Junior representative rugby league round 6: Meninga, Connell Cup teams of the week named
A Reece Walsh mini-me, a Mr Reliable signed by the Titans and two Dolphins’ academy edge forward powerhouses were among the first players chosen in the Rd 6 Meninga Cup team of the week. More here.
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An unlikely message sent over Instagram three years ago has turned into a dream come true for a rising star at one of Australia’s most famous rugby league nurseries.
Bright-eyed Broncos young gun David Bryenton, 17, reached out to Keebra Park’s Instagram page as a student of Sacred Heart College in Auckland asking if he could join the school, which competes in the prestigious Allan Langer Trophy.
At the time Bryenton, now in Year 12 at Keebra, was playing as a rugby fullback at the North Island school which unearthed 148kg Wallaby prop Taniela Tupou.
But Bryenton was hell bent on the idea of being at Keebra, a renowned NRL breeding ground which has produced star fullbacks AJ Brimson (2015), Reece Walsh and Jahream Bula (2021) among countless other first-graders.
He grew up idolising the aforementioned, having watched the iconic ‘Keebra Park TV’ episodes on YouTube, a fascinating catalogue of interviews and highlights featuring schoolboy versions of current stars Walsh, Payne Haas and David Fifita.
Once Keebra head of rugby league Peter Norman was forwarded a highlight package of Bryenton by former manager Matt Parata, he wanted to move “heaven and earth” swiftly to ensure his dreams came true.
“He was rapid. His pace off the mark and footwork,” Norman said of the first things he noticed from the footage of Bryenton.
He said “speed is something you can’t teach,” and before long Bryenton was on the Gold Coast living out his dream of being part of the school’s fertile league academy.
It didn’t take long for NRL scouts to catch on to the light-footed fullback, who invokes memories of Broncos whiz Walsh, who like Bryenton, raised eyebrows playing for Keebra in the Langer Trophy.
Bryenton was a blistering customer for Burleigh during the 2023 club season. But, ironically, it was a school trial match against a touring Auckland school which was “the turning point” for Bryenton’s eventual signing with Brisbane.
His eye-popping performance in that game led to the Broncos, Titans and Dolphins calling Norman to inquire about the exciting fullback or five-eighth.
“My phone was going off the chain with members of a few NRL clubs going after him,” Norman smiled.
Scouts and spectators alike would have seen glimpses of whiz-kid Walsh in Bryenton. Both players have rapid off-the-mark speed and can create something out of nothing.
“They are very similar in that aspect (speed off the mark),” Norman said.
Bryenton was blooded into the Langer Trophy last year as a Year 11 student and performed with distinction as both a No. 1 and five-eighth. He is not the only highly-touted Keebra schoolboy to have done that.
Current Titans ace AJ Brimson shifted between the two positions when he was coming through, as did Te Maire Martin and Benji Marshall - all players Bryenton admired as an up-and-comer across the ditch.
MENINGA CUP SUPER SEVEN
Sunny Kama (Tweed Seagulls)
Kama’s positioning, kick-chase pressure and high work rate was revered by both teammates and opposition alike in a Sunday derby which went down to the wire.
Known to be a great teammate, Kama brought his best for the ‘battle of the coast’ clash against Burleigh, won 18-12 by Tweed.
Tenacious taking the ball forward and elite in the air, Kama came in off his wing on countless occasions to relieve pressure off his forwards and rumble Tweed downfield.
He is a young veteran who knows his job, as a wing or centre, back-to-front.
Lachlan Buchbach (Dolphins)
While Kama was carving up on the coast, Redcliffe five-eighth Lachlan Buchbach was simply brilliant on the Peninsula.
In a game where the entire Redcliffe outfit deserved praise, Buchbach was one of the spearheads leading an attacking assault on Wynnum Manly.
In a nine try barrage, Buchbach scored a try (7th) and also set up his teammates to put a down payment on victory before oranges.
Buchbach was stationed on the left edge and that is where Reddliffe crossed countless times, twice through Garton, once through Elijah McKay and twice through Reeco Kirk.
Dirhys Sefo (Souths Logan)
Against a high-class Norths outfit, Souths needed their middle men to step up. They sure did.
Alongside big Fa’apale Feaunati and Xzavier Timoteo, Dirhys Sefo stood tall and delivered with his runs up the guts.
