Meninga, Connell Cup round 2 Teams of the Week: Capras’ journeyman, Rabbitohs signing and Toowoomba forward among those featured
Who made the Meninga and Connell Cup Teams of the Week from your club? Players include a three-try terror from the Clydesdales, a Dolphins-signed No. 13, a Capras journeyman and a gutsy prop pairing from the Pride.
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It was a weekend for hookers in the Connell Cup competition after another tremendous round of under-17 junior representative football unfolded across Queensland.
Dummyhalf top guns like Jai Bilish (Tweed), Zeke Jones (Wynnum Manly), Peter Uilavai-Pita (Ipswich) and Tigers interchange rake Kai Taipath (Tigers) all stood up against demanding opposition in winning efforts. On Sunday, hookers Axel Friend and Shadi Chami provided a one-two punch that made an impact in Burleigh’s 20-point win over Norths.
Gold Coast boy Bilish gave his side great direction and was a dangerous runner, Jones’ service from the ruck and his running game was outstanding, while Jets rake Uilavai-Pita scored two tries and controlled the pace of play positively.
Taipath gave the Tigers spark when he was injected into the fray with two quick tries.
And in the Wynnum Manly Meninga Cup side, Iona College old boy Levi Hawea came off the bench as a No.9 to maintain the rage as the Seagulls pipped the Tigers 26-20.
In this story the Super Six players from both the Meninga and Connell Cup competitions, are recognised along with the respective Teams of the Week.
JUMP TO: Tigers v Seagulls, Falcons v Jets, Capras v Pride, Cutters v Blackhawks, Magpies v Tweed, Clydesdales v Bulls.
MENINGA CUP SUPER SIX
Nate Berrigan (Redcliffe)
With his speed through the ruck, footwork and agility, there is more than a splash of Cowboys’ champion Reuben Cotter about Berrigan.
The Redcliffe SHS product played the house down at No. 13 when Redcliffe defeated the Clydesdales in style away from home.
He comes from a tremendous pedigree. His dad is former Broncos and Canterbury hooker Barry, while his uncle is the champion ex-Broncos utility Shaun Berrigan. He was quick to pounce for his try on Saturday when he took it from the ruck base and dashed away.
Signed by the Dolphins NRL academy, Nate plays with the speed of his uncle Shaun.
Taakoi Benioni (Pride)
A 2024 U17 Queensland Emerging Squad member, centre or second rower Benioni scored three well constructed tries at the weekend to leave his mark on a frantic 26-22 triumph against the Capras.
He ran devastating angles to beat the Capras defenders, Benioni adding backline fire power to a team performance which also saw middle forwards Mafiou Cherif and Marley Helion deliver big time.
Benioni can play second row with ease, but he played centre for the Cowboys U17s development side last year and also for his school, Kirwan SHS, where he played alongside his brother, Davidson.
Benioni, quiet by nature but loud with his actions on the paddock, revved up on the field at Emu Park where he relished the physical contact.
Travis Larner (Cutters)
Middle forward Travis Larner, a former Wide Bay Bulls Connell Cup player, was outstanding during Saturday’s Big Wet which engulfed the match against the Blackhawks.
A former Burnett State College student, he was a standout junior in the Bundaberg distance where he played for Brothers and earnt interest from both the Cowboys and Dolphins.
Larner’s work ethic is a big part of his game. Once the junior player of the year back in his old district, Larner enhanced his reputation on Saturday playing big minutes in heavy conditions against demanding opposition.
Fast fact about Travie Larner! Did you know he was once a track and field national championship bronze medallist when he placed in discus at the Olympic Park in Sydney?
How he would love to return to Olympic Park as an NRL player.
Lachlan Buchbach (Dolphins)
Both Lachlan Buchbach and his halves partner, Noah Fien, expertly ran both sides of the ruck.
Buchlach’s left side creation for the players around him was outstanding as Redcliffe played an up-tempo game that delivered 11 tries.
A product of the Ormeau Shearers and later Logan Brothers, Buchbach was a beneficiary of the Langer Trophy schoolboy competition expanding from six to eight in 2022.
It allowed him to move from Marsden SHS to Langer new chums Mabel Park SHS and be given a chance he was unlikely to have received at Marsden due to the presence of Javon Andrews (now with Souths Logan).
