RLO Newsletter 12/9: Colts Grand Final week
Plus a look at the National Schoolboys and Schoolgirls finals.
Townsville and Easts, sorry, Brisbane (ugh), will meet in this Sunday’s Colts Grand Final, the last ever for the competition.
For the Blackhawks, the reigning premiers, it will be their fourth appearance and third consecutive, while for the Tigers, it’s their first time in the big one. Before this season, the Tigers had never gotten past the first week of the finals, knocked out after one game in their last three seasons.
Townsville pulled off the best upset win, 24-12, over minor premiers Tweed. They led just 4-0 at halftime after a scrappy first half. Tweed hit back a minute into the second stanza and led with 20 to play when backrower Ryan Foran scored his second. The Blackhawks regained the lead four minutes later through centre Dudley Dotoi and then added two more inside the final 10 to secure the win. Blackhawks winger Jesse Yallop scored two more tries to take his career tally to 51.
On Sunday, it looked like another upset was brewing when Brenton Baira scored Redcliffe’s second try to go up 8-6 over the Tigers. The first try of the day to Tigers’ fullback Lachlan West got his side back in front and they scored two more just before halftime to lead 24-8. Another try in the 50th minute put them up 22 before a late consolation try to the Dolphins. Tigers’ captain Simon Pratt scored his third of the afternoon in the dying minutes to seal it 36-14.
Pratt was named QRL’s “Heavy Lifter” this week. You can watch his highlights here. Highlights from both prelims are available here and here.
The Grand Final kicks off at 3:15pm on Sunday, September 17 at Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium and will be shown for free on Kayo Sports.
🏉 Dogs through to the GF, Eels roll on
Canterbury have qualified for their first Jersey Flegg Grand Final since 2003 after knocking off the Roosters 26-6. After conceding inside the first five minutes, the Bulldogs took the lead in the 17th minute and never relented. Lightning quick winger Jordi Mazzone scored three tries in the win, in what was a dominant performance by the Dogs’ spine of Joash Papalii, Karl Oloapu, Joseph O’Neill and Reuben Moyle. For the second straight year, the Roosters have lost the major semi coming off the bye and will now face a red-hot Parramatta side.
Parramatta, who have won six in a row, moved onto the prelims thanks to a 20-6 win over Cronulla. Like the Bulldogs, their spine was dominant, with halves Josh Lynn and Ethan Sanders and fullback Te Hurinui Twidle having a hand in all four of their tries. Trailing 8-0 at halftime, Cronulla got back into the contest through halfback Manaia Waitere before the Eels regained control, scoring twice in the second half to keep their season alive.
Highlights for both semi-finals are available here.
The Roosters and Eels have played twice, with each side picking up a win. In Round 21, the Roosters got up 30-16, handing Parramatta their last loss before their current winning run. In Round 25, with their season on the line, the Eels won 36-20. My prediction for this weekend: the Eels hot streak continues.
🏉 National Schools Finals this week
The first-ever National Schoolgirl champions will be crowned this Wednesday (September 13) when New South Wales’ champs Hills Sports High meet Queensland champs Mabel Park State High at Allianz Stadium.
Hills finished second in their pool, knocking out the previously undefeated Westfields Sports in the semi before holding on for a 20-14 win over Erindale College in the state final. Two of their 17 from the state final played Tarsha Gale Cup this season, with winger Jasmine Dooley playing five games for St George and second rower Leila Black playing eight for Parramatta. They are coached by former Warriors NRLW player and Fijian international Patricia Raikadroka.
Mabel Park overcame a 26-0 halftime deficit to defeat Ipswich State High in their Queensland semi and then destroyed Kirwan State High 38-0 in the state final. Undoubtedly, their star player is five-eighth Malaela Su’a. Su’a is a Titans NRLW development player who just this year played seven BMD Premiership games for the Tigers, represented Queensland under-19 and was named an Australian Schoolgirl.
Following the girls’ final, the Schoolboy Cup final will be contested by Westfields Sports High and Palm Beach Currumbin State High. It’s the first time the two schools will meet in the final, with PBC looking for their first national title and Westfields their second.
Westfields blitzed through the group stage of the Peter Mulholland Cup, going undefeated through the tough Seeded Pool. After a big win over All Saints’ Maitland in the quarters, they did it tough with close wins over Erindale in the semis (22-16) and Patrician Brothers’ Blacktown in the state final (18-17).
