Meninga Team of the Week: Who Manly have signed
NRL glamour club Manly has snapped up a player from the Meninga cup, while we reveal the players of the week and the Logan teen NRL scouts have been urged to watch.
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Sydney glamour club Manly has swooped to snare a promising outside backs from the Ipswich Jets.
Manly has signed Ipswich SHS premiership winner Alton Naiyep (Meninga Cup under 18s) while it us understood there is also NRL interest in Jets Finn Kendall (Connell Challenge under 16s).
Naiyep, a centre or winger, was a member of Ipswich SHS’s unbeaten charge to win the national championship last year.
HERE’S 80 UNSUNG HEROES OF THE MENINGA, CONNELL AND HARVEY 19s
JETS V FALCONS PICTURE GALLERY
JETS V WIDE BAY BULLS PICTURE GALLERY
MAGPIES V WYNNUM SEAGULLS PICTURE GALLERY
Under the guidance of his school coach (Josh Bretherton) and his club coaches (Shane Harris, Meninga; Jye Jye Tuaimau-Gadsdon, Connell Challenge), Naiyep has developed his game from being a finisher to a powerful edge runner who consistently beats tackles with his fearless running.
Naiyep is originally from PNG who started at Ipswich SHS as a Year 8 student.
Kendall is a tall, fast and versatile young back who can really score the ball.
He is an Ipswich Grammar boy who will push hard for inclusion in the school’s GPS First XV this season.
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Souths Logan Meninga Cup coach Ben Trim has also urged NRL talent scouts to take a close look at Dylan Gallagher.
A versatile player from Marsden SHS, Gallagher seems to have found a home at centre where he shone last Saturday in the Magpies avalanche victory (66-10) over the Brisbane Tigers.
“I really like him,’’ Trim said. “He has found a spot in the centres and scored three last Saturday against the Tigers.
“He has a great attitude and is a leader in our group.”
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
CYRIL CONNELL CHALLENGE
BURLEIGH BEARS V REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Azariah Toki-Mautairi (Redcliffe)
The No. 13 was the Dolphins’ best. He put the team before himself when playing out of position. “His discipline and effort areas were outstanding,” said coach Chris Little.
Brian Pouniu (Redcliffe)
In the second row Pouniu led his team with plenty of heart and resilience in defence.
And bench forward Henry Sologinkin scored a Try of the Year contender in his team’s fifth win of the season. But Little said six-from-six was the goal.
Marley McLaren (Burleigh)
The halfback had his best game all year, marshalling his troops expertly and kicking superbly in game.
David Bryenton (Burleigh)
Bryenton was dangerous as ever in the centres, with the Kiwi young gun showing his class with every touch of the ball.
Luke Jones (Burleigh)
Jones was a rock on the edge and in the middle with some front on defence sure to make onlookers clap their hands, his contact so fearless even rival supporters would commend his efforts.
TWEED SEAGULLS V NORTHS DEVILS
Trio (Norths)
Second rowers Lincoln Dalton and Dyer Akauola were outstanding again in a losing effort as was fullback Ethan Grimshaw.
Fynn Dalton was also a weapon according to coach Shannon Tupara.
Levi Russin (Tweed)
The second rower was a gun on the left edge, all day proving a handful with a bunch of tough carries and brave defence.
In the middle Benjamin Quinlan led from the front after being moved to prop.
“It was a real captain’s knock,” said coach Neil Richards.
“But it was one of those weeks were all the boys did their job. On Saturday it was pretty solid from all the boys.’’
Boston Hubbard (Tweed)
Hubbard was electric at fullback as he has proved to be all season long.
Whenever he suits up in the No. 1 jersey he is pure excitement. Halfback Caleb Creswell was very impressive steering the team around the park while discovering his running game and slotting sideline conversions.
CQ CAPRAS V NORTHERN PRIDE
Will McLaughlin (Capras)
The five eighth was deadly in his side’s 44-6 victory over the Northern Pride, the youngster bagging two tries to go along with a Jake Murphy hat-trick,
Murphy played in the centres and was outstanding according to coach Duane Carpenter.
