Meninga Cup: Here’s our 15 top guns froms semi final day
Meninga Cup semi-finals: Here’s our 15 top guns from Saturday’s sudden death finals between the Jets and Blackhawks; the Redcliffe Dolphins and Wynnum-Manly. The list includes a three try hero.
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The Redcliffe Dolphins and Townsville Blackhawks were now into the Meninga Cup grand final after gritty semi final victories at the North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday.
The Dolphins thumped the Seagulls 56-18, the scoreline inflating late in the game after the contest escaped Wynnum-Manly who were just six down at half (18-12).
And in game No.2 the boys from Townsville were given a scare after an inspired second half effort from the Jets saw their lead shrink from 22-0 to 36-26.
Then Blackhawks winger Rayzarlin Pearson scored in the 70th minute to put a nail in the coffin.
IN PICTURE - 90 IMAGE SEMI-FINAL PICTURE GALLERY
In the first match, Redcliffe’s John Fineanganofo broke open the battle of the bayside with a hattrick, and was one of our 15 Top Guns from the matches which we present below.
REDCLIFFE V WYNNUM
THREE THINGS WE LEARNT
1. Wynnum second rower Jett Bryce is the ultimate destructor. Twice his aggression in contact dislodged the ball from his rival, earning Wynnum an escape on their try line.
2. Wynnum winger Jeremiah Havea has great upside with his wingspan and tall frame, imposing himself as an intercept threat. On one occasion he saved a certain try by reaching out and batting the ball down and on another, he thwarted Redcliffe’s chances up close with a breakaway intercept to get his team out of trouble.
3. Queensland, and these semi finals, have plenty of great young hookers. Wynnum’s Cameron Bukowski, Redcliffe’s Mitch Rogers and Ipswich’s Tyler Peckham-Harris who all starred this Meninga season, all have it. Rogers is an extra kicking option, with an unrivalled match fitness, Bukowski is strong and can pass it incredibly both ways, while Peckham-Harris is a dynamo capable of ducking his way through defences.
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PLAYERS OF THE DAY
John Fineanganofo (Redcliffe)
A hat-trick in the semi final. Does it get any better?
This guy was clinical, scoring, assisting, tackling hard and sniping, converting seven-from-eight.
He used his power and leg drive to barrel his way through the Seagulls defence and if he wasn’t running he was putting his wingers Jayden Alefaio and Siosifa Kava over.
Delighted head coach Scott Tronc put it simply saying the No.6 was a true footy player.
“You don’t have to worry about where he plays, he’s a footy player.”
Coby Black (Wynnum)
The No.1 five-eighth in Queensland in his age group, Black played some of his best footy when the season was on the line.
Aside from being a great leader, evident when the No.7 rallies his boys together in the huddle, he is also a genius kingmaker who can broke open defences when you least expect it.
He set up try No.1 with a beautiful pass back on his inside, before a smart downfield bomb on tackle No.2 saw him stroll over after Innes chased it down.
Elijah Rasmussen (Redcliffe)
Holding down his end of the bargain was powerhouse prop Rasmussen, who met force with force. His efforts quickly wore out the Wynnum forward pack, meaning their backs had to do extra work. In the end, the score blew open, courtesy of the foundations he laid.
“He was great out there today. He took the ball forward and did his job well. You can’t ask for more than that from your front rower. He just stuck to it which was impressive,” Tronc said after his troops “turned up” in a big second half effort.
Saxon Innes (Wynnum)
His speed came in handy for the Seagulls, the seriously fast fullback scoring his team’s first with a great line and making the second possible with a mammoth 70m kick chase to retrieve a brilliant Black boot.
His defence was sound, and he even played the full 70 after a big collision would’ve seen most other players come from the field.
There were other notable efforts from across the park. This included:
+ Redcliffe’s Larry Siala, who had one of his better games of the season. The second rower was a king at making post-contact metres.
+ Wynnum’s Beni Allen was tough as teak in the first half of football, bruising the defensive line with his hit ups.
