Live stream: Ipswich, Marsden, Mabel Park and Keebra Park in NRL Schoolgirls Cup semi-finals

Marsden barely dropped a ball in an opening 25 minutes that laid the platform for a decisive NRL Schoolgirls win over Mabel Park. The might of Ipswich is next on the menu. Check out the REPLAY.

Marsden SHS will play Ipswich SHS in the Schoolgirls Cup grand final after a first half blitzkrieg put pay to back-to-back titles for Mabel Park SHS at CBUS Super Stadium.

Marsden won 24-6, dominating the first half to lead 20-0 at the break after producing a highly skilled, uptempo game which outflanked Mabel Park SHS.

Mabel Park, the 2023 national champions, would have thought they were ready for anything, but few could have foreseen Marsden’s stunning first half performance.

They barely dropped a ball as they swung possession left and right through the hands of No.13 Memory Paitai, dummy halves Raewyn Olomalii and Enah Desic and half Lili Lewis.

Janique Mili’s incursions from the back were simply stunning, and it was appropriate she scored the final try minutes from time after a scorching support run.

Marsden’s first try came after super hands by props Rina Francis and Porche Samson-John, whose quick execution found Lewis storming onto the ball.

A brilliant Mili break then scattered the Mabel Park defence, and a quick shift left ended with second rower Deleni Paitai reaching out to score.

Golden hands by Memory Paitai, Olomalii, Lewis and Mili then enabled left winger Nikeisha Ngaru to cross to make it 16-0.

And then tall centre Rosa Lefono crossed to complete Marsden’s first half blitz. Wow, what a performance.

For all the ball movement there were three magnificent tackles by Mabel Park’s Armarni Lea-Auvae, two of which would have shook the Titans’ stadium’s foundations, and another which saved a try.

But those highlights slide into the background as Marsden played hot potato footy to establish a match-winning advantage by the break.

Marsden failed to replicate their first half performance in the second, and a series of errors gave Mabel Park some ball. Finally Mabel Park crossed courtesy of smart hooker Nikolina Fangupo and it was 20-6 with 11 minutes left.

PREVIEW

After these teams met in the final round of the regular season, with Marsden winning 16-10, this promises to be a cracker.

Marsden head coach Shane Hammond said he was excited.

“We’re expecting their big middles to roll through before playing off the back of that,” he said.

Every game of the NRL Schoolgirls Cup finals will be streamed LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV. See the full Queensland semi-final schedule below.

“Mabel have some very experienced middle forwards, a great lock in Amanii Misa and skilful outside backs, so we have to get on top of them early.”

Star Marsden winger Nikeisha Ngaru was in fine form throughout the regular season, leading the competition with four tries from the first four rounds.

“We’re really proud as a group,” he said.

“We’ve debuted a lot of players this season, with only about five or six players backing up from last year, so plenty of fresh faces and plenty of opportunities for them to shine.

“I feel we’ve gotten better with each game, which is all you can ask from a young team.”

Mabel Park were crowned undisputed schoolgirl champions in 2023 after defeating Kirwan SHS 38-0 in the Queensland grand final before beating Sydney school The Hills SHS 26-8 in the national championship game.

Nikeisha Ngaru has had a great season.

Returning head coach Chace Carey said he hoped his side could improve on last week’s result.

“We had a lot of grade 11 students last year, so there’s about 10 girls backing up again this season,” he said.

“It’s been a shorter season this year with the new teams coming in, but certainly the quality has really risen, which is good for everyone.

“We know Marsden is a quality side that can shift the ball from each edge really well.

“They’ve got quality direction in their halves who make the most of every chance.

“The girls are keen to make improvements from our game last week and, no doubt, it’ll be a quality matchup.”

Mabel Park celebrate after winning the 2023 Schoolgirls Cup over Hills Sports High.

Both coaches agreed it would be a special moment for the girls to run out on Cbus Super Stadium.