The middle forward enforcer scored soon after Feaunati had opened the scoring and all three props (mentioned above) worked well in tandem to wear down Norths.
Jett Bryce (Bears)
There was virtually nothing separating Tweed and Burleigh at the weekend. For the boys in maroon, pacy edge forward Jett Bryce brought his best to ensure his team was in the fight from start to finish.
With Oscar Laffranchi and Marley Igasan his partners in crime, Bryce broke down Tweed’s defensive wall before playing the ball quickly for his hooker Hayden Watson.
Bryce, one of the most passionate forwards out there, ran a great line to score but the referee ruled it a knock on.
Shaun Elara (Clydesdales)
Around the brawn of the Clydesdales’ pack, Elara adds variety to the forwards with his ability to pass the ball before or in the line.
The St Mary’s old boy’s footwork, agility and post contact metre gains were also beneficial to the side and helped give excellent halfback Jake Durie some depth to his game.
Elara has been a handful all season long and his destructive deeds were rewarded with a win in round 6.
Adam Davis (Clydesdales)
No one would be surprised if Ethan Brose brought Adam Davis a XXXX Gold after the fullback ace gifted the Darling Downs winger with two of his three tries.
Davis had the silken hands of a rugby five-eight and beautiful catch and pass skills that added a dimension to the Clydesdales’ attack.
Davis, last year’s GPS First XV rugby discovery player of the year when he played wing for Toowoomba Grammar, also contributed across the course of the match.
Terence Mosby (Blackhawks)
Coach Annan Whitington just wound him up and let him loose against the Northern Pride. The hard working back rower played himself to a standstill. Mosby played big minutes, earning a drink late when the game was lost.
Mosby’s agility allowed him to cover the inside in defence, while his stamina and leg speed in the sapping heat were godsend traits for his teammates.
Mosby has come a long way for his chance in the big league. He hails from Thursday Island where, as a Tagai State College student, he was a handy Australian rules footballer.
MENINGA CUP TEAM OF THE WEEK
1. Jaffahl Skillington (Tigers)
2. Phillip Coates (Bears)
3. Sunny Kama (Tweed)
4. Zane Elletson (Cutters)
5. Rylan Misztela (Cutters)
6. David Bryenton (Magpies)
7. Lachlan Buchbach (Dolphins)
8. Dirhys Sefo (Magpies)
9. Harrison Hill (Jets)
10. Shaun Elara (Clydesdales)
11. Jac Finigan (Dolphins)
12. Brian Pouniu (Dolphins)
13. Isaac Harrison (Tweed)
14. Adam Davis (Clydesdales)
15. Jett Bryce (Bears)
16. Jack Hellyer (Clydesdales)
17. Flynn Battaia (Cutters)
18. Monte Betham (Tigers)
19. Terence Mosby (Blackhawks)
20. Myron Taupati-Campbell (Falcons)
Special mentions: Mostyn Bowen (Jets), Lachlan Coburn (Jets), Fa’apale Feaunati, Xzavier Timoeto and Elsiyah Laumatia (Magpies), Will Graham (Falcons), Josh Nilon (Capras), Jake Oberhardt (Capras), Oscar Laffranchi (Bears), Jasper Barry (Devils), Zane Harrison (Tweed), Kyle Bader (Blackhawks), Mafiou Cherif (Pride), Joe Doyle (Cutters), Jake Durie (Clydesdales), Zac Garton (Dolphins), Ray Puru (Tweed), Noah Fien (Dolphins), Cooper Day (Wynnum Manly), Cooper Bai (Tweed), Keyarn Pene (Devils), Braelan Marsh (Dolphins), Carter Welfare (Devils), Kaiden Lahrs (Pride), Duquan Talaepa (Devils), Cooper Benvenuti (Tigers), Grady Payne (Tigers), Clinton Smith (Jets).
CONNELL CUP SUPER SIX
Grange Womal (Cutters)
A terrific little organiser, Womal has been the firing pin which has seen the Mackay Cutters explode to life in the Connell Cup.
Womal, a Fitzgerald State School student in his younger days, was named Brothers’ most promising under-15s player in 2023 before progressing into the Cutters’ Connell Cup system.
Womal, who possesses a killer left-foot step, was originally signed by the Gold Coast Titans but when released for personal reasons, the Titans had his best interests at heart and were happy to inform North Queensland that he was back on the market.
