Here we breakdown the key moments and top players from the Gold Coast District Rugby Union junior grand final day.

Gallery: GCDRU Junior Grand Finals Action

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UNDER 13S: HELENSVALE LEADERS INSPIRE BOND TRIUMPH

There was no one player who could be split when it came to defining a player of the match.

According to Helensvale coach James Purdie, it was the collective effort of his entire leadership group that inspired a resounding premiership triumph.

The Hogs under-13s were forced to battle a valiant Surfers Paradise outfit in the opening half, as the two sides traded blows to go into the sheds with a slender 12-10 lead.

However with skipper Matti Gill leading from the front, and some brilliant support up front from two-time try scorer Nate Te Whitu, Helensvale went on a second stanza rampage to come away 46-10 victors.

“We just needed our forwards to step up at the breakdown,” Purdie said.

“We were getting too many turnovers and penalties at the breakdown so we really needed our forwards to step up have some big runs and support each other.

“The bench came on and had massive impacts, we didn’t lose anything when they came on.”

With the scores locked at 5-5, the two sides exchanged huge charges up the field, falling short in icing the job. However the Dolphins at last made the most of the momentum down field, crossing at the back of the ruck to hit the front.

But either side of halftime, the Hogs were back with a vengeance. After a pair of penalties close to the line, Te Whitu charged onto the ball with ferocity, carrying defenders in his wake to score his first on the stroke of the break.

Shortly after play resumed, the Hogs were in attacking territory again, spreading the ball to an overlap to cross yet again, this time through winger Kyah McElrich – who finished with a double before being taken from the field needing stitches at the back of his head.

“It’s his second year playing rugby, he’s been playing rugby league as well,” Purdie said.

“I think from two years ago there’s only four kids in this team that were here when I took over, everyone else has come from rugby league and other sports.

“It’s been a transition period but they all bloody love it. You can see out there they’re a tight knit bunch of boys and they just love playing for each other – it’s like a big family really.”

UNDER 14S: THREE YEAR DROUGHT BROKEN AS PIRATE GUN SHINES

Just as he was about to commend the young man he deemed the player of the final, Jim McLaughlan was cut off by a shower of ice poured over him by his elated team.

As the Bond Pirates’ under14s side at last triumphed in a 24-7 grand final over the previously undefeated Helensvale, the ecstasy was evident as the squad celebrated with their coach.

All McLaughlan could do was laugh as this interview was cut short momentarily, calling on his team to give him a hug as the red and blue army embraced.

“To win a grand final from where we were was a fantastic effort. The boys kept coming, we had or best team for the last two weeks too which was really good and we were able to keep the structure together,” McLaughlan said.

“We found that realistically if we could get ahead and put some scoreboard pressure on them we might get them a little off their game. We were really the underdogs, they haven’t been beaten in three years so it was a great performance by all the squad.

“The onus comes on these boys, these lads in their personal development and training and all the emphasis they’ve done this year to come into this competition and keep working through injuries and adversities is a real credit.

“I’m really proud of them.”

It was as he was about to laud outside centre Dylan Teblanche as his man of the match that the shower of ice cascaded down McLaughlan, however skipper Harry Allen was quick to pick up the slack.

After Teblanche kicked a penalty goal to open the scoring, Hogs were quick to respond with the first try of the contest.

However a brilliant break from the Pirates winger down the right hand side edged Bond back in front, before Teblanche then did it all himself to weave through the defence and cross under the posts.

As the game descended into a grind in the second stanza, it was Teblanche again who made some magic happen, gliding his way into space before finding his winger for the final try of the clash.

“His runs were incredible, kicking all his goals – he’s just an outstanding player and I was so proud of him,” Allen said.

“I’m so happy and so proud of the team. Everyone put in so much effort and I’m just so proud, it was such a great turnout.

“Hogs have been such a tough team for us in the last two years, we made finals and they beat us last year but I just couldn’t be more proud to captain a team like this.

“They haven’t been beaten in three years, it was a nervous change room but we just converted those butterflies to dragons as our coach would say and gave it our all.”

UNDER 16S: ALLEYGATORS PUSH FOR TOP RETURN GATHERS STEAM

A trio of teenagers, who could now consider themselves veterans of the Alleygators, put on a grand final clinic as the club charts a path to a first-grade dynasty.

