Walters Cup Year 10 schoolboy league Team of the Season
Walters Cup Year 10 schoolboy league Team of the Season revealed here as we celebrate yesterday’s historic Walters state final between Keebra Park SHS and Kirwan SHS, won by Keebra.
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History was made yesterday when Keebra Park SHS played Kirwan SHS in the first ever state schoolboy rugby league final at Bishop Park.
Keebra Park SHS were the Walters Cup winners while Kirwan SHS were the Cowboys Challenge Year 10 winners from the north. Keebra Park won 32-4.
To mark the historic occasion we also have a historic first - our inaugural Walters Cup Team of the Season.
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TEAM OF THE YEAR
Fullback: Mereki Warradoo (Wavell SHS)
He is quite the talent, is this kid. A beautifully balanced runner, and one of the Dolphins early junior Queensland signings, he shone like a beacon for the Queensland under 15 schoolboys side. Special mention to Caloundra SHS’s Toby Irvine who is one of our reserve.
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Wing: Tino Fomai (Keebra Park SHS)
The left winger who was the leading try scorer in the Walters Cup competition, including two in the grand final. He formed a lethal left edge combination with his best friend, Queensland centre, Joseph Tupuse. Give him an inch and he will make you pay with great agility and lethal footwork.
Centre: Joseph Tupuse (Keebra Park SHS)
Joseph Tupuse played for the Queensland under 15s were he was elite. Broncos contracted, 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.
Centre: Keoki Koraba (Wavell SHS)
The powerful centre rookie has been so impressive this season, the Melbourne Storm have swooped to sign him. After a pre-season grounding playing Connell Challenge with Redcliffe, he was a Queensland under 15 schoolboys player.
Wing: Volonte Baruani (Ipswich SHS)
The younger brother of Ipswich open wing star Kulu, he injected himself into the game at every chance he got. He had plenty of hit ups coming out of his end, was safe under the high ball and defensively strongly.
Five-eight: Harry Chadburn. (PBC SHS)
The Walters Cup No. 6 was a livewire, with quick hands and feet and sleight of hand. He also possessed a killer short kicking game and displayed great variety in his game.
Halfback: Ryder Williams (Keebra Park SHS)
The Gold Coast Titans contracted halfback who has been instrumental to the success of the side. He has a big frame for a halfback and can beat defenders by running, passing or kicking making him very hard to stop. Williams spent time training with Keebra’s Langer Trophy side towards the end of the year and was named in their extended 20 man squad in the finals series.
No. 13 Kaleb Smith (PBC SHS)
Queensland under 15 representative Smith was a ball playing lock who was tough and tenacious.
Second row: Anton Whaiapu (Keebra Park SHS)
Anton Whaiapu was the lock forward and captain of the team. He led from the front and laid the platform for the rest of the team. Contracted to the Gold Coast Titans, he has silky ball skills in attack while being an extremely strong and aggressive defender.
Second row: Duqlain Talaepa (Mabel Park SHS)
Contracted by Canterbury, Talaepa represented the Queensland under 15 schoolboys this season. He was Mabel Park SHS’s leading try scorer and most dangerous weapon in a season which saw them almost topple unbeaten Keebra Park SHS.
Prop: Isopo Taunuu (Keebra Park SHS)
Taunuu was the heart of the Keebra Park forward pack and always led by example with his damaging carries and bone-rattling defence. He produced a key try in the semi-final fixture with Mabel and also kicked off the scoring for Keebra in their grand final win against Marsden SHS.
Hooker: Mason Phillips (Wavell SHS)
Phillips was one of the best players in the 15 years age group who played at the national carnival, displaying great speed and vision around the ruck to both create and support half breaks. He is signed by the Bulldogs.
Prop: Emmanuel Asomua (Marsden SHS)
Asomua was the leader of the Marsden SHS pack who was consistently the best player in the side. He also managed to score a couple of key tries, including in the finals.
Reserves
Ayden Byrnes (PBC SHS)
An unlucky omission from the starting side but the first reserve chosen. Byrnes was a danger out of dummy half, with lightning speed capitalising on his team’s forward play.
Tane Cook (Mabel Park SHS)
Second choice on our reserves, Cook was so gifted he could play fullback or hooker - and he did just that this season. The Mabel Park captain who led the team’s try assists, Cook is lightning quick off the mark, strong leg drive and silky hands and is a real footballer who knows the game.
Chaev Kolone (Mabel Park SHS)
You know you have a good side on your hands when this Mabel Park front rower misses the initial First 13. Kolone was a huge man with a big engine who led from the front all season. He also managed to score some tries.
No. 13: Anthony Solomon (Marsden SHS)
The athletic Solomon shone in his first season as a middle forward and his ability to ball play in the middle eased pressure on the halves.
Sunny Kama ( (PBC SHS)
Another unlucky omission from the First 13 but an easy choice on the bench, Kama is a powerful running outside back who isn’t afraid of doing the tough stuff coming out of trouble. He was able to leave defenders in his wake with every carry.
Charlie Dickson (Wavell SHS)
One of the Dolphins’ first junior signings, Dickson is a hard working back rower very much in the Wayne Bennett mould of player who doesn’t miss them in defence. He represented the Queensland under 15s this season. He is an old Moreton Bay league club teammate of our fullback selection, Mereki Warradoo. Also a special mention to his Wavell teammate and fellow forward Romeo Ioapo.
Joshua Donovan (Keebra Park SHS)
Joshua Donovan is an elusive fullback who is electric with the ball in hand and safe as a house under the high ball. Donovan is well-related being cousins with Tigers fullback Daine Laurie and he may follow the same trajectory to the NRL if he continues his stellar form.
Toby Irvine (Caloundra SHS)
The Sunshine Coast fullback was an electric fullback with a similar style of play to Ryan Papenhuyzen. With larger bodies around him, he still managed to be a standout in every game.
He was our leading try scorer through his back to back efforts and speed around the ruck.
Prop: Presley Folau (Wavell SHS)
Contracted to the Broncos, Folau was a leading light for Wavell across the season, never taking a backward step in the hardest position on the field.
Natu Leota (Mabel Park SHS)
The young halfback ran the show for Mabel Park SHS, helping take them to the cusp of an upset semi-final win over Keebra Park SHS. Indeed with his ultra reliable boot, Mabel was the side which pushed unbeaten Keebra Park most this season.
Kobi Floro (Wavell SHS) and Hai Hiawe King (PBC SHS)
Were there a more improved middle forward pairing in the competition than this duo? Wavell prop Floro was so impressive, the Melbourne Storm, no less, came knocking with a development contract while PBC SHS prop was tough with plenty of go forward. And a special mention to PBC prop Bobby Smith and Waaka Hepi (Keebra Park SHS).
Creedance Thompson (PBC SHS)
The PBC SHS winger was a thrill-a-minute footballer who roved to add a dimension to PBC SHS’s quick feet around the ruck.
Originally published as Walters Cup Year 10 schoolboy league Team of the Season
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