Rolling coverage: All the action from the NRL Schoolboys Cup QLD semi-finals

Marsden SHS will battle it out with Kirwan SHS in the final of this year’s QLD Schoolboy Cup as they look to book a place in the national final. Check out all the coverage here.

Kirwan's D'jazirhae Pua'avase in action. Picture: Evan Morgan

Kirwan SHS will play Marsden in the NRL Cup Queensland final after today’s clash at Langlands Park.

Kirwan won 28-12, unleashing blazing speed on the back of speedy play the balls to unravel Wavell SHS during a decisive first half blitz.

It was a bridge too far for a Wavell outfit which twice produced Houdini like performances en-route to this clash.

For a third successive game Wavell threatened to wriggle their way out of a tight spot with a spirited second half rally.

With Kirwan leading 22-6, Wavell’s power game ramped up off the back of a reinvigorated defensive effort.

Kirwan Bears players Brad Schneider 18, Tyty Baira 16 and Clay George 17.

For 20 minutes in the second half the game swayed in the balance after Wavell had scored first just after halftime, but a try to Kirwan dummy half Adrian Trevilyan settled the affair as full time loomed.

Wavell opened the scoring in the first half but then Kirwan produced a four try avalanche before Wavell could regain their composure.

Twice Kirwan’s outside backs took off like 100m sprinters as Jesse Yallop and Tyreece Wood blazed downfield.

In the blink of an eye Kirwan scored twice, and then on another two occasions as Wavell got the fumbles defending attaching kicks.

On both occasions Kirwan backrowers Isiah Kawane and Tyrone Gunn-James were rewarded for trailing kicks when there seemed little chance of reward.

At 22-6 Kirwan were enjoying high ground.

Wavell needed to be the first to score in the second half and they were when winger Ethan Olsen dived over in the corner.

Riva Johnson’s sideline conversion reduced the margin to 22-12 and there was air on Wavell’s balloon again.

Wavell mountain man Caleb Esera scored first in the match after his team had swooped into a loose ball to turn defence into attack.

Kirwan’s blistering speed was twice used in cover defence to run down the movement, but when Esera got within a body length of the line there was no stopping him.

Minutes later a left shift by Kirwan to winger Yallop allowed him to display his pace as he scorched 70m to score a thrilling try to level the scores at six apiece.

KIRWAN 28 (Tyreece Woods, Jesse Woods, Abai Chatfield, Isaiah Kawane, Tyronne Gunn-Gela tries, Bradley Schneider 4 conversions) def WAVELL 12 (Ethan Olsen, Caleb Esera tries, Riva Johnson 2 conversions)

Marsden State High School representatives TC Robati and Tyrone Sa’U.

MARSDEN MASTERCLASS

A first half masterclass from Marsden SHS has brought the Makos just one win away from state glory and a shot at NRL Schoolboy Cup immortality.

Marsden outran, outenthused and, at times, outpunched St Brendan’s Yeppoon to the tune of 42-18 in a fiery Queensland semi final that highlighted the depth of future Maroons talent in their ranks.

With star duo Tyrone Sa’U and TC Robati heavily marked by St Brendan’s, Marsden turned to quicksilver halves Rixson Andrews and Konrad Tu’ua for inspiration and they delivered in spades, combining for 16 points and four try assists.

Tu’ua’s flawless goal kicking proved decisive in opening up an early buffer while Andrews fittingly scored his side’s sixth and final try on the full time hooter.

Despite being one of the most impressive sides at July’s Confraternity Carnival, St Brendan’s lacked polish in an error-riddled opening half that saw them churn out six errors and four incomplete sets in a row and Marsden were all too happy to capitalise.

An early penalty saw the Makos take full advantage of repeat sets close to the line with Leon Te Hau scoring in the fifth minute but St Brendan’s failed to repay the favour with clumsy hands letting them down in key moments.

Makos lock Caleb Evans then looked to have doubled Marsden’s advantage before being held up over the chalk and when centre Tony Francis stormed 50m downfield to camp on St Brendan’s line, it took just three tackles and a chance ricochet for utility Josh Downs to dive over under the sticks.

Hooker Ezra Teuila stretched their lead ever further with a darting run from dummy half and Marsden looked home and hosed with an 18-0 halftime advantage and momentum on their side.

