Queensland Reds talent tip for St Edmund’s halfback Tafito Falaniko Ah-ki
Super Rugby talent scouts take note: Here’s a scrum-half they simply must look at, a No. 9 featured in our AIC First XV schoolboy round 4 Team of the Week.
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St Edmund’s College First XV rugby coach Andrew Kirk has urged the Queensland Reds to take a closer look at his superstar scrum-half after another masterful performance in round 4 against Villanova College.
According to Kirk, the Eddies No. 9 Tafito Falaniko Ah-Ki was the “best player I’ve ever coached”.
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An x-factor player, he represented Queensland (White) under 18s last season after steering St Edmund’s College to their best finish in years - but according to Kirk his representative career should not stop there.
Kirk said Falaniko Ah-Ki was on another level this season.
“Tafito Falaniko scored two tries (on Saturday). He scored two and was just untouchable,” Kirk said about Ah-Ki who is in the Reds Academy.
“The kid is going places. He’s the best player I’ve ever coached. His knowledge of the game, he sees things.
“He can see a hole, and a play, three plays ahead.
“He sees things and he goes to exploit it.
“One hundred per cent they’d (the Reds) need to take a look at him. He was the Player of the Series in the BJRU Lightning Series. He was far and above any other halfbacks in Queensland.”
Eddies were up 12-0 with one minute to go in the first half on Saturday but Villanova fly half Larry Clark swung the tide with an intercept try just before the break, Villa dominating the second before running away 39-12 victors.
Round 4 was also a platform for Ashgrove centre Tom Howard and fullback Jude Knapp to announce themselves in a win against St Peters, for Adam Kelly (Iona) to star in a losing effort, and for Padua’s Damon Humphrys to twice save his team’s neck.
In the Ashgrove v St Peters game, Ashgrove fly half Tobias Graham was also a kicking ace, turning St Peters players around and relieving pressure with the boot.
St Peters flanker Tarnah Ford-West took it to the Ash forward pack, while Saints fly half Wallace Charlie, who hails from the sporting rich Cairns region, was at the peak of his powers.
Next to him was centre aggressor Kuwananon Dickman and fullback speedster Dom Morton.
Other top notch performers are highlighted in our Team of the Week below.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
15. Jude Knapp (Ashgrove)
A serious talent, Knapp is one of those players you wouldn’t expect to make a Queensland Reds Under 18s White team but should after the season he’s having.
On Saturday Ashgrove supporters were treated to another Knapp masterclass, with Tom Howard and Tobias Graham joining him as the boys in blue and gold gobbled up pressure and took it to Peters in a 29-5 second half surge.
14. Dom Morton (St Peters)
He played at fullback but we put him at wing to get him in the team. He was fierce competition for Knapp, offering speed and rugby brains to get his team out of trouble.
Some players shouldn’t run sideways but Morton sure has the pass such is his pace when moving laterally, the third year Firsts player seemingly gliding from sideline to sideline.
13. Jackson Connor (Villanova)
This game was always around the corner for Connor after a solid start to the season. He’d been given chances this year but the finishing touches weren’t quite there. On Saturday, they were there in spades when the outside centre bagged a double and set up another.
12. Finn Mackay (St Laurence’s)
The fly half spot was hotly contested this week. Laurie’s man of the match Mackay, Padua’s match winner Damon Humphries, Ashgrove’s Tobias Graham, St Peter’s Wallace Charlie and Villa’s Larry Clark all staking their claim.
Mackay was so good he’s been shifted to inside centre, Paddies coach Jim Potts saying “Finn Mackay, he was man of the match … steered the ship, steady head, kicked well … Sent it out wide when they had the space.”
Front runner for the competition’s best fly half.
11. Tom Howard (Ashgrove)
His dad Pat, a Wallaby champion, would have been smiling somewhere on the sidelines watching Howard and his schoolmates run riot in the back line.
The patterned Tom Howard in-step was at the fore of Ashgrove’s attack and boy did he make it hard for the Saints left edge to stay intact.
10. Five-eight: Damon Humprhys (Padua)
I don’t think this kid would sweat in the Simpson Desert during the height of summer, he is so cool. The Year 10 student overcame dropping a ball in attack about seven minutes from full-time when Padua were down 26-14 to twice save his side with goal kicks - one a sideline conversion to level up 26-all, and then to kick a winning penalty goal after full-time. He also has a great tactical kick on him.
9. Tafito Falaniko Ah-Ki (St Edmund’s)
Four weeks in a row Ah-Ki has been the Andrew Kirk coached St Edmund’s best player on the field.
He doesn’t have an off button and he must be the starting scrumhalf for the Queensland Reds Under 18s team this season after being the second choice No. 9 as a 16-year-old last year.
No. 8 Jack Corby (Padua)
Corby is a fabulous, mobile lock and never fails to impress - and to fit everyone here we named him at No.8. Iona put the Padua pack to the sword with an inspired performance, but Corby was up to the task. He was tough, he was willing, he played tight yet had leg drive and sure hands as a runner.
Flanker: Adam Kelly (Iona)
For the second week in a row open side flanker Adam Kelly snared his team’s Man of the Match award. To be honest he was the best player on either side during last Saturday’s epic against Padua. Fortified by headgear, he would have done anything to see his side home last Saturday - and he almost did.
6. James Sullivan (Villanova)
Sullivan put together the most dominant lineout performance of the year thus far, winning every single ball - all 13 of them,
He was very good against Laurie’s in round 3 but round 4 he really stood up.
