Luke Lewis Cup 2025: Penrith Retain Title in Expanding Rugby League Showcase

cronullajrl
Jun 9
2 min read

Windsor came alive on Saturday with a celebration of grassroots footy as the Luke Lewis Cup returned for its second year—bigger and better than ever. In a carnival atmosphere, four matches brought together the best of Cronulla and Penrith junior rugby league, with the event headlined by a high-intensity senior clash featuring a familiar face.

Led by Sharks premiership legend Andrew Fifita, the Cronulla Juniors outfit held tough for nearly 50 minutes before the Penrith Juniors flexed their depth and class to secure a commanding 54-16 win and go 2-0 in Luke Lewis Cup history.

Despite trailing early, the Cronulla boys fought back through two sharp tries to Ceiza James, both assisted by some vintage Fifita magic. The former NRL star even muscled over himself just after halftime to close the gap to eight and spark hopes of a comeback.

But the Panthers, steered brilliantly by captain Tom Romer and standout fullback Jesse Poulsen (who was awarded the Luke Lewis Medal), capitalised on Cronulla’s fatigue and ran in a flurry of late tries to seal the win in front of a bumper home crowd.

Earlier in the day, three junior curtain-raisers set the tone for a festival of footy.

The U13 Gold clash saw Minchinbury dominate with a 60-6 win over Kurnell, while the U14 Gold and U15 Gold matches produced thrilling results for the Shire sides. De La Salle Caringbah snatched an 18-16 victory after the siren in a dramatic finish against Windsor, and St Joseph’s held firm in a 18-14 win over Colyton in the U15s.

From thrilling finishes to big hits and breakout performances, the 2025 Luke Lewis Cup showed just how much this event is growing. With the Cup set to return to the Sutherland Shire next year, Cronulla Juniors will be determined to turn the tables and claim their first title in front of a home crowd.

Congratulations to all teams who participated—and thank you to the volunteers, referees, coaches, and families who made this a day to remember.

Click on the links below to view the full gallery of images from all four of the 2025 Luke Lewis Cup games played at Windsor Leagues Club thanks to Cronulla JRL Photographer - Adam Wrightson.

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