Meninga Cup round 10: How the weekend unfolded in Meninga Cup action

Meninga Cup update: Two Falcons two super subs dragged their side from behind while the Capras defied a Man of the Match performance by a losing Tigers prop in a weekend of thrills and spills.

Sunshine Coast Falcons Mal Meninga Cup player Tait Coghlan scored the winner one minute from time. Picture: QRL.

Rocky Tigers junior Clancy Hohn (Capras) starred and two Sunshine Coast super subs rocked in the two late Meninga Cup clashes this weekend.

Today the Capras came from behind to defeat the Tigers 22-18 despite a monumental performance by Tigers prop Elijah Keung, while last night Tait Coghlan and Cooper Clarke were interchange match winners for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in a last-gasp win over Blackhawks, 20-16.

“It was a great team performance and the boys really had to dig deep,’’ said Falcons coach Cam Boaza, More on that game soon.

In other matches over the weekend, Connell Cup boom boys Brian Pouniu (Redcliffe) and Hayden Watson (Burleigh) played up in their age groups to help their respective sides to Meninga Cup under 19 wins today.

Pouniu, the premiership winning edge forward from the Dolphins, played centre, while representative No.9 Watson did well at hooker.

Tweed returned from a bye weekend to beat Ipswich, the Bears avenged last week’s big loss to Ipswich to defeat the Magpies 46-24.

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At Barlow Park in Cairns the Pride’s Kaiden Kahrs returned strongly to help his team beat Norths 38-10 while Wynnum Manly made it three on the trot, winning 32-18.

Xavier Hellyer’s kicking game today in the wet was excellent. Picture courtesy of Dylan Fernley Media.

And at a wet, muddy Martin Oval in Toowoomba, the Dolphins were clinical in winning 32-8.

TIGERS v CAPRAS

Capras rookie half Clancy Hohn was the hero as the Capras came back from a 12-nil halftime deficit to win 22-18.

The Queensland Country under-17 representative, playing up in his age group, sparked one try and scored another with a wonderful individual effort.

On a damp day the Capras were willing, but needed a spark and it was Hohn who provided that.

Brian Pouniu in the Cyril Connell grand final.. Photo: Vanessa Hafner/QRL

Capras looked in trouble early, and again at the death against Tigers prop Elijah Keung was a front row dynamo.

Keung’s first 20 minute stint for the Tigers was elite, a bull dozing performance which sometimes saw him take two rucks a set.

He always played the ball quickly, and then late in the game got his side back in it with a driving individual try next to the posts.

The mobile Keung kept his legs pumping on contact and did not deserve to be on a losing side. It was a special performance.

Earlier, his teammate Xavier Hellyer was a wet weather specialist.

As the big wet continued in Brisbane, the kicking game of Hellyer was first class, particularly his short game which swung momentum in the first half when he delivered his side several restarts.

The Tigers missed his control in the front line when he was forced to fullback in the second half to cover for an injury.

Tigers rookie prop Kobi Floro playing for City in last week’s under-17 match. Picture, John Gass

Tigers rookie prop Kobi Floro also made an impact with quick play the balls through the middle, and on one occasion his handling almost created a try for Braxton Wilson-Clune.

The Tigers led 12-nil at halftime, but had several near misses which cost them at least a try, while there was an unlucky call on Wilson-Clune for an attempted double movement near the line.

Clancy Hohn playing for Emmaus College.

But the Capras surged back into the match courtesy of a runaway try from Connor Guley just after the break and at 12-6, it was anyone’s match again despite the Tigers being better across the first half.

Capras’ halfback Hohn then fired his team out of a stalement with a brisk blindside run and from there, the back peddling Tigers defence struggled. Three tackles later, Hohn went to his left and found centre Banjo Walker who crossed and the Tigers lead was just two points, 12-10.

With momentum at their back, the Capras’ players rolled forward and against a tiring line the dancing feet of CQ No.1 Seth Carpenter delivered his team the lead, 16-12. It had been a stunning recovery by Capras.

Hohn, with the wind in his sails, then scampered over for the game-defining try to set up a win which looked most unlikely at halftime.

