Meninga Cup, Connell Challenge teams of the Week, round 5
Meninga Cup: A Redcliffe Dolphins boom boy signed by the Titans features in our round 5 Teams of the Week.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Gold Coast Titans-signed teenager from Redcliffe and yet another Logan Brothers junior have been included in our final Connell Challenge Team of the Week.
Dolphins front rower Joseph Pouniu and Souths Logan prop Dirhys Sefo have been the two outstanding middle men in the all too brief competition that hopefully is expanded by the QRL to include finals in 2023.
Joseph Pouniu, a North Lakes Kangaroos junior signed by the Gold Coast Titans, was a go forward metre eater during Redcliffe’s unbeaten run.
The athletic, mobile Sefo from the great Logan Brothers breeding ground was superb and we can’t wait to see his progress in 2023.
RELATED LINKS
TRIBUTE TO THE KINGS - and QUEENS - OF THE ROAD
TEAM OF THE WEEK
CONNELL CHALLENGE
Fullback: Seth Carpenter (Capras) makes another Team of the Week appearance after Clydesdales 34-8 win over Cutters. Souths Logan’s Bailey Trew was an unlucky omission.
Wing: Cody Sanewski (Capras). The Capras back three of Sanewski, Turner and Carpenter had a big impact bringing the ball back with gusto and finishing wide spreads.
Centre: Xavier Tauaifaiga (Tweed) had a strong performance despite his team going down to Wynnum Manly.
Centre: Tyrese Tovao (Brisbane Tigers) gave Souths Logan some troubling times on the edge.
Wing: Cutters winger Bailey Anderson makes our team of the week for the second time this season - this time in a beaten side. Also a special mention to Matt Drew (Clydesdales) who impressed in a beaten team.
Halves: Jahrel Conlon-Stephan (Souths Logan) expertly directed his team around the paddock while Mokena Marsh (Tweed) linked with a dangerous centre Xavier Tauaifaiga and winger Titus Marsden.
No. 13: Kane Self (Ipswich) did a tremendous job in the middle engineering the Jets victory, although his opposite Lyucian King-Tigua (Clydesdales) should be commended.
Second row: Mohonri Tiatola (Souths Logan) was an edge powerhouse for the Magpies against good opposition.
Second row: Jett Day (Capras). Day produced a man of the match performance in the Capras’ win over Cutters.
Prop: Oliva Smith (Jets) was outstanding for Ipswich in their win.
Hooker: Braelan Marsh (Capras) A famous named in the CQ region, Marsh earns a place in the team for his role in the Capras 26 point win, with Redcliffe’s Hayden Potts close behind.
Prop: Joseph Pouniu (Redcliffe). The Dolphins unbeaten run through the Connell Challenge always started in the middle where Pouniu has been a powerhouse.
Reserves:
Dirhys Sefo (Souths Logan) was again an automatic inclusion in the squad this week.
Dummy half Caden Frame (Wynnum) was in our team last week and was again top of the performance list for Wynnum on Saturday.
SC Falcons No. 13 Zac Garton was an automatic selection with his middle work ethic, and so was his teammate Jai Bowden whose impact off the bench was profound.
Lascolm Tagai (Blackhawks) had an impact off the bench, along the way scoring two tries.
Cooper Day (Wynnum). Front rower Day and his prop partner Chaev Kolone drove Wynnum forward in their win over Tweed, but we should also give high praise to Norths Devils’ pair Samuel Hyne and Jack Murray, Travis Larner (Bulls) and Kayliss Brown (Tigers) who all rolled up their sleeves and delivered plenty in the middle despite their sides sliding to defeats.
Elijah-Shane Tapau (Blackhawks) was a handful on the edge for the Townsville side, while Jake Bryan of the Cutters earned respect by winning the contest and carrying strongly.
Hayden Potts (Redcliffe). Potts’ snappy work from the ruck has helped deliver the Dolphins its unbeaten run in the Challenge. But special mention to Tweed rake Jackson Le Pou (Tweed)
RELATED LINKS
TEAM OF THE WEEK
MENINGA CUP
Fullback: Iona College old boy Jeremy Trappett (Wynnum Manly) revelled in a more dominant forward performance from his teammates. Well done also to Bulls’ Bryden Blair for his effort in a losing side.
Wing: Brady Hazledine (Cutters) shone brightly in his team’s second successive win playing fullback, but to get him into our 13 we name him on the wing.
Centre: Antioch Faitala (Brisbane Tigers) did well on the outside edge against quality opposition.
Centre: Will Symonds (Souths Logan) plays edge, but shifted one wider to cover for an injured centre and did a great job.
Wing: Israel Leota (Souths Logan) had plenty of touches and finished with three tries, although Redcliffe’s Jayden Aloefaio pushed hard for another Team of the Week selection.
Halves: Zac Lamont (Blackhawks) and Jaxon Purdue (Cutters). Lamont ran the right side of the field nicely while Purdue helped pull the trigger which sent his team hurtling to its second successive win. We are happy to go with those boys, although the classy Lyhkan King-Togia (Clydesdales) was enterprising and his team’s best in defeat.
No. 13: Harry Dwyer (SC Falcons) had a typically commanding performance in his team’s win. But a special mention to Reico Ratana (Tweed) in a beaten side.
Second row: Sean Bourke (Blackhawks) stormed to three tries in the Blackhawks’ 58-6 win over Pride.
Second row:Lebron Tuala (Norths Devils): From the famous Aspley breeding ground, Tuala was a 3-2-1 voter gainer which is saying something given Norths did not have a bad player on the field in its victory over the Dolphins.
Prop: Tahrell Feaveai (Norths Devils): When you watch the Devils play it is easy to be romanced by their speed of play, edge power and ball movement. But in the engine room Feaveai leads in the toughest position on the field.
Hooker: James Frazer (Ipswich) seized his chance starting at hooker and had every facet covered - defence, runs and passing. Ironically his interchange replacement Gabriel Satrick was not far behind him.
Prop: Big Felix Fataali’i led Wynnum’s forward recovery after a disappointing team fade out a week earlier against Burleigh.
Reserves:
Damascus Neemia (Norths Devils): This bloke must be a coaches’ dream player. A front rower, he is a little like NRL premiership player Dale Finucane in terms of work ethic and efficiency.
How do you split Blackhawks’ middles Jeremiah Matautia, Henry Teutau and Damon Marshall? You don’t. They are all in.
Tajshon Santo-Messa: Santo-Messa was again magnificent behind a winning Blackhawks pack.
Jett Elich (Falcons) played strongly for the SC Falcons on the edge. But high praise to his teammate Kahn Sutherland-Chan for his role in the win.
Jason Hallie (Pride). For effort on effort, Hallie makes our team. Last weekend he played 70 consecutive minutes for the third successive week. And speaking of workers, special mention to Kyle Knight, the Bulls No. 13.
Tait Coghlan (Pride): He did a Jake Granville from going from hooker to fullback in the Pride’s loss, offering true utility value.
Zane Kaatz (Ipswich) laid foundations for his bench performance with solid defence, before expanding his game to help Ipswich cross the line with quick passing.
Matt Watts (Cutters) was an automatic inclusion in his team’s 3-2-1 vote at match end.
AIC First XVIII Players of the Day from round 1
AIC First XVIII Players of the Day after the schoolboy footy competition roared to life with round 1 action.
Paul Pink Shield Taverner’s Team of the Season after Wests GF win
The U16 female Team of the Season is revealed here after Western Suburbs won the Paul Pink Shield Taverner’s grand final over local rivals Valley.