Palm Beach Currumbin finished fourth in the Langer Trophy group stage, winning four of their seven games. In the quarters, they eliminated their local rivals, Keebra Park, before knocking out first-placed Marsden and 2022 champs Ipswich on their way to the state final, where they trounced St Patrick’s Mackay 28-0.
Westfield’s Wests Tigers duo, five-eighth Lachlan Galvin and fullback Luke Laulili’i were named Australian Schoolboys in July. Laulili’i missed the state final through injury but may make an early return to play in the final. Alongside the pair are several other Tigers juniors, including winger William Craig, hooker Heith Pritchard and backrower Sosefo Finau, who all played SG Ball for the Magpies in 2023. Centre Roy Quirouz-Mapusua played for Manly in this year’s SG Ball and is another to keep an eye on. He scored the match-winning try in the state final two weeks ago. Front rower Ocean Vaivela joined Parramatta from Queensland this year, where he played in Souths Logan’s under-16 side.
PBC features five Future Titans who have led the Reds to the national final; winger Sunny Kama, centre Sam Stephenson, halfback and captain Zane Harrison, second rower Jac Finigan and Ray Puru, who has been electric off the bench. Harrison’s halves partner is Bailey McConnell, son of former Cowboys halfback and two-time Queensland Cup premiership-winner Brent McConnell. Sam Stephenson’s dad, Paul, played 55 games for Manly and Cronulla, while second rower Baylen Donald is the son of current Jillaroos coach Brad Donald. The Reds are coached by longtime Queensland Cup player Tim Maccan, who started at halfback in Tweed Head’s Grand Final win in 2007.
Both games will be streamed live here but you’ll need a NewsCorp subscription to access it (boo). The girls kick off at 11:30am, with the boys at 1pm.
🏉 Queensland City-Country U17 sides named
The boys and girls Queensland City-Country sides have been named for their annual fixture. This year’s games will be played at Logan Metro Football Fields on Saturday, September 23.
Jordan Rankin, who will coach Parramatta’s Flegg side in 2024, will coach the boys’ City side, taking over from David Stagg, while Antonio Kaufusi will once again coach Country.
Last year, City took out the girls’ contest 40-6, while the Country boys got up 38-20.
U17 City Boys
Javon Andrews (Souths Logan / Titans), Cooper Bai (Burleigh / Titans), Coby Black (Wynnum Manly / Broncos), Jett Bryce (Wynnum Manly / Broncos), Lachlan Buchbach (Souths Logan), Phillip Coates (Souths Logan), Jac Finigan (Burleigh / Titans), Harrison Hill (Norths), Sam Hyne (Norths), Saxon Innes (Wynnum Manly / Broncos), Sunny Kama (Burleigh / Titans), Prestyn Laine-Sietu (Redcliffe / Panthers), David Leota (Ipswich / Bulldogs), Markatato Nosa (Brisbane Tigers), Cory Pearse (Souths Logan / Titans), Raymond Puru (Burleigh / Titans), Dirhys Sefo (Souths Logan), Sam Stephenson (Burleigh / Titans). Coach: Jordan Rankin.U17 Country Boys
Bailey Anderson (Mackay / Storm), Jai Bowden (Sunshine Coast / Storm), Seth Carpenter (CQ Capras), Preston Cassidy (Townsville / Broncos), Jett Day (Clydesdales), Carter Ford (CQ Capras / Dolphins), Zac Garton (Redcliffe / Dolphins), Zac Herdegan (Norths / Knights), Clancy Hohn (CQ Capras), Beau Lucien (Sunshine Coast), Braelan Marsh (CQ Capras / Dolphins), Tom Morcom (Wide Bay / Broncos), Tavita Penaia (Townsville / Cowboys), Bodhi Sharpley (Clydesdales / Titans), Kayne Smith (Mackay / Cowboys), Elijah Tapau-Taylor (Townsville / Eels), Rydell Tyrrell (CQ Capras), Banjo Walker (CQ Capras). Coach: Antonio Kaufusi.U17 City Girls
Hayley Bush (Wynnum Manly), Lyla Duffy (Ipswich), Jaida Faleona (Tweed), Indiahna Frawley (Brisbane), Ella-Jaye Harrison-Leaunoa (Ipswich), Sienna Ibrahim (Brisbane), Grace King (Burleigh), Sifa Leapai (Ipswich), Easther Mikaele (Tweed), Aspen Nakao (Redcliffe), Raewyn Olomalii (Redcliffe), Te Rina Pearse (Souths Logan), Sharnalii Peckham (Tweed), Isla Talau (Tweed), Kaylani Tavita (Souths Logan), Mhia Taylor (Burleigh), Bella Thompson (Burleigh), Kiara Wright (Burleigh). Coach: Ana Fotu.U17 Country Girls
Mariah Brown (Clydesdales), Tori Dakin (CQ Capras), Lucy Davis (Clydesdales), Makayla Elliott (Sunshine Coast), Pypah Ferguson (Clydesdales), Shaylee Hazeldine (Mackay), Jennifer Kimber (Mackay), Emily Maher (Sunshine Coast), Chelsea Middleton (Clydesdales), Zaleah Mosby-Nona (Townsville), Chloe Pallister (Clydesdales), Chloe Powell (CQ Capras), Elenoa Ragunamada (Northern Pride), Abbie Ritchie (Sunshine Coast), Eva Steers (Sunshine Coast), Mackenzie Stephens (Northern Pride), Caitlin Tanner (CQ Capras), Takoda Thompson (Sunshine Coast). Coach: Amanda Ohl.
