Meeting the Kingmakers of the Meninga Cup semi-finals
Meet the 30 kingmakers and the unsung heroes expected to shine in Saturday’s Meninga Cup semi-finals involving Redcliffe Dolphins, Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Ipswich Jets and Townsville Blackhawks.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Rugby league’s premier under 18 competition will reach a flashpoint on Saturday when the Meninga Cup’s top four teams meet in two sudden death semi-finals.
The Ipswich Jets will host North Queensland’s benchmark side, the Townsville Blackhawks (1.15pm while the battle of the bayside will be fought 55km inland at the North Ipswich Reserve when Redcliffe confront Wynnum Manly Seagulls (11.30am).
TITANS SIGNING ENDS 7900km JOURNEY FOR LOGAN SCHOOLBOYS
Ironically the Dolphins and Seagulls played a 13 try extravaganza on April 2, with Redcliffe winning 38-36, but don’t expect an Aussie rules type scoreline this time around.
With Ipswich playing in the southern conference and Townsville Blackhawks in the northern conference, the two teams have not met this season.
Below we present the Kingmakers of the finals, along with some unsung heroes from the four teams.
KINGMAKERS
REDCLIFFE v WYNNUM MANLY
COBY BLACK (Wynnum Manly)
Black has been the competition’s primary playmaker, an old fashioned halfback who is quicker between the ears than he is across the ground – and he is not slow across the ground either.
The Marsden SHS young gun is Wynnum’s No. 1 player who has progressed nicely after valuable on the job training during last season’s Langer Trophy season and then playing for the unbeaten Queensland schoolboys.
JOHN FINEANGANOFO (Redcliffe)
The versatile Fineanganofo is two players in one, giving the Dolphins defensive clout and ball carrying muscle in the halves, while also doing enough with the ball to promote his runners either side of him. A knee injury ruined his Redcliffe SHS finale last season but he is making up for lost time.
RELATED LINKS
CONNELL 16s TEAM OF THE SEASON; HARVEY’S 19s SEASON BEST
EXCITING QLD UNDER 19s GIRLS MAROONS TEAMS
BENI ALLEN (Wynnum) and ELIJAH RASMUSSEN (Redcliffe)
Redcliffe have a confronting power game and leading the charge is Rasmussen who was hand picked by Dolphins NRL talent scouts from New Zealand. The Redcliffe pack presents a big challenge for the Seagulls tight forwards. But Broncos signed Beni Allen, a mobile middle forward, can throw some traffic back Redcliffe’s way as well.
ZAC GARTON (Redcliffe) and HARRY ARMSTRONG (Wynnum)
The edge forwards will likely line-up against each other. Garton is a Dolphins junior Academy signing from the Sunshine Coast who is in his first season with the club, while Armstrong is a raw boned, head gearing wearing country kid who has done the job all season for the Gulls.
SAXON INNES (Wynnum Manly)
The kid has serious wheels and seemed to relish the move to fullback mid-season. Signed by the Brisbane Broncos, he will be on the Dolphins tip list for sure.
MITCHELL ROGERS (Redcliffe)
Rogers has been among Redcliffe’s best this season, tigerish around the ruck while possessing a threatening running game off the pack of the Dolphins power forwards.
COOPER HERSOM (Wynnum)
If confirmed in the squad, watch for his rookie to come on and liven the show up. He will play dummy half and give the team a real lift with his energy, fast feet and ball play.
TAUAVE LEOFA (Redcliffe)
If he is confirmed in the 17 later in the week, watch for this kid who has that splash of x-factor about him.
JEREMY TRAPPETT (Wynnum)
It must be of comfort to the Wynnum Manly coaching staff to have this Rolls Royce in the garage, gleaming and ready for a Saturday outing. Whether as fullback, five-eight or centre, the 2022 schoolboy representative is an experienced class act and a danger man.
RELATED LINKS
MEET THE BIG BOPPERS OF THE MENINGA; CONNELL SEASONS
UNSUNG HEROES OF THE MENINGA, CONNELL AND HARVEY 19s
IPSWICH v BLACKHAWKS
KAIDEN LAHRS and JAMAL SHIBASAKI (Blackhawks)
The Blackhawks will be down one of their three big boppers – the injured Tevita Penaia – but they were still in good hands courtesy of Lahrs and Shibsaski.
Both were big, mobile forwards with the go forward of a middle and the agility of an edge player. They, and big Penaia, have been the team’s best three players this season.
