Meninga Cup Dolphins derby: Redcliffe v Norths Players of the Round
Meninga Cup’s Dolphins derby: Latest Players of the Round here, including the best from the big shoot-out between Norths and Redcliffe which saw the son of a former Origin series winner star.
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Two tries in the final three minutes was not enough for Norths to overrun Redcliffe in a Dolphins’ Derby thriller at Bishop Park.
Redcliffe won 24-22, turning a 6-10 halftime deficit into a 24-10 lead before Norths swept home with two late tries.
Norths then had one set of sixes to steal a win, but Redcliffe held on.
Dolphins hooker Braelan Marsh, one of more than a dozen players from this game signed to the club’s NRL academy, swung the game emphatically his team’s way with a telling performance.
TOP SIX SEMI-FINALISTS
Seagulls 16, Cutters 14, Dolphins 14, Bears 11, Devils 11, Magpies 10
FIRST HALF SUMMARY
Redcliffe dominated possession and territory for the opening 10 minutes of the match, and no one would have been surprised to see the Dolphins open the scoring.
During this period props Carter Ford and CodyStarr were magnificent, and behind them hooker Braelan Marsh was off and running.
But with an even share of possession, the Norths’ players worked themselves back into the match.
With No.13 Charlie Dickson, left centre Robertson Tusi Tofu and second rowers Montgomery Betham and Duquan Talaepa leading the stampede, Norths arrested the flow of the game and put some medicine right back on Redcliffe.
+ 9th minute (6-nil to Redcliffe)
A Callum Bowles surge from the defensive end of the ground set the Redcliffe side alight, and 60 seconds later Noah Fien put his fullback Reeco Kirk over to score against an exhausted Norths’ defensive line.
+ 14th minute (6-all)
Norths’ first decent run of possession led to attacking field position, enabling hooker Lachlan McCall to bring Charlie Dickson back on the inside for a crash ball run which saw the Devils’ No.13 blast over to score.
+29th minutes (10-6 to Norths)
A crashing run by Devils’ centre Keyarn Pene softened Redcliffe up for Sonny Herdegen who, from dummy half, scored one of his typical close to the line tries.
EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF
Norths were actually marginally ahead in the second half arm wrestle, revved up by the energy of second rowers Betham, Talaepa and interchange forward Dyer Akauola.
But a straight drop by winger Tyrese Tovao gifted his opposite Jeremiah Patea an easy try and Redcliffe had swung back into the lead, 12-10, seven minutes into the second half.
MARSH THE MASTER
Redcliffe hooker Braelan Marsh stunned Norths in a three minute surge which saw the Dolphins go from a two point lead into a 24-10 advantage.
Initially Marsh produced two telling dummy half runs to sprint his side forward, then delivered slick service to forwards Brian Pouniu and Taufa Taulani which gave him the momentum to send fellow hooker Amare Wynyard plunging over next to the posts.
Then 90 seconds later Marsh backed up a break from Wynyard to score, running 20m to break the game wide open.
So who were the Players of the Round following four catch-up games contested ahead of the finals?
Braelan Marsh (Redcliffe)
Marsh was sensational and it is little wonder the Dolphins moved three years ago to snare his signature from the Rockhampton region.
Cody Starr and Carter Ford (Redcliffe)
The Redcliffe props were enormous early and again late, paving the way for their team’s victory. It is no coincidence Norths were shading their rivals during the pair’s absence from the field.
Charlie Dickson (Norths)
Dickson could not get the Devils’ home, but it was through no lack of effort. No player in this competition finds their front, when tackled, more than the Norths’ No.13. He deservedly scored the try which gave his side a chance in the final set of the game.
Callum Bowles (Redcliffe)
Bowles produced five or six telling runs, entering the fray from the left wing to stride into the teeth of the Norths’ forwards.
Duquan Talaepa and co (Norths)
Left centre Robertson Tusi Tofu and second rowers Montgomery Betham and Duquan Talaepa were outstanding across the match, while other centre Keyarn Pene played to his usual high standard. Dyer Akauola also made his presence felt for Norths when he came off the interchange bench.
Brian Pouniu (Redcliffe)
Brian Pouniu’s defence against Norths fearless edge runners was crucial to the outcome of the game.
AmareWynyard and Taufa Taulani (Redcliffe)
The boys were interchange aces who both played a part in Redcliffe pushing ahead 24-12.
Souths Logan 44 defeated Clydesdales 12
David Bryenton (Souths Logan)
The five-eight was a class above, taking advantage of his team’s forward progress to run and pass the Clydesdales’ defence off its feet. His star continues to get brighter.
