WATCH THE REPLAYS: NRL Schoolboys Cup grand final day
Palm Beach Currumbin came from behind to beat Marsden in the grand final of the NRL Schoolboys Cup at Kougari Oval on Wednesday. WATCH ALL THE DAY’S REPLAYS!
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A triple treat of schoolboy grand final action was livestreamed this afternoon by News Corp as part of a feast of schoolboy finals this month.
Wednesday’s action included the NRL Schoolboys Cup decider between Langer Trophy champions Marsden SHS and the most successful south east Queensland in recent years - Palm Beach Currumbin SHS. PBC came from behind to win 22-18 (see below).
In the earlier games at Kougari Oval, Gee Cup action saw Redcliffe SHS beat Clairvaux MacKillop College, while in the De Vere Cup Caloundra SHS were too good for Mabel Park SHS.
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Gallery: NRL Schoolboys Cup grand finals
THE MATCHES
NRL SCHOOLBOYS SOUTHERN CONFERENCE: MARSDEN SHS v PBC SHS
Palm Beach Currumbin SHS five-eighth Michael Roberts scored a sensational 80m solo try four minutes from fulltime to hand his side the NRL Schoolboys Cup premiership over Marsden SHS.
Roberts, the brother of NRL speed demon James Roberts, snared stolen ball and ran for his life, finding the energy to palm off a Marsden defender and score the try of his young life. PBC won 22-18.
“I was hoping he was going to be able to get there. I saw Leon (Marsden fullback Leon Te Hau) and a few chasers, but I forgot he (Roberts) had that sick left hand fend and he got rid of him,’’ said PBC SHS captain Tom Weaver.
“When he scored it was an awesome feeling.’’
The man of the moment, Roberts added: “I just picked it up and it (a gap) opened up and I just ran. I was going to pass it but just backed myself and ran the field.’’
It was remarkable as the perennial south east champions Palm Beach Currumbin SHS climbed off the canvas to win over a Marsden side full of character.
With left edge forward warrior Ryan Foran at the peak of his powers when his team needed him most, PBC SHS recovered from 12-nil and 18-8 deficits to find their way to the winners post - again.
Foran scored two close to the line tries down the left side, the second of which raised his team to 18-all.
In a dramatic finish
+ PBC captain Tom Weaver missed a penalty kick that would have broken the 18-all deadlock
+ Marsden SHS hooker Tyree Bowman, playing his best game of the season, burst through but couldn’t find support
+ PBC centre Deine Mariner dropped an attempted intercept
Then came Roberts match winning run four minutes from the end, raising his team to the lead for the first time in the game.
Even then Marsden had one play after the fulltime siren, but PBC SHS survived.
Earlier Roberts scored a try and produced a try assist against a Marsden SHS side that played their hearts out.
“That was a really tough game,’’ said PBC coach Tim Maccan. “We are busted. We lost two players during the game and that was just a dead set battering. They threw everything at us.’’
Marsden SHS coach Matt Hartigan praised his team’s character and said they should be proud of their efforts, while also congratulating PBC SHS.
“It is always hard to put into words the feelings that are associated with a game like that, but I was so proud of my Marsden team,’’ Hartigan said. “They showed amazing qualities across the 60 minutes.
“We had our chances to ice the game and no doube we have learnt some invaluable lessons that they will take on their journey.’’
With Marsden SHS halfback Cassius Cowley rising to the occasion, Marsden SHS extended its lead seven minutes into the second half by 16-8 after a set play try which saw centre Teapo Stoltman use his pace cutting back on the inside off Cowley.
But PBC SHS were back in business when Foran scored the first of his two tries, and then another 14 minutes from fulltime.
It was a see-sawing match which saw Marsden led 12-nil and 18-8 before PBC closed in, with Foran brute force left edge running causing trouble.
Leading up to halftime Palm Beach Currumbin SHS fullback Kini Keano and five-eight Roberts lit up Kougari Oval with some dynamic play to spark their team from a 12-nil deficit.
Against a 12 man defensive line following an earlier sin-binning, Roberts scored one try and put his winger Jett Forbes over for another to bring the score to 12-8 at halftime.
It was a half of two halves.
Marsden had all the running in the first part of the game, and in the second - and not helped with Mou Taumaletila being in the sin-bin - PBC SHS dominated the period leading to halftime.
Keano was brilliant against a 13-man defensive line, and even more dangerous against 12 defenders as halfback Weaver enjoyed front football ball courtesy of his pack.
PBC SHS, clearly attacking Marsden’s middle with inside passes, had some success in gathering momentum, and off that momentum Weaver’s running players Keano and Roberts were dangerous.
Earlier, Marsden SHS drew first blood through dummy half Bowman who, for the second final in succession, dived over from dummy half.
Prop Xavier Stowers had run a decoy for his fellow front rower Lance Fualema, but his quick play the ball when tackled enabled Bowman to plunge over unopposed.
