Broncos signed young gun makes TAS First XV Team of the Week
A Year 12 student signed with the Brisbane Broncos has made the Courier-Mail’s TAS First XV Rugby Team of the Week.
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A Brisbane Broncos signed young gun has made our TAS First XV Team of the Week.
John Paul College’s Beni Allen is one of the hottest prospects in Queensland rugby league who recently knocked back an offer from the Gold Coast Titans to sign a full contract with the Broncos.
The year 12 student plays lock or centre in rugby union for his school, and this season played in the No. 13 jersey representing Wynnum Manly Seagulls in the Meninga Cup under 18 rugby league competition.
A Ormeau Shearers league junior since aged seven, he earned a JPC scholarship after being spotted by John Paul College playing seven-a-side rugby for the Logan Saints rugby union club.
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CLUB RUGBY: COLTS 1 TEAM OF THE WEEK, WOMEN’S REPORT ROUND 3
John Paul College is a mighty production line for sporting talent from Wallabies to Olympians to Australian netball and basketball representatives, and now you can add Allen to the list – such is his untapped potential.
He is such a prodigious talent that last season we named Allen in our Boom Boys squad with an eye to the Queensland State of Origin team in 2027 – and beyond.
On Saturday, playing as a roving No. 8, Allen dominated Cannon Hill Anglican College with his powerhouse running and reading of play.
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COLTS 1 RUGBY TEAM OF THE WEEK – ROUND 2
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Fullback: Laif Williams (Ormiston)
This is Laif Williams’ third consecutive appearance in the TAS Team of the Week. If he continues to play this well, he will feature every round. Williams showed why he is the best inside centre in the competition when executing a masterful 50-22 kick to march his side up the field. Williams made two try preventing tackles on his opposite number to uplift his team and prevent Columban’s gaining a lead. His exits, kicks for field position, and perfect goal kicking allowed his team to defeat last year’s TAS First XV schoolboy rugby winners. “He’s like our general. Our talisman. He’s perfect with the goal kicking at the moment, but he just knows to plug corners. He was outstanding, and he made lots of cover tackles,” assistant coach Kris Peterman said. We named him at fly half to get the best 15 players into our Team of the Week.
Wing: Peter McGrath (Columban’s)
McGrath gave his all in Columban’s 7-point loss at the hands of Ormiston on Saturday afternoon. He made a massive tackle on opposing winger Dylan Penniket scooting down the sideline, and set up reserve Harry Wilson in the corner to finally get his team on the board late in the second-forty. McGraths pride and passion for the badge on his chest was obvious, and he and his team will look to bounce back.
Centre: Myron Taupati- Campbell (Columban’s)
Big Taupati-Campbell was hard to contain when charging past the advantage line at full pelt. He made a crunching tackle on Ormiston fullback Jamal Meena, and finished off the job by pilfering and turning over the ball. After plenty of strong carries and making post-contact metres, the centre was there when it mattered. Taupati-Campbell crashed over for Columban’s second try late in the second half to edge closer. They ran out of time, but you knew Myron had the ball when passionate supporters from the sideline were cheering him on.
Centre: Beni Allen (John Paul College)
Allen stamped his class all over the match with powerhouse running that led to him scoring on two occasions, and triggering JPC attacking movements on both sides of the halfway line. He is so versatile he could also play centre with ease. We named him at centre to get the best 15 players into our Team of the Week.
Wing: Jim Dreier (WestMAC)
Dreier had a heartfelt game in defence against a visibly larger and stricter St Paul’s backline. Dreier scored for WestMAC off a well executed set piece play from the scrum.
Fly half: Ryan Fitzgerald (Columban’s)
Columban’s fly half Ryan Fitzgerald looked dangerous with ball in hand, however Ormiston’s defence managed to restrict the damage the young playmaker could deal. He did a great job straightening up the attack which created many scoring opportunities that were shut down with plenty of heroic tackles. His decision making was spot on, always timing his passes to perfection, and drawing in defenders to create overlaps.
Halfback: James Bent (WestMAC)
Dent communicated well with his teammates and structured the team in both attack and defence. He has been learning quickly this season and will no doubt continue to improve as the season progresses.
No. 8: Daniel Body (Ormiston)
Soaring No. 8 Daniel Body got down to business early on Saturday with a brilliant pilfer to win Ormiston the ball. He kept working hard, making several body-crunching tackles on his opposition. It was evident that Body played a colossal role in Ormiston’s win. Whether it was at the back of Ormiston’s scrum, lifting in the lineout or lifting his teammates with his vocal presence. Body was psyching his team up for the whole game, and you could see how proud he was after snatching a 17-10 victory over St Columban’s.
Flanker: Matt Hayes (WestMAC)
Hayes had another game with strong carries against St Paul’s and a felt presence around the paddock. He scored a crucial try in the first half to get WestMAC on the scoreboard. His five-pointer came off a pick and drive utilising strong leg drive and body height.
Flanker: Jack Brown (WestMAC)
Brown had a very strong game in defence, and maintained a high work rate around the paddock. Brown was a rock in the lineouts for WestMAC supported by Liam Theron and Thomas Dove.
Lock: Riley O’Brien (Ormiston)
O’Brien had a huge game for Ormiston on Saturday, popping up everywhere to hold off a charging Columbans attack. O’Brien held down his team’s defence, and kept Columban’s scoreless until the last 10 minutes. He made a try saver on Columban’s winger Peter McGrath. This try saver led to a spectacular 60m runaway try by winger Jack Johnston which pushed Ormiston ahead 17-0. “He doesn’t always get the applause, but he’s just in the breakdowns, in the counter rucks, and he runs our lineouts. We were really impressed with him,” Ormiston assistant coach Kris Peterman said.
Lock: Devlyn Nel (Columban’s)
Nel is one of Columban’s most valued players. You could tell how much his team missed him when he was shown a yellow card halfway through the second half. He is always there on defence, shutting the opposition down. He was a rock all afternoon in the lineout for Columban’s. He had a cracking run down the middle of the field which led to Myron Taupati-Campbell’s try.
Prop: Matt Siver (Columban’s)
Columban’s prop Matt Siver had some great runs and was a standout in the forward pack. His team came out fired up to begin the second half on Saturday, and Siver was at the forefront of their harassing defence which had Ormiston scrambling under pressure in their 22.
Hooker: Noah Coleman (John Paul College)
Coleman buried himself deep in the forward action against CHAC and came out with many small battle victories across the match. No doubt emblazoned by playing alongside a possession winning pack, he threw himself into the contact with confidence and to great effect.
Prop: Oscar Neuendorf-King (CHAC)
This young man knows no fear. Regardless of the circumstances, regardless of if he is out numbered or not, he bravely trucks the ball forward, relishing the contact of pick and drive and rolling maul play. CHAC are lucky to have him in the engine room.
Reserves:
Prop: Liam Theron (WestMAC)
It was the same performance as other weeks for trusty prop Liam Theron. Theron carried the ball strong into contact and made dominant tackles in defence. Due to the lack of ball possession in the second-forty, Theron was starved of the opportunity to really deal damage.
Lock: Joseph Nkandira Brock (John Paul College)
Nkandira Brock was a ball of energy in his starting debut, running from break down to break with the gusto of an open side flanker.
Flanker: Tanner Baker (St Paul’s)
Baker worked hard in defence and attack
Wing: Dylan Hartshorne (St Paul’s)
In his First XV debut, Hartshorne scored a great try.
Prop: Harrison Carter (St Paul’s)
Carter played the whole game making telling defensive plays.
ROUND 4
St Paul’s v St Columban’s
WestMAC v Canterbury
JPC v Ormiston
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