NSW Senior State Cup: Teams to Watch in 2025

by benj | Mar 7, 2025 | Latest News

The countdown is on for the Senior State Cup, where the best Oztag teams from across the state will battle it out for championship glory. With a weekend of fast-paced, high-intensity competition ahead, we take a closer look at four teams set to make a major impact.

Central Coast Men’s Opens – Defending Champions & Established Powerhouse

Central Coast has been the benchmark in the Men’s Opens division for the past few years, dominating the competition with an impressive run of success. They have reached the grand final in the last three State Cups, winning two, and have been unstoppable on the national stage, claiming four consecutive National Championships.

With a plethora of NSW Origin and Australian Tagaroos representatives, they bring experience, skill, and championship pedigree. Their ability to perform under pressure and execute in crucial moments has made them the team to beat. Expect Central Coast to come into this year’s tournament with the same hunger for success as they look to add another title to their already stacked trophy cabinet.

Lake Macquarie Mixed Opens – Grand Finalists & NSW Origin Talent

Lake Macquarie came heartbreakingly close to taking the title last year, falling just short in the grand final. With their core playing group being together for 8 years as well as having 8 players selected in 2024 State of Origin campaign they return in 20-25 as one of the strongest squads in the division.

Coming from a small club, the Lake Macquarie Mixed Opens team have always punched above their weight. After falling agonisingly short last year and leaving with a silver medal, the team is hungrier than ever to win. Their emergence as a top-tier contender could be a sign of things to come—could a win at this year’s State Cup spark a wave of powerhouse teams in other divisions? With momentum building, Lake Macquarie is a team to watch in 2025.

Cronulla Women’s 20s – Defending Champions & A Team in Transition

Cronulla’s Women’s 20s return as defending champions after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Penrith in last year’s grand final. They showcased their ability to step up in big moments, proving themselves as one of the top teams in the division.

However, this year presents a new challenge, with a few key players moving up to the Opens division. How they adapt to these changes will be key to their chances of going back-to-back. With a strong foundation and plenty of talent still in the squad, Cronulla remains a team to watch in 2025.

Engadine Heathcote Men’s 20s – Hungry for Redemption

For the past two years, Engadine Heathcote has been a dominant force in the Men’s 20s division, consistently setting the standard with their skill and structure. Led by NSW 20s Origin coach Boey Alam, this squad has been one of the most well-drilled and competitive teams in recent memory.

Despite their dominance, they have fallen just short in the grand final twice, making this year’s campaign all about redemption. With a wealth of experience, strong leadership, and a burning desire to finally claim the title, Engadine Heathcote will be one of the most determined teams at this year’s tournament. Could 2025 be the year they break through and cement their legacy?

The 2025 Senior State Cup will deliver high-intensity Oztag at its best. Make sure you follow us on @nsw_oztag for updates, photos, and videos throughout the weekend and Assemble for live scores.

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NSW Junior State Cup 12s-17s: Finals Wrap

by benj | Feb 25, 2025 | Latest News

The Junior State Cup 12s-17s has come to an end and what a tournament it was! Last weekend spectators at C.ex Coffs International Stadium saw thrilling matches, and unforgettable moments as over 300 teams competed for Oztag glory.

After an intense weekend of competition, the best of the best emerged victorious. This tournament marked the final Junior State Cup appearance for our Boys and Girls 17s premier divisions, and they delivered an incredible showcase of Oztag.

The Boys 17s final saw ACT Cougars defeat Central Coast in one of the most thrilling games to date. The match went to extra time, with Jesse Fordham chasing down a kick in their own half to win the game and the championship. In the Girls 17s final, Cronulla defeated Souths in a tight defensive battle, with the only try of the game coming from Jess Henville in the first half. It was an extra special victory for the Cronulla girls, as the core group has played together since Under 9s. Having never won it before, they will now retire their junior careers as champions. One of the standout matchups of the weekend was the Girls 15s final between Nepean and Souths. The Souths girls had never lost a State Cup since their Under 9s debut. However, last Sunday, Nepean finally ended their reign and look to start their own era of dominance.

Congratulations to Central Coast who claimed the Club Championship with an impressive 84 points, while Cronulla, Nepean, and Souths all tied for second place with 74 points.

Below are the full results of all Grand Finals. Congratulations to all teams.

• Boys 12s: Central Coast defeated Easts 5 – 1
• Girls 12s: Souths defeated Camden 3 – 2
• Boys 13s: Nepean defeated Baulkham Hills 5 – 2
• Girls 13s: Central Coast defeated Cronulla 2 – 1
• Boys 14s: Central Coast defeated Shellharbour 5 – 4
• Girls 14s: Souths defeated Nepean 3 – 2
• Boys 15s: East Hills defeated Central Coast 5 – 3
• Girls 15s: Nepean defeated Souths 5 – 3
• Boys 16s: Souths defeated Nepean 3 – 1
• Girls 16s: Baulkham Hills defeated Cronulla 5 – 1
• Boys 17s: ACT defeated Central Coast 6 – 5
• Girls 17s: Cronulla defeated Souths 1 – 0

A huge thank you to all the players, coaches, referees, and families who made this weekend a success. Your dedication and passion for Oztag continue to make this event one of the highlights of the year. We also want to acknowledge our amazing partners, NIB, GSA, Coffs Coast for their continued support in growing the game and making tournaments like this possible.

You can relive all the best moments from the tournament by checking out BarTV for match replays and IBImages for photos taken around the grounds. Checkout our socials for extra photos, videos, and highlights of the tournament.