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Fullback and stand-in captain Jeremiah Lemana was the only survivors from last year’s premiership-winning side who lined up for the One New Zealand Warriors again in their Harold Matthew Cup (under-17) grand final win over Newcastle at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney today.

Captain Tyson Hansen, the only other survivor, was cruelly ruled out of a second grand final appearance with injury.

Winger Junior Pua and hooker Dreytin Marriott were the only other players in the lineup who had game time last year with one appearance each.

Three of the premiership-winning interchange players are still only 15 – Asolelei Fretton, Kenny Lafituanai and Hanita Takulua – while back rower Tusi Fanolua, also on the interchange, turned 16 in February.

Ten of the 21-man squad are from schools outside Auckland including four from St Thomas of Canterbury College and one from Christchurch Boys’ High School.


Harold Matthews Cup

Grand final squad

1 | Fullback
Jeremiah Lemana (16)
Born: July 31, 2008
Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland
2 | Wing
Justice Pua (17)
Born: January 24, 2008
St Paul's College, Auckland
3 | Centre
Parekaahu Keepa (17)
Born: April 9, 2008
Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland
4 | Centre
Soane Ma’asi (16)
Born: May 25, 2008
Sacred Heart College, Auckland
5 | Wing
Hinckley Ioka (16)
Born: September 16, 2008
(Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland)
6 | Standoff
Tyson Hansen (16) captain
Born: May 5, 2008
Rotorua Boys’ High School, Rotorua
7 | Halfback
Alapati Soagia (17)
Born: February 9, 2008
St Peter's School, Cambridge
8 | Prop
Lucian Mikaele (16)
Born: July 11, 2008
Saint Kentigern College, Auckland
9 | Hooker
Dreytin Marriott (17)
Born: March 21, 2008
Te Kōpuku High School, Hamilton
10 | Prop
Krushil Koteka (16)
Born: August 13, 2008
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, Auckland
11 | Second row
Dougal Grant (16)
Born: May 12, 2008
Christchurch Boys’ High School, Christchurch
12 | Second row
Bishop Neal (16)
Born: May 10, 2008
St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch
13 | Loose forward
Ronan Byford (17)
Born: February 22, 2008
Trident High School, Whakatāne; Mount Albert Grammar School, Auckland
14 | Interchange
Tusi Fanolua (16)
Born: February 2, 2009
De La Salle College, Auckland
15 | Interchange
Asolelei Fretton (15)
Born: October 10, 2009
Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland
16 | Interchange
Kenny Lafituanai (15)
Born: May 19, 2009
St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch
17 | Interchange
Hanita Takulua (15)
Born: June 6, 2009
Mount Albert Grammar School, Auckland
18 | Reserve
Christiano Elia (16)
Born: February 25, 2009
St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch
20 | Reserve
Kaian Olsen (16)
Born: January 2, 2009
Kelston Boys’ High School, Auckland
21 | Reserve
D’Angelo Mikaele (16)
Born: July 11, 2008
Saint Kentigern College, Auckland
22 | Reserve
Jacksyn Hill (17)
January 9, 2008
Rotorua Boys’ High School – Raukura, Rotorua
23 | Reserve
Calieb Fidow (17)
Born: February 2, 2008
St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch

Road to grand final glory

Regular season:
v Sea Eagles Won 28-10
v Panthers Won 22-20
v Steelers Lost 16-22
v Storm Won 20-8
v Magpies Won 34-10
v Tigers Won 22-12
v Rabbitohs Won 20-18
v Roosters Lost 24-26
Finals:
v Roosters Won 20-4
v Rabbitohs Won 28-8
Grand final:
v Knights Won 30-16