Who will stand above in each division and spearhead their side’s finals fate?

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

Surfers Paradise Dolphins: Shanuka Silva

A Queensland Country, South Coast and Gold Coast Cyclones representative, the sky is the limit for Dolphins youngster Shanuka Silva.

Blessed with a running game lauded by coach Danny Simmons as “unbelievable”, Silva has been at the heart of Surfers Paradise’s attack throughout the campaign and looms as a crucial point of difference in their final hurdle to the title.

Simmons lauded his rising star for his speed and toughness, capable of playing anywhere in the backline as needed.

“You don’t have to coach him that much, it’s just field position with him. You don’t have to teach him to tackle or run onto the ball or pass, he’s a natural player,” Simmons said.

“He can play as a pivot, an inside or outside centre, so we can sort of rotate him a little bit but he’s main role is inside centre.

“With him he needs hands on the ball, when he has the ball in his hands he’s at his best. If he doesn’t get the ball in his hands it’s a waste of talent, so we get him as much ball as we can.

“They’re only 13 so they’re still developing, but he has the signs of having the ability to go on with it.

“He’s very talented, he’s not just a good rugby player but he’s not too bad at cricket as I hear.”

Simmons also praised the likes of Charlie Kamikamica and skipper Thorn McDonald as players who had risen above in 2022 and could well make the difference come grand final day.

Helensvale Hogs: Noah Mariner and Matti Gill

He may be young, but at this stage it appears there is very little Noah Mariner cannot do on the field. Regardless of what sport that may be.

The Helensvale number eight was originally chosen in his age group's Gold Coast Cyclones representative side, however he withdrew from the South Queensland Championships having also garnered South Coast Aussie rules selection.

Also a handy rugby league player, Hogs coach James Purdie said while Mariner would be a key man in his side’s pursuit, ultimately there was a stack of talent across the park to choose.

“He’s not your normal build for AFL I would say, but he definitely punches well above his weight. He was in the grand final for under-12s the other week for Coomera Magpies I believe (in Aussie rules), so he’s multi-talented,” Purdie said.

“It’s hard to point out just a couple (of players) to be honest, it all depends who turns up on the day. We had good representation across the Cyclones with 11 players in the age group. “Eight of them went on to South Queensland and six went on to Queensland Country.”

Meanwhile, Purdie said the booming boot of skipper Matti Gill could also be a point of difference come the big dance.

He only needs to look to the last outing between the Hogs and Dolphins to know that, after the youngster booted a 40m penalty goal to win the game.

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

Bond Pirates: Dylan Teblanche and Harry Allen

Lauded by his coach Jim McLaughlan as the competition’s best centre, Dylan Teblanche is one game breaking performance away from cementing his status as a future star of Gold Coast rugby.

A Queensland Country representative who McLaughlan declared all pundits should watch out for, the young backline weapon has been praised for his toughness and ability to lead a team despite being so youthful himself.

He said as recently as when the Pirates last battled Palm Beach Currumbin, where he scored a try straight from the kick off has Teblanche’s skills and rugby nous been on display.

“He’s the best centre in the competition, there isn’t one who is anywhere near him. He’s got all the aspects of the game covered; defence, aggression, attack and speed,” McLaughlan said.

“He’s also our goal kicker, he gets the team over the line with kicking goals and his general play kicking game is extremely good. His education of the game is of a very high level, he’s our backs leader so he’s really one to look out for.

“I could see this boy go on to really high levels in our game. He’s been groomed at a young age and he can play in the halves, centres, all around the backline and could even be on the side of the scrum.

“You could sense that being in those levels of education at the high levels of the game and the training and all the preparation for those Queensland Country games that they’ve been a tremendous asset to him.”

McLaughlan was also quick to highlight key forward Harry Allen, who he said had captained the side admirably throughout the season and came equipped with plenty of courage.

Helensvale Hogs: Kobi Nouanrasy

Helensvale coach Josh Bush has never been a fan of singling out one player. Given his side have gone through the competition undefeated, with a plethora of representative players in the mix, it proves a difficult task.

However when pushed to identify one man, his captain Kobi Nouanrasy was the name on his lips.

The young halfback has endured an electric campaign in 2022, even going on to represent South Coast in the under-15s up an age group.

Queensland Country honours followed his star showing in the South Queensland Championships, and the halfback is now primed to make an impression come the regions’ grand final day.

“It’s his second year at halfback and he’s an absolute weapon,” Bush said.

“Queensland Country, Gold Coast Cyclones, South Queensland – he represented all those sides and I think even in the South Queensland Championships he got player of the tournament.

“He’d be one to watch; he’s our captain and for that reason of having such excellent knowledge of the game.”

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

Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators: Lalau Robbie and Lochlan Smith

Once a shy junior unsure of his place in the side, the PBC mentor declared Lalau Robbie as one of the key x-factors who could determine his unit’s premiership fate.

