One win away from securing the 2024 Harold Matthews Cup title, the Western Suburbs Magpies will look to go one better this season as they enter the 2025 season.
As the 2025 Harold Matthews Cup season slowly approaches the opening round, Zero Tackle will provide a season preview for all 17 teams made up of players of the next generation.
First...the Western Suburbs Magpies.
One win away from securing the 2024 Harold Matthews Cup title, the Western Suburbs Magpies will look to go one better this season after being defeated by the New Zealand Warriors.
The Magpies enter the competition with a new-looking roster consisting of five players from last year's squad and players from the Andrew Johns Cup competition.
While they have lost the likes of Alex Isdale, Heamasi Makasini, and Onitoni Large, among others, a new bunch of talented kids have arrived and will take centre stage for the Magpies.
"Unfortunately, we fell short of the last season, but we're ready to go again," Magpies head coach Stephen Isdale told Zero Tackle.
"I've got a good crop of kids that have come through the Andrew Johns Cup system so they're hungry and I think a year under their belt of a junior rep season helps them.
"The goal is to obviously go one further but make sure they're all developing and moving along the food chain in the development side of things.
Jhevon Lele: Leading the team in the halves, Lele enters his second season of the competition after sitting behind Onitoni Large and Alex Isdale in the halves last season. Coach Stephen Isdale said, "Jhevon's matured a fair bit in the pre-season and he's looking forward to the challenge of leading the boys around the park."
Siotame Havea Jr: The captain of the squad, Havea enters his second season of the Harold Matthew Cup and will be the go-to guy in the middle of the field. Following a strong pre-season, he will be handed the No.13 jumper after spending last season off the interchange bench.
Gains: AJ Epati, Daniel Lafolafo, Drake Ayers, Elijah Sefo, Jaziyah Taiatu, Kingston Finau, Ronel Ribucan, Sebastian Taylor, Tyler Peken, Will Finianos, Zephaniah Finau
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Losses: Alex Isdale (Sharks), Boston Lauvou, Brooklyn Milford, Henare Reti, James Bengura, Jayden Innes, Jordan Vandermade, Leviticus Tovia, Lorima Cosgrave, Maddax Fui, Malcolm Mailo, Mase Hillcoat, Onitoni Large (Sea Eagles), Peter Taai, PJ French, Stirling Faumui, Teancum Epati, Tomasi Tavui, Tyler Volcov, Tyson Walker
1. Thomas Goodfield
2. Joshua Vella
3. Elijah Sefo
4. Kingston Finau
5. Mawin Tema Soa'ai
6. Jhevon Lele
7. Curtis Lakeman
8. Jake Gaffney
9. Brock Achurch
10. Jaziyah Taitau
11. Andrew Sio
12. Ashton Chan Sau
13. Siotame Havea Jr (c)
Interchange
14. Daniel Lafolafo
15. Markus Fonua
16. Kye Penfold
17. Ruben Toga
Rest of Squad
18. Ronel Ribucan
19. Zephaniah Finau
20. William Finianos
21. Tyler Peken
22. Sebastian Taylor
23. James Lanyon
24. AJ Epati
25. Jordan Truckle
26. Siosefa Spears
27. Cooper Williams
After making the Grand Final last season, the same coaching staff will return, with Stephen Isdale being named head coach and Alec Bush and Steven Butler working under him as his assistants.
"Alec controls the defence, and he's still playing the game down in the Wollongong competition, so he's experienced, and defensively, he's really tied the middle down with the boys and really worked hard with them," Isdale said.
"Steven comes from an OzTag background, and he owns the Catch-Pro Bands, so he sort of controls our ball skills drills, and he's got a wealth of knowledge through that OzTag arena."