Brisbane Junior Rugby Union grand final glory: Players of the Day includes emerging Nudgee outside back as top U13, U14, U15, U16 standouts uncovered
BJRU grand finals: See who the Players of the Day were after five stunning Div 1 and 2 deciders between Easts, Logan Saints, Caboolture, Wynnum, Souths, Brothers, and Riverside. The list includes an exciting outside back from Nudgee that set Bottomley Park alight on Sunday.
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The Nudgee College dynasty in GPS First XV rugby looks to be in good hands after one of their emerging outside backs had his fingerprints all over a grand finale for the ages at Bottomley Park on Sunday.
Brothers winger Pierre Poluleuligaga was the single most dangerous player on David Wilson Field in the frantic Brisbane Junior Rugby Union Under-16s division one grand final against Souths.
The match was won 27-24 by Brothers, who scored the go-ahead try one minute from time through fullback Cooper Knowles who planted down a deft grubber kick dabbed in-goal by his teammate.
Just a few minutes prior impressive Souths fullback Malakaih Beals had scored to hand Souths a commanding 24-22 lead approaching full-time but back came the Brethren.
The premiers were headed in the backs by fleet footed winger Poluleuligaga, a Year 10 student at Nudgee who seemed to have spiders on him so prolific was he at evading his first defender.
On Saturday Nudgee’s First XV team were crowned three-peat premiers of the GPS after defeating Brisbane State High 45-28, in the process bringing up the 45th title in the school’s proud rugby history.
The school will look to field another strong side in 2025 and current Year 10 student Poluleuligaga, a Reds Academy player, is a strong chance of featuring in the backline division.
The talented centre, wing or fullback was born in La Pierre, France - hence his first name.
He got the footy genes from his dad Junior, a former Manu Samoa scrumhalf.
Pierre, his dad Junior and family moved across the Tasman last year from Auckland and in less than 20 months, the 16-year-old has made quite the impression.
A Reds Under-15s selection last year, Pierre was also a key piece of Nudgee’s 15As premiership team in 2023.
On Sunday, he was outstanding in Brothers’ three point victory over Souths in the grand final.
Below are some of the other standout rugby rookies that shone bright at Easts on grand final day.
PLAYERS OF THE DAY
U13 DIV 1
EASTS TIGERS 15 DEF LOGAN SAINTS 10
Samson Tofilau (Easts)
Wrecking ball No. 8 Samson Tofilau bolstered a ferocious Easts pack spearheaded by the ferocious Ezra Su’a and his prop buddy Nehechi Clark.
The rip-and-tear backrow just worked and worked and with the ball made inroads, all the while being a terrier who harassed the Saints with his defence.
Morrison Ieli (Saints)
After a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes, the imposing Saints second rower was finally rewarded for his work on both sides of the ball when he crashed over for the first try.
The prime moving lock peeled off the back of a scrum 5m out from Easts line and there was no chance he was getting stopped at full throttle.
The Saints led 5-nil just shy of half time and Ieli was named the official man of the match after an influential performance where he gave Logan City its best chance at victory.
Ezra Su’a (Easts)
The tireless prop and captain garnished his performance with a superb final 10 minutes but long before that he produced desperate tackles near the breakdown and powerful runs either off the quick tap or in general play.
The powerhouse Tigers prop did the heavy lifting for his side and came up big late in the match when his 25m charge up the middle led to a try out wide.
He was relentless.
Eamon Stanbury (Easts)
The scrumhalf was spot on with his service and he fed a feeding frenzy by his fierce forward division.
Stanbury’s kicking for touch was also spot on, as well as his choice of where and when to attack off the quick taps.
His speedy service from the ruck base led to the Tigers first try right on half time by diminutive fullback Kye Hinchy.
The quick between the ears No. 9 set up the equalising try late in the piece when he took off from a quick tap and to put it simply, there were none more influential than Stanbury.
Hunter Porter (Saints)
The Saints flyhalf was impressive with limited touches.
He helped his side out of trouble a handful of times with booming exit kicks and in the first half produced a strong pilfer to steal the ball at the breakdown.
It was off the back of his direct playmaking that the Saints were able to produce two tries with limited attacking chances in the Easts half and you had a sense he had more to give.
Kye Hinchy (Easts)
The tactical kicking fullback displayed several special touches, including a handful of kicks to the corner that ensured the side was playing in the right areas of the field.
He also scored a try when put on a telling goose step close to the line and before this he proved himself on defence when he dislodged the ball in a low chopping tackle.
Liam-Jay Tupou-Witchman (Easts)
The tall Easts inside centre was responsible for the defensive highlight of the game when he made a try saving ankle tap on a runaway Hunter Porter.
Tupou-Withman had already produced a handful of strong carries through the middle and came out of nowhere to deliver this timely tackle around the bootlaces after Saints lock Morrison Ieli had burst through a hole and found Porter on his left in support.
Will Wowor (Easts)
Will Wowor was the tireless machine behind Easts’ attacking thrust, the lock giving his side momentum with his power charges on both sides of the half time break.
