Meninga and Connell Cup players of the round named here following round 3 action

The round 3 Meninga Cup team of the week includes a Capras hardman, a Mr Magic from Tweed Seagulls and a Dolphins-signed battleship. Who else made it? Revealed here, along with the Connell Cup’s latest team of the week.

DJ Talaepa playing for Norths earlier in the season.

The latest teams of the week are in after round 3 of the elite Meninga Cup and Connell Cup rugby league competitions.

The squads are chock full of outstanding teenage talent from all corners of Queensland but a few in particular stood out from the crowd.

Those young guns are highlighted below in a Super Six which recognises the best of the best juniors who helped spearhead their respective teams.

Round 4 of the Meninga Cup promises to be an exciting one with the Devils welcoming the Dolphins to the Lair while Tweed host a Wynnum Manly outfit hungry to make a statement after a loss under the lights against Norths on Saturday.

In the Connell Cup, undefeated teams Wynnum Manly and Tweed will also square off while the Tigers take on unbeaten Burleigh on the Gold Coast,

EXTENSIVE ROUND 3 COVERAGE

MENINGA CUP SUPER SIX

Ray Puru (Tweed)

Ray Puru has been somewhat of a lightning bolt at the back for Tweed in the Meninga Cup. Picture: Glenn Campbell

A Mr Magic who can conjure up a big play with a pass or his own individual flair, Puru was outstanding for the Seagulls at the weekend.

Puru has attacked the 2025 club season with avengence, an attacking maestro in three games for premiers Tweed who are unbeaten.

On Saturday he proved a dangerous threat with his speed from the ruck, and also scored a sensational 60m try which got

Puru is a winner who comes out of the prolific Palm Beach Currumbin SHS program.

Duquan Talaepa (Devils)

Duquan Talaepa playing for Mabel Park SHS as captain in last year’s Langer Trophy competition. Photo Steve Pohlner

A Moreton Bay Raiders junior Talaepa was outstanding in the second row for Norths all game, but also scored the dagger try which put the match to bed.

Signed by the Dolphins, Talaepa’s dedication and desire comes through in his football.

Indeed last year Talaepa showed his passion for his childhood community by regularly doing 150km round trips from Mabel Park SHS in Logan to Redcliffe to play club footy with the Dolphins.

That experience at Redcliffe, and captaining Mabel Park SHS in the Langer Trophy, lead to a career best season last year and he has backed it up again with Norths in 2025.

Talaepa has already experienced the ups and downs of rugby league life.

He became the first Mabel Park SHS male student to sign a contract with an NRL club, Canterbury, but when the Bulldogs cut him Talaepa’s love of the code waned a little.

But his junior coach Larry Dickson got him fit again and the career of the former Queensland U15 representative has never looked back since.

Jake Oberhardt (Capras)

They breed them tough in Capras country and there are none tougher than Jake Oberhardt.

Together with his starting middle men Joshua Nilon and Harrison Hill, Oberhardt comes onto the ball hard and in defence swamps runners.

Whether his team is ahead by 20 or behind by 20, Oberhardt plays the same way.

He also has a quick play the ball in his game which helped his team’s momentum.

Oberhardt has come through the successful St Brendan’s College, playing alongside notable juniors like Braelan Marsh, Tyler Melrose, Simon Green, Carter Ford and his current teammate, Hill.

Sam Stephenson (Tweed Seagulls)

Sam Stephenson and teammates. Picture: Bailey Sands Media/ Tweed Seagulls Media.

The Gold Coast Titans signed ace was everywhere on Saturday against the Falcons.

Two tries in the opening 13 minutes later led to a first half hat trick before also finishing with the last try of the match.

Stephensen’s speed, footwork and brute strength at the first point of contact was way too much for the Falcons edge defence to handle.

He picked the right running lines every time, adding to his side’s dominant attacking performance and complimenting his halves pairing of Javon Andrews and Zane Harrison extremely well.

Tall and athletic, Stephensen is the son of former Manly centre Paul and played three seasons of Langer Trophy playing at Palm Beach Currumbin SHS.