+ Wynnum’s Will Lane and Harry Armstrong were easy to notice such was their work rate. The pair busted tackles, giving Black and Jeremy Trappett front foot ball.
+ Redcliffe centre Zac Garton didn’t have much ball but when he had it he looked dangerous. It was his communication with his teammates, energy, and encouragement which gave Redcliffe the edge in the centres.
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IPSWICH V TOWNSVILLE
THREE THINGS WE LEARNT
1. Alton Naiyep is the real deal. We saw it in the Langer Trophy last year through to the National Schoolboys final, and now the Manly signed wing is still improving with every outing. He’s not just strong and quick but smart too. For example, when Blackhawks centre Harley Walker made a break down Naiyep’s edge, he made sure to stay on his wing to keep an eye on the dangerously quick Teke Mene.
2. The battle for the best centre on the day was hotly contested. Was it Townsville’s No.4 Eatu Kilauea, a towering, mobile threat who looks for the offload in traffic? Or Ipswich’s LJ Nonu, a trusty outside centre with all the tricks. Speed, a step and body-on-the-line type of defence?
3. Ipswich are second half heroes. Not once not twice but three times this season we have seen the Jets start slow, find themselves down and fight their way back into it to win by the skin of their teeth. They were successful against the Sunshine Coast Falcons in round 5(30-26) and the Wide Bay Bulls in round 7 (23-22), but against the Blackhawks it was too little too late.
Kaiden Lahrs and Jamal Shibasaki (Blackhawks)
These two props came to play and thanks to their efforts the Blackhawks were able to grind out a win. The blonde haired Lahrs and the giant Shibasaki made things a whole lot easier for their team.
Whenever Ipswich went wide, they were dangerous. But, the middle was locked down and there was no way through- these two manning the middle like their lives depended on it.
Coach Zeb Kyle said his core in props Lahrs and Shibasaki, and hooker Hoani Harris, defended their back sides off.
“They’ve been good our whole campaign,” he said about his props consistently showing up on defence.
Reece Foley (Blackhawks)
He didn’t wow the crowd or spark a try of the year but he was the epitome of calmness.
Under pressure and with every reason to panic, he stayed the course and after an even tempered performance when he looked sharp gliding from sideline to sideline, he got Townsville to safety.
Jack Prior (Blackhawks)
At fullback, Prior did a terrific job. He was safe as houses under the high ball, and an excellent injection in the offensive line.
Coach Kyle commended the way he gave his side “ great yardage out of the back.”
Loranzo Fono and Marley Helion (Blackhawks)
Off the bench, this dynamic duo gave 110 per cent to keep the Jets at bay.
Kyle said off the bench they provided punch when they came on.
“They provided the energy,” he said post-game after the Blackhawks, inspired by their bench weapons, were able to deter a second-half surge from Ipswich.
LJ Nonu (Ipswich)
Nonu bagged a double and would have relished a full 70 minutes after missing multiple games this season.
On the right edge he was deadly, putting Townsville on the back foot with every carry. Ipswich SHS will be lucky to have him in this year’s Langer Trophy to replace Caleb Jackson and Tre Fotu.
Lachlan Stuart (Ipswich)
Coming into the line-up with Peckham-Harris sidelined due to a dangerous tackle in round 7, Stuart was no doubt excited. As was coach Shane Harris, who made note pre-game that he was the type of player you’d want in games like these.
And, it didn’t take long for Stuart to find his feet after coming off the bench. Straight away he was making tackle after tackle, rushing to the ruck and delivering crisp ball to his halves.
The word gutsy comes to mind.
Alton Naiyep (Ipswich)
Two tries and a ton of work, Naiyep’s value could never be measured by tries scored.
On the wing, he somehow manages to always stay in, despite running straight at his opponent rather than cutting back in. That’s just how strong he is.
Under the high ball he was perfect and although it wasn’t the result his team were after, Naiyep should hold his head high after having a season of dreams.
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