Here is a good preview i found on the web:
http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=25202
HAROLD MATTHEWS AND SG BALL GRAND FINALS
by Matthew O'Neill
Tomorrow (Saturday) will see the stars of the future do battle when Harold Matthews (U/16) and SG Ball (U/18) Grand Finals take place at the Western Weekender Stadium in St Marys with Penrith, Canterbury-Bankstown and South Sydney the three clubs involved.
Penrith's strength in the junior grades has again shone out this year with the Panthers fielding sides in both the Harold Matthews and SG Ball competitions. Canterbury officials made the prediction at the start of the season that their Harold Matthews side was the best the club has ever fielded with 11 players awarded Bulldogs scholarships. South Sydney has had a miserable season at the elite level but their SG Ball side provides hope for the future and with Peter Holmes a Court and Russell Crowe turning the club into a professional outfit the young cubs will at least have the right environment and development procedures in place.
The Harold Matthews Grand Final between Penrith and Canterbury-Bankstown comes as no surprise as both clubs have easily dominated the competition this season and have risen to the top. Penrith will head into the match as favourites with their 50-6 demolition job of Manly last week as the most impressive performance and have the form, fitness and momentum on their side.
The Bulldogs have been undefeated this year but their form in recent weeks has been on the slide with injuries to key players setting into the ranks. They've had an outstanding season and the pleasing aspect is that virtually all the side come from the improving and under-rated Canterbury-Bankstown Junior League competition. The Junior League at Canterbury-Bankstown run an extremely professional setup with a great emphasis placed on teams competing in the Grade competition and allowing the cream an opportunity to rise to the top.
Penrith have only lost one game all season losing 20-10 against semi-finalists Illawarra in Round 6. Last year's Under 15's competition despite only featuring six sides in First Division was the strongest and most competitive amongst the ages in Penrith. This year the Under 16's is by far the most competitive of the 1st Division competitions where the Grand Final prediction is too hard to pick from. This is reflective in the performances of Penrith this year and the talent available to the Panthers. Anyone out of St Marys, St Clair, Blacktown City, Windsor, Colyton and Brothers can make the Grand Final this year in the Under 16's with my heart saying that St Clair will be one of the two sides that will make the 1st Division Grand Final this year. Henry Lawson is the 7th side in 1st Division this year have proven to be competitive this year after making the big jump up from 2nd Division. Minchinbury, West City and Doonside are proving that there's also strength in the 2nd Division and if St Clair(2) get promoted, there's four good sides on the edge that are providing talent for the future with Minchinbury starting to hit some very good form and looking the goods with a good side and coaching setup behind them. With the standard of competition strong and with St Clair and St Marys extremely strong in the Under 17's this year, they'll start the SG Ball as odds-on favourites for next year.
Despite coming into the game as warm favourites, Penrith coach Alex Melville is well aware of the Bulldogs talent and said, "They are the Minor Premiers and the only undefeated team in the Harold Matts competition. They are very well coached. Five-eighth Brad Murray has all the skills of a future International and second rower Martin Taupau has an uncanny Sonny Bill-like offloading ability. All things being equal, a number of their players could easily progress to NRL ranks over the coming seasons.
"We'll prepare well this week and control the things that we can control."
Both Melville and Bulldogs Harold Matthews coach Nal Wijesekera have done a great as well as all their assistant coaches, trainers and team managers.
Penrith also feature in SG Ball Grand Final against South Sydney with both sides only losing one game each this season. The Panthers lost 40-22 against Souths in the opening round whilst the Rabbitohs had a 52-12 hiding at the hands of 3rd placed Parramatta in Round 5. Penrith finished as Minor Premiers with a superior for and against difference over Souths.
The Panthers had a gripping 26-18 victory against junior arch-rivals Parramatta where the game was delayed several times due to injuries. There was one very serious injury to a Penrith player with no news as yet on how he is recovering where the conclusion of the match was forced onto the warm up field last week. Players who stood out for the Panthers last week included Tim Grant, Michael Jennings, Joseph Paulo and Lancen Joudo.
South Sydney has endured a miserable NRL season where bets are already been taken on whether they'll win a game or not this year. The Rabbitohs Premier League and Jersey Flegg sides aren't doing much better. However, the efforts of their SG Ball are giving them some hope for the future and with Mark Hughes involved in the recruitment and development of junior players, they have a sound base for the future. Souths demolished the Bulldogs 50-12 last week with halves Edmond Paea and Trent Trotter outstanding whilst forward Sam Huihahai caused the Bulldogs all sorts of problems.
It'll be a tight match where the result can go either way. How Penrith recover from such a bruising encounter against Parramatta last week will be the key and Souths can't get ahead of themselves after their performances against a Bulldogs side that massively over-achieved.
