Hancock, Renouf and BBOB junior school semi-finals players of the day revealed
The Hancock, Renouf and BBOB schoolboy rugby league grand finalists have been decided after a rollercoaster ride at Brandon Park. Best players from semi-final day here.
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Palm Beach Currumbin State High School Year 8 student Jaxon Worthing was a hattrick hero at Brandon Park as the Reds punched their ticket into the Renouf Shield final.
In an action packed day of semi-finals, Keebra Park and Mabel Park SHS (BBOB), PBC SHS and Marsden SHS (Renouf Shield) and Ipswich SHS and Wavell SHS (Hancock Cup) won through to grand finals.
In a 26-8 Renouf semi final win over a gallant Ipswich SHS outfit, Currumbin local and Currumbin Eagles junior Worthing, a prolific left centre, scored three stunning tries all off individual efforts to power his side to victory.
“He is a pretty special player,” concluded coach Sam Meskell.
Worthing bobbed up at just the right times in the sudden death game, one of six enthralling matches played to decide the grand finalists in the Brisbane Broncos Old Boys, Renouf Shield and Hancock Cup schoolboy rugby league competitions.
Worthing even snared a try assist when he put Charlie Woodley in for the stellar long distance try that put a canyon between the sides.
Worthing was making up for lost time after missing the last three weeks through a nasty ankle injury. Before the injury, Worthing “was outstanding” in most games during the home-and-away season.
“He didn’t waste any time,” Meskell smiled.
“He is important to the team and the confidence of the other boys around him.”
There is a bit about Queensland Under-19s representative and Redcliffe Dolphins signed lock Lewis Symonds, the Marsden SHS old boy who Meskell has coached in the past.
“He reminds me of one kid I coached … Lewis Symonds … who made his Queensland Cup debut this year … They are very similar in appearance and in the way they move … He reminds me a lot of him.
“He has a good work ethic and a good skill base to continue to go pretty well in the seniors.”
PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Brisbane Broncos Old Boys Shield
Mabel Park SHS 16 def Ipswich SHS 10
Josh Sapolu (Ipswich SHS)
The Ipswich SHS young gun did make two mistakes but for every mistake he made, the hot stepping fullback made countless carries, tackles and half breaks with his tricky footwork.
An exciting player who roamed on the left edge, Sapolu’s left to right step was hard to handle for the Mabel boys because he could stop on a dime and go again, without losing any speed.
He was an offload king and set up Ipswich’s second try which equalised the scores.
Tallis Naleba (Ipswich SHS)
The jinking little hooker was an absolute pocket rocket, a cheeky player who took Mabel’s ruck defenders by surprise with his scheming carries out of dummyhalf.
Sporting a colourful Indigenous designed headgear, Naleba made a handful of telling scoots from hooker and he used his slight frame to duck and weave away from his opponents, often evading them completely.
His older brother Daniel was sharp in a losing side the following game in the Year 8 clash.
Cavelli Mafi (Mabel Park SHS)
Mabel Park’s attack started in the back field where slick moving fullback Mafi was keen to attack the ball and test Ipswich’s first up defence.
On multiple occasions Mafi did well to spot gaps on the edges, attack and gain 30 or more metres for his side.
In a game where both team’s fullbacks shone, Mafi resembled Langer Trophy Opens fullback Tawa Simpkins the way he glided from A to B.
Marky Howe (Mabel Park SHS)
The crafty Mabel pivot made the thumping tackle which took his opponent into touch and won possession which his team used to score the go-ahead try with just five minutes left.
Before this telling play, he played out a mistake free performance where his run, kick, pass package was to the fore.
Noah Smith and Noah Pulu (Mabel Park SHS)
There was little between the sides and making an impact through the middle third of the field was this dynamic pair of second rowers who relished the tough stuff.
With a ticket to the finals on the line, they brought their best to get Mabel on the front foot so that their backs had room to move freely – and they did.
Keebra Park SHS 24 def Wavell SHS 18
Chris Perkins (Keebra Park SHS)
The strongly built Perkins was outstanding long before his 70m solo try lit up the second half.
He caused no end of trouble running the ball, whether it was crabbing across the field or directing his stride straighter.
