Five players to watch in Mackay’s rugby league finals action on weekend

The first weekend of finals action is approaching, with five junior divisions battling it out for premiership glory. Check out the list of players to watch in the weekend’s football.

Finals football is here with Mackay’s talented rugby league players gearing up for a push for premiership glory.

Junior matches in several Rugby League Mackay and District competitions will be played throughout Saturday, with the seniors battling it out on Sunday.

Here are the top five players to watch in the junior matches on Saturday.

Hamish Donohoe – Mackay Magpies Black

The under-13s captain has been outstanding in the past month of football.

The prop has scored nine tries in his past four matches, including five in the final round of the season against Brothers White.

Donohoe is sitting pretty in third place on the league’s leading tryscorers, with a season total of 22.

With his Magpies Black side sitting fourth on the table, they will play the other Magpies team in the league in a qualifying final derby.

The Magpies derby will be played at 9.45am on RLMD’s field two.

Lachlan Starr – Wests Tigers

The second rower in the under-14s has had a productive season in 2021.

Wests conversion taker has slotted 23 conversions in the regular season, as well as crossing the try line 11 times.

More impressively, Starr took on kicking duties about five weeks into the season, and still leads the league in total points.

Starr converted three of his four kicks the last time Wests played its finals opponent Wanderers, with the Tigers securing a 22-14 win.

Wests will play Wanderers at 11am on RLMD’s field five.

Bailey Anderson – Souths Sharks

The Sharks have enjoyed a stellar 2021 campaign, with strong performances from their mercurial fullback helping secure second place on the ladder.

Anderson controls the pace of the game well and organises his teammates from the first to final whistle.

Noah Levitz (L), Tom Kelly, Ty Ison and Bailey Anderson won the Crocs to Cane Toads carnival for the Souths Sharks and will be challenging for the RLMD U15s premiership, July 2, 2021. Picture: Matthew Forrest

He is a strong returner of the ball, adept at navigating high kicks and is good at breaking through lines.

After a successful Crocs to Cane Toads carnival, Souths will be confident in its chances though the under-15s finals series this year.

Souths will face Wanderers at 12.15pm on RLMD’s field five.

Harry Thorpe – Mackay Magpies

The star-studded Mackay team has had its fair share of injuries so far this season, with players like Harry Thorpe and Liam Doherty missing chunks of the year.

Thorpe returned from a shoulder injury earlier in the season, and has found his groove in the past few weeks.

The five-eighth has helped control the pace of the game, allowing his wings to flourish.

Thorpe will play alongside his brother Henry, as well as a number of schoolmates from St Pat’s.

Playing multiple games a week with a large contingent of the Magpies players will help Mackay in its attempts to overcome an equally-strong Wanderers outfit.

The Magpies and Wanderers will face off at 1.30pm on RLMD’s field five.

Bailey Jeffs – Wests Tigers

The goalkicking forward has been one of the top converters in the under-17s competition this season.

His accuracy has helped the Tigers to a 9-3 record, which is good enough to secure second position on the ladder.

Kirwan vs St Patrick's

Jeffs is a big-bodied prop, but his speed and agility allows him to play in the second row as well, making him a difficult match up for opponents.

He has been productive for St Patrick’s College in the Aaron Payne Cup, and will face schoolmate Brady Hazledine for the Bulldogs.

Wests defeated Brothers 16-6 the last time they played, with Jeffs slotting 2/3 conversion opportunities.

The game will be played at 2.45pm on RLMD’s field five.