Fantastic Harvey under-19, under-17 girls league talent highlighted in round 2 Teams of the Week

Elite Teams of the Weeks have been named after round 2 of the Harvey Norman under-17 and under-19 female rugby league competitions. Top guns from all 14 clubs featured here.

Harvey Norman under-17s, Round 1, CQ Capras versus Townsville Blackhawks at Webb Park, Yeppoon, on February 15, 2025.

The next generation of NRLW players aren’t on their way. They have arrived.

The exceptional quality of talent currently contesting Queensland’s Harvey Norman under-17 and under-19 representative competitions became even more apparent in round 2 when powerful props, fleet-footed backs and crafty playmakers from all corners of South East Queensland left their mark on matches.

Harvey under-17s action between the Seagulls and Magpies in round 1. Picture: Stephen Archer.

Middle forwards Carayanidis Ta’Akimoeaka-Pulu (Tigers) and Olivia Filikitonga (Bears) were terrific, conductor Lily Bain (Sunshine Coast) brilliant in the under-17s while representative players Savannah Roberts-Hickling (Tweed), Deleni Paitai (Dolphins) and Jennifer Kimber (Cutters) shone in the older age group.

LATEST MENINGA, CONNELL CUP TEAMS OF THE WEEK

They are all featured in a Super Six of players recognising those who went above and beyond to give their respective teams a boost last weekend.

Read on for a flashback to round 2’s showdowns and on Saturday evening, watch for www.couriermail.com.au coverage of matches in all four male and female junior representative age groups.

Mikaela Blades of the Western Clydesdales was a class act again against the Wide Bay Bulls in Harvey Norman U17s round 2. Picture: Kevin Farmer

HARVEY 17S SUPER SIX

Lily Bain (Sunshine Coast Falcons)

Rising Sunshine Coast Falcons talent Lily Bain. Picture: Phil Bradeley.

After dusting off the cobwebs in round 1 the Falcons came out guns blazing in round two with their sweeping attacking play admired by many.

Bain, a playmaking whippersnapper, executed her side’s attacking chances with ease, scoring a hat trick of tries herself while her halves partner Marley Chan also crossed for a double.

The Falcons 30-0 halftime lead finished 44-12 with Bain’s rapid footwork, passing skills and footy IQ standing out.

“We had a great training session on Thursday so to put into play what we practised today was really pleasing and really helped us perform,” Bain said after Saturday’s match.

“It makes my job a lot simpler when I have so many girls running off my hip or creating space out wide.

“We finished off our attacking chances really well so hopefully we can continue that form.”

The Falcons will travel to Bundaberg to face the Wide Bay Bulls in round 3.

Keelie Hilt (Clydesdales)

Keelie Hilt of the Western Clydesdales.

Clydesdales players will soon find out one of the blessings of having edge forward Keelie Hilt in the mix is the sheer consistency at which she performs.

Regardless of whether the team is flowing, or whether they are struggling, second row Hilt gives the impression she would maintain a high standard with her intensity in defence and her runs. The Clydesdales were not flowing during the first half last last weekend’s clash with the Bulls and Hilt helped dragged her side back on track and eventually win well - after the Bulls gave them a fright.

Hilt, a glue player of the pack, is a tremendous defender who hits and sticks in tackles. She is also a Ms Reliable when having a stints, if needed, at dummyhalf.

The Brothers junior is also a competitive netballer of considerable standing.

Affrica-Jade Hippi (Tweed)

Hippi’s fitness, agility and involvement in the final third of Saturday’s skirmish was a huge factor in her side climbing over the top of a powerful Souths Logan to win late, again.

A lightweight No.13, Hippi played a little like former Penrith and NSW Origin utility Tyrone Peachey, with her footwork, energy and workrate impacting the match profoundly.

“She dug deeper than ever before at the beginning of the game to come up with some desperate defence at key moments in the game,’’ Tweed coach Veronica White praised.

“She is a true workhorse and is always wondering how she can do even better after every game.”

Carayanidis Ta’Akimoeaka-Pulu (Tigers)

Powerhouse middle forward Carayanidis Ta'Akimoeaka-Pulu. Picture: Benny Hassum Photography.