He took an incredible amount of carries and was the extra time hero who scored the match winning try in the right corner.
U14 DIV 2
WYNNUM BUGS 24 DEF CABOOLTURE SNAKES 14
Kayden Little (Caboolture)
While his side couldn’t turn the tide with little possession, Little made sure of things with his lineout wins.
The faultless lock was like your modern day 200cm tower that wins lineouts for fun.
Little, wearing jersey No. 4, grabbed all of Danzel Wong’s lineout throws and twice plucked Bugs’ ball out of the air.
Jai Poma (Wynnum)
The positioning of Bugs left wing Jai Poma was perfect and he was justly rewarded with two tries.
Both of Poma’s tries came in the first half when the teams were energetic, and it was anyone’s game.
It set up a 17-7 buffer for his side that kept the Snakes an arms length away.
Liam Merrilees (Caboolture)
The Caboolture captain was a workaholic on both sides of the ball and it set the highest of standards for his team, who would’ve gone a long way had they stayed onside.
Merrilees was always in or around the action as an inside centre and his rollicking 25 run early in the match led to Caboolture’s first try scored by La’kye Filipo.
He was always near for a clearance kick or cover tackle and he was unlucky to be shown yellow for a tipping tackle that could have been deemed legal.
Iosefo Taateo (Caboolture)
The imposing Redcliffe State High School outside centre was dangerous with limited opportunities and with more ball, he could have really let rip.
In attack, Taateo’s powerful leg drive saw him make plenty of post contact metres and he was always looking to get the ball free to a supporting teammate.
Riley Young (Wynnum)
Busy all game, classy Wynnum Bugs conductor Riley Young produced a stellar finals showing with the brilliant creation of a try for his centre Tate Firmin a highlight in the second half.
It was golden try stuff from the crafty playmaker to find Fletcher Foster who then unloaded to Firmin.
Earlier in the match he was masterful with his cut out passes across both sides of his body.
Sporting bright green headgear, Young was the mastermind behind Wynnum’s attacking shape and he also kicked two brilliant conversions from out wide to go along with his top notch touchfinders.
Tate Firmin (Wynnum)
Firmin was Young’s right hand man along with Poma and together they formed a terrific trio which spearheaded the Bugs’ premiership pursuit.
Firmin was fantastic with his ball playing down the right edge and his draw-and-pass led to Wynnum’s first two tries and outside of this he defended stoically and attacked the breakdown with ferocity.
Xander Krumrey and Jazz Gosper (Wynnum)
The Wynnum prop pairing just toiled and toiled and it played a big part in the match.
Their scrummaging was strong as well.
U14 DIV 1
RIVERSIDE 22 DEF SAINTS 19
Nelsoni Takai (Saints)
The hulking Saints hooker was well contained in the second half but his stirring frist half performance set a great foundation for his side.
Kobe Te Kiri (Saints)
The excellent Saints scrumhalf offered sublime service from start to finish and he did more grunt work on the defensive end than you’d think.
An exciting King’s Christian College ace, Te Kiri offered boundless energy and the service of dreams for his ball runners.
Tyson Tai (Saints)
The emerging Brisbane State High School rugby rook went looking for work and made inroads with every carry.
A player sure to stand out at some point during next week’s Emerging Reds Cup, Tai plays dummyhalf in rugby league and switches into flanker in the 15-a-side game where he got the Saints rumbling forward with his charges from the ruck base.
Tavai Siaunuua (Riverside)
The captivating left winger had fans cheering early in the second half when he pulled off the try of the match, a 40m stunner down the left touchline.
After receiving a great cut out pass from his No. 8 Jack Slattery, Siaunuua sprung out of a tackle, had the speed to kick away from another defender and then shrugged off another tackle to score a beauty in the corner.
It handed Riverside a 8-5 advantage but almost immediately Isaac Tilcock and Isaiah te Pairi combined to retake the lead for Logan.
Siaunuua’s fullback Kilifi Fetuuaho was also very good.
Isaac Tilcock (Saints)
Tilcock was safe as houses at fullback and his steady performance demanded respect.
The smart No. 15 knew when to go to ground, when to offload, when to run, kick or pass and he was just a conscious decision maker until forcing an offload late in the match.
His 50m run that set up a try to Isaiah te Pairi was wonderful.
Joseph Keke and Danny Soloai (Riverside)
The dominant Riverside front row unit of Joseph Keke (loosehead) and Danny Soloai (tighthead) nullified the Logan scrum and repelled any attacking raids launched at them when the Saints forwards marched in.
Keke was king laying the foundation for Riverside’s second try scored by Soloai when he carved a gorge through the Logan line with a ferocious carry.
The prop pairing were still bending bodies back late in the game with their carries.
Elijah Nosa (Riverside)
The big man was at the epicentre of Riverside’s strong first half performance with his strong runs and angled lines getting his team on the front foot.
A half-hour later the wide channel weapon was still moving mountains for his team in the scorching heat, Nosa scoring the all-important go ahead try for Riverside that snatched a telling 22-19 lead.
He was awarded the official man of the match and boy did he deserve it.