It was a day for hard working backs and players on both sides stepped up to the plate, with Tigers centre Braiden Driscoll and Capras wingers Iziah Broome and Mataio Tapau-Bon willing participants.

Although outgunned, Capras prop Lachlan Middleton was courageous, and his second rower Cooper Broadhurst a grand worker in the wet.

Another good player for the Tigers was No.13 Braxton Wilson-Clune.

TWEED v IPSWICH

Tweed half Ryder Williams came up with some big plays as the Seagulls survived a second half revival from Ipswich to ease out to a 40-16 win.

After a near perfect opening had sent the Seagulls surging out of the blocks, the Jets closed the gap to 16-20 midway through the second half before the winners pulled away again.

“I liked that we were able to handle some pressure and the weight of possession against us in the second half to get back on top and get the job done,” said Tweed coach Sam Meskell.

Williams played well, including a game defining tackle in the second half which saved a try, helping quell Ipswich’s recovery.

Jets coach Tye Ingebrigtsen said his team did well to get back into the contest in the second half. “But they just kicked out in front and we let a couple of soft, late tries in. But I was impressed that we got ourselves back into the contest.

“It’s positive signs for us heading into the finals.’’

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The Seagulls ruck speed early caused no end of problems for Ipswich, as willing as the Jets defenders were.

With the increasingly impressive Tweed dummy half Cory Pearse getting the ball in his hands quickly, and halfback Zane Harrison a general, the Tweed forwards marched up the field.

It was simple, quick, precise rugby league which firstly prised a hole on the left edge where winger Tyson Ploegsma scored, and then gave fullback Jake Lateo a chance to split Ipswich down the ruck.

Ploegsma’s try came after a lovely wide pass by Ryder Williams, while Lateo’s midfield burst led to Williams scoring under the posts.

Earlier, only an amazing ball and all tackle by Ipswich prop Lyncoln Cliffe presented another try by Tweed.

Such was Tweed’s momentum, the match desperately needed Ipswich to arrest the trend of the game and they did with a surging right side raid that led to centre Saifiti Junior Saifiti powering over. That reduced Tweed’s advantage to 10-4.

But it was Tweed who regathered its previous tempo, with lightning ruck ball from No. 9 Pearse giving prop Jack Schmidt a chance to barrell over. Tweed 16, Ipswich 4.

Tweed’s right edge defence also stood up to Ipswich’s left side passing movements, with centre Sam Stephenson doing a good job among that edge group.

Williams, Stephenson and winger Ploegsma played well while hooker Nathan Fraser led the way for Ipswich.

BURLEIGH BEARS v SOUTHS LOGAN

At UAA Park on the Gold Coast, Cyril Connell hooker Hayden Watson shone in his Meninga Cup debut to inspire the Bears to a 46-24 bounce back win over the Souths Logan Magpies.

Hayden Watson playing Cyril Connell football earlier in the year.

Young Watson, signed by the Melbourne Storm, had been elevated from the Connell Cup where he was a leading player for his club.

Burleigh had a point to prove following last weekend’s 32-10 loss at the hands of Ipswich and what a response they produced.

Filling in for an injured Klay Tencred, Watson was wonderful, with his speed to the rucks and pin-point-passing setting things up nicely for his halves Coby Black and Bailey McConnell.

The Magpies fought well, with impressive five-eighth Javon Andrews the firing pin in a strong first half performance by the visitors.

Kaiden Lahrs played strongly for Northern Pride in game No.2 back from injury.

Harlem Tata-Paki, Andrews, Braden Teuila and Noah Walker scored in that first stanza, but the Bears came out brilliantly in the second to ensure victory.

Their second half surge was engineered by tireless middle forwards Brady Turner, Oscar Laffranchi, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu and No. 13 Cooper Bai who can do no wrong.

But none impacted more than Storm signee Amare Milford, the mountain man edge forward who made inroads with his carries.

The big boy was everywhere.

“It was a full mindset switch,” Burleigh coach Ben Linde said of his team’s approach following last week’s loss.

“Earning the right, before the fancy stuff. It is as simple as that.

“They responded to it really well.”

Souths Logan led 20-12 at the main break, but a burst of penalties against them early in the second half turned the match on its head and Burleigh were good enough to capitalise.