In a high quality game between Easts and Wynnum Manly, it was Tigers middle forward Carayanidis Ta’Akimoeaka-Pulu whose performance dictated the result.

A powerful runner, Ta’Akimoeaka-Pulu was a metre eater who got the team rolling forward and on the front foot.

She scored two tries and was Ferocious with a capital F.

Olivia Filikintonga (Bears)

At Bishop Park, another middle forward proved the decisive difference between two evenly matched teams.

Filikintonga had the strength of a prop forward and the silky ball skills of a spine player.

She played the power game perfectly to get her side charging forward but also had the awareness to know when to shift the ball wider. When it came down to it, Filikintonga made the decisive, match-defining play when she drew in four defenders and unleashed Isabella Brown who scored to take a 20-16 lead on the cusp of time and snatch victory.

Filikintonga wasn’t just a late game wonder. She was heavily involved from the first whistle and stood out like a sore thumb.

Paige Stagg (Devils)

Dummyhalf Paige Stagg scored two tries and played all 60 minutes for Norths. Picture credit: Max Ellis/ Norths Devils Media.

You wouldn’t believe how much Stagg positively dictated the Devils’ efforts and it was all the more impressive when you take into account that Burleigh shot out of the gates with three early tries.

The Devils stormed back into the contest and Stagg was to thank with a smart scoot from the ruck to score and a brilliant grubber kick behind the defence later in the match.

It was a split-second decision to dab a grubber into the in goal area and when she dived onto the ball, all of a sudden the Devils had their first lead at 16-14 with 12 minutes to play.

Stagg was a fine performer in round 1 against a Tigers team that was clicking and in round 2 led the way again with an enormous 60-minute effort.

HARVEY 17S TEAM OF THE WEEK

1. Lacey McLaren (Tweed)

2. Tahli Flux (Jets)

3. Mia McKenzie (Bears)

4. Ciarn MacBride (Pride)

5. Isabella Brown (Bears)

6. Torah Luadaka (Tweed)

7. Lily Bain (Falcons)

8. Carayanidis Ta’Akimoeaka-Pulu (Tigers)

9. Emily Whittaker (Wynnum Manly)

10. Olivia Filikitonga (Bears)

11. Riley-Jay Henry-Purcell (Tigers)

12. Keelie Hilt (Clydesdales)

13. Affrica-Jade Hippi (Tweed)

14. Diamond Graham (Tweed)

15. Annabel Hales (Devils)

16. Macey Lahrs (Blackhawks)

17. Mikaela Blades (Clydesdales)

18 Ella Duncan (Cutters)

19. Charlotte Keki (Tigers)

20. Tah’ Lucy Querro (Blackhawks)

Sedeequa Nelson of Western Clydesdales. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Special mentions: Alexis Bukowski (Capras), Khiara-Lee Liuvaie (Wynnum Manly), Camryn Phillips (Devils), Te Heihinapouri Mark (Wynnum Manly), Marley Chan (Falcons), Lanelle Maui (Clydesdales), Lieseth Ware (Devils), Sedeequa Nelson (Clydesdales), Alyssa Ale (Pride), Niya Hodge (Pride), Elishama Suavai (Pride), Trinity White (Cutters), Lieseth Ware (Devils), Chezaan Kainui (Bears), Simaima Vainga (Devils), Leilarnie Short (Devils)

HARVEY 19S SUPER SIX

Layla Geck (Pride)

Layla Geck playing for Pride against Cutters this season. Picture:Michaela Harlow

Geck was the undisputed Queen of No.9s during round 2 after an outstanding performance in the Pride’s 16-6 win over the Capras on Saturday.

From the Ivanhoes’ club, the former Holy Cross student and Smithfield SHS product had a blinder in wet conditions to give her team a boost.

“She was phenomenal at 9 and played the full game,’’ Pride coach Bevan Walker said in praise.

Does that surprise anyone from the Far North Queensland region? Geck has been a high achiever for years and was a staple in FNQ representative squads.

Grace Maxwell (Tweed)

Maxwell hails from near the foot of the Snowy Mountains but has found a home the township of Coomera, so she will be enjoying the sun and the warm sea water temperatures.

She is also enjoying her time on the field where, on Saturday, the No.13 was a driving force in the Seagulls defeat of a strong Souths Logan outfit.

