From Ipswich to Redcliffe, the bayside to Souths Logan - here were Players to Watch
Club junior league bonanza: Here’s 50 Players to Watch ahead of the Meninga Cup, Connell Challenge boys and the Harvey 19 girls starting this month.
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The Meninga Cup under 18s, Connell Challenge under 16 and the ever growing Harvey Norman under 19s will launch in 10 days, and we will be there to report each weekend.
The boys competitins were named after legendary Queensland internationals Mal Meninga and Cyril Connell, while the girls under 19s were named after a fabulous sponsor for the competition - Harvey Norman.
A stepping stone to the NRL and now the NRLW, the competitions will feature teams from Cairns to the Tweed and everywhere in between.
Here we present some of the key Players to Watch across Redcliffe Dolphins, Norths Devils, Souths Logan, Brisbane Tigers, Wynnum Manly and Ipswich Jets.
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REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
The Redcliffe Harvey Norman 19s will be looking to ramp up its success rate as the players strive to help the Dolphins achieve its goal of fielding an NRLW side in the near future.
Coached by Jason Goulding, the Dolphins have invested heavily in its women’s program and off the field no stone has been left unturned to prepare the girls for 2023.
“Our program compared to last year is chalk and cheese,’’ Goulding said in reference to a battling 2022 season.
“It has been a whole of club approach from Terry Reader through our Queensland Cup staff and our junior volunteers, with all stepping up to offer their skill set for the better of the program.’’
He said such was the interest in representing the Dolphins, he had 48 girls attend three come and try days during the off-season.
As a result Redcliffe has a squad of 35 which gives them great depth.
Expect the young women to play an expansive brand form rugby league. “Sides will know they have come up against us,’’ Goulding said.
““It is about us getting the female program right and moving forward into the future.’’
Redcliffe will also have former NRL player Scott Tronc as its new Meninga Cup coach, while experience junior representative coach and selector Chris Little will again oversee the Connell Challenge under 16s.
Players to Watch
Redcliffe Dolphins, Meninga Cup
Michael Waqa: From the Dolphins northside catchment, Waqa gained valuable open rugby league experience playing front row in the Langer Trophy last season. He has impressed coach Scott Tronc by being a “tough competitor with a great motor’’. Although a likely middle, he has the versatility to play on the edge.
John Paul Donevski: A real impact player in the backs, he will probably play centre but can also play fullback or wing with ease. “He is versatile, a very skilful fast and athletic outside back,’’ Tronc said.
Redcliffe Dolphins, Connell Challenge
Brian Pouniu: The 2022 Queensland under 16 edge forward is a real dynamo who is sure to again be a handful at this level.
Mereki Warradoo: A Dolphins junior from the Moreton Bay junior league club, Warradoo is an exciting fullback talent who last year was voted best Queensland under 15 player at the nationals.
Jarius Halahala: A Redcliffe SHS student, the 2022 Queensland under 15 prop will be a real asset to the side with his strong, aggressive game. He also has great late footwork.
Redcliffe Dolphins, Harvey 19s
Grace Filipo: A young footballer, Filpo is a real natural who has both toughness and skill. She will be used as a utility player.
Reegan Hicks: Hicks will be an impact player, using her strength, skill and pace as a back rower.
Armarni-Lea Auvae: Watch for this strong, athletic middle forward who has good hands.
WYNNUM MANLY
The Wynnum Manly Meninga Cup squad will not be a big team, but they will be fit and hard working, according to coach Jesse Maclean.
“There is a good, selfless attitide through the squad which is what we value at the club.’’
Maclean said he had been hammering into his team the importance of trust. “Trusting our team processes and systems, but also retaining an individuality and not being afraid to try different things,’’ was his summary.
“We are really stressing if they work hard consistently and stay disciplined, then they can have fun and play footy.’’
Players to Watch
Wynnum Manly, Meninga Cup
Jeremy Trappett: The Seagulls junior from out of the Iona College system is back to spearhead the Seagulls campaign. The gun fullback and Queensland schoolboys utility has arrived fit and fast.