TYLER PECKHAM-HARRIS (Ipswich)
The diminutive Peckham-Harris is a threat with his footwork, speed and tenacity around the ruck. He is also a young veteran of big occasions and Saturday’s semi-final will be like water off a duck’s back after he endured three winning grand final efforts during last year’s school season.
ALTON NAIYEP (Ipswich)
Naiyep has that splash of x-factor about him, a kid whose impact has gathered momentum during an amazing 12 months which incorporates last year’s school season with Ipswich SHS, and also this year as a senior member of the Jets under 18s. He is a powerful edge runner who is fearless.
TEKELU MENE (Blackhawks)
When this bloke carries the ball, look out. Whether he is finishing down the sideline or carrying from the ruck at the defensive end of the ground, winger Mene is all power and pace.
UNSUNG HEROES
REDCLIFFE v WYNNUM MANLY
WILL LANE (Wynnum Manly)
This kid is made for a final. The No. 13 is from tough country stock who does a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay. He is the type of kid teammates would love next to them.
JETT BRYCE (Wynnum Manly)
Bryce has come out of the school of the successful Keebra Park SHS system where reputations go in the nearest dust bin and you work for your mates. Bryce has a high work ethic.
JAYDEN BUTT (Redcliffe)
A Wavell SHS alumni and a Dolphins junior, Butt is a real glue player, just what the doctor ordered coming off the bench in a final.
CAMERON BUKOWSKI (Wynnum Manly)
Bukowski is a dummy half tackling machine whose slick service from the ruck gives glamour halfback Coby Black the ball he demands. Never underestimate the importance of a hooker putting a good, quick ball out in front of his halfback when he demands it.
JAYKOB KINGSTON FRANCIS, JEREMIAH HAVEA
Francis has been a very reliable centre when it comes to defence while Havea has shone after switching from the wing to play edge forward. The contributions of both have been slightly underrated.
AHOLOKA TOIA (Redcliffe)
His brother Rob has flashy feet and a handsome contract with the Roosters, but Redcliffe would not swap Aholoka for anyone. He is a no frills front rower who doesn’t expect a free feed – he knows he has to earn it.
RELATED LINKS
60 SPEED DEMONS OF THE MENINGA, CONNELL, HARVEY 19s
MEET THE SONS – AND DAUGHTERS – OF RUGBY LEAGUE GUNS
ADRIAN SANDY (Redcliffe)
He started the season in the shadow of one of the Dolphins’ star off-season recruits for its NRL arm of the club – John Paul – from Sydney. But whenever John Paul has been unavailable through injury or suspension, Sandy has stepped up to the plate and not missed a beat.
IPSWICH v BLACKHAWKS
DOM SANDOW (Ipswich)
The nephew of former NRL match winning halfback Chris Sandow, Dominique has beautiful ball skills and can pick his moment to perfection when entering the front line in attack. But perhaps his greatest asset is the manner in which he organises the defensive line.
XAVIER HELLYER (Blackhawks)
The Blackhawks No. 6 has been growing into the jersey and his role in the side the more the season has progressed. He keeps getting better and better and has been a quiet achiever of Townsville’s successful campaign.
JACK LAING (Ipswich)
Laing is a great one to have in the trenches with you. The Ipswich No. 13 is an inspiring leader, a middle third glue player who hits and sticks, while also being handy with the ball in support of the playmakers.
MAFIOU CHERIF (IPSWICH)
Unsung because not many hit as hard as him. Sherif, a tall and fast prop from Ipswich SHS, has been a wrecking ball in the middle all year and if Ipswich are to advance to the big dance, they’ll need this big bopper to do what he does best — flatten his rivals.
RAYZARLIN PEARSON (Blackhawks)
The Blackhawks have some real cut and thrust in the backline and one of their quiet achievers has been centre Pearson. He is under an injury cloud, but the Blackhawks camp sure hopes he will play – he has been that good for them this season.
WYATT LOURIGAN (Blackhawks)
Wyatt Lourigan has big shoes to fill given the injury to Tevita Penaia, but the hard working back rower has been a fixture all season anyway, sometimes as a starting edge forward or coming off the bench. He will not be overawed by the occasion and will relish the challenge.
Club cricket: Ton of fun by first and second grade bats; third grade Team of the Week
Club cricket: The latest 3-2-1 votes from first and second grade men and women, plus the Norm McMahon third grade Team of the Week revealed.
Taverners 3-2-1 top guns highlighted as Valley open their account
Taverners Queensland Under-17s: Who were the 3-2-1 best performers from round 5? The best of the best are revealed here after a drought-breaking win.