Try of the Year by Rabbitohs signing; Meninga, Connell and Harvey 19s Teams of the Week
South Sydney Rabbitohs signing who this weekend scored the try of the year joins a possible Broncos signing in the Meninga, Connell and Harvey 19s Teams of the Week.
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This week’s Connell Challenge under-16 Team of the Week includes a South Sydney signed rookie and an impressive back under watch from the Brisbane Broncos.
Burleigh Bears fullback Seth Gundry scored a remarkable individual try while his centre mate David Bryenton impressed in attack and defence to both make the Connell Team of the Week.
ROUND 4 WRAP UP INCLUDING PRIDE’S STUNNING WIN
And the Northern Pride props Jason Hallie and Gabriel Tunimakubu were among the first chosen in the Meninga Cup under-18 squad alongside Norths back rower Nazareth Taua after pile driving their sides to victory, while Blackhawks pair Immanuel Kawane and Eneliko Savelio were also elite in the under-16 competition.
But the try scored by Gundry should be the talk of the town.
The headgear wearing fullback fielded a ball 65m out in the centre of the field.
The first thing he did was angle his run toward the sideline looking for space, and he found it on the very edge of the field where he burnt his opponent for pace.
But being next to the sideline, he then cut back on the inside, stepping once and then twice to avoid defenders, finding himself centre field again about 30m from scoring.
He put his foot down and burst away from the Norths’ defence to score next to the posts.
It was a special piece of play by the Bears junior Gundry.
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SPEED DEMONS OF THE MENINGA, CONNELL AND HARVEY 19s
Bryenton only joined Burleigh this season after arriving at Keebra Park SHS at the start of the year from New Zealand.
While the prospect of playing in the Langer Trophy schoolboy competition later this year was appealing, so was a trial offered by the Gold Coast Titans.
But the young centre was not offered a development contract by the Titans following the trials, and now the Broncos were monitoring him.
The young centre was lethal with the ball, but also in defence and looks a promising package who is sure to impact Burleigh’s premiership campaign.
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ROOSTERS SIGN SCHOOLBOY; ROUND 1 TEAM OF THE WEEK
In a 36-4 losing effort to the Bears, Norths lock Jared Horne shone bright once again in the Connell Challenge.
The youngster always has a crack, and at the weekend it was his offloads and bending of the line which earned him a spot in our Team of the Week.
Bears five-eighth Daniel Rakena had his radar on, slotting five-from-five off the tee.
In the Meninga at Bishop Park, Norths No. 17 Jordan Kake produced a game-winning try 90 seconds from full-time to steal a 20-18 win over Burleigh.
For the Devils, Prop Nazareth Taua and lock Lauloto Salei were enormous on both sides of the ball, as was Bears edge forward Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu.
Before that, the Wynnum-Manly Connell side got back in the winners circle thanks to a Man of the Match performance from fullback Tawa-Dean Simpkins. Prop Chaev Kolone also came up huge for the Seagulls.
Coach Ben Weston said Kolone led the way with the Seagulls brick wall defence. “He’s been outstanding. That’s two weeks in a row he’s played the full 60 minutes. He’s been one of our best by far,” Weston said about Kolone stepping up in their 16-0 win over Tweed.
As for Simpkins, Weston said it was his ability to organise the defensive line which helped secure the result.
“He had outstanding communication in the defensive line … Tawa got things going on offence too. He had a blinder.’’
At Kougari Oval, the Seagulls soared in the Meninga Cup with a 40-16 win over Tweed.
That’s four wins on the trot now for Wynnum, who on Saturday were spearheaded to victory by Coby Black, Man of the Match Kylem Vunipola and Jeremiah Havea, who scored two.
X-factor fullback Mason Barber was great for Tweed, as was Toran O’Connell, who made his debut in the second row.
Across the way at the North Ipswich Reserve, the Jets gave us plenty to talk about in both the Connell and Meninga clashes.
In the Connell, Ipswich SHS winger Leroy Charles was the definition of a speed demon — The Flash if you will.
The No. 2 picked up a double in his team’s 28-6 victory over the Wide Bay Bulls and around him five eighth Christian Mikaele resembled Karl Oloapu with his silky smooth playmaking ability.
