The 2010 NRL Under-20s season was the third season of the National Rugby League's Under 20s competition and was known commercially as the 2010 Toyota Cup due to sponsorship by Toyota. Solely for players under 20 years of age, the draw and structure of the competition mirrored that of the 2010 NRL Telstra Premiership season.
Season summary
Schedule
Ladder Teams highlighted in green indicates that they have qualified for the top 8 playoffs.
Finals series
HomeScore AwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueReferee Qualifying Finals Gold Coast Titans22 - 24 South Sydney Rabbitohs10 September 2010, 5:30pmSkilled ParkChris Butler North Queensland Cowboys46 - 12 Sydney Roosters11 September 2010, 4:15pmSydney Football StadiumGavin Reynolds Canterbury Bulldogs54 - 18 Canberra Raiders11 September 2010, 6:15pmCUA StadiumAdam Devcich New Zealand Warriors25 - 22 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles12 September 2010, 1:45pmWIN Jubilee OvalGavin Morris Semi-finals North Queensland Cowboys18 - 22 Canberra Raiders17 September 2010, 5:15pmCanberra StadiumGavin Reynolds Canterbury Bulldogs24 - 22 Sydney Roosters18 September 2010, 5:15pmSydney Football StadiumAdam Devcich Preliminary Finals New Zealand Warriors23 - 16 Canterbury Bulldogs24 September 2010, 5:15pmSuncorp StadiumGavin Reynolds South Sydney Rabbitohs64 - 18 Canberra Raiders25 September 2010, 5:15pmANZ StadiumGavin Morris Grand Final South Sydney Rabbitohs28 - 42 New Zealand Warriors3 October 2010, 2:15pmANZ StadiumGavin Reynolds
Grand final South Sydney RabbitohsPosition New Zealand WarriorsMalcolm Webster FB Glen FisiiahiJames Roberts WG Omar SlaimankhelTaioalo Vaivai CE Sosaia FekiKane Morgan CE Siuatonga LikilikiJosh Mansour WG Elijah NikoMatt Mundine FE Carlos TuimavaveAdam Reynolds HB Shaun JohnsonJosh Starling PR Neccrom AreaiitiNathan Peats (c) HK Henry Chan TingFrancis Laulu PR Mark IoaneAdrian Haangana SR Elijah Taylor (c)Joseph So'oalo SR Matthew RobinsonBlake Judd LK Sebastine IkahihifoJake Shearer Bench Nafetalai SeluiniJacob Nansen Bench Charlie GubbJack Tulemau Bench Sam LousiBrendan McKinnon Bench Daniel PalaviDavid Kidwell Coach John Ackland
Three second-half tries in 10 minutes helped the Warriors run all over the Rabbits in Sydney.
After holding a slender 12–10 lead at the break, the Warriors turned on the after-burners with halfback Shaun Johnson leading the charge through an impressive kicking and running display.
Though for the first seven minutes after kick off it was a different story, with Souths’ halfback Adam Reynolds getting an early 40/20 and showing his chipping and kicking skills to force the Warriors to line drop out early.
But, despite the early pressure from the Rabbitohs, the Warriors taught them a lesson on how to turn pressure into points and they did so with their first foray into opposition territory.
A Shaun Johnson in-goal grubber was unable to be controlled by South's fullback Malcolm Webster and Elijah Taylor was first on the scene to slap a hand on it. Johnson converted for the Warriors to lead 6–0.
Within seconds, Shaun Johnson was the architect of the Warriors second try, running the ball and offloading with an over-the-top pass for Siuatonga Likiliki to get his 19th try of the season. Johnson converted off the post from wide out for a 12–0 lead.
The Rabbitohs had their chances, held up within the first few minutes of the match and going close but for a knock on in the 20th minute, but struggled to adapt with the big warriors pack able to get 60 metres each set, skillfully followed up by the excellent kicking games of Shaun Johnson and five-eight Carlos Tuimavave.
But the big pack and wide men were caught out in the 27th minute. Souths had a scrum 70 metres out and Reynolds let loose with a kick for his speedsters to chase. Souths 17-year-old flyer James Roberts left all in his dust, nudged it over the line with his foot and fell on the pill. Reynolds converted for 12–6.
