Unsung heroes of the Meninga, Connell and Harvey 19s; Rd 6 results
Meet the 80 unsung heroes of the Meninga Cup, Connell Challenge and Harvey 19s junior league representative teams as we catch up on bumper round 6 action.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
They might not be the headline grabbers, or you may not see them on the score sheet.
But meet the Unsung Heroes of the Meninga Cup, Connell Challenge and Harvey Norman under 19 girls competition, players no team can be without.
But first, see how round 6 unfolded:
CONNELL CHALLENGE
TWEED SEAGULLS 30 DEF NORTHS DEVILS 14
CQ CAPRAS 44 DEF NORTHERN PRIDE 6
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 24 DEF MACKAY CUTTERS 4
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS 22 DEF WIDE BAY BULLS 18
BRISBANE TIGERS 16 DREW SOUTHS-LOGAN MAGPIES 16
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 32 DEF BURLEIGH BEARS 16
IPSWICH JETS 40 DEF WESTERN CLYDESDALES 20
MENINGA CUP
TWEED SEAGULLS 14 DEF NORTHS DEVILS 10
NORTHERN PRIDE 44 DEF CQ CAPRAS 16
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 50 DEF MACKAY CUTTERS 16
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS 32 DEF WIDE BAY BULLS 26
SOUTHS-LOGAN MAGPIES 66 DEF TIGERS 10
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 40 DEF BURLEIGH BEARS 4
WESTERN CLYDESDALES 28 DEF IPSWICH JETS 22
HARVEY 19S
TWEED SEAGULLS 20 DEF NORTHS DEVILS 16
CQ CAPRAS 42 DEF NORTHERN PRIDE 0
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 20 DEF MACKAY CUTTERS 16
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS 52 DEF WIDE BAY BULLS 4
BRISBANE TIGERS 24 DEF SOUTHS-LOGAN MAGPIES 18
BURLEIGH BEARS 16 DEF REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 0
IPSWICH JETS 20 DEF WESTERN CLYDESDALES 20
We present 80 of the competition’s most underrated:
MENINGA CUP
Wide Bay Bulls
Noah Law
A big, barnstorming second row or centre, Law is fast with great ball skills and loves the rough stuff. He only just turned 17 years old, so this is his first year of the Meninga Cup.
Luke Adamson: No one gets past this right winger. Few such anything about him, but he gets the job done and has a high work rate. He is among the Bulls’ best each week. Tom Morcom is also slightly understated.
Ipswich Jets
Brandon Tikinau
Tikinau is a tireless organiser on Ipswich’s left edge and the reason Dom Sandow, Anton and Keisaia were impacting games was because of Tikinau.
Cayleb Johnson
He played 70 minutes in round 3 moving between prop and second row. It was some effort by him.
He runs hard up the middle and he is easy to recognise. Just look for the head-geared one making post contact metres.
RELATED LINKS
BATTLE OF BRISBANE – who is winning the war for Qld’s best juniors
Tweed Seagulls
Matt Barrow
A Titans contracted Jimboomba local who has a great work-ethic and is always there to take the tough carries early in sets. He plays wing, but plays it tough.
Jack Hudson
Hudson is a five-eight who has a great attitude towards his training and preparation. He is also an aggressive defender.
Redcliffe Dolphins
John Fineanganofo and Aloka Toia
The Redcliffe SHS alumni were blue collar workers. Both middle players, Toia often starts at prop and never loses his way against his grizzly opponents, while Fineanganofo adds punch and energy to the middle upon his entry onto the field.
RELATED LINKS
SONS – AND DAUGHTERS – OF GUNS
SPEED DEMONS OF THE MENINGA, CONNELL AND HARVEY 19s
Sunshine Coast Falcons
The Falcons have a number of fly under the radar, including Joe Meikle at centre, back rower
Jett Elich, No. 13 Chase Paterson and busy hooker Jai Bowden.
CQ Capras
Winger Iziah Broome is a dynamic player who is equally at home on the AFL field – watch for his kick returns.
Utility Diezel Brunker is another player who belies his size playing the middle. He is true to the old adage – it’s not the size of the dog in the fight
Brisbane Tigers
Lincoln Clyffe
An edge or middle forward, Clyffe makes minimal errors, plays big minutes and does all the little things well.
