Meninga, Connell and Harvey 19s Teams of the Week from round five
The Meninga Cup, Connell and Harvey girls round 5 Teams of the Week include a Corey Horsburgh-type Capras forward, an ex-factor Burleigh back and a FNQ kid who is Mr Professional.
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There would not be a side in the Connell Cup under-17s competition who would leave CQ Capras’ No.13 Jake Oberhardt out of their side, would there?
A raw-boned country kid out of the Emerald Tigers junior system, Oberhardt is a chip off the old block.
Watching him play is a little like seeing Raiders’ powder keg, Queensland’s Corey Horsburgh, rumble down the field.
He hurts in defence and also challenges with his carries, and can pop out the other side of a defensive line.
“Jake is a typical, no nonsense, hard working country footballer who thrives on the competitive nature of our game,’’ said his Connell Cup coach Duane Carpenter.
“The harder and more physical the game is, the better he plays.’’
Oberhardt’s football career was given a kick along when he was invited to train with Manly over the summer as a part of the NRL glamour club’s partnership with St Brendan’s College where he is a Year 12 student.
St Brendan’s College has the likes of Harry Grant, Ben Hunt, Corey Oates, David Taylor, Matt Scott, Kurt Mann, PJ Marsh, Paul Bowman, Julian O’Neill and Manly coach Anthony Seibold as old boys.
While at Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, he trained with the club’s Harold Matthews and SG Ball squads and met many NRL players.
Oberhardt was one of the first players chosen in our Connell Cup Team of the Week.
Northern Pride fullback Liam O’Brien also makes our Team of the Week.
He was a part of a much improved team performance by Northern Pride, a 28-12 win over Capras set up by the hard working forwards like prop Wyatt Lourigan, edge forward Jonah Radiveka and highly skilled middle big man Mason Kira.
However, it was O’Brien, who made his first grade debut for Cairns Brothers last season, who helped reward the forward effort with his fleet-a-foot running and natural speed.
CONNELL CUP TEAM OF THE WEEK
Selection highlights
Northern Pride No.13 Cayde Miller was quickly ushered into our Connell Team of the Week.
Originally from the Mareeba ranks, the Atherton Tablelands prospect has a reputation of being a thorough professional on and off the field.
And it shows during the 70 minutes each weekend.
At the other end of the scale, Burleigh centre or second rower Kilarney Lavender scored three tries.
From The Southport School, he was a crunch time king scoring timely tries when the Bears needed a breakthrough and gave the side additional strike power.
We also put Falcons under age player Cooper Lees straight into our Team of the Week after he controlled the Sunshine Coast boys for so much of the match against the Jets.
And a special mention to these Super Seven players who didn’t make our top squad, but could easily have:
+ Max Blanch (Tigers). The problem with Blanch is he is so damn good every week we are probably guilty of taking him for granted.
+ Taupale Sauaso (Ipswich). On his match-winning try alone Taupale Sauaso could easily have made the Squad of the Week, but he is our first special mention.
+ Cohen Jackson (Cutters). A little like our description of Blanch, middle forward Jackson sets such a consistently high standard from No.13. If you had a pack of players like Jackson, you would make the finals every season.
+ Tyson Fallon-May (Falcons). Mr Consistent Tyson Fallon May had another strong showing as captain and dummy half against a big Ipswich Jets side.
+ Tomasi Vaitai (Ipswich). Vaitai was a defensive brute against a Falcons’ pack that came to play.