5. Eli Avci (St Patrick’s)
Paddies were competitive against competition benchmarks Laurie’s, lock Avci one of their best with hooker Manaaki Bateman.
He carried the ball strongly into contact, won his lineouts and defended stoutly.
4. Tom Jago (St Laurence’s)
Jago makes the team for his effort, coach Welmar du Plessis saying on Saturday that his work rate was off the charts.
He’s the player that does the little things that tend to go unnoticed.
Du Plessis certainly didn’t miss it.
3. Hopa Leota (Iona)
This mobile mountain man is such a strong runner, not even elite rugby league player Mitch Rogers of Padua could topple him. He scores tries, is a powerhouse in the scrum, almost moves rolling mauls single-handedly and is a brut carrying the ball. We have mentioned Manteit and now Leota, but let us also doff our hats to the other front rower, Riley Marlborough.
2. Manaaki Bateman (St Patrick’s)
Paddies’ best player as a Year 11, Bateman continues to lead from the front icross all corners of the paddock.
He busts tackles and with his powerful leg drives makes post contact metres every time.
A strong scrummager, Bateman inspires his teammates just by being on the field.
1. Rylan Lock (St Laurence’s)
Lock worked hard to get front foot ball for his backs, but it was a team effort with his front row mates Byron Murphy and Luka Smith, who brought all the physicality.
Lock, the Laurie’s skipper, rounding out our starting XV with his leadership.
Reserves:
No. 12 Mitch Rogers (Padua)
Rogers is one of the best players in the competition. Full stop. He plays inside centre, but could play No. 10, outside centre and fullback with ease.
Rogers absorbed the pressure of the crowd and the occasion on Saturday, and seemed to relish the toughness of the physical Iona side. He has lovely touches, vision, runs strongly and is a safe bank defence on the edge of the ruck. He was outstanding for Padua on Saturday.
No. 2 Alex Manteit (Iona)
Manteit is an amazing tight forward who does things you’d expect from an open side flanker. He came from nowhere to make a tackle and force possession off Padua as they were trying to steal the game late. He is also part of a forceful scrum and is a very good, inspiring captain.
Brock Powell (Padua)
Powell and his fellow flanker Nick Hinchey were more all effort players who highlight what Padua are all about this season. They are ball winners at the breakdown, but also relentless on a kick-chase as defenders or front line tacklers when teams roll at Padua through the middle.
Luka Smith (St Laurence’s)
A physical forward aggressor who complimented Luka Smith very well in the front row.
His pPost contact meters were really impressive, he dominates the collision. He has put in a few big tackles on Saturday. Good and mobile around the field for a front rower.
Ned Dore (Iona)
No. 8 Dore again shone brightly despite Padua engineering a great escape victory over his side. He is a real follow me leader with boundless energy. He uses his frame as a battering ram, but is also smart with his positional play in the loose.
Vice Latu (St Peters)
Latu once again led through his actions not words. Typically not the most talkative, the towering No. 8 encouraged his teammates with his ruck work and unforgiving defence as captain.
Cody O’May (Ashgrove) and Kuwanon Dickman (St Peters)
O’May ran superb lines, deceiving defenders so that Tobias Graham could find Tom Howard lurking out the back. And when his time came, he didn’t disappoint, scoring one hell of a solo try to move Ashgrove out of sight.
Dickman was a defensive brute, strong crash ball runner and he even tried his luck, and succeeded, in the breakdown.
Tarnah Ford-West (St Peters)
Aggressive, physical and chirpy.
A winger turned flanker, Ford-West made his presence felt almost instantly.
Wallace Charlie (St Peters)
Last year Charlie was smaller, less confident and in his shell. This year, the Year 11 from Cairns has been special.
St Peters head coach Cameron Wallace is very happy to have him back next year, Charlie’s feel for the game on display for all to see on Saturday.
Grubber kicks, side stepping, ellusive ball running and a strong pass on both sides are trademarks of his game.
Larry Clark (Villa)
A stroke of brilliance on halftime from Year 11 Clark changed everything for the better for Villa.
After the Eddies’ boys had their measure up 12-0 with a minute left in the first half, Clark’s anticipation and defensive line speed saw him snatch a pass and storm away for a try under the sticks.
This marked a 39-0 run from the visitors.
Tobias Graham (Ashgrove)
Tobias, the son of Ashgrove head coach Richard, put what he’d been practising into play and it paid off.
In a tense first half where neither team looked like giving in, the kicking precision of the 17-year-old playmaker advanced Ashgrove up the field and put St Peters on the back foot.
The highlight of his game came when a 50/22 kick swung momentum in his team’s favour.
Will Tozer (Padua)
It was Tozer’s charge down that altered momentum and gave Padua field position from which to launch its unlikely bid for victory. Tozer plays above his weight and is all energy and effort which is all you can ask.
Round 5
Tuesday: Iona v St Peters
Wednesday: Villanova College v Padua College
Saturday: St Laurence’s College v St Edmund’s
Marist College v St Patrick’s
Round 6
Villanova v Iona College
Padua v St Peters
St Edmund’s v St Patrick’s
St Laurence’s v Marist
Round 7
St Peters v Villanova
St Patrick’s v Iona
Padua v St Laurence’s
Marist v St Edmund’s
Footnote: Replays and live coverage of match will be available courtesy of the QRU and available via the website: https://qld.rugby/aic
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