Queensland’s best 15-18 years combined schoolboy side; our award winners revealed
Here’s 40 schoolboy league players from the Qld 15 years and 18 years teams we honour in our 17 awards following the ARSSL championships.
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Queensland rugby league is still basking in the glory of the state’s 18 years schoolboy side claiming the ARSSL national championship on Friday at Redcliffe.
Wavell SHS’s five-eight Karl Oloapu was named man of the championship and PBC SHS fullback Keano Kini Queensland’s best player across its matches.
And while the two Queensland under 15s missed playing in the grand final, the future of Queensland schoolboy football is in good hands.
RELATED LINKS
WATCH THE GRAND FINAL REPLAYS HERE
PHOTO GALLERY FROM GRAND FINAL DAY
OUR AWARD WINNERS FOLLOWING THE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Best try
It has to be Keano Kini’s (PBC SHS, Qld 18 years) day 5 effort when he burst into action to support a break by Karl Oloapu against NSW CIS. I spent the early part of the tournament singing the praise of Kini and Oloapu and in one foul swoop, the boys didn’t let me down.
Pass of the tournament
Karl Oloapu’s remarkable pass to create a try against NSW CIS when he carried the ball to the line, copped a hit, but still put the ball in the bread basket of an opponent. That pass, and Kini’s long left ball in Friday’s final to open up space and create a try was also a beauty. But Oloapu’s effort was the best.
Best impersonation of an immortal
Karl Oloapu (Wavell SHS, Qld 18 years) again. His try in the grand final against NSW CHS was Wally Lewis like, the manner in which he came so hard onto the ball, fighting to the death to the tryline. That was Lewis, determined to score in a big match, and Oloapu mirrored the great man.
Best centre award
Pre-tournament we all knew Michael Roberts (PBC SHS) was the best centre in Queensland – and despite limited chances at the nationals, he still is, hence his Australian schoolboy selection. But with more opportunity, Lui Lee (Marsden SHS, Qld 15 years) Lee was the class centre of his age group, with telling footwork, size and speed. He could also pull off a shot in defence.
Best 15 years age group players
Mereki Warradoo (Wavell SHS, Qld maroons 15 years)
Warradoo was officially the 15 years age group’s best Queensland player, starring from fullback.
But I also loved dummy half Mason Phillips (Wavell SHS, Qld white 15 years). Phillips had a real spring in his step, scorching out of the ruck when the opportunity presented while also feeding his half Dallas Ingram with precision.
And then there was Ellyjah Birve (Caloundra SHS, Qld 15 years)
There was a splash of Chris Sandow (ex-NRL player) in young Birve who snared one man of the match award in one game despite being off colour, and kicked a pressure goal in another to boot his side to victory.
The best flying under the radar players
Josh Lynn (PBC SHS, Qld 18 years)
With talent bursting all around him, Lynn was a Cooper Cronk type who was the perfect choice to complement Jye Gray, Oloapu, Kini and Coby Black.
Chris Faagutu (Marsden SHS, Qld 18 years)
What a pleasure it must have been for coach Geoff Eggert to peer across his interchange bench knowing he had versatile mobile middle man Faagutu up his sleeve.
Braithen Scott (St Mary’s, Qld Maroons 15 years)
While Scott was not the best player in his team, he was consistently in the top three. A good listener, he mirrored Lynn’s efforts for the under 18s in that he was a quiet achiever. The young bloke has a future.
Seth Nikitemo (Keebra Park SHS, Qld 18 years)
The edge forward did plenty of grunt work against bigger, grizzly NSW rivals. His defensive efforts did not go unnoticed.
Liam La Blanc (Nudgee College, Qld 18 years)
The stoic Norths Devils junior had a wonderful tournament plugging the middle for Queensland and gaining parity with his runs forward.
Most explosive award winners
Keano Kini (PBC SHS)
When Kini started to make his move down the middle of the ruck, alarm bells would have been sounding left, right and centre. The word dynamic was invented to describe Kini, I reckon.
Arama Hau (Keebra Park SHS, Qld 18 years)
Hau was one of the players of the tournament. No one would have been shocked at Hau’s form, such is his raw ability. But to impact the way he did as a full-time edge player – he is traditionally a No. 13 – enhances his reputation no end.
Jye Gray (TSS, Qld 18 years)
Gray’s reputation for blinding acceleration was on the tip sheet of every opposition side, and his presence would have taken pressure off the incursions for Oloapu and Kini. True to form he found the tryline in Friday’s final with a brilliant individual burst.
Best mobile big men
Hau again. This bloke is a beast and Keebra Park SHS are blessed to have him for the second half of their Langer Trophy campaign.
Josiah Pahulu (Ipswich SHS, Qld 18 years)
The mobile Pahulu used his agility and speed to hustle go forward around the ruck, while using his body height to attack the ball when the young giants from the NSW school teams marched forward.
Mace Andrew (Marsden SHS, Qld Maroons 15 years),
Big and mobile, Andrew is an excellent prospect. Andrew and his front row partner Nixon Pasese were imposing go forward props for the Queensland Maroons. A Marsden Hancock Cup (Year 9) player, Andrew’s footwork, leg speed and occasional ball playing impressed.
