FINALS FEVER: Club rugby’s unsung heroes, most improved and surprise packet players uncovered ahead of sudden death semi finals
Club rugby finals fever: Who were the unsung heroes, most improved and surprise packet players sure to influence this weekend’s sudden death semi-finals? Over 30 uncovered here.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Who were the unsung heroes and most improved players in the Colts 1 and StoreLocal Premier Women and Hospital Cup competitions this season?
With the sudden death semi-finals looming, take a look back on another fantastic year of Queensland Premier club rugby with this revelation on the players that made their teams tick and the players who came out of the woodwork to be knocking on the door of the Queensland Reds’ Super Rugby and Super W teams.
GPS FIRST XV RUGBY TEAM OF THE WEEK, ROUND 6
In Premier Woman action, the winner of Easts versus Sunnybank will face Bond University in the grand final.
In Colts 1 action, Souths and Bond University will butt horns to determine who will face Wests in the grand final.
In Hospital Cup action, Wests and University will go head to head for a spot in the big dance against reigning premiers Brothers.
CLUB RUGBY FINALS GAMEBREAKERS
CLUB RUGBY SEMI FINALS COVERAGE
CLUB RUGBY SEMI FINALS TEAMS OF THE WEEK
MOST IMPROVED PLAYERS
Alexandra Inwood (Easts, Premier Women)
Easts have unearthed a handful of promising youngsters in season 2024 and the most improved, according to fellow young gun Abbi Spooner, was Alex Inwood.
The Summerville House Year 12 “has improved so much” and after missing a few games to start the season she made an impact as an outside back when given her chance.
She wore jersey No.18 in Easts’ 10-3 semi final win over Wests last Sunday.
Lebron Paramore-Naea (Wests, Hospital Cup)
The powerful 20-year-old midfielder hit his straps in the back end of the season for Wests.
The former Rebels Academy ace had not played much for the Bulldogs over the last two seasons but this season, especially in the second round, he has found his feet.
He can deal damage running the ball and playmaking for those around him.
James Tapiri (University, Hospital Cup)
Vice captain Tom Molloy would have noticed it more than anyone. The improvement of outside centre James-Simpson-Te-Pairi.
The New Zealand newcomer has been immense for the Red Heavies in their resurgent season, vital in the midfield with his ball playing and strong ball carrying.
“He has gone from strength to strength,” praised flanker and captain Adam Korczyk.
Will Cartwright (Brothers, Hospital Cup)
Scrumhalf Will Cartwright has improved out of sight over the last 18 months and would fit the mould of a surprise packet player as well because of how influential he has proved in his first year playing grades.
The livewire scrumhalf is a Mr Natural and just gets it. That is why Brothers coach Ben McCormack had to find a way to get him into his side, even if it meant having him on the wing.
He is too important not to have.
Will Carter (Bond University, Colts 1)
The Southport School product Will Carter has been eager to learn and grow this season and the results of his hard work are coming to fruition.
His defence is what really stands out and with a couple injuries in the Bull Sharks shiver the openside flanker pounced on his opportunity.
He retained the No.7 jersey to influence Bond’s stoic defensive showing at Sunnybank last weekend.
Matt Robertson (Souths, Colts 1)
Souths lock Robertson has come into his own this season.
From a fringe Colts 1 player to a trusted performer who can do a job well, Robertson is in a purple patch of form and has been consistent for the minor premiers.
Will Pascoe (Wests, Colts 1)
Big bodied Townsville terror Will Pascoe came into the season good and is finishing it great with grand final bound Wests.
The second rower has come into his own in the back end of the season, Pascoe using his power and size to send a tremor through the opposition defensive line.
Athlete Nayacalevu (Sunnybank, Premier Women)
Nayacalevu couldn’t wesel her way into a bumper Sunnybank starting XV in the semi-final last week but possesses the ability to make a difference in jersey No.23.
In a team full of emerging youngsters, Nayacalevu is one of the youngest and has made an impression with her high work rate.
“Whenever she gets the ball there is always something,” Sunnybank captain Sera Koroi said.
Eva Butler (Bond University, Premier Women)
A front rower who can play hooker and prop, Butler moved south from Townsville where she played for the Western Suburbs Dragons as an influential openside flanker.
In her first season with the Bull Sharks, Butler has been a staple at training giving 100 per cent as one of the babies of the squad and has not looked one bit out of place.
UNSUNG HEROES
Rosie Ebbage (Easts, Premier Women)
The tall, representative backrower out of Downlands College is a cut above and her work around the ground demands respect.
The 22-year-old played for the Force in the Super W earlier this season and her presence was felt upon her return.
Jack Brady (University, Hospital Cup)
Brady is the jack of all trades behind University’s set-piece.
