Meninga Cup Team of the Season
NRL talent scouts will be salivating at the young talent on offer, with a bumper crop of top players vying for a place in our Meninga Cup under-18 rugby league team of the season. SEE WHO MADE THE TEAM
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They are the pick of the crop after another bumper Meninga Cup under 18 rugby league season.
From the cane fields of FNQ to the surf at Greenmount Beach, the state’s finest junior players have played their skills each weekend culminating in the naming of our Team of the Season.
Following Saturday’s dramatic Meninga Cup grand final won by Souths Logan Magpies over Townsville Blackhawks, we reveal our best of the best.
1. Tyler Peckham Harris (Ipswich)
Peckham Harris was an effort on effort player for Ipswich Jets who got wind in their sails in the second half of the season. He played tough, took the hard options coming off his line and was good enough to capitalise when attacking chances presented themselves.
2. Jayden Afefio (Redcliffe)
Afefio is Mr Versatile who had an outstanding season playing wing on the Peninsula. But such is his league DNA, he can play lock, centre or five-eighth with ease. Watch for him to lead the charge in Redcliffe SHS’s Langer Trophy campaign.
RELATED LINKS
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3. Elekana Suavai (Blackhawks)
One of the most exciting raw talents in the state. A FNQ product, the big, strong centre was able to either score tries or create tries against his opponents during a bumper season. He made the Queensland under 18 State of Origin emerging squad.
4. Shannon Subritzky Stewart (Norths)
Subritzky Stewart had a booming campaign in a crack Norths Devils outfit. He grew a leg and no centre put it over him during the season. It was not easy to stand out in an excellent Norths Devils side but Stewart stood out which says a lot.
5. Tekelu Mene (Blackhawks)
The dynamic Mene was multiple things to the Blackhawks, featuring finishing touches on the flank while also displaying brute strength to thump his team forward from kick returns or restarts.
6. Karl Oloapu (Norths)
Is Oloapu the most talented back in this age group? I am comfortable in saying yes. The boys from Wavell SHS has a short and long passing in his game, blinding pace and footwork famous USA dancer Fred Astaire would be proud of.
7. Jye Gray (Souths Logan)
Gray’s left edge attack was lethal, sparking his white hot outside backs. He also possessed blinding acceleration over 20m and the Broncos will be excited to have him secured. He was again magnificent in Sunday’s premiership win.
13. Damon Marshall (Blackhawks, captain)
Marshall was again magnificent from start to finish for the Townsville Blackhawks. In the heat and humidity, Marshall maintained his high standards, even on the rare occasions when his forward teammates waned. He was a leader and fantastic player for the grand finalist and the Cowboys will be pleased to have him secured. We named him captain.
12. Chris Faagutu (Souths Logan)
Mr Consistency did it again with another exemplary performance. Last season’s joint winner of the Langer Trophy Justin Hodges Medal for player of the competition, the Wests Tigers signed Faagutu was the complete No. 13. We name him on the edge here to get our best 13 into the starting line-up, a position he would play with ease.
11. Will Lewis (Capras)
Lewis’ reward for his willing season with Capras was to be elevated straight into the organisation’s colts team after the season finished. He was always in the Capras top four players and thoroughly deserves his place in this company.
10. Josiah Pahulu (Burleigh Bears)
There are some outstanding young forwards around Queensland and none are better than this Gold Coast Titans signed prop. Pahulu had a huge impact on the competition, frequently making our Team of the Week. His leg drive and ability to unload early or late in tackles made him one of the first players mentioned on opposition tip sheets. “Stop Pahulu’’ would have been hammered into the minds of opposition players by their coaches.
9. Blake Mozer (Souths Logan)
What a talent this kid is. Tall for a hooker, the Broncos-signed No. 9 can dictate the speed of the match from dummy half and work a side over during a set of six. Mozer can also kick from the ruck and stick hard in defence. He was man of the match in Sunday’s grand final.
