Six sons - or brothers - of NRL guns face off in Meninga Cup final between Redcliffe and Burleigh

Six sons - or brothers - of NRL guns will play in Saturday’s Meninga Cup grand final between Redcliffe and Burleigh Bears. Who are they? Revealed here.

Cody Starr on the charge - Saturday, April, 19, 2024. Photos by Stephen Archer

Saturday’s Meninga Cup grand final will showcase a stack of upcoming talent with NRL in their blood.

Sons and brothers of former and current NRL players will be sprinkled throughout both the Redcliffe Dolphins and BurleighBears when they face off in the under-19 club rugby league ­decider.

PJ Marsh with Braelin in 2022Picture: Steve Vit

Redcliffe will have four players whose fathers were household names in NRL.

+ halfback Noah Fien, the son of former Dragons premiership winning and New Zealand Test hooker Nathan Fien;

Mal Meninga Cup game between Townsville Blackhawks and Dolphins at Jack Manski Oval. Dolphins Noah Fien. Picture: Evan Morgan

+ prop Cody Starr, whose father Adam played ARL for Balmain Tigers and the Roosters;

+ hooker Braelan Marsh whose father PJ was a Queensland State of Origin series winning No.9;

+ Carter Ford, a prop whose dad was former Queensland Origin hero, the late Carl Webb.

The Burleigh line-up also has strong ties to the NRL.

Hulking centre and Brisbane Broncos signing Phillip Coates is the brother of Origin ace Xavier (Storm).

Elite middle forward Tupou Francis, another Broncos junior, is the brother of Titans winger Tony Francis

In addition, Burleigh’s 10th man is Oscar Laffranchi, a school mate of Phillip Coates at Marymount College whose dad was Gold Coast Titans champion Anthony.

And a fifth Redcliffe player who is injured at the moment, Nate Berrigan, is the son of former Broncos and Canterbury hooker Barry. His uncle is also Shaun Berrigan, the former Broncos champion and Origin utility.

Tupou Francis playing for Burleigh Bears. Photos by Stephen Archer

Starr said his father had always been by his side.

“He has always been supportive, helping me out with tips here and there.

“He’d let me know what I did well, what I didn’t do well and what I can improve on.

“But he probably did that when I was younger. These days he leaves it to the proper coaches.’’

Saturday’s match starts at 3pm.

Tony Francis of the Titans makes a break during the round nine NRL match. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Redcliffe: 1. Reeco Kirk, 2. Xavier Kirk, 3. Seth Carpenter, 4. Callum Bowles, 5. Jeremiah Patea, 6. Lachlan Buchbach, 7. Noah Fien, 8. Cody Starr, 9. Braelan Marsh, 10. Carter Ford, 11. Patrick Kailahi, 12. Brian Pouniu, 13. Jac Finigan, 14. Amare Wynyard, 15. Kaleb Teu, 16. Taufa Taulani, 17. Jairus Halahala, 18. Mathias Santo-Hero

Burleigh: 1. Saxon Innes, 2. Bailey Trew, 3. Phillip Coates, 4. Antonio Verhoeven, 5. Disharne Tonihi, 6. Cooper Humphreys, 7. Marley McLaren, 8. Tupou Francis, 9. Hayden Watson, 10. Marley Igasan, 11. Jett Bryce, 12. Kilarney Lavender, 13. Anton Whaiapu, 14. Ryder Abell, 15. Cruz Tauaifaiga, 16. Braydan Wong, 17. Tavake Tau’a’alo, 18. Oscar Laffranchi

Originally published as Six sons - or brothers - of NRL guns face off in Meninga Cup final between Redcliffe and Burleigh