The Warriors suddenly looked rattled, kicking out on the full to hand over possession and Souths rubbed salt in a wound when Matt Mundine gave Taioalo Vaivai the space needed to stretch out and score. The conversion missed and the Warriors had a two-point lead, 12–10.
Ten minutes into the second half the Warriors took advantage of a weak Rabbitoh's blindside defence. A Shaun Johnson grubber ended up under the hand of Elijah Taylor for the stand-in captain to score his second try and the kick taking his side out to 18–10.
Two minutes later, Siuatonga Likiliki showed his class to bump off six would-be tacklers, offload to fullback Glen Fisiiahi who stepped inside to score. Johnson kept his perfect record intact and converted again for 24–10.
Then the floodgates opened – if they hadn't already.
Shaun Johnson, the classiest on the park along with Jack Gibson medal winner, Carlos Tuimavave, chipped and regathered then flung the ball out from underneath him to the man-mountain that is Sam Lousi to score. Johnson converted for a 30–10 score line.
Then it was the turn of "The Junior Beast", Elijah Niko, to force his way across the line and Johnson highlighted the total control by once again adding the extras, 36–10.
The Warriors eased, and Rabbitohs' lock Blake Judd and captain Nathan Peats managed to grab two late tries to make the score respectable at 36–22.
But the Warriors were not done, Nafe Seluini accelerating away to slide under the posts. Johnson added his seventh conversion from as many attempts for 42–22.
The match was well over when big Jack Tulemau added a consolation try in the final minutes for Souths.
New Zealand Warriors 42 (Elijah Taylor 2, Siuatonga Likiliki, Glen Fisiiahi, Sam Lousi, Elijah Niko, Nafetalai Seluini tries; Shaun Johnson 7/7 goals)
South Sydney Rabbitohs 28 (James Roberts, Taioalo Vaivai, Blake Judd, Nathan Peats, Jack Tulemau tries; Adam Reynolds 4/5 goals)
Half-Time: New Zealand 12-10
Jack Gibson Medal: Carlos Tuimavave
Player statistics
Leading try scorers Top 10 try scorers Pos Name Tries Team1Drury Low22 Canberra2=Glen Fisiiahi20 New Zealand2=Mark Kheirallah20 Sydney2=Siuatonga Likiliki20 New Zealand5Taioalo Vaivai19 South Sydney6=Ryan Tongia18 Gold Coast6=Wayne Ulugia18 North Queensland8=Kalifa Fai-Fai Loa17 St. George Illawarra8=Nathan Massey17 Canterbury10=Nehe Millner-Skudder16 Canterbury10=Hayden Hodge16 Canberra10=James Segeyaro16 North Queensland12=Ray Perenara 14 Gold Coast
Most tries in a game Top 5 most tries in a gamePlayerTeamOpponentRoundTries1=Dale Copley Brisbane Sydney441=Nathan Gardner Cronulla South Sydney341=Mark Kheirallah Sydney Melbourne1441=James Roberts South Sydney CanberraPF41=Omar Slaimankhel New Zealand Manly-Warringah2441=Ryan Tongia Gold Coast Manly-Warringah1441=Taioalo Vaivai South Sydney Canterbury44
Leading point scorers Top 10 overall point scorersPlayerTeamTGFGPts1Aiden Sezer Canterbury1212012892Adam Reynolds South Sydney13108-2683Chris Medcalf Canberra11107-2584Kyle Feldt North Queensland1586-2325Brad Murray Sydney310232196Josh Jerome Melbourne972-1807Dane Gagai Brisbane1363-1788Jordan Rankin Gold Coast67411739Shaun Johnson New Zealand769517110Jake Mullaney Wests Tigers1350-152
Most points in a game Top 5 most points in a gamePlayerTeamOpponentRoundTriesGoalsPoints1=Adam Reynolds South Sydney CanberraPF110241=Aiden Sezer Canterbury Penrith1136241=Aiden Sezer Canterbury Canberra2328244=Dane Gagai Brisbane Parramatta2327224=Beau Henry St. George Illawarra Melbourne427224=Jake Mullaney Wests Tigers Canberra435224=Jake Mullaney Wests Tigers Penrith727224=Brad Murray Sydney St. George Illawarra71922