As a result the Cowboys swooped to sign him when Wombal returned to his home region of Mackay after a few months living on the Gold Coast early last year.
“Grange is a competitor at training, on the park and in the gym,’’ said his Cutters’ coach Brett Watton.
“He wants to win and that comes across in our games. No matter the score or the time of the game, he’s still pushing.
“On the flip side he can control a game by kicking when we are in a tight game like he did a couple of weeks ago against the Blackhawks when he kicked to the corner and managed the game well.
“Grange is a great communicator and can defend well for a half.’’
Hayden Polson (Devils)
Polson’s progression at Norths has been astronomical and he continued to make an impact in a 44-4 win over Souths.
Polson first caught the eye as a rip-and-tear edge forward playing for Wavell SHS’s Hancock Cup (Year 9) side.
Now in his third season of Connell Cup rep footy, Polson is thriving as a dependable middle forward who coach Shane Boyd would be confident can get the job done each week.
A telling decoy line by Polson, which helped create a James Grey try, was one of many positives he brought to the table in round 6.
Ezekiel Jones (Wynnum Manly)
The Broncos showed great judgement in swooping to sign Jones. The Wynnum Manly junior has been a revelation for his side this season, with an uncanny ability to take advantage of a quick ruck, lightning speed of pass and agility to reach a ruck under fatigue just some of his traits.
As the Seagulls’ ball control has improved, Jones has become even more dangerous with the ball.
He is a great leader, the type of kid you’d would love playing alongside.
Viliami Fifita (Tweed)
The big-bodied TSS schoolboy was on a mission to make metres last weekend.
Playing as a prop but often resembling a lock, Fifita forced multiple Burleigh defenders to swarm him. He was that hard to contain.
Fifita scored Tweed’s second try in a tight affair, won 20-16 by the Seagulls and he worked tirelessly in the middle.
Jett Ryan (Falcons)
Effort is Jett Ryan’s forte.
The Falcons skipper was a 70-minute performer on Saturday at lock and he covered plenty of ground.
His communication in attack was easy to see, as was his defence in the middle which ensured the Clydesdales were kept scoreless from the 26th minute.
A workhorse, Ryan somehow found energy within himself to make a big impact in the final 10 minutes, when the Falcons trailed 14-10.
He made a bustling run towards the right goalpost which helped create a try the very next play to Makani Madgwick. Then, for good measure, he scored the dagger with less than four minutes left.
Cornelius Kelsall (Bears)
Kelsall only had limited touches and those flashes of brilliance demanded he be a Super Six entry this week.
Playing fullback - he can also play five-eight - the Keebra Park SHS student twice broke the game open with sensational running.
On the first occasion he set up a runaway try for Kingston Seve, and on the second occasion he did it all himself with a superlative 60m effort through the ruck.
Originally from Melbourne, Kelsall has been a junior prodigy all his life and is showing no signs of his star qualities fading.
CONNELL CUP TEAM OF THE WEEK
1. Barry Taukolo (Wynnum Manly)
2. Cornelius Kelsall (Bears)
3. Ashyr Kelso (Falcons)
4. Dean Tauaa (Wynnum Manly)
5. Will Paynter (Clydesdales)
6. Timahna Tandy (Devils)
7. Grange Womal (Cutters)
8. Viliami Fifita (Tweed)
9. Ezekiel Jones (Wynnum Manly)
10. Hayden Polson (Devils)
11. Daniel Cash (Wynnum Manly)
12. Jett Ryan (Falcons)
13. Adam McSherry (Cutters)
14. Jai Bilish (Tweed)
15. Tupou Francis (Bears)
16. Innocent Baruani (Jets)
17. Harry Bate (Devils)
18. Franck Iraguha (Wynnum Manly)
19. Will Hamblin (Cutters)
20. Axel Fairfull (Falcons)
Special mentions: Alastair MacLachlan (Clydesdales), Tomi Wilson (Jets), Kaidan Jarrett (Falcons), Cash Bennett (Falcons), Hayden Madders (Devils), Kobe Hauraki (Tweed), Eli Cookson (Cutters), Taj Huhl (Falcons), Taj Batty (Clydesdales), Kyron Arthy (Dolphins), Lincoln Dalton (Devils), Calvin Ramos (Cutters).
Originally published as Junior representative rugby league round 6: Meninga, Connell Cup teams of the week named
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