Cameron Bukowski: The sparkling dummy half missed most of the Meninga Cup last year but is back in business and will be a threat from No.9. He is reliable, has great service and is a solid defender.
Coby Black: A teammate of Trappett in last year’s Queensland schoolboys side, halfback Black looks sharp and is aiming to string some games together after also missing most of the Seagulls 2022 campaign.
Wynnum Manly, Connell Challenge
Tyler Periera. A half or fullback, he is a ball playing footballer who has been the stand out during pre-season training.
Ezekiel Jones: A clever dummy half with great skills, Jones also has an impressive running game.
Chaev Kolone: The big young prop is back after playing every game in 2022. He will be looking to lead the forward pack after shining for the Mabel Park SHS Walters Cup squad last season, helping them to an historic semi-final.
Wynnum Manly, Harvey Norman under 19s
Unfortunately no information from the club was forthcoming for the under 19 girls, but that won’t stop us from trying to bring you regular coverage of their campaign.
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SOUTHS LOGAN
Souths Logan’s Connell Challenge outfit will charge into the season a tightly knit, committed group.
New coach Scott Bannon said “how strong the boys have got as a group’’ was the thing which had impressed him most.
“Coming from different clubs and having that rivalry for so long, it was a big focus to get the boys to play for each other,’’ Bannon said.
“That was my pre-season focus and the boys are now all like family, so now we can really focus on playing some footy.
“I couldn’t be more excited to see what these boys can do on the field.’’
Players to Watch
Souths Logan, Meninga Cup
Israel Leota: Watch for his damaging outside back to influence games. A survivor from last season’s premiership winning side, the tall, athletic Leota is a powerful and damaging outside back and good in the air. He has been signed by the Broncos.
Jacob Tinsley: A very smart dummy half around the ruck, and tough as teak, Tinsley can generate ruck speed and will be a key player.
Connell Challenge, Souths Logan
Ezra Leota. A dummy half, Leota is an explosive player who is a little like his idol, premiership winning NRL star Api Koroisau. He is also very strong in defence and is always pinching those extra metres around the ruck. He is a great player to be around and leads by example for his forwards.
Levi Bannan. Bannan will play either fullback or halfback and features ridiculous speed off the mark and great footwork.
He is a kid who plays with all heart and defends way above his pay grade. Bannan always pushes up in support and has an A grade kicking game. He leaves everything on the field and hiss energy is infectious and that’s why he is an 100 per cent effort player
His favourite player is Parra star Dylan Brown.
Sam Martin. Plays at hooker and is super calm and a natural born leader. Martin plays a very intelligent game and is always three plays ahead. He loves big contact and is always looking for that shot that can change the game’s momentum. He bases his game around Storm and Queensland star Harry Grant and loves showing that energy and tempo in the middle.
Tom Parker. A Forest Lake product, the best way to describe Parker is silky smooth. Parker just glides and it looks effortless. A fullback, his favourite player is Kalyn Ponga and they have a lot in common - he is incredibly dangerous with the ball in hand and his defence on the line is second to none. Parker will save so many tries that you’ll lose count.
Souths Logan Harvey 19s
Savannah Tato: The hard running forward will be the leader of the pack and has the potential to be elevated into the BMD senior competition when the 19s is finished.
Jaydika Tafua: A second rower, she is a good defender who reads the game well.
Mackenzie Baty: The strong hooker or halfback is a smart player and another in contention for the BMD if she plays to her potential.
Jada Toleafoa: Another edge player, she defends strongly and runs the ball hard.
BRISBANE TIGERS
More than 40 players flocked to Langlands Park to try out for the final squad and as a result a strong unit has been assembled. It is squad is sprinkled with plenty of players who were winners with their respective schools last season, players like St Laurence’s College two-time premiership winner Mikael Ibrahim, Stretton State College title winning skipper Jack McCosker, Jackson Rose who was one of the players of his age group within school footy last year and Keebra Park SHS Walters Cup winning fullback Joshua Donovan - just to name a few.