Brock Otto (Capras)
Otto and his mate Harrison Hill laid the platform in the forward pack which opened things up for McLaughlin and Murphy who crossed five times.
MACKAY CUTTERS V TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Eneliko Savelio (Blackhawks)
Savelio was outstanding, getting the Blackhawks out of their end in into the mid field with terrific running metres.
Cohen Dittmann (Blackhawks)
The fullback was a threat every time he had the ball in hand, putting the Cutters under pressure when he was given just an ounce of room.
Cohen Jackson and Camden Hopes (Cutters)
Jackson and Hopes were really strong, completely dominating their opposite numbers in the front row.
Lachlan Starr and Flynn Battaia (Cutters)
Starr was a gun in defence and offence while Battaia (No. 6) set up a nice try with a beautifully shaped kick.
WIDE BAY BULLS V SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
Riley Maule (Wide Bay)
Maule led the forward pack at hooker and gave Wide Bay their best chance to win.
It was a strong team effort from the Bulls, with a magnitude of strong performances across the park, but in the end they were unlucky on a hot day in Bundaberg, falling short 22-18 to the Falcons.
Oliver Kleijn (Falcons)
This kid played a very solid game on the left edge. In the second row, Kleijn was consistent with his work rate in attack and defence and it must be said he is very mature for his age playing against older players.
Trio (Falcons)
Fullback Tyler Conquest, lock Jackson Koina and hooker Tyson Fallon-May all combined for a strong showing. Thanks to their efforts the Falcons were able to pull away by four.
BRISBANE TIGERS V SOUTHS-LOGAN MAGPIES
Max Blanch (Tigers)
The skipper led through his actions, his work rate in the ruck remarkable.
Raymond Nagas (Tigers)
Nagas made plenty of inroads in the backline, the winger rucking the ball up like a forward.
Jose Ito (Magpies)
“He's just scary. Consistent and scary, you'd hate to run at him,” says coach Scott Bannan.
Recently signed by the Raiders, Ito is a big moment player, who the opposition knows is capable of producing in the big moments.
Sam Martin (Magpies)
Martin has stepped his game up as of late, and his fitness has been a big part of it.
At the weekend the hooker closed the middle down with great contact, putting in 110 per cent, “He's really earned the spot as the starting hooker,” Bannan said.
Emmanuel Asomua (Magpies)
Every week he asks coach Scott Baan what feedback he can give him as coach and every week he puts whatever advice given to him into action. He did on Saturday and was the first try scorer of the game.
IPSWICH JETS V WESTERN CLYDESDALES
Tyson Walker (Jets)
Walker was back but in the position of fullback and in a new jersey he was very busy on both sides of the field in attack.
And in defence he identified the Clydesdales danger man to assess potential early kick options.
He was classy.
Cooper Hayes (Jets)
Hayes had a great return from a few weeks off due to a concussion.
The No. 9 was great in directing the Jets middles around and provided time and space for his halves to attack.
Berakah Tuifaasisina (Jets)
The cross code talent was awesome off the bench coming on as a middle forward.
The Queensland Reds under-15 talent got through a ton of work and was as dominant as they come.
The Clydesdales best three were:
+Braithen Scott with his dangerous presence out the back and threatening ball-running.
+Brodie Hilt who defended his heart out.
+Rukey Zanetti with his brave defensive efforts in the second row.
MENINGA CUP
TWEED SEAGULLS V NORTHS DEVILS
Maddox Goodwin (Norths)
The second rower had been reliable and consistent all year for the Devils thus far and delivered again against Tweed.
He led the charge with strong carries and even stronger defence on the edge.
Harrison Hill (Norths)
The hooker was exceptional through the middle with his deceptive playstyle.
And on the other side of the ball coach Rob Tanielu praised his gutsy defence.