Nixon Pasese (Nudgee College)
The prop was a midfield powerhouse, the best across the two Queensland 15 years teams. He had a great one-two, go forward combination with Mace Andrew for the young Maroons.
Best players kept on ice award winners.
Michael Roberts, Tyreece Tait and Haizyn Mellars.
Roberts saw less ball on his side of the field than fellow centre Tre Fotu, but defensively he was spot on and was always on hand for the tough carry coming out of his end.
It was not a big opportunity week for the Queensland 18 years wingers. Tait saw more action, but both boys had limited chances. But both are class players who will no doubt impact the Langer Trophy when it resumes on Tuesday.
The best Cats Out of the Bag award winners
Tre Fotu (Ipswich SHS, Qld 18 years)
The emergence of Tre Fotu continued at break neck speed and he must have been strongly considered for the Australian side. His powerful runs and rugged defence continued his season to the remember after helping Souths Logan win the Meninga Cup.
Gabriel Satrick (Ipswich SHS, Qld 18 years)
The cat is out off the bag and now the rugby league world knows everything about the dynamic dummy half who hails from Yarrabah in FNQ. Satrick was honoured with the Player of the Match in Friday’s grand final.
Discovery player award:
Who from the general public or NRL talent scout departments knew about Jake Carsburg (Grace Lutheran, Qld White 15 years) before the tournament
Like Braithen Scott from the Queensland Maroons 15 years), right centre Carsburg was not his team’s best player, but was a very good player who got better and better.
There is something to work on there, that is for sure.
Ellyjah Birve (Caloundra SHS, Qld 15 years) was mentioned earlier, but we feel he deserves a second plug.
Rookies on the Rise award
Coby Black (Marsden SHS, Qld 18 years)
The baby of the Queensland 18s, Black gave Queensland another dimension as coach Geoffrey Eggert excellently found a way to best use his squad. He was prepared to back his skill with some bold passes that kept Queensland on the attack.
Raw talent award
Benson Tau (Marsden SHS, Qld Maroons 15 years)
Tau had the most impact of any of the Queensland wingers playing outside Lui Lee and the tall, athlete Logan winger sure lived up to his hype.
Elekama Suavai (Kirwan SHS, Qld 18 years)
A powerhouse edge player with untapped potential. He would have gained so much from the camp and should be a better player as a result when the Payne Cup resumes.
Duquan Talaepa (Mabel Park SHS, Qld 15 years)
The Canterbury Bulldogs signed Talaepa got better as the tournament unfolded, with his edge running proving a handful for opponents.
Joseph Tupuse (Keebra Park SHS)
Tupuse was not far behind Lee for impact and the Keebra Park rookie enhanced his reputation playing for the Queensland Maroons side.
Hard yakka award winners
Zac Bateman (The Cathedral College, Qld white 15 years
Bateman was a middle field work-a-holic for Queensland while Nikotemo edge defence for the title winning 18 years state side did not go unnoticed.
Charlie Dickson (Wavell SHS, Qld 15 years)
Dickson was a true unsung hero and would have impressed the Dolphins officials who have signed the hard working, no nonsense No. 13.
Nate Berrigan (Redcliffe SHS, Qld 15 years)
Berrigan was a true unsung hero in the middle for the Queensland white side, with his mobility leading a fast moving defensive line was challenging any defender in front of him when he carried the ball.
Damascus Neemia (Qld 18 years)
The breed them big in NSW and both Neemia and Immanuel KaleKale held up their end of the bargain every time they was handed the interchange card. Neemia did nothing flash, nothing special – just a big bloke doing his bit for the side.
Cohen Jackson (Mercy College, Mackay)
We loved the enthusiasm of the Mackay Souths Sharks junior playing middle off the bench in the Queensland white 15s. The Broncos like him as well – they signed him at the tournament.
Seth Nikotemo (Keebra Park SHS, Qld 18s) was mentioned earlier, but deserves another plug.
Wildcard watch award winners
Fa’apale Feaunati (Terrace, Qld white 15 years)
Lets monitor the progress of this tall, athlete, hard working middle forward who has desire and excellent skills.
Nelson Makaafi (PBC SHS, Queensland Maroons)
A raw talented Titans signing is going places. He was strong and steady for the Qld Maroons. He will return to his school’s Hancock Cup (Year 9) campaign a better player.
Keoki Koraba (Wavell SHS, Queensland White 15 years)
Koraba and his fellow centre Jake Carsburg made impacts via contrasting styles, with Koraba’s physical presence catching the eye.
Marley McLaren (PBC SHS, Queensland Maroon 15 years)
McLaren was a perfect foil to halves partner Braithen Scott and will be a Player to Watch in the months ahead having had that invaluable experience.
The “Don’t forget about …’’ Award Winners
Jeremy Trappett (Iona College, Qld 18 years) and Tory Bath (Nudgee College, Qld 18 years)
With all the justified hype around Keano Kini, it is easy to forget Queensland had another two outstanding No. 1s good enough to make the state’s top 20 squad.
Wynnum-Manly junior Trappett was used a centre replacement while Norths Devils’ junior Bath added a dimension to the Queensland attack with his pace and passing game.
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