As a result Buchbach was one of the discovery players of the year 2023 during Mabel’s historic run to finish near top of the table entering the schoolboy finals.
Last season Buchbach was a class act for the Dolphins and he has started strongly in 2025 having created a handful of tries, and scoring one, in Redcliffe’s 46-point win over the Clydesdales last Sunday.
Levi Hawea (Wynnum Manly)
There was plenty to like about the way the Seagulls attacked on Saturday and even more about the way they defended when the Tigers rallied from 18-0 down after halftime to be within two, 22-20, entering the final 10 minutes.
Team of the week hooker Hawea was one and a half players on both sides of the ball, constantly making the right decisions in attack and then putting his body on the line in defence when big bodies stormed towards him.
It said plenty about his courage when he got up from a headknock that had stopped play and picked up where he left off making timely tackles when the match hung in the balance.
Javon Andrews (Tweed)
The tall five-eighth Javon Andrews looked a true professional out there for Tweed and, alongside crafty halfback Zane Harrison, he oozes class.
Andrews scored two tries, one of which was a stunning solo effort where he sliced open the defence and then made a quick left-to-right step to evade Magpies fullback David Bryenton.
He was a walking highlight whose short passing game paved the way for his forward pack and outside backs to deal six tries worth of damage within the first 40 minutes.
Andrews has come a long way since breaking his neck playing at Acacia in 2021.
MENINGA CUP TEAM OF THE WEEK
1. Ray Puru (Tweed)
2. Toby Woodall (Cutters)
3. Taakoi Benioni (Pride)
4. Saxon Innes (Bears)
5. Yuri Dempsey (Wynnum Manly)
6. Lachlan Buchbach (Redcliffe)
7. Javon Andrews (Tweed)
8. Travis Larner (Cutters)
9. Levi Hawea (Wynnum Manly)
10. Lachlan Coburn (Jets)
11. VJ Vialau (Tigers)
12. Zac Garton (Redcliffe)
13. Nate Berrigan (Redcliffe)
14. Ellyjah Birve (Falcons)
15. Cooper Bai (Tweed)
16. Caleb Creswell (Wynnum Manly)
17. Mafiou Cherif (Pride)
18. Noah Fien (Redcliffe)
19. Marley Helion (Pride)
20. Josh Nilon (Capras)
Special mentions: Zane Harrison (Tweed), Jake Carsburg (Dolphins), Braithen Scott (Wynnum Manly), DJ Talaepa (Norths), Joseph Doyle (Cutters), Jett Day (Clydesdales), Fynn Dalton (Norths), Calum Denman (Capras), Koby Brown (Falcons), Marley McLaren (Bears), Tavita Penaia Te’o (Cutters), Jack Thorburn (Cutters), Tyson Knight (Falcons), Nathan Fraser (Jets), Zac Herdegen (Pride), Ryan John (Cutters), Tamai Baker (Wynnum Manly), Kayliss Brown (Tigers), Tom Parker (Souths Logan), Sunny Kama (Tweed), Will Graham (Falcons), Bill Fraser (Jets), Campbell Rolfe (Wynnum Manly), Cooper Day (Wynnum Manly).
CONNELL CUP SUPER SIX
Jerry Milpari (Blackhawks)
Milpari capped off a wonderful effort for Townsville when he scored a try made special for the fact that it was generated on a rain soaked surface, and not on a bluebird day.
On the cusp of halftime Milpari displayed the handling skills of an obstetrician when he scooped up a grubber kick from his centre, Trent Martin, and then cut back on the inside to score after fooling three Pride defenders.
It was wonderful handling and footwork from Milpari, and indeed nice lead up work from halfback Riley Carbone who grabbed possession from a juggling Kristoffer Sagato before swinging the ball wide to Martin on the edge.
Alastair MacLachlan (Clydesdales)
The footwork and mobility of three-try terror Alastair MacLachlan was outstanding against the Bulls.
The St Mary’s College talent from Valleys was superb with his evasive skills and was just the complete No. 13.
To score first he received the ball 25m out from dummyhalf Max Murphy, spied a gap in the ruck defence, exploded onto the ball, stepped to his left and then angled away to the right to beat four defenders.
He exploded onto the ball for his second try when his evasive skills were again underlined in bold.
His third try was possibly the best.
