RLO Newsletter 27/6: Rivalry Round in Queensland
And a normal round in New South Wales.
This past weekend, it was a rare full slate of under-21s games across both competitions. In Queensland, it was Rivalry Round, while down in New South Wales a big winning streak came to an end.
🏉 Hastings Deering Colts – Round 10
Burleigh opened Rivalry Round with a 14-point win over Tweed, their fifth consecutive victory. Tweed trailed by 16 at halftime and cut the lead to four inside the final 20 minutes before the Bears sealed it with two more tries. Burleigh backrower Adam Christensen continues to impress, scoring his sixth try of the season.
Brisbane Tigers bounced back from their first loss of the year with a 54–18 win over Ipswich. The Tigers scored 38 second-half points to return to the top of the ladder. Lachlan West scored two more tries in the win, taking his total to 12 from nine games. I’d say the Tigers’ fullback is the Player of the Year leader at this stage.
The Capras recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season after defeating Mackay, 32–24. The Cutters looked set to end a five-game losing streak when they led by 12 after 45 minutes but they wouldn’t score again as the Capras ran in 20 unanswered points. Capras’ prop Mitchell Leard-Lamont, who has played two Queensland Cup games in 2023, scored a try and ran for 221 metres off the bench.
Townsville continued their hot form with a dominant 58–6 win over the Northern Pride. Hooker Jai Hansen and middles Jeremiah Matautia and Luke Jack were the standouts for the Blackhawks, while winger Cathane Hill scored three of this side’s 11 tries. Townsville, who have won five straight, meet Redcliffe in a big Grand Final rematch this weekend. The Pride are still winless this year.
An under-21s classic was played out at Kougari Oval on Sunday afternoon, with Wynnum Manly outpointing Redcliffe, 34–30. The Seagulls got off to a blistering start to lead 28–6 at halftime. The Dolphins then came out to win the second half 24–6. Despite 64 points being scored in the first 68 minutes, there was none in the last 12, with Wynnum Manly holding on for the win.
Souths Logan overcame an 18-point deficit to break Norths’ hearts at Bishop Park. The Magpies crossed four times in the last 30 minutes, including the game-winner in the final two. The Devils haven’t won a game since Round 3. Souths Logan five-eighth Jaxen Yow was in the thick of it again, scoring twice.
Sunshine Coast ended the round with a 44–4 flogging of the Clydesdales. Taine Couper, Elliot Smethills and Mason Peut all crossed for doubles in the win. Couper’s first try was especially impressive, a chip-and-chase effort from 40 metres out. The victory puts the Falcons four points clear of eighth place.
Team of the Week: 1 Taine Couper (SCF), 2 Blake Anders (WYN), 3 Cruz Lasike (BUR), 4 Mason Peut (SCF), 5 Brenton Baira (RED), 6 Jaxen Yow (SLM), 7 Jake House (BRI), 8 Mitchell Leard-Lamont (CQL), 9 Jai Hansen (TSV), 10 Jordan Penquitt (BRI), 11 Jordan Heke (CQL), 12 Adam Christensen (BUR), 13 Luke Jack (TSV).
All Colts game stream live on qplus.tv. Townsville’s Luke Jack was the QRL’s “Heavy Lifter” this week and you can watch his highlights HERE.
🏉 Jersey Flegg Cup – Round 17
Round 17 got underway with a 12-try special in Lidcombe, as Canterbury defeated the Wests Tigers 38–28. There were four lead changes in the first half with the Tigers taking a two-point lead into the break. The Bulldogs regained the lead for good with three tries in 11 minutes after halftime.
Parramatta finally ended their five-game losing skid with a 10-point win over Cronulla. Eels’ hooker Matthew Arthur score two of his side’s four tries and assisted another. The Sharks still sit in the top four but have won just once in their last four games.
Penrith got the better of Newcastle in their Grand Final rematch, 20–18. The Panthers led 20–6 at halftime and held on for the two-point win. The victory sees them jump Cronulla into third. It’s a back-to-back loss for the Knights, who sit six points outside the Top 5 and face Canterbury this weekend.
Manly is on their equal-biggest winning streak since the Jersey Flegg was reintroduced in 2018. They picked up their fourth straight win by taking care of South Sydney, 48–14. Hooker continued Jamie Humphreys his hot form, scoring twice and kicking eight goals in the win.
