Across the park: Gold Coast rugby futures revealed at SQ Championships, Cyclones claim 9 of 12 in thrilling weekend blitz

The Gold Coast Cyclones have walked away from the 2024 South Queensland Championships victorious, taking out a whopping nine of 12 divisions including five of six junior flags. With the region’s best finally catching their breath, we reveal the standouts in every age group. Full story inside:

South Queensland Championships - open womens 2024, Gold Coast v Sunshine Coast. Picture: Kane Mcmillan

The Gold Coast Cyclones have walked away from the 2024 South Queensland Championships victorious, taking out a whopping nine of 12 divisions including five of six junior flags.

Open men's coach Shaun Cole, who has led his GCDRU first grade Knights to four straight premierships, said it was a terrific weekend of rugby, compounded by a great result for the Gold Coast region.

“To get our first win in five years was a huge achievement but the most pleasing thing was to see the boys all come together as a team.

“It’s a pretty fierce rivalry within our local competition but the lads all put that aside for the weekend to try and get a bit of respect back on the Gold Coast name,” Cole said.

“Shout out of my co coaches Josh Kron and Jonny Bentley and our Manager Dan Bowdler, awesome people in the rugby community.”

Under-13 boys coach Dwyane Pakinga backed the success of Cyclone’s seniors with the tenacity shown by his juniors.

“Over all the team performed very well as a unit and worked hard,” he said.

“They seemed keen to learn and wanted more.”

Under-16 girls coach Daniel Smith meanwhile boasted the quick-learning ability of his side

Winning confidently against both Sunshine Coast (17-0) and Darling Downs (22-0), Smith was ecstatic with the weekend’s results considering the small window of preparation.

“This team had only four training sessions and came together against more fancied teams who had trained for months prior.”

“The side should get strong representation in the next stage of selections for the country champs in Rockhampton,” he said.

With the region’s best finally catching their breath, we reveal the standouts in every age group.

Note: Images do not correspond to athlete names

Stand-outs across the park

Dane Mason 

Age division: Open mens

Second Row - Helensvale

Cole first coached Mason in Colts four years ago, and said it was awesome to have him in the opens side this year.

“He’s so reliable and was near enough impossible to bring down all weekend,” Cole said.

“A guy that never fails to get over the advantage line.”

Tai Ford

Age division: Open mens

Number 8 - Surfers Paradise

Ford was Cyclone’s captain and led from the front in both games. He took a lot of whacks but never stopped giving 100% effort. He was on board from the beginning with trying to make the Gold Coast team strong again, which was much appreciated by Cole.

Lesi Tawake

Age division: Open mens

Prop - Colleges

He’s all heart and never stops going forward. When Tawake puts his footy boots on, you can always rely on him to do his job.

Jake Allen

Age division: Open mens

Hooker - Colleges

Allen battled away for the entirety of both games. He played 160 minutes in the front row across Friday and Sunday - an achievement not a lot of people can do.

Ezekiel Stewart (Helensvale) & Maiz George (Nerang) 

Age division: Open mens

Halfbacks

Both are super talented, and Cole guesses both will make it to the next level of representative rugby.

Jordan Maher 

Age division: Open mens

Flyhalf - Colleges

The SQ Championship was Maher’s first taste of footy back after a bad concussion. It was a mixed bag, but when the moment come he stood up and slotted home a couple of key conversions to earn Cyclones the win.

Patrick Barlow 

Age division: Open mens

Centre - Surfers Paradise

A strong and fast centre that knows how to motivate the guys around him. Cole described him as a pleasure to have in the team.

Logan Watene 

Age division: Open mens

Centre/Wing - Nerang

“Watene bought into what we were about from early days,” Cole said

“We lost a lot of players due to injury across the GCDRU comp and (he) helped at every opportunity to bring in new players and drive the messaging about what we were about.”

On the field, he scored several tries and never stopped battling away in the key moments. A dark horse to Cole before, he earned the utmost respect throughout the weekend.

Special Mention to 

Devontay To’a 

Age division: Open mens

Backrow - Colleges

Devontay came into the side late, one week out, due to injuries. On Sunday he was arguably the Cyclone’s Man of the Match. Always carrying injuries but refuses to stop, he is one of the most loyal teammates you will ever find.

Name: Tyler Steven

Age division: Colts (U19)

Comment: Steven was captain and plays halfback. He played outstanding rugby and was an inspirational leader over the weekend – he has a high work rate with a full halfback skill set and is simply the complete footballer with a very bright future.

Name: Max Munnery

Age division: Colts (U19)

Comment: Munnery is only 17 but played full games at the tournament as hooker and currently plays for Griffiths Uni Knights 1st Grade on the Gold Coast. With distinctive curly red hair he is an excellent lineout thrower, strong scrummager and is highly mobile around the park. Destined for much higher honours.

Name: Lewis Bryson

Age division: Colts (U19)

Comment: Bryson is also only 17 but played full games at the tournament at tight head prop. He is an excellent scrummager, strong on defence and attack, is highly mobile around the park and is destined for much higher honours.

Name: Kenny Harris

Age division: Colts (U19)

Comment: Harris is only 18 and played full games at the tournament at lock. He currently plays at Bond Uni in the Colts division and is a natural forwards leader – tough/highly mobile with excellent lineout skills who can also kick goals. Comes from rugby pedigree and again is destined for much higher honours. Was voted by coaches as “best player in the tournament”.

