Footballers with speed, courage and willingness to get job done
Ipswich grand final clubs Brothers, Swifts, Norths, Rosewood and Redbank Plains have a number of players who perform superbly under the proverbial radar. See how they make an impact.
Ipswich
Don't miss out on the headlines from Ipswich. Followed categories will be added to My News.
With three Brothers teams among the eight grand final qualifiers, the Ipswich club continues to be a rugby league force.
One of the reasons for Brothers’ ongoing success is the club depth, linked to the quality players attracted to a professional organisation.
Other clubs like Swifts, Norths, Redbank Plains and Rosewood also have strong development and loyal connections that helped them reach Sunday’s Rugby League Ipswich grand finals at the North Ipswich Reserve.
But it’s not only the star players who make a massive impact.
Here’s some dedicated “under the radar’’ players to watch this weekend.
A-Grade: Swifts (1st) v Brothers (4th)
Swifts coach Wayne Finch has always been big on promoting team values at his Swifts “family’’ club.
That has particularly been the case this season as the Bluebirds focused on winning the minor premiership and advancing directly to the grand final.
“We don’t want to waste what we’ve put in - we’ve worked hard and the boys have really done well with Covid and all that,’’ Finch said.
“During that six week period (when community sport was shut down), the boys were doing some stuff by themselves at home and I was sending them some things to do and they did it.
“That’s why I defence held up so well . . . and you’ve got to do it to win a grand final. They don’t come easy.’’
In a team of stars, Finch highlighted the tireless commitment of lock/hooker Derek “DJ’’ Hemopo and prop Paeto Samatua, who support Swifts speed men out wide.
“DJ has been awesome all year,’’ Finch said.
“He does night shift. He’ll go from training straight to work.
“If we have a session in the morning, he’ll turn up knocking off from work.
“Everything about DJ is so professional and hopefully he’ll push on and play Q-Cup next year.’’
Finch said Samatua was another standout.
“Big Patie, the efforts that he’s put in this year is unbelievable,’’ Finch said.
“He’s been an 80 minute player every game.
“He’s come from playing wing in Reserve grade to be A-Grade front-rower and putting in efforts every week.’’
Finch said his Samatua’s adjustment had been amazing.
“He was willing to sit back into lock but I think it has really increased his game and made him a better player,’’ the coach said. “And defensively, he is one of the best in the comp.’’
Brothers head coach Jason Connors knows as well as anyone how valuable quiet achievers are - the players who roll up the sleeves when the going gets tough.
In his side featuring match winners like Wes Conlon, Josh McCarroll, Matty Bell and Michael McDonald, Connors was happy to recognise some footballers who go about their business without fuss or fanfare.
They include forwards Jacob Cordtz and Elijah Umu.
Cordtz joined Brothers out of the Melbourne Storm system.
“His work ethic, his great effort on the field, he looks fatigued but just keeps going,’’ Connors said.
“He and Elijah - both second rowers - have been tremendous in their defensive work.’’
While Cordtz is a newcomer, Umu has dedicated the past five years to the club.
“Their defensive efforts and the little things that go unnoticed . . . they have been great for us,’’ Connors said.
Connors also praised bench players like Noah Elisaia, Tyrese Ratahi and Ligi Nonoa-Hansel for their valuable contributions.
Elisaia was playing Reserve Grade on the wing, using his speed to advantage up front in the top side.
Hooker Ratahi joined the club this year along with Nonoa-Hansel, a former St Peter Claver student.
Connors said they are the type of players a team needs.
“The work ethic they do goes unnoticed with superstars like Wes (Conlon) and Josh (McCarroll) and Ricco (Falaniko) and guys like that when they make the breaks,’’ the coach said.
“But these guys are actually going forward, making the tackles for them guys to have the space.’’
Brothers have an outstanding finals record.
Since 2006, Brothers have played in every A-Grade decider except the 2017 and 2018 seasons. But they beat Swifts in the pre-Covid 2019 grand final.
Brothers secured grand slams - winning all four grades - in 1976, 2006, 2008 and 2011.
In 2016, Brothers had all four teams in the grand final with the A-Graders the only side to miss out.
“We strive for that every year and hope we get everyone through,’’ Connors said.