Xzavier Timoteo (Souths Logan)
The Magpies prop continued to make up for lost time after an earlier suspension, with his driving runs early a building block for his side. His mobility in defence also came into play during his second stint when the Clydesdales had more ball.
Tannar Baker (Souths Logan)
Unsung left second rower Baker had a busy night with his driving runs off the ruck and his ability to elevate Joseph Tupuse’s impact at centre with quick ruck ball, passing or decoy runs. His night’s work included a try saving tackle around the ruck.
Joseph Tupuse and Finn Kendall (Souths Logan)
Both centres had big nights, despite the best efforts of their opposition. Tupuse was powerful in contact and elusive from the ruck, while Kendall got better as the more the match unfolded. His right field charges set off alarm bells.
Siosaia Poese (Souths Logan)
Like Kendall, Poese got better as the match rolled on, lifting the tempo of his team’s attack with elusive running around tired forwards. His running game gave his team another attacking arrow outside of Bryenton.
Andrew Fonomaalii and Carlos Bagon
When Timoteo, Fa’apale Feaunati and Jayden Solien departed the field, Fonomaalii and Bagon retained the rage with their emphatic performances off the bench.
Jake Durie and Tait Cameron (Clydesdales)
The Clydesdales spine leaders tried their best to rally their side with the ball, but it was tough given the aggressive, advancing Souths Logan defence. But their effort was high. Durie somehow prevented powerhouse Souths centre Tupuse from scoring
Olley Spicer (Clydesdales)
Physically the Toowoomba No.13 was totally out gunned, but his effort was sky high in a team which tried hard, but had energy sucked from them by Souths Logan’s early forward onslaught and Bryenton’s creative play.
Ipswich 34 defeated Falcons 10
Harrison Hill (Ipswich)
The classy Jets’ hooker added the sugar and spice to his team’s play around the ruck, latching onto the momentum and quick ruck ball generated by Henry Kallquist, Clinton Smith, Jabiri Mack and Bill Fraser. Ipswich could not have been in better hands this season.
Will Graham (Falcons)
Graham lost nothing in comparison to his high class rivals No.9, and even morphed into a running No.13 when Darcy Weatherall was injected during the second half.
Corey Elder (Ipswich)
His kicking game, but distance and height, gave the Ipswich chase defenders more time to make their mark. With the ball Elder was an instinctive, natural talent.
Kiama Jione (Falcons)
Against a big pack his driving runs and post contact metres were big plays in his team’s attempt to snare a road win. A cross-code talent who represented Queensland in rugby and dabbled with Australian football during the Schools’ Cup, Jione looked a promising player.
Jabiri Mack (Ipswich)
Mack was a defensive strong man on the edge and a handful whenever he carted the ball forward. His presence either catching the ball or running as a decoy also aided the Jets’ performance.
Lachlan Coburn (Ipswich)
Coburn was his industrious best, working overtime around the ruck on both sides of the ball.
Johnathan Leuluai (Falcons)
He scored one spectacular try and had a second disallowed, all the while being willing to involve himself from the defensive end of the ground.
Bears 30 defeated Tigers 6
Hayden Watson (Bears)
There is no better dummy half in the competition able to take advantage of momentum around the ruck than Watson. When his massive backs carried ruck ball, or his forwards won contact, Watson was dashing and dynamic as Burleigh set up the win with a 20-6 first half performance.
Antonio Verhoeven (Bears)
The hulking centre continued to impress with his power running, worth ethic and his ability to pick up either his winger Trew or fullback Innes with a pass in contact. In defence he had his opponent covered.
Robert Smith (Bears)
Smith got down and dirty when he entered the fray, playing tough with his carries around the ruck and covering inside passes or runs that were angled back around the ruck. Fellow interchange forward Tavake Tau’a’alo also made his presence felt.
Disharne Tonihi and Bailey Trew (Bears)
Burleigh fielded possibly the biggest wingers in the competition and both boys rattled the Tigers defensive line with strong running. They were also able to effortlessly finish attacking raids by running in long distance tries.
Jackson Connor and Jack Tuite (Tigers)
Both second rowers had a huge job on their hands confronting towering edge players and wingers from Burleigh, but defensively they finished with their reputations intact.
Kayliss Brown (Tigers)
The Tigers front row of Levi Rusin, Brown and Cooper Benvenuti have been outstanding all season, and again the boys dug deep to play their backsides off.
Jaffahl Skillington (Tigers)
While he could not shake off the alert Burleigh defence, the young fullback’s effort could not be questioned.
Originally published as Meninga Cup Dolphins derby: Redcliffe v Norths Players of the Round
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