BY PETER ROWE
After a finals spot in 2024 the Joondalup Giants had high expectations for 2025.
They had gone out in the early stages to the Rockingham Sharks but, as co-captain and veteran of the game here in WA, Taurean Sheehan confirmed, there was a good feeling of success to come after that exit.
Photo – Dave Van Heek – Taurean Sheehan
2025 was, in Sheehan’s words, “going to be a good year”.
“The expectation was high,” he said. “We had a good pre-season and the mood was positive. We wanted to carry on where we left off in ’24.”
But as we all now know, it didn’t turn out as planned.
A combination of early-season injuries and a growing list of FIFO players only available once or maybe twice a month, had a damaging effect on their progress.
“I think our first game at Rockingham was a bit of a wake-up call,” Sheehan admitted.
“We weren’t quite ready and a high error count and penalties went against us.
“It took us a few games to find some form and when we did mid-season I think we really competed, then we fell away again at the end.”
Photo – Joondalup Giants RL – Isaiah Rapana, Lincoln Williams & Tavian-John Porter
Pre-season saw a number of players move on and that disrupted team plans, but Sheehan admitted it was something they had to deal with.
“No excuses,” he said. “We simply just had to deal with it. But we had some great youngsters coming through and they have shown that they are the future of the club.”
So the outcomes didn’t match the pre-season expectations?
“No,” was Sheehan’s honest assessment.
But there were some highlights? Every team will always look for the positives, it’s human nature.
“Our young guns, new players coming through. That was definitely a highlight.
“We had six 18-year-olds in first grade – and three 17-year-olds.”
Isaiah Rapana was one, scoring a hat-trick in one first grade game. Lincoln Williams, and his older brother Tiger, also showed they are ones for the future.
Photo – Total Sports Photography – Brodie Dunn
Brodie Dunn in the halves came of age, as did young prop Jack Bullard and Tavian John-Porter is another name to keep an eye on in 2026.
But the overall results were disappointing and the Giants struggled when key players were missing through injury.
“We were often in games at halftime and then fell away after the break. That is something we need to rectify,” Sheehan said.
“But we have learned a lot from the season and we’ll be better for it next time around.”
Lincoln Williams was one young man who excited Sheehan during the season. The fullback certainly made opposition coaches and players take note.
“He didn’t look out of place at all,” Sheehan said. “A few others didn’t either.
Photo – Libby McMillan – Crockett Henry
“As for across the league, Crockett Henry at Rockingham is one player to watch. He, like Lincoln and a few others look perfectly at home in first grade.
“Of course there was Soni (Samisoni Langi at South Perth) and Kainoa (Gudgeon at Willagee) who were superb all season and Chris Siddons at Rockingham had an amazing year.”
And a youngster coming through the ranks we must watch out for?
“Flynn Sneddon is a teenager with a big future in the game. He lives and breathes rugby league. A full back of the future for sure.”
In every interview to review their season every coach or captain has been asked for their funniest moment.
For Sheehan it was after co-captain Gus Marshalll had been sent off for talking too much to the referee at Rockingham in round 14.
Photo – Dave Van Heek – Gus Marshall
“Gus tried to explain what he had said, which, let’s say, differed from what some of the players had heard and it brought howls of laughter in the dressing room, even though we had been beaten,” Sheehan said.
“In defeat you sometimes have to find some humour.”
On the other side of the coin the most annoying aspect of the year, that Grrrr…. moment , was undoubtably the inconsistency.
“For sure,” Sheehan admitted. “The second half of the season and when we were within a few points of a win and then we let it slip away. I think any player would be annoyed by that.”
So in hindsight, would he have done anything different?
“It’s easy to point out after the event and there are lots of things, but we have learnt from them and I hope in 2026 it will be different.”
Will the 2021 Ken Allen Medal winner be back for 2026?
“Ask me in March,” he joked. “Right now it’s good to have some time with family and relax, but plans are already in place at the club for next season.
“We can’t sit there and do nothing. There’s a plan in place and a lot of lot of work is under way. Best foot forward and all that.
“So many of our youngsters are now first grade and that will hold us in good stead. We don’t want to finish in last spot in 2026 and we are working very hard to make sure we don’t.”
Next up : The Rockingham Sharks
Photo – Dave Van Heek