The ladder-leading Roosters took care of business in Glebe, defeating Canberra, 24–14. They were forced to come from behind against the last-placed Raiders, who took a two-point lead in the 44th minute. Three tries in 11 minutes sealed it for the Tricolours.
After proclaiming them the hottest team in the competition last week, Melbourne suffered their first defeat in nine weeks, losing 22–12 to St George Illawarra at home. The win puts the Dragons just four points behind the Storm, who remain in fifth. Melbourne faces a tough test in the Roosters this weekend.
Team of the Week: 1 Ben Rumble (SGI), 2 Cody Lawson (PEN), 3 Ben Johnson (SGI), 4 Will Latu (PAR), 5 Montel Sione Lisala (CBY), 6 Joseph Teaupa (CBY), 7 Harradyn Wilson (MAN), 8 Damon Marshall (CBY), 9 Jamie Humphreys (MAN), 10 Peter Taateo (PEN), 11 Charlie Guymer (PAR), 12 Max McCathie (SYD), 13 Caleb Tohi (SYD).
Round 17 highlights are available here.
🏉 National Schools Championships
The 2023 under-18s National Schools Championships begin this weekend, with the top schoolboys and girls heading to Redcliffe in the hopes of being selected for Australia.
It will be the first time that a full girls’ Championship will be held. In 2022, the inaugural Australian Schoolgirls side was chosen after a one-off match between Queensland and New South Wales.
Unfortunately, like all high school rugby league in 2023, the Championships will be streamed live behind the News Corp paywall. I’m aiming to have a complete preview of the boy’s competition up sometime this week.
🏉 Confraternity Carnival kicks off
The 2023 Confraternity Carnival got underway on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium before moving to St Laurence’s College playing fields in Runcorn on Monday. The opening game between St Laurence and Villanova College was the curtain-raiser to the Broncos-Titans NRL game, with St Laurence winning it 26–16.
For those unaware, the Confraternity Carnival (“Confro”) is Queensland’s biggest Catholic and independent secondary schools rugby league competition, running annually since 1980. Seven of Queensland’s victorious Origin II side took part in the carnival as high schoolers1, while the likes of Jonathan Thurston, Bob Lindner, Wendell Sailor, Matt Bowen and Matt Scott also participated in their teens. If an NRL player went to a Catholic school in Queensland, they most likely played in Confro.
This year, 52 schools are competing in the boys competition, with 12 in the girls. Ignatius Park College is the defending boy’s champions, having won their seventh title last season. The girl’s champions are Burleigh’s Marymount College, who took out the inaugural title in 2022. The 2022 carnival was the first since 2019, with the 2020 carnival cancelled due to COVID-19 and the 2021 edition cancelled in the quarter-finals due to lockdowns in Brisbane.
Ignatius Park’s seven wins put them in third all-time behind St Patrick’s College Mackay’s eight wins (their last win was in 2003) and St Brendan’s College Yeppoon’s 13 (their last in 2015).
The girl’s finals will take place on Thursday, June 27, with the boy’s final on Friday, June 28.
🏉 Dolphin Debutants
The Dolphins added to two more to their list of 2023 debutants as winger Brayden McGrady and hooker Harrison Graham got their first NRL minutes last Saturday. McGrady scored his first try inside four minutes, while Graham came off the bench and made 31 tackles in his 45-minute stint.
McGrady, a Goondiwindi Boars junior, came through the Titans’ under-20 system playing 11 games for their Holden Cup side back in 2015–16. From there he began his journey through the Cup system, first with Tweed in 2017 before securing a contract with Penrith in 2019. He returned to Tweed in 2021, alongside his younger brother Glenn and cousin Lindon, before moving to Norths in 2022, where he scored the winning try in that season’s Grand Final and dislocated his elbow in the process. He then moved to Redcliffe this year, where his form (10 tries in 11 games) was rewarded with an NRL call-up.
21-year-old Graham was the Dolphins first ever signing back in November 2021. A Wynnum Manly junior, he represented Queensland under-18 in 2019 and then started at lock in the Seagulls’ Hastings Deering Colts Grand Final win later that year. After 14 tries in 15 Colts games in 2021, he moved up to the Queensland Cup in 2022, playing 14 games for Wynnum Manly. Graham has had an injury-interrupted year since moving to the Dolphins, playing just four Queensland Cup games before his NRL debut.
Wayne Bennett has now handed eight players their NRL debuts this season, the most of any club.
