Live stream: Walters Cup grand final between Marsden SHS and Keebra Park SHS
Two tries in the final four minutes from their electric backline has propelled Keebra Park over a heartbroken Marsden to the prestigious Y10 title. Catch up on the REPLAY.
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Two tries in the final four minutes elevated a fast finishing Keebra Park SHS beyond Marsden SHS’s clutches in a gripping Walters Cup decider.
Keebra Park won 24-16, hitting the front four minutes from fulltime when fullback Israel Lotaki scored.
Halfback Harvey Smith used his lightning hands to create an overlap for Lotaki to storm into.
Then, with seconds remaining, rising five-eighth talent Cornelius Kelsall burst away to set up a try for centre Simione Tauelamgi.
It was the joy of joys for Keebra Park SHS, but heartbreak hill for Marsden SHS.
Earlier, Keebra Park’s Tyrel Anderson produced a monumental charge at the line to score 10 minutes from fulltime, which cut the margin to 16-14 as Marsden led by two points.
Marsden had nosed its way in front when fullback Grayson Wharakura used his size, strength and leg drive to power over for a crucial try 20 minutes from fulltime which broke the 10-all halftime deadlock.
In the first half, Keebra led 10-6 after two brilliant individual tries, one by Jack Hamilton, who ignited the match with a rollicking 20m effort, and the other by five-eight Cornelius Kelsall, who produced a superb 12m burst to score.
But Marsden had strike power as well.
From close range, centre Mairangiatea Walker slid over in the corner, then near halftime Marsden halfback Zoram Jhae-Watene launched a wide pass to put his winger Jeremiah Toko away. Toko sold a dummy to score and it was 10-all.
PREVIEW
Two towering Melbourne Storm signed fullbacks will go head to head in the Walters Cup decider when grand old rivals Keebra Park SHS and Marsden SHS meet in Wednesday’s showdown.
Marsden No.1 Grayson Wharakura and elite Keebra Park fullback Israel Lotaki have had savvy Storm talent scouts walking around with smug looks after the NRL high achievers swooped to sign the boys.
Both Storm young guns will be in action in the Walters Cup decider which will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV as part of our comprehensive coverage of the SEQ schools league finals.
Check out the schedule box below to find links to the other SEQ finals.
Marsden’s Wharakura takes on the role of an extra forward but can also skirt wide and create for his outside men in traditional fullback fashion.
Lotaki is just a freakish talent in his first season at No.1. You get the impression he could play anywhere from second row to fullback with ease.
“He was a centre at the start of the season and then we tried him at fullback after a couple of injuries,’’ said Wavell SHS coach William Pei.
“He has killed it ever since. He is enjoying it and what he offers with those kick return carries is something we have been pleased about. He sets the tone with those carries.’’
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Marsden SHS coach Matt Hartigan said his fullback Grayson was a marvel for his work rate down the middle and efficiency, but also his skills wide of the ruck.
He plays down the middle and can metre eat like a prop, while sweeping wide when a shift wide of the ruck is on.
It is not unusual to see him tag team, go one-to-two through the ruck with his twin brother, Nik, a prop also signed by Melbourne.
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Both Marsden and Keebra have made it to the big dance after auspicious starts to their campaigns against Wavell SHS who were rampant early.
Frankly, Marsden were blown off the park by Wavell SHS in round 2 - yet months later this team were grand finalists.
“The squad has worked extremely hard to build our game model. They are proud to be Marsden Makos,’’ Hartigan said.
Keebra Park coach William Pei also had to get the building blocks out and reconstruct his team after a round 1 loss, also to the Wavell Warriors.
“We have built up after we did not have the best start,’’ Pei said.
“That (loss to Wavell) was a hiccup to our season but we gradually picked up and every week we have had to deal with injuries and players not available.
“We faced some adversity in getting our best team out onto the park, and to walk away at the end of the season as minor premiers was something we were pleased about.
“But obviously we were not content with the minor premiership.’’
The grand final will be the clash of two big hitting packs.
Keebra Park SHS’s Lennox Whaiapu is unsigned by an NRL club, but he won’t be for long if he repeats his semi-final performance.
Marsden SHS prop Haka Kennedy is a throwback to the good old days, a straight hard running prop who knows no fear.
Marsden SHS No.13 Zack Lotaki was the best forward on the field in his team’s semi-final win over Wavell SHS. He was just tough with and without the ball.
After the forwards do what they do, watch for the respective dummy halves and backs from both teams to let fly and explode to life.
Keebra Park’s highly rated five-eight Cornerlius Kelsall is back in business after returning from injury, while one of the competition’s best week to week players has been Marsden No.6 Nathan Phelps.
Respective centres Simione Tauelangi, Xhai Waerea (both Keebra Park) and Mairangiatea Walker, Chris Vaimili Toalepai (both Marsden SHS) were in form and all have flair to find the line.
Around the ruck Marsden SHS have the light footed No.9 Tippessa Lee, the brother of 2020 Queensland State of Origin series winning hero Brenko, while Keebra would not swap Qubin Anderson for all the eggs in China.
Originally published as Live stream: Walters Cup grand final between Marsden SHS and Keebra Park SHS
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