Meninga Cup grand final: Redcliffe Dolphins v Townsville Blackhawks
Meninga Cup grand final: Our Super Seven players of the decider revealed here along with how Redcliffe claimed the title over the Blackhawks.
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A red and white forward wave formed to sweep Redcliffe to a compelling 36-18 victory in today’s under 18 rugby league Meninga Cup grand final against the Townsville Blackhawks.
With Dolphins’ prop Michael Waqa the leading muscle man and Man of the Match hooker Mitch Rogers a midfield conductor, the Dolphins produced a four try first half performance which laid a deposit for victory.
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Leading 20-4 at halftime, and then 30-10 just 12 minutes from fulltime, Redcliffe looked set to win in a canter.
But two tries in two minutes gave Townsville hope before the Dolphins steadied in the run to the finish line.
Redcliffe coach Scott Tronc said his team’s crowning achievement was their willingness to come together as a unit.
“They learned to come together and that individuals don’t win matches, teams do’’ Tronc said.
Townsville were much better in the second half, but will rue their first half fumbles.
Townsville coach Zeb Kyle said in summary: “I thought Redcliffe were just a bit better than us at converting their points. We got ourselves in a really good position but we did not convert whether it was a poor option or an error.’’
The victory was set up in the first half by the one, two, one, two impact power game of Redcliffe forwards Waqa, Elijah Rasmussen and interchange forward Aholoka Toia, with Waqa sustaining his effort across the entire first half.
“They were great,’’ Tronc said.
Waqa’s thunderous hoofs trampled forward against an opposition which handed over too much possession in the first half.
Around him five-eight John Fineanganofo and hooker Rogers added their deft touches and it was a beautifully balance early onslaught.
“The No.6 (Fineanganofo) was again outstanding and the other prop, Elijah (Rasmussen), he is a player of the future,’’ Tronc said.
In the centres, two try hero Laine-Sietu and John-Paul Donevski gave Redcliffe strike.
The Blackhawks had their own middle forward workhorses, Kaiden Lahrs and Jamal Shibasaki, but their impact would have been greater had Townsville not turned over as much possession as they did.
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Down 20-4, the Blackhawks had to be the first to score and they were courtesy of centre Harley Walker who refused to die with the ball. Walker was competitive all match and can be pleased with his effort.
Five-eight Hellyer was good and hooker Foley dangerous on occasions.
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Townsville sustained an improved performance across the second half, and two quick tries gave then second half hope.
“I think we needed to comeback at them like we did. But I don’t think it was our best game with the ball for whatever reason that was.
“But I could not be prouder of them. They have been really good all year it was just one of those things.’’
But approproately one of Redcliffe’s big boppers, prop Waqa, had the last laugh with a try on the stroke of fulltime.
Super Seven
Michael Waqa (Redcliffe)
Waqa Was a middle forward marathon man, maintaining the rage across the entire first half with his barrelling runs and energy in defence.
Kaiden Lahrs (Townsville)
Lahrs matched the Redcliffe middle forward onslaught and looks one hell of a prospect. He had a big motor, hit hard in defence and found his stomach after contact.
Mitch Rogers (Redcliffe)
He brought his forwards onto the ball, was a threat when he ran himself and gave the Dolphins kicking game variety. A surprising omission from the Met North schooLboy representative team, Man of the Match Rogers also had a bullet pass any halfback with love.
John Fineanganofo (Redcliffe)
Fineanganofo entered the match one of the players of the season and he maintained that form. He was a clever ballplayer and runner, with the defensive clout of a back rower.
Elijah Rasmussen (Redcliffe)
Rasmussen produced a smash and grab effort in the opening 15 minutes to dent Townsville, and then returned into the second half to help arrest momentum which threatened to swing Townsville’s way. HIs try sent Redcliffe to a 30-10 lead, and then he scored another.
Jamal Shibasaki (Townsville)
Shibasaki didn’t disappoint with a rousing performance. Big and strong with pace, he would have had an even bigger impact if Townsville had played better in the first half.
Aholoka Toia (Redcliffe)
When Rasmussen went off, Toia came on and what an impression he made. He filled Rasmussen’s shoes and then some.
THE TRIES
+ Off the back of a fabulous 40-20 kick from hooker Rogers, Redcliffe poured on the pressure before mounting the first try.
Rogers was the heart beat as he accepted an offload to spread wide to his right, with a hands movement pushing through Michael Waqa, halfback Jahrel Iselin-Jansen and onto winger Siosife Kava who dived over.
+ The Blackhawks returned serve, with a Kaiden Lahrs charge and quick play the ball laying the foundation for halfback Reece Foley to slice through. It was 4-all.
+ But an error proved costly almost immediately from the kick off, enabling the big Redcliffe pack to pound away down the middle of the field.
With field position five eight John Fineanganofo produced his magic, with a kick ahead rebounding into his arms to score. He also covered the try and Redcliffe were up 10-4.
+ And approaching halftime it was 4-14 to Redcliffe when an effort run from Toia resulted in a right side raid that ended in the hands of robust centre Prestyn Laine-Sietu.
Laine-Sietu drove hard and strong at the line, freeing himself to plunge over.
Strong contact from Dolphins halfback Iselin-Jansen then forced another error, enabling Redcliffe to sweep into attack.
+ Centre field scrum ball saw Fineanganofo attack left, getting his arms free in a tackle to send centre John-Paul Donevski away. Donevski then found his winger Jayden Alefaio who grounded the ball despite the attention of two defenders.
At 20-4, Redcliffe had one hand on the Cup.
+ Townsville centre Harley Walker then fought hard on his feet, rebounding free to plunge over early in the second half for Townsville.
+ But centre Laine-Sietu scored a fantastic try, bursting out of a tackle and then changing direction to run 20m and score a crucial try. It was 26-10.
+ After a flash of enterprise from Fineangofo, and a run from Kava, big Elijah Rasmussen emerged to rumble over close to the line, making it 30-10.
+ Rayzarlin Pearson kept his team’s faint chances alive 12 minutes from full-time by beautifully finishing a left edge raid that reduced the margin to 30-14.
+ Two minutes later Townsville winger Aisake Manna backed himself with a dive from dummy half to score.
+ Redcliffe prop Waqa powers over in the final minute.
REDEMPTION
How winger Jayden Alefaio must have enjoyed the win. Twelve months ago he was Redcliffe’s best player in a battling side, making our 2022 Meninga Cup Team of the Year.
He then did his best in the young Redcliffe SHS which battled bravely but without success in the Langer Trophy.
Now he is a premiership winner, on the crest of a wave.
Scores: Redcliffe 36 (P Laine-Sietu 2, M Waqa, E Rasmussen S Kava, J Fineanganofo, J Alefaio tries; J Fineanganofo 3 goals, T Leofa goal) defeated Blackhawks 18 (R Foley, H Walker, R Pearson, A Manna tries, E Hellyer conv
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