Junior representative rugby league round 5: Harvey Norman U19 and U17 Teams of the Week named
Harvey Norman U19 and U17 Teams of the Week latest: Players from the Northern Pride to Tweed Seagulls – and everywhere in between – recognised as the best of the best from round 5.
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Players from the Northern Pride Tweed Seagulls – and everywhere in between – have been recognised in the round 5 Harvey Norman U17 and U19 Teams of the Week.
This week’s team includes the relation of a former Western Suburbs Sydney forward, while a thrilling talent from Yarrabah, way up north near Cairns, was one of the first players named in the Harvey 19s Super Seven listing.
ROUND 5 MENINGA, CONNELL TEAMS OF THE WEEK
HARVEY 17S SUPER SEVEN
Ace Pollock (Sunshine Coast Falcons)
The rising NRLW prospect was simply immense on Saturday in her side’s 60-0 victory against the Wide Bay Bulls.
Pollock, who wears the number 12 and is the Falcons captain, showcased her wide range of skills with accurate passing, creative offloads, big hits, sneaky grubbers and hard running.
She has grown in confidence and in skill level every week and looks right at home within the Falcons free flowing attack.
“The last game I played was my club footy grand final back in September so I do think it is tough to get straight back into it at the start of the season but I feel like as I’ve settled and we’ve developed our combinations, I’ve grown each week,” she said after the win.
“We have so many good attacking players in our side so I’d definitely say the girls around me are making my job so much easier.”
Analysse Sua (Wynnum Manly)
A big hearted prop, Suaa played her game of the season after recovering from an ACL injury.
She had a big job on her hands as well against the big, mobile Burleigh Pack, but she played 55 minutes in the middle.
Her strong, tough play would have given teammates confidence.
Enah Desic (Tigers)
Desic was again a glue girl for her side, bringing the best out of her teammates to forge a way to victory against a high-class Tweed outfit.
The best dummyhalf in her age group, Desic did a little bit of everything on Saturday as she sprinkled magic dust across the Langlands Park turf.
She was a eyebrow raiser nailing conversions from the sideline and her leadership was evidenced again with her side running in 50 points.
She often made the passes which led to breaks, directed her troops on which holes to hit and by no means did she switch off on defence.
Chloe Thompson (Clydesdales)
The Clydesdales have an exciting back division which is sparked by the electric Sedeequa Nelson, but it all starts in the middle with the momentum generated by the Toowoomba attack.
Front and centre is St Joseph’s College product Chloe Thompson. Thompson who oozes authority with her carries, while her desire to get a quick play the ball to her hooker Byrnes also generates speed and space for her side.
Alexis Bukowski (Capras)
Bukowski was a hat-trick hero – and she needed to be against an improving Northern Pride side.
The eye-catching Capras second rower was outstanding in her team’s winning effort, running good lines as she bravely backed herself with the ball. She is a Gladstone product and it is in the coal port town that she first learned to tackle – which is a strength of hers. While in Gladstone, she was also an enthusiastic track and field exponent in little athletics. But rugby league was in her bloodstream.
Her uncle is Gary played in the ARL for the Western Suburbs Magpies, while her second cousin is Cameron who is a Queensland schoolboys hooker signed by the Broncos.
Originally Bukowski attended St Johns The Baptist Primary School in Gladstone but now attends The Cathedral College.
Janique Mili (Souths Logan)
The pocket dynamo just had to be a Super Seven player. Her electric pace, boundless energy sniffing around her forwards, and her ability to finish a backline move with a flourish are great traits of Mili.
The Marsden SHS supremo has a keen sense of where to be at the right time when the ball is in attack.
She showed that on Saturday with timely and telling injections from fullback.
Marmie Nati and Gloria Isaraelu (Magpies)
Nati, the Souths halfback, was superb from start to finish in Souths’ 12-try bonanza at Davies Park.
She kicked the Magpies into attack mode almost instantly with a deft grubber kick, which was snapped up and scored by the masterful Mili.
Shortly after she sliced through and unloaded to Mili again after some crafty ballplay did the trick.
She had the midas touch and so did Gloria Isaraelu. Isaraelu was the beneficiary of Nati and Mili’s magic in the first half before scoring a second-half double on her way to finishing with four tries.
She was busy and physical in attack and on defence she maintained those high standards because when the clock was dwindling down, Isaraelu pulled off two tremendous cover tackles in the corner which prevented certain tries.
HARVEY 17S TEAM OF THE WEEK
1. Janique Mili (Magpies)
1. Jaida Flores (Bears)
2. Gloria Isaraelu (Magpies)
3. Aamira Renouf (Falcons)
4. Courtney Harris (Cutters)
5. Isabella Brown (Bears)
6. Alanieta Nauqe (Blackhawks)
7. Sedeequa Neelson (Clydesdales)
8. Chloe Thompson (Clydesdales)
9. Enah Desic (Tigers)
10. Carayanidis Ta’Akimoeaka-Pulu (Tigers)
11. Alexis Bukowski (Capras)
12. Ayslinn Pollock (Falcons)
13. Mamele Misa (Souths Logan)
14. Marmie Nati (Souths Logan)
15. Riley-Jay Henry-Purcell (Tigers)
16. Annalyssa Suaa (Wynnum Manly)
17. Avalon Price (Tweed)
18. Starvroula Geogaros (Clydesdales)
19. Nylani Nanai (Blackhawks)
20. Jae-Jae Wickliffe (Bears)
Special mentions: Pearl Lloyd (Falcons), Lily Bain (Falcons), Jannali Wyles-Entermann (Jets), Shar-Lene Nati (Redcliffe), Kayla Vella (Capras), Desiyah Leef (Bears), Keelie Hilt (Clydesdales), Jayda Collins (Bears), Eadee Damro (Tweed), Lacey Pedlow (Tweed), Lacey McLaren (Tweed), Summer Thorne (Wynnum Manly), Sienna Close Chilly (Wynnum Manly), Luisa Olomalii (Dolphins), Tah Lucy Querro (Blackhawks), Mikaela Blades (Toowoomba), Josie Wogand (Capras), Keeley Logan (Cutters), Amber Collins (Jets), Camry Soli (Jets), Mieke Moata’ane (Jets), Louretta Mataafa (Jets), Sienna Trew (Magpies), Tamika Brennan-Rowe (Ipswich), Nelly Roberton (Northern Pride), Ebony-Rose Te Kura (Jets), Sharleen-Marie McGregor-Kawana (Bears).