Spearheaded by 150 game Palm Beach Currumbin players Ryan Wildman, Lochlan Smith and Callum Simpson, the green machine overcame a determined Gold Coast Eagles unit to win the under-16s title in a 15-10 slugfest.

On the back of a 2021 campaign in which the group played up a division to keep the squad alive, that exposure proved invaluable as the side confronted a powerful Eagles forward pack who put on a defensive highlights reel worthy of a senior contest.

Alleygators coach Matt White said the club were determined to continue building a succession plan for these young stars of tomorrow to ensure the PBC brigade returned to the Phil Temperton Trophy, after withdrawing from the top competition this year due to player numbers in key positions in the forward pack.

And with the likes of Wildman at the helm, who scored a brilliant try to get his side ahead of the clash, those foundations were beginning to bear fruit.

“He’s a great player, he sees the game and reads the game really well. He’s a core player for us, he’s always a Gator from under-6s and he played 150 games for the club last year,” White said.

“He’s a long term Gator and he’s got every opportunity to go on to bigger and better things. He’s in the Queensland Country team with four other kids, the season ends for some but continues for others and he’s one of them.

“If he plays well we play well and he had a good game, we needed him to which was great. The plan is to have some succession and progress them through to the seniors, that’s the plan.”

It was inside centre Simpson who opened the scoring in the decisive battle, however barnstorming prop Agapetos Lote-Felo was quick to respond for the Eagles and set up a thrilling afternoon.

With each hit from one side, another followed from their rivals, as neither outfit relented right down to the final whistle. However it was the off the ball efforts from PBC number eight Hudson Burns who White lauded for making the difference in the second stanza and maintain their ascendancy.

The intensity of the contest meant that not every player was able to take to the field, with the Alleygators 26 man squad too great to allow each contender to make an impact.

However White was quick to implore that it had nothing to do with ability, it was a matter of circumstance. And given the injuries his team had dealt with throughout 2022, he said the ultimate result would not have been possible had it not been for each contribution.

“It was just the way the game played out; I had a plan to get everyone on the field, and I think that last 10 minutes it’s the way the game was and the opportunity didn’t show itself,” White said.

“It’s one in all in, we have 26 kids in this squad so there were a few kids who couldn’t play and actually some on the bench who didn’t get on the field.

“But it took all 26 of them to win the premiership, it was a long season and we had some injuries and people really dug in. It’s one in all in.”

UNDER 18S: INSPIRED SKIPPER GALVANISES BOND CHARGE

On the back of a star showing, at times fighting through injury pain, Tana Heron could well have his sights set on a first-grade berth in 2023.

The Bond skipper led from the front in his side’s 13-5 under-18s grand final triumph over Surfers Paradise, in what proved to be arguably the most gruelling encounter of the afternoon.

It was a dynamic test for both units across the opening half, with a Pirates penalty goal all that separate them at the break.

However a yellow card cut the Dolphins down a man, and at last the red and blue brigade were able to break off the shackles.

A brilliant deep clearance kick into the left hand corner orchestrated a race between the rival wingers, with Bond coming up with possession and crossing for the opening try.

It was Heron who then stepped up to slot the sideline conversion, even with an eager Surfers Paradise chasing closing in to charge down the attempt.

But the Dolphins never relented in the clash, making the most of a wave of possession to score at the death and set up a grandstand finish.

Only a couple of phases later, however, some clinical ruck work forced a turnover for the Pirates, with a penalty following soon after to clinch the contest.

Heron was full of praise for his troops at the end of the game, labelling it a crazy season where they had overcome a tirade of adversity and a slow start to the year to lift the trophy.

Prior to kick off, Pirates co-coach Jamie Bleakley lauded his captain and gun number eight for the way he had led from the front, equipped with experience in senior football already from campaigns past.

Now, as he graduates from the junior programs, a tilt at helping Bond charge to the Phil Temperton trophy looms for the youngster.

“He’s been fantastic for us all year. He’s got a really good footy head on him, he understands what we’re trying to achieve on the footy field as a team and individually he’s very strong,” Bleakley said.

“It would’ve been about three weeks ago when he got man of the match (that he really stood out). He was really strong over the ball and his carries were really good.

“Off the field he’s a really likeable, everyone gets on well with Tana — juniors through to seniors. We made him captain because his footy nous as well as individually he’s a very good rugby player.

