Meninga Cup, Connell Cup and Harvey Norman U17 and U19 round four Teams of the Week
Meninga, Connell Cup and Harvey girls round 4 Teams of the Day: While Cyclone Alfred washed away SEQ fixtures, there were country classics unfolding in Mackay and Cairns on Saturday. Report here.
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While Cyclone Alfred washed away SEQ fixtures, there were two rip-roaring derby day matches in Mackay and Cairns on Saturday.
Ironically once waterlogged venues in Cairns and Mackay were bathed in sunshine for the clash of the Cutters against the Capras, and Pride playing the Blackhawks (Barlow Park).
Indeed it was so hot at both venues that drinks breaks were organised at the quarter and three quarter marks in matches.
TEAMS OF THE WEEK ROUND 3, HARVEY
TEAMS OF THE WEEK, ROUND 3 MENINGA
The match of the day saw the Northern Pride U19s somehow win in the last second after a left side backline shift finished in the hands of try scoring winger Kemo Wamala.
Harvey Norman U17, U19 Team of the Day
1. Kayla Vella (Capras U17s)
2. Charlotte McLean (Capras U17s)
3. Hollie Parks (Blackhawks)
4. Lakeisha Ulutui (Pride U19s)
5. Jaeda Morato (Pride U19s)
6. Aydah Ross-Kelly (Pride, U17s)
7. Caitlin Tanner (Cutters U19s)
8. Seepa Kosetatino-Liufau (Cutters U17s)
9. Josie Wogand (Capras U17)
10. Ciarn MacBride (Pride, U17s)
11. Alyssa Ale (Pride, U17s)
12. Alexis Bukowski (Capras U17s)
13. Elishama Suavai (Pride, U17s)
14. Jada Ryan (Capras U17)
15. Evoltia Tuala (Blackhawks, U17s)
16. Cianna Faulkner (Cutters U17s)
17. Selina Cowley (Cutters (19s)
18. Isabelle Jensen (Capras U17s)
19. Maycee Brown (Capras, U17s)
20. Sophia Thorold (Pride, U19s)
Special mentions: Nylani Namai (Blackhawks), Courtney Harris (Cutters, U17s).
Meninga, Connell Cup Team of the Day
1. Kynan Purdy (Blackhawks, U19s)
2. Gausa Dau (Blackhawks, U17s)
3. Rylan Misztela (Cutters, U19s)
4. Trent Martin (Blackhawks, U17s)
5. Eruweti Gunn-James (Blackhawks, U17s)
6. Jye Olsen (Blackhawks, U19s)
7. Zac Herdegen (Pride, U19s)
8. Tiakana Ruaporo (Blackhawks, U17s)
9. Jay Marsh (Capras U17s)
10. Josh Nilon (Capras U19s)
11. AJ Bollinger (Cutters, U17s)
12. Declan Grady (Cutters U19s)
13. Harrison Hill (Capras U19s)
14. Lachlan Anderson (Capras U17s)
15. Kyle Bader (Blackhawks, U19s)
16. Ryan Van Zanden (Blackhawks, U19s)
17. Sitiveni Afu (Blackhawks, U19s)
18. AJ Gilbert (Capras U17s)
19. Adam McSherry (Cutters U17s)
20. Jake Oberhardt (Capras U19s)
Special mentions: Jake Armstrong (Capras, U17s), Ethan Rains (Blackhawks, U19s), Lachlan Brown (Cutters, U17s), Flynn Battaia (Cutters U19s), Cohen Emmi (Pride, U19s), Jack Thorburn (Cutters, U19s) Zane Elletson (Cutters U19s), Leo Fanuatanu (Capras U17s), Kooper Shears (Cutters U19s), Karlos Iraia (Blackhawks, U19s)
THE MATCHES
PRIDE v BLACKHAWKS
HARVEY 19S
The Northern Pride somehow conjured up a great escape victory to sink the Blackhawks 24-22.
Winger Kemo Wamala plunged over in the corner after a backs ball movement which went through the hands of Skye Barba, Isabel Kennedy and Jaeda Morato.
Pride birthday girl, centre Lakeisha Ulutui, had just taken two crashing ruck runs to give her side field position, allowing her halves to release possession to the backs.
Minutes earlier Blackhawks’ interchange ace Adele Jensen had scored what looked to be the winning try.
The powerful middle forward went low and hard, using her dynamic leg drive to build up the type of momentum needed to penetrate the Pride’s defence.
