2.8M views for ‘hardest hit of all time’: Meet RLTD’s 17 best tacklers
A Charters Towers Miners recruit has racked up nearly three million views on TikTok for a tackle dubbed the biggest of all time. See the clip and meet Townsville’s other top tacklers of 2024
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In a bid to take readers closer than ever before to the sports they love, the Townsville Bulletin sports team have surveyed Rugby League Townsville and District’s top coaches and officials to shine the spotlight on the players who might not get their names up in lights every week.
Club representatives answered key questions on their squad’s fastest players, fittest players, toughest and strongest, most underrated, best defenders, x-factors, future stars and contenders for club best and fairest awards.
Check back every Wednesday to meet a new crop of men and women leading the way in local football in 2024.
RIWHA WALDEN
BROTHERS
Brothers coach Michael Parker-Walshe can’t remember ever seeing a better defensive centre than Riwha (pronounced Rye-fa) Walden. The Kirwan graduate’s ability to track the flight of the ball in the air before springing into action. By the time a pass has landed in the hands of its target Walden is never far away from dropping the hammer in contact. Still eligible for under-20s, Walden is set to play a big role in Brothers’ quest for back-to-back titles.
TENEAL BAKER
BROTHERS
A fullback who would thrive on the front line in defence but still makes her impact felt at the second level. Baker can resemble a blitzing linebacker on an American football field because when an opponent breaks through the line Baker is only ever seconds away from charging forward and cutting her down. Also the team’s fastest player, Baker uses that pace to patrol great swathes of the field for a cover tackle. Baker is so quick that even when she is caught out of position the opportunity for opponents never lasts long because she swings to where she needs to be.
KALIOVA NAUQE
BURDEKIN
The Burdekin’s own Great Kali might not come close to the 216cm WWE Hall of Fame wrestler in height, but he can inflict just as much pain on his opponents on the footy field. Fijian import Kaliova Nauqe is the biggest hitter on the Burdekin and the type of player that rivals are always looking out for on the field. There is no greater recipe for disaster than losing track of Nauqe in the defensive line before finding one of his shoulders planted under your ribcage. Nauqe blends power with excellent technique to maximise the impact of every shot.
LOGAN RONCATO
BURDEKIN
An accurate tackler who can put on a big shot when the chance arises. Roncato was hailed as the toughest and strongest player at the club two weeks ago and her bruising defence was the major reason why. The smallest player on the team and still a teenager, Roncato throws her body into every collision. If opponents aren’t watching out for Roncato at the beginning of a match, you can be sure they are by full-time - usually with a few bruises to remind them of the lesson.
MAVERICK PEGORARO
CENTRALS
Small in stature but definitely plays above his weight. A really strong defender through the middle where Pegoraro does a lot of great clean-up work. One of the club’s captains, Pegoraro is a huge part of what Centrals are building in 2024. A technical tackler who has been in the Blackhawks and Cowboys junior systems. He hits low, and if players run at him he is strong enough to make them regret it.
RASHARNA PRIOR
CENTRALS
An off-season wing recruit from Norths who announced herself as a defensive force with a chopping tackle on Queensland State of Origin and Cowboys enforcer Shaniah Power. Prior is a smaller player but comes armed with excellent tackle technique and rocked the Western Lions’ representative star with a superb shot when the pair collided earlier this season. Power had picked out Prior as a smaller defender in the line but was brought to ground in a good, clean hit.
SIONE ANAU
CHARTERS TOWERS
Anau has featured just once in A Grade this season but could be the hardest hitting defender in Townsville. Two seasons ago, playing club rugby union in Perth, Anau went viral on TikTok for a well-timed, legal tackle labelled the ‘hardest rugby tackle ever’. The tackle was viewed around 2.8m times and made international headlines. Coaches in Charters Towers are looking forward to the day Anau adds to his highlight reel in their club’s colours.
HAYLEY O’KEEFE and BOESHA MOORE-REID
CHARTERS TOWERS
Moore-Reid is a fullback whose defensive skills are so good she has been moved all over the frontline, playing wing, centre and in the halves. Moore-Reid has saved more than a few runaway tries. O’Keefe began the year at halfback but has since moved into the centres - a position regarded as the most technically challenging on the field - but made it her own with some impressive tackles.
DAMIEN DEVIETTI
HERBERT RIVER
One of the club’s most senior players who is capable of playing as both an edge and a middle forward. Devietti’s communication is outstanding and that organisational quality extends his defensive influence far beyond his individual tackle and wrestle work. Not quite the type where opponents will be looking out the corner of their eyes at him but Devietti can hit and stick with the best of them.
KIESHA DEVOW
HERBERT RIVER
The lock forward is not yet 17 years old but can hit hard and drive or chop down opposition runners where they stand. Devow has awesome technique for a young kid and doesn’t miss many tackles at all. Devow won Herbert River’s players’ player award on her senior debut in Round 1 against Charters Towers, having required special permission to take the field at all. She has an extremely bright future in rugby league.
ASHTON LEIUA
NORTHS
Leiua is a technical tackling hooker with a solid frame that helps him put a big shot on. He is always there in defence, making repeat efforts and constantly backing up. Leiua is always winning the ruck contest.
SERINA RANKINE
NORTHS
Rankine has only recently returned to the fold for Norths but established herself last year as the team’s top defender. Rankine is strong and always in the right position. If she misses a tackle it’s because the runner has produced a significant effort to evade her. Like Jordan McLean at the Cowboys, Rankine has built her game on being a solid rock at the core of the Norths forward pack as a prop.
JAKE MARA
SOUTHS
The first player to swear allegiance to Souths when the historic club announced its comeback in 2023, Mara has been the standard-bearer for the Bulls’ defence ever since. A big hitter to the core, the former Herbert River premiership-winner has a knack for changing the momentum of a match with a trademark shot.
ZACHARY DIPLOCK and DAN BUCKLAND
WESTERN LIONS
Chalk and cheese physically but Diplock and Buckland’s impact on Western Lions resurgent defence in 2024 cannot be split. ‘Dippers’ is halfback-sized but an absolute mongrel in the wrestle who excels at controlling the bodies of opponents in the tackle and in the dirt. You need those players on a field. ‘Bucko’ is less of a mongrel but is blessed with more size. Coming through the junior representative systems, Buckland’s wrestle, marker work and body control is second to none in the team. He rarely gets beaten.
LHYLLA WILLIAMSON
WESTERN LIONS
Williamson doesn’t miss, and when she hits, they stay hit. Still a teenager but Williamson is one of the most physically imposing players in women’s football. Built like a wrecking ball, the Blackhawks under-19s star was unfortunate to miss out on junior State of Origin honours and has made up for it ever since with seismic tackling in the local women’s league. The young gun is comfortably her team’s fiercest defender.
Originally published as 2.8M views for ‘hardest hit of all time’: Meet RLTD’s 17 best tacklers
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