“And with our training, we give ourselves the best opportunity to get through.’’
Reflecting on this year, former premiership-winning captain Connors said the club’s A-Grade motivation grew after the C-Grade and Reserve Grade sides made the grand final.
“I’m very happy with at the club altogether and all coaches,’’ he said.
Reserve Grade: Rosewood (1st) v Brothers (2nd)
Rosewood will be backed by a strong country connection after a comfortable 46-6 preliminary final victory over Goodna last weekend.
The excitement and passion in the Roosters dressing room indicated they will be primed for another strong performance having finished the regular season as minor premiers.
Coach Daniel Hazard has some quality players in his side, including former Brothers footballer Shane Gibson, who captained the side last weekend.
But Hazard also has some promising young footballers to watch like his son Codey and John-Jeffrey “JJ’’ Wilson-Mackie.
“Codey has got a good football head - he guides the team around,’’ the coach said.
The 21-year-old plays at halfback.
Five-eight JJ, 19, is another up and coming player who has stepped up in the Reserve Grade competition and accepted a higher level challenge.
“I see a lot of potential in him,’’ Hazard said.
The Leota cousins - Tulituli, Riley and John-Paul - are other players to watch in the grand final.
“They have played a lot together,’’ Hazard said, appreciating the combinations they bring to the side across the field.
Colts: Norths (1st) v Redbank Plains (2nd)
Norths coach Lee Midgley rates his team’s biggest strength its ability to stick together to get the job done.
However, within a strong group of players are some quiet achievers.
At the Tigers, that includes fullback Travis Cornthwaite, captain and halfback EJ Horsey and senior player Logan Spark.
“Travis is one guy who is so underestimated and underrated and he is just so dangerous,’’ Midgley said.
The coach praised his communication skills.
Horsey is another player that is often underrated.
“He hasn’t made a rep team since under 12s but his communication that he gives to the boys on the field is just fantastic,’’ Midgley said.
“It’s something that a lot of people don’t see but he moves them all around the park very well.
“It’s really good to see someone at his age that has got that communication.’’
When Horsey received an opportunity in Reserve Grade this year, he seized it with both hands.
Midgley said Horsey received respect from the older players.
“He’s one to watch out for the grand final as well,’’ he said.
The Norths coach said front-rower Spark was valuable as a senior footballer helping everyone to maintain concentration.
“He’s the oldest player in the team that just has a level head, keeps everyone level,’’ Midgley said.
“The leadership that he has brought to the team is phenomenal.’’
Midgley said a valuable lesson for his minor premiership-winning under-19 side was to be mindful of what Redbank Plains can do.
A number of the current Colts players were part of a previously unbeaten under-15 Tigers side - with three state players and nine Ipswich representatives - that lost a grand final.
However, Midgley said this year’s team was ready to finish the job.
“This bunch of boys too, they all do it for one another and they really do play as a team,’’ the coach said.
“There’s no-one there that they look for to get them out of trouble. They all just knuckle down together and they really work as a team, which is nice.’’
Midgley said his players were enjoying this week’s training.
“I feel really good about their attitude,’’ Midgley said.
“They are respectful to other teams too. These boys do that and get the job done as well.’’
Redbank Plains coach Tre Waltisbuhl said his excited players started talking about the grand final straight after beating Fassifern 30-24 in last Sunday’s preliminary final.
“There is a few minor niggles here and there but everyone should be sweet to go,’’ he said.
Among the Redbank Plains quiet achievers are fullback Nivatial Faafua, utility Sam Leckie and hooker Jayden Elder.
Waltisbuhl said since joining the team mid-season, Faafua had delivered consistently.
“We spent a lot of the year looking for someone to fill that fullback role,’’ the coach said.
“He’s come along and really stepped up and made that position his own.’’
He praised Leckie for his vital versatile role in the team.
“It’s good to have people who can play more than one position,’’ he said.
Leckie played five-eight in last week’s preliminary final.
Elder is the most capped Bears player in the team having switched from fullback at Wynnum.
“Jayden has really steered the ship around and kept the composure in there,’’ Waltisbuhl said.
Waltisbuhl said it was great for the club to have two teams in grand finals, especially with a growing bond between the colts and seniors.