And he will do so fresh off scoring a double in his side’s semi-final triumph over Helensvale, icing a brilliant 53-5 win.

“He probably didn’t really feel comfortable in the team or know where he sat. We worked really hard on him to communicate to him his importance in the team make up in such a big position,” coach Matt White said.

“Now he’s such an integral part of the team, and not only has he earnt the respect of the team but he’s starting to believe he can actually play great football.

“In the last two years he’s really found himself as a person as well. He’s a huge part of our team. He loves getting the ball in some space and creating opportunities for his guys outside. “He’s very solid in defence and doesn’t shy from contact, but if he get the ball in open space he’s hard to stop.

“His growth and journey over the last two years has been the greatest of anyone in the team, and he’s playing some of the best football I’ve ever seen him play.”

Where Robbie has brought the attacking flair, White said his captain Lochlan Smith had been a pillar of stability throughout the campaign.

While he said tighthead prop may not be the more glamorous position that captures the attention of young players, his skipper had revelled in the role and led from the front each week.

“He’s a leader by example, he’s a tireless worker on the field. His work rate is second to none in the team, he’s constantly tackling and being effective at the breakdown,” White said.

“He gets through plenty of hit ups and he’s got controlled aggression you don’t really see in a 16-year-olds.

“He’s a smart footballer who knows when to turn it on and when to keep something in the tank.”

Gold Coast Eagles: Lewis Bryson

Eagles coach Grant Steffek struggles to identify just one player who rises above. Ultimately in his eyes, one cannot perform without the rest of the unit coming together in the manner they had in 2022.

However when his side hit an injury crisis, particularly in their front row stocks, a new face emerged and became a focal point of their success.

According to Steffek, Scottish tearaway Lewis Bryson stands at 117kg and is yet to turn 16.

Since coming into the team midway through the season, having played in elite systems in New South Wales prior to his family’s Gold Coast move, Steffek said the young gun had been a powerful force who has added “a layer of hardness” to the Eagles’ go forward.

“He’s got that beautiful front row body shape; he’s as wide as he is tall and is very, very strong,” he said.

“We lost a couple of forwards right at the start of the year through season ending injuries, so to pick up a front rower is awesome. It means we can continue to scrimmage powerfully and our line outs are comfortable — really he’s a very handy player.

“He relishes the aggressive stuff, so he’s a bit of an enforcer for us. He’s a natural for the legal physical game so I’d say watch out for him because he’s only just moved to the Gold Coast and flown under the radar.

“He’s probably one to watch out for, no one really talks about front rowers, but he’s added a real layer of hardness to our team this year.”

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

Surfers Paradise Dolphins: Jat White and Richard Fatafehi

One of the most versatile forwards in the competition, Jat White will be out to prove he has the tools to become a regular face in the Gold Coast District Rugby Union’s top ranks.

While throughout his school and representative rugby career he has plied his trade at hooker, White has been moved to number eight by his Dolphins coach Chris Cameron in a bid to unleash the shackles on his star man.

A former Cyclones captain who is now involved with the Queensland Reds, White will lead the Dolphins one final time in 2022 and his coach is eager to see just how he rises to the challenge.

“He’s grown week by week in the role of the captain, and his on field decision making gets better week by week too. On Saturday he scored a 50m try from the back of the scrum and he’s 115kg of just raw power,” Cameron said.

“He’s been on the radar for the Reds for a couple of years now, and he made one of the squads as hooker who went and played in Melbourne.

“(He was moved to number eight) to give him the freedom and a bit more space, and for the captaincy role it’s a great spot to keep an eye on what’s going on between the forwards and backs.”

Meanwhile, Cyclones colts centre Richard Fatafehi is tipped to be the x-factor of the Surfers Paradise backline who could well and truly break the game wide open if given an inch of space.

Despite being based in Logan, Fatafehi has continued to line up in the green and yellow jumper in the hope of lifting the silverware with his teammates.

It takes six or seven guys to stop him. He’s an outside centre but he’s raw power as opposed to silky skills. If he gets space he just keeps going and turning,” Cameron said.

“I’ve never seen such strength, he’s pretty special.”

Bond Pirates: Tana Heron

A true leader who has caught the eye of Bond players from the seniors down to the junior ranks, Tana Heron is one big effort away from stamping himself into the Pirates’ history books.

A strong outside back who, according to his coach Jamie Bleakley, resonates with players and supporters alike across the club, Heron has been instrumental for his side since the opening whistle.

Bleakley said a huge part of why they made the young man captain was for the smarts he brought to the field, however he was quick to ease any expectations on him to dominate the grand final occasion.

“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,” he 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.

“We made him captain because his footy nous as well as individually he’s a very good rugby player. As for getting up for the grand final, we’ll wait and see, but he definitely leads from the front with his actions.”

nick.wright@news.com.au