Leading goal scorers Top 10 goal scorers Pos Name Goals Team1Aiden Sezer120 Canterbury2Adam Reynolds108 South Sydney3Chris Medcalf107 Canberra4Brad Murray102 Sydney5Kyle Feldt86 North Queensland6Jordan Rankin74 Gold Coast7Josh Jerome72 Melbourne8Shaun Johnson69 New Zealand9Dane Gagai63 Brisbane10Chad Townsend55 Cronulla
Most goals in a game Top 5 most goals in a gamePlayerTeamOpponentRoundGoals1=Brad Murray Sydney Melbourne14101=Adam Reynolds South Sydney CanberraPF103Brad Murray Sydney St. George Illawarra794=Dave Farkas Penrith Newcastle1384=Jake Mullaney Wests Tigers Parramatta384=Jordan Rankin Gold Coast Canberra1384=Adam Reynolds South Sydney Melbourne1684=Aiden Sezer Canterbury Canberra2384=Aiden Sezer Canterbury Penrith258
Leading field goal scorers Top 10 field goal scorers Pos Name Team Field goals1Shaun Johnson New Zealand52=Matt Mundine South Sydney32=Brad Murray Sydney34=Sam Williams Canberra24=Chad Townsend Cronulla2
Club statistics
Biggest Wins Top 10 biggest winning margins Pos Winning team Losing team Round Score Margin 1 Melbourne Newcastle262-1052 2= Canterbury Canberra2360-1248 2= Sydney Melbourne1460-1248 4= Gold Coast Parramatta2246-046 4= New Zealand Penrith656-1046 4= New Zealand Parramatta2652-646 4= South Sydney CanberraPF64-1846 8 Manly-Warringah Gold Coast750-644 9= Canterbury North Queensland2450-1040 9= North Queensland Gold Coast448-840
Winning Streaks Winning streak still active
Top 5 longest winning streaks Pos Team First win Round Last win Round Games won 1= New Zealand28-26 vs Newcastle23Current Streak-7 1= South Sydney16-14 vs Wests Tigers2264-18 vs CanberraPF7 1= Wests Tigers56-24 vs Parramatta324-13 vs South Sydney107 4= Canterbury30-26 vs Manly-Warringah1625-12 vs South Sydney216 4= Canterbury60-18 vs Canberra2324-22 vs SydneySF6 4= Gold Coast52-24 vs Canberra1336-30 vs Brisbane196 4= New Zealand18-10 vs Sydney1630-14 vs Gold Coast216
QF = Qualifying Finals SF = Semi-finals PF = Preliminary Finals GF = Grand Final
Losing Streaks Losing streak still active
Top 5 longest losing streaks Pos Team First Loss Round Last Loss Round Games lost 1 Parramatta16-32 vs Manly-Warringah220-34 vs Newcastle1512 2 Penrith10-38 vs New Zealand1840-48 vs Canterbury258 3= Brisbane28-36 vs South Sydney1422-36 vs Sydney207 3= Parramatta28-30 vs Canterbury20Current Streak-7 5= Melbourne18-42 vs Manly-Warringah616-46 vs Canterbury126 5= Penrith5-38 vs North Queensland216-42 vs Wests Tigers76
QF = Qualifying Finals SF = Semi-finals PF = Preliminary Finals GF = Grand Final
2010 in rugby league
Awards
Player of the Year The winner of the award is decided by the most votes during the year as decided by the referee of each game on a 3-2-1 basis for each game played throughout the regular season.
Winner: Tariq Sims, Brisbane
Team Of The Year Voted on by the 16 Toyota Cup coaches, with the players with the highest votes in each position selected. 2010 Team Of The Year Position Name TeamFBDane Gagai BrisbaneWGKalifa Fai-Fai Loa St. George IllawarraCTDylan Farrell South SydneyCTSiuatonga Likiliki New ZealandWGJosh Mansour South SydneyFEAiden Sezer CanterburyHBSam Williams CanberraFRTariq Sims BrisbaneHKJames Segeyaro North QueenslandFRAndrew Clayton BrisbaneSRRyan James Gold CoastSRSam Mataora CanberraLKEthan Cook NewcastleIntBrad Murray SydneyIntDale Finucane CanterburyIntMatt Hyland Wests TigersIntLama Tasi Manly-WarringahCoachAndrew Patmore Canterbury
References
External links NRL.com - Official site of the NYC, National Youth Competition