Cyril Connell Cup under-17 rugby league Team of the Season uncovered here ahead of grand final

Queensland Maroons’ fans take note: The future is in good hands given the quality of our Connell Cup under-17 Team of the Season. Story here.

Andrew Dawson and Nick Tucker

12 min read

May 14, 2024 - 9:14AM

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Rest easy Queensland Maroons fans. The future is in great hands if this Connell Cup Team of the Season squad is anything to go by.

Ahead of the Connell Cup grand final on Saturday, we celebrate another bumper season by naming this crack under-17 squad.

HARVEY 19s TEAMS OF THE SEASON HERE

HARVEY 17s TEAM OF THE SEASON HERE

In our story we also acknowledge many other high achievers, while casting an eye ahead to players we can’t wait to see play again.

TEAM OF THE SEASON

1. Adam McSherry (Cutters)

Mackay Cutters fullback McSherry has come a long way this season and wins the No.1 jersey on the strength of his week to week consistency. Signed by the Brisbane Broncos, the St Patrick’s College fullback was a player on the up.

2. Tom Parker (Souths Logan)

Tom Parker tackling. Connell Cup under-17s action between the Souths Logan Magpies and Burleigh Bears. Saturday February 10, 2024.

We named Parker on the wing just to get him into the side. We first saw Parker as a fullback, but he played very well as five-eight all season for the Magpies. He was a running threat where his speed as either the primary ball carrier or support runner came to the fore, but he also had a nice passing game. He will hit the ground running for Ipswich SHS in the Langer Trophy season.

3. Jake Carsburg (Redcliffe)

The former under 15 Queensland schoolboys centre was a withering right edge finisher who took full advantage of his team’s forward thrust and backline shifts. His pack would have loved to see him flashing onto the ball at pace after the work they had done on the inside of him.

RELATED LINKS: SURPRISE PACKET PLAYERS

4. Joseph Tupuse (Souths Logan)

Joseph Tupuse. Picture credit: Dylan Fernley Media.

Broncos signed, the Keebra Park SHS centre was a beast bringing the ball back out of the danger zone either from dummy half or receiving the ball one off the ruck. In attack he could explode around an opponent centre and would have been a good role model for another rising centre at the club, young Tomu Cook who we mention elsewhere.

5. Conrad Browne (Ipswich Jets)

Browne was tremendous out of the back field on kick returns or taking ruck ball out of his quarter. He was a metre eater with a low error rate, while also scoring seven tries in seven matches. Defensively he made good decisions and was sound.

6. Noah Fien (Redcliffe)

Noah Fien. Connell Cup under-17s action between the Tigers and Dolphins. Sunday, February 11, 2024.

Fien benefited from the outstanding display by his forwards, his hooker Amare Wynyard and his five-eighth Carter Welfare who helped bring Fien’s running game into play. Fien ran confidently, playing at pace, either as a straight runner or angling towards a hole for his runners. He and Welfare were all class.

7. Braithen Scott (Clydesdales)

The St Mary’s game manager was again the complete package at No.7. If his ball play or running game was curtailed by opponents, he always had a killer short kicking game to fall back on.

8. Dyer Akauola (Norths)

Dyer Akauola rucking the ball up (No.8). Connell Cup action between Tweed and Norths.

Akauola was a prime mover across the competition with his effective carries and effort. It was little wonder the Dolphins snapped him up for an Academy place. He is a mobile forward brute who, despite being young for his age group, looks mature beyond his years.

9. Cooper Cox (Blackhawks)

Cooper Cox. Picture, John Gass

And here’s yet another dummy half whose blood was worth bottling. When you take into consideration he played in the wet season, often on sodden fields, his performance becomes even more meritorious. He is also a stopping defender who hits and sticks.

10. Cody Starr (Redcliffe)

His reputation preceded him and finally, after an injury disrupted 2023, we are seeing what all the chatter is about. The clash between this mobile young giant and Blackhawks prop Sitiveni Afu (Blackhawks) on Saturday will be worth the admission price alone.

