Final Hurdle: Meet the Keebra Park junior guns out to deliver the Gold Coast a historic title

An elusive fullback, a pair of damaging forwards and a teenager regarded as one of the best in the nation. Meet the Year 10 stars to watch in a historic schoolboys grand final here >>

On the back of an undefeated and historic Walters Cup campaign, the rising stars of Keebra Park have one final challenge to overcome.

Come Tuesday afternoon the youngsters, who next year will be aspiring for a place in the school’s Langer Trophy outfit, will take on North Queensland giants Kirwan State High School, who took out the Cowboys Challenge earlier this year.

Having thwarted Southeast Queensland rivals Mabel Park and Marsden State High School en route to the big dance, the boys in blue will be flushed with confidence heading into the inaugural state grand final between the Year 10 sides — a concept arranged by the competing schools.

The Keebra Park Walters Cup winning team. Picture: Supplied

The Keebra Park Year 10 group made history by registering the best for and against of any side to take on the Walters Cup, never conceding more than two tries in a game while scoring more than four in each outing.

However they will be faced by a Kirwan Bears unit who produced a miracle in their premiership triumph in the north, scoring with the final play of the game courtesy of a gutsy short kick off to defeat Mercy College 14-11.

But according to Keebra Park head of rugby league Peter Norman, there is a cohort of exciting prospects in his ranks who will be out to make an impact ahead of next season.

The two sides will kick off from 2.30pm on Tuesday at Bishop Park.

Joshua Donovan — Fullback

Elusive and electric with the ball in hand, Norman could have himself a genuine grand final x-factor in Joshua Donovan.

The young custodian is said to be as safe as they come under the high ball, with the pressure of finals football unlikely to deter him.

Norman said Donovan could well be on a path towards the NRL in a similar fashion to that of his cousin, Wests Tigers number one Daine Laurie.

Keebra Park player Joshua Donovan. Picture, John Gass

Joseph Tupuse — Centre

Praised by Norman as arguably the finest centre of his age group at the National Schoolboys Championships, Joseph Tupuse could ultimately be the benefactor of Donovan’s lead up work.

However should things not go according to plan in the middle of the field, the barnstorming outside back has the skills to make an impression on his own accord.

A Queensland under-15s representative who is contracted to the Brisbane Broncos, Tupuse has an electric turn of foot and a lethal right fend that regularly results in him putting his “partner in crime” Tino Fomai away for tries on the left hand flank.

Joseph Tupuse in action for Keebra Park. Picture: Supplied

Isopo Taunuu — Middle forward

Credited as the “heart and soul” of the Keebra Park forward pack, Isopo Taunuu is a young man who leads by example more so than his words.

A spiritual leader in the team, Taunuu was lauded by Norman for the way in which he tore rival attackers in half with his defence, while dragging many would-be defenders in his wake with each carry.

The teen phenom is no stranger to impressing on the big stage, having scored the match winning try in Keebra’s Walters Cup semi final win over Mabel, before opening the scoring in the decider against Marsden.

Keebra Park gun Isopo Taunuu ahead of the Year 10 schoolboys grand final. Picture: Supplied

Anton Whaiapu — Lock

His Langer Trophy counterpart, Arama Hau, was one of the leading players in the top competition, and Anton Whaiapu appears destined to follow a similar path.

There are plenty of parallels between the two — both are Gold Coast Titans contracted, both ply their trades as lock forwards, both captain their respective sides with their actions.

While Norman said Whaiapu led from the front with his tireless ethic and damaging carries with the Steeden in hand, there was a deft play making ability within the teenage forward.

But for all his skills and strength, Norman said it was his presence around the group that stood out the most.

“When the going gets tough,” he said, “Anton is the one the boys will look to for inspiration.”

Keebra Park Walters Cup captain Anton Whaiapu. Picture: Supplied