Harvey 19s Super 20 Players of the Season; Connell Challenge Team of the Year
Here’s our Connell Challenge junior league Team of the Season which includes an NRL Dolphins signed junior as captain. Full side revealed, along with the girls under 19s Super 20 Players of the Year.
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Redcliffe Dolphins’ Brian Pounia would captain our Connell Challenge under 16 Team of the Season after leading his side through an unbeaten season.
And country kids Arienna Hobbler (Pride), Lucy Davis (Clydesdales), Lluana George, Dykota Couchi (both Bulls), Deleany Claridge (Capras) and Lily Peacock (Cutters) would lead our Super 20 list of best players from the Harvey Norman under 19s girls competition.
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Pounia, an edge forward signed by the Dolphins NRL club, has endured the grief of playing after his older brother Joseph suffered a serious spinal injury during a junior trial with the Gold Coast Titans in February.
It was an incident which shook those involved in junior league to the core, and shattered the Peninsula, North Lakes and Caboolture communities.
And even Brian considered not playing this season, until his uncle urged him to play for his brother.
But Brian Pounia played on, captaining an unbeaten Redcliffe to its unofficial premiership as the Chris Little coached Dolphins swept all before them.
“I couldn’t be more proud of him,’’ Little said.
“I think he’s been the best player in the competition to be honest.’’
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“It’s probably his first leadership role and he took it on board right from the beginning.
“He grew with the team. To the point where the way he speaks is the same as how I speak. “He’s bought into the processes and he relays that message like a second coach.
“For a young fella to be able to deal with everything which would be rather traumatic for the family.
“To be able to separate that at training and come game day is just a massive credit to him.
“And to his family and his support network. Everybody. I’m sure he’d be the first person to say that it’s been a team effort here.
“It’s always the game is bigger than the individual. He buys into that. He wouldn’t be here without their support. He wouldn’t have played this season.
“There was a time there when he wasn’t going to play and it was his uncle who got him around and said play for your brother. And that’s what he’s done.
“You can’t be much prouder.’’
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Below we named two Connell Challenge Teams of the Season.
The Maroons is the top side, and the White team an outfit acknowledging those who also excelled across the season.
To get our best Connell Challenge players into our top squad, the Maroons, we moved Eneliko Savelio from edge to No.13, enabling Pounia to partner Harrison Hill in the second row.
Country players Savelio (Blackhawks) and Hill (Capras) were the best edge forwards in the northern conference, while Pounia was the best second rower in the southern conference.
But the first man chosen on the reserve bench was Sunshine Coast Falcons leader Jackson Koina, a No.13 who was outstanding.
We also had to do some juggling to get fullbacks Seth Gundry (Bears) and Cohen Dittman (Blackhawks) in, and opted for Dittman on the wing where he is comfortable.
We took great joy in acknowledging two props from relatively unsung teams - Cooper Benvenuti (Tigers) and Jason Hastie (Pride). Both boys rose above adversity to lead their sides.
One of the most improved players in the competition was Seagulls hooker Ezekiel Jones who earned a contract with the Broncos. He is on the bench, with Redcliffe’s Amare Wynard in the 13.
Souths Logan centre Joseph Tupuse also played his way into the starting side and was our No.1 centre. His centre partner is David Bryenton who has made an instant impression since arriving from New Zealand.
The halves were hotly contested. We could easily have picked six, such was the quality across the competition.
But Braithen Scott was elite for the Clydesdales, initially playing fullback and coming into the line as a playmaker, and then as a starting half.
Elijah Birve of the Falcons was also a special talent until a heavy head knock finished his season.
The team featured one of the finds of the season, Seagulls edge forward Majah-Jose Pearchey. He is on the bench behind three elite players, and we can’t wait to see him during his second season with Mabel Park SHS.
Souths Logan fullback José Ito played his way into a Raiders contract during the season and is one our White squad.
Obviously outstanding Redcliffe fullback Mereki Warradoo would have been considered, but he was injured to start the season and only played in three games.
CONNELL CHALLENGE
TEAM OF SEASON, Maroon side
Fullback: Seth Gundry (Bears)
Wing: Cohen Dittman (Blackhawks)
Centre: Joseph Tupuse (Souths Logan)
Centre: David Bryenton (Bears)
Wing: Phillip Yock (Capras)
Halves: Elijah Birve (Falcons) and Braithen Scott (Clydesdales)
No. 13: Eneliko Savelio (Blackhawks)
Second row: BrianPounia (Redcliffe)
Second row: Harrison Hill (Capras)
Prop: Cooper Benvenuti (Tigers)
Hooker: Amare Wynard (Redcliffe)
Prop: Jason Hastie (Pride)
Reserves: Jackson Koina (Falcons), Ezekiel Jones (Wynnum Manly), Tyler Melrose (Capras), Chaev Kolone (Wynnum Manly), Jake Oberhardt (Capras), Marley Igason (Bears), Majah-Jose Pearchey (Wynnum-Manly), Cohen Jackson (Cutters), Levi-James Bannan (Souths Logan)
TEAM OF THE SEASON, White side
Fullback: Harrison Braithwaite (Bulls)
Wing: Leroy Charles (Jets)
Centre: Joe Litadamu (Clydesdales)
Centre: Tawa-Dean Simpkins (Wynnum)
Wing: Boston Hubbard (Tweed)
Halves: Carter Welfare (Redcliffe), Marley McLaren (Bears)
No.13. Xzavier Timoteo (Ipswich)
Second row: Jared Horne (Norths)
Second row: Mark Morrow (Cutters)
Prop: Shaun Elara (Clydesdales)
Hooker: Sam Martin (Souths Logan)
Prop: Emannuel Asomua (Souths Logan)
Reserves: Riley Maule (Bulls), Azariah Toki-Mautairi (Redcliffe), Elijah Breen (Tigers), Christian Mikaele (Ipswich), José Ito (Souths Logan), Cooper Deguara (Cutters), Ben Quinlan (Tweed), Caleb Cresswell (Tweed), Kobi Floro (Tigers), Jaiden Savage (Capras), Tom Parker (Souths Logan), Jake Murphy (Capras), Will McLaughlin (Capras), Taufa Taulani (Redcliffe).