THE SQUAD
1. Jackson Winnett (Clydesdales)
2. Ethan Grimshaw (Norths)
3. Kilarney Lavender (Burleigh)
4. Dean Tauaa (Wynnum)
5. Adam McSherry (Cutters)
6. Daniel Rakena (Burleigh)
7. Cooper Lees (Falcons)
8. Shaun Elara (Clydesdales)
9. Ezekiel Jones (Wynnum)
10. Charlie Dickson (Redcliffe)
11. Vena Aukusitino Fetalaiga (Jets)
12. Tannar Baker (Jets)
13. Jake Oberhardt (Capras)
14. Tyler Pereira (Wynnum)
15. Dallas Ingram (Burleigh)
16. Cayde Miller (Pride)
17. Kobi Floro (Tigers)
18. Cooper Cox (Blackhawks)
19. Jay Marsh (Capras)
20. Duquan Talaepa (Redcliffe)
21. Xavier Timoteo (Jets)
22. Harrison Meilland (Capras)
Special mentions: Taupale Sauaso (Jets), Max Blanch (Tigers), Cohen Jackson (Cutters), Elijah McKay (Capras), Stiveni Afu (Blackhawks), Chaev Kolone (Wynnum), (Norths), Logan Hudson (Redcliffe), Tom Parker (Souths Logan), Zac Bateman (Capras), Sio Saia Poese (Souths-Logan), Angus Tagicakibau (Norths),Oliver Kleijn (Falcons), James Grey (Norths), Fa’a Pale Feaunati (Souths Logan), Alekisio Siale (Capras), Agapetos Lote-Felo (Wynnum), Tomasi Vaitai (Jets), Tyson Fallon-May (Falcons), Jett Ryan (Falcons), Nathan Thomas (Falcons), Mace Andrews (Souths Logan), Oliver Patterson (Norths), Cortez Kirkpatrick (Norths)
HARVEY GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK
Selection highlights
The Western Clydesdales girls were four-from-four to start the season, claiming a 68-0 victory over the Bulls last weekend to fend off competition in their pool.
Jessica Barnes, the Clydesdales livewire, was selected as fullback in our Team of the Week which also has strong Redcliffe and Burleigh representation following the team’s strong wins in round five.
Burleigh lock Kaliyah Browning was instrumental in the Bears big defeat of Norths, as was second rower Sarina Masaga who was a left edge terror.
Those two joined winger Kaelyn Passi, who scored two tries, in the starting 13.
At Kayo Staduim, Redcliffe bounced back into the winners circle on the back of strong performances by Deleni Paitai (three tries), halves Tianah Teo and Memory Paitai, prop Reegan Hicks, No.13 Kiera Rangi and edge forward Mya Sautia. These girls were recognised in the Team of the Week below.
THE SQUAD
1. Jessica Barnes (Clydesdales)
2. Pauline Too (Jets)
3. Relna Hosea (Brisbane Tigers)
4. Deleni Paitai (Redcliffe)
5. Kaelyn Passi (Burleigh)
6. Tianah Teo (Redcliffe)
7. Memory Paitai (Redcliffe)
8. Sifa Leapai (Jets)
9. Paityne Johns (Cutters)
10. Reegan Hicks (Redcliffe)
11. Jada Toleafoa (Souths Logan)
12. Sarina Masaga (Burleigh)
13. Kaliyah Browning (Burleigh)
14. Kaylani Tavita (Souths Logan)
15. Hayley Bush (Wynnum Manly)
16. Alice Shannon (Tigers)
17. Shaylee Joseph (Tigers)
18. Lhylla Williamson (Blackhawks)
19. India Seeto (Tigers)
20. Keira Rangi (Redcliffe)
21. Mya Sautia (Redcliffe)
22. Mariah Brown (Wynnum Manly)
23. Libby Dunn (Clydesdales)
24. Takoda Thompson (Falcons)
25. Sarah McGuire (Falcons)
26. Manaia-Rose Afuie (Souths Logan)
Special mentions: Armarni-Lea Auvae (Redcliffe) Nadia Windleborn (Burleigh), Zali Bettridge (Burleigh), Liarna Barber-Salvation (Burleigh), Bella Thompson (Burleigh), Ava Walters (Norths), Jacinta Neemia (Norths), Bonnie Zappa (Norths), Shaylee Joseph (Tigers), Alice Shannon (Tigers), Seromelina Tanielu (Tigers), Gloria Seumalii (Wynnum Manly), Charlotte Wells (Wynnum Manly), Mia Byrnes (Clydesdales), Syianna Banu (Pride), Mary-sha Mairu (Pride), Lisa Waireg (Pride), Dakota Taputoa (Jets), Gracie Whatt (Cutters).