11. Brian Pouniu (Redcliffe)

The young gun keeps adding to his reputation. He has boundless energy both in defence and with the ball, and his agility and running game add a dimension to the Dolphins attack. He does not like dying with the ball.

12. Taakoi Benioni (Blackhawks)

Taakoi Benioni. Picture: Evan Morgan

Benioni was a part of an awesome foursome from the Blackhawks who made our top squad. He is a devastating edge runner who gives his side drive and momentum, while also being able to tip on to support players.

13. Charlie Dickson (Redcliffe)

A tireless No. 13 with a clever running game that cuts back behind the forwards in either direction. Local junior Dickson was someone who mops up in defence or puts his body on the line to snare ball on the ground.

14. Sam Martin (Souths Logan)

Ipswich SHS Langer Trophy teammate Jack Laing and Sam Martin in 2023.

You can see the Broncos signed hooker spends hours practising the basics and working on his craft. In a side which was as good as any in the competition, Martin took advantage of working off his forwards like Andrew, Asomua and Feaunati, but when things were not rolling his way he still held his game together.

15. Hayden Watson (Burleigh)

Hayden Watson. Connell Cup under-17s action between the Souths Logan Magpies and Burleigh Bears. Saturday February 10, 2024.

Signed by the Storm, Watson was a part of a four way dead heat for our two top squad hooking positions alongside Cooper Cox, Sam Martin and Jay Marsh. Capped an excellent season by winning a hotly contested City under-17 jersey.

16. Lincoln Dalton (Norths)

The Dolphins signed No. 13 was one of the outstanding players across the competition and although named at 15, he was also going to be among the first dozen chosen.

17. Kobi Floro (Tigers)

The young giant from Wavell SHS has been doing on the job training and the more matches he plays, the better he is getting.

The big Melbourne Storm signee is going to be one of Wavell's prime movers in the Langer Trophy season.

18. Kilarney Lavender (Bears)

Kilarney Lavender. Picture by Richard Gosling

An impressive, athletic edge forward or centre from TSS who will just get better and better as he grows into his frame and gathers more experience.

He consistently aimed up for the Bears this season, scoring countless tries down the left edge with his power running.

He was destructive.

19. Sitiveni Afu (Blackhawks)

Townsville Blackhawks juniors against Mackay Cutters. U17 boys (Cyril Connell Cup) at Jack Manski Oval. Blackhawks Sitiveni Afu? Picture: Evan Morgan

The towering Afu will be a “must stop’’ player when he leads his middle forwards into the fray in Saturday’s grand final.

20. Mace Andrew (Souths Logan)

Mace Andrew. Connell Cup under-17s action between the Souths Logan Magpies and Burleigh Bears. Saturday February 10, 2024.

Whether coming off the bench or starting, the mobile middle forward from Marsden SHS was powerful with his post contact metres and leg drive, and covered holes in defence. South Sydney would be pleased with his progress.

21. Duquan Talaepa (Redcliffe)

Duquan Talaepa. Connell Cup under-17s action between the Tigers and Dolphins. Sunday, February 11, 2024.

The local junior’s consistency across the season eased him into our top squad in the hotly contested back row position. Talaepa also provided one of the highlights of the season with his try on the buzzer to beat Souths Logan.

22. Eneliko Savelio (Blackhawks)

Eneliko Savelio. Picture: Evan Morgan

Savelio was a devastating right edge runner for the Blackhawks. A second rower and former Queensland schoolboy, we can’t wait to see him progress as he gets more experience under his belt. Cowboys supporters, take note, as he has considerable potential.

23. Jay Marsh (Capras)

CQ Capras under-17 hooker Jay Marsh. Photo: Luke Fletcher

One of the babe’s of the competition, Marsh comes from great stock, has natural footy smarts with the ball but was also a very strong defender. We extended the squad to deservedly squeeze him in.

