A teenage sensation for the Wests Tigers has been ruled out of the upcoming U18s ASSRL National Championships in July, which will showcase the best young talents in rugby league.

After this publication revealed that Ashton Large and Onitoni Large won't take part in the U18s ASSRL National Championships in July, another future NRL star has withdrawn from the tournament.

In a significant blow for the NSWCIS (New South Wales Combined Independent Schools) side, Zero Tackle understands that Wests Tigers centre Heamasi Makasini will no longer play and will be replaced by Newington schoolmate and Canterbury Bulldogs outside back Braith Sloane.

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Set to be one of the top talents on show at the tournament at Coffs Harbour, Makasini was recently named 18th man for the NSW Blues in the U19s State of Origin match and is signed with the Wests Tigers until the end of the 2027 NRL season.

Likened to the likes ofย Greg Inglis,ย Israel Folauย and Jonah Lomu, the 2024ย Harold Matthews Cupย Player of the Year only began playing rugby league less than eight years ago but has already achieved several prestigious honours.

This includes representing the U16s NSW Waratahs team, U16s and U18s Australian rugby union side, and U16s City team in rugby league.

In an exclusive interview withย Zero Tackle earlier this year, Makasini revealed he came "pretty close" to making the permanent switch to playing in the 15-man code.

"I was pretty close because I played schoolboys last year and a few clubs were interested in me from union, but I stayed with league," Makasini toldย Zero Tackle.

"I played rugby union first, and I didn't start playing league until I was ten with Campbelltown City as my junior club.

"(Wests Tigersย Pathways and Junior Recruitment Manager)ย Shannon Gallant was the coach at the time, and he pretty much started my rugby league journey and my love for the game.

"That's pretty much where my league journey kicked off. That's my heart of passion."

NSWCIS Squad

Sqaud: Ben Kaberry (Knox Grammar School), Blessing Foini (Central Coast Sports), Braith Sloane (Newington College), Callum Grantham (Newington College), Carter Mareko (Central Coast Sports), Chayse Geros (St Augustine's College), Cyrus Bloomfield (Oakhill College), Dayne Jennings (Central Coast Sports), Eddy Cayless (Oakhill College),ย James Finegan (Waverley College), Khyanu Mahon (Central Coast Sports), Levi Funa (Cranbrook School), Nicholas Kotarac (Knox Grammar School),ย Paula Teisina (Waverley College),ย Rex Bassingthwaighteย (SHORE), Samuel Polley (Oakhill College), Tanner Mahon (Central Coast Sports)

NRL Affiliations

Canterbury Bulldogs - Braith Sloane, Chayse Geros
Central Coast Roosters /ย Sydney Roostersย -ย Blessing Foini, Carter Mareko, Eddy Cayless, James Finegan, Paula Teisina, Rex Bassingthwaite
Cronulla Sharksย -ย Callum Grantham
Manly Sea Eagles - Khyanu Mahon,ย Tanner Mahon
North Sydney Bears -ย Caleb Fesolai, Nicholas Kotarac
Parramatta Eelsย -ย Cyrus Bloomfield, Levi Funa, Samuel Polley
South Sydney Rabbitohsย -ย Ben Kaberry, Dayne Jennings