THE SUPER 20 HARVEY 19S
Clydesdales
Lucy Davis:
She is a centre young gun with a killer footwork and an unrelenting work ethic.
Tweed Seagulls
Jaida Faleono
A graduate from the Keebra Park Girls Sport Academy, Faleono is a Nerang Roosters junior who has led her side by example.
And after playing her heart out for the Seagulls, Faleono would journey wherever to suit up for the Bond University Bullsharks in Queensland Premier Rugby’s Women’s competition.
Sunshine Coast
Takoda Thompson, Kate Ellem
Arguably the Falcons most consistent player has been Takoda Thompson, a Kawana junior who has been a dynamo out of dummy half, while edge player Kate Ellem is a real excitement machine.
You could tell the difference when Ellem didn’t play, the second row talent an international touch football representative.
Wide Bay
Lluana George, Dykota Couchi
George is an experienced campaigner who guides the team from the halves, a tough player who will fight to the final bell.
Meanwhile prop Dykota Couchi has improved out of sight across the season.
Capras
Deleany Claridge
A Calliope Roosters junior has been a leading player across the Central region for several seasons and has led the way for the Capras in 2023.
Mackay Cutters
Lily Peacock
The St Catherine’s Catholic College student was born to run and is one of the best outside backs in Queensland. Last season she represented the historic Queensland schools side which defeated the NSW/ACT schoolgirls.
Burleigh Bears
Zali and Matissa Bettridge
Zali is a great natural player with agility and passing skills while Matisse Bettridge has been a constant threat from halfback, probing opposing teams with her running and passing game.
Northern Pride
Arienna Hobbler
Every team in the competition would want this Mareeba product in her side - that’s how good she is. A middle or edge forward, she was a member of the history making Queensland schoolgirls in 2022 and later represented Australian schoolgirls.
From the Atherton region.
Redcliffe
Reegan Hicks and Aspen Nakao
Hicks was an impact player who used her strength, skill and pace either as an edge player, or around the middle.
She’s tall, strong, and has plenty of ticker about her.
And at fullback Aspen Nakao was so exciting. Whenever she touched the ball, the Dolphins supporters rose and rightfully so—they knew something magical was going to happen.
She’s everywhere at once, has pace, playmaking ability and is ruthless on defence.
She is small but that does not stop her from putting on big hits.
Wynnum Manly
Destiny Mino-Sinapati, Sienna Lofipo, Emma Barnes, Alyssa McCarthy
Destiny Mino-Sinapati had a season of dreams, carving up in the 19s initially before being promoted to the BMD Premiership where she kept her foot on the gas.
It was a similar story for Sienna Lofipo (five-eighth) and Emma Barnes (hooker) who both started the year off strong, impressing 19s coach Steve Casey with their ability to control the game.
Lofipo was an Australian Schoolgirls representative last year, while second rower Alyssa McCarthy was a staple for the Seagulls in the 19s competition, leading the charge in all six games.
Souths Logan
Savannah Tato, MacKenzie Baty-Karauria
Savannah Tato has been a hard running leader of the pack who will join Baty in being promoted into the Magpies BMD senior side.
Baty, a power lifting champion, is a strong hooker or halfback with natural football flair.
Brisbane Tigers
Montaya Hudson
Originally from Townsville, Hudson lit up the Titans Cup last season playing with Marsden SHS when she played her way into the Queensland and Australian schoolgirls teams.
She has been an x-factor player for the Tigers. Malaela Su’a is a schoolgirl prodigy who earned promotion into the Tigers BMD squad after starting the year as a prolific tryscorer in the 19s competition.
Norths
Ava Walters, Grace Giampino
Walters is a fleet-a-foot outside back who can light up an oval in the blink of an eye, while Giampino has been a front row sensation with her strong first up contact in defence and powerful ball running. S
She is the type of leader everyone will follow. And it helps that she has a knack for scoring the ball.
Ipswich Jets
Lina Tanielu and Dmaris Setu
My word were these two forward powerhouses a handful for the competition this season.
Prop Tanielu carried across her Titans Cup form for Ipswich SHS from 2022, while Setu was an experienced second row weapon.
Having excelled last year, Setu was back and better than ever, rucking it up the middle with no remorse for her rivals.
It’s worth noting Queensland Schoolgirls Tiresa Elika and Relna Hosea were also excellent for the Jets this year, with Elika’s work rate and Hosea’s scorching speed steering Ipswich to an unbeaten record.
Elika played wherever coach Veronica White needed her and the output remained the same—tries, try assists, a ton of tackles and great leadership.
Meanwhile Hosea enjoyed shifting from the wing into the centres, the Ipswich Girls Grammar star dazzling all season.
Townsville Blackhawks
Logan Roncato
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