8. Darcy Carswell (Clydesdales)
Workhorse Carswell earned a starting berth through effort on effort, week in, week out for the Darling Downs side. He fought hard to land on his stomach and to offer teammates quick play the balls and held the ruck like a soldier defending a fortress.
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Reserves:
14. Zack Lamont (Blackhawks)
Lamont relocated from boarding at Kalyn Ponga’s old school of Churchie in Brisbane to playing under the nose of the North Queensland Cowboys who signed him. He had a killer kicking game for the Blackhawks and could spark his backline with both his service and ball running before his pass.
15. Xavier Kerrisk (Cutters) – at 17 years vest 9 nearly in the comp.
Kerrisk had such a good season, that he and his teammate Jaxon Purdue played themselves onto the Cowboys development contract list. In a white hot field of No. 9s where any number could have deputised, we are comfortable with naming him given his improvement across the competition.
16. Mitchell Jennings (Falcons)
The Beerwah Bulldogs junior played centre was nominated by the Falcons as a Player to Watch this season and he did not let them down. A former Queensland Schools under 15 representative had a big impact, adding a dimension to the Sunshine Coast’s attack with his running and passing game.
17. Tory Bath (Norths)
The diminutive Bath was here, there and everywhere for Norths from fullback. His running and passing game took pressure off his five-eight Karl Oloapu and provided the Devils with another right side point of attack.
18. Ahmani Leilua (Souths Logan)
Leilua was the glue of Souths Logan’s successful premiership campaign. Relatively unheralded, it said everything about his personality that coach Karmicahel Hunt elevated him to captaincy despite two very respected Langer Trophy captains, Blake Mozer and Chris Faagutu, being in the side. He was play for Ipswich SHS this season and they are fortunate to have him.
19. Chase Paterson (Falcons)
Paterson was a big reason for the SC Falcons progressing into the semi-final. Big and strong and mobile, he gave the Falcons plenty of ball running thrust while making an impact in defence.
20. Angus Hinchey (Norths)
Hinchey was an unsung hero in an outstanding Norths side. Relatively unheralded, he was consistently good for the Devils as an edge backrower and prepared to run the tough lines. The Gap SHS product and Wests Panthers junior comes from good stock – his day James played tough for Redcliffe.
Our super rookies for your black book, include WILL TAYLOR
Will Taylor (Tweed Seagulls) spearheads our Rookies to Watch after an outstanding season.
Having missed 2021 through injury, the northern NSW product from PBC SHS was a revelation on the edge for Tweed. He flew under the radar to start the season, but will be a player to watch when the Langer Trophy season starts on June 1.
Other elite rookies who circled our Team of the Season but narrowly missed selection include:
Michael Roberts (Tweed)
Ryan Jackson (Seagulls)
Sean Bourke (Townsville)
Tajshon Santo (Blackhawks)
Asukulu Baruani (Brisbane Tigers)
Jeremy Trappett (Wynnum)
Jaxon Purdue (Cutters)
Messa Elijah (Blackhawks)
Ayden Hoad (Seagulls)
Caleb Jackson (Ipswich)
Kai Simon (Mackay Cutters, big centre
Ben Te Kura (Norths)
Jeremy Matautia (Blackhawks)
Lyhkan King-Togia (Clydesdales)
Will Taylor (Tweed)
Arama Hau (Bears)
Devonte Vaivela (Souths Logan)
Felix Fa’atili (Seagulls)
Blue collar working boys
Drew Timms (Redcliffe Dolphins)
Baden Robinson (Mackay)
Will Sullivan (Blackhawks)
Tait Coghlan (Northern Pride)
Bailey Nash (Clydesdales)
Jacob Laban (Redcliffe Dolphins)
Lachlan Togia (Ipswich Jets)
Damascus Neemia (Norths)
Declan Ryan (Clydesdales)
Henry Teutau (Blackhawks)
Tre Fotu (Souths Logan)
Tahrell Feaveai (Norths Devils)
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