The Blackhawks had recovered from a 10-0 deficit in the first half, and then an 18-16 deficit, to lead late, only to lose at the death.
It was a match both teams wanted to win.
You could see how much pride both teams had courtesy of their eager defence, particularly in the second half when the stakes were higher.
MAGNIFICENT MIKAELE
Easther Mikaele scored an extraordinary middle forward try for the Blackhawks, with a pile driving effort over 25m that left the opposition defenders dumbfounded.
Displaying power and strength, Mikaele’s leg-driving run must surely have inspired her teammates who had slipped behind 10-0 early on.
JORDANA’S JOSTLE
Pride fullback Jordana Woods produced the tackle of the game to prevent a try five minutes from full time.
She jostled and wrestled Townsville’s Tiarna Krutzfeldt over the sideline with a dramatic tackle that protected her team’s 18-16 advantage. The Blackhawks did score a minute later, but it was still a special play by Woods.
WAIREG’S DOUBLE
The Blackhawks’ players were defending as if their lives depended on it during the second half, but eventually the size and power of Pride forward Lisa Waireg proved the difference.
Waireg’s tryscoring charge followed an earlier close to the line surge to score in the first half.
CLASSIC KAITAP
Latisha Kaitap’s brilliant creation of a try for her outside back Krutzfeldt was masterly, with a grubber kick finding her winger – just minutes after she had forced a goal-line restart after threading an attacking kick into the in-goal area.
HARVEY NORMAN U17S
Northern Pride centre Tessa Kanai produced the tackle of the season as her side pushed clear of arch rivals the Blackhawks to win 26-6 in a Barlow Park hothouse on Saturday.
In a match which was more competitive than the scoreboard indicated, the Blackhawks got as close as a four-point deficit before the dam wall broke and Pride raced in three tries in seven minutes during the second half.
Kanai came from the clouds to save a certain try after Blackhawks centre Wendy Bire seemed destined to cross.
Kanai had followed the play across in the second line and then accelerated to hit Bire with the kitchen sink as Bire was attempting to beat her rival to the corner post.
Pride coach Elionora Oberleuter praised her side and the combination of halves Aydah Ross-Kelly and Brydee Spry.
“The change in the halves and outside backs was the difference this week,’’ she said.
“With our middle pack always strong, the girls played well as a team. They are taking on constructive criticism and working for each other on the field. I am super proud.’’
EDGE FORWARD HANDFULS
Pride’s backrow forwards Elishama Suavai, Ciarn MacBride and Alyssa Ale were handfuls for the Blackhawks defence.
Ale was a danger with her long stride, and on one occasion ran 50m for a wonderful solo try. But she was also a threat cutting back on the inside where she ran off halfback Spry.
Any traffic headed in the direction of Pride left centre Niya Hodge was also troublesome, and it was this side of the field which led to winger Sienna Hebei crossing after a glorious ball by her five-eighth Ross-Kelly.
Suavai was enormous in the middle with her dynamic leg drive and embracing defence that swamped rivals.
EYE SPRY
Pride halfback Brydee Spry was at times masterful. While she cleverly ran the side around her, Spry’s running and passing talent must have always been in the defender’s minds.
She had a perfect partner, left side half Aydah Ross-Kelly. Ross-Kelly had the defence in two minds with her decisive runs at the line, but also released the ball when a wide shift was on.
BLOODY MINDED TUALA
Blackhawks No.13 Evoltia Tuala was sheer bloody minded when she scored her team’s vital first try after halftime.
Twice she looked held by a sea of defenders, but Tuala refused to die with the ball as she wriggled and fought and pumped her legs until finally breaking clear of the defence to score next to the posts.
ANOTHER SPECTACULAR TACKLE
While Pride centre Tessa Kanai produced the tackle of the match, Blackhawks fullback Tah’ Lucy Querro was not far behind her.
Querro has impacted matches because of her evasive running game, but pace can also save tries and her trysaving covering tackle to prevent Pride’s Alyssa Ale from scoring was as good as it gets.
Cyril Connell Cup U17s
Blackhawks centre Trent Martin was incredible today as his side came from behind to pip Northern Pride 20-16 late in the clash.
Martin scored the winning try with a sensational 50m solo burst that garnished another eye-catching performance by the headgear wearing centre. His dummy half running was also dynamic as his progression goes on unabated.
Martin has a habit of winning tries late for his side. During last year’s school season, Martin ran 70 to claim victory for Kirwan SHS against St Brendan’s.
