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25+ names: Standouts of Rugby League Gold Coast junior grand finals revealed

There’s no doubt, rugby league is booming on the Gold Coast and flocks of young talent are making their way through the ranks. As the curtain closes on another star-studded season, we reveal the top players who took to the field in RLGC junior grand finals.

Currumbin Eagles v Helensvale Hornets. A-Grade. Video: BarTV Sports

There’s no doubt, rugby league is booming on the Gold Coast and flocks of young talent are making their way through the ranks.

Jimboomba Thunder hosted the 2024 RLGC grand finals on Saturday September 7, seven clubs walking away with a trophy (or two) in-tow).

Burleigh Bears kick started the day with a 14 point win over coast rivals Currumbin before claiming their second premiership, in the under-15s division 1, over Runaway Bay.

UNDER 14 Division 1 Tier 1 Man of the Match Noah Te Kiri, Coomera Cutters
UNDER 14 Division 1 Tier 1 Man of the Match Noah Te Kiri, Coomera Cutters

The club were halted in the under-15 division 2, under-16 division 1 and under-18 division 2 shows.

Beaudesert Kingfishers were the only other club to win more than one premiership, taking out the under-14 division 1 tier 2 and under-16 division 2 big dances.

The weekend’s biggest win was showcased between Runaway Bay and Burleigh, the latter walking away on top 34-10, followed by Ormeau Shearer’s 22-0 victory over Jimboomba in the under-13 division 1 tier 2 final.

As the curtain closes on another star-studded season, we reveal the top players who took to the field last weekend.

UNDER 13 Division 1 Tier 1 - Burleigh v Currumbin

Burleigh win 26-12

UNDER 13 Division 1 Tier 1 - Burleigh Bears (premiers) celebrated after beating Currumbin Eagles
UNDER 13 Division 1 Tier 1 - Burleigh Bears (premiers) celebrated after beating Currumbin Eagles

Jasiah IOANE

Burleigh Bears

A brick-like front rower putting himself in the front line at a high work rate, Ioane was a consistent tackle-maker causing havoc for Currumbin’s offensive efforts, managing to also go over for Burleigh’s first try.

Antonio River

Burleigh Bears

May not have been the most involved at all times, but River kept with the game plan and proved his team-first mentality in trusting his coach and players. Playing wide on the wings, he was instrumental in preventing tries sneaking through in the corner.

Darius Mallie 

Burleigh Bears

Animated on the field, Mallie is a big-talking fullback who isn’t afraid to be a loud leader from the back. He went over for Burleigh’s final hoorah in the second half.

Jesse BLACK

Currumbin Eagles

Boasted crafty handling to facilitate the play and was selfless with the ball. Black was a class act in the big dance and played understandably big minutes in the clash at half back.

Roc DAMRO

Currumbin Eagles

An impact interchange player who featured heavily in the all-important second half. Damro was composed under pressure and made took some impressive tackles for his size

UNDER 13 Division 1 Tier 2 - Jimboomba v Ormeau

Ormeau win 22-0

Joey MARSHALL

Ormeau Shearers

First try scorer for the side in the opening minutes, Marshall showed off his speed and craft on the wing early.

Cordell MALATI

Ormeau Shearers

Awarded man of the match for his performance, Malati was a force to be reckoned with, breaking through defence with ease and found himself on the try scorers list - one of five to do so in Ormeau’s 22-0 blitzing.

UNDER 14 Division 1 Tier 1 - Coomera v Runaway Bay

Coomera win 24-14

UNDER 14 Division 1 Tier 1 - Coomera Cutters (premiers) beat Runaway Bay Seagulls
UNDER 14 Division 1 Tier 1 - Coomera Cutters (premiers) beat Runaway Bay Seagulls

Paris Wright

Coomera Cutters

Was the first player to find the line, miraculously off the first set. Wright was impossible to catch once he made his break and continually proved himself a valuable ball handling centre on Coomera’s trek to a third straight premiership.

Ayvree Watere

Coomera Cutters

Took no mercy in boasting his crafty footwork on the wing, picking up a loose carry off a fortunate bounce and blitzing past three defenders to find the line for Coomera’s second.

Blaine Adams 

Comera Cutters

An agile and athletic full back who racked up considerable minutes and distance when Coomera were left with 12 players following a send-off in the first half. Adams worked at 110% the entire game and took his fair share of tackles off a kick chase.

Harry Rice

Runaway Bay Seagulls

Coming off the bench for interchange, Rice brought fresh legs in an effort to get the Seagulls on the scoreboard. It worked, with one try coming of it, but his big presence and tackle-taking wasn’t quite enough to conjure a comeback.

