Titans Schools League semi-final livestreaming today featured special talent Janique Mili
Marsden is celebrating its first title of the season as the Titans Schools League finals got underway. WATCH THEM HERE
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Your home of school rugby league, News Corp, is livestreaming all the Titans Schools League finals.
Watch the Marsden SHS v Mabel SHS grand final replay, and watch live now all the semi-finals.
REPLAY: MARSDEN, 14 DEFEAT MABEL PARK, 4 IN YEAR 7/8 GIRLS GRAND FINAL
THE GRAND FINAL
Year 7-8s, girls
The Marsden SHS community was celebrating its first rugby league premiership of the season after a 14-4 win over a gritty Mabel Park SHS today.
In the end the Mili-Lewis combination was a class above, delivering their side the title deciding try - but only just.
Janique Mili had supported a break from Lilly Lewis to score under the posts, but after the converted try Mabel Park’s big forwards steamed rolled up field.
Their efforts created field position for Mabel Park to score out wide and cut the margin to 14-8 nearing full time.
Mabel surged and surged again, but desperate defence held them out.’
Earlier, Marsden SHS started the second half by recapturing the lead after a wonderful try to the right winger.
After gaining some momentum in the ruck, Lilly Lewis pushed the play right and through the backline it went, all the way out to the right winger who plunged over in the corner.
It was a typical grand final full of bruising running, desperate defence and skilful ball movement.
The 4-all halftime score lines highlighted exactly how it was - very close.
Marsden scored first when gifted halve Lilly Lewis put her centre over to score.
Mabel Park SHS’s response came near halftime, with a bumping blindside run by their left edge forward finishing with her finding the tryline.
Marsden pocket rocket Janique Mili was also called on to make a try-saving tackle in an entertaining match that had spectators roaring for more.
REPLAY: TITANS SCHOOLS LEAGUE - KEEBRA PARK VS IPSWICH (YR 9/10 GIRLS SEMI-FINAL)
REPLAY: TITANS SCHOOLS LEAGUE - KEEBRA PARK VS MABEL PARK (YR 11/12 GIRLS SEMI-FINAL)
REPLAY: TITANS SCHOOL LEAGUE - MARSDEN VS IPSWICH (YR 11/12 GIRLS SEMI-FINAL)
REPLAY: TITANS SCHOOLS LEAGUE - PIMPAMA VS NERANG (YR 9/10 BOYS DIV 2 SEMI-FINAL)
REPLAY: TITANS SCHOOLS LEAGUE - KEEBRA PARK VS BEENLEIGH (YR 9/10 BOYS DIV 1 SEMI-FINAL)
REPLAY: TITANS SCHOOLS LEAGUE - KEEBRA PARK YELLOW VS FOREST LAKE (YR 11/12 BOYS DIV 2 SEMI-FINAL)
REPLAY: TITANS SCHOOLS LEAGUE - MARYMOUNT V MARSDEN (YEAR 11/12 BOYS DIV 1 SEMI-FINAL)
THE SEMI-FINALS
Pimpama SHS progressed after a 42-nil shut out of Nerang SHS in Div 2 boys Year 9-10 action.
That Pimpama was able to keep the opposition scoreless would have pleased the coach most heading into next week’s grand final.
Hooker Brayden Wong and prop Tyrheson Clark laid the platform with tries in both the first and second halves.
Pimpama scored three first half tries courtesy of Wong, Clark and winger Hughes, laying a foundation for victory. Wong also kicked some conversions.
At Beenleigh, the Year 9-10 girls semi-final was claimed by Keebra Park SHS - but not by much.
The well drilled Keebra Park outfit won 18-10 against an Ipswich SHS which improved the more the competition progress.
Still the Keebra Park girls deserved its place in the grand final.
The year 9-10 girls Div 1 boys clash between Keebra Park SHS and Beenleigh saw Keebra Park go up a gear to win.
In the girls Div 1 semi-final between Marsden SHS and Ipswich SHS, Ipswich SHS improvement continued to push Marden SHS girls to be brink, before Marsden won 16-12.
The boys year 11-12 Div semi was claimed by Marymount College over Marsden SHS, pushing Marymount through to the grand final next week.
In Div 2 Year 11-12 Div 2 boys action, Forest Lake SHS will represent their school in the decider after beating Keebra Park (Yellow) 12-4.
