Super Rugby round 4: Reds Under-16s, Under-19s dominate as Sunnybank winger Dan Malum detonates in Western Australia

The Queensland Reds Under-16s and Under-19s completed a successful hit-and-run mission in Western Australia when they took care of their Western Force rivals with ease. Best pictures, reports here.

Queensland Reds Under-19s winger Dan Malum had the Midas touch in Sunday’s wet weather skirmish against the Western Force in Western Australia. Picture: James Auclair.

The Queensland Reds Under-16s and under-19s completed a successful hit-and-run mission in Western Australia by taking care of their Western Force rivals in round 4 of the Super Rugby competition.

Townsville terror Troy Waike, left winger, scored three tries in a convincing 48-5 win by the under-16s before Dan Malum, right winger, scored two tries in a stirring display as the under-19s won 45-17.

The hardworking Waike, from Townsville Grammar School, had missed the matchday 23 for the Reds’ opening two games and returned in style on Sunday scoring three of his team’s eight tries.

Athletic big man Fergus Gillan, lock, was strong for the Reds Under-19s. Picture: QRU Media/ Anthony Wingard.

In the under-19s match that followed, Malum took things up a notch.

He scored two tries and created three others in a seven-try barrage by the Queenslanders as the rain poured down at Claremont’s Revo Fitness Stadium.

Both Waike (Townsville Grammar) and Malum (Brisbane Boys’ College) are Papua New Guinean talents with toughness, speed and a strong fend.

A magical performance like this had been brewing for Malum, one of the best outside backs in this year’s Colts 1 club rugby competition for Sunnybnak.

It was well worth the wait.

He starred as the Reds under-19s jumped out to a 33-5 half time lead.

In the second stanza the Force pulled it back but the first half damage inflicted by Malum, flyhalf Brody McLaren, No. 8 Vaiuta Latu and scrumhalf Callum Reidy was too much to come back from.

St Edmund's College, Ipswich product Tafito Ah-Ki scored two tries from scrumhalf for the Western Force.

LATU’S FANCY FOOTWORK

The Reds came out of the gates hard and fast in a runaway first half that set up a big victory.

After hooker Finlay King had began proceedings with a rolling maul try, mobile No. 8 Vaiuta Latu resembled an outside back when he stormed away downfield before unleashing Dan Malum.

Malum sent a kick infield which was regathered by Dre-Dyn Laban and passed onto captain Xavier Rubens who did the rest.

Dre-dyn Laban. Picture: QRU Media/ Anthony Wingard.

It all started inside the Reds’ 22m where lock Fergus Gillan and flanker Noah Rauluni orchestrated a telling lineout play that gave big Latu room to wreak havoc.

With a superb left-to-right step, Latu evaded his defender and charged upfield 45m before linking with Malum who was everywhere at once for Queensland.

MALUM MADNESS

Right wing Dan Malum had his breakout game for the Reds in the wet and it created a montage of highlights. There were enough produced in this game alone to pull together a hefty highlight reel of the electric Sunnybank talent.

He was everywhere, first noticeable by his black and bright green headgear and a moment later the star of the show when he mixed his sharp footwork and turn of speed to undo any progress made by the Force.

His relentless pressure on attacking kicks was also evident and it saw him have touches in four of the Reds’ five first half tries.

He dabbed in a perfect chip kick back infield for McLaren’s first try, regathered a high kick from Dre-Dyn Laban to put Xavier Rubens over, retrieved a wonderful box kick by halfback Callum Reidy to score a try himself before creating the Reds’ fifth try on the stroke of halftime.

It was another Reidy box kick belted downfield that was taken in the air by a high-flying Malum and shovelled onto prop Byron Murphy and then McLaren who scored his second try under the posts.

At oranges Malum had a try, two try assists to McLaren and heavy involvement in a 75m try by Rubens to his name.

Early in the second half he won a penalty pilfering the ball as well.

Scrumhalf Isaac Kefu and reserve halfback Alfie Bowman provided an effective one-two punch in the under-16s clash. Picture credit: QRU Media/Anthony Wingard.

