close to the Blues’ line to take the half-time score to 16-10. NSW had the best possible start to the second half, with Metcalf collecting the ball off a last-play option from Queensland inside his own half to streak downfield to score an uncontested try to tie the game at 16-all. Soon after it was Metcalf again – crossing for his third of the evening – following a right-edge break to give the Blues a 22-16 lead.
NSW extended their lead soon after, through a slick movement that ended in the hands Ethan Parry – after a sublime pass from Zac Lomax. The conversion took the score to 28-16, and it looked like the match was sealed. Queensland, however, weren’t going to roll over, and a jinking run from five-eighth Cory Paix carved through the Blues, to put front-rower Logan Bayliss-Brow over unopposed. Fellow front-rower Eddie Blacker scored eight minutes later to tie the game at 28. Fittler’s men, however, weren’t worried. Lomax, Haas, man-of-the-match Metcalf and co got the job done. Congratulations to the NSW Under-18s – 2017 champions!
http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2017/06/21/nsw_under_18s_trumph.html
The NSW Under-18s side is as follows:
1. John Fonua (Parramatta Eels)
2. Sebastian Kris (Canberra Raiders)
17. Teig Wilton (Cronulla Sharks)
4. Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra Dragons)
5. Ethan Parry (Parramatta Eels)
6. Jaeman Salmon (Cronulla Sharks)
7. Luke Metcalf (Cronulla Sharks)
8. Oregon Kaufusi (Parramatta Eels)
9. Kyle Schneider (Parramatta Eels)
10. Payne Haas (c) (Brisbane Broncos)
11. Filia Utoikamanu (Parramatta Eels)
15. Alex Seyfarth (Balmain Tigers)
13. Lindsay Smith (Penrith Panthers)
3. Noel Aukafolau (Parramatta Eels)
12. Joshua Curran (Sydney Roosters)
14. Jake Hazard (Sydney Roosters)
16. Duwayne Fuimaono (Sydney Roosters)
Replies
Was this rigged too or are the rating too small to matter for Game 3 ?
Not sure what you mean Jay; but wasn't first game the 20's?
Pops and Wille, Schneider has a lot of wraps on him, you will often see the names of Mahoney and one other mentioned in the eels sides, each given big wraps by those who get to the various matches.
There are some very promising young players coming through the eels lower ranks and hopefully we will see them coming into the top sides soon, if given the chance.
While only a personal thought/feeling I believe that there could be a reasonable number of them lifted to the Wenty side next year, as we have around 18 players off contract end of this year, I can see at least 11 let go, some of the others have been in the squad for some time an may also be let go as they really have provided the pressure or whatever to get into the NRL even with the injuries we have had.
Too late now but I saw Twal as a player given another 2 years. or even one year extension could have developed along with some others from the NYC to create a future path, with at least 7 of the better Wenty players staying on to help the young ones. Many will see that a lot different to me though.
Noel is the younger brother.