The unsung lock has been a strong ball carrier all season long for the Red Heavies and moves mountains for his side in the lineouts.
Jake Tierney (University, Hospital Cup)
Brisbane Boys’ College old boy Jake Tierney was there last year when University missed the finals and has again been a staple of consistency in a great season for the club.
The towering hooker holds up his end of the bargain at scrum time, in his hooking role and around the pitch where he works hard for a big boy.
Brad Hemopo (Brothers, Hospital Cup)
What a coup Brad Hemopo has been for The Brethren over the last two seasons.
The explosive, 194cm No.8 powerhouse has played every game and every minute this season.
The elite Christchurch Boys High School product just goes and goes and his mix of athleticism and power has seen him set the butchery alight on multiple occasions this year.
Cal Hope (Wests, Hospital Cup)
He is no flash dan but Brisbane Boys’ College product Cal Hope is as important as any in Wests’ pursuit of the Hospital Cup trophy.
“He does all the hard work stuff,” captain Connor Anderson said of his workhorse second rower Hope.
Kobe Waikato (Bond University, Colts 1)
Bond University midfielder Kobe Waikato has come on leaps and bounds this season as a more senior member of the group.
He had on the job training last season in and around Colts 1 but this year was a regular in the team, leading the backs around and snaring line break assists with his ball playing and goose step.
Harry Bell (Bond University, Colts 1)
Boundless tighthead prop Harry Bell spearheads Bond University’s scrum, leads the chat and brings the energy to battle.
You’d be hard-pressed finding a tighthead of his importance in the Colts 1 competition.
Cadell Rees (Souths, Colts 1)
Cadell Rees has been at the epicentre of Souths’ epic run over the last two seasons where they twice won the minor premiership.
The no-nonsense lock does the grunt work and is a team player through and through.
Rory Bliss (Wests, Colts 1)
Lock Rory Bliss has gone about his work quietly and effectively this season and the reward was a Queensland Reds Under-19s call up.
He does things no one wants to do, and has been part of the brains trust behind Wests’ dominant set-piece.
The 18-year-old is one of the premier lineout disruptors in the competition and he also has a knack of winning the ball at the breakdown.
Shy Rowlands (Sunnybank, Premier Women)
A tried and tested veteran of StoreLocal Premier Women club rugby, Rowlands’ effort never wavers whether it is the first round of the season or round 18 when the minor premiership is secured.
She is a workaholic, someone who is always an option for ball runners.
Shelly Fox (Bond University, Premier Women)
Shelly Fox’s importance to the reigning premiers is two fold.
The veteran tighthead prop is a scrum time machine who hits and sticks in defence, while also being a shoulder to lean on for the younger members of the squad.
She is the dream teammate according to exciting outside back Eva Doblo.
HARDEST HITTERS
Angelo Smith (Wests, Hospital Cup)
Fijian enforcer Angelo Smith takes the cake for hardest hitter at Wests, according to former Alec Evans medallist Connor Anderson.
The capped Melbourne Rebels giant hits hard with force and has the skills of an inside back.
Loretta Lealiifano (Easts, Premier Women)
Another big hitter leaving bruises on her opponents is triple threat Easts midfielder Loretta Lealiifano.
Finding a more well rounded player in the competition would be almost impossible, she is that skilled.
Despite her ball carrying and playmaking being elite, it’s on the defensive side of the ball where she is at her most unforgiving.
April Ngatupuna (Easts, Premier Women)
Diminutive Easts fullback Abbi Spooner said it perfectly. “Don’t run into her,” she warned about running into utility forward April Ngatupuna.
The 21-year-old Easts front rower or No.8 from Wellington has represented the Reds as well as the Cowboys and Titans in the NRLW and is a real wrecking ball on both sides of the ball.
Zoe Hanna (Bond University, Premier Women)
Bond University’s No.8 or flanker has been at the epicentre of the club’s premiership campaigns in 2022 and 2023 and again in 2024 was a forward leader.
She runs hard, hits hard in defence and is always near the action in anticipation.
Luana Tongia (Sunnybank, Premier Women)
Sunnybank’s powerhouse backrower leads the charge in the defensive line with her thumping tackles often leaving ball carriers wishing they never put their hand up in the first place.
At the breakdown Tongia was also a ferocious customer.
Will Rua (University, Hospital Cup)
The stats don’t lie. The tireless University flanker tackles at an efficient 85 per cent clip and makes over 10 tackles a game, while also being a breakdown specialist and damaging ball carrier.
But his dogged defence was his most impressive aspect according to skipper Adam Korczyk.