Nazareth Taua (Norths)
Taua was coach Rob Tanielu’s best on ground, although he had a few errors his efforts in defence was a handful as was his attack through the middle and on the edge
Barny Litidamu (Tweed)
The centre defending like a man possessed and in the end that proved the difference in a tight four-point victory for the Seagulls.
Baylen Donald was his right hand man, with a work rate out of this world.
Jake Lateo (Tweed)
At halfback, Lateo led his troops around the paddock and played as tough as nails.
CQ CAPRAS V NORTHERN PRIDE
Awesome foursome (Capras)
Prop Baylee Meilland, interchange forward Carter Ford, fullback Mutua Brown and winger Isiah Broome all had a good day out for the Capras but the Pride pounced on their rivals’ ill-discipline to capture a 44-16 win.
Jason Hallie (Pride)
Hallie had himself a day, the prop nabbing four tries in an enormous showing for his team.
Braithan Ketchell aided him at the lock position with a defensive game like no other.
These two rumbled it through the middle and a 28-point-victory followed.
MACKAY CUTTERS V TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
The Cutters best were:
+ Rory Woodall (second rower)
+Matt Watts (prop)
+Xavier Kerrisk (hooker)
+Jaxon Purdue (five-eighth)
The Blackhawks best were:
+Haoni Harris (hooker)
+Epparama Kikau (centre, handled his opposite man Kai Simon well)
+Bench energisers Jack Wood, Loranzo Fono, Nelson Kennedy, and Marley Helion
WIDE BAY BULLS V SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
Trio (Falcons)
Second rower Jack Philp, prop Beau Lucien and hooker Bayden Hales spearheaded an inexperienced Falcons squad on Saturday.
Coach Danny Gray said his boys were really resilient and that he was super proud of his team for sticking with it to win 32-26.
Eziekel Monckton (Bulls)
The No. 7 was really good, as was No. 8 Jordan Hislop, keeping their team in the fight with immense effort.
Coach Shaun Hobson also made note that centre Mitchell Sly was “outstanding.”
BRISBANE TIGERS V SOUTHS-LOGAN MAGPIES
Ciaro Rangihuna-Ruri (Magpies)
He was brilliant with the boot, kicking nine-from-twelve in a Souths-Logan scoring feast.
Alex Leapai, Dylan Gallagher, Jacob Tinsley and Presley Falou (Magpies)
These four were destructive in their respective positions, so much so that the Magpies accrued 66 points away from home.
Gallagher scored two, as did Leapai.
BURLEIGH BEARS V REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Sunny Kama (Burleigh)
Kama was the definition of tough in the centres, carrying his side out of trouble with strong hit ups and timely defensive decisions.
Cooper Bai (Burleigh)
Bai did a mountain of work at lock once again, making enough tackles to earn him a KFC family burger box.
And in attack his offloads were threatening.
Larry Siala (Redcliffe)
Siala was really good on the edge.
He’s been on the bench and started today and put his best foot forward. He’s developing well.
John Paul Donevski (Redcliffe)
This bloke showed how good a player he is once again. And to go along with his sharp showing at fullback he struck them well off the tee, slotting six-from-seven
IPSWICH JETS V WESTERN CLYDESDALES
Brock Snakey (Clydesdales)
At No. 7 Sankey controlled the game beautifully with his direct play and kicking game.
Jett Day (Clydesdales)
The second rower played lock at the weekend and his defence was rock solid, and running game hard for the Jets boys to contain
Bud Smith (Clydesdales)
The Canterbury signed Smith played in the front row and worked brilliantly with Day through the middle and in the defensive line.
HARVEY 19S
TWEED SEAGULLS V NORTHS DEVILS
Mercedez Taulelei-Siala (Tweed)
Siala was the best on ground for Tweed, her defence and hard running incredible in what was her first game in the No. 13 jersey.
Phoenix-Raine Hippi (Tweed)
Hippi had herself a phenomenal all-round game with plenty of involvement on all areas of the paddock.
high praise to halfback Leilani Ahsam who made her debut off the bench and made an immediate impact with her attacking prowess.
