Junior Townsville Blackhawks shine in Rockhampton: Top players revealed in U17s, U19s

Townsville’s four junior Blackhawks teams kicked off their 2024 campaigns with three wins and a narrow loss. Catch up on the action from Saturday and find out which players stood out.

Townsville Blackhawks under-17s Marley Proctor and Eneliko Savelio at the CQ Capras versus Townsville Blackhawks underage games, Browne Park, Rockhampton, on February 17, 2024.

Six different tryscorers led the Townsville Blackhawks to victory in the Mal Meninga Cup, finding an extra gear late in the contest to steamroll the Central Queensland Capras 38-16 in Rockhampton on Saturday.

Mal Meninga Cup grand finalist from 2023 Loranzo Fono was a standout from lock, scoring a late four-pointer to cap off a monumental performance.

Herbert River half Lachlan Erba was the steady hand guiding the ship and his accurate goalkicking (five from seven) made sure the scoreboard kept ticking over.

Kirwan State High School five-eighth Logan Brookes was solid in his new-found position at fullback, opening the Blackhawks account with an early try and proving his versatility across the park.

“They started really well, we had really good energy. It got pretty close in the second half for 10 or 15 minutes and then we kicked away in the last 10,” Blackhawks coach Luke Harlen said.

Townsville Blackhawks under-17 players Sitiveni Afu and Heath Bethel at the CQ Capras versus Townsville Blackhawks underage games, Browne Park, Rockhampton, on February 17, 2024.

“We started to win in the middle a bit more and that’s probably what led to a few tries.

“Loranzo (Fono) was really good and (Ethan) Rains was really good at hooker – all our forwards were great actually.”

Townsville teams shone through the four junior age grades with wins in the Cyril Connell Cup and Harvey Norman under-17s, and a four-point loss for the under-19 women.

A failure to hold onto possession and build pressure ultimately cost the under-19 ladies despite an impressive showing from the team’s fearsome forward pack.

Forwards put in the stronger performances in both women’s games, with all six Townsville tryscorers across the two female games coming from players in the pack.

MAL MENINGA CUP

The Blackhawks began their 2024 Mal Meninga Cup campaign with a convincing 38-16 victory over the Capras.

Townsville Blackhawks' Joshua Macarone at the CQ Capras versus Townsville Blackhawks underage games, Browne Park, Rockhampton, on February 17, 2024.

Six separate try scorers crossed the chalk for Townsville with winger Anthony Iorangi notching a double after scoring late in each half.

After a rapid start to the match Townsville entered a lull, and Capras tries either side of the break ensured the game was a nailbiter until the Blackhawks exploded with three converted tries in the final 10 minutes.

“They started really well, we had really good energy. It got pretty close in the second half for 10 or 15 minutes and then we kicked away in the last 10,” Blackhawks coach Luke Harlen said.

“We started to win in the middle a bit more and that’s probably what led to a few tries.

“Loranzo (Fono) was really good and (Ethan) Rains was really good at hooker – all our forwards were really good actually.”

Harlen said having experienced Herbert River half Lachlan Erba steering the side allowed his younger five-eighth to flourish.

“Lachie Erba did well steering them around the park,” he said.

“It’s good having him in the halves because Hayde Munro is still only 17. We have a few younger kids so it’s good having (Erba’s) experience.”

HARVEY NORMAN UNDER-19S

A late surge wasn’t enough for Townsville to win in the Harvey Norman Under-19s, falling by four points to Central Queensland 14-10.

Townsville Blackhawks under-19s Logan Roncato and Brandy Yallop at the CQ Capras versus Townsville Blackhawks underage games, Browne Park, Rockhampton, on February 17, 2024.

A failure to hold onto possession and build pressure ultimately cost Townsville despite an impressive showing from the team’s fearsome forward pack.

Lhylla Williamson and Chloe Watson scored second-half tries to bring the Blackhawks within striking distance but the girls simply ran out of time.

“Momentum killed us. It was just errors at key moments, not being able to build pressure when we needed to,” coach Rob Hall said.

“When we did find our way late in the game we just sort of ran out of time – honestly if we had one more set of six I think we would have come away with the points.”

Rob Hall and Lachlan Nugent at the CQ Capras versus Townsville Blackhawks underage games, Browne Park, Rockhampton, on February 17, 2024.

As well as Williamson and Watson, prop Easther Mikaele put in a mammoth 55-minute shift while second rower Hannah De Daunton was a standout in the wider channels.

“Mikaele and Lhylla Williamson were probably our two best with the ball, and Lhylla defensively was rock solid,” Hall said.

“The key focus for us going forward from here will just be how we can get off the back of (the forward pack) a little bit more. We need to execute a bit better off the hard work that they’re laying.”

CYRIL CONNELL CUP

A 12-0 second half lifted Townsville to victory in the Cyril Connell Cup, beating the Capras 16-6 in Rockhampton.

Capras held a slim lead at the major break before the Blackhawks stormed home with second-half tries to Marley Proctor and Heath Bethel.

The Townsville Blackhawks under-17s after their Cyril Connell Cup clash with the CQ Capras at Browne Park, Rockhampton, on February 17, 2024.

Blackhawks coach Nathan Norford praised tireless prop Sitiveni Afu for his instrumental 60-minute performance.

“Our standout would have been Sitiveni Afu who played 60 minutes in the middle and led from the front,” Norford said.

“He played the whole game and had outstanding carries and was always making an effort in defence.

“Everyone in the backs did their job but a special mention to Heath Bethel. He carried a lot of the load coming out of our end and had a high workload and good involvement.”

Townsville Blackhawks under-17 boys coach Nathan Norford at the CQ Capras versus Townsville Blackhawks underage games, Browne Park, Rockhampton, on February 17, 2024.

The under-17 side will keep a close eye on middle forward Cooper Fletcher and backrower Eneliko Savelio after the pair picked up minor injuries during the match.

“It was a very physical game. We came out with a few bumps and bruises but hopefully we can recover and be ready to rumble next week,” Norford said.

“We should have iced our last 10 minutes a bit better so that’s an improvement area for next week.

“Eneliko Savelio and Cooper Fletcher, we’ll have to wait and see on their fitness. We’ll see how they are this week and go from there.”

HARVEY NORMAN UNDER-17S

Townsville Blackhawks under-17 player Serenity Mila with coach Rebecca Petersen at the CQ Capras versus Townsville Blackhawks underage games, Browne Park, Rockhampton, on February 17, 2024.

The Blackhawks raced out to an early lead and never looked back as the secure an 18-4 triumph in the under-17s.

Four forwards did the damage for Townsville with Marayah Tapau-Taylor scoring in her side’s second set before Jakaia-Lee Collett, Maryanne Tutavake and Chloe Maxwell added to the lead.

Townsville coach Bec Petersen said her forward pack laid the platform for the convincing win.

“We had a really good start. We’ve still got a bit to work on but our defence was very solid and under fatigue we played really well,” Petersen said.

“Our middles are workhorses, they went well. We did have to play wet weather footy so we kept it safe in the middle a bit.”

Originally published as Junior Townsville Blackhawks shine in Rockhampton: Top players revealed in U17s, U19s