SG Ball Cup (under-19) /

The SG Ball Cup (under-19) is a short-form elite age group competition run by the New South Wales Rugby League which provides another key step up the development ladder with the prospect of advancing to the full-season format in the Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) and beyond.

Like the Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) and the Flegg competition, the SG Ball - run from February-April - has a storied history of creating countless top-class footballers at the highest levels in the Test, State of Origin and NRL arenas.

The One New Zealand Warriors made an instant impact in their debut in the competition in 2020 (then run on an under-18 basis) when they picked up four big wins against two losses to sit tied for second just a point off the lead when the Covid pandemic ended the season.

Players in the squad included Ali Leiataua, Zyon Maiu’u, Viliami Vailea and Taniela Otukolo who went on to make their NRL debuts for the Warriors while Josiah Karapani broke into the Brisbane NRL side in 2024.

After emerging from the Covid era, the One New Zealand Warriors re-entered the SG Ball (now an under-19 competition) in 2023 and again impressed in the opening rounds with four straight wins but then struck some challenges to miss out on the playoffs. Included in the playing group were second rowers Jacob Laban and Leka Halasima, who both rose quickly through the ranks to make their NRL debuts in 2024.

In 2024, the SG Ball side was one of a record five teams the One New Zealand Warriors fielded across a full spectrum of competitions for the first time. Of the 28 players used in the nine rounds, a total of 22 went on to play up a grade in the Jersey Flegg (under-21) with six of them also appearing in the New South Wales Cup.

SG Ball Cup coaches have been Greg Boulous (2020), Adam Blair (2023) and Grant Pocklington (2024).

SG Ball Cup performances:
2020 | 3rd (season cancelled after six rounds due to Covid pandemic)
2023 | 9th (didn't qualify for finals).
2024 | 12th (didn't qualify for finals).

The SG Ball Cup, like the Harold Matthews Cup below it and the Jersey Flegg Cup above it, plays a vital role in developing players chasing their dreams of becoming professional footballers. For the Warriors, the grade is centred on an intensified training regimen with a focus on tactical understanding and physical conditioning.

By embracing the club’s central themes and pursuing its strategic targets, the One New Zealand Warriors' pathways programme aims to not only develop elite rugby league players but to also contribute positively to the community and the cultural fabric of New Zealand.