Grace Giampino (Norths)
She owned the middle third while not allowing anyone past her defences.
Tayla Sykes (Norths)
Sykes’ running game at five-eighth was special, keeping defenders guessing with her elusiveness when shaping to pass.
Ava Walters (Norths)
At centre, Walters did a ton of work in her own end to get Norths out of trouble and into a position where they were off the back foot.
CQ CAPRAS V NORTHERN PRIDE
The usual suspects were on song for the Pride, controlling the ruck, defending well and giving 110 per cent effort:
+Aerielle Hobbler (five-eighth)
+Mackenzie Stephens (lock)
+ Tomiko Hirakawa (centre)
+Jytte Wallace (prop)
MACKAY CUTTERS V TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Theophelia Mosby-Nona (Blackhawks)
After a couple tough weeks with injuries the Blackhawks have hit their straps and Mosby-Nona was enormous at the weekend to provide the result.
She had a real captains knock at prop,
Jairel-Ellen Martin-Savage (Blackhawks)
Savage was not going to be beaten on Saturday. According to coach Rob Hall she was so switched on that losing was just not an option, Hall saying “she put herself in every big moment.”
Madison Westecott (Cutters)
The Cutters went down only just and it was Westecott who shone in the centres. She scored two and converted two, scoring 12 of her team’s 16 points.
WIDE BAY BULLS V SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
Lila Parr and Kate Ellem (Falcons)
Parr was instrumental in the No. 7 jersey, setting up a ton of tries and scoring two herself.
Superstar Kate Ellem was back and better than ever, after missing last game due to commitments with the Australian touch football team.
BRISBANE TIGERS V SOUTHS-LOGAN MAGPIES
The Magpies’ best:
+No. 8 Alice Shannon
+No. 6 Chloe Rowe
+No. 13 Jaydika Tafau
The Tigers depth was really tested on Saturday, with four players in the BMD Premiership, five our with HIA’s, one out with sickness, and captain Uese Delilah Eliu. It was a gusty effort to pinch a 24-18 win at home.
Prop Karen Pritchard scored a double in a gritty team effort from the Tigers.
BURLEIGH BEARS V REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Abbie Ritchie, Reegan Hicks and Memory Paitai (Redcliffe)
These three all worked tirelessly in defence and attack but the Dolphins just lacked the discipline and patience in the end.
But, coach Jason Goulding was very proud of his team’s effort who managed to keep Burleigh to 16.
“Burleigh are too good of a side to give them anything and we found that out the hard way.
“I was proud of the effort … Burleigh are certainly a very good side across the park and they give you nothing,” Goulding said.
IPSWICH JETS V WESTERN CLYDESDALES
Lina Tanielu and Pauleeja Mau (Jets)
Props Tanielu and Mau led from the front as they always do. They looked to offload and made plenty of yards out of their own half, to go along with some desperate defence in the middle when needed.
Head Coach and rugby league great Veronica White said the pair of them had developed their game immensely in the past 12 months and continue to lead the charge for Ipswich.
Dmaris Setu (Jets)
A serious contender for a representative second rower, Setu was an inspiration on defence and a bustling runner on the other side of the ball.
Setu is always putting her hand up when her team needs her.
Ella-Jaye Harrison-Leaunoa (Jets)
Harrison-Leaunoa had perhaps the play of the game, the halfback pulling off a crucial chip and chase play.
It’s one of those magical plays you work on in the backyard and Harrison-Leaunoa put it into action in nailbiting 22-20 win for Ipswich.
She’s one to watch in the next few years.
Mackenzie Zeller (Clydesdales)
The skipper had to be in our Team of the Week given the Clydesdales played with just two reserves against a big Ipswich forward pack.
And only just lost 22-20, with lock Zeller outstanding in attack and defence.
Katelyn Collie and Chelsea Middleton (Clydesdales)
The Clydesdales front rowers did not give an inch to the Jets forward pack and indeed they had the toughest job on the field.
And halfback Bonnie Zappa had her best general kicking game yet.
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