Meninga Cup Team of the Week includes an exciting development player signed by the Cowboys

A Cowboys signed teenager who has a splash of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow about him made our latest Meninga Cup Team of the Week - despite his side losing by 24 points. See who else made it here.

Emmerson Jackson as a Sunshine Coast junior. He now plays Meninga Cup for Norths.

He is not Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and still has plenty of work to do on his game, but there is a splash of the Tabuai-Fidow about Norths Devils winger Emmerson Jackson.

His team was beaten 46-22, but Jackson left Kougari Oval with an enhanced reputation against Wynnum Manly last Saturday.

Emmerson Jackson. Norths v Wynnum Manly in Meninga Cup action on Saturday, April 6, 2024.Picture courtesy of Norths Devils Media.

Signed by the Cowboys, Emmerson’s left wing running was breathtaking and must leave North Queensland talent scouts satisfied with their purchase.

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Tabuai-Fidow, the Queensland State of Origin centre, was of course a Cowboys junior who was released from his contract to allow him to join Redcliffe, but if Jackson builds on his defence, there is no way North Queensland will let him go.

Jackson has speed. You can’t coach speed, but he has pace and plenty of it.

He has been consistently strong all season with his running game, and while his defence was a work in progress, Jackson has a good attitude which makes him an exciting project player for the Cowboys and the QRL.

Emmerson Jackson. Norths v Wynnum Manly in Meninga Cup action on Saturday, April 6, 2024.Picture courtesy of Norths Devils Media.

Originally from the Maroochydore Swans rugby league club on the Sunshine Coast, Jackson has already been identified by the QRL who last year placed him in a Queensland Under 17 positional skills training camp where he was mentored by Maroons State of Origin champions Darius Boyd, Michael Morgan and Brent Tate.

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He is a good one for the Cowboys to have in the pipeline, that’s for sure, particularly given champion NRL winger Kyle Feldt is in the twilight of his career.

While Jackson made the side from the losing Norths side, several Wynnum Manly players were rewarded for being a part of the winning side.

Fullback Kylem Vunipola, centre Tariq Tanner and powerhouse prop Beni Allen were all reasonably well known to our readers, but another gained deserved recognition - No. 13 Zane Ford.

Last year the Seagulls had Will Lane tying down No.13, and this season they were fortunate to have another great worker in Ford.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in 2018 as a Meninga Cup player for Northern Pride. The one thing he and Emmerson have in common is speed. Another thing is a willingness to learn. PICTURE: STEWART McLEAN

Tanner has circled our team of the week all season and deservedly makes the side, while Vunipola’s consistency from fullback demanded he be considered for the squad.

The most unlucky omissions from our top squad this week were two halves - Preston Cassidy (Wynnum) and No.6 Bailey McConnell (Bears).

Cassidy benefited from playing behind a winning pack, with his performance capped by a nice chip kick to create a try. He deserves a special mention.

Jai Bowden in action for the Sunshine Coast Falcons 2023 Mal Meninga Cup side. Picture: kyliesfootyphotos/Kylie McLellan

Sunshine Coast’s Jai Bowden was magnificent upon his return to the Falcons side and was rushed straight into the No.9 position, while two other dummy halves, Jacob Tinsley (Magpies) and Braith Dowson (Pride) simply had to be recognised.

Ipswich SHS producy LJ Nonu can play centre, wing or fullback for Redcliffe.

Elijah Kueng was enormous for the Tigers in the hotly contested front row position, with Bears’ Brady Turner maintaining his form and Redcliffe’s Elijah Rasmussen continuing to impress.

Elijah Rasmussen takes to the field this season. .

Rasmussen was one of four Dolphins’ recognised, including five-eight Lachlan Buchbach. Buchbach was the find of the Langer Trophy last season playing for Mabel Park SHS, and has continued his development this season on the Peninsula.

Another Dolphins recruit from south of the Brisbane river, Ipswich SHS graduate LJ Nonu, continued to display his versatility, this time as a fullback.

TEAMS OF THE WEEK

Meninga Cup

1. LJ Nonu (Redcliffe)

2. Liam O’Brien (Pride)

3. Kylem Vunipola (Wynnum)

4. Tariq Tanner (Wynnum)

5. Emmerson Jackson (Norths)

6. Lachlan Buchbach (Redcliffe)

7. Coby Black (Bears)

8. Elijah Keung (Tigers)

9. Jai Bowden (Falcons)

10. Brady Turner (Bears)

11. Amare Milford (Bears)

12. Brayden Tueila (Souths Logan)

13. Marley Helion (Pride)

14. Jacob Tinsley (Souths)

15. Ashden Lafferty (Blackhawks)

16. Zane Ford (Wynnum)

17. Elijah Rasmussen (Redcliffe)

18. Zac Garton (Redcliffe)

19. Mafiou Cherif (Jets)

20. Braith Dowson (Pride)

21. Beni Allen (Wynnum)

22. Disharne Tonihi (Burleigh)

Braith Dowson of the Pride. Picture: Supplied.

Special mentions: Bailey McConnell (Bears), Izaya Leedie (Blackhawks), Matt Schulz (Clydesdales), Preston Cassidy (Wynnum), Bailey Rathmell (Clydesdales), Chaz Bond (Tweed), Callum Bowles (Tweed), Jaycob Kingston-Francis (Wynnum), Waylon Caldwell (Tweed), Ethan Schultz (Tweed), Jirra Twist (Pride), Ratu Kikau (Pride).

Footnote: Watch for our continuing coverage of the junior representative season on Saturday when City play Country in the girls and boys under-17s, while Tigers play Cutters in the Harvey 19s grand final and Blackhawks confront Redcliffe in the Connell Cup decider.

Originally published as Meninga Cup Team of the Week includes an exciting development player signed by the Cowboys