DAU’S DASH
It was not the defining moment of the match, but Gausa Dau’s blazing try to open the scoring was a highlight reel moment.
The Blackhawks fullback’s explosive pace took him over to score a try which most players in the competition would not have got within cooee of scoring.
Dau later impacted the game with another sensational run that led to the try for left winger TJ Tanoai.
ROARING RUAPORO
The big bloke with a big motor was amazing in the heat.
Tall and athletic, his footwork and leg drive had the same effect in the final minutes as they did in the last minute.
As an added bonus, Ruaporo scored a crashing try that was crucial in a tight match, but around him he was a mighty front rower.
MAL MENINGA CUP
The Townsville Blackhawks scored two late tries to climb over the top of Northern Pride in a see-sawing thriller in Cairns, 34-28.
One side led, and then the other, before Townsville scored back-to-back tries courtesy of Kyhnaan Kennedy and Kyle Bader to sink their rivals.
Zac Herdegen, who had a strong match at halfback, looked to have put his side on the winning way with a 15m solo try that gave his side the lead late.
And when Pride centre Davidson Benioni scored minutes later, momentum was with the home side.
But the Townsville players had other thoughts.
With forwards Sitiveni Afu, Bader and Ethan Rains playing out the game strongly, the Blackhawks rallied.
TOWNSVILLE SUPER SUB
A big moment in the game was when Blackhawks super sub Terence Mosby exploded out of the ruck to put his centre Karlos Iraia on a run which ultimately led to a try from Ryan Van Zanden.
That enabled Townsville to draw level with their rivals midway through the second half and it was anyone’s game.
LITTLE MEN, BIG IMPACT
Kyhnaan Kennedy and Ethan Rains had a big impact late in the match to help drag their side from a deficit to a win.
With a low body height, Kennedy’s quick feet and acceleration saw him defy the Pride’s defensive line to score, while Rains’ run and snappy service ensured Townsville had momentum when it counted most late in the fixture.
GOLDEN HANDS
Rugby league has changed a lot over the years, but one of the everlasting joys is a sweeping backline movement like the one which generated one of two tries for Townsville’s right winger Bruce Baudu.
To see the ball beat the man during a wide sweep across the line is poetry.
This particular try was made by the hands of fullback Kynan Purdy whose catch and pass skills were sublime.
Later Purdy’s beautiful handling and his footwork created a second right corner try for his winger, and he was on hand to put his centre Ryan Van Zanden over again to recapture the lead, 22-20, in the second half.
He wore No.1 but you could see that he has played in the halves at stages during his career.
COHEN’S CRACKING TRY
Cohen Emmi scored a sensational solo try to keep the Pride marginally ahead of their rivals.
His withering 35m solo try was right down the centre of the Blackhawks ruck and included a remarkable turn of pace which saw him get around Townsville fullback Purdy and score under the posts.
He smiled in celebration, and it was a try worth smiling about.
CAPRAS V CUTTERS
CONNELL CUP
A decisive try in the 58th minute from right centre Norman Campbell moved the Cutters into the clear, 26-16, in Sunday’s skirmish against the Capras in Mackay.
The home side led 22-16 when the damaging Campbell and his teammates took full advantage of a Capras mistake in their half to land a telling blow approaching full time.
Campbell wriggled his way out of a tackle to plant the ball and grab a healthy 26-16 lead heading into the final 10 minutes, which Mackay did well to maintain.
With four minutes to play, a monumental tackle around the ball from Cutters lock Adam McSherry forced a knock on and in the process, took valuable momentum away from his opposition.
It prevented the Capras from igniting a late comeback and it drowned out the clock as Mackay moved in for their second victory. The big moments made a big difference for the home side and so did the versatility of fullback Lachlan Brown, five-eight Tom Bassett and utility Eli Cookson.
Both Bassett and Cookson had to play out of position when Brown left the field late in the second half after the heat really started to take its toll.
Well before Brown’s exit, he used his fleet feet and positioning as a playmaker or fullback to influence the game for Mackay.
BROWN’S BLISTERING BEST
Spritely Cutters fullback Lachlan Brown made a palpable difference with his incursions from the back, kick chases, and stoic defence.
When the game had been going for 65 minutes, Brown still had plenty in the tank as he manoeuvred past defenders, stepping superbly to show his threatening attributes.
40 minutes prior, Brown got people on their feet when he dashed clear for a stunning 90m solo try.