Nixon Mattthewson

Runaway Bay Seagulls

Playing above his size in hooker, Matthewson was a standout for both performance and effort in the Runaway Bay colours. He was engaged in every set, taking and making tackles while still playing his role in the spine efficiently under fatigue. Scored a try to top it off.

Jake PEREZ-GRINSTEAD

Runaway Bay Seagulls

A textbook winger with speed, patience and smarts, Perez-Grinstead was the Seagulls’ second try scorer.

UNDER 14 Division 1 Tier 2 - Beaudesert v Helensvale

Beaudesert win 24-16

UNDER 14 Division 1 Tier 2 Beaudesert Kingfishers (premiers)
UNDER 14 Division 1 Tier 2 Beaudesert Kingfishers (premiers)

Xavier Pember 

Beaudesert Kingfishers

Finding the line twice in Beauy’s 24-16 feat, the zippy winger Pember was awarded Man of the Match.

UNDER 15 Division 2 - Jimboomba v Burleigh

Jimboomba win 20-4

UNDER 15 Division 2 - Jimboomba Thunder (premiers) beat Burleigh Bears
UNDER 15 Division 2 - Jimboomba Thunder (premiers) beat Burleigh Bears

Kaden Griffiths

Jimboomba Thunder

A crowd favourite for his first (and second) try-scorer status, Griffiths’ sleek footwork and read-of-the-play abilities arguably broke the game open with just 11 minutes on the clock in the first half.

Tane Robertson 

Jimboomba Thunder

Playing off the bench, Robertson asserted himself as a monster in the front row. He made big tackles which rattled Burleigh early in their sets and was smart with his play of the ball when Jimboomba held possession.

Daniel McKinnon

A play-making half back who wasn’t afraid to take a hard tackle. McKinnon was equally invested in the side’s offensive sets and defensive efforts.

UNDER 15 Division 1 - Runaway Bay v Burleigh

Burleigh win 34-10

UNDER 15 Division 1 - Runaway Bay Seagulls defeated by Burleigh Bears (premiers)
UNDER 15 Division 1 - Runaway Bay Seagulls defeated by Burleigh Bears (premiers)

Murphy Phillips 

Burleigh Bears

Awarded: Man of the match

A classy playmaker in the halves who knows not only his own forte, but how to capitalise on the skills of his teammates. On top of running the ball and playing big minutes, Phillips was able to convert 2 of 3 attempts to push the Burleigh buffer out by 14 at half time before finding the line twice himself in the second.

Jackson Mott

Runaway Bay Seagulls

A big body prop who’s tackling efficiency shone when it mattered most.

Jada Rahiri

Burleigh Bears

The perfect combination of silly footwork and speed in the number 9 jersey afforded Rahiri to stand out as a playmaking sensation, seemingly with eyes in the back of his head to know where his fellow Bears were at all times.

UNDER 16 Division 2 - Ormeau v Beaudesert

Beaudesert win 24-14

Cruz Reneke 

Ormeau Shearers

The athletic second rower proved himself invaluable for Ormeau, converted 2 of 2 and playing a consistent two halves of footy.

Cooper Iselin 

Beaudesert Kingfishers

Kept his side in the game as Beaudesert’s first try scorer thanks to class footwork and speed on the wing. Backed up his early performance with an impressive run

Ilijah Farleigh 

Beaudesert Kingfishers

Awarded: Man of the Match

Skipper and half back for the Kingfishers, Farleigh lived up to his leadership most prominently in the second half.

Clancy Hardy

Beaudesert Kingfishers

Wrapped by three defenders, the crafty fullback found the line which, once converted, gave Beaudesert their first lead of the match and arguably broke it open.

UNDER 16 Division 1 - Helensvale v Burleigh

Helensvale win 26-20

U16 division 1 Helensvale Hornets (premiers) defeat Burleigh Bears
U16 division 1 Helensvale Hornets (premiers) defeat Burleigh Bears

Jyah White

Helensvale Hornets

A very good game reader and organiser, While allows the team to play off his great running and kicking game. His defense was consistently strong and kept Burleigh at bay. Played lock.

Troy Ellis

Helensvale Hornets

A work horse playing in the middle for the whole game with very solid defense and strong carries with the ball. Ellis was also rewarded with a try.

Both boys played the whole game to lead the team from up front. Very consistent for both boys for the whole season

UNDER 18 Division 2 - Burleigh v Runaway Bay

Runaway Bay win 14-10

Zane Platt

Runaway Bay Seagulls

Awarded: Man of the Match

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/25-names-standouts-of-rugby-league-gold-coast-junior-grand-finals-revealed/news-story/3dfc2b854a11d41c90941c6573e9814c