Souths Logan set to field nicely balanced Meninga Cup outfit
Meninga Cup preview: Souths Logan is littered with Broncos-signed players, but watch for the Odd Couple, a quiet achiever and Mr Personality to rip in this season. Full squad here.
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Souths Logan will feature a nicely balanced squad with backline strike power and big, hard mobile forwards when the Magpies starts its Meninga Cup season against Wynnum Manly on February 15.
Brisbane Broncos academy backs David Bryenton, Joseph Tupuse and Siosaia Poese add the Rolls Royce engines to the squad, while middle men such as 2024 Queensland schoolboy Xzavier Timoteo, Maroons Emerging U18 squad member Diryhs Sefo and Brisbane-signed Pale Feaunati were quality players in this age group.
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But there is far more to the club’s squad than those Super Six, and two of the club’s best during the off-season have been the Odd Couple, outside back Harlem Tata-Paki and utility Lehi Thomas.
Tata-Paki is a quiet achiever while the bubbly Thomas brings energy and enthusiasm to the party.
Thomas, who will play in the middle this season, has Magpies D and A all over him.
He grew up attending school at multicultural Our Lady of Fatima primary school, just a stone’s throw from Souths Acacia Ridge headquarters.
Thomas then went to Mabel Park SHS in Slacks Creek where he rose to perform with distinction for the school in the Langer Trophy competition.
His 90m intercept try against Keebra Park in 2023, which finished with him being engulfed by celebrating school mates after crossing the line, was one of the season highlights.
Thomas, who finished 2024 playing Beenleigh U21s, can play centre, but watch for his powerhouse running around the ruck. It will suit his game.
Winger Harlem Tata-Paki is returning after being a part of Souths Logan’s 2024 Meninga Cup campaign.
Like Thomas, Tata-Paki attended Mabel Park SHS where he would be used off the bench in the Langer Trophy.
Tata-Paki’s personality is the opposite to Thomas, but he is a quiet achiever who can play.
He has a splash of x-factor about his game, has a nice step and footwork.
Both boys would be a dream to coach.
This season Souths Logan will be fortunate to have a rotation of props such as Timoteo, Sefo and Feaunati.
Feaunati, a tall prop signed by the Broncos, was outstanding for the Magpies last season in the Connell Cup. He has an enormous workrate and is a renowned leader.
The aggressive Timoteo is a new face in the Magpies’ nest, a fine product from the ever-strengthening Ipswich SHS program.
Timoteo has been outstanding in school age football and last year made the Queensland schoolboys side. He is tough, runs off the back fence, but can also run clever angles near the line off his hooker Sam Martin.
Sefo, a 2024 U18 Emerging State of Origin squad member, is a towering middle forward who just keeps turning up. He got better as the season progressed in 2024 and is a big man with nice footwork.
Souths Logan will also be well served at dummy with hooker, Ipswich SHS product Sam Martin, who is another Broncos boy, handling the ball more than anyone else in the side.
Jayden Solien, Souths best player last season, returns and will be a valuable utility player to have around the squad.
The squad: Andrew Fonomaalii, Bostyn Taufoou, Carlos Bagon, Cooper Lewis, David Bryenton, Diryhs Sefo, Elsiyah Suavai, Finn Kendall, Harlem Tata-Paki, Jackson Howe, Jackson Streader, Jayden Solien, Joseph Tupuse, Lehi Thomas, Lenn Esera, Mark Anthony Ruming, Mathew Joyce, Nehemiah Vavau, Nick Streader, Nick Pareti, Paea Puleiku, Pale Feaunati, Sam Martin, Siosaia Poese, Tannar Baker, Tom Parker, Tony Ntimugura, Tyler Mearns, Wil Pati, Xzandah Henaway, Xzavier Timoteo, Zephanaiah Takitaki
ROUND 1, February 15
Tigers v Norths
Tweed v Dolphins
Blackhawks v Capras
Wynnum v Magpies
Falcons v Clydesdales
Cutters v Pride
Jets v Bulls
Originally published as Souths Logan set to field nicely balanced Meninga Cup outfit
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