Seven premierships will be decided in a jam-packed program at Rugby Park on Saturday

Rockhampton Tigers under-14 girls won an epic extra-time preliminary final to make it to Saturday’s big dance. Read who they will play and which other teams are chasing premiership glory in our grand final preview.

Norths will take on Rockhampton Tigers in the under-17 girls final.

The Rockhampton Tigers under-14 girls were “exhausted but very excited” after their epic extra-time preliminary final win, according to manager Nicole Barron.

It took 22 minutes of extra time to determine who would face Emu Park in the Rocky Junior League grand final on Saturday.

Tigers and Norths went head-to-head in the preliminary final at Saleyards Park.

They went to the final hooter locked at 8-all, after Itejah Bowen and Lizzy Joyce scored for the Tigers and Saige Smith and Kaylah Morrison crossed for Norths.

No points were scored in 10 minutes of extra time, sending the game into golden point.

The contest went on for another 12 minutes before five-eighth Maddi Johns went over for the match-winning try.

Barron is confident the Tigers will produce that same tenacity and never-say-die attitude when they tackle Emu Park.

The under-14 girls is one of seven junior grand finals to be played at Rugby Park on Saturday (see the full finals preview below).

The program starts with the under-13 boys clash between Brothers Blue and Cap Coast Brothers, and finishes with the under-17 boys showdown between Rockhampton Tigers and Yeppoon at 4.30pm.

Barron said she was confident the Tigers girls could defend their title.

“I’m hoping for the win but it’s going to be a great game,” she said.

“We’ve got a young side but we do have some experienced girls like Ariana Broughton, Amarli Batchelor and Maddi Johns.”

RJL president Michael Fletcher said junior league was thriving, with the competition growing each year.

A total of 56 teams from eight clubs took part in the seven divisions this year, with seven of those clubs represented in Saturday’s final.

The largest age groups were the under-13 boys with 11 teams and the under-14 boys with 10, while Gracemere fielded their first girls team in the under-14s.

Fletcher said more and more pathways were being developed in the game, and there were new and exciting opportunities..

“The last few years have shown the level of skill these young players have, both boys and girls,” he said.

“I’m expecting some really good football on Saturday.”

Grand final preview

8.30am, U13 boys, Brothers Blue vs Cap Coast Brothers

Brothers Blue come into the grand final after beating minor premiers Norths Blue in Week 1 of the semi-finals and getting the rest.

They have dropped only one game this year and will be looking to Hugh McKinlay and Ronan Ramsey to lead from the front, and they have the reliable boot of Lachlan Basham who was this year’s leading points scorer.

Cap Coast Brothers have peaked late and are in with a real chance, with this year’s leading try scorer Nate Caplick touching down for 23 tries in 2024.

Brothers Blue won their only meeting this year and will be looking to make two on Saturday. The ideal game to kick-off grand final day.

The Rockhampton Tigers will battle Emu Park for the under-14 girls premiership. Photo: Leeann Booth

9.45am, U14 girls, Emu Park vs Rockhampton Tigers

Emu Park would have been watching with interest on Friday night as this weekend’s opponents, Rocky Tigers, had to play golden point to get through to the final. Emu Park have lost only one game this year and will need crafty No.9 Muriel Saltner at her best again after she scored two tries in week one of the finals.

Captain Leilani Penaia has been leading this side around all year and she will need another big game if her team wants to take the trophy home.

It will be interesting to see how much the extra-time semi took out of the Tigers, who will need to regroup this week and manage workloads.

They do have three of the leading try scorers in their side, including Maddison Johns who has crossed 18 times this year.

In their last meeting, Emu Park took the points but this is a grand final and anything can happen. The skills of the girls in this competition have been outstanding.

11am, U14 boys, Fitzroy Sharks vs Norths Blue

The Fitzroy Sharks will be looking to go back-to-back.

After finishing second on the table after the regular season, they beat minor premiers Norths Blue in Week 1 of the finals.

Greg Bani has been a point-scoring machine this year and they will need him to continue that on Saturday.

He will be ably supported by Reid Doyle and Cordell Burnell. Norths Blue toughed out a good win on Friday night against Yeppoon Blue, led by captain and halfback Romen Conway and second rower Angelo Sariman.

Norths are looking to turn last year’s result in the final and will need to be on their game. These sides have met twice this year with one win apiece.

This should be a great contest which could go either way.

12.15pm, U15 boys, Cap Coast Brothers vs Fitzroy Sharks

Cap Coast grounded out a tight win in the first week of the finals and will need that will to win again in the big dance.

Front rower Cooper Stacpoole has been strong all year and Cap Coast will need his big runs to get the team on the front foot, allowing exciting backs Kobe Oberhardt and Brosnan Toby to use their speed.

Fitzroy made a statement last Friday night with a big win over Yeppoon Gold and they will need that intensity on Saturday to roll the Cap Coast side.

Kaden West and Tyttus Auda have been scoring at will this year and will need to light up Rugby Park to give the Sharks a chance.

Cap Coast took out their Round 6 clash and will be looking to do that again.

1.30pm, U16 boys, Norths Blue vs Cap Coast Brothers

Norths Blue finished the year as minor premiers and got over second-placed Yeppoon in round one of the finals.

Centre Colin Leisha has been outstanding in the centres, being the leading try scorer.

He, along with captain Alexander Fuller and lock Sam Adams, will need to be in fine form for Norths to claim the title.

Cap Coast Brothers have come from fourth and are looking to keep the momentum going after shutting out Yeppoon in the preliminary final.

They will look to No.9 Kobi Wren and centre Steele Howard to get them on the front foot.

These sides have met twice this year with Norths getting one win and then a draw.

This promises to be a close one.

Chanelle Williams will be key to the Norths' under-17 girls in Saturday's grand final.

3pm, U17 girls, Rockhampton Tigers vs Norths

This could well be the game of the day, with both sides full of match winners.

Tigers’ Heidi Silvester has had an outstanding season, scoring 15 tries, four clear of the field.

Her combination with half Flick Barron will need to be spot-on if they want to hoist the trophy.

Norths, who finished minor premiers, have bounced back since their loss to the Tigers in the semi-final.

Coach Nicky Carpenter will want the same commitment they showed last Friday when lock Chanelle Williams crossed three times and centre Tasmyn Blood getting a double.

Both sides have one win apiece this year.

There is a real rivalry between these sides and this showdown will be sure to excite the fans.

Yeppoon will be out to tame the Tigers in the under-17 boys decider. Photo: Leeann Booth

4.30pm, U17 boys, Rockhampton Tigers vs Yeppoon

Tigers and Yeppoon round out the day. Cap Coast Brothers have dominated this age group over the years so it will be a different club taking premiership honours in 2024. Representative players Zac Bateman and Harry Meilland have been outstanding this year and they will need to lead the way for the Tigers.

Yeppoon have plenty of strike power and will need Stacey Hollingsworth to lead from dummy half and give plenty of good service to the forward pack. Centres William Quiland and Phillip York will be ready to pounce on any attacking options.