Queensland Reds young gun team of the round named following Waratahs bouts
The Queensland Reds’ top pathway talent is highlighted here in the team of the round after clashes with bitter rivals the Waratahs in under-15s, under-16s and under-19s. All you need to know here along with more than 20 fantastic photos.
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If the young guns of the Queensland Reds under-16 and under-19 teams want revenge against their NSW Waratahs rivals, they will have to sweep through the rest of Super Rugby undefeated to set up a grand finale.
The Reds Under-16s fell 50-20 against NSW while the under-19s lost 42-31 on Hugh Courtney Oval at Norths on Sunday.
The young Queenslanders can hit-back at their foes south of the border on grand final day at Ballymore on November 3 if they take care of the Western Force and Rebels over the next fortnight.
A backline blitz engineered by Waratahs outside backs Cyrus Bloomfield and Kden Carter was the difference in the under-16s clash while the under-19s match-up was a game of inches.
The war was won at the death when fullback Sid Harvey and utility back Matteo Cleverley scored telling tries late in the game to pull away from the Queenslanders.
The Reds did topple their interstate rivals in one clash, the second match of a two-game series against the Waratahs Under-15s in Sydney.
Queensland won 20-19 and it was Chilli Tonelli-Smith, the son of 1980s Wallaby Brian Smith, who slotted the matchwinning penalty goal on a slight angle.
The visiting Reds came back from a 19-3 deficit to win in windy conditions and supersubs Tonelli-Smith (fullback), Jack Phinney (winger) and Isaiah Nuku (halfback) all had their say in the second half.
Nuku, a Brisbane State High student, is named at scrumhalf in the Reds’ young gun Team Of The Round below.
Quick-thinking under-19s halfback James Martens, who scored a try and challenged with his runs, is named on the bench as well following another impressive performance from the Wests colt.
Read on to see the full team.
REDS YOUNG GUN TEAM OF THE ROUND
1. Jeremiah Kite (under-15s)
The young prop and captain played a significant role in the Reds’ fightback and marshalled several of the strong scrums in the second half.
Initially Kite may have regretted not deciding to take a penalty goal attempt from in front to take the lead in the final minutes when the quick tap play to follow broke down.
However, Kite would have been mightily relieved that a new penalty came so Tonelli-Smith could kick the matchwinner.
2. Finlay King (under-19s)
The Reds hooker was in the right place at the right time twice when he landed two tries in the first half and showed plenty of muscle barging through the defence to score.
While the forward unit couldn’t quite capitalise at lineout time, King’s first half double was a highlight in what shapes as the first of two gruelling battles between the Reds and Waratahs in this tournament.
3. Trevor King (under-19s)
King used his big body to bruise the shoulders of his opposition and he did it for quite some time.
Coming back after missing a lot of rugby through injury over the past two years, King has made up for lost time in the opening two matches of the tournament.
In an effective 80-minute showing at Norths, where he maintained a high work rate from start to finish, King nullified the production of his prop opposites Will Goddard and Nathaniel TiiTii.
4. Fergus Gillan (under-19s)
The athletic second rower from The Canal made a dent in the Waratahs defensive line with his carries through the middle.
It wasn’t a flashy performance from the TSS old boy but his lineout jumping, carries with the ball and stoic defence against the Waratahs forwards was strong.
5. Fraser Boakes (under-15s)
The imposing Brisbane State High youngster was named Player of the Match for the Reds Under-15s at Forshaw Park with his industrious play from the lock influential.
He was always involved in the tight stuff and stepped up when the rally started.
6. Charlie Brosnan (under-19s)
It wasn’t his best game but Brosnan was still influential with his soaring lineout takes and several runs at the defence.
He now has two 80-minute games under his belt since coming back from a dislocated hip. He’ll keep getting better.
7. Lincoln Dalton (under-16s)
Lincoln Dalton delivered in spades on Sunday when it came to the breakdown.
In general play the athletic Brisbane Grammar flanker was impressive but it was his work over the ball that stood out from the crowd.
On one occasion he won a penalty defending his goal line which was borderline heroic.
He was productive in a little over a half of action.
8. Vaiuta Latu (under-19s)
Latu was a man possessed at the breakdown and at times an immovable object when he got his big frame over the ball.
The big-bodied No. 8 was a workhorse and played the whole match for the Queenslanders.
9. Isaiah Nuku (under-15s)
Isaiah Nuku’s quick service was one of the reasons the under-15s roared back into the game in the second half.
It was an excellent game from the replacement halfback.
10. James Smith (under-15s)
Elite TSS flyhalf James Smith got the Reds’ rally into overdrive with a kick return where he positioned winger Elijah Rauluni perfectly for a strong run.
He showed plenty of composure making plays in the wind from the flyhalf and he was one half of a pair of blond bombers when put alongside Chilli Tonelli-Smith.
11. Hemi Rakuita (under-16s)
Left wing Hemi Rakuita did the little things right and returned the ball fiercely from the backfield.
He scored a wonderful try in the left corner when Angus Underwood found him with a brilliant right-to-left cut-out pass.
The Ipswich Grammar student was faultless.
12. Darcy Rowan (under-19s)
The Reds inside centre came to life in the second part of the first half when he showed his class with the ball in hand and on the boot.
The strong fend of Rowan was utilised on multiple occasions, most notably when he broke through the line, fended off his inside defender and got away a one-handed offload in contact to put Xavier Rubens in for a try.
13. Harlem Faalafi (under-15s)
Padua College prime mover Halem Fallafi showed his strong-running game in what has proved a good centre partnership with Billy Spicer.
Spicer dished a fine offload to set up Faalafi’s key try.
Faalafi also made an excellent 30m run to the tryline in the second half only to be held-up.
14. Tai Taka (under-16s)
There was plenty to like about the Reds performance and outside centre Tai Taka was a big part of the fight.
His crash running, straight and hard into the teeth of the ‘Tahs defence, was productive and his defence was brutal.
15. Dylan Terblanche (under-16s)
The South African brigade had their fingerprints on the Reds’ best moments on Sunday.
It started with hooker Adrian de Klerk who set the tone and busy fullback Terblanche followed suit when he looked to spark the Reds attack coming into the line.
Terblanche didn’t score but on multiple occasions he broke free of tackles and transported his team from one end of the field to the other.
He was often seen swinging from left to right in the backline and once made 50m when he chased his grubber kick and dislodged the ball from the hands of a Waratahs player.
RESERVES
16. Adrian de Klerk (under-16s)
17. Sio Kite (under-16s)
18. Harrison Asi (under-16s)
19. Agapetos Lote-Felo (under-16s)
20. Xavier Rubens (under-19s)
21. James Martens (under-19s)
22. Billy Spicer (under-15s)
23. Jack Phinney (under-15s)
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