Club rugby’s 40 players from colts, women and Premier finals
Club rugby finals: Who were the best players from a bumper weekend of colts 1, women’s and Premier rugby? Here we reveal 40 top guns from 12 ripping finals.
North
Don't miss out on the headlines from North . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Wallabies were back in action, future Super Rugby stars were glimpsed and plenty of current and future Wallaroos shone in a blockbuster weekend of club rugby.
In colts University progressed to the grand final, leaving Brothers and Easts to slug it out next week, while in women’s rugby Easts went straight through and will oppose either GPS or Bond Uni.
In Premier grade UQ and Brothers face each other on Sunday for the right to play Wests after a weekend stunner.
Following our MEGA CLUB RUGBY PREVIEW on Friday, we now present the best players from the Colts 1, Women’s and Premier rugby finals played on Saturday and Sunday.
HERE’S 40:
Wests 37 UQ 37
Moses Sorovi (Wests)
The former Reds halfback had a terrific duel with current Reds halfback Kalani Thomas. He messed up some of Thomas’ ball, was a composed figure when the Bulldogs needed it and produced some good kicks as well as some ordinary ones.
Cooper Whiteside (Wests)
His goalkicking decided the major semi-final for Wests. He kicked five-from-sieven on top of his two tries while UQ kickers Brad Twidale and Nick Jooste kicked poorly with three-from-nine. Whiteside has been one of Wests’ big improvers in 2022 at fullback.
Kye Oates (UQ)
The University of Queensland winger showed a touch of class with his strong running and scored the try after half-time that got the UQ rally rolling.A perfect candidate for a spot in the Queensland President’s XV for the two matches of the Rugby Challenger Series next month to give more chances to the best uncontracted Premier Rugby players.
Angelo Smith (Wests)
The Fijian-born lock is a player on the rise at Wests. He’s 2m tall, dynamic, a lineout winner and he scored two tries in the win over UQ. The second came after prop Cabous Eloff charged down a Jock Campbell kick right on half-time, picked up the ball on his fingertips and passed to Smith, who also has an excellent swan dive.
Isaac Henry (Wests)
The Wests centre seems to finally have emerged from a horror run of foot, hamstring and quadricep injuries that ruined his Queensland and Australia A campaigns. His direct running, strong kicking game and error-free play were a big factor for the Bulldogs against UQ.
Brothers 23 defeat GPS 18
Ratu Vio Batibasaga (GPS)
A huge 55-minutes off the bench from the 2018 premiership winner. The GPS backrower’s powerful ball-carries always bent the line and he looked to have set up a late try for prop Fred Burke until the ball wasn’t grounded over the line. Only blemish was a lost ball off a line drop-out late in the semi-final.
Harry Hoopert (Brothers)
The Brothers prop was busy as ever. He pinched ball, he defended stoutly, his passing was good and he held firm in the scrum against Fred Burke after returning from 10 minutes in the sin bin.
Lawson Creighton (Brothers)
The Brothers winger made the key play of the game with a superb covering tackle where he ripped the ball from the grasp of GPS prop Fred Burke as he was about to dot down with six minutes to play. It gave Brothers valuable breathing space to win the knockout semi-final 23-18 and was typical of his team’s superb try-line defence which held up GPS on two further occasions. He made a neat break and kicked well too.
James O’Connor (Brothers)
His classy stamp on the match decided the course of the semi-final just after half-time. He put Wallaby backrower Harry Wilson into a hole and then backed up on his outside for the go-ahead try. He kicked five-from-five with the boot to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Josh Collins (GPS)
The GPS winger was always a handful with his pace and sudden changes of direction. He was no certainty to be fit so he was a valuable extra weapon out wide for GPS. A player worth a look in next month’s Queensland President’s XV for the best uncontracted Premier Rugby players. A pure finisher.
Premier Women
Easts 17 defeat GPS 7
Helena young (GPS)
You wouldn’t believe the start Young had. Going in, Young was one of the electric players bound to make an impact. A box kick by halfback Sarah Lewis was allowed to bounce one too many times and Young, the quickest in the comp, swooped in out of nowhere and turned it into 7 points.