Both Grand Finals will be played at the Western Weekender Stadium, which is located on the corner of Forrester and Boronia Road's, North St Marys, next to St Marys Leagues Club. For anyone interested in catching a train to the ground, get off at St Marys Station and it's a 1.6km walk directly north up Forrester Rd.
In picking a winner for both Grand Finals. I'm predicting that will Penrith get up in the SG Ball and I believe they'll benefit from playing such a tough match against Parramatta last week in what was virtually a Grand Final. Souths have done exceptionally well to get this far but Penrith when it comes to Junior football are big match performers and have a winning culture.
The Harold Matthews is harder to pick as I have a genuine interest in both sides. My heart is firmly with the Bulldogs and I'm very impressed with how their Junior League is operated since being given an opportunity to coach at Grade level in Canterbury-Bankstown and the change in districts has been an awesome experience and something I have enjoyed immensely. The Canterbury-Bankstown Junior League is run very professionally and there's a great emphasis placed on the players performing at Grade level, which enhances the development of players. The club I'm at is very friendly, honest and professional in what they do.
I've been involved with the current Under 16's age group for the last three years in Penrith where I was fortunate enough to coach a lower division side to Premiership success. I also have plenty of respect for the Penrith Harold Matthews coach and assistant coach and I know a couple of the players. It's going to be a very tough match between two outstanding and well-coached sides. My heart says Canterbury and my head says Penrith.
HAROLD MATTHEWS GRAND FINAL
Penrith Panthers vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Venue: Western Weekender Stadium
Kick Off: 12:00pm
Penrith: 1. Lachlan Coote, 2. Matthew Wright, 3. Stirling Siejka, 4. Gavin Taylor, 5. Danny Schneider, 6. Sam Jones, 7. Wade Graham (c), 8. John Feiloakitau, 9. Shane Smith, 10. Evrett Vaurasi, 11. Ben Takaiwai, 12. Greg Waddell, 13. Mokena Cherrington. Subs: 14. Dave Farkas, 15. Alan Tuiala, 16. Andrew Pritchard, 17. Lota Fiiaalo, 18. Grant Leslie, 19. John Sialafau, 20. Kilifi Tia Kilifi, 21. Grant Leslie, 22. Daly Thompson 23. Sam Nanai 24. John Sialafau 25. Jordan Tagaloa (five to be omitted). Coach: Alex Meville.
Canterbury-Bankstown: 1. Fine Moeakiola, 2. Alex Seini-Edward, 3. Joseph Sooalo (c), 4. Pao Pele, 5. Aaron Janda, 6. Bradley Murray, 7. Neenan Simpson, 8. Watson Namoa, 9. Alex Engelen, 10. Sami Ghoneim, 11. Peter Tuiafiso, 12. Martin Taupau, 13. Salamo Seitula. Subs: 14. James Cotsonis, 15. Andrew Barakat, 16. Jared Riley, 17. Joseph Mourad, 18. Joshua Clay, 19. Beau Bovis, 20. Jay Collinson, 21. Kerod Andrensek, 22. Lance Whittnall, 23. Albert Boaza (three to be omitted). Coach: Nal Wijesekera.
Prediction: Penrith by 8
SG BALL GRAND FINAL
Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
Venue: Western Weekender Stadium
Kick Off: 2:00pm
Penrith: 1. Zoram Watene, 2. Josh Drollet, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Willie Isa, 5. Junior Tia Kilifi, 6. Joseph Paulo, 7. Dean Springfield, 8. Tim Grant (c), 9. Lancen Joudo, 10. Mitchell Cahalane, 11. Jamie Theoharous, 12. Brad Goodwin, 13. Michael Leeds. Subs: 14. Ross Tusa, 15. David Dickinson, 16. Shane Blackett, 17. Chevvy Penehoe, 18. Luke Vella 19. Velu Nuumaalii, 20. Guy Hodgins, 21. Masada Iosefa, 22. Jarod Canon, 23. Eroni Tara, 24. Siosia Vave, 25. Ollie Tia Tia, 26. Matt Wade (six to be omitted). Coach: Bill Dowers.
South Sydney: 1. Jamie Ingram, 2. Sam Huihahau, 3. Anga Moli, 4. Ray Tafokitau, 5. Cameron Pitman, 6. Edmond Paea (c), 7. Trent Trotter, 8. Edward Pettybourne, 9. Brock Molan, 10. Sione Tovo, 11. Fonua Leao, 12. Andrew Powell, 13. Jason Clark. Subs: 14. Arthur Scott, 15. John Joseph, 16. Luke McGaughey, 17. Petros Thanos, 18. Joseph Matapuku, 19. Chris Toplis, 20. Wesley Manuta, 21. Abdulla El-Zbaidieh (one to be omitted). Coach: John Amatto.
Prediction: Penrith by 4