The Colts players have at least one session a week with other club coaches including C-Grade mentor Nathan Booth.
“Myself and Junior (Faamalele) my manager work a lot with more so the under 17s this year that also made the grand final.
“We’re just trying to build that culture between teams and competition for spots.’’
C-Grade: Redbank Plains (1st) v Brothers (2nd)
After watching his team capitalise on its second chance to make the grand final, Nathan Booth was proud of what Redbank Plains achieved this year.
Unlike other C-Grade sides in past years, this year’s Bears team featured 80 per cent of the team aged under 22.
Captained by Jy Mullen and Kyle Beckhouse throughout the year, the Bears wrapped up the minor premiership before a 36-24 stumble to Brothers in the qualifying final.
However, they recovered strongly in last weekend’s preliminary final beating Brisbane Valley 34-6 to earn a second crack at Brothers.
Coach Booth praised his forwards for their terrific work leading by example this season.
He said halves Quentin Vaaua, Heath Booth and Isaiah Asiata were also influential in this year’s path to the grand final.
“They just direct us where we need to go,’’ Booth said. “The platform is laid by those forwards.’’
Having been associated with Redbank Plains for more than 15 years, Booth was delighted to see an influx of youth rising up the club’s ranks.
Redbank Plains also have a Colts team playing on Sunday, after the Bears under-17 side made last weekend’s Premier League grand finals.
The Brothers C-Grade team earnt a wrap from A-Grade mentor Jason Connors.
“They have a lot of guys that love their football,’’ Connors said. “They get full training attendance more than some of our Reserve and A Grade.’’
C-Grade coach Russ Myers agreed, also debunking the myth that his division is only for older footballers.
“We get pretty good numbers . . . the hardest part is trying to fit them all seeing you have 25 guys trying to fit into 19,’’ Myers said. “That keeps them competitive.’’
His team includes a number of players in their 20s who came close to winning the minor premiership.
“It’s been fairly pleasing,’’ Myers said.
“I’ve enjoyed it. I’m sure most of the boys have as well.
“Redbank have been the major adversary. They’ve got a pretty gun side.’’
The Brothers side is captained by Tom Belford.
“He’s a good talker and he’s very level-headed as well,’’ Myers said.
“I think he can read the game pretty well and he’s someone that’s always at training and leads by example.
“That’s why I asked him to be captain this year.’’
Other players to watch include lock Braedyn Almendral-Tirant, Mat Furner and O’Connell brothers Casey and Cody.
“He is one of these unsung heroes,’’ the coach said of lock Almendral-Tirant.
“He’s at training all the time when he can play.
“Even when he was out with injury and couldn’t train with the boys, he was still at training and helping out.’’
Furner has been outstanding in the backline this season.
“Sometimes we think he’s got spiders on him,’’ Myers said, noting his speed and moving through unbelievable gaps.
Myers has a high opinion of hooker and goalkicker Casey.
“Casey has really impressed me as a young fella,’’ the coach said.
In his first game against Norths, Casey dislocated his finger. When the trainer couldn’t get it back in, Casey did and carried on.
“I just rate Casey,’’ Myers said. “Defensively he is good for the size of the bloke.’’
Myers said his brother Cody offered a different set of advantages in the second row.
“He’s a consistent performer when he’s out there,’’ Myers said.
Ex-RAAFIE Myers has been in the Ipswich area since 2001, coaching mainly junior teams at Brothers “on and off’’ since 2004.
He’s also helped with water running duties and other club demands along Brothers stalwarts like Mick Wilson, Shaun O’Loan and Heath McQueen.
But on Sunday his focus is on helping Brothers set up the club’s trifecta bid with an early victory.
Knives removed from all Coles stores nationally after stabbing horror
Coles supermarkets across Australia have withdrawn the sale of kitchen knives after a staff member and mother of two was stabbed in an allegedly random attack west of Brisbane.
Victim identified, gory details revealed as police allege 13yo accused of trying to kill worker took knife from Coles
A 13-year-old boy accused of trying to kill a supermarket worker by stabbing her in the back in a random attack took the knife from the Ipswich store, investigators will allege. It comes as the identity of the worker can be revealed.