Marsden gained further momentum when Cowley got through the front line and won a penalty for his side after skip Chris Faagutu had got his team onto the front foot.
From the new set of six big Fualema, denied a few minutes earlier, scored and it was 12-niL.
When PBC SHS ventured inside Marsden’s quarter line, Faagutu put his shoulder to the grindstone to put a big tackle on PBC SHS’s Bailey Martin.
Marsden SHS Cowley was up for the big dance, playing straight, offering passes either side of him and kicking with precision.
DE VERE CUP: MABEL PARK SHS v CALOUNDRA SHS
Caloundra SHS’s open program looks in safe hands after its year 10 De Vere Cup side won its grand final over Mabel Park SHS today.
Playing with speed and skill, Caloundra’s quick, mobile pack started at a gallop and never lost stride, winning 36-4.
Mabel Park defended stoutly into the second half, but a show and go by Caloundra halfback Tully McLellan got Caloundra on the board again and it was 30-nil.
Caloundra SHS could not have started better.
They led 12-nil and then 18-nil when No.7 McLellan showed a clean par of heels running down the right hand sideline.
And it was 22-nil when McLellan ball-played beautifully at the line, taking a hit but getting a pass away to a rampaging Brodie Halpin whose long stride carried him 30m to score.
Off the back of quick play the balls, Caloundra rolled forward at pace, with an uptempo game unsettling the Mabel Park SHS defence early.
Caloundra SHS lock Hayden Gallagher was the picture of determination when he twisted and turned and plunged over to score the opening try next to the posts.
Next the explosive speed of fullback Brooklenn Mundraby-Grogan was on show when he finished a wide, right hand raid, handing Caloundra a 12-nil lead.
Scores: Caloundra 36 (T McLellan 2, B Mundraby-Grogan 2, J Thompson, H Gallagher, B Halpin tries; J Philip 4 convs) def Mabel 4
GEE SHIELD: REDCLIFFE SHS v CLAIRVAUX MACKILLOP COLLEGE
The best side all season, Redcliffe SHS, deservedly finished with the silverware at Kougari Oval today.
Redcliffe beat Clairvaux MacKillop College 46-nil, roaring out of the blocks to lead 26-nil before going on with the job.
Reddy have only lost one match all season - the Langer Trophy qualifying final -
but there was no way they were going to lose today’s decider.
Props Sefo Faatuono and Matt Bennett laid early platforms, while edge backrower Jacob Taulani scored a magnificent grand final try.
Hooker Jack Cameron delivered slick passing off the back of quick play the balls, while out wide centre Tom Lunney and Dan Dawes enjoyed first half tries.
The Redclfife forwards were big and mobile, with Braith Major, Kiahl Moore and Taulani punching out the metres while also being line breaking threats.
Earlier, the two Redcliffe props combined beautifully to open the scoring in the Gee Cup grand final, with Sefo unloading to Bennett who stormed over beneath the posts after six minutes.
It was 10-nil not long after when five-eight Blake Kehl threw a lovely long ball to his winger Dan Dawes who scurried over in the corner.
In between Clairvaux winger James Richardson threatened with a sideline run, but Kehl in cover and Redcliffe fullback Tyler Fishlock were up to the task in defence.
Scores: Redcliffe 46 (D Dawes 2, J Taulani, T Lunney, M Bennett, b major J Cameron, G Matthes tries; D Dawes 8 convs, S Faatuono) def Clairvaux
Next week we feature the Broncos Challenge grand finals, and in two weeks, the Phil Hall state championship.
Enjoy livestream of the finals and replays at www.couriermail.com.au, the Gold Coast Bulletin and News’ affiliates while unlocking access to the best news site across Australia.
RELATED LINKS
SEMI-FINAL TEAMS, KEY MATCH-UPS
NRL CLUBS - WHO THEY HAVE SIGNED FROM THE LANGER TROPHY
SIX THINGS WE LEARNED FROM THE SEMI-FINALS
WHAT THE COACHES THINK; KEY TO MARSDEN’S 2021 RECOVERY
THE TEAMS:
PBC SHS: 1 Keano Kini, 2 Hunter Ploegsma, 3 Reef Sommerville, 4 Deine Mariner, 5 Jett Forbes, 6 Michael Roberts, 7 Tom Weaver (c), 8 Kade Somerville, 9 Oskar Bryant, 10 Jack Cullen, 11 Brock Priestley, 12 Ryan Foran, 13 Jayden Wright, 14 Tanu Nona, 15 Bailey Martin, 16 Reico Ratana, 17 Isaiah Scanlan, 18 Travis May, 19 Sam Sowery, 20 Darcy Townsend.