Kilifi Fetuuaho (Riverside)
Fetuuaho was Mr reliable for Riverside, a capable ballplayer whose safety under the garryowens, return carries and positioning was just first rate.
He didn’t score or do anything flashy but he was a great link man for his backs and looked threatening when he had room to rove.
He played fullback and was key defensively as well.
U15 DIV 1
EASTS 9 DEF SOUTHS 3
Kiedis Lyons (Easts)
The Easts fullback played a crucial role from start to finish, kicking his side to safety with his trusted boot.
The sniping goalkicker scored all nine of his team’s points with penalty goals and troubled the Souths’ back three players with his spiral kicks that resembled those of Bulldogs playmaker Matt Burton.
He knew where the game had to be played and ensured it was with his territorial kicking.
His kicking game was outstanding.
Lachan Watts (Souths)
He was close to the smallest player on the field but that didn’t matter. The scrumhalf dynamo was supreme directing his forwards around the breakdown and marshalling his outside men into position.
He came off 20 minutes from time and during his time on the field he was a chief communicator.
Isaac Lui (Easts)
The Easts flanker just demanded a mention here.
After all, he returned to the field after coming off early with an injury that appeared serious.
When he came on he was tireless and before he left the field after getting clobbered in a clean-out, he was faultless reeling in Souths’ kick restarts and taking the ball forward.
Thomas Haynes and Ihaka Tipene (Easts)
These two were the kings of line speed and it suffocated the Souths attackers so well they could only produce three points off the kicking tee.
Tipene and Haynes, the midfield pairing for Easts, rushed up every time and thwarted the Souths outside backs with stoic defence.
Hugh Stanbury (Easts)
The flame-haired flanker took notes of his younger brother Eamon’s performance earlier in the day to produce a rip-roaring defensive showing.
Stanbury was the head of the snake, a defensive henchman that saved his best for last to repel a big Souths pack that had a size advantage.
The nimble 14-year-old had plenty of help in backrowers Harvey Bishop and Isaac Lui.
Noel Faataape, Teauariki Siaoloa and Iverson Anitema (Souths)
The powerful Souths big men did the early lifting with their carries around the ruck and then when the going got tough they lifted.
Front rowers who mimicked loose forwards in rugby league, Faataape, Siaoloa and Anitema led from the front with their rib cage, driving defence and quick hands among the forwards and backs in the face of a harassing Tigers defensive line.
U16 DIV 1
BROTHERS 27 DEF SOUTHS 24
Pierre Poluleuligaga (Brothers)
In yet another close encounter on grand final day at Easts, left wing Pierre Poluleuligaga was the most threatening on the park.
The workaholic wing had spiders on him and any time he took a carry he drew in a handful of defenders who had to swarm to get him to ground.
He got through more work in one half of footy than you see a winger get through in an entire match and his incursions from the backfield captured momentum for the Brethren.
Malakaih Beals (Souths)
It’s no secret Brisbane State High are building something in their rugby program and a name sure to bob up in the 2025 season is young Malakaih Beals.
The speedy fullback, who last year played in the Reds Under-15s alongside towering teammate Manasa Vunibola and prop Jeremiah Harbottle, was excellent in cover defence and counter attacking.
He scored what looked to be the match winner five minutes from full time before Brothers fullback Cooper Knowles chased a deft grubber kick into the in-goal and scored the dagger.
Spaniyon-Lee Gray (Souths)
What a weapon.
The headgear wearing No. 8 had the Midas touch in this one, dealing damage with every carry.
With the ball tucked tightly under his left arm, Gray pounced to score Souths second try after earlier in the match laying the foundation for a Justice Heta try.
The dynamic big man had speed, agility and a v8 engine.
Malachi Figota (Brothers)
The Ipswich State High student was the mobile big man he always is.
A Reds Under-15s selection last year, Figota forced his rivals to front up in numbers in order to bring him down and his careful selection of when to unload in contact was impressive.
He was one of Brothers’ prime movers in attack and so was his brother Micah when he was on the field.
Oscar Condron (Souths)
Condron could make a living defending.
The kid just tackled and tackled until there was no one left to tackle, Condron bringing Archie Illot along with him on the ride.
He was tireless with his defensive efforts and he was equally impressive with his clean-outs at the breakdown.
Manasa Vunibola (Souths)
Can we get a round of applause for the explosive second rower out of Brisbane State High?
On Saturday Vunibola was a part of BSHS’s forward brigade that challenged eventual premiers Nudgee and less than 24 hours later he was shedding tackles in this grand final.
The Queensland Reds Academy forward, capable of playing lock, flanker and No. 8, moved swiftly across the park like an outside back.
Rohan Nichol (Brothers)
Guess who emerged out of a heap late in the game after making a try saving tackle on his goal line?
It was Sunshine Coast Grammar midfielder Rohan Nichol, Brothers’ inside centre whose straight line runs, astute defence and support play was everything.
He had a crucial touch in an attacking passage sparked by Pierre Poluleuligaga which led to Malachi Figota scoring the go-ahead try to lead 22-19.
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