Maxwell gained valuable experience last year playing for the Canberra Raiders in the Tarsha Gale Cup and has brought motivation and that country toughness to this impressive Tweed squad.

Jennifer Kimber (Cutters)

Jennifer Kimber of the Mackay Cutters playing against Townsville Blackhawks last Saturday. Picture:Michaela Harlow

The representative outside back cracked the match wide open with a solo try midway through the second half.

It had been a pitched battle in the rain, with both forward packs bravely slugging it out. Even on heavy footing Kimber was able to get her Rolls Royce engines moving when she stormed down a wide blindside from a scrum, racing 25m to score a crucial try which raised her side from 4-nil to 8-nil.

In the final moments the Moranbah East State School past student was also on hand to scoop up a dropped ball and score.

It was her 37th minute solo try however which was the glittering gem.

Fleur Ginn (Tigers)

Porche John and Fleur Ginn. Harvey Norman U19s Wynnum V Easts, BMD Kougari Oval, 22.02.25. pics by Stephen Archer

Seemingly a constant threat in whatever code she plays, Ginn was again instrumental from the back for the Tigers.

Fast off the mark and decisive when running the ball, the well-balanced fullback forged a gap between Seagulls defenders twice when their defence looked set.

Ginn’s rugby 7s, touch football and rugby background also served her well because she left defenders in two minds when charging at full throttle with the ball in two hands.

She scored twice and was a whisker away from nabbing two try assists (referee ruled both as forward passes).

Angel Austin (Clydesdales)

In an enthralling match against the Dolphins winger Angel Austin did the little things right, the one percenters, to have her team in the box seat for much of the proceedings.

Austin positioned herself nicely to score a try but the most impressive aspect of her performance last Saturday was her eagerness to get involved.

The metres she gained was a highlight, as were her fast ‘play the balls’ and steady eddy defence.

Bella Thompson (Bears)

No one-girl army could topple the daring Devils at Bishop Park. It required a full team effort.

At the back, Bella Thompson gave her side a slight edge with her elusive running skills, tackling tenacity and telling injections into the line.

Thompson scored a beauty early in the match and later on showed plenty of character shrugging off a knock to the head and getting back to business as usual after playing 50 minutes of end-to-end footy.

HARVEY 19S TEAM OF THE WEEK

Burleigh Harvey Norman under-19s fullback Bella Thompson.

1. Jennifer Kimber (Cutters)

2. Bella Thompson (Bears)

3. Brianna Toopi (Bears)

4. Te Arani Vulu (Devils)

5. Angel Austin (Clydesdales)

6. Savannah Roberts-Hickling (Tweed)

7. Natalia Hickling (Tweed)

8. Te Ngaroahiahi Fanua Awhina Rimoni (Devils)

9. Layla Geck (Pride)

10. Mia Eteru (Pride)

11. Deleni Paitai (Dolphins)

12. Reagan McMillan (Clydesdales)

13. Grace Maxwell (Tweed)

14. Mia Byrnes (Clydesdales)

15. Lishainah Ulugia (Tigers)

16. Fleur Ginn (Tigers)

17. Selina Cowley (Cutters)

18. Kaliyah Browning (Tweed)

19. Mariah Tihopu (Pride)

20. Saupo-Mina Toeleiu (Tigers)

Lishainah Ulugia was excellent for the Tigers.

Special mentions: Bailey Sorbello (Devils), Eliza Morcom (Clydesdales), Charlotte Wells (Wynnum Manly), Aspen Nakao (Dolphins), Kiara Wright (Tweed), Kaliyah Browning (Tweed), Nadia Windleborn (Bears), Riana Le’afa-Paki (Devils), Grace King (Bears), Ella Cronin-Flanagan (Cutters), Eta Sikahele (Bears), Ariana Henderson (Wynnum Manly), Takoda Thompson (Falcons), Chelsea Middleton (Clydesdales), Kayleen Takai (Tigers), Chaise Windle (Wynnum Manly), Zoe Robson (Clydesdales), Ruby Bezgovsek (Dolphins), Sienna Trew (Souths Logan), Alessana Betham (Souths Logan).Zali Bettridge (Bears), Courtney Tyrell (Norths).