Cover Photo: JGR Images
Tallon Smith
The Young Cherrypickers are eyeing a shot at a second title in three years in 2026 after recruiting four new players to the club ahead of the new season.
2024 Group 7 Michael Cronin Medallist and Kane Ball will join his Albion Park-Oak Flats teammate Toataua Porima, Souths NSW Cup halfback Brent Hawkins, and Picton utility Charlie Woolford as the new faces at Alfred Oval heading into the pre-season.
Young Cherrypickers President Smith said that the acquisition of former Cronulla lower grader Ball was the first move the club made over the summer as they look to remain a perennial contender in Group 9.
“We’re very excited to have Kane next year, we were informed about his availability, and he’s the first bloke we pursued,” he said.
“He’s got a very good football pedigree.
“After leaving the Sharks, he had a couple of NRL offers but chose to go to Albion Park, and now chose to come to us from there.”
Joining Ball on the voyage to the ‘Cherry Capital’, Smith said fellow former Sharks junior Porima will be crucial to bolstering the club’s forward stocks following some key departures.
“Toataua came from the Sharks as well and [played] down in Albion Park, and is a very good middle.
“After losing Jake Walker for next year, we had a look around to replace him, and he was a perfect fit with him being good friends with Kane and both of them coming together.
“We’re very happy to have them on board next year.”
The pair, which helped Albion Park-Oak Flats to two consecutive preliminary finals in 2024 and 2025 after a decade outside the playoffs, also received a glowing endorsement from Eagles coach Josh White, who said it was sad to see them go.
“They were fantastic, they were part of the way we turned things around,” he said.
“They did what they had to do with the club and they’re looking for bigger and better things, so they’ve gone out to Young.
“I wish them all the best and hopefully they have a great season out there.”
Meanwhile, in addition to Ball, the Cherrypickers have also secured the services of another well-credentialed half in Hawkins.
The brother of former NRL starter Dean, Smith said that Hawkins will form a key part of their plans in season 2026.
“Brent comes from a very good football pedigree as well, with his brother Dean playing for the Parramatta Eels this past year, and recently signing with the London Broncos in the Super League,” Smith said.
“Brent comes out of a good system with South Sydney playing NSW Cup there, and we were in the market for a halfback and his name came up so we jumped all over that one.
“Very pleased to have him in the red, white and blue next year.”
On top of those signings, the club has also recruited Charlie Woolford from Picton, where he played last season under his father, former NRL star Simon.
Smith said the signing was an easy decision given Woolford’s extensive connections to Young.
“Charlie’s got red, white and blue in his blood with both his parents being from Young,” he said.
“He’s only over in Canberra, his sister lives locally, his grandparents live locally.
“He wanted to have a crack at Group 9 and he couldn’t think of any other club to play for than the Young Cherrypickers, so that was a pretty easy one to bring Charlie on board, and we’re pretty excited to have him and see what he can do for us next year.”
All of these signings come following the departures of coach Tom Giles and fellow forward Jake Walker, a pair which were crucial elements of the club’s strong forward pack.
Smith said that the loss of Walker will be felt immensely, but hoped that the signing of Porima and the promotion of a few locals would help to fill the void.
“Besides Gilesy, Jake Walker’s going to be a big loss for us, he’s moving over to England to do a bit of travel and play a bit of local football there,” he said.
“He’s a teacher by trade, so he’s got a job over there and he’s always planned to go there, but he’s certainly a big loss for us.
“We haven’t really had any [more] confirmed departures yet, we’re still talking to players, so far it’s those two guys that are definitely [gone], but we’re certainly going down a more local route to replace some of the middles there, especially with the good depth we’ve got.”