In the space of eight minutes, the Bears struck three times. First through Milford, then Sunny Kama and finally McConnell, thrusting the Magpies onto the back foot after playing out a strong first half performance.

Indeed the opening 10 minutes of the second half changed the game.

“The effort was there,” Magpies coach Ben Trim concluded.

Jayden Solien was strong again at No. 13, along with hooker Jacob Tinsley who captained the team well.

Jack Philp for Western Clydesdales earlier in the season - he played strongly today. Picture: Kevin Farmer

REDCLIFFE v CLYDESDALES

Redcliffe captain Zac Garton put his stamp on proceedings as the Dolphins successfully completed a hit and run mission against a willing Clydesdales, winning 32-8 at Jack Martin Oval.

In greasy conditions, the local boys would have been gathering for ambush, but Redcliffe maintained its composure after a spirited start by the Darling Downs side.

Zac Garton.

Garton produced two big plays in the first half to elevate his side to high ground after his team held just a 6-4 advantage.

Garton’s unloading in a tackle gift wrapped his centre Brian Pouniu a try, then Garton did it all himself with a 20m run past two tackles to score.

It was a great captain’s try.

Both Garton and big prop Patrick Kailahi were strong up front for the Dolphins, while LJ Nonu continued to make the fullback position his own.

Five-eight Lachlan Buchbach topped and tailed his day with tries in the second minute and 68th minute – both close to the line individual efforts. Both were warmly welcomed given the conditions.

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The Clydesdales had their own high performer on the edge, Trace Beattie, whose deeds included a sweeping cover defending tackle to save a certain try after Redcliffe fullback LJ Nonu had broken through.

To the Toowoomba-based team’s credit, they kept at it despite the scoreboard mounting against the locals, with centre Joseph Litidamu scoring.

“I thought we played really tough and I think the score didn’t indicate the game at all,’’ said Clydesdales coach Gus McKellar.

Western Clydesdales 2024 under-17 Queensland Country reps Joseph Litidamu, Braithen Scott, Brodie Hilt, Shaun Elara, Pypah Ferguson, Tayla Horrobin and Mia Byrnes. Litidamu (left) scored for the Clydesdales on Saturday.

“We were close to scoring three or four times,’’ he added, praising Beattie, Matt Simpkins and Jack Philp.

Redcliffe had started well when five-eight Buchbach, playing directly, crossed to score. However, the Clydesdales were encouraged when winger Matthew Drews dived over in the corner.

Matthew Drews of Western Clydesdales.

NORTHERN PRIDE v NORTHS

Kaiden Lahrs ramped up his return from injury with a gun-ho performance for Pride, but it was the teamwork of the FNQ boys which really had coach Bevan Walker singing their praises.

Pride beat the Devils 38-10, turning a 12-6 lead into a comfortable margin.

Lahrs, the 2023 Queensland schoolboy captain, played a big match in the middle in only his second game back from a shoulder injury.

He was good, and so was left centre Assariah Lenoy Sam, but it was the team performance which most impressed coach Walker.

“We play well when everyone contributes and we are not relying on a few,’’ Walker said.

Walker said his team’s execution and game management had improved, along with an ability to build pressure.

Sylas Simon scored for Norths. Picture courtesy of the Norths Devils.

He said Pride were also working hard on being able to wrestle back momentum once the opposition were challenging with the ball.

Pride started well with two tries from kicks - once when Jonah Raiaveta grabbed a bomb that had bounced, and another time when Mason Kira pounced on a grubber kick by Kaleb Eaton.

When Norths almost pulled alongside to trail by just six points, Pride’s back division of Jara Twist, Liam O’Brien and co ignited the side from the back, leading to a half break by hooker Braith Dowson. From that momentum Braithen Ketchell was able to scamper over from dummy half.

For the Devils, fullback Sylas Simon continued to impress, while edge forward tough man Noah Rauluni did his job well.

Liam O’Brien also continued his excellent season for Northern Pride.

Lauloto Salei scored for Norths on Saturday. Picture courtesy of Norths Devils Media.

WYNNUM MANLY V CUTTERS

The Wynnum Manly Seagulls continued its fine vein of form with a 34-18 victory over the Cutters in Mackay.

