Our Meninga Cup and Connell Challenge Teams of the Round
We reveal the players who made our Meninga Cup and Connell Challenge rugby league Teams of the Week?
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Two potent centre-winger combinations have shone already in the Meninga Cup at both Souths Logan and the Townsville Blackhawks, while four boom five-eights starred in round 2 action.
Souths Logan Meninga Cup pair Devonte Vaivela (centre) and Israel Leota (winger) impressed, while in the far north Blackhawks centre Elekana Suavai has a dazzling partner in winger Tekelu Mene.
And four exciting pivots impressed, with Brisbane Tigers Connell No.6 Mark Nosa, Norths Meninga pivot Karl Oloapu, Clydesdales Meninga Cup No.6 Lyhkan King-Togia and Souths Logan’s Jye Grey (Meninga Cup) all eye-catching.
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Grey has explosive pace and can find the tryline with ease himself, but he showed the creative side to his game with a Team of the Week effort on Saturday.
And Oloapu’s exploding running and pass game was hard to hold at Leo Williams Oval when Norths played the Brisbane Tigers.
And another No.6. Netani Lesimakimatuku of Ipswich was faultless with the boot in a close match, and shone in general play.
Despite those golden efforts, maybe the performance of the round came from Redcliffe Dolphins Connell Challenge captain Prestyn Laine-Sietu.
Below we name two Teams of the Week – one from the Meninga Cup and the other from Connell Challenge observations.
TEAM OF THE WEEK (Connell Challenge)
Fullback: Souths Logan Connell Challenge fullback Bailey Trew threw several nice passes for tries in his team’s win. He pipped Blake Power (Wide Bay) for the role.
Winger: The Mackay Cutters flyer Bailey Anderson scored two length of the field tries. On a day when his forwards were gasping for breath in heatwave conditions, Anderson’s finishing was welcomed by the Cutters pack in a close encounter against Capras.
Centre: Cohen Dittmann and his fellow centre Amaziah Murgha (both Blackhawks) hit the line together at the selection table after an outstanding defensive effort. We tossed a coin and put Dittmann in the top 13, with Murgha on the wing.
Centre: Tyrese Tovao produced a sensational four try performance for Brisbane Tigers, running off Mark Nosa and Joshua Donovan to score twice, but also displaying great desperation chasing long range Nosa kicks to score unlikely tries. Those efforts to run down Nosa’s kicks must have done wonders for the energy of his side.
Wing: Amaziah Murgha had a fantastic match for the young Blackhawks as a centre, but he makes our team on the wing.
Halves: Mark Nosa (Brisbane Tigers) and Lucas Brough (Wide Bay). Wow, can’t Mark Nosa play. He was sensational with his passing, running and kicking game for the Tigers while Brough had a blinder at No.7 in his team’s 24-all draw against Sunshine Coast Falcons.
No.13: Redcliffe Dolphins Connell Challenge captain Prestyn Laine-Sietu was a tremendous performer. A mobile middle forward, he moved across both sides of the ruck and finished with three tries. But a special mention also to Wide Bay’s Noah Laws for his effort in a winning side.
Second row: The Tweed Heads Connell Challenge middle Tom Summer never dropped his standards across the match and makes our side as an edge player.
Second row: In a losing side, Norths edge forward Presley Folau was outstanding for the Devils.
Prop: The Ipswich Jets prop David Leota displayed great leadership qualities to get his side home after they wobbled when reduced to 12 men.
Hooker: In a high class field of contenders, Braith Dawson led by example for the Townsville Blackhawks with a typically spritely display.
Prop: Peter Uini was a powerful middle forward for the Redcliffe Dolphins under 16s.
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Reserves
Souths Logan Connell prop Fa’apale Feaunati had a big match, particularly his second stint effort when he took defenders with him.
Chris Mann was the Clydesdales’ man of match coming off interchange bench as a middle man.`
Joseph Pouniu: The Redcliffe Connell Challenge front rower almost pinched a starting position from his mate Uini. He was rewarded for his efforts with a late try.
Sam Hyne held his own for Norths in their loss to the Brisbane Tigers.
Sam Stephenson and Sunny Kama were dangerous for Burleigh Bears in a match that could have gone either way.
Prop Darcy Clark made bulk metres and tackled his backside off in the heat for Mackay Cutters’ Connell side.
Ipswich Jets five-eight Netani Lesimakimatuku (Ipswich) was faultless with the boot in a close match, and shone in general play.
TEAM OF THE WEEK (Meninga Cup)
Fullback: Now you see him, now you don’t. The lightning Norths fullback Tory Bath was light on his feet while ball playing on the right hand side. He pipped Capras’ Matt Hill for this position despite Hill’s big effort on Saturday.
Winger: Tekelu Mene (Townsville Blackhawks) was absolutely outstanding in his team’s 30-nil win.
Centre: Elekana Suavai is an exciting big man talent at centre for the Blackhawks who will be a handful all competition. But we also have a special mention for Tweed’s Jackson Lepow whose defence on debut was outstanding.
Centre: Devonte Vaivela worked up an instant combination with his half Jye Grey for the Souths Logan Meninga Cup side.
Wing: The athletic Israel Leota played impressively for Souths Logan in its Meninga Cup victory. His second of two tries was a grand effort when he chased a kick that most had given up on.
Halves: Michael Roberts and Karl Oloapu. Tweed Seagulls danger man Roberts found his mojo in dry conditions for the Tweed Seagulls in the Meninga Cup while Oloapu displayed his amazing array of skills in Norths’ whitewash of Brisbane Tigers.
No.13: The Townsville Blackhawks’ Damon Marshall was inspiring in horrid heat.
Second row: Big Ben Te Kura was a huge influence on Norths right edge attack – even when he did not get the ball. As a dummy runner he sucked defenders in which helped Bath and Oloapu create on the outside, while running as a front man he took a power of stopping.
Second row: Angus Hinchey was a personal choice by Norths coach Shane Boyd as one of his best players.
Prop: Jack Underhill wins his place in the side following the Falcons 24-2 shut down of the Clydesdales. His mate Harry Dwyer is on the bench after his middle effort.
Hooker: Tajshon Santo-Messa started strongly in the Blackhawks Meninga Cup outfit with the ball and without it, and his gritty defence also impressed.
Prop: Louruce Brown: Souths Logan half Jye Grey and his outside men might have shone, but Brown laid the bricks and mortar upfront.
Reserves
The quicksilver Jye Grey of Souths Logan combined with his centre Devonte Vaivela, while also putting on a first minute try for Israel Leota with a lovely pass.
A favourite of this reporter after observing him in the Langer Trophy last season playing for Wavell SHS, it seems middle forward Damascus Neemia has another fan – Norths coach Shane Boyd who nominated him as one of his best on Sunday.
The versatile Declan Ryan was arguably the best player on the field as the Clydesdales defeated Ipswich Jets.
On most weekend’s brilliant No.6 prospect Lyhkan King-Togia (Clydesdales) would be the five-eight in our Team of the Week. But he has to make do with a reserve berth, such was the quality of performer at the weekend.
Capras Meninga Cup edge forward Kurt Fisher gave the Cutters plenty to think about.
The reliable Harry Dwyer was mighty in the middle for the Meninga Cup Falcons outfit.
Dorian Lotaki added punch and enthusiasm for the Burleigh Bears when he came off the bench
Capras Meninga Cup dummy half Carter Wight did a fine job for his side and was a calming influence on the side when the going got tough into the second half given his side was a man down and running into a breeze.
Hooker Dyllan Cousens did a great job for the Sunshine Coast Meninga outfit, leading from the front.
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