24. Jared Horne (Wynnum Manly)

Jared Horne.

A great leader who has packed a lot of footy experience into his head over the last two seasons. He was blooded as a Langer Trophy player at Wavell SHS as a Year 10 student and we are now seeing the benefits of such exposure. He suits the Broncos mantra both on and off the field

DEEP DIVE INTO 38 JUNIOR DOLPHINS ACES

The players we most wanted in our top squad but couldn’t squeeze in

Ezekiel Jones (Wynnum)

Wynnum Manly player Ezekiel Jones. Picture John Gass

Does this fellow have an off switch? He goes and goes and must have been on the cusp of selection in the City under-17 squad. It is no mystery why he earned a Broncos contract after backing up last season with an even better campaign this year.

Seth Gundry (Burleigh)

Burleigh Bears player Seth Gundry. Picture, John Gass

It was highly likely Gundry would have been the team’s fullback, but his season was cut short by injury after only playing three and a half matches. He was mighty hard to leave out even with less than a month of footy behind him, that’s for sure.

Jackson Koina (Falcons)

Sunshine Coast Falcons Cyril Connell Cup player Jackson Koina in action. Picture: QRL.

Koina played No. 13 and was captain of the Falcons. He was consistently in his team’s top three players this season and take pleasure in putting his name up in lights here.

Cayde Miller (Pride)

M is for Mighty and it is also for Miller, a fit as a fiddle No. 13 who was the heart and soul of the Pride pack this season and we’d love him in our top squad.

Marley Proctor (Blackhawks)

Marley Proctor. Picture: Evan Morgan

He had the benefit of playing behind an imposing pack and also being delivered the ball by his hooker Cooper Cox and his halfback Riley Carbone, but Proctor shone brightly as both a running threat and a creative general.

Carter Welfare (Redcliffe)

Welfare did the hard yards and it was because of him his edge players and halfback Noah Fien shone. He played straight and bravely, and if his outside men were covered, then he would barrel forward and challenge with his strength or kicking game.

Emmanuel Asomua (Souths Logan)

Unsigned by an NRL club, Asomua impact either starting or roaring off the bench was a big season for the Magpies’ commanding performance this season.

Lincoln Baker (Blackhawks)

Blackhawks player Lincoln Baker Connell Cup Blackhawks v Clydesdales Saturday April 6, 2024. Picture, John Gass

Baker has finished like a road train rolling through Charters Towers. The Blackhawks’ No.1 has really found his groove at the business end of the season and will enjoy playing a dry weather game on Saturday.

Finn Kendall (Ipswich)

Finn Kendall. Picture credit: Ipswich Jets Media.

Kendall is not the fastest centre or the edge back with all the flair, but he is an all effort footballer strong in both attack and defence. He reminds us a little of former Brisbane Broncos champion centre and NSW Origin representative Michael De Vere.

Fa’apale Feaunati (Souths Logan)

We’d love to have this bloke playing for our lives. The Broncos signed prop from Gregory Terrace never stops and was exactly the type of player who can make it into the NRL.

As an added bonus, he made the City under-17s this week.

Oliver Kleijn (Falcons)

Sunshine Coast Falcons Cyril Connell Cup player Oliver Kleijn. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Young for a prop and playing in the hardest position on the field, Kleijn displayed maturity beyond his years. He will be better off during the school season and in club footy again next year after his Connell Cup experiences this season.

Mark Morrow (Cutters)

Cutters’ Mark Morrow. Picture: Evan Morgan

A Queensland country representative selection, the tall Morrow once played in centres for his junior club Wests but now matches it with the best in the business this season as a middle forward. He will played for the country side in Saturday’s clash against City under-17s.

Kilarney Lavender (Burleigh)

Taylon To’a (Wynnum)

Wynnum Manly player Taylan To'a. Picture, John Gass

The left edge back rower was a ball running dynamo, an athletic second rower who had you nodding in approval. Watch this space when Marsden SHS returns to school football.