Charlie Johnstone inspired the Seagulls with a three try effort in the first half.

The fast paced utility back scored his team’s first three tries after they conceded an early four-pointer to Rory Woodall - the hattrick scoring edge forward.

Rory Woodall. Picture credit: Mackay Cutters Facebook.

But it was the Johnstone show, the winger, who shifted to fullback during the game, scoring three in the first half to give Wynnum a 18-4 half time buffer.

After losing their first three matches of the season, Wynnum have gone five-from-six to surge towards the final round.

Seagulls coach Daryl Short said his side’s resurgent second half of the season came on the back of “some cohesion”, saying his playing group had “gotten better as the season has gone on”.

On Saturday, his side conceded an early try to goal kicking edge forward Rory Woodall, but stuck true and responded with Johnstone the finisher.

Johnstone is a good, honest footballer - with a dash of flair.

Last year he was the best flyhalf in the GPS rugby competition, and his fast feet and core skills have been to the fore of Wynnum Manly’s recent success this season.

Charlie Johnstone playing for Churchie last year.

When Wynnum Manly lost a man to the bin, Johnston moved into fullback.

He really could play in the halves, on the wings, or at fullback. And when Wynnum were playing with a one man disadvantage, they still put on two tries.

Isopo Taunu’u and Beni Allen were excellent for the Seagulls and were rewarded with tries. Pictured is Cooper Day.

Mackay was better than the scores indicated.

Indeed they bombed two early tries and had some other chances to bring the scoreboard closer.

Cutters’ hooker and his props Tavita Penaia Te’o and Matthew Watts wound up and had a go throughout, and overall Mackay were not light years off challenging Wynnum. “They tried their guts out,’’ coach Andy Battaia said.

SUNSHINE COAST v BLACKHAWKS

The Falcons prop Cooper Clarke was the hero for engineering a late try as his side survived a dramatic comeback by the Blackhawks to push clear 26-20 on Saturday night.

Jai Bowden played strongly. Picture: kyliesfootyphotos/Kylie McLellan

With his side behind 20-16, Clarke charged 45 minutes with just six minutes remaining before popping a pass to halfback James Marriott who crossed.

Never-say-die hooker Tait Coghlan then scored the winner one minute from the end, with his chip kick rebounding off the Blackhawks’ markers into his hands. It was a grand second half performance from both teams.

“I was really pleased with Cooper Clarke again. He did a massive amount of work and to get to a line break late in the game to put James Marriott over was a fantastic effort,’’ said Falcons coach Cam Boaza.

“Jai Bowden again controlled the middle and I was really pleased with the outside backs (Tristan Roselt, Kye Porter, Jaelym Hohaia and Benjamin Waters).

“I asked them to do a lot of work coming out of yardage and they did that. They really helped the middle.’’

Boaza also praised the energy of Coghlan who he said got a bit lucky with his match winning try from a kick.

Sunshine Coast Falcons Mal Meninga Cup Tait Coghlan (middle) runs out to the field. player Picture: Kylie McLellan/Kyliesfootyphotos.

Having led 16-4 at halftime, Sunshine Coast were forced to strike late, with tries by James Marriott (64th minute) and Tait Coghlan (68th minute) sweeping their side to victory.

The Blackhawks had scored three successive tries, with their revival gathering momentum the more the half progressed.

Blackhawks recovery started with some nice hole running by Izaya Leedie close to the line saw him carry two defenders to the line and score after a nice pass by five-eight Anthony Iorangi.

Impressive fullback Logan Deininger then accepted a nice inside ball by Kanye Pua’avase in a set play move to find a channel to the line which levelled the score up at 16-all.

Then with 10 minutes to play, Blackhawks’ puppeteer Iorangi chip kicked for his winger Rayzarlin Pearson who, in driving rain, did so well to catch and score under pressure. It was 20-16 and the Falcons were in grave trouble.

There was a huge moment when the referee correctly ruled off side from a charge down six minutes from fulltime, leading to possession down the field for the Falcons.

Ashden Lafferty was strong for the Blackhawks, along with five-eight Anthony Iorangi

Originally published as Meninga Cup round 10: How the weekend unfolded in Meninga Cup action