MacLachlan gained possession 25m out, dummied and speared through a gap, ducking and weaving to beat three defenders on his way to the line.
You get the gist. MacLachan was magic.
Parker Hunt (Capras)
Hunt has gone the long way around – about 650km – to find himself playing with distinction in the Connell Cup competition.
While his family is originally from Central Queensland, Hunt is actually a Wests Brisbane Panthers junior who moved to central Queensland where he attends The Cathedral College in Rockhampton.
The Panthers’ catchment is one of the most famous breeding grounds in Queensland where dozens of champions have hailed from. Club junior Hunt was outstanding as an interchange forward in the Capras hard earned 18-12 win over Northern Pride in round 2.
He displayed a strong carry and produced tremendous post contact metres to give his side an edge.
Viliame Fifita (Tweed)
It is little wonder the Gold Coast Titans have invested in this Year 11 student from The Southport School.
Fifita, the brother of current Titans NRL player Jojo, is a front row dynamo who has just kept improving after making the Queensland 14-15 years side last season.
He is a power player, but his agility, soft hands and turn of foot makes him a real threat through the middle where he has the mobility of a back.
The Tweed Seagulls thrived off the work of Fifita and his forwards to grab an early 20-0 lead over the Magpies and never look back.
Tomasi Vaitai (Jets)
The round two contest between the Jets and the Falcons was like watching two rams butting heads from start to finish.
Despite the 28-18 scoreline it was both teams’ middles that stole the show with Jets prop and Rabbitohs signed prospect Vaitai the key performer.
The mobile middle forward demanded plenty of attention all game with his hard running, aggressive tackles and offloading ability but it was his communication off the ball that really separated his performance.
When he didn’t have the ball tucked under his arm, Vaitai could be heard from the sideline all game getting his teammates in position on both sides of the ball.
“We had to just stay down and keep focused, keep at it and stay in the grind, especially when it got tough towards the end of the game,” Vaitai said.
“The Falcons middles are strong and seem to keep running all game which is a credit to them but we did our job as a group which helped us get the end result.”
Harvey Smith (Bears)
At Bishop Park, Smith led the way for his team’s comprehensive 36-16 victory over a talented Norths outfit.
Burleigh had not played in a fortnight but looked in great touch with halfback Smith steering the ship.
He kicked all six of his conversion attempts, nailed a 40-20 which led to Burleigh’s first try, defended tirelessly and despite being heavily involved, he did not make a single mistake.
CONNELL CUP TEAM OF THE WEEK
1. Ira Yeatman (Jets)
2. Jerry Mipari (Blackhawks)
3. Zane Platt (Tigers)
4. Dean Tauaa (Wynnum Manly)
5. Kingston Seve (Bears)
6. Harvey Smith (Bears)
7. Jordan Hotere (Wynnum Manly)
8. Tomasi Vaitai (Jets)
9. Zeke Jones (Wynnum Manly)
10. Viliame Fifita (Tweed)
11. Majah-Jose Peachey (Wynnum Manly)
12. Alastair MacLachlan (Clydesdales)
13. Lincoln Dalton (Devils)
14. Jai Bilish (Tweed)
15. Parker Hunt (Capras)
16. Hayden Polson (Devils)
17. Jett Ryan (Falcons)
18. Norman Campbell (Cutters)
19. Peter Uilavai-Pita (Jets)
20. Brad Pilchowski (Blackhawks)
21. Kai Taipath (Tigers)
Special mentions: Wyatt Tyrell (Pride), Sione Haukinima (Magpies), Bensen Manu (Wynnum Manly), Kobe McGarritty (Wynnum Manly), Liam Marshall (Clydesdales), Caleb O’Brien (Cutters), Vita Filo (Souths Logan), Tupou Francis (Burleigh), Jonah Wilde (Tigers), Max Murphy (Clydesdales), Zavier Suluvale-Liumaunu (Pride), Lalan Potter (Clydesdales), Kaio Moses (Falcons), Taj Burke (Falcons), Rocky Hancock (Cutters), Will Hamblin (Cutters), Harley Petersen (Tweed), Axel Friend and Shadi Chami (both Bears), Lachlan Hooker (Wynnum Manly), Colin Leisha (Capras).
Originally published as Meninga, Connell Cup round 2 Teams of the Week: Capras’ journeyman, Rabbitohs signing and Toowoomba forward among those featured
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