The Surprise Packet players of the Meninga Cup, Connell Cup and Harvey under-19s competitions revealed ahead of grand final day
As the statewide junior representative competitions reach the business end of the season, we reveal the surprise packet players from the Connell Cup, Meninga Cup and Harvey 19s. FULL LIST
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As the Statewide Junior Representative competitions reach the business end of the season, we reveal the surprise packet players from each team.
See which Connell Cup, Meninga Cup and Harvey 19s aces have raised eyebrows with their improvement and development this year below ahead of the under-17s grand finals this weekend.
CONNELL CUP TEAM OF THE SEASON
The list includes Burleigh Bears brute Kilarney Lavender.
Lavender, an Ormeau Shearers junior, roared onto the Connell Cup scene this year with a pair of tries and continued to impress with his power game across the season.
The TSS student was playing in his first season for the Bears, and was somewhat of an unknown entering the season - at least to coach Ryan Gundry.
The Canberra Raiders scholarship holder and Queensland Reds under-16s selection last year began the season at centre, where he plays in rugby, but to get him more ball Gundry shifted him to the second row where he impressed with every outing.
What was most interesting about Lavender’s campaign was that just two years ago he was recovering from an ACL injury.
By the way he played this year, any person who saw him in action would not have picked that this time last year he was making his way back as an aspiring 15-year-old.
This story follows our previous coverage highlighting the best of the best junior representative players in the state, which you can catch up on below. These include stories on each competition’s fastest, strongest, most damaging and most underrated players.
Jump to: Cyril Connel Cup | Mal Meninga Cup | Harvey Norman U17s | Harvey Norman U19s
SURPRISE PACKET PLAYERS OF SEASON 2024
CYRIL CONNELL CUP
Redcliffe Dolphins
Archie Maddocks, Jett Walker, Dean Griffin
Walker and Griffin were stuck behind some good ones at times but when they got their chance, they made the most of it.
Meanwhile Maddocks was grafting away in the front row against opposition big men.
Burleigh Bears
Amare Milford
Signed by the Melbourne Storm, Milford took his Connell campaign up two gears in 2024 as an imposing edge player. The Southport School student is signed by the Melbourne Storm.
Disharne Tonihi
Burleigh had some genuine strike power this season and one of the reasons was the improvement of centre Tonihi who is associated with the Brisbane Broncos.
Ipswich Jets
Ioane Tiatia and Tannar Baker
The Jets may have missed out on their finals goal, but the development of centre Tiatia and mobile edge forward Tannar Baker was one of the many positives this season.
Wynnum Manly
Antonio Okusitino
Edge forward Antonio Okusitino was a rip-and-tear crash runner who complimented his teammates wonderfully.
He runs a great line, and with the likes of Majah Jose-Peachey and Jared Horne, Wynnum Manly will be in safe hands next year in the Meninga Cup.
Norths
Angus Tagicakibau
The headgeared assassin showed his class early in the season with a couple of strong outings.
He knows how to find the tryline and has the pace to get it done.
A pleasant surprise for Norths.
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Kaio Moses
Middle forward Moses came over from New Zealand and was another Falcons bottom age player who will grow into a big bodied forward.
With signs of promising ball skills, Moses is still navigating his environment and role in the team and will excel once he finds his feet.
Wide Bay Bulls
Eli Bunn
The Bulls halfback stepped up massively in the pre-season and has impressed a handful of people with his strength and control in the middle of the park so far this season.
CQ Capras
Jay Marsh
The youngest on the Capras’ squad, Marsh had always been a great player but his attitude, determination and maturity went up a few more gears during the season.
The emerging rake made our Connell Cup Squad of the Season of course.
Souths Logan Magpies
Emmanuel Asomua
Asomua’s statistics stood out like a sore thumb.
Playing upfront, Asomua was just a hard worker, someone who tore through the middle, defended like a man possessed and gave his all at training.
He understands what other people have to do so he can support them as best he can.
A coaches dream player.
Brisbane Tigers
Trent Picot
Improved incredibly with his positioning, switching from lock to edge forward.
The Brisbane SHS rugby ace had a first class campaign.
Jonah Wilde
A young fringe player, Wilde pushed his way into the squad and could either play lock or hooker for the Tigers.
He will back next season after a brilliant start as a 16-year-old this year.
Townsville Blackawks
Riley McIntyre
McIntyre plays in the halves for his school Ryan Catholic College but made a splash with the Blackhawks as a versatile fullback or outside back.
Townsville coach Nathan Norford said McIntyre had been one of his squad’s biggest improvers.
Norford said that squad members Mitch Hardy and Jayden Ryan were two players that had also impressed in the training paddock.
“They have been working their backsides off and they’re both new to the squad, putting pressure on the boys who have been there for a year already,” he said.
Northern Pride
Miki Torqueri
Miki Torqueri
Position: Hooker
Elsiyah Laumata
Position: Outside back
Lucas Russell
Position: Halfback
Riley Wells
Position: Edge forward
MAL MENINGA CUP
CQ Capras
Henry Kallquist
CA standout campaign with the Capras under-17s in the Cyril Connell Cup earned Kallquist a call-up to the under-19 ranks.
Tall and rangy, he’s hardworking, physical and all effort. The 17-year-old impressed off the bench in his first outing with the 19s and is expected to hold his place for the remainder of the season if he continues his strong form.
Ipswich Jets
Nicholas Tuliatu
New to the Jets Meninga Cup set up this year, big boy Tuliatu has taken massive strides with his running game destructive through the middle third of the field.