“He definitely leads from the front with his actions.”

Every teams key moments on the road to the junior grand finals

— September 6

The final countdown is on for the Gold Coast District Rugby Union junior grand finals.

In a year which began under trying circumstances — marred by Covid concerns, wild weather and devastating injuries for some — the leading outfits have fought to the end.

Now they are on the cusp of lifting the premiership trophy.

Here we breakdown how each team got themselves into the big dance, and the key moments that defined their seasons.

KEEP SCROLLING FOR STORIES ON EACH TEAM IN THE UNDER-13, UNDER-14, UNDER-16 AND UNDER-18 GCDRU GRAND FINALS

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UNDER 13S: SURFERS PARADISE DOLPHINS VS HELENSVALE HOGS @ 10AM

Surfers Paradise: There have been times throughout the year when Dolphins coach Danny Simmons has seen his team thrive with their backs against the wall.

On some occasions they have taken the field with the bear minimum of players, on others even undermanned.

But through it all he said his young group had risen above, and it was that ability to overcome adversity that had steeled them for Saturday’s decider.

It is why Simmons cannot identify one key moment that set them on this path to the title. It has been a collective effort from the first pre-season training that instilled that willingness to compete.

“Whatever is thrown at them they just stand up and they compete. It’s a game of football, it’s very competitive, it’s a tough game especially for a young man just coming through who hasn’t really played the game,” Simmons said.

“It’s very confronting playing rugby, so the way they conducted themselves on the field … it’s a life skill for the boys and we make sure that the way they conduct themselves on and off the field is paramount.

“I’d love to see them go through and play seniors. A lot of things can change between now and then, they might take a different path, but these young men it’d be good to see them play seniors.

“You never know, they might be Wallabies. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but if that’s the path they take good on them.”

A combination of the torrential weather at the start of the season and illness has meant the campaign has been an uphill battle for the boys from Surfers, and the Hogs in turn have dominated their encounters for much of the year.

However on the eve of the Gold Coast competition, when the King of the Country took place, the Dolphins sent an ominous warning in defeating the favoured rivals.

Simmons said that memory still rang in the minds of his squad, and serve as a reminder that on the day anything could happen.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a grudge match, Helensvale are a very well drilled side. They’ve always got the numbers, whereas we’ve always had maybe two blokes sitting on the bench, they’ve got up to seven or eight,” Simmons said.

“They’ve always had the numbers, so to compete against a side that’s well drilled with fresh legs it can be hard to compete.

“But my boys, every time they show up and we only get beat by a penalty or a try.”

Helensvale Hogs: While his young men have been the benchmark of the competition, there is still some sense of frustration for Hogs coach James Purdie.

With only four teams gracing the division this season, with weather, Covid and injuries also rearing their heads, the Helensvale outfit have been met with several forfeits in the lead up to the finals.

Purdie’s youngster’s have gone through the season undefeated, however the mentor has ensured his boys were reminded regularly that anything could happen when the silverware was on the line.

While he said the Dolphins had forfeited from contests twice in recent weeks, making what was coming on Saturday something of an unknown, there would be enough strike power out wide to make life challenging.

“Surfers are a pretty good team, they’ve got some strike power out wide, a lot of speed and size and they’re pretty capable of scoring from anywhere on the field which is always dangerous,” Purdie said.

“The boys are really committed; good numbers to training every week. Since the school holidays we’ve played three games I think and had four forfeits, so that’s since the July holidays.

“It’s not the ideal prep for the finals, but we hit a bit of a lull after the holidays with the forfeits and no games and us coaches had to look at a way to get the boys up and enthusiastic.

“We were short on games, but the last two or three weeks the vibe in the team has been through the roof and the boys are pumped to get out there.”

UNDER 14S: BOND PIRATES VS HELENSVALE HOGS @ 11.30AM

Bond Pirates: Ever since their triumph over Surfers Paradise in Round 2, Bond coach Jim McLaughlan knew there was something special in this group.

A plethora of injuries in the pre-season hindered their early hopes, however even down on troops they found a way to emerge from that contest on top and go on a winning run.

Even as more and more players found themselves in the casualty ward, McLaughlan said his boys found a way to rise above and discover something extra in the tank.

Now he said they were set to peak at the perfect time, with last week’s semi-final the first chance his Pirates had to field a full strength starting 15.