Jack McCosker
Unfortunately has been out injured after a training mishap, but he is absolutely an underrated and unsung player. He plays edge of No. 13 and is a great leader.
Burleigh Bears
Teiti Sikahele
An underrated middle forward, he is not big but very strong, technically very good and has a massive motor.
Austen Marsters
Marsters is very versatile, can play middle, hooker or halves, and reads the play very well and very skilful.
Bailey McConnell
McConnell is always pushing hard in support, he has a great passing game and is developing a great short kicking game. He is also extremely tough.
Zyroam Herlihy
The fullback Keebra Park SHS via Alexandra Hills SHS always wants to learn and is a great goal kicker too.
Blackhawks
Wyatt Lourigan
In a powerful, celebrated pack, he is a tough forward who carries the ball well.
Rayzarlin Pearson
There is a bit of star power in the Blackhawks size and sometimes Pearson misses out on publicity. But he is as safe as a bank out wide, a wonderful contributor.
Souths Logan
Dylan Gallagher
The versatile Gallagher is highly regarded by teammates, although he may not get the publicity. “He goes well,’’ said coach Ben Trim. “And he can play anywhere as well.’’
Mackay Cutters
Lachlan Magill
Cutters second-rowerLachlan Magill, does all the little things well in the effort areas. He runs good lines, has a great attitude and a work ethic as well. He just has this desire to compete.
Wynnum Manly
Jaykob Kingston Francis
Any number of teams can wil this premiership but arguably the grand final favourites alongside the Townsville Blackhawks would be this side. And within this outfit is just what the doctor order - a very reliable centre when it comes to defence.
Will Lane
Like father like son. His dad Mark was a tackling terror from Warwick who excelled for Souths in Brisbane under the coaching of a rugby league ironman - Parra premiership winner and Queensland Origin representative Chris Phelan of Townsville Souths.
And now Mark Lane’s son, Will, is a chip off the old block. Will plays lock and is a middle of the field workhorse in this very good side.
Jeremiah Havea
The Wynnum Manly backrower turned winger has been a revelation for the Gulls - on both sides of the ball.
Northern Pride
Tait Coghlan
He suffered a recent knee injury but is one of the most underrated in the competition. He is a tough hooker from the Atherton Tablelands.
Lachlan Magil: He is an effort player who does all the little things and runs good lines as well.
Norths
Samuel Hyne
There is not much difference between a good and a bad game for Hyne. But does he really ever play a bad game in the middle for the Devils? No.
Western Clydesdales
Lycian King-Toga
He is a skilled hooker from the Dalby district who can handle either dummy half or the halves with ease.
Harry Eyers
Eyers is a terrific back rower for the Darling Downs boys. You know what you are going to get when he is named in the side and he never disappoints.
NORTHERN PRIDE:
The Northern Pride have a number of underrated players. Both Mareeba junior Cayde Miller and play making captain Ben Walker have displayed plenty of leadership, while both Jack Daniels and middle forward Jason Hastie were unsung stalwarts of the side.
HARVEY NORMAN UNDER 19s
Tweed Seagulls
Allira Watson
A hooker, she is a coach’s dream who gives 110 per cent. She works hard on her dummy half play knowing when to run.
Kali Ainsworth: The second rower is a very good defender that rarely misses her mark. She also has a great attitude and a willingness to learn.
Wynnum-Manly
Koolee Harbour
Just a worker with great talent. She gives everything she’s got and always puts the team first.
Helen Uitualagi
For her size she packs a lot of power. She has plenty of speed and no self preservation. Into contact she goes as hard she can.
Along with Harbour, Uitualagi is a key player in the chemistry of the unbeaten Seagulls 19s.
More than likely training with the BMD squad once the 19s season is out.
Mackay Cutters
Abby-Rose Bowman
Often she is shuffled around position wise but every week she is one of our best five players. Her effort and competitiveness is outstanding, she will fight for everything.
BLACKHAWKS
Lhylla Williamson
“She doesn’t get many wraps but has improved massively in a year to be one of, if not, our best forward,’’ Hall said.
