Roosters sign Ipswich Jets duo; key players of the finals revealed
The Sydney Roosters scoop up talent from Sam Walker country, Ipswich, as we reveal three key players apiece from the Jets, Redcliffe, Tweed and Burleigh ahead of the sudden death finals.
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The Sydney Roosters have two Ipswich players on their books as the Jets prepare for this weekend’s sudden death qualifying finals.
Redcliffe will play Burleigh and Tweed Seagulls will take on Ipswich to see who meets in the Meninga Cup grand final.
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Prop Kanaan Magele and centre or winger Amaziah Murgha were Roosters’ signed Jets kids as the glamour Sydney club looks to consolidate its relationship with the Ipswich district.
The Roosters halves, Sam Walker and Luke Keary, were both Ipswich juniors and the Sydney club has clearly circled the region as a recruitment hunting ground given the districts extraordinary history of fielding elite talent.
Past champions like Allan Langer, the Walters’ brothers and old time legends like Rod Morris, Des Morris, Noel Kelly, Denis Flannery, Gary Parcell and Dud Beattie were part of Ipswich folklore, along with Ali Brigginshaw (NRLW, Broncos).
Spotted by the Roosters playing in New Zealand, prop Magele arrived in Queensland to play with Ipswich SHS.
He has been one of the players of the season, a middle forward who has a big motor like Gold Coast Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika.
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Centre Murgha is a lean centre or winger but has speed, pace to burn. You can’t coach the sprint power he possesses.
Both those boys will be key players in Ipswich’s final this weekend along with another young gun, explosive winger Saifiti Junior Saifiti.
Saifiti has scored 10 tries and kicked the goals for the Jets in a breakout season which will have him in good stead for the Langer Trophy season which is just around the corner.
The Samoan born 17-year-old actually played rugby union growing up and only switched to league when he moved from Sydney up to Queensland where he first attended Forest Lake SHS, before landing at rugby league finishing school Ipswich SHS.
Moving to Sydney for Year 7, then Queensland for Year 9, Saifiti and his family made the move to develop his game. His journey will reach a flashpoint on Saturday when Tweed welcome Ipswich in the preliminary final.
Saifiti said seeing his cousin play rugby league got him interested and he has loved it ever since.
“I love it” said Saifiti, “I enjoy it, last year was a big year for me trying to improve”.
“This year I am looking to improve myself more and more.”
The expert right wing finisher said he idolised Sonny Bill Williams and the way he hit hard in defence, but Penrith star Brian To’o was his idol with ball in hand and scoring tries.
While similar to To’o in stature, Saifiti loves to celebrate like him as well. On Saturday, after scoring a wonderful try, Saifiti whipped out a swan dive, a move he practises “every time I do training”.
KEY PLAYERS OF THE FINALS
TWEED SEAGULLS v IPSWICH JETS
Zane Harrison (Tweed)
A complete halfback who, to be perfectly honest, is exactly the type of player the Gold Coast Titans don’t have. It is like he is on autopilot the way he steers Tweed around - so consistent was he with his options through the hands, general kicking or attacking kicks. Harrison also has the speed and strength to take on a line himself when he straightens the attack and is the perfect foil to livewire five-eighth Bailey McConnell.
The Cudgen junior is also a winner - he has won more premierships than most people have had hot breakfasts this year.
Kanaan Magele (Ipswich)
Magele has tremendous leg drive at the point of contact, mobility around the field and a big motor. His driving runs also gives the Jets momentum because he often plays the ball quickly. In tandem with fellow starting prop Nicholas Tuliatu, they give Ipswich a lot of thrust up the field.
Cory Pearse (Tweed)
The key players around hooker Pearse will actually be the prop rotation of Jack Schmidt, Billy Wellard, Zac Kumbamong and Tom Summer, but providing it all goes to plan, the run offered by dummy half Pearse behind his forwards will also be key. He knows his role backwards, and you can see by his delivery of the ball from a variety of situations how much work has gone into his passing game over the years.
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Saifiti Junior Saifiti (Ipswich Jets)
He is both a middle third battering ram and sizzling finisher with the genuine pace of the very best of wingers.
When he goes to dummy half, he will pack a punch coming out of his own end. But more than just a dam busting runner, Saifiti was an athlete.
His razor sharp reflexes in the semi-final to reach to his right and reel in a Keaton Stutt chip kick while running at full pace highlighted his footy anticipation as well.
Sam Stephenson (Tweed Seagulls)
He’s like a Mustang sitting in the garage - at weekend’s just have to get it out and take it for a run. The long striding centre is a big unit who can hurt teams, through his running game, but also through hauling kicks from his mate Zane Harrison.
Lachlan Stuart (Ipswich Jets)
A glue player, Stuart is no Flash Dan but he is a steady link man, fearless defender and services his running players well. With his blue collar play and the kicking game of his five-eight Keaton Stutt, Ipswich have a perfect match in the halves around their brutal big forwards and speed out wide.
REDCLIFFE DOLHPHINS v BURLEIGH BEARS
Bailey McConnell, Amare Milford and Phillip Coates (Burleigh Bears)
While it is true the Burleigh Bears have more than three key players in their side - Jett Bryce, Cooper Bai, Sunny Kama, Saxon Innes and Disharne Tonihi were others who spring to mind - this left edge attack of five-eighth McConnell, edge forward Milford and centre Coates is one potent attacking division. They need to be quelled.
The Bears also have a tremendous finisher in tryscoring maestro Disharne Tonihi, and speed in Ray Puru, Saxon Innes and Creedence Kelly Donovan - boys made for the big moments.
Coby Black (Burleigh Bears)
The Helensvale Hornets junior will kick the goals and create for his teammates out of halfback, and for Burleigh to come out on top they will want Black firing.
The talented half could also open the game up with his deft kicking game which can apply pressure or create tries.
Elijah Rasmussen (Redcliffe Dolphins)
Is he one of the leading front rowers in the competition? There is some stiff competition for top prop billing, but he would have to be close.
Recruited by the Dolphins and plonked on the Redcliffe Peninsula, Rasmussen and his front row mate, Albany Creek Crushers junior Michael Waqa drove the Dolphins to last season premiership. The gang’s back together again and they know what is needed to get the job done again.
LJ Nonu (Redcliffe Dolphins)
LJ Nonu has been a revelation. We all knew the Ipswich SHS ace could play, but his form at fullback - and not in the centres or on the wing - has been a sight to behold.
He started the season on the wing when John-Paul Donevski was at No. 1, but was fullback from round 4 and has never looked back.
He has been one of the finds of the season not because he has played Meninga Cup, but because he played centre last season, not fullback where he has been brilliant under the high ball.
Mathias Santo-Hero (Redcliffe Dolphins)
The Charters Towers’ prospect has been another find of the season. There have been times when he has come off the bench behind John Fineanganofo, and whether he starts or comes off the bench this weekend, the alarm bells will ring when he handles from dummy half. Being a former halfback, he is quick between the ears, while having acceleration.
Zac Garton (Redcliffe Dolphins)
Powerful, promising and painful.
When he runs, it hurts the opposition. He will be a metre-eater through the middle of the field and near the tryline, and with blokes like Patrick Kailahi and Lewis Symonds nearby, it is going to be one heck of a clash between the two forward packs.
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