THE FEATURE
Everyone now and again a special talent emerges from school rugby league like the Thunderbird 1 rocket roaring out of Tracey Island’s mountain on television’s The Thunderbirds.
And so it is the case with Marsden SHS year 7-8 fullback Janique Mili who, along with her teammate Lilli Lewis, have been outstanding in the Titans Schools League which today reaches the finals stage - all livestreamed by www.couriermail.com.au
The Courier-Mail, Gold Coast Bulletin and News Corp Australia affiliates will livestream five semi-finals and one grand final on Wednesday, and then grand final day the following Wednesday. Subscription also unlocks access to the best News’ sites across Australia.
Mili, 13, originally hails from a small tiny village Gwarumemase and Gereka in Papua New Guinea and her family migrated to Brisbane in 2014.
Her withering running from fullback has been a highlight of the Titans Schools League, and will be on show when her teams plays Mabel Park SHS in the year 7-8 grand final from 3pm on Wednesday.
But her pace has also taken her to success on the athletics track, and earlier in the season roared to a medal winning effort in the 4x100m relay at the national titles.
SEMI-FINALS, Today
LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE
Bill Norris Oval, Division 1
3pm: Year 7-8 girls grand final
Marsden SHS v Mabel Park SHS
4pm: Year 9-10 girls semi-final
Keebra Park SHS v Ipswich SHS
5pm: Year 11-12 semi-final
Marsden SHS v Ipswich SHS
6pm: Year 11-12 semi-final
Keebra Park SHS v Mabel Park SHS
Nerang Roosters Oval
4pm: Div 2 Year 9-10 boys
Pimpama SHS v Nerang SHS
5pm: Div 1 Year 9-10 boys
Keebra Park SHS Blue v Beenleigh SHS
6pm: Div 2 Year 11-12 boys
Forest Lake SHS v Keebra Park Yellow
7pm: Year 11-12 Div 1 boys
Marymount College v Marsden SHS
RELATED LINKS
MARSDEN SHS COACH APPOINTED TITANS NRLW MENTOR
Initially displaying raw sprint talent in 2019 when she ran 14.25 seconds for 100m at the regionals, her family sought out a personal coach and found Brad Schofield from Academy of Speed.
With just six weeks of training under Schofield, she improved that 100m time to 13.59 to finish fifth at the state titles and third in the 200m, qualifying her for the nationals
She progressed this year to represent Queensland in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the nationals. “Two years ago Janique was always the slowest person out of the blocks but after a year of working on her starts, she’s now one of the fastest out of the blocks, which is why she was chosen as the lead runner for Queensland 4 x 100m,’’ Schofield said.
“Her blistering start set up her team to battle on for a silver medal.
“She now has a national silver medallist and Is more motivated than ever to obtain an individual national medal in near future.’’
Mili said of her achievement: “Winning a silver medal with my team was an awesome experience and great feeling especially at national level. It gives me the courage to do even better next time if the opportunity is there.’’
Mili’s connection with rugby league started at Logan Brothers where the coach and manager pairing of Ray and Maurena Parker encouraged her to do little athletics in the off-season, which led her to joining the Springwood Sharks before linking with Schofield.
“Little Athletics is great’’ she said. “Springwood Sharks LA is a massive club, has a great committee and president and their competitions help me get pumped up with all the other athletes.’’
Mili said she also learned techniques used by other athletes from other centres, but best of all was joining Schofield who “has trained me in all aspects and keeps pushing me to be better every week.’’
RELATED LINKS
On the league field, after watching her older siblings Nou and Lauren play, she started on the wing before moving to fullback.
“I love the hard contacts and breaking through tackles and running full length of fields to score tries for my team,’’ Mili said, praising the environment at Logan Brothers and the help of coaches Ray Parker and Andy Faaogu.
Asked what her favourite memory was of growing up in PNG, she said: “I miss collecting shells when its low tide and playing next to our private well and jumping in to clean it with my brothers.
“I also miss having fresh fried fish or squid with pancakes for brekky.’’
But she is grateful for the opportunity to settle in Logan where “almost everything was breath taking for me’’, and also grateful also to be educated at Marsden SHS.
“I love everything about that school and I’m blessed to be a recipient of the girls rugby league excellence scholarship,’’ said Mili, who said teacher Shane Hammond had been a huge influence.
“Marsden has great coaches and trainers and ongoing support for their athletes and students.’’
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