William Liku (Wavell SHS)
Athletic and powerful, No. 13 Liku scored the first two tries of the match, and beyond that troubled Keebra Park throughout with his deceiving footwork.
Sammy Steel Tupai (Keebra Park SHS)
Tupai was outstanding with his powerful left edge running that ultimately rewarded him with the defining try of the game.
He ran straight and hard and his direct crash runs caused grief each time.
Stelios Pekepo-Tevaga (Keebra Park SHS)
Stelios Pekeopo-Tevaga prowled the middle of the field, chopping down anything that moved in a Wavell SHS jersey. He was a traditional work horse middle who you build finals success around.
Seth Lotaki (Keebra Park SHS)
Lotaki tackled strongly, carried well out of his own end, and run with a head full of steam when it was time to attack.
Psalams FuuFaa (Wavell SHS)
Nothing out of the box here, but in a big match his endeavour in defence, tackle hungry chases of clearing kicks and occasional dummy half dart was just what was needed.
He also offered crisp service.
SPECIAL MENTION
Talin Lelo (Keebra Park)
He was challenged under the high ball but the big bloke held up well.
He took on the look of an extra forward with his dummy half running and the Wavell defenders had to be nice and square to ensure he did not burst out the other side.
+ Isaac Souter Robertson (Wavell SHS) was a pocket sized winger for the Warriors who defended above his weight.
+ Isaiah Jacob (Keebra Park SHS) for his wonderful show and go try from close range.
It was a magic moment in a match which could have gone either way.
Renouf Shield
PBC SHS 26 def Ipswich SHS 8
Ryley Taylor (PBC SHS)
Hard running PBC prop Taylor was terrific in the middle.
The Tweed junior, with his mullet whooshing in the breeze, angled his runs back infield and often attracted three defenders.
He was the head of the snake in an imposing PBC Reds pack that had a clear size advantage.
Brayden Rapata (PBC SHS)
Owning his left edge was Brayden Rapata, a tall, rough-and-tumble second rower who made the most of his chances with the ball.
Sporting bright pink headgear, the rampaging Rapata loved the physical battle and was also a key decoy runner in Jaxon Worthing’s try in the second half.
Jaxon Worthing (PBC SHS)
Against a gritty Ipswich SHS defence, Worthing struck once late in the first half, again to begin proceedings in the second half and finally seven minutes from time with a stirring individual effort.
The powerful left centre had a turn of speed and was too big and too strong on all three occasions where he attacked a small hole and crashed over.
Worthing had his hand in another try, setting free his winger Charlie Woodley who gobbled up a wonderful right to left cut out pass and burst 70m down field to score midway through the second stanza.
Mahara Wikaire (Ipswich SHS)
Not only does he have a name made for rugby league but he also has a knack for scoring.
In the first half of Tuesday’s sudden death final, the quick between the ears Ipswich SHS hooker scored two tries to equalise the scores at 8-all heading into the break.
After delivering great service to his halves Daniel Naleba and Malachi Kirk, Wikaire backed himself when close to the tryline and with a 100 per cent success rate, the fast thinking dummyhalf came away with two four-pointers.
Malachi Kirk (Ipswich SHS)
In a match where PBC SHS had the running with possession and territory, Ipswich SHS’s creative halfback Malachi Kirk was sharp when he had the ball in his hands.
The tall, 13-year-old playmaker was dangerous both creating for his teammates and going himself where more than once he made half breaks and unloaded the ball with defenders draped all over him.
Kirk’s kicking game was also elite.
Wayne Conlon (Ipswich SHS)
Under immense pressure from PBC SHS, fullback Conlon did a brave job to retrieve kicks lobbed into his red zone.
He was mistake free, which in the context of the game was impressive because PBC SHS had all the momentum.
PBC five-eighth Cooper Buchanan was responsible for mounting this pressure and Conlon was Mr Reliable making sure the ball was gathered even with Reds defenders powering toward him in hot pursuit.
Damaging Ipswich SHS forwards Mattias Joshua and Lukah Connolly-Favalu were also game in defeat.
Marsden SHS 10 def Mabel Park 8
Tipene Moyes (Marsden SHS)
Moyes was the man to get his side on the board with a vital second half try.