The Cutters led 6-0 after Capras centre Leo Fanuatanu had scored after a jamming tackle by Cormack Werner and Sam Adams forced an error. Brown, however, produced the highlight of the game when he split open the Capras defence and propelled down field for and ran in arguably the finest long distance try of the season.
He wore jersey No. 1 but the St Patrick’s College Year 11 student has played at centre, halfback, lock and wing before finding a home at the back.
“The biggest thing was us figuring out where he would be best used in the team,” said coach Brett Watton.”Eventually we combined both of those skills, the stepping, running and passing.”
He can use his sharp footwork evading tackles at fullback, and also his effective kicking game, honed as St Patrick’s playmaker, when slotting into the halves as an extra playmaker.
“A big thing with Lachie is he is a spunge,” Watton said in braise of the Brothers junior.
“If he’s unsure of something he comes and asks at training. He is always seeking feedback.
“After a game he will be like ‘what should I have done in this situation differently’. He is really good at asking the questions when he is unsure and then taking on that feedback.
“The next week he implements it straight away.
“He has that natural drive, loves footy, doesn;t miss a session but he is also really good at asking feedback and trying to improve his game.”
MASTERFUL MARSH
Capras young gun hooker Jay Marsh continued to enhance his reputation with another positive showing. A Dolphins signed, Marsh moved quickly to give impressive halves Werner and Michael Busby quick ball.
He was effective scooting from the ruck base and, for the most part, finding the bread basket with his passing.
Around Marsh, the impact offered by interchange forward Parker Hunt had the Capras at one stage leading 12-4 when lock and captain Lachlan Anderson sent him spearing through a hole to score.
Right centre Leo Fanuatanu was also a handful for the Cutters defenders to bring to ground although they had the likes of AJ Bollinger and Caleb O’Brien (both forwards) returning serve.
O’Brien scored a cracking try when pivot Grange Womal went himself and unloaded in contact while Bollinger was a brute middle forward.
HARVEY 17S
Capras head coach Nikki Carpenter would be right to think she has a team of future superstars after her under-17s team engineered a comprehensive 28-nil away victory over Mackay.
Instinctive right centre Imogen McLean added the finishing touches in an inspired three-try showing and, around her, the craftiness, general ball security and teamwork of her peers put a good Mackay outfit to the sword.
The Capras came out of the blocks firing and never stopped asking questions of the brave Cutters defenders. Immediately dummyhalf Josie Wogand pounced from the ruck base to score and when she came off, there was no letting up.
Interchange rake Jada Ryan made an impact of her own with fast, accurate ball leading to multiple tries.
The Cutters were well led interchange forward Seepa Kosetatino-Liufauby, but also by defensive brute Cianna Faulkner (lock) and busy winger Courtney Harris.
But the side struggled as the Capras cooked up a seven try storm.
The Capras’ precision and general footy smarts was on show when the tenacious Wogan (hooker) had the frame of mind in the 58th minute to throw a switch ball and open a channel to the tryline for her forward Alexis Bukowski to score.
JENSEN TURNS ON THE JETS
The Capras had a Ferrari purring in the garage and she goes by the name of Isabelle Jensen.
A right wing, Jensen jinked then jetted her way to the tryline to snare an 8-0 lead within the first 10 minutes for the Capras. Indeed the visitors kept their foot on the gas.
Left centre Jorgie Mitchell was smart to give Jensen early ball and in an instant she went from zero to-100 to slice between two defenders and burst past the last line of defence to score in the corner.
Immediately her balance, leg power, pace and decisiveness on where to attack caught the eye.
Then, five minutes from halftime, Jensen dotted down her second try courtesy of fullback Kayla Vella who attracted two defenders dummying the ball and taking it forward with two hands. The Capras led 12-0 and both Jensen and Vella remained active.
CAPRAS CARVE UP
You could count on one finger how many errors the Capras made in the first half. That was how sure they were.
In attack the visitors executed to perfection and this couldn’t be seen any clearer when gutsy right centre McLean scored on the cusp of half time.
Smart fullback Vella made a 25m burst from the ruck base to get her side into striking position. Then, as clinical as you like, hooker Ryan, five-eight Madeline Johnson and edge forward Bukowski combined to put McLean over.
The Capras were humming. Their finesse followed over into the second half where McLean was able to dive in for her second try. Again the terrific trio of Ryan, Johnson and Vella were involved to extend the lead to 20 points.
