Walters Cup round 2 Players of the Day after Redcliffe-Mountain Creek thriller
Discover who the players of the day were from round 2 of the Walters Cup as the region’s top schoolboys rugby league players show off their skills.
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For the second successive match Mountain Creek SHS confronted heartbreak hill after settling for a thrilling 22-all draw with Redcliffe SHS.
The brave Sunshine Coast boys, coming off a 18-14 loss to Marsden in round one, looked headed for victory until big Redcliffe centre Marius Aholelei conjured up a miracle try for Dallas Carmody seconds from the end.
The try came after early ruck speed had been generated by Preston Paterson.
WATCH REPLAYS
Mountain Creek had climbed off the canvas, recovering from a 16-6 deficit to lead 22-16 after heroic hooker Cash Bennett had burrowed his way over from the ruck.
It was a grand match between the two teams, many of whom were teammates recently in the Sunshine Coast representative side.
There was also a rip-roaring clash won by Wavell SHS over PBC SHS, while Keebra Park SHS were forced to get the job done later against Mabel Park.
In the other match, Ipswich SHS started fast to lead 18-nil and ultimately that was the difference in its 28-14 win over Marsden SHS.
ROUND 2 PLAYERS OF THE DAY
IPSWICH SHS 28 DEF MARSDEN SHS 14
KEEBRA PARK SHS 20 DEF MABEL PARK SHS 14
WAVELL SHS 24 DEF PBC SHS 14
REDCLIFFE SHS AND MOUNTAIN CREEK SHS DREW 22-ALL
Kaiden Jennings (Mountain Creek SHS)
Jennings was the class player on the field.
A centre, he caused his opponents no end of trouble, and when he went to dummy half he also made an impression.
Defensively he was also strong. This kid has plenty going for him.
Cash Bennett (Mountain Creek SHS)
The brilliant Bennett was a wonder with his work ethic, footy smarts and judgement all contributing to a whale of a game.
How appropriate it was that he scored the try which put Mountain Creek ahead in the second half.
Sione Tasi (Redcliffe SHS)
Sione Tasi was a pile-driving front row battering ram, big and strong in both stints during the match.
He will be a handful for any side he confronts this season because he gets the Redcliffe’s sets off to a flying start.
Jett Mewett (Mountain Creek SHS)
Mewett gave his side plenty off the bench, particularly in the second half.
After Mountain Creek had conceded 16 points, they were in danger of sliding away but Mewett was one of the reasons his side gained parity, and then moved past their rivals.
Isaiah Mailau (Redcliffe SHS)
The tall, athletic second rower ran some strong lines against willing opponents.
He played well, but you sense he has even more to give as this competition unfolds.
Watch this space.
Billy Roderick (Mountain Creek SHS)
Roderick had a big say in the result, with his tactical kicking, organisation and attacking choices all helping his team’s road to a near victory.
He scored a sensational solo try and booted a 40-20 which captured prime field position for a try.
Ashton Whtye (Redcliffe SHS)
A No. 13, Whyte gave the side a certain dependability in defence, while mixing his ruck runs with nice passes before the line.
In a team featuring some big bodies, this smaller middle forward added variety to the Eagles, just like he did during the club season for the Dolphins.
Special mentions
Beau McLachlan (Mountain Creek SHS)
The tall timber really made his presence felt in the second half, and played a significant role in Mountain Creek’s recovery in the middle of the match.
Riley Apthorpe (Mountain Creek SHS)
Prop Apthorpe started strongly and matched it with Redcliffe’s power game, while also working hard with strong defence.
Ultimately he ended up being rested in the second half.
It’s worth noting Mountain Creek edge forwards Aurien Fabish and Makani Madgwick were steady, good rugby league citizens against challenging opposition.
Ezrah Tangianau (Keebra Park SHS)
The Keebra Park halve was instrumental for his side as his leadership and play making ability shone through.
Tangianu was the field general and lifted his troops, dictating the flow of the attack.
As a playmaker, there was little stopping him with his elite kicking game creating several opportunities for his teammates.
Brady Antonik (Keebra Park SHS)
Antonik came up with important plays multiple times late in the game and proved a big-time player who can deliver under pressure.
As the game hung in the balancewith 10 minutes left, he broke through the Mabel Park line with ease to score a crucial try under the posts.
Then as his side looked to hold onto the lead, Antonik was rock-solid in defence to prevent any late comeback.
Ezekiel Filipi (Mabel Park SHS)
The ferocious Filipi brought much-needed energy in the forward pack and was two handfuls through the middle.
When his team had their backs to the wall on the cusp of half time, Filipi stood up with a telling 35m solo charge which brought Mabel back into the contest.
Tristan Ford-Walter (Mabel Park SHS)
The always-threatening hooker made several dummyhalf runs and was an attacking maestro for his side in their late push for a comeback.
His energy must have lifted teammates, and he was a cool, calm and composed figure on the ground.
He always made the right decisions to start attacking raids.
