Junior State Cup: Maddi Johns seals dramatic Rockhampton U14 girls win

Rockhampton scored the under-14 double on home soil at the Queensland Touch Football’s premier junior competition. Read how the girls sealed the title in an epic decider.

Rockhampton under-14 girls Player of the Final Maddi Johns with coach Tahlia Shuker.

Maddi Johns capped a stellar Junior State Cup campaign by scoring the winning try for Rockhampton in a thrilling under-14 girls grand final.

It was one of the highlights of the action-packed three-day touch carnival, which attracted more than 250 teams to Rockhampton.

See the photos here

Saturday’s grand finals showcased the depth and strength of the state’s up-and-coming player stocks.

The Gold Coast was the most successful association, winning four of the 14 titles on offer. (see full list below).

Rockhampton scored the under-14 double, with their boys holding on for a hard-fought 5-4 win over Palm Beach and their skipper Geordie Wakeman named Player of the Final.

Tahlia Shuker was at the helm of the victorious under-14 girls and Cassie Harvey was assistant coach.

Rockhampton under-14 girls assistant coach Cassie Harvey, Player of the Final Maddi Johns and coach Tahlia Shuker.

Shuker also leaned on her legendary father Gavin Shuker, one of the game’s most decorated players.

“My dad has coached for ages so I definitely relied on him a lot and he helped me,” Shuker said.

“This is just my second year coaching and I’m still learning so it was good to have someone there who is a lot more experienced.”

Shuker can now boast success at the state’s premier junior tournament as both player and coach.

The 20-year-old represented Rockhampton at the JSC from age eight to 18 and won twice - in under-12 and under-16, that year with Gavin as coach.

Father and daughter Gavin and Tahlia Shuker who were coach and player in the Rockhampton under-16 girls team that won the Junior State Cup in 2021.

She said it was great to experience it from both sides, and for her young chargers to savour their success.

“They were stoked and I am so proud of them all,” Tahlia said.

“They played so well and they really deserved it.

“The key was their dedication. They were always really motivated and they put in a lot of effort.

“We had a lot of support. Everyone knew the work we’d put in before the carnival and wanted to see us get the result.”

The Rockhampton under-14 girls celebrate their win at the Junior State Cup.

Shuker said Johns was brilliant all carnival, the champion middle bamboozling opponents with her lightning speed and great ball skills.

She stood tall in the high-pressure moments in a Player of the Final performance on Saturday.

Rockhampton had dropped just one game from nine on their way to the decider, where they met an unbeaten Gold Coast outfit.

It proved an enthralling battle, with Johns scoring one trying a teammate Evelyn McIntyre a double to see the teams locked at 3-all at full-time.

It went to drop-offs and at three-on-three, Johns showed her class to score the match-winner.

Tahlia said her players “brought it” in the final and left it all on the field.

Division winners

Under-10 girls challenge: Gold Coast

Under-10 boys challenge: Gold Coast

Under-12 girls challenge: Gold Coast

Under-12 boys challenge: Redlands

Under-14 girls championship: Rockhampton

Under-14 boys championship: Rockhampton

Under-14 girls challenge: Kawana

Under-14 boys challenge: Kawana

Under-16 girls championship: Redlands

Under-16 boys championship: Palm Beach

Under-16 girls challenge: Brisbane Metropolitan

Under-16 boys challenge: Gold Coast

Under-18 girls: UQ Rebels

Under-18 boys: Arana