HARVEY 19S SUPER SEVEN
Hayley Bush (Wynnum Manly)
Spurred on by a burning desire to turn a Queensland squad training shirt into a Queensland top 17 jersey, Redlands’ junior Hayley Bush has been a beacon for Wynnum Manly this season. “Bush has been really good for us, pushing hard every week at training and in the games,’’ praised coach Darren Ferricks.
Libby Dunn (Clydesdales)
Dunn would have woken on Sunday sore, but not sorry, after her role in helping Clydesdales edge to a four point win. The Ipswich pack came ready to play, but Dunn led the counter attack with fearless runs, courage and energy. The tall, athletic middle forward has been a flag bearer for young forwards on the Darling Downs, setting a great example to her younger peers.
Lisa Waireg (Pride)
Waireg may have been flying under the radar entering this season, but Lisa Waireg has blown her cover with a series of outstanding performances for the North Queensland side.
She has played with flair, skills and toughness, while her explosive legs and power in collision add to an impressive rugby league package. Should we be surprised? No, not really, considering she has links to both Yarrabah and Innisfail – both rugby league hotbeds.
Shaylee Hazledine (Cutters)
Yes, you guessed it. Hazledine is another Mackay Cutters’ ace with links to Moranbah.
The team’s forward leader and edge forward originally hails from Moranbah East State School, although she went to finishing school at St Patrick’s Mackay.
A versatile forward who once played hooker for St Pat’s Hazldine played strongly in her return from injury.
India Seeto (Tigers)
Meet Miss Talent, the Tigers halfback who played a leading role in her team’s 28-10 win over a very strong Tweed side at the weekend. Last year’s grand final No. 7, Seeto is helping her Tigers roll through this season as she steers the ship from the most important position on the field. She is not always nominated as a best player, but she could be because she is never far off the mark. Seeto has skill. She is physical and robust like a lock, but it is her vision and ability to ball play in contact which makes her such a dangerous player.
Tianah Teo (Dolphins)
In a game where the Magpies turned the tide to win well, Redcliffe halfback and captain Teo stood tall to ask plenty of questions of their impenetrable defence.
Getting momentum was a tough task when Souths tightened the screws and repelled Redcliffe for 40 minutes but in that time Teo took matters into her own hands running the ball with gusto.
She split the Magpies open a handful of times and got Redcliffe rolling down field. It invoked memories of the national championships in Coffs Harbour last winter where the classy Teo captained the Victoria Schoolgirls with distinction.
Keira Rangi (Magpies)
Going the other way, Rangi ran rampant herself with terrific right edge carries, tough defence and crisp passing.
A reliable customer, Rangi scored a wonderful try late in the first half which capped off a stunning 16-0 scoring spurt by Souths after Redcliffe had scored three tries within the first 10 minutes to stun the home side.
Captain Rangi rallied her troops well to regroup after an early slip and get the side in a groove. In the end, the Magpies won 34-16 and Rangi was key on both sides of the ball at lock.
HARVEY U19S TEAM OF THE WEEK
1. Teleah Cassar (Capras)
2. Aaliyah Frescon-Sheppard (Tigers)
3. Pauline To’o (Jets)
4. Sienna Ibrahim (Tigers)
5. Courtney Tyrell (Devils)
6. Zali Bettridge (Bears)
7. India Seeto (Tigers)
8. Libby Dunn (Clydesdales)
9. Mia Byrnes (Clydesdales)
10. Adele Jenson (Blackhawks)
11. Lisa Waireg (Pride)
12. KeiraRangi (Souths Logan)
13. Hayley Bush (Wynnum Manly)
14. Nadia Windleborn (Bears)
15. Shaylee Hazledine (Cutters)
16. Jaikai Collett (Blackhawks)
17. Makeilla Gibson (Pride)
18. Kayleen Takai (Tigers)
19. Tianah Teo (Redcliffe)
22. Danielle-Elizabeth Tutakangahau (Souths Logan)
Special mentions: Grace Maxwell (Tweed), Ella-Jaye Harrison-Leaunoa (Ipswich), Lishainah Ulugia (Tigers), Lorren Ieli (Tigers), Te Arani Vulu (Devils), Dakotah Brady-Heaslop (Souths Logan), Harlem Walker (Souths Logan), Kayliah Browning (Tweed), Maia Ngauamo (Bears), Jytte Wallace (Pride), Sari Ericson (Pride), Alanieta Nauqe (Blackhawks), Mikalah Teale (Tweed), Brianna Toopi (Bears), Charlotte Wells (Wynnum), Deleni Paitai (Redcliffe), Rylee Aspinall (Wynnum Manly), Narli Nicholson (Redcliffe), Easther Mikaele (Blackhawks), Takoda Thompson (Falcons).
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