Dallas Russell (PBC SHS)
The young playmaker produced the perfect No.7’s performance with a kicking masterclass.
He set up the first two tries of the clash with pinpoint cross field kicks and had the Wavell defence holding its breath every time he shaped to kick.
Jaylon Russell (PBC SHS)
A spark in attack, fullback Russell was everywhere for the Reds and combined beautifully with the spine to dictate the flow of the contest early.
He made several explosive runs from the back of the field and was calm under the high ball.
Russell also helped set up his side’s third try of the game and put up a valiant fight until the end.
Aki Tupouniua (Wavell SHS)
Tupouniua was a game-changer and brought Wavell out of the fire to claim a come-from-behind victory.
The five-eighth was a menace, doing almost everything to turn a 10-nil deficit into a 24-14 success.
He made countless runs with his damaging mix of pace and power creating a wonderful platform for Wavell.
He also showed off his elegant ball skills and class when scoring a crucial try in the opening set of the second half. That bit of chip and chase magic turned the tide of the contest.
Lenton Funaki and Lorenzo Silva (Wavell SHS)
The destructive duo brought all the energy, and more, in the forward pack with some momentum-shifting runs and bruising tackles.
With his side under the pump early in the contest, Silva scored a crucial try to put Wavell on the board and relieve pressure.
Funaki, coming off a grand state carnival performance in Gladstone, was close to his barnstorming best.
Joey Salafia (Ipswich SHS)
The 15-year-old fullback brought his best to the North Ipswich Reserve. His, at times, electric performance was summarised best in the first five minutes when he swooped to score a grubber kick on the last tackle.
Later in the game, Salafia put the game to bed when he regathered his own grubber and within a split second flung a flick pass to his winger Asher Batty who scored.
Salafia, a proud Indigenous kid, was the class player on the field and he kicked four-from-five off the tee with the only one he missed coming in the 70th minute after an exhaustive effort mopping up attacking kicks by the Marsden halves.
Leo Hunt (Ipswich SHS)
Hunt’s heroics at halfback were plain and simple. He was direct, he was faultless and he was brave.
One of the smallest on the field, the gutsy little No.7 threw his body in front of everyone and in attack had a great kicking game.
He put Marsden’s back three boys under pressure and it was overall a sound game which was what the doctor ordered against such quality opposition.
Kyanu Seiuli (Ipswich SHS)
Right edge forward Seiuli looked almost like a completely different kid to the one we saw back in 2023 when he was key in Ipswich’s Year 8 Renouf Shield grand final win.
Bigger, stronger and more assertive than ever, the battering ram forward forced Marsden to find new ways to score.
His defence was that good.
His corridor received the most traffic and boy did he stand up and deliver, holding off the Makos for the entire first half.
Tyrell Lacy and Kayden Lemafa (Ipswich SHS)
Lacy (right centre) and Lemafa (right edge forward) were a dynamite one-two punch combination for Ipswich.
In the first half, they ran hard and fast into the teeth of Marsden’s defence and their deeds were rewarded with an 18-0 buffer.
In the second half, the pair continued to work overtime in attack before Lacy had to leave the field after he had dislocated his shoulder putting his body on the line making a big tackle.
He put himself in front of a barnstorming Triston Sauage and despite coming off second best, it said everything about his heart and determination.
Triston Sauage (Marsden SHS)
The barnstorming middle forward went out with a bang to give Marsden a fighting chance after trailing 18-nil at the break.
He was ferocious off the back fence to say the least and skilful with his short passing to those around him.
He created a try and was important in the lead up to another and his second half stint inspired his teammates with a ‘follow me’ type performance.
Libero Taupau (Marsden SHS)
The Marsden right winger was a walking highlight reel in Ipswich.
To score his first try, Taupau was wrapped up by three players but got his hands free and placed the ball over his head, while on his back, to bring up Marsden’s first points.
Taupau’s second try was even better. He torched off the right touchline back to the centre and then a left-to-right stutterstep made an Ipswich defender stuck in the mud.
The two-try terror also did plenty in the backfield when returning the ball early in sets to give Marsden a platform to build a brave, although unsuccessful, second half ambush.
Kaelan Rea (Ipswich SHS)
The dummyhalf dynamo, easily the smallest on the field, was effective in his stint off the bench.
Sporting an extra small No.14 jersey, the little ripper ripped in immediately when he won a penalty trying to play the ball quickly.
Later in the match, when Marsden looked like they were running down field as they tried to come back, Rea made a crucial ankle tap tackle on a runaway Sauage who was on a beeline towards the stripe.
Rea’s snappy service and defence was also rock-solid against a big Marsden outfit.
SJ Pulepule (Marsden SHS)
The big-bodied Marsden prop came to life in the second half to spark a comeback.
After being well contained in the first half-hour, Pulepule was more and more blockbusting as the game endured.
He regularly made eight-to-10 metres each run in a productive second half performance which ensured halves Cassius Malati and Ene Mills were playing on the front foot.
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