But, when the coach reflects on that second round victory, he is reminded that whoever takes the field on Saturday will be more than up to the task.

“We were riddled with injuries and had a squad that was all over the place,” McLaughlan said.

“That game was the pinnacle key point of our season, we won that on the bell in the last minute with a depleted squad and the boys from there started to get some momentum.

“Last week I have to say it the semi-final and we walked into it with our first 15 for the first time all year and they won with one minute to go.

“It was an extremely enjoyable moment, sad for Surfers, but for us boys it was a great moment for us and the squad.

“That second round win showed that it wasn’t just our first 15, but the squad of players we had able to beat that adversity too.”

Helensvale Hogs: According to Hogs coach Josh Bush, the key to his side's success this year has been continuity.

Among the group, roughly half the outfit have been fighting the trenches together since the under-6s, and as a result have developed a palpable bond on and off the field.

While season 2022 has been far from smooth sailing, with a host of talent called up to the representative ranks and unavailable due to school rugby commitments, Bush’s youngsters have banded together regardless of who took the field and have gone through the year undefeated as a result.

And the coach said there was a key turning point, once the elite level duties were done and dusted, that flicked a switch in the squad.

“I actually think it was probably the end of the South Coast tournament, a couple of trainings after. It was the first time that we had the 24 man squad that we run at training, and you could just see the boys minds switch,” Bush said.

“Rep was all done and the focus was on club and moving forward. Probably the biggest thing about this group of Helensvale boys is most have been together for quite a few years now. “We’ve probably got about five or six key boys who have been their since under-6s or 7s. “Hard work has gone in to the season, we’ve been fortunate not to lose a game yet this season so hopefully the boys can do the job.”

While the Hogs are yet to taste defeat to Bond this year, Bush said each battle had be a test for his squad.

And he said he was eager to see how his captain, Kobi Nouanrasy, fared against fellow young gun Dylan Teblanche.

They’re totally different positions, but those boys when it comes to knowledge of rugby it’s phenomenal what they know. Half the time they play like senior players to be fair,” Bush said.

“Last year they were starting to challenge a little bit against us and this year it’s been leaps and bounds. They’ve got a few changes in the team, but they’ve come in leaps and bounds.”

UNDER 16S: GOLD COAST EAGLES VS PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN ALLEYGATORS @ 1PM

Gold Coast Eagles: It took a social trip to Toowoomba for Eagles coach Grant Steffek to truly see just how deep the bond was between his young men.

It had been a challenging year for the grand finalists, who underwent a compete rebuild of the side with a host of 2021 players departing the club for various reasons.

Throw in weather postponements, season ending injuries and forfeits from other teams and Steffek’s young men struggled to gain cohesion for parts of the year.

But in a bid to keep the group motivated, Steffek and the coaching staff orchestrated social games and activities to keep the team unified, and that was on full display on their trip to the Garden City.

“We had a social game a couple of weeks ago against a team from Toowoomba. We travelled out there and it was such a fun day because we hadn’t played in over a month prior to that game,” Steffek said.

“The boys really enjoyed themselves; they were singing and dancing and mucking around. We went out there and had a few injuries in the game, and rather than risk more injures we played short and played with 14 men for about half the game.

“It was good scenario based training for if we have to play a game under a yellow or red card, but we actually took the lead and won the game shorthanded. That to me really summed up the character of the boys, the whole day summed it up.

“It certainly has been a massive challenge to keep people enthused and motivated. We’re lost maybe a third of the year to forfeits which is massive. It has been really challenging to stay motivated … but these boys are tightly bonded to each other.”

When the division’s final two teams last met, the Eagles clawed their way to a tense 27-21 victory over the minor premiers.

Spearheading the charge was the brother duo of Hesed and Agapetos Lote-Felo, each of whom scored crucial tries in rival territory.

However ultimately come Saturday, Steffek said their Alleygator counterparts would be aware they had perhaps let that previous contest slip by.

“I’d suggest we were lucky in the second game to take the win. Palm Beach would be pretty gutted they lost that, and if we’re being honest in that one there were a couple of errors at their end that cost them,” he said.

“They’ll be well refined and ready for that. We’ll get ball in hand and really take it to them, we’ve always been a great ball in hand team, so we will get back to our strengths for them and see how we go.”

Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators: Lifting the premiership trophy would be the culmination of “a two year journey”, according to Matt White, and he has identified a rapidly developing youngster as the man to break the grand final apart.

As the under-16s outfit of Palm Beach Currumbin prepare to challenge the Eagles for the Gold Coast District Rugby Union title, they will do so arguably more battle hardened than any of their rivals.

White, the Alleygators coach, has retained the squad that took on last year’s competition in the same division after a decision was made in 2021 for the group to play up an age group. Taking on teenagers older, bigger and more experienced was a test of attrition for White’s young men, however that exposure had inspired a season of profound development for his squad.

“We really used last year as a building block for this season and the boys have worked really hard. Pre-season started in February and we had a big squad of 26 kids which was really good, who says rugby is dead when we’ve got a big squad?” White said.

“It was a group decision to play in the under 16s competition last year; it was put to the players and the parents and it was a unanimous yes that they wanted to keep playing footy.

“It was hard, they were against kids who were two or three years older for some the boys and much bigger in physicality. We learnt a lot about ourselves and a lot about humility last year and to learn to win you have to learn to lose.

“We were in a lot of games until the last 10 minutes, it were those defining last minutes to have the belief you can do it. Sometimes we stumbled, but we took all those lessons last year being the younger kids and playing the older kids and we put that into practice.”

Despite finishing the season atop of the competition ladder, retribution will no doubt be on the minds of White’s Alleygators.

Eagles managed to salvage a 27-21 triumph, overturning a run of thrillers which had gone against them.

However White said PBC’s semi-final victory was the first time his side had pieced together 60 full minutes of football that adhered to the game plan and standards set from the opening whistle.

But he said the signs had always been building ever since their first outing against their forthcoming grand final adversaries.

“The first game when we played Eagles and we beat them at their home ground in a bit of thriller. That was one point where we were like ‘that’s one tick for the season’,” White said.

“But it wasn’t until Saturday in the semi-final where we put 60 minutes together and when you’re planning your season you plan to play your best at the year.

“We put our best halves of football back to back, if we do that again it’ll be a great competition. Eagles are a great team and we are sort of are arch enemies essentially. We’ve been lining each other up over the last few years and the games have been great.”

UNDER 18S: SURFERS PARADISE DOLPHINS VS BOND PIRATES @ 2.30PM

They may have been the benchmark of the competition, but Dolphins coach Chris Cameron said his young men had still managed to peak at the right time.

From the moment their semi-final clash kicked off, the main word which came to his mind that summed up the intent was “relentless”.

And he will be calling on more of the same on Saturday against the Pirates.

After being hit hard by injuries at the start of the campaign, followed by 10 players earning representative selections, Cameron’s men took time to truly gel and find their best football.

But last week’s 29-0 triumph with a complete unit on the park showed just how classy this team could be on its day.

“Our semi-final performance was our best for the year because we had a full strength side on the field. I think we just had the best attacking team in the competition and we’ve also got size and power in our forwards and backs,” Cameron said.

“We started off with a squad of 32 which was a combination of 10 of last year’s under-18s team and the balance made up of last years under-16s side and both those teams had won their grand finals last year.

“Over the season they’ve come together and we’re very lucky we’ve only got two of our original squad out with injuries, so we’re spoiled for numbers for the final.”

It has been a similar story for the Dolphins forthcoming rivals, the Bond Pirates, whose co-coach Jamie Bleakley said took time to find their feet as well.

Bleakley, whose son Fletcher made his try scoring first-grade debut for the club this year, said his young men had been forced to battle for the right to be in the big dance, and had the tools to cause an upset on the day.

Spearheaded by skipper Tana Heron, the mentor said they had the means to nullify the array of threats Surfers Paradise could throw at them.

“We started slowly I suppose and we’ve built every week, so we’ve run to the finals pretty well,” Bleakley said.

“We started early too, we started training back in January with really good numbers so we’ve sort of really earnt our position in the grand final.

“Every battle that we have with Surfers is a good one, they beat us by a few points in round one, we beat them by two and then they got us in round three.

“Surfers have got some great individuals in their team, so if we can limit them with the ball and we play to our strengths we might go close.

“We’re pretty evenly matched, it just comes down to the bounce of the ball on the day.”

nick.wright@news.com.au