🏉 NRLW Graduates - Round 8
Jae Patu became the Wests Tigers’ 10th graduate from their Tarsha Gale Cup side when she debuted in their Round 8 loss to the Broncos. The 18-year-old lock captained the side this year and represented NSW City under-19 in May.
Front rower Jacinta Carter got her first taste of NRLW in Newcastle’s win over the Roosters. A Norths Devils junior, Carter is a two-time Queensland under-19 representative. She moved through Wynnum Manly’s under-19 system into their senior in 2022, playing six games as an 18-year-old before moving to Newcastle this year.
Milton-Ulladulla junior Lily Rogan came off the bench for the Roosters in that defeat to the Knights. Rogan played three seasons for Illawarra’s Tarsha Gale side, spending time at centre, wing and five-eighth, before moving up to their senior HNWP side in 2023.
🏉 Australians Schoolboys call up
17-year-old Dragons centre Hayden Buchanan has been called into the Australian Schoolboys side to tour Papua New Guinea later this month. A Gerringong junior, he moved from the Steeler’s Harold Matthews side straight into the Dragons’ Jersey Flegg side earlier this year, playing four games. The Kiama High student scored nine tries in eight Matts games and was playing A grade for Gerringong before his move into Flegg.
Around the grounds
For more information on all games head to 18thman.com.
Jersey Flegg Cup – Finals Week 2
Parramatta 20 (M Komolafe, W Latu, S Loizou, E Martin tries; E Sanders 2 goals) def. Cronulla 6 (M Waitere tries; K Dixon goal) at Leichhardt Oval. Referee: J Sutherland. Halftime: PAR 8–0. Tackles: H O’Kane 35 (CRO), M Arthur 32 (PAR). Run metres: K Dixon 131 (CRO), E Martin 194 (PAR).
Canterbury 26 (J Mazzone 3, D Marshall, L Smith tries; J Papalii 3 goals) def. Sydney 6 (O Flaherty try; V Tamati goal) at Leichhardt Oval. Referee: D Brady. Halftime: CBY 16-6. Tackles: M McCathie 36 (SYD), R Moyle 33 (CBY). Run metres: J Swann 158 (SYD), L Hopoi 175 (CBY).
Hastings Deering Colts – Finals Week 3
Townsville 24 (D Dotoi 2, J Yallop 2, C Hill tries; R Wavik 2 goals) def. Tweed 12 (R Foran 2 tries; E Speed 2 goals) at UAA Park. Referee: M Gannon. Halftime: TSV 4-0. Tackles: R Foran 32 (TWE), J Baldwin 40 (TSV). Run metres: R Ratana 185 (TWE), R Wavik 205 (TSV).
Brisbane Tigers 36 (S Pratt 3, L West 2, T Veukiso tries; B Black 6 goals) def. Redcliffe 14 (B Baira, C Jackson, J Walsh tries; B Baira goal) at Totally Workwear Stadium. Referee: C Kwik. Halftime: BRI 24-8. Tackles: B Ashton 43 (BRI), B Major 43 (RED). Run metres: C Morgan 223 (BRI), B Baira 226 (RED).