Meninga Cup Team of the Week includes rising Titans, Dolphins juniors
The Meninga Cup Team of the Week includes two rising Dolphins from regions brimming with potential NRL players - and also a Gold Coast Titans ace from league made Logan City.
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Two Redcliffe players, utility Amare Wynyard and hooker Braelan Marsh, were among the first chosen in this week’s Team of the Week.
The boys are flag bearers for contrasting regions which will play a big part in the Dolphins development in the NRL.
Wynyard is a local junior, growing up on the Peninsula, attending the local high school and playing for Redcliffe since he was knee high to a grasshopper.
He is a prime example of an extraordinary junior catchment which, in the years ahead, will provide the foundation of the Dolphins’ NRL squad.
Players like Charlie Dickson (Norths), Cody Starr, Nate Berrigan, Jairus Halahala, Brian Pouniu and Duquan Talaepa (Norths) were Peninsula locals aspiring to play NRL for their local club.
Marsh is a different kettle of fish. He is from a region which has been adopted by the Dolphins - Central Queensland 600km north of Dolphin Oval.
When the Dolphins were granted an NRL licence, one of the first moves the club made was to develop a relationship with the rugby league rich Rockhampton region.
You see the Melbourne Storm were entrenched on the Sunshine Coast which would have been a natural catchment for Redcliffe, so the Dolphins went further afield before finding rugby league riches in cattle country, CQ.
This relationship with Central Queensland led to the likes of Marsh, 2024 Queensland schoolboys centre Elijah McKay, elite middle forward Carter Ford and excellent back Seth Carpenter playing for Redcliffe this season, and Carter Welfare fronting for the Norths U19s.
SUPER SIX
Amare Wynyard (Redcliffe)
Wynyard is a noted hooker, but he has played as a running No.13 at times this season, adding nice leg speed to a big, bruising pack.
If his hooker Braelan Marsh is caught on the ground, tackled, Wynyard can race into dummy half to cover for him.
He can also take pressure off halves Lachlan Buchbach and Noah Fien, giving Redcliffe an extra halfback.
Braelan Marsh (Redcliffe)
The son of a gun - his dad is former Queensland Origin series winning hooker PJ Marsh - Marsh had a ball behind his forwards.
Marsh plays eyes up footy, often raising his head at the ruck making like he is going to go himself, only to shuffle perfect service to his halves.
Indeed one reason Redcliffe’s forwards and halves have been so effective this season is because of Marsh’s service from the ruck.
But Marsh was also an elite runner, while also being deceptive. He can take a step or two like he is about to run, only to bring his forwards thundering onto the advantage line.
Taylan To’a (Tweed Seagulls)
The Gold Coast Titans moved quickly to sign To’a - and it is little wonder given his promise.
The Titans swept To’a into its academy in 2023, seeing the left edge second row rookie as one of the most promising players in his age group.
From rugby league mad Marsden SHS - the same school as former Queensland great Cameron Smith - the athletic To’a is a graceful mover who, importantly, is prepared to do the hard yards.
He would not be playing in this Tweed side if he was not pulling his weight in all areas of the game.
The Titans were flooding its ranks with south east Queensland or northern NSW juniors and To’a’s presence is further evidence of the club trying to build from the ground up.
Jayden Solien (Souths Logan)
Solien would be among the best pound for pound forwards in the competition.
Last season’s Meninga Cup No. 13 of the season, he was at his best on Saturday, displaying energy with the ball, speed in the defence line and the fitness to push up and support the big boys of the pack.
Solien finished the match playing dummy half - which he did with aplomb.
All this from a footballer who, last season, was so impressive for Padua College in First XV rugby, he was also named in the Team of the Season for that competition after playing fullback.
Zane Elletson (Cutters)
A big reason for the Mackay Cutters success this season is due to centres Elleton, Flynn Battaia and wingers Rylan Misztela and Toby Woodall (before he was injured), along with fullback Kooper Shears.
For example, in one match Elleton ran for 189 metres and this season he is averaging around 120m a match.
And it is not all about scampering from the ruck either - this kid can create for his outside men and send them away.
On Saturday against the Falcons he was at his running best.
Jaycob Kingston-Francis (Wynnum Manly)
Gee it is enjoyable seeing a tradesman go about his business.
The difference between Kingston-Francis worst and best game is inconsequential, so consistent is he.
On Sunday, this tradesman from Alexandra Hills SHS and later Mabel Park SHS influenced the outcome of the match.
It was no five star performance, but in sapping heat and drizzle Kingston-Francis was tough and gritty against opponents who never stopped coming.
Twice the centre made crucial tackles close to the line, one of which had saved a try, and another which snuffed out a promising movement.
He was also on hand to dive on a Briathen Scott grubber kick to score, while always looking to scamper from the ruck despite playing the second half under duress from a knock.
It was simply the type of performance a team needed in a match which could have gone either way.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
1. Tyler Pereira (Wynnum Manly)
2. Antonio Verhoeven (Bears)
3. Jaycob Kingston-Francis (Wynnum Manly)
4. Zane Elletson (Cutters)
5. Kees Anderson (Pride)
6. David Bryenton (Souths Logan)
7. Marley McLaren (Bears)
8. Travis Larner (Cutters)
9. Braelan Marsh (Redcliffe)
10. Cooper Day (Wynnum Manly)
11. Taylan To’a (Tweed)
12. Lachie Lyons (Clydesdales)
13. Amare Wynyard (Redcliffe)
14. Hayden Watson (Bears)
15. Jayden Solien (Souths Logan)
16. Camden Hopes (Cutters)
17. Zane Harrison (Tweed)
18. Mafiou Cherif (Pride)
19. Keyarn Pene (Norths)
20. Lachlan Coburn (Ipswich)
Special mentions: Jack Tuite (Tigers), Billy Wellard (Tweed), Nate Thompson (Falcons), Elsiyah Laumatia (Souths Logan), Harry Considine (Cutters), Jake Durie (Clydesdales), Vantayvius Peo (Tigers), Tait Cameron (Clydesdales), Jackson Koina (Falcons), Grady Payne (Tigers), Robertson Tusi Tofu (Norths), Sam Stephenson (Tweed), Preston Cassidy (Wynnum Manly), Charlie Dickson (Norths), Braithen Scott (Wynnum Manly), Jack Rix (Pride), Cayde Miller (Pride), Maddox Goodwin (Pride), Adaquix-Jeramiah Watts-Luke (Norths).
Originally published as Meninga Cup Team of the Week includes rising Titans, Dolphins juniors
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