Noah Fien (Redcliffe)

Noah Fien of Redcliffe Dolphins. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Fien had the benefit of playing behind outstanding props Cody Starr and Carter Ford, and off the back of their momentum and his hooker Braelan Marsh, Fien feasted.

He scored three tries, including a clever show and go on the eve of halftime when he blasted beyond the grasp of fatigued defenders.

Fien again took on the line to score a right side try in the second half, again benefiting from the speed of the ruck generated by his teammates, and scored a third try supporting on the left hand raid.

Bill Fraser (Jets)

Ipswich State High graduate Bill Fraser pictured during the 2024 Langer Trophy season. Photo: Steve Pohlner

Big Bill Fraser had a captains knock at the North Ipswich Reserve on Sunday in the Jets’ 48-0 victory over the Clydesdales.

Fraser is one of just five returning players from Ipswich’s 2024 outfit and he is off to a flying start having scored two tries last weekend. He is the type of player whose effort and impact can always be relied on. The humble Ipswich local is also the type of captain his teammates would want to play for.

Fraser contributed a double in Ipswich’s nine-try sweep of the Clydesdales and one was a beauty when the middle forward was the first one to a high kick on last tackle from left centre Tavita Pomale.

Footnote: The Jets returning players are Tayshon Foley, Fraser, Jabiri Mack, Nathan Fraser and Lachlan Coburn.

MENINGA CUP TEAM OF THE WEEK

1. Ray Puru (Tweed)

2. Banjo Walker (Capras)

3. Sam Stephenson (Tweed)

4. Flynn Battaia (Cutters)

5. Jesse Rafferty (Bears)

6. Dallas Ingram (Bears)

7. Noah Fien (Redcliffe)

8. Cody Starr (Redcliffe)

9. Braelan Marsh (Redcliffe)

10. Bill Fraser (Jets)

11. Kilarney Lavender (Bears)

12. Duquan Talaepa (Devils)

13. Jayden Solien (Souths Logan)

14. Harrison Hill (Jets)

15. Jake Oberhardt (Capras

16. Carter Ford (Redcliffe)

17. Lachlan Middleton (Capras)

18. Kayne Smith (Cutters)

19. Marley Igasan (Bears)

20. David Bryenton (Souths Logan)

Special mentions: Patrick Krause (Jets), Tom Parker (Souths Logan), Lachlan McCall (Devils), Jasper Barry (Devils), Matthew Schultz (Wynnum Manly), Keyarn Pene (Devils), Saxon Innes (Bears), Antonio Verhoeven (Bears), Tom Morcom (Wynnum Manly), Jack Tuite (Tigers), Myron Taupati-Campbell (Falcons), Jesse Bender (Falcons), Harry Considine (Cutters), Will Graham (Falcons), Jackson Howe (Souths Logan), Ryder Williams (Jets), Tom Morcom (Wynnum Manly).

CONNELL CUP SUPER SIX

Majah-Jose Peachey (Wynnum Manly)

Wynnum Manly player Majah-Jose Peachey. Picture, John Gass

The left edge forwards brute had a whale of a game on Saturday,

His thunderous raids through the centres and dynamic footwork and strength closer to the ruck caused the opposition to man the pumps in defence.

Peachey, who is signed by the Titans, is starting to make the most of his potential again.

He is fit, strong and mobile and has clearly had a big off-season of training which is showing the benefits now.

This season’s Meninga Cup is a marathon, not a sprint, so the challenge for him will be to sustain his high standards consistently over the next three months.

Cohen Cochran (Redcliffe)

Cohen Cochran brings his forwards onto the ball. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Redcliffe’s depth is being tested after so many of the region’s Dolphins-signed juniors were shipped off to Norths Devils this season, but helping hold the fort is Stanley River Wolves local, Cohen Cochran.

The Redcliffe SHS student has been outstanding for his side during a demanding start to the season.

The captain is a gritty, tough customer, a No. 9 tradesman with a good kicking game who can deliver an A+ plus from the ruck with his eyes closed. But he also has a great running game and can create speed for his side through the ruck.

