
Premiership-winning head coach TJ Ashford has only a few players with Harold Matthews Cup experience to call on for the One New Zealand Warriors’ defence of the under-17 competition title this year.
When the club’s 2025 Harold Matthews Cup and SG Ball Cup squads were officially unveiled in Auckland on Tuesday night, the under-17 roster included just five players who had game time during the Warriors’ historic campaign last year.
Of those centre Jeremiah Lemana (Kelston Boys’ High School) and standoff Tyson Hansen (Rotorua Boys’ High School – Raukura) are the only survivors from the line-up used in the grand final win over the Western Suburbs Magpies.
Then only 15, Lemana featured in 10 of the team’s 11 games while Hansen, who turned 16 during the competition, made six appearances.
St Paul’s College’s Justice Pua, Dreytin Marriott, from Te Kōpuku High School in Hamilton, and Ashton Ulaula-Ieremia (Mount Albert Grammar School) made one appearance each while Ronan Byford (Trident High School, Whakatāne) was the unused 18th man once.
Another five players return after being in the wider squad last year without making it onto the field.
Of that group one is the highly promising Bishop Neal, ruled out of last year’s campaign by injury. Still only 16, the imposing second rower was named the overall MVP after helping St Thomas of Canterbury College retain the title at the national secondary schools’ tournament in September.
Neal is one four players in the squad out of St Thomas of Canterbury College while Kelston Boys’ High School provides 10. The 44 players come from a total of 22 schools and kura throughout the country.
The One New Zealand Warriors launch their 2025 Harold Matthews season with back-to-back away games against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (February 2) and the Penrith Panthers (February 9) followed by a bye before their first home match against the Illawarra Steelers at North Harbour Stadium on February 23.
School distribution:
10 | Kelston Boys’ High School (Auckland)
4 | St Thomas of Canterbury College (Christchurch)
3 | Mount Albert Grammar School (Auckland), Rotorua Boys’ High School (Rotorua), St Paul’s College (Auckland)
2 | Manurewa High School (Auckland), Sacred Heart College (Auckland), Saint Kentigern College (Auckland), De La Salle College (Auckland)
1 | Christchurch Boys’ High School (Christchurch), Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o te Māori Whānau Tahi (Christchurch), St Peter’s School (Cambridge), Te Kōpuku High School (Hamilton), Te Kura Whakapūmau i te Reo Tūturu ki Waitaha (Christchurch), St Bernard’s College (Lower Hutt), Tuakau College (Tuakau), Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate (Auckland), Tauranga Boys’ College (Tauranga), Hamilton Boys’ High School (Hamilton), Trident High School (Whakatāne), St Peter’s College (Auckland), Aorere College (Auckland)
2025 Harold Matthews Cup squad
Agelu Malaesilia (Manurewa High School, Auckland)
Alapati Tusa Soagia (St Peter's School, Cambridge)
Alexander (Justice) Pua (St Paul's College, Auckland)
Amasio Tiatia (Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o te Māori Whānau Tahi, Christchurch)
Ammon Lilomaiava (Sacred Heart College, Auckland)
Ashton-Rex Ulaula-Ieremia (Mount Albert Grammar School, Auckland)
Blake Bruce (Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland)
Bishop Neal (St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch)
Calieb Fidow (St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch)
Christiano Elia (St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch)
CJ Henry-Poutoa (Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland)
D'Angelo Mikaele (Saint Kentigern College, Auckland)
Dougal Grant (Christchurch Boys’ High School, Christchurch)
Dreytin Marriott (Te Kōpuku High School, Hamilton)
Harlym McCabe (Rotorua Boys’ High School – Raukura, Rotorua)
Hinckley Ioka (Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland)
Hoani-Manuera Kahukiwa (Te Kura Whakapūmau i te Reo Tūturu ki Waitaha, Christchurch)
Hanita Takulua (Mount Albert Grammar School, Auckland)
Jacksyn Hill (Rotorua Boys High School – Raukura, Rotorua)
Jeremiah Faanu Lemana (Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland)
Kaian Olsen (Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland)
Kava Moa (De La Salle College, Auckland)
Kayce Perese-Sukroo (St Bernard’s College, Lower Hutt)
Kenny Lafituanai ((St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch)
Krushil Koteka (Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, Auckland)
Liam De Har Elliott (Hamilton Boys’ High School, Hamilton)
Lucian Mikaele (Saint Kentigern College, Auckland)
Luke Lemalu (Mount Albert Grammar School, Auckland)
Maddax Bernard (Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland)
Makisi Paea (Aorere College, Auckland)
Nathandavid Tapusoa (Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland)
Nela Kali (St Paul's College, Auckland)
Parekaahu Keepa (Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland)
Rhayn Taikato (Tauranga Boys’ College, Tauranga)
Ronan Byford (Trident High School, Whakatāne; Mount Albert Grammar School, Auckland)
Satali Jnr Asolelei-Fretton (Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland)
Shannon Pai (St Peter’s College, Auckland)
Soane Ma'asi (Sacred Heart College, Auckland)
Tane Keereweer-Taia (St Paul’s College, Auckland)
Tipene Thompson-Hona (Tuakau College, Tuakau)
Tupouniua Otutaha (Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland)
Tusi Liam Fanolua (De La Salle College, Auckland)
Tyson Hansen (Rotorua Boys’ High School – Raukura, Rotorua)
Victor Kenese (Manurewa High School, Auckland)
Staff
Head coach | TJ Ashford
Assistant coach | Paul Clarke
Assistant Coach | Tony Iro
Team manager | Moli Otukolo