George Tauluni (Brothers, Hospital Cup)
Tongan tighthead terror George Tauluni is a giant on the defensive end and was in part responsible for Brothers’ astute defence that denied any Wests forward a try in last week’s semi-final.
“When he lines up he doesn’t miss,” concluded Brothers lock Will Wilson.
Nick Hilton (Bond University, Colts 1)
Hilton has a rugby league background but was brought to the club by coach Rico Gear and has not looked back.
The hard hitting No.8 has had to adjust to the sternum rule and has worked a lot on his disciple to become the person his teammates look to in defence.
He loves contact and hits like a kitchen sink.
SURPRISE PACKET PLAYERS
Dre Pakeho (Brothers, Hospital Cup)
Eligible for the Queensland Reds Under-19s, Pakeho’s development accelerated this year at rapid speed to train regularly with the Reds Super Rugby Pacific squad.
After snaring a shared GPS First XV rugby premiership with Churchie in 2022 and a Colts 1 premiership with Brothers in 2023, the exciting Pakeho now has his sights set on a Hospital Cup chip.
Cooper Hoare and Slater Galloway (Souths, Colts 1)
For blokes in their first year of Colts rugby, Hoare and Galloway have been a handful.
Front rowers in the best team during the regular season, Horae and Galloway got around the park like a pair of flankers and left a mark on the competition.
Impressive for a pair of 18-year-olds don’t you think?
Blake Raymond (Bond University, Colts 1)
Raymond was The Southport School’s First XV outside centre in 2022 and came into the Bull Sharks shiver as somewhat of an unknown, a softly spoken customer who let’s his game do the talking.
When he gets on the field, Raymond clicks into gear and works himself to a standstill to solidify himself as one of the Bull Sharks most consistent and trusted performers.
His consistency has allowed Bond University to flourish in the back end of this season and he has been a staple in the midfield all season long.
Regin Pratt (Wests, Colts 1)
Now in his second season of Colts rugby, Pratt transformed himself from a backrower to a front rower forward and has impressed his peers and coaching staff with the smooth transition.
He has punched above his weight and exceeded expectations and is a key cog in Wests’ superb set-piece.
Samu Tuisau (University, Hospital Cup)
Tuisau moved north from Sydney earlier this year and has made the most of his short time in the sunshine state.
After starting the year in coach Josh Bray’s Colts 1 side, the explosive outside back was promptly thrust into Elton Berrange’s Hospital Cup side where he has flourished.
In the process of cementing his Hospital Cup starting spot, he also caught the eye of Reds talent ID Paul Carozza who has included him in the Reds Under-19s squad gearing up for the National Championships this Spring.
Sky yvette-Faimalie (Sunnybank, Premier Women)
Ipswich SHS senior Sky yvette-Faimalie has been a welcomed surprise packet player in the Dragons lair this season.
Fresh off a successful NRL Schoolgirls Cup campaign that culminated in a premiership, the bashful yvette-Faimalie fears none and will add starch to Sunnybank’s pack in Sunday’s sudden death semi-final against Easts.
Bradley Kelegai (Wests, Hospital Cup)
Ferocious Wests openside flanker Bradley Kelegai is on a hit and run mission each Saturday afternoon to seat his rivals in the Hospital Cup.
A defensive brute, Kelegai’s workrate is unrivalled and you’d think he was two players because he is often everywhere at once.
“He is a turnover machine,” smiled Wests captain Connor Anderson.
Eva Doblo (Bond University)
How lucky Bond University is to have a Ferrari like Eva Doblo in the garage.
The top points and try scorer in the Gold Coast District Rugby Union competition for the Bond Pirates, former Oztag whiz Doblo tried her hand at rugby this year and it was a roaring success.
The outside back livewire has staved off fierce internal competition for the right wing position and has done more than enough to keep it for the grand final.
Abbi Spooner and Leilani Hills (Easts)
Twelve months ago few at Easts would have envisioned fullback Abbi Spooner, 18, and left wing Leilani Hills, 19, impacting Easts’ premiership pursuit with the magnitude they did.
Spooner was superb in Easts’ 10-3 victory over Wests last weekend and the speedy Hills played her way into touring Tonga with the Reds Super W team last month.
All this for girls who were completing their ATAR exams in the last 12-24 months.
Ward’s way the only way in Tav’s Lew Cooper Cup round 7
Taverners under 17 cricket’s round 7 reveal: Gold Coast Dolphins all-rounder takes seven wickets, snares a run out and scores half century in a Player of the Round performance. See who else shone from your club here.
Club cricket: Brightest sparks from last round revealed across premier men, women grades
Queensland premier club cricket: Who shone brightest in men’s and women’s first, second and third grade matches last weekend, which included premiership glory for Uni and Norths? All is revealed here.