Rugby League Gold Coast: Standout players from the Under-18, Under-20 grand finals

The under-18 and under-20 Rugby League Gold Coast premiers have been decided. Discover the players with nerves of steel that rose to the occasion.

U18 Division 1 as the Southport Tigers v Helensvale Hornets at Tugun RLC. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Burleigh capped off their dominant season in style to surge to the under-20 Rugby League Gold Coast premiership, while a gritty Helensvale outfit rallied to clinch the under-18 division one crown.

Discover all the top performers from both games below.

• U18 and U20 grand final coverage 

Under-20

Will Batten

Team: Burleigh Bears

The five-eighth played a great game. He was opportunistic en route to a hat trick, with his first try courtesy of a Bay error on a kick return and his second coming after an attempted dribble ricocheted back into his path. He was passing well close to the line and made some good runs out of dummy half.

Talas Abell

Team: Burleigh Bears

Made some good runs in attack and landed some big shots defensively to stop attackers in their tracks.

Kane Bowman

Team: Burleigh Bears

The halfback played some dangerous kicks and generally pulled strings well. He shifted the defence around and knew when to pass and when to run. Made some good tackles including one massive hit in particular in the second half defensively.

Teiti Sikahele

Team: Burleigh Bears

Sikahele scored a solid try and had clean involvement in Burleigh’s passing chains. He was strong both offensively and defensively.

Teddy Foster

Team: Burleigh Bears

Foster scored a hat trick which well and truly buried Runaway Bay late in the game. His second four-pointer was a particularly impressive long range effort where he strode over untouched courtesy of a beautiful dummy that deceived the fullback.

Teddy Foster. U20s Burleigh Bears v Runaway Bay Seagulls at Tugun RLC.Picture: Glenn Campbell

Malakai Rhind

Team: Runaway Bay Seagulls

Rhind had some good defensive moments and his great tackle technique held him in good stead.

Zinzan Kahu

Team: Runaway Bay Seagulls

Made the most of a rare Burleigh error late in the clash and used his pace to get over the stripe.

Under-18 Division One

Zac Kumbamong

Team: Helensvale Hornets

Kumbamong was a very deserving man of the match. He grinded out the full 60 minutes in the middle and was superb from start to finish. He scored a good try forcing his way over the line and produced a remarkable run where he simply couldn’t be stopped to pave the way for another later in the game.

Helensvale Hornets player Zac Kumbamong was best on ground in the 2024 Rugby League Gold Coast under-18 division one win. Picture: Mitch Bourke.

Disharne Tonihi

Team: Helensvale Hornets

Tonihi broke the game open in the second half with back to back tries. The first was a superb piece of individual work and the second a very tidy finish under pressure in the corner. He also produced some great runs in his own half to get his side out of trouble and had a good fend. His performance was all the more impressive when you consider he very nearly missed the match with an ankle injury.

Helensvale Hornets player Disharne Tonihi dazzled in the 2024 Rugby League Gold Coast under-18 division one win. Picture: Mitch Bourke.

Baylen White

Team: Helensvale Hornets

Was very involved in the Hornets attack with a great running and passing game and led his side well.

Josh Siulepa

Team: Southport Tigers

Was a presence in the middle all day for the Tigers and made some massive runs.

Zac Murphy

Team: Southport Tigers

Murphy had a great running game and vision, and his kicks asked some questions.

Silaumuaoaana Talese Fomai

Team: Southport Tigers

The well built winger was a shining light for the Tigers. He laid some hard hits and made plenty of massive runs. One in particular early in the second half was brilliant after he caught a bomb and gained about 30 metres weaving his way through the entire Helensvale defence. Was very involved in the Hornets attack with a great running and passing game and led his side well.