MENINGA CUP TEAM OF THE WEEK
Selection highlights
Burleigh outside backs Ray Puru, Sunny Kama and edge forward Amare Milford were among the first chosen in our round five Team of the Week following their team’s 48-12 victory over Norths.
Kama and Puru were always in the action and left edge mountain man Milford was to thank.
The trio were destructive, and Norths had no answer.
Across town in Redcliffe the Dolphins also made a statement with a 44-6 win over Souths Logan and as such, four players were in this week’s squad.
John Fineanganofo, who played hooker but is named at five-eight, scored two tries taking his tally up to four in just two games since being back from injury.
We put him at No.6 because he is skilled enough to play there, and because we just had to get him into our squad.
The powerful Fineanganofo, a Redcliffe SHS alumni, was joined the squad by Zac Herdegen, hard-hitting prop Elijah Rasmussen, skillful No.13 Lewis Symonds and prop Michael Waqa.
For Redcliffe it all starts with premiership props Rasmussen and Waqa, getting forward and the Dolphins were another big threat this season.
That pair, Fineanganofo and lock Symonds were all Dolphins NRL signed, while local junior and halfback Herdegen is on the Newcastle Knights books.
Ipswich SHS student Saifiti Junior Saifiti also made the team following the Jets comprehensive 30-10 win over the Sunshine Coast.
The fearless winger slotted four-from-five off the tee and scored, while his teammate Jabiri Mack, a second rower, was equally as impressive.
North Queensland signed hooker Xavier Kerrisk (Cutters) also made the side, while Western Clydesdales hard men Trace Beattie and Bodhi Sharpley could not be ignored.
We had to extend the squad to squeeze in this terrific trio:
Mason Kira (Pride). He is one of the hottest forward prospects in the competition with his power and skill through the middle. A Caboolture Snakes junior who played for the Queensland schoolboys last season, this bloke, originally from is the real deal.
Kylem Vunipola (Wynnum Manly). The Seagulls - and the Broncos - have a good one here. He is a thorough professional who makes few mistakes, yet who can finish as good as any fullback or outside back in the competition. Between he and Jaycob Kingston-Francism the Seagulls were in good hands out wide.
THE SQUAD
1.Ray Puru (Bears)
2. Liam O’Brien (Pride)
3. Sunny Kama (Bears)
4. Emerson Jackson (Norths)
5. Saifiti Junior Saifiti (Jets)
6. John Fineanganofo (Redcliffe)
7. Zac Herdegen (Redcliffe)
8. Elijah Rasmussen (Redcliffe)
9. Xavier Kerrisk (Cutters)
10. Tavita Penaia Te’o (Cutters)
11. Amare Millford (Bears)
12. Jabiri Mack (Jets)
13. Jamal Shibasaki (Cutters)
14. Jahrel Iselin-Jansen (Norths)
15. Trace Beattie (Clydesdales)
16. Wyatt Lourigan (Pride)
17. Lewis Symonds (Redcliffe)
18. Kylem Vunipola (Wynnum)
19. Michael Waqa (Redcliffe)
20. Bodhi Sharpley (Clydesdales)
21. Mason Kira (Pride)
22. Jayden Solien (Souths Logan)
23. Jonah Radiveka (Pride)
Special mentions: Jaycob Kingston-Francis (Wynnum), Jack Tuite (Tigers), Tariq Tanner (Wynnum), Zac Garton (Redcliffe), Harry Armstrong (Wynnum), Lauloto Salei (Norths), Ryan McCann (Souths Logan), Braxton Wilson-Clune (Tigers), Jack Philp (Clydesdales), Saxon Innes (Bears), Shannon Elara (Clydesdales), Amos Baa (Norths), Brad Turner (Bears), Cooper Bai (Bears).
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