“She plays in the back row but could easily play in the middle. Williamson is always in our Bell Ringer Award nominations for biggest hit.
Logan Roncato
She is a 60 minute player most weeks and defends in the middle, and always plays above her weight.
Hannah De Daunton
She is a natural footballer in the Wade Graham mould who can play lock or five-eight or on the edge.
April Major:
She is a no nonsense workhorse who could play anywhere from back row to centres and five-eigith.
“She does all the clean up work in defence and plays well above her weight as a back rower in the Talisha Harden, Dallas Johnson mould. Every team needs one,’’ said coach Rob Hall.
Thalia Clarke
This is her first season of rugby league but does whatever it takes midweek to rehabilitate to make sure she gets on the field for the next round.
Souths Logan
Alice Shannon
“She is young, enthusiastic, a hard runner with a good attitude,’’ said coach Warren Bernardin. “Milahn is also another with a good footy brain, enthusiastic and a talker,’’ he added.
Western Clydesdales
Eliza Morcom
Morcom has a great work ethic and no questions asked wherever she plays. She just does wherever required. “You know what she is bringing to the footy field each week,’’ said coach Russell Jones.
Sunshine Coast
Taylor Fitzgerald
She touches the ball more than anyone else in the side and where would the Falcons be without this courageous, skilled No. 9?
Norths
Jordan Jackson and Jacinta Neemia
Both girls were unsung according to coach Jake Rowden. Jordan does a lot off the glue work while Neemia is a big worker in the true tradition of her family of footballers.
REDCLIFFE
Memory Paitai
A local junior from the Pine Central Holy Spirit, Paitai is a Cook Island junior representative who can get under the rub cage and drive opponents to the ground, while being a clever ballplayer on either side of the field.
BURLEIGH BEARS
Bella Thompson
She is described by her coach Spencer Taplin as someone with a “good attitude, very coachable and not scared of hard work’’. “She turns up every game,’’ Taplin praised of his fullback.
NORTHERN PRIDE
Layla Geck, Krystal Waters and Jytte Wallace
The proud Peninsula representative Waters, South Cairns junior Waters and Etty Bay SLSC ace Wallace never let themselves or their teammates down, week in, week out. Geck is the team’s general at halfback, while Waters challenges opponents in the centres. Wallace is a never-say-die front rower.
CAPRAS
Sophie Davison and Chloe Tipman
Davison is a captain courageous who leads her team from the middle, while Tipman throws everything into her work on the edge.
Ipswich Jets
Lynn Nielsen
“She has a huge work rate and is always encouraging her team,’’ praised Jets coach Veronica White. “And she always comes up with a game breaking moment through her never ending defence. She is tough to beat in defence.’’
CONNELL CHALLENGE
Sunshine Coast
Charlie Coates
The Caloundra junior is under the watchful eye of Storm talent scouts having spent a period of the off-season at the Talent League Boys Testing Day in Melbourne. In the Connell Challenge he is an athletic middle forward for the Falcons who gets the job done.
Mackay Cutters
Cooper Deguara
The Cutters hooker tackles his backside off week-in-week-out and is a very smart player.
He knows exactly when where and how to attack and is absolutely spent at the end of each and every game.
Wynnum Manly
Fononga Tuitahi
This second rower specialises in injecting energy, getting his boys up and at em for a real arm-wrestle.
He’s who you want by your side when rushing up in defence.
Burleigh Bears:
Freeman Raftstrand-Smith
The hooker comes from a footy family, with sisters Ebony with the Bulldogs and Tiana with the Titans.
He is a solid contributor every week, playing above his weight and giving 110 per cent no matter what position he is asked to play.
Marley Igasan
A prop who came over from New Zealand, Igasan tackles anything that moves, making life a ton easier for his teammates.
He is a coach’s dream, according to his coach Ryan Gundry.
Western Clydesdales:
Sam Lowien
Lowien has been a big improver this season, making strides every outing.
Having played in the No. 9 jersey for just over a season, Lowien continues to sharpen his tools each week.
Lachy McGrath
A five-eighth enjoying his first representative selection, McGrath is finding his feet bit by bit.
Each training session, the No. 6 gets more comfortable and injects himself a little bit more.