Loretta Lealiifano (Easts)
When Easts were confronted by GPS’ Berlin Wall defence in Dixon and Unaisi Biau, there could have been panic in the ranks. There is no doubt there must have been thoughts of “here, do something’’ as the ball was passed from teammates to Lealiifano. But there was no panic from the No.10, steering the ship all game with an array of kicks and backline plays. She stayed the course, helping Easts on their way to the big dance.
Sarah Lewis (GPS)
Lewis was up to her usual scheming at halfback. She was at her best with a few brilliant box kicks, timely tackles and on the spot decisions to quick tap.
Lewis likes to keep it going, opting for quick taps which most of the time work out better than kicking for touch. The crowd loved it too, as the GPS and Easts outfits put on a riveting show.
Felicity Powdrell (Easts)
Powdrell matched Lewis in the No.9 jumper with her repertoire made up of countless scoots from the ruck. Alicia Heller told us in the lead up she’d add a different dimension and that’s what she did.
Her service was phenomenal but sniping runs even better.
Marlugu Dixon and Adi Unaisi Biau (GPS)
This centre pairing was everything and more for GPS. Dixon was destructive while Unaisi Biau was the heaviest of hitters. Even after making belting tackle after belting tackle, there were no signs of slowing down.
Both had their way in attack but it was their crunching defence that set the tone and led the way for their team. Somehow, Easts prevailed.
Laina Cooper Finau and Tina Brown (Easts)
Too strong to handle. Finau. And Brown were unstoppable in the scrum and an absolute handful to contain close to the line.
Without these two it’s a different story.
Malaela Su’a (Easts)
Su’a was impressive. Playing with and against older and more experienced women, the Mabel Park SHS youngster did not look out of place.
In fact, she looked extra calm, collected and decisive.
Emilya Byrne (GPS)
Byrne’s defence was brutal. There wasn’t a tackle missed, and every tackle made was extra physical.
If ever there was a need for someone to be brought down, Byrne would make sure of it. She showed that on Saturday, having what looked to be as many tackles as minutes played.
She played the full 70.
Bond University 13 defeat Sunnybank 12
Joana Rabaka (Sunnybank)
Towering blind side flanker Joana Rabaka was surging through the line all afternoon. The post contact metres she made and offloads in contact made for one heck of a showing. Sunnybank could rely on her every time to run that ball and get them past the advantage line.
Christina Sekona (Sunnybank)
Talk about an impact player. When Sunnybank were down to 14, and Bond were up 8-0, you thought that yellow card would swing the game.
Sekona said not today, making Bond look like the team down a player.
In the space of five minutes she marched Sunnybank up the field, got held up over the line, and scored a try to get her team within 3.
Her presence was priceless in that second half.
Skya Adams (Bond Uni)
Wearing the No.15 jumper, young Skylar Adams remained a poised and consistent counter attacking threat.
At the back there, she was clinical. If there was space, she would make sure the ball got in her hands so she could distribute. Plenty of times Adams orchestrated some blinding runs by her teammates down the right and left edge. If it wasn’t for Ivania Wong, the Bull Sharks could’ve capitalised.
Jayahalia Whyte and Melanie Wilks (Bond Uni)
The semi final was a war of attrition and the challenge from Sunnybank was enormous. The Bullsharks left and right edge battleships in Whyte and Wilks were blocked from dealing damage after an early Whyte try.
But Wilks and Whyte chipped away and eventually the dam wall broke, which was armed by Wong and Cecilia Smith among others.
This led to Whyte scoring a double while Wilks toiled to get her team a 13-12 win. Her kicking, pilfering, and brilliant running game key in the Bull Sharks success.
Ivania Wong (Sunnybank)
Wallaroo Ivania Wong held down that left edge like her life depended on it. There was no escaping her grasp.
Whenever the ball was shot down her side, she had it covered with not only an around the legs tackle but a pilfer to turn it over. With the ball in hand she was quick and deceptive.
Colts 1
University 13 defeat Brothers 12
Hugo Percival (University)
Percival must be a Weet-Bix kid, such are his energy levels. The University No. 8 was fearless with his charges, telling with his tackles and smart with his positional play. He was also a great lineout target.