Declan Grady (Cutters)

The Cutters were not light years behind grand finalists Blackhawks this season and one of the reasons was the form of Brothers Mackay junior edge forward Grady. It is a nice moment for Grady to join his Cutters’ teammate Mark Morrow in the under-17 country side.

Max Blanch (Tigers)

Max Blanch. Connell Cup under-17s action between the Tigers and Dolphins. Sunday, February 11, 2024.

Seriously, you could have picked anyone of eight or nine dummy halves in our top squad and one of the very best was Blanch. It was an absolute toss up who was selected, but we are delighted to acknowledge Blanch’s outstanding season here.

The Churchie boy was the epitome of hard work.

Henry Kallquist (Capras)

CQ Capras under-17 forward Henry Kallquist.

A tall, rangy country kid originally from Wandoan Wildcats who dabbled in rugby union after attending Rockhampton Grammar School. He has developed into a front rower with a high work rate who has continued to improve his game.

Brodie Hilt (Clydesdales)

Then we have this No.9. A tough little rooster from the Darling Downs who threaded his way through a hotbed of talent to find himself as the Queensland Country hooker.

Need we say more given the quality of dummy halves going around?

Amare Wynyard (Redcliffe)

The Dolphins would not swap this No. 9 for all the seafood from Morgans Restaurant. A great defender with supreme service local junior Wynyard is a huge asset to his teammates.

And that is the greatest compliment you can pay him.

Eli McKay (Capras)

CQ Capras under-17 boys players (from left) Tyler Melrose, Eli McKay and Leo Fanuatanu bundle a Mackay Cutters player into touch during the pre-season trial game.

The tall, rangy, raw boned centre impressed every time we glanced our eyes across a Capras match. He also produced one of the tackles of the season during Capras’ 28-18 win over Pride, impact which was felt both near and far.

Oliver Patterson (Norths)

One of the competition’s very best outside backs who was only just squeezed out of our top squad. We look forward to seeing the pacy Patterson grow a leg in 2025.

Christian Mikaele (Ipswich Jets)

Mikaele was a class act with the ball who also curtailed opposition raids in defence. He could play with plenty of finesse but was never shy in taking tough carries or putting his body in front of the defence.

SPECIAL MENTION ENCORE

Jake Oberhardt (Capras)

Marley McLaren (Burleigh Bears)

Harrison Braithwaite (Wide Bay)

Trent Picot (Tigers)

Riley Zanetti (Clydesdales)

Dane Ransom (Blackhawks)

Harry Robinson (Clydesdales)

Zane Bethel (Blackhawks)

Harrison Meilland (Capras)

Heath Bethel (Blackhawks)

Tupou Francis (Bears)

Tyler Pereira (Wynnum Manly)

Taj Lateo (Seagulls)

Ronnic Starkey (Souths Logan)

Tyler Melrose (Capras)

Adaquix-Jeramiah Watts-Luke (Souths Logan)

BEST IMPACT FORWARDS

Emmanuel Asomua (Souths Logan)

Asomua was a sensation with his all or nothing runs and ability to unload the ball in traffic. As a middle forward, he was as good as anyone.

Jairus Halahala (Redcliffe)

The Dolphins signed middle forward would have been a certain selection had his appearances not been restricted by injury. But his last two weeks off the bench have been telling and we can clearly see what all the fuss is about.

Shaun Elara (Clydesdales)

Elara had tremendous skills and sparked many attacking raids through his own running, but also his passing game.

Kilarney Lavender (Bears)

BEST GLUE PLAYERS

Diesel Taylor (Blackhawks)

Taylor balanced the pack perfectly with his high work rate and ethic. His teammates would not swap him for anyone.

Ben Walker (Pride)

Walker did not always have the advantage of receiving ball on the front foot but jumped out where he could and defended himself to a standstill.

Elijah Breen (Tigers)

Elijah Breen. Picture courtesy of Dylan Fernley Media.