Indeed it would have been difficult for coaches Michael Lambert and Adam Kambouris to provide just four or so names for Meninga Cup Players to Watch.
Meninga Cup, Brisbane Tigers
Mikael Ibrahim: A No.13, he is a very experienced junior and natural leader who will be playing his second season of Meninga Cup. The Tigers junior is also a two-time premiership winner with St Laurence’s College First XV and two years ago was the Tigers Connell Challenge Player of the Season.
Maddox McLean: McLean has been outstanding from the very first session, a talented half and organiser who is looking to strive for higher honour as a second season Meninga Cup player.
Jack McCosker: McCosker is often underrated and under valued, but not by the Tigers’ coaching group. “He has had a stellar pre-season and is a player with a high work rate who leads by his actions, not his words. He will play second row and has come through the Tigers systems,’’ said coach Lambert.
Maika Poese: Poese has silky smooth skills and a ton of ability. A centre, he has been injury plagued but is looking to make amends for last year’s disappointment.
Brisbane Tigers, Connell Challenge
Kobi Floro: A big, mobile 6.4ft, 100kg front rower from Wavell SHS who brings great energy to the group - along with his big personality. “He is a big target but I believe he can handle the added pressure,’’ said Tigers coach Lote Tuqiri. The big bloke has attracted interest from NRL clubs.
Frank Howarth: The brother of extremely promising Storm rookie Jack, this young edge forward has come under the notice of the Broncos and for good reason. He is big, mobile, a physical player who will be hard to stop. “If he stays fit, he could be better than his brother,’’ Tuqiri said. Now that would be worth seeing.
Brisbane Tigers Harvey 19s
Tigers coach Paul Nieuwenhuyzen said he was reluctant to single out any players from his squad because “we have a great squad’’. But he did say while the preseason had been slightly disrupted with 13 girls involved in under 17 or under 19 Titans’ trials, things were coming together. “As a club we are very proud,’’ Nieuwenhuyzen said. “I have been impressed with all of the players’ dedication to training and their commitment to playing rugby league. Many of our players travel long distances,’’ he said. The squad will be captained by Delilah Eliu. Her vice captains will be Tahliya Tavita and Estanoa Faitala.
IPSWICH JETS
The Ipswich region is one of rugby league’s greatest breeding grounds, a city coming off the excitement of watching Ipswich SHS storm through last season unbeaten - winning three premierships on the way.
Although the club has lost many of their senior school players to NRL clubs, they still have an outstanding group who will challenge week in, week out across the season.
One interesting move is the positional switch of Tyler Peckham-Harris from fullback to hooker where he will put oppositions on red alert.
Jets Meninga Cup coach Shane Harris said he had a coachable and reliable squad, averaging 36 players to every session. “For example we’ve had school boarders who’ve gone home for holidays, but still drove back three hours for training sessions. That’s an incredible effort,’’ Harris said.
Harris said he had hammered into his players the need to be reliable, work hard and to make sacrifices.
So far Harris said his group had “embraced making those scarifices’’ and strove to work hard each session to improve. “I have great respect for everyone involved for their commitment.’’
He said the squad represented the community and aside from an obvious link to Ipswich SHS, boys were coming to the club from St Peter Claver and Ipswich Grammar School and other areas.
Players to Watch
Meninga Cup, Ipswich Jets:
Dominque Sandow: The nephew of former NRL halfback Chris Sandow, Sandow is a dynamic fullback with great vision and game awareness. He’s an attacking threat from anywhere on the field. Sandow attends Ipswich SHS and was a 2022 Met East Under 18 representative.
LJ Nonu: Keep an eye out for this young centre who has been identified by the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Another Ipswich SHS student, he is sure to bea handful for any defender this season, with a combination of speed and strength. He is originally from Victoria but has been in Ipswich since 2021.
Anton Naiyep: A centre or winger, Anton is coming off a boom season of National Schoolboy Championship footie with Ipswich SHS. He had a significant involvement in his school team’s success and was a mainstay in the title winning side. He’s hoping to continue his good run of form into 2023. Of Papua New Guinean descent, his greatest strength is his power which will help the Jets get metres in exit this season.