Norths Devils:
Jared Horne
Yes he is the captain and yes he is NRL signed (Broncos), but reputation means nothing to this outstanding lock who leads by example whether playing for the Devils or Wavell SHS.
Ipswich Jets:
Tiger Campbell
There’s been plenty of competition for the Jets No. 7 jersey. Campbell has been in the mix, as has Tyson Walker. Campbell, has the skills, is a great goal-kicker and is a hustle player. In rugby, that means diving on loose balls and putting you body on the line. Two things we have seen Campbell do in multiple games at the North Ipswich Reserve this season.
Dennis Papua
This team of unsung heroes would not sing without Papua in the centres.
The big and strong under-16s player has been a menace in defence this year while playing an unselfish role in attack.
If he had more ball, he would wreak havoc, it’s just a matter of whether it finds his hands.
CQ Capras:
Brock Otto
A front row workhorse, Otto is a player of few words, but rather lets his actions do the talking.
Tough, mobile and skilful- Otto loves getting in the grind against his rivals.
Cooper Young
Young isn’t unlike Otto in that the front rower loves the game for the physical challenge.
Off the field he is quiet and nice but on the field he is a whole different beast. He can turn in on very quickly and enjoys physically dominating anyone that gets in front of him
A nightmare for the opposition and even his teammates, who hate the thought of an opposes training session against him.
Phillip Yock
A winger who hails from Cunnamulla in Western Queensland, Yock currently boards at St Brendan’s College.
You are lucky to get two words out of him, but he is quickly finding his confidence. He’s got more than a smattering of talented, the dangerous outside back an exciting watch for onlookers.
Harrison Hill
What lock Harrison Hill lacks in height he makes up for with strength and determination on the field. He leads from the front and has been one of the best all season long.
Redcliffe
Charlie Dickson
The Wavell SHS young gun missed round one through injury but he is the ultimate under-16 schoolboy middle forward. With a big motor and high work rate, the passing and running skills are fast being added to his arsenal.
Townsville Blackhawks
Sitiveni Afu and Cooper Fletcher
This dynamic duo are hardworking core forwards who just don’t let you down.
They are deserving of endless recognition.
Souths Logan:
Jose Ito
He has been close to the Magpies’ best player on the field every week. The metres he racks up are huge and the hits he puts on are even bigger. Earlier in the season he put on a shot that could be heard four blocks away. The kid is a beast, channelling his aggression from the Muay Thai fighter in him,’’ said Souths Logan coach Scott Bannan.
BRISBANE TIGERS
Trent PIcot
Picot is renowned for doing what coach Lote Tuqiri says, and does it without a fuss. Unfortunately his season was disrupted by a broken thumb. “But he still turned up to training and game sin support,’’ Tuqiri said.
Cooper Benvenuti and Adam Kim
Prop Benvenuti is the team’s leading front rower whose work rate and effort was rewarded with a try under the posts last Saturday. Kim is a league rookie but has impressed coach Tuqiri. “He has taken things on board from all our coaches and really works on his game.’’
WIDE BAY BULLS
Jimmy Gear
A centre, Gear has been a strong performer in the centre for the Bulls. He has been running lines and consistently making huge efforts for his side coming off the line.”He is setting the tone for the forwards,’’ said Wide Bay Connell Challenge manager Scott Prendergast.
Titi Bligh
From the famous rugby league breeding ground of Cherbourg, Bligh is as tough as nails. “He has been our biggest performer,’’ said Wide Bay Connell Challenge manager Prendergast. “His is raw and talented and gives 100 percent at every aspect of the game.
“His defence through attitude and effort has underpinned his defensive effort.
“His consistent performances are a wonderful contribution to the Bulls.’’
AIC First XIII rugby league Team of the Season after Iona triumph
Who has made the AIC First XIII rugby league Team of the Season following Iona’s premiership confirmation? All is revealed here, along with the best of the best who just missed selection.
BJRU grand finals: Players of the Day includes next-gen Nudgee weapon
BJRU grand finals: See who the Players of the Day were after five stunning Div 1 and 2 deciders between Easts, Logan Saints, Caboolture, Wynnum, Souths, Brothers, and Riverside. The list includes an exciting outside back from Nudgee that set Bottomley Park alight on Sunday.