Oscar Varricchio (Brothers)
The Brothers halfback did not deserve to be on a losing side. On a heavy track Varricchio and fly half Harry Grant expertly got Brothers from point A to point B while doing their bit on the fringe of the ruck in defence. Varricchio’s state of mind was highlighted when he held Tom Lynagh up over the line.
Fergus Nasser (University)
Talk about the Wild Bull of the Pampas. Nasser was an all or nothing performer from flanker. Tough as teak, he had a big job against a Brothers pack of such quality, it had Oliver Harvey on the bench. But Nasser never lost his intensity or energy.
Jake Tierney (University)
Tierney was at the epicentre of a barnstorming scrum, but also a big hearted contributor around the ground. He even managed a kick and chase from his danger zone, chasing hard and bundling the Brothers counter attacking movement over the sideline. On a wet day his line out throwing also stood up.
Lastus Auakai (Brothers)
Auakai is a flair player but he makes our top player list for his defence. It was a grim day, a rough and tumble semi-final and Auakai made sure he had his full kit bag and was ready for anything. And he needed to be, such was the quality of University’s challenge.
Tevita Mapa (Brothers)
Mapa and flankers Jack Condon and Leo McCarthy created a fortress which, for almost the entire match, University failed to penetrate. Mapa power running and robust defence challenged the University pack throughout the game until Uni’s surge late inched the Red Heavies to the winners post first.
Easts 29 defeat Wests 9
Tane Roiri (Easts)
He was monumental, the lock from the land of giants. If you don’t believe me, believe his lock partner Xavier Boyle.
Boyle had high praise for his work ethic. He said both in the lineout and in defence he was outstanding.
Campbell King (Wests)
A sharp inside step and fend sums up King’s powerful display at inside centre.
He stood tall against Jarrod Homan and had some fantastic attacking plays of his own. His balance, strength and one handed offload while his other hand was occupied with a palm, was sensational.
Colts 1/ Premier Grade: David Vaihu
Vaihu pulled on the Bulldogs jersey for the premier grade team on Saturdays and Colts 1 team on Sunday. The young prospect signed with the Rebels was up to scratch for a 19 year old playing in the weekend’s blockbuster clash between UQ and Wests.
Extra time is where he shone brightest, making multiple bursts down the right touch line to get his team out of the danger zone.
After getting through extra time and advancing to the big dance, Vaihu said: “That’s just all heart right there. We have chemistry within these boys. We love each other. That’s what coach said. Just play for each other. There’s nothing bigger than the team.”
“I was second guessing playing for Wests after finishing school at Terrace in 2020, but I honestly love it. They are like a brotherhood to me.”
Henry Wilson (Easts)
How about this for a captain’s knock. A try, a try assist and a handful of big tackles.
With brute strength he wriggled over for a try, but his try assist was even more impressive. A line break and an impossible one handed offload while wrapped in a tackle.
Taj Annan (Easts)
Wow. Just wow. 50:22’s, try assists and a bit of everything.
When you are playing in a semi final and you come up against a team like Wests, every little play is crucial.
Annan’s kicking game was amazing, turning an exit into pressure on the opposition, as Easts put despite between themselves and the home side.
Jarrod Homan (Easts)
With the likes of Jarrod Homan, Taj Annan and fullback Blake Davis all at BBC last year, it’s hard to imagine they wouldn’t have gone back to back following 2020’s GPS premiership success.
Unfortunately Due to Covid BBC couldn’t cash in on these three but against Wests, Easts sure did.
Rookies on the rise: 40+ girls to watch in Harvey U17s league
A bumper round 1 looms in the Harvey Norman under-17s girls rugby league competition. Who will be the players to watch from your club? The niece of Broncos great Steve Renouf, a young star from the Gold Coast and the daughter of former Raiders enforcer Tom Learoyd-Lahrs are among those set to make an impact.
50+ names: Harvey U19 girls players to watch this season
Who will be the key rugby league players to watch from your club this season in the Harvey Norman under-19 female competition? All is revealed here ahead of Saturday’s round one.