Junee Diesels’ U16s chase ultimate Group 9 crown

JUNEE’S Under 16s are one win away from completing a remarkable finals charge after a thrilling 22-20 victory over Temora secured the Junior Diesels the Group 9 Northern Pool title on home soil.

The young Diesels delivered in front of a strong crowd at Loftus Oval on Saturday, August 29, surviving a tense grand final against the Dragons.

But their season isn’t over yet.

The two-point triumph has punched Junee’s ticket into the Group 9 Championship Round, where the Northern Pool titleholders will face Southern Pool winners Wagga Kangaroos at Geohex Stadium in Wagga this Saturday, September 5, with kick-off at 3.50pm.

It gives the Diesels an opportunity to complete an extraordinary finals campaign and claim the ultimate Group 9 crown against a Kangaroos outfit which has been one of the competition’s benchmark sides throughout 2026.

Junee Diesels’ Under 16s raise the shield following their grand final win against Temora | Image: Supplied/Angela Butt

Junee’s road to the championship game has been anything but conventional.

The Diesels finished the 14-round regular season in seventh position with five wins, one draw and seven losses, before finding another gear when their season went on the line.

They defeated Young 22-16 in their Northern Pool semi-final at Temora on August 22 before returning home a week later and edging out Temora 22-20 in Saturday’s decider.

The Kangaroos arrive at Championship Day with a considerably stronger season record, having recorded 10 victories during the regular season before adding another two through the Southern Pool finals.

Their overall record stands at 12 wins and just two losses.

2026 Southern Pool champions Wagga Kangaroos Under 16s | Image: Wagga Kangaroos JRLFC

But Junee has plenty of attacking firepower of its own.

Three Diesels feature among the competition’s top 12 try scorers this season, with Ben Field crossing 11 times, Angus Baldry nine and Blake Sweeney eight.

Sweeney has also been one of the competition’s most prolific point scorers, sitting fourth overall with more than 105 points to his name, accounting for a significant share of Junee’s 250-plus points this season.

By comparison, Jack Lawrence is the only Kangaroos player among the top 12 try scorers, having crossed 12 times.

Saturday’s championship showdown will be the third meeting between Junee and the Kangaroos this season, and the Diesels will know exactly how dangerous their opponents can be.

Their first encounter at Loftus Oval on May 30 went down to the wire, with Wagga escaping with an 18-16 victory.

The margin was far more decisive when they met again at Paramore Park in Round 14 on August 14, with the Kangaroos running away 42-6 winners.

But the Junee side heading into Saturday’s championship clash now carries something it didn’t have then, the momentum of consecutive do-or-die finals victories.

Town rallies behind young Diesels

Saturday’s Northern Pool triumph capped an enormous week of community support for the side.

Businesses, homes and organisations across Junee were decked out in club colours ahead of the grand final, with balloons, streamers, signs and window displays appearing across town after the Junior Rugby League Club called on the community to rally behind the boys.

That support followed them through the gates at Loftus Oval, where a strong home crowd watched Junee secure the Northern Pool title by just two points.

Images: Junee Junior Rugby League Club

The club thanked the visiting teams, players, coaches, officials, families and supporters who helped make the Group 9 Northern Pool Grand Finals a success.

“Days like this showcase what junior rugby league is all about, community, sportsmanship, teamwork and giving our kids the opportunity to play the game they love,” the club said.

A special acknowledgement was also given to the Junee Junior Rugby League committee and the volunteers whose work in the weeks leading into the event allowed the club to stage one of the biggest days on the junior rugby league calendar.

The club also thanked Mick Kirkman, Tim Bailey and Group 9 Junior Rugby League chairperson Patrick O’Toole, along with referees, ground managers and volunteers who contributed throughout the day.

Sweeney claims Rick Keast Medal

Junee’s victory also brought individual recognition for Blake Sweeney, who was awarded the prestigious Rick Keast Medal as best and fairest in the Under 16s boys grand final.

The medals, presented by Jason Ferrario and Kylee Huard in memory of their brother Rick Keast, recognised the best and fairest player from each Northern Pool grand final.

2026 Rick Keast Medal recipient Blake Sweeney pictured with Jason Ferrario (left) and Kylee Huard | Image: Jason Ferrario

Ferrario congratulated all of the medal recipients and praised Junee for hosting the event.

“It’s always an honour for Kylee Huard and I to present the Rick Keast Medal, in honour of our wonderful big brother, for the best and fairest in each game,” he said.

Other recipients were Ava McCrone of Temora in Under 14s Girls League Tag, Beau Manwaring of Harden/Boorowa in Under 13s Boys Tackle, Harper Block of Temora in Under 14s Girls Tackle and Pax Forbutt of Young in Under 14s Boys Tackle.

Alliena Roddy of Tumut claimed the Under 16s Girls League Tag medal, Jai Alexander of Cootamundra took the Under 15s Boys Tackle honour and Temora’s Macey Kenworthy was recognised in Under 16s Girls Tackle.

Remarkable run continues

For several members of the Junee Under 16s side, Saturday’s triumph continued an extraordinary fortnight of rugby league success.

Eight Junior Diesels were also members of the Junee High School Under 16s team which made history in Bathurst on August 19, defeating Holy Trinity School, Inverell, 32-22 to claim the NSW Small Schools State Final.

It was the school’s first NSW Small Schools rugby league shield since the competition began more than 30 years ago.

Sweeney, Liam Brandon and Ben Field were singled out by the school for outstanding performances in that state decider, while fellow Junior Diesel Ace Hayman was named Player of the Day.

Image: Junee High School

Just 10 days later, the group was celebrating another piece of silverware after helping the Diesels become Northern Pool champions.

Now, one final challenge remains.

The Kangaroos have already beaten Junee twice this season and will enter Saturday’s showdown with the superior win-loss record.

But the Diesels have survived two knockout encounters, claimed a grand final on their home turf and built the sort of momentum that can make regular-season records count for very little when a championship is on the line.

Junee Diesels will face Wagga Kangaroos in the Group 9 Under 16s Championship Round at Geohex Stadium, Wagga, on Saturday, September 5, with kick-off at 3.50pm.