A triple treat of tries by left wing Waike was the best of many highlights produced by the Queenslanders in their under-16s win over the Force earlier in the day.

The Reds scored eight tries in their comprehensive 48-5 victory over the Western Australians where Townsville Grammar weapon Waike returned to the line-up and made the most of it by scoring a hattrick.

Waike was one of the standouts at the Buildcorp Emerging Reds Cup staged at Ballymore last month, earning him a spot in this Reds team.

On Sunday, he served up a deadly right fend to escape his defenders and land three five-pointers.

Lincoln Dalton, Rohan Nichol, Hemi Rakuita, Alfie Bowman and Jack Calleja scored the other tries in an impressive bounce-back win by the visitors after losing to the Waratahs in round 3.

Outstanding lock Jack Calleja scored a try and muscled up in defence to create others. Picture credit: QRU Media/Anthony Wingard.

Waike was the beneficiary of some wonderful playmaking by his inside men, namely flyhalf Angus Underwood, inside centre Nichol and fullback Hemi Rakuita.

All three boys did well shifting the ball to the edges and Waike, with his fend coming in handy, made no mistakes.

Tai Taka was elite at outside centre. He has been one of the Reds best backs in this tournament. Picture credit: QRU Media/Anthony Wingard.

THROUGH THE HANDS

The Reds first try was something special and it showed that with time, this team can challenge the ‘Tahs for the title.

This group of boys had just four sessions together before round 1 and their improved connectedness was seen when Waike crossed to cap off a sensational 55m backline blitz early on.

The ball began in the hands of quick-thinking scrumhalf Isaac Kefu and it was shovelled across the backline through Underwood, Nichol, centre Tai Taka and finally Rakuita who offloaded on his inside to put Waike in.

Nichol’s crash runs, Taka’s thumping defence and offloading and Rakuita’s speed all played a part in the 43-point success that started with a bang down the left touchline.

Rohan Nichol was impressive in his return to the line-up. Shifting from flyhalf to inside centre, he implemented his running game and passed well to free up his back division. Picture credit: QRU Media/Anthony Wingard.

NEED FOR SPEED

After making the pass in contact that sent Waike over, Rakuita was at the epicentre of another highlight just moments later.

This time he did it all himself, the Ipswich Grammar speedster storming through the middle of the field and kicking away toward the right corner on his way to scoring a 70m stunner.

He can run 100m in 11.3s and on this occasion he was just too fast for the Force.

Rakuita was involved in the Reds’ third try in the 17th minute when himself, Taka and Malakaih Beals advanced the side into Jack Calleja territory.

Malakaih Beals. Picture credit: QRU Media/Anthony Wingard.

The imposing Calleja, the Reds lock, muscled over with a pick-and-drive to make it 19-0.

Nichol was next to score, handing Queensland a 26-0 lead at oranges.

Another long-distance stunner was scored in the second half when busy flanker Lincoln Dalton and impressive reserve scrumhalf Alfie Bowman (tryscorer) combined to score a 60m epic off a Dalton lineout steal.

If there was a man of the match award given, flanker Lincoln Dalton would have been a good chance. He was busy with the ball in hand and defending the Force ballrunners. Picture credit: QRU Media/Anthony Wingard.

SNIPING FROM THE SIDELINES

In his first start of the season, playmaker Angus Underwood had a handful of great moments that promptly brought the best out of his elite backs, Taka and Rakuita.

His clearing kicks were productive and touch finders accurate when marching the Reds upfield and his goalkicking showed he should be the No. 1 option in the team.

Underwood missed two, one from the sideline and one from in front. The three he got were all near the sideline.

Angus Underwood. Picture credit: QRU Media/Anthony Wingard.

He was kicking in the wind as well for all three sideline snipes and he had his hand in three tries before leaving the field early in the second half.

Underwood’s only blemish was a knock on but it came after he acrobatically tapped back infield a Force penalty kick for touch.

Originally published as Super Rugby round 4: Reds Under-16s, Under-19s dominate as Sunnybank winger Dan Malum detonates in Western Australia