The classy playmaker had a deft kicking game and strong passing game which brought his teammates into the action.

UNSUNG HERO AWARDS

Riley Carbone (Blackhawks)

When you have a team like the Blackhawks, someone has to steer the ship and Carbone was the ideal foil between his big pack, Proctor’s enterprise, spritely hooker Cox and his mobile edge players.

Riley Wells (Pride)

Wells was a newcomer to representative football but learned on the run and can hold his head up.

Hunter Price (Clydesdales)

Price played against some monster packs in the competition, but the lightweight front rower held his own against the biggest and nastiest props around.

Heath Bethel (Blackhawks)

The Townsville winger was a metre eater, a hard working winger who deserves recognition.

Cooper Benvenuti (Tigers)

Cooper Benvenuti. Connell Cup under-17s action between the Tigers and Dolphins. Sunday, February 11, 2024.

This bloke is a very, very good rugby league prop. We first saw him playing for Alexandra Hills SHS, and the now Iona College student will be a great asset to the Tigers Meninga Cup program when he progresses to that level.

Dylan Gourley (Blackhawks)

Clydesdales player Dylan Gourley Connell Cup Blackhawks v Clydesdales Saturday April 6, 2024. Picture, John Gass

While he will be buying Taakoi Benioni and Marley Proctor Christmas cards this season for their left edge contributions, winger Gourley was more than just a finisher. He was also an effort player who chased hard and took ruck ball from the defensive end.

Cooper Young (Wynnum)

A young front row forward from Beaudesert, Young impressed against some of the biggest, grizzly props in the state. We can’t wait to see where he is this time next season.

PLAYERS YOU’D WANT PLAYING FOR YOUR LIFE

Wynnum Manly player Cooper Young. Picture, John Gass

Palehehau Latu (Tigers)

Gabriel Salele’a (Bears)

Ethan Jackson (Seagulls)

Cooper Young (Wynnum)

Jackson Koina (Falcons)

Shaun Elara (Clydesdales)

Dyer Akauola (Norths)

Brian Pouniu (Redcliffe)

PLAYERS YOU’D LEAST LIKE TO SEE COMING ACROSS IN COVER DEFENCE

Xzavier Timoteo. Picture credit: Ipswich Jets Facebook.

Duquan Talaepa (Redcliffe)

Xzavier Timoteo (Ipswich)

PLAYERS WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE MORE OF

Wynnum Manly players celebrate. In the middle is Dean Tauaa. Picture, John Gass

Tomu Cook (Souths Logan)

Dean Tauaa (Wynnum Manly)

Daniel Rakena (Bears)

Nelson Maka’afi (Seagulls)

Siosaia Poese (Souths Logan)

James Grey (Norths)

Adam McSherry (Cutters)

Kingston Seve (Bears)

Cody Starr (Redcliffe)

Joseph Litidamu (Clydesdales)

Tupou Francis (Bears)

David Bryenton (Wynnum Manly)

Te ara Tamepo-Habib (Souths Logan)

Cohen Dittmann (Blackhawks)

Jai Bilish (Seagulls)

Taoso Taoso (Norths)

Cooper Cracknell (Jets)

Ceasar Yeatman (Jets)

PLAYERS YOU’D LOVE TO HAVE AS A TEAMMATE

Jake Oberhardt (Capras)

Cohen Jackson (Cutters)

Hayden Polsen (Norths)

Zac Bateman (Capras)

Marley Igasan (Bears)

Braithen Scott and Shaun Elara (Clydesdales)

UNEXPECTED STRING TO YOUR BOW AWARD

Zac Bateman (Capras)

Zac Bateman at the CQ Capras versus Townsville Blackhawks underage games, Browne Park, Rockhampton, on February 17, 2024.

We had absolutely no idea Zac Bateman was such a good goal kicker. The highly rated back rower only started kicking goals for The Cathedral College last year in the Dolphin Cup and has been a real surprise packet this season, making him an even more valuable player. Is he the next Corey Parker?