After a game where he set up both Charles’ tries with masterful grubber kicks, coach Jye Tuaimau-Gadsdon was quick to announce the flare he possesses.
“There is similarities,” Tuaimau-Gadsdon said about Mikaele looking like Australian Schoolboy Oloapu out there.
“Christians got flare. Tons of it … He’s exciting.”
Halfback Tiger Campbell was impressive converting four from five, bone collecting prop Xzavier Timoteo inflicted plenty of pain, while Ipswich Grammar centre Finn Kendall prompted coach Tuaimau-Gadsdon into brainstorming ways to involve him more.
“We don’t use Finn enough. He’s such a weapon for us. The next couple of weeks we need to use him more. Hitting him short will bring success,” Tuaimau-Gadsdon said after Kendall’s game, which featured a Trysaver of the Year contender.
In the Meninga, we were reminded:
+Tyler Peckham-Harris is a handful. The hooker was superb, catching his rivals napping around the ruck and cashing in with two tries out of dummy-half.
+Fullback Jeriah Vagana is an exciting watch when returning the ball from the back. Like Peckham-Harris, Vagana is equipped with everything he needs to play in any backline position. He has a menacing right foot step, he is great under-the high ball, has powerful leg drive in contact and a natural feel for the game.
+ Prop Iosefa Kolio just crunches his rivals. He gets his shoulder in there and leaves bruises.
+The first defender stands little chance against a surging Alton Naiyep.
+Five-eighth Lachlan Stuart is all heart. On one occasion, he made a hat-trick of tackles, keeping the Bulls down their end with a mighty effort. He went bang, bang and bang again with textbook around the legs chops.
Lock Jack Laing had a real captains knock, while Adam Khan showed his wheels when scoring the Bulls lone try in their brave 32-6 losing effort.
Footnote: More coming on the exciting Ipswich Jets team on Wednesday.
Redcliffe’s Meninga squad is progressing well, with prop Michael Waqa, an Albany Crushers junior signed by the Dolphins, playing strongly.
Redcliffe SHS product John Fineanganofo has been great off the bench and Patrick Failahi solid on the right edge.
In the Harvey 19s, the Wynnum girls thwarted Tweed in the first half to come away 34-18 winners. Star fullback Destiny Mino-Sinapati shone with her second consecutive double. Forward Prue Peters also scored twice, both tries coming in the first half.
Second rower Alyssa McCarthy had a great day out as well, scoring and converting five-from-six. For Tweed, Phoenix-Raine Hippi was tough to contain. So much so, she scored two of her team’s three tries on the day.
But, it was Burleigh prop Azariah Wallace who shone brightest in the 19s over the weekend, scoring a terrific hat-trick against Norths. Does it get any better than three tries and a 38-18 victory on the road?
Surely not.
In Townsville, it was a doubles-duel between the Blackhawks and Cutters, with the Mackay girls capturing a 24-18 win — courtesy of centre Jennifer Kimber’s two try effort, and Libby Surha’s back-to-back four pointers, the lock storming out the gates in the second half.
Blackhawks flyer Ashlyn Hoey bagged a first half double on the wing, while centre Thalia Clarke capitalised in the second with two of her own.
In Redcliffe, No. 1 Aspen Nakao was a nuisance for the Tigers defence, crossing twice and injecting herself in other areas around the park. Tiger India Seeto unleashed a few tricks but without the fantastic Malaela Sua, who scored in her BMD premiership debut, the going was tough.
The Dolphins came away 20-14 winners with five tries to Brisbane’s three.
And in Toowoomba, the Falcons fended off the Clydesdales 20-12.
For the Sunshine Coast, Taylor Fitzgerald, Takoda Thompson and Nancy Sullivan were coach Dennis Moore’s most impressive. Meanwhile, Clydesdales lock Mackenzie Zeller, front rower Katelyn Collie and wing Jessica Fitzgibbons were the pick of the players.
See the Teams below, which includes Norths two-try hero, dummy half Harrison Hill, who earned praise from his coach Rob Tanielu along with back rower Nazareth Taua and captain Lauloto Salei.