St Brendan’s, however, had other ideas and when Chase Demaine-Beale scored from the green and gold’s opening set, the tide began to turn in their favour.

Keenan Timu quickly restored the margin with a bustling run but the visitors’ belief was growing and grew further with their second try, courtesy of lock Sam Strohfeldt.

A third soon followed when hooker Isaac Garraway dotted down to bring St Brendan’s within six points and a comeback threatened as the vocal Marsden crowd began to waver.

Yet the Makos held firm and Francis saved his best till last, bumping off three defenders to score in the left corner with eight minutes to play.

Sa’U then bagged a late sealer and the celebrations had already begun when Andrews set off for his last-gasp try.

MARSDEN STATE HIGH 42 (Te Hau, Francis, Teuila, Downs, Sa’U, Timu, Andrews tries; Andrews 7 goals) def ST BRENDAN’S YEPPOON 18 (Demaine-Beale, Strohfeldt, Garraway tries; Jenkins 3 goals)

The winning Trinity Bay SHS side.

LUI FIRES FOR TRINITY BAY

Trinity Bay SHS halfback Dantoray Lui produced a master class to lead his side to victory over Bundaberg SHS at Langlands Park.

Trinity Bay won the NRL open trophy final by 36 to 12.

Lui pulled the trigger on an attacking unit which had too much fire power for their gallant rivals.

Bundaberg never gave up and surged either side of halftime to try and haul back their rivals.

But when Lui started running, his teams followed and momentum proved unstoppable.

Running off Lui, fullback Dimitri Ahwang feasted along with centre Bronson Poipoi.

Poipoi scored three tries outside Lui and his partner in crime, second rower Eli Suavai.

Suavai did some of the heavy lifting on the edge of the ruck, and his reward was to race 50m and score in the second half to make the score 30 to 6.

There was a big cheer when Bundaberg forward Chad Booker scored but there was no way back for Bundaberg.

Both teams went back and forth in an even opening that gave no hint of the three try Trinity Bay blitz which was to unfold.

Bundaberg actually displayed an early threat through the footwork of their forwards.

But it was Trinity Bay who opened the scoring with a beautifully constructed try through centre bronson Poipoi after big second rower Suavai had scattered the defence like 10 pins.

Trinity Bay halfback Liu, who had expertly directed play in the lead up to his team’s first try, then sliced through only for his pass to go astray.

Lui was in action again a minute later running off Suavai and then putting his fullback Ahwang away to score.

Trinity Bay’ Lui was quite the puppeteer and in the 23rd minute he reached into his bag of tricks to produce a chip and chase which he regathered to send Poipoi over for his second try.

With halftime looming Bundaberg winger Lochlan Modrow gave his side just the medicine they needed by snatching an intercept and racing 60m to score.

TRINITY BAY SHS 36 (Bronson Poipoi 3, Dimitri Ahwang, Eli Suavai, Saifu Savage, Tries, Dantoray Lui 6 conversions) def BUNDABERG 12 (Lochlan Modrow, Chad Booker tries, Marcus Tanner 2 conversions)

The successful Morayfield SHS team.

MORAYFIELD BLASTS HOME

Morayfield State High have etched their school into the record books after producing one of the most brilliant halves in ever seen in junior rugby league to sink Tully State High in the under-15 state cup decider.

Trailing 20-16 at halftime, Morayfield stormed out of the blocks with three tries in seven minutes to pave way for a mammoth 54-24 victory at Langlands.

Centre Alardice Vialau and prop Ezra Wainohu scored two tries apiece in the 30-minute blitz while Daniel Pitti and Malachi Brougton also finished the game with doubles.

Tully were left to rue poor handling in the second half after star winger Bryson Beeron handed his side an early 10-point lead with two lightning quick tries.

But there was little doubt who deserved the trophy at full-time with Morayfield’s halved pairing of Tasman Toomata and Harrison Bassett expertly steering the boys in blue and black towards the silverware.

MORAYFIELD STATE HIGH 54 (Vialau 2, Wainohu 2, Pitti 2, Brougton 2, Faasisla, Toomata tries; Bassett 4, Toomata 3 goals) def TULLY STATE HIGH SCHOOL 24 (Beeron 2, Hayley, Burton, Johnson tries; Makie 2 goals)