Middle forward Rachel Oakley, offload specialist Maycee Brown and Bukowski kept applying pressure as the girls from Central Queensland raced towards their fourth win in a row.
MENINGA CUP
The Cutters edged out the Capras for a second time, 28-18, in a fiery Meninga Cup encounter sprinkled with big hits and brave moments.
Capras edge forward Jai Ireland was brave to the core when his ankle was smothered awkwardly in a tackle and before long he was back up and running trying to get his side over the line.
The Cutters scored four tries to the Capras’ three and not much separated the sides until a timely penalty goal from Flynn Battaia and a try from Zane Elletson gave the home side breathing room.
Battaia, a barnstorming left centre from Brothers in Mackay, kicked six-from-six off the tee including two penalty goals to give his team their best chance at prevailing.
Mackay’s forward effort was spearheaded by No.13 Jack Thorburn.
BACK FIVE BOYS
They do it every week, but Cutters’ back five boys of Kooper Shears, Toby Woodall, Flynn Battais, Zane Elletson and Rylan Misztela each ran for over 100m to set up their forward momentum.
Winger Misztela is a real discovering player of the season who is where he is on the back of a gruelling work ethic and he is where he is off the back of that effort.
QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
If the saying ‘quality over quantity’ was a person in this game, it was Cutters right centre Zane Elletson.
When he caught the ball 30m out with defenders piled in front of him, Elletson defied the impossible and sliced through like a hot knife through butter to score his team’s fourth and final try in the 51st minute.
Later in the game, Elletson was worth his weight in gold making three consecutive tackles early in a set to repel the Capras.
He was also a continual communicator who worked well with his winger Toby Woodall to force the Capras to attack other areas.
CENTRAL QUEENSLAND TRIO OF TERROR
Capras trio Josh Nilon (prop), Jake Oberhardt (prop) and Harrison Hill (lock) took matters into their own hands in the first half to take the game to the Cutters. In a rough-and-tumble game, this terrific trio of forwards were in their element and it is becoming a regular occurrence for them to make a fantastic impact. Between the three of them they delivered an incredible amount of metres and in defence they hit hard, often and at important times when Mackay threatened to pull away.
They were enormous and, impressively, mistake free.
YOU’RE A WIZARD, NATE
In the 13th minute, Capras right wing Nate Potter dazzled with a superb finish when he planted down a twirling grubber just shy of the dead ball line.
Captain and halfback Isaac Walker had grubber kicked behind the Cutters defence and bounding in came jack-in-the-box winger Potter.
HARVEY 19S
The Cutters scored their fourth straight victory and the club’s third on the day against the Capras with a convincing 28-6 triumph which featured a coming of age game from Cowboys rookie Caitlin Tanner.
Tanner, a halfback with time, took the pressure off her forwards and backs with a brilliantly crafty performance and it further proved why the Cowboys signed her to their NRLW side for her first year out of school in 2024.
Tanner took the ball to the line and oozed class passing to her bulldozing forwards and speedy backs. In the end, Tanner and her teammates scored six tries to the Capras two and every time Tanner intervened at half, it came at a timely moment when the match hung in the balance.
TANNER TAKES NO PRISONERS
Tanner was a whiz last season for Wynnum Manly and has kept improving in all four games this season, leading to Sunday’s five-star performance.
Cover-tackling queen Jennifer Kimber, powerhouse props Ella Cronin-Flanagan and Mele Tupou and destructive edge forward Selina Cowley were all instrumental in the 16-point victory. But few were better than Tanner.
She showed her deft kicking touch when dabbing in a chip kick for try scoring winger Maddison Simon and later in the match provided a deadly one-two punch alongside of Cowley which put a canyon between the sides.
Twice in 10 minutes Tanner’s ball playing left the opposition in two minds and Cowley cashed in.
BEST FOOTWORK IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND
Capras fullback Caydence Fouracre would have to have the best footwork in this age group, not just in Central Queensland but across the entire 15-team competition.
She was a bobby-dazzler from the back, injecting herself with speed, timing and footwork only few players are blessed with.
Fouracre has found the perfect blend between using her footwork, speed and power through the hips to be a game-changer for her team. In the 53rd minute, she ran in a 60m special when a stunning left-to-right step evaded her opponent Jen Kimber.
It was a cracker, more than 50 minutes into a game where she had already involved herself on a handful of occasions. After scoring, Fouracre remained to the fore as her team fought gallantly until the final whistle.
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