“It’s a great opportunity for the girls to play in the stadium, go through the motions of being in that environment, so we thank the Titans for that opportunity,” Hammond said.

“It’s very exciting and awesome for the girls to showcase their talents on such a big stage,” Carey said.

IPSWICH 36 d KEEBRA PARK 0

Broncos-signed young gun Shalom Sauaso put on a one woman show to spearhead Ipswich SHS to a 36-0 victory over Keebra Park SHS in a NRL Schoolgirls Cup semifinal.

Sauaso, who earlier in the year played Queensland Reds Super W, scored three individual tries and brilliantly created another for her centre, Bailey Sorbello.

Around her, the Ipswich side was strong in the middle and crisp with his handling on wider shifts, but the influence of No.13 Sauaso could not be understated.

She was unstoppable close to the line, and when she got running down the left hand sideline, her one handed pass to support player Sobello was play of the day stuff.

Ipswich players Sky-Yvette Faimalie, Emily Jackwitz and Shalom Sauaso.

Keebra Park SHS were far from disgraced. If you take out Sauaso’s three close to the line tries, they were not lightyears off their rivals.

Keebra displayed plenty of grit as a group and as individuals, including when Zali Bettridge put her body between Sauaso’s and the tryline when Keebra trailed 26-0. Now that takes guts.

But it was appropriate that Ipswich closed out the game with a thrilling 80m try after an interchange of passing between Ella-Jaye Harrison-Leaunoa, Ariana Henderson and Emily Jackwitz - her second of the game.

PREVIEW

Beaten in the opening round, Ipswich are now taking some serious momentum into the NRL Schoolgirls Cup Pool A semi-finals.

Ipswich lost their first game 12-6 to Mabel Park, but have bounced back impressively to claim top spot from Marsden.

Wins in their final three games against Marsden, Keebra Park and St James College proved decisive and now face fourth-place Keebra Park in the first semi-final on Wednesday.

Marsden face Mabel Park in the other clash, which will be played as a prelude to the Titans v Sharks NRL clash on Friday afternoon.

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Ipswich SHS vs Keebra Park SHS

Ipswich head coach Alex Nicholson said he was extremely proud of how his side quickly addressed and has bounced back from that Mabel Park defeat.

“I’m really happy with the progression we’ve made, especially after our round one defeat,” he said.

“I’m really proud of how the girls have managed that loss as collectively they’ve really come together, bonded, clicked and have figured out what it takes to have performed at the level we have been.

“They have been the driving force that if we want to go all the way, we have to sort out our own collective dialogue and effort areas by holding ourselves accountable.”

Ipswich were able to overcome Keebra Park 30-8 in round three but Nicholson said his side could not get complacent.

Keebra Park SHS players earlier in the season. Picture: Steve Pohlner.

“We’re not expecting the same side that we played earlier in the season,” Nicholson said.

“We know Keebra will be fighting really hard to gain a spot in the grand final, so we’re prepared for a physical game, especially through the middle of the field with their strong forward pack.”

He said he would have to iron out any selection headaches, with a number of players returning from injury, but was excited to see what his side could produce.

“We’ve been able to shift Shalom Sausao back into her preferred position of lock, given we’ve had a few players return from injury this week,” he said.

“We should have a relatively full strength side leading into Wednesday, which give our players the best shot at shining in their favoured positions.

“We’re excited to see what Shalom can do at lock given the impact she has in her running game, allowing our halves, Ella-Jaye Harrison-Leaunoa and Mercedez Taulelei-Siala, to take the lead a bit more, which is always really valuable in freeing up our players across the park.”

Shalom Sauaso in action at the 2024 Australian Schools Rugby Championships

Ipswich winger and deadeye goalkicker Bailey Sorbello will be looking to extend her red-hot form. She currently leads the point-scoring leaderboard.

Nicholson praised the wider Ipswich community for their support.

“We know we’re playing for much more than our team and any success, we’re playing for the entire Ipswich community that’s backed us from the start.”