He has power and plenty of it.
Redcliffe Dolphins
Jayden Butt
The interchange workhorse empties the tank each week in a squad brimming with forward power.
He keeps raising his hand.
Norths Devils
Luke Adamson
The pacy winger has missed the last two games but prior to that he was doing a great job alongside Sylas Simon, Emerson Jackson, Brandon Norris and Adam Khan.
Western Clydesdales
Jack Philp, Harrison Boal, Matt Schultz
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Casino Williams
A Caboolture product that attracted plenty of eyeballs from his coaching staff, teammates and opposition in the pre-season.
A tall and rangy edge forward, Williams has hit like truck this season.
Wynnum Manly Seagulls
William Allen
The consistent edge forward had been in the squad last year, but this season he cemented a starting spot.
Indeed Allen came back from a hamstring injury which saw him miss the first couple of games like a man on a mission.
Has been one of the Seagulls best performers over the last month of games.
Tweed Seagulls
Billy Wellard
New to the squad this season, Wellard forced his way into a bench spot and after a couple of rounds he became a starter.
He has done a tremendous job weathering the early storm and being physical, enabling Zac Kumbabong to come off the bench and make a thunderous impact.
The Future Titan and TSS old boy will have another go-around next year.
Junior Filimaua
He played through the middle last season but this season found a home on the edge.
Strength has become a calling card of his in a stellar campaign where he has been one of his team’s best players week-in-week-out.
Souths Logan
Kruz Taputoa
The ace utility back was on the fringes last season but proved so versatile for coach Ben Trim this season.
He was playing hooker at the beginning of the season, played centre last weekend and will play fullback this weekend.
His defence has been a huge point of difference and the Marsden product has improved out of sight.
Townsville Blackhawks
Ethan Rains
A tough-as-nails hooker who made his impact felt in defence.
Rains surprised any players that underestimated his strength.
Ashden Lafferty
Blackhawks coach Luke Harlen knew the middle forward already from his
time at Centrals, but said the determined forward had still surprised him with
his impressive training.
“He’s just a hardworking no-nonsense forward,” Harlen said.
“No frills, he just goes all day with a high work rate.”
Northern Pride
Lachlan Magill
Position: Edge forward
Mackay Cutters
Ethan van Kerkwyk
Since coming into the Cutters line-up in round three, the five-eighth has been outstanding. Has a really good running game, knows when to take line on, and his ball-playing is top notch. Always knows exactly which option to go to.
HARVEY NORMAN U19S
Souths Logan Magpies
Nikolina Fangupo
The Magpies No. 13 was a top notch link between the Souths Logan forwards and backs and with a couple big names playing at different clubs this season, she stepped up to the plate and delivered in spades.
Redcliffe Dolphins
Memory Patai
Recliffe’s glue, Patai played halfback and captained the team.
She improved with each game and was the starting point for countless exciting backline shifts.
Norths Devils
Yasmin Harrop Toa Toa
Toa Toa arrived at the Devils after moving from Melbourne in order to give rugby league a go. She “got stuck in’’ and stood out because of her stinging defence and work rate.
The second rower was a first choice player.
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Shannyn Harm
Harm played, and starred in the centres last season but moved into the forwards in 2024. She proved a dynamic runner of the ball and made a difference with her high work rate.
Wynnum Manly
Maddison Schipplock
The tireless prop played more than anyone and “every minute was quality” according to her coach Steve Casey.
An 18-year-old who played in her second under-19s season, Schipplock moved mountains for her side which was light on middle forwards.
Tameka Barnes
Only 17 years of age, the youngster backed up after the under-17s to play every game in the under-19s under coach Steve Casey.
Her versatility was highlighted when switching from halfback in the under-17s to a diminutive hooker in the under-19s competition.
Tweed Seagulls
Mia Dendle
The elite middle forward improved dramatically this season, culminating in a BMD Premiership position where she is mixing it with the best on the Coast.
Sian McNeill-Ehrlich
Another big improver, No. 13 McNeill-Ehrlich played above her weight and was a Ms Natural.
A high IQ player who looks like she has been playing her whole life, McNeill-Ehrlich was a bundle of energy who would have been a dream teammate.
Brisbane Tigers
Kaylah Moloney
The Stretton SC outside back surprised with her defence a standout and her development in attack an added bonus for Damien Pratt’s terrific tiger cubs.
CQ Capras
Lilly Field
Relentless and dedicated, prop Lilly Field shone this season, showing plenty of grit and leadership in the middle.
She played some big minutes and never took a backward step. A team player who bases her game on the one percenters.
Townsville Blackhawks
Easther Mikaele
The younger sister of NRL player Thomas Mikaele, Easther made an immediate impression when she joined the Blackhawks squad earlier this
year.
Mikaele is a determined trainer and a physically imposing forward who spends plenty of her time in the gym or working on her skills.
Mackay Cutters
La Naliah Hine
After one playing one game as an underage played last year, the Cutters winger has come into her own in 2024 and featured in every match. One of the competitions top try-scorers playing outside Jen Kimber on right edge. Brings top effort every game and took her opportunity and ran with it this year.
Selina Cowley
The front-rower completed her season with the under-17s before stepping up to under-19 level, where she hasn’t looked out of place. despite her youth. Changed the semi-final against the Clydesdales and has been one of Mackay’s leading forwards over the past few weeks.
Northern Pride
Anna Toby-Lifu
Position: Halfback
Originally published as The Surprise Packet players of the Meninga Cup, Connell Cup and Harvey under-19s competitions revealed ahead of grand final day
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