He had been well held by the Mabel defence up until his vital four pointer, as Mabel doubled up on him in defence.
But you could only hold him so long. Moyes also defended strongly.
His extraordinary run also created a try for Jayden Hape. Moyes also kicked goals.
Finau Tafa (Mabel Park SHS)
It would not surprise if he runs triathlons in the off season, so fit was he.
Tafa was tremendous in the middle with his second effort ball carries and relentless defence. He’d defend big on opponents by attacking the ball, or would drape himself around the ankles if that is what he needed to do.
Jayden Hape (Marsden SHS)
Long before he supported a storming run by Moyes, Hape scratched down his name as a leading player with his work through the middle and darting ruck runs.
Cruz Hola (Mabel park Shs)
He’d make a good tree lopper. The middle forward cut down anything that moved around the ruck with a tireless performance.
SPECIAL MENTIONS
Josh Kefu (Mabel Park SHS)
+Defensively he shut down Marsden’s right edge and he ran the ball strongly.
+Allistair Levika (Mabel SHS) rumbled courageously forward on the right edge and challenged the Marsden defence.
Hancock Cup
Wavell SHS 16 def PBC SHS 12
Isaac Salei (Wavell SHS)
The younger brother of Wavell SHS’s Langer Trophy captain last year Lauloto, Isaac continued to represent the Salei family admirably with a rollicking showing at left centre.
The brutal defence matched with his leg drive through contact saw Salei make a dent on both sides of the ball.
He scored a cracking solo try in the first half and nearly bagged a second one when he accelerated into the defence just 10m out.
Steven Funaki (Wavell SHS)
Wow did this kid own the middle.
With a v8 engine, determination and good tackle technique, Funaki would have topped the tackle count for both sides as he threw his body at the opposition in a defensive effort that set the tone for his teammates.
He couldn’t have been any better on defence, and then he pulled off a ripping offload that led to five-eighth Mahi Pene scoring the dagger to give his team a telling 16-6 lead midway through the second half.
Rame Neemia (Wavell SHS)
Right second rower Rame Neemia was an absolute terror on defence, influencing the match with his thumping tackles.
The younger brother of past Wavell SHS Langer Trophy weapon Demascus, Rame was forging his own reputation following an unforgiving defensive masterclass against the Reds.
He and relentless props Bensen Manu and Knight Tanielu were all first class.
Max Imrie (PBC SHS)
Don’t undervalue the power of good service.
Reds hooker Imrie offered crisp service to his halves Preston Towell and Dallas Russell all game long, fronted up well on defence and put Nixon O’Connor over for a try late in the piece with a nice switch play.
His efforts deserve praise, along with the aerial brilliance of Makaio Tongia who scored a beauty in the left corner leaping in to the air to catch a Cross field kick.
Ipswich SHS 24 def Keebra Park SHS 22
MJ Otunuku (Keebra Park)
With razor sharp footwork MJ was a catch me if you can forward.
His movement took him both ways, and in contact his leg drive continued to power his team forward. He’d spin and rebound his way through defenders.
Unfortunately he left the field late with an injury.
Baxter Best (Ipswich SHS)
Best was both a running and passing threat from fullback, a dynamic, powerful runner who had flashing lights going off on the Keebra defensive line.
He didn’t over play his hand and was prepared to pass if required. He had iced his performance with a magical individual try.
Gabriel Laing and Jack Neuendorf (Ipswich)
The pair were like a couple of old fashioned bookends, relentless and tight with their carries. They played powerful roles against physical opponents.
SPECIAL MENTIONS
Xavier Takatainga (Keebra Park SH)
He was too big, too strong when he powered his way over from close range early in the second half, and around that try was a handful with every carry – be it from the defensive end or with attacking ball.
Ezrah tangianau (Keebra Park SHS)
He just had to get a mention for his super long pass that created a try. He was also a clever running player who threatened with a dummy pass.
Kyanu seiuli (Ipswich SHS)
A mini version of Viliame Kikau of the Bulldogs, he was a right edge terror who could break the barn door down if necessary.
He sucked in Keebra defenders on speculation because of his size and power.
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