Tyler Peckham-Harris: Peckham-Harris was one of the players of 2022, making both the www.couriermail.com.auMeninga Cup Team of the Year, and being named in the reserves for the www.couriermail.com.au Langer Trophy Team of the Season. He achieved those honours playing fullback, but has switched to hooker where he will be electric around the ruck. Coach Shane Harris said Peckham-Harris was familiar with the role. “Expect Tyler to be quick out of hooker and to be a threat close to the line,’’ he said of the Ipswich SHS student.
Jack Laing: No.13 Laing was the cornerstone of Ipswich SHS’s unbeaten season last year playing alongside NRL signed trio Josiah Pahulu, Rene Bagon and Loko Pasifika Tonga in the middle. Laing is preparing himself for another big year of Mal Meninga and Langer Trophy where he will be taking on a bigger leadership role in 2023.
Tarell Indich: Indich is a new-comer to Brisbane, having arrived at Ipswich SHS and the Jets from Cherbourg. A second row or centre, Indich recently played in the Murri under 16 team against the NSW Koori side and was one of the players of the day. He is a gifted ball carrier and is physical in defence.
Ipswich Jets Connell Challenge
Cooper Cracknell: The Queensland under 15 prop will be a forward leader who will set an example to his teammates. The Jets have lost their main man from 2022, David Leota to Canterbury, but watch for Cracknell to step up to the plate.
Tyson Walker: The younger brother of Roosters NRL star Sam Walker, Tyson is another playmaker (five-eight) who is a typical Walker in that he plays eyes up football. He has a very good long ball and is dangerous in broken play. But Walker is also starting to understand the importance of setting things up rather than playing off the back of limited opportunities.
Xzavier Timoteo: There will not be too many players who will finish a match against the Jets’ under 16s without plenty of bumps and bruises, and many of them will be caused by Timoteo who will play in the middle.
James Pou: New to the Connell Challenge environment, the No.13 will complement fellow middle men Cracknell and Timoteo. He is physical, loves the contact and hard work, but also has a good off load.
Neyon Tatio: Another newcomer to the Jets, Tatio has had an impressive off-season and will use his big frame to great effect in the backs, most likely from the wing.
Harvey Norman 19s, Ipswich Jets
Tiresa Elika: Tiresa outplayed the Newcastle Knights in the recent under 17s Titans future Academy trial game, making huge metres in the middle while dominating with strong defence. Selected for the under 18s Australian Schoolgirls team which played Fiji last year, Elika’s discipline will likely help develop her game further, in what will be an exciting year of women and girls rugby league this year.
NORTHS DEVILS
With links to the Brisbane Broncos, and a local club for so many Wavell SHS players, watch for the Norths Devils to challenge hard for a Meninga Cup grand final, just as they did last season when they finished fourth.
Meninga Cup, Norths Devils
Loto Salei: He has come the long way around - from Christchurch to Alice Springs to Cairns to Wavell SHS and now finds himself at Bishop Park. Meet Loto Salei, a wonderful young player with great versatility who will probably play No.13, but who can also move to the edge or centre. He really developed his ball running last season.
Tyreece Tait: Now here’s a real talent. The Queensland schoolboy and Maroons under 19 squad member is an elite finisher who has played much of his football on the wing, but will be moved closer to the action at centre. He has been signed by the Broncos.
Connell Challenge, Norths Devils
The Devils will be talented - they always are - although on this occasion coach Shannon Tupara politely declined to single out his players or put pressure on them. But expect them to be a good side.
Norths Harvey 19s, Norths Devils
Grace Giampino: A front rower or second rower, coach Jake Rowden said Giampino had strong first up contact in defence while also being a devastating ball runner. She was a natural leader.
Cedella Matatahi: A hooker Cedella is a noted strong communicator who has vision while also possessing a massive engine
Tayla Sykes: The Devils will have Skyes as their five-eighth, with her strong running, footwork and great kicking game an asset.
Blessing Leota-Williams: Another strong communicator, she is great under pressure, level headed and a leader.
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