HARVEY 19s
SQUAD OF THE WEEK
Emily Bella (Cutters)
Ava Walters (Norths)
Jen Kimber (Cutters)
Azariah Wallace (Bears)
Reegan Hicks (Redcliffe)
Grace Giampino (Norths)
Logan Roncato (Blackhawks)
Alenna Whipp (Capras)
Abbie Ritchie (Redcliffe)
Delaney Claridge (Capras)
Lindsay Major-Booth (Capras)
Makeilla Gibson (Blackhawks)
Bella Thompson (Bears)
Nadia Windleborn (Bears)
Memory Paitai (Redcliffe)
Alyssa McCarthy (Wynnum-Manly)
Destiny Mino-Sinapati (Wynnum-Manly)
Prue Peters (Wynnum-Manly)
Phoenix-Raine Hippi (Tweed)
Azariah Wallace (Burleigh)
Jennifer Kimber (Cutters)
Libby Surha (Cutters)
Ashley hoey (Blackhawks)
Thalia Clarke (Blackhawks)
Aspen Nakao (Redcliffe)
Taylor Fitzgerald (Sunshine Coast)
Takoda Thompson (Sunshine Coast)
Nancy Sullivan (Sunshine Coast)
Mackenzie Zeller (Clydesdales)
Katelyn Collie (Clydesdales)
Jessica Fitzgibbons (Clydesdales)
CONNELL CHALLENGE
SQUAD OF THE WEEK
1. Seth Gundry (Burleigh) and Harrison Braithwaite (Bulls)
2. Leroy Charles (Jets) and Lincoln Baker (Blackhawks)
3. Immanuel Kawane (Pride)
4. David Bryenton (Burleigh)
5. Tawa-Dean Simpkins (Wynnum)
6. Christian Mikaele (Jets) and Daniel Rakena (Burleigh)
7. Tiger Campbell (Jets) and Ellyjah Birve (Falcons)
8. Taufa Taulani (Redcliffe) and Chaev Kolone (Wynnum)
9. Tyson Fallon-May (Falcons)
10. Henry Kallquist (Capras) and Xzavier Timoteo (Jets)
11. Eneliko Savelio (Blackhawks)
12. Jared Horne (Norths)
13. Cooper Young (Capras)
14. Harley Igasan (Burleigh)
15. Tylah Akai (Redcliffe)
16. Benny Hunter (Falcons)
17. Cohen Jackson (Cutters)
18. Jason Hastie (Pride)
19. Cooper Benvenuti (Tigers)
20. Tyler Conquest (Falcons)
21. Oscar Vukovich (Clydesdales)
22. Sam Lowien (Clydesdales)
23. Riley Zanetti (Clydesdales)
24. Harry Robinson (Clydesdales)
25. Flynn Battaia (Cutters)
26. Toby Woodall (Cutters).
MENINGA CUP
TEAM OF THE WEEK
1. Mutua Brown (Capras)
2. Tekelu Mene (Blackhawks) and Jeremiah Havea (Wynnm)
3. Harley Walker (Blackhawks)
4. Kylem Vunipola (Wynnum) and Adam Khan (Bulls)
5. Mason Barber (Tweed) and Bailey Anderson (Cutters)
6. Jaxon Purdue (Cutter)
7. Coby Black (Wynnum)
8. Jason Hallie (Pride) and Mafiou Cherif (Jets)
9. Harrison Hill (Norths) and Tyler Peckham-Harris (Jets)
10. Gabriel Tunimakubu (Pride) and Jai Purser (Clydesdales)
11. Nazareth Taua (Norths)
12. Jamal Shibasaki (Blackhawks)
13. Lauloto Salei (Norths), Jack Laing (Jets)
14. Tavita Penaia Te’o (Blackhawks)
15. Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu (Bears), Jett Elich (Falcons)
16. Jared Horne (Norths), Mason Kira (Falcons)
17. Kaiden Lahrs (Blackhawks), Joe Meikle (Falcons)
18. \Braelan Marsh (Capras)
19. Toran O’Connell (Tweed)
20. Max Spraggs (Tigers)
Tekelu Mene was a three-try hero for the Blackhawks in their tight 24-20 take down of the Cutters in Townsville.
Footnote: Watch for our match coverage on Saturday’s and Sunday’s before the Team of the Week on Monday.
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