Name: Harry Ole

Age division: Colts (U19)

Comment: Ole played at lock at the tournament – he is big and strong and currently plays at Bond Uni in the Colts division and backs up in the afternoons playing for Griffiths Uni Knights 1st Grade on the Gold Coast. He can also play 6/7/8 and literally can go as far as he wants to in rugby in the future.

Name: Fraser Boakes

Age division: U16

Second Row - Boakes is towering figure on the field, as vice captain he is the forward leader running the lineout and as all good second rowers he gets through an enormous amount of work around the field. Impressive as he’s still 15 years old.

 Name: Maiatoa Haddad-Tuimaseve

Age division: U16

Second Row - partnering Boakes in the second row, Haddad-Tuimaseve is quiet and polite off the field but hugely combative and a physical presence on the field. A genuine athlete, he has the line-out ability to play second row with the pace and power to play back row.

Name: Magnus Van Deventer

Age division: U16

Center/Wing - Van Deventer has a big frame being as tall as a lock, he is skilful and tough, powerful and pacey. He played unfazed on day two of the tournament despite having to get 10 stitches over his right eye on the sideline on day one.

 Name: Andrew Kwok

Age division: U16

Prop/Hooker - Another silent assassin, being unassuming off the field, Kwok’s ball carries and ability to clean out rucks and counter ruck to generate turnovers is legendary. With the ability to play all positions across the front row, he has a bright future in the game.

 Name: Lachlan Fahey

Age division: U16

Breakaway. Has one of the biggest engines in the game, he keeps going and going and going. A tough flanker who keeps turning up. Lachlan Fahey give away a few kilos on his opposite but he makes up for it with his big motor, willingness and toughness.

Hannah Clifton (captain)

Age division: U16 girls

Position: half back

A smart strong player at 9 who directed the forwards and the backs well. She also led the team well off the field. Fantastic player with a strong pass and plays eyes up attacking footy all the time.

Tj Murray

Age division: U16 girls

Position: inside centre

Murray is a fast, strong eyes up centre who is always looking to attack the line. She is a solid defender as well. An asset for the team.

Billie Backus

Age division: U16 girls

Position: fullback

A tall, strong fast and athletic fullback that could play many positions. Backus has a huge kicking taking kick off, kicks for goal and kick for touch. A massive talent and one to watch.

Chèzaan Kainui

Age division: U16 girls

Position: back row

Kainui is a huge defender that attacks the line with ball in hand and chops down players much bigger than her. Great rugby IQ and saved the day as one of Gold Coast’s leafing on ballers.

Abby Smith 

Age division: U16 girls

Position: back row

Smith along with Kainui saved the day for the u16 side stealing crucial ball at the breakdown all series. Abby is a tough hard running and hard defending backrower who shows no respect for her body by throwing herself at everything.

Coby Hill

Age division: U13s

Position: halfback

For an outstanding skill and strong performance - displayed a real leader on and off the field.

Darius Mallie

Age division: U13s

Position: fullback

Strong, fast and elusive runner of the ball with flare.

Lucas Ikenasio

Age division: U13s

Position: flanker

Strong over the ball, very good Jakler. Had a great tournament overall.

Shaymus Coakley

Age division:U13s

Position: centre

Worked hard shoring up the outside backs along with good goal kicking abilities.

Jasiah Ioane

Age division: U13s

Position: prop/ number 8

Barnstorming runner of the ball, fast and strong.

Most valuable: Imani Tufuga

Age division: U14 girls

Position: number 8

All weekend Tufuga carried the ball well, making great metres each carry. Her ability to spot gaps in the defensive line enable her to gain meters each run and was a handful for the opposition defence. On the final day she scored three tries which is a testament to her work ethic around the field.

Team oriented Aaliyah Bush

Age division: U14 girls

Position: hooker

Bush was a vice captain and was an essential part of the team. She led from the front every game and could easily have been MVP as well. Bush understood her task really well and would gather the girls when needed, consistently putting the team goals first before her own ambition. Any team would benefit from a leader like her.

Most improved: Laurel Rudolph 

Age division: U14 girls

Position: outside centre

Rudolph is new to the game of rugby union and comes from a league background. In the short time of preparation for this tournament she was able to adapt super quick. Her ability to identify holes in the defensive line was exceptional. With her strong runs and a deadly fend Rudolph is one to look out for in the future.

Special mention: Kaleah Graham 

Age division: U14 girls

Position: flyhalf

Captain and superstar in the making. Graham’s rugby IQ is beyond her years. Her ability to read and feel the game at the age of 14 is mind blowing. Graham’s ability to organise her players and direct them was on point the whole tournament. She is definitely one player to look out for in the future.

Tyler lama

Position: Fullback/centre

Age division: U14

Strong ball carrier, speed to burn. Good vision, leader.

Noah mariner

Back row

Age division: U14

Captain, big motor goes all game. Solid ball carry good defence. Leads well through his actions and quiet but determined nature.

Isaiah Morgan

Position: Utility back

U14 cyclones

Elusive, strong runner, comfortable in multiple positions and a fierce determination always active.

Brayden rapata 

Position: Wing

Age division: U14

Big strong fast wingersolid on defence and a monster with ball in hand. Hard to stop once creates his space.

Colten pohe

Position: First five / second five

Age division: U14

Another leader in the team. Quiet determination, constantly delivers to a high standard. Loves the team environment. Mister dependable.

Note: At the time of publication, all coaches were contacted for nominations

Originally published as Across the park: Gold Coast rugby futures revealed at SQ Championships, Cyclones claim 9 of 12 in thrilling weekend blitz