MARSDEN SHS: 1 Leon Te Hau, 2. Tea-Rani Woodman-Tuhoro, 3. Teapo Stoltman, 4. Kienan Tempest, 5. Rylan Fleming, 6. Jardyn Stilinovich-Watene, 7. Cassius Cowley, 8. Lance Fualema, 9. Tyree Bowman, 10. Xavier Stowers, 11. Will Semu, 12. Jieye Mauai, 13. Chris Faagutu; 14. Braden Teuila, 15. Hamuera Kingi, 16. Taelon Te Whiu Hopa, 17 Eli Tuli, 18. Mou Taumaletila, 19. Terry Lafaoi, 20. Cody Hamilton, Nat Tangimataiti, 22 Sione Fotuaika, 23 Dom Sandow.
RELATED LINKS
GEE CUP GRAND FINAL
Clairvaux v Redcliffe SHS
Clairvaux MacKillop College: 1 Jesse White, 2 Connor Watson, 3 Luke Anderson, 4 Elijah Maher, 5 James Richardson, 6 Daniel O’Shaughnessy, 7 Nathan Byrne, 8 Keith Obrien-Kerslake, 9 Ryan Pratt, 10 Zane Ford, 11 Dylan Gibb, 12 Chris Wilson, 13 Rory Polich, 14 Blake Mckenzie, 15 Dean Balev, 16 Oliver Kucfir, 17 Will Burns, 18 Zak Ambrosini, 19 Jack Pratt, 20 Jack Boggs, 21 Tim Eleftheriadis. COACH Mitchell McClelland and Jason Moon
Redcliffe SHS: 1 Tyler Fishlock, 2 Dean Cara, 3 Jacob Howarth, 4 Tom Lunney, 5 Daniel Dawes, 6. Blake Kehl, 7 Lachlan White, 8 Matt Bennett (C), 9 Jack Cameron, 10 Sefo Faatuono, 11 Jacob Taulani, 12 Braith Major, 13 Kiahl Moore, 14 Julian Mirupasi, 15
Gerhard Matthes, 16 Elijah Brown, 17 Cooper Dunning, 18 Jak Goulding, 19 Jack Soko
DE VERE CUP GRAND FINAL
Caloundra SHS v Mabel Park SHS
Caloundra SHS: 1 Brooklenn Mundraby-Grogan, 2 Brandon Vanegas-Munoz, 3 Boedy White
4 Matthew Poole, 5 Jacob Thompson, 6 Jack Philp ©, 7 Tully McLellan, 8 Chase Patterson, 9 Nathan Smyth, 10 Lachlan Dunn, 11 Brad Higgins, 12 Zak Zibara, 13 Hayden Gallagher, 14 Memphis Shield, 15 Brodie Halpin, 16 Huey Liston, 17 Gabriel Philemon, 18 Benji Westwood-Pritchard. Coach Andrew Gercken
Mabel Park SHS: 1 Daniel Mika, 2 Dion Sandow-Walsh, 3 Nesian Harris, 4 Frazer Pomare, 5 Marshall Vaili, 6 Jordan Kake, 7 Kohen Smith, 8 Ocean Tavita, 9 Thomasi Vakauta, 10 Isaac Ratuere, 11 Danny Young, 12 Tupou More, 13 Elijah Tagilima, 14 Michael Percy, 15 Darius Aumua, 16 Kaizer Pocock-Lui, 17 Joseph Haira-Te Maari, 18 Iverson Levika, 19 Immanuel Setiu, 20. Kael Chilcott, 21 Beau Paddock. COACH Joey Crompton-Meyer
REPLAY: Marsden def Keebra Park 28-16 in the Langer Reserves semi-finals
REPLAY: Wavell def Ipswich 30-18 in the Langer Reserves semi-finals
REPLAY: Palm Beach Currumbin def Wavell 16-12 in the Walters Cup semi-finals
REPLAY: Keebra Park def Ipswich 16-10 in the Walters Cup semi-finals
LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE
Wednesday
De Vere Cup (Year 10)
12.30pm: Caloundra SHS v Mabel Park SHS
Gee Cup (opens)
1.45pm: Redcliffe SHS v Clairvaux MacKillop College
NRL Schoolboys Cup southern conference
3pm: Palm Beach Currumbin SHS v Marsden SHS
September 7
Broncos Challenge grand finals (Carina Easts Leagues)
2pm: Broncos Old Boys (Year 7)
Marsden SHS v Ipswich SHS
3pm: Renouf Cup (Year 8)
Marsden SHS v PBC SHS
4pm: Hancock Cup (Year 9)
Keebra Park SHS v PBC SHS
September 8: COVID Contingency Week, including Walters Cup and Langer Reserves grand finals
September 15: Phil Hall Cup (Redcliffe)
Northern Conference Final, Southern QLD winner v Northern QLD winner
More Coverage
Originally published as WATCH THE REPLAYS: NRL Schoolboys Cup grand final day
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