Cochran is the type of kid that all coaches want in their squad, and the type of teammate all players want to play alongside.

Redcliffe is lucky to have him threading the side together this season.

Jonah Wilde (Tigers)

Jonah Wilde. Picture: Benny Hassum Photography.

In three games this season Wilde has set the highest possible standard as captain and lock.

His most recent outing last weekend showcased his dogged defence under fatigue and his encouraging leadership.

Wilde can also be an attacking threat from lock where his angled runs back behind the ruck are effective, but it is defence which is pure gold to his teammates.

No matter the size of the opponent, Wilde will be up and in their faces.

The Tigers coaching staff would not swap him for anyone.

Liam Marshall (Clydesdales)

Valleys players Xavier Newtown (left) and Liam Marshall celebrate their 2024 Adrian Vowles Cup U16 Boys Dream Team selection.

Marshall had a rip-roaring match in the middle for the Clydesdales which is just as well given Ipswich had a quality opposing prop, Tomasi Vaitai, who was looking to do some damage.

A St Mary’s College product from the Valleys club in Toowoomba, Marshall impacted an even game with his powerful carries.

They were the difference. He scored two of his team’s three tries during a local scoring affair, with the second try a timely contribution to the scoreboard when the game hung in the balance.

He seemed to have the pace of a back, but the unforgiving nature of a tough Darling Down prop.

Jay Marsh (Capras)

CQ Capras Connell Cup hooker Jay Marsh.

The son of a gun, Marsh played a big match, coming out of the shadow of his forward pack to star for his side against Blackhawks.

The young brother of Dolphins-signed No. 9 Braelan, and the son of former State of Origin hooker BJ Marsh, Jay benefited from his pack going forward – and off the back of them, didn’t he play a blinder.

Jay is currently attending St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon.

Harry Taylor (Souths Logan)

The Magpies were thrust onto the back foot early when Burleigh came out like a house on fire. In the team’s comeback attempt after being 18-0 down 23 minutes into the first half, halfback Taylor was impressive.

Taylor was a mistake-free customer who was sure of his passes, strong defensively and when he got the ball the Magpies looked their most likely.

He set up a superb try to Tomu Cook when he chipped the ball in behind. His fine performance follows a pair of sharp showings from an early season discovery player from the Souths Sunnybank club.

CONNELL CUP TEAM OF THE WEEK

1. Grayson Wharakura (Tigers)

2. Trent Martin (Blackhawks)

3. Dean Tauaa (Wynnum Manly)

4. Tomu Cook (Souths Logan)

5. Hemi Rakuita (Tigers)

6. Kingsley Bray (Tigers)

7. Harry Taylor (Souths Logan)

8. Parker Gallagher (Capras)

9. Jay Marsh (Capras)

10. Liam Marshall (Clydesdales)

11. Jonah Wilde (Tigers, played No. 13)

12. Majah-Jose Peachey (Wynnum Manly)

13. Lincoln Dalton (Devils)

14. Cohen Cochran (Redcliffe)

15. Treleque Boyce-Silimaka (Bears)

16. Tomasi Vaitai (Jets)

17. Tom McDonald (Clydesdales)

18. Tupou Francis (Bears)

19. Jake Russo (Pride)

20. Harry Bate (Norths)

Special mentions: Harvey Smith (Bears), Koby McGarrity (Wynnum Manly), Ryan Tronc (Tigers), Adam McSherry (Cutters), Franck Iraguha (Wynnum Manly), Zeke Jones (Wynnum Manly), Jake Symes, Michael Busby and Harley Biles (all Capras), Rocco Pensini and Cooper Lawson (both Pride), Oscar Bishop and Lachlan Brown (both Cutters), Alastair MacLachlan (Clydesdales), Lane Edmonds (Jets), Kev Weribone (Jets), Max Rakitovszky (Tigers), Wil Berrigan (Dolphins), Damien Hewitt (Dolphins), Axel Friend (Bears) and Semuela Naleba (Souths Logan).

Originally published as Meninga and Connell Cup players of the round named here following round 3 action