Queensland representative rugby league: City versus Country battle provides highlights galore
Qld Country halves Adam McSherry and Grange Womal worked wonders in their team’s boilover win against City on Wednesday. More here on how the U17 male and female rep games went at Langlands Park, including our best photos.
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Queensland Country halves Adam McSherry and Grange Womal worked wonders in their team’s 32-22 boilover win against their City rivals in Wednesday’s wonderful under-17 clash.
In a bruising affair staged at Langlands Park, Broncos Academy ace McSherry and his Mackay Cutters partner in crime Womal had their hand in five of the six tries scored by the boys sporting a bright yellow strip.
Country, captained by Sunshine Coast tone-setter Jett Ryan, jumped out to a telling 20-4 halftime lead before conceding two tries in rapid succession early in the second half to see the match hanging in the balance at 20-16, in favour of Country.
After a brilliant first half showing, Country finished strong when landing two late tries, both off which came off the effective boot of Womal.
A triumphant dislodging tackle by No.13 Ryan as the clock dwindled down added the exclamation point to the stunning 10-point success.
MCSHERRY MAGIC
Mackay’s magic-man McSherry had his prints all over Country’s cracking start which saw them lead 6-0 after 13 minutes and then 14-0 after 25 to startle their opposition.
Wearing No.6 on his back, the powerfully built utility put City to the sword with his productive run, kick and pass package.
After a neat grubber towards the in-goal area had earned his team another six tackles, McSherry faked to kick before releasing a pass across his body to impressive centre Norman Campbell.
It was a pinpoint cut out pass which Campbell then fed to Trent Martin, who landed the first blow in the right corner (12th).
To create Country’s fourth try (32nd), McSherry pinned his ears back and stormed 50m downfield before being wrestled to ground 5m short by City prop Viliami Fifita.
Hooker Jay Marsh made the executive decision to cut out two players and find right centre Campbell who bested two defenders on his way to snaring a 20-4 advantage and subsequent down payment on victory.
BAKER’S BRILLIANCE
The razzle-dazzle delivered by the men from the bush was highlighted when headgear-wearing fullback Lincoln Baker scored the try of the day (17th).
The pacy Townsville teen and player of the match tore through the middle of the field to score a 45m special and extend Country’s lead at 10-4.
Baker’s brilliance followed a string of big defensive plays by Toowoomba enforcer Liam Marshall, a Valleys Diehards prop, and exceptional impact-forward Parker Gallagher who roared off the bench.
Marshall, Gallagher and the scheming Jay Marsh, along with McSherry and prop Josiah Fa’aso, were all key in changing momentum after City had got off to a clobbering start defensively to stop opposition players in their tracks.
Once Country shouldered a few big hits, it was game on.
RETURNING SERVE
City came out of the break like a house on fire scoring two tries in five minutes to flip the script and make it 20-16 with 30 minutes left.
That was as close as they would come because Womal and his warriors had different ideas.
Two short kicks, which bounced favourably for Country chasers, were gobbled up and scored by trusty winger Leo Fanuatanu and second rower Nathan Thomas. That made it 32-16 and put the game out of reach before halfback Harvey Smith scored a terrific try late to settle the scores.
Threatening fullback Israel Lotaki, winger Hemi Rakuita, wrecking ball forward Kalani Patu and lock Lincoln Dalton were excellent assisting the work of boundless prop Hayden Polson, City’s man of the match.
In the girls under-17 clash, Sunshine Coast edge forward wonder Ays Pollock delivered arguably the best performance seen in a losing side all season. Her impressive 60-minute performance came in a gallant 18-8 loss against.
City scored four tries to two but it was their menacing defence in the 20 minutes approaching full time which ensured the gritty 10-point success.
Impressive spine-utility Diamond Graham, later named player of the match, and hooker Enah Desic were tackling terrors who forced a dropped ball before lock Alessana Betham brought the rage herself to repel the fast-finishing Country side on another monumental occasion.
It was a fitting end to a fantastic game where the tall and skilful Pollock proved a powerhouse on the left edge, complementing the rip-and-tear Elishama Suavai.
Suavai, Country’s dynamic player of the match, was sublime with ball in hand and in defence on the right side of the field.
Pollock, who played in last year’s fixture, returned a different beast in 2025 with her impressive offloading, power-game and instincts second-to-none in a high-quality showcase of female footy.
Pollock’s stunning performance as captain capped off a fine club season where she spearheaded the Falcons to the grand final, played at Langlands Park just four days earlier.
NATI STILL A NEUSANCE
City playmaker Marmie Nati maintained the rage from her club season with Souths to leave a palpable mark on the first half.
A revelation for the Magpies with her running and passing game, Nati was at her best alongside returning halfback Torah Luadaka, who played in this same fixture in 2024.
Luadaka and Nati had touches in City’s first try scored by centre Afeena Faamafu and again had their say just before half time when Redcliffe outside back Sinalei Tupu, stationed on the left wing, scored her second.
It was like deja vu watching Nati put it on the chest of her teammate. Her crisp right-to-left cut out pass skipped two players before finding the ever-reliable Tupu.
Just two minutes into the second half, Nati sent left Leilani Taofinuu en route to the tryline after a brilliant decoy line from lock Alessana Betham left the Country right edge defenders in two minds.
It was one of few defensive slip ups by a gutsy outfit led admirably in attack by Alanieta Nauqe, Sedeequa Nelson and hooker Ella Duncan.
DASHING DUNCAN
Before Tupu scored a double in the 10 minutes leading into half time, Country were level 4-all and mounting momentum with hooker Duncan at her scheming best.
A fine product of the Souths Junior Sharkies club in Mackay, Duncan took it upon herself to get Country moving forward with no shortage of ruck runs.
With Suavai a defensive terrior and the likes of lock Cianna Faulkner and fullback Tah’ Lucy Querro all playing out wonderful games, Country had their chances to return from 10 points down and stun the city slickers.
City’s defence however was virtually impenetrable.
The only time cracks appeared was when Pollock cut out two attackers to put over her Falcons teammate Sailor Bowker (18th) and then again when she flicked the ball away to Querro who found the last link in Emily Jackwitz (41st).
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