They come from as far afield as Balcutha in the deep south, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Hamilton, Huntly, Newcastle in Australia and naturally Auckland, all brought together with rugby league in common.
These are the young players chasing the NRL dream, footballers who have the chance of achieving grand final glory when they line up for the One New Zealand Warriors against the Western Suburbs Magpies in the Harold Matthews Cup under-17 grand final at CommBank in Sydney on Saturday.
This is the first season the Warriors have had five teams in their stable stepping through under-17, under-19, under-21 and reserve grade levels to the NRL.
Never before has the club had a Harold Matthews side and now it’s in the grand final.
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP |
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Grand Final Squad |
| Fullback Joseph Ratcliffe Born, May 24, 2007 Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Palmerston North |
| Wing Ezekiel Davidson Faaiuaso Born: September 29, 2007 St Paul’s College, Auckland |
| Centre Jeremiah Lemana Born: July 31, 2008 Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland |
| Centre Turama Paranihi Born: January 15, 2007 Nga Taiatea Wharekura, Hamilton |
| Wing Kairus Booth Born: January 20, 2007 South Otago High School, Balclutha |
| Standoff Tyson Hansen Born: May 5, 2008 Rotorua Boys’ High School, Rotorua |
| Halfback Jack Thompson Born: January 6, 2006 All Saints College, Maitland, NSW |
| Prop Hudsyn Frost Born: September 18, 2007 De La Salle College, Auckland |
| Hooker Kaawyn Patterson (c) Born: April 25, 2007 Westlake Boys’ High School, Auckland |
| Prop Gordon Afoa Born: May 24, 2007 St Paul’s College, Auckland |
| Second row Dezman Laban Born: June 29, 2007 St Bernard’s College, Wellington & Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland |
| Second row Militoni Sikuvea Born: June 18, 2007 St Peter’s College, Auckland |
| Loose forward Lennox Tuiloma Born: July 6, 2007 St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch |
| Interchange |
| Boston Krone (c) Born: March 4, 2007 Auckland Grammar School, Auckland |
| Romana Whitiora Born: August 18, 2007 Te Wharekura o Rakaumanga, Huntly & St Paul’s College, Aucklan |
| Houma Fotu Born: February 22, 2007 Wesley College, Pukekohe |
| Isaiah Savea Born: September 15, 2007 St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch |
| Deshontayne Te Wao Born: January 21, 2007 Botany Downs Secondary College, Auckland |
| Timau Utiaro Born: March 28, 2007 St John’s College, Hamilton |
| Siale Pahulu Born: July 23, 2007 Saint Kentigern College, Auckland |
Road to the Grand Final |
| v Parramatta | Lost 6-34 v Roosters | Lost 18-28 v South Sydney | Won 22-17 v Balmain | Won 16-4 v Illawarra | Won 26-16 v Canberra | Won 26-10 v Cronulla Sutherland | Lost 10-40 v St George | Won 46-10 Finals: V Parramatta | Won 30-20 V Canterbury Bankstown | Won 12-10 |