🏉 Here and There
Mitch Henderson has made a mid-season jump from Newcastle to Canberra. The Tamworth junior started at halfback for the Raiders in Round 17. He played Matts, Ball and Flegg for the Knights.
Panthers’ Flegg fullback Liam Ison is set to join Cronulla in 2024. He started at fullback in Penrith’s U21 Grand Final win last season.
Dylan Egan and Hamish Stewart have re-signed with the Dragons on two and three-year deals respectively. The 19-year-olds are Gerringong juniors and have gone from SG Ball to Flegg to NSW Cup this season. Egan is a backrower and Stewart is a middle forward.
Halfback Coby Black re-signed with the Broncos for two years. A star in the Mal Meninga Cup this season for Wynnum Manly, the Marsden State High captain will represent Queensland Schoolboys this weekend.
Cronulla has re-signed SG Ball lock Sam McCulloch for two more years and winger Richard Whalebone for three. McCulloch recently made the move up to Jersey Flegg.
Earlier this month, a pair of Ipswich State High students picked up NRL contracts. Mafiou Cherif signed a three-year deal with the Cowboys and hooker Tyler Peckham-Harris signing with the Dragons until 2026.
Cooper Clarke will join Melbourne on a three-year deal. The front rower played for the Western Suburbs Magpies in the Harold Matthews Cup this season.
Melbourne have also picked up twin brothers Grayson and Nikorima Wharakura. The 15-year-olds, who are originally from New Zealand, currently attend Marsden State High. Grayson is a winger and Nikorima is a front rower.
A very sad story out of the Sunshine Coast this past weekend with 16-year-old Falcons player Benjamin Hunter passing away. Hunter was walking home from the gym before midnight on Sunday when he was struck by a vehicle.
Hunter played five games for the Sunshine Coast’s Cyril Connell Challenge side earlier this year and has recently been playing for his high school, Caloundra State High, in the Allan Langer Trophy. He was also a member of the Melbourne Storm’s junior academy. Just terrible news. Condolences to his friends, family and everyone in the community.
Around the grounds
For more information on all games head to 18thman.com.
Jersey Flegg Cup (Round 17)
Canterbury 38 (M Lisala 2, D Gabrael, C Lawrence, D Marshall, J Teaupa tries; J Su’a 7 goals) def. Wests Tigers 28 (J Kirk 2, J Feledy, C Fuatimau, A Saukuru, S Saukuru tries; M Chester, M Tannous goals) at Lidcombe Oval. Referee: B Mani. Halftime: WST 20–18. Tackles: J Owen 23 (WST), L Vale 25 (CBY). Run metres: J Kirk 116 (WST), J Todd 155 (CBY).
Parramatta 22 (M Arthur 2, C Guymer, A Nanva tries; E Sanders 3 goals) def. Cronulla 12 (C Jarvis, K Wilson tries; M Riolo 2 goals) at PointsBet Stadium. Referee: P Eden. Halftime: PAR 16–6. Tackles: T Boothroyd 35 (CRO), C Guymer 32 (PAR). Run metres: L Crouch 146 (CRO), W Latu 178 (PAR).
Penrith 20 (L Hanson, H Hassett, T Sielaff-Burns, P Taateo tries; J Nohra 2 goals) def. Newcastle 18 (F Sharpe 2, K McCarthy tries; L Sutton 3 goals) at BlueBet Stadium. Referee: B Greatbatch. Halftime: PEN 20–6. Tackles: B Scott 33 (PEN), J Linnane 39 (NEW). Run metres: C Lawson 195 (PEN), F Sharpe 167 (NEW).
Manly 48 (J Humphreys 2, T Stoltman 2, B Konz, K Mafoa, B Metcalfe, C Navale tries; J Humphreys 8 goals) def. South Sydney 14 (E Ferguson, D Leugaimafa, D Towns tries; E Ferguson goal) at HE Laybutt Sporting Complex. Referee: A Sirianni. Halftime: MAN 18–10. Tackles: J Humphreys 33 (MAN), T Petersen 25 (SOU). Run metres: C Navale 167 (MAN), J Rahme 132 (SOU).
Sydney 24 (B Alexander, T Henare-Schuster, E Jolliffe, E Roberts, C Tia tries; C Tia 2 goals) def. Canberra 14 (K Rushton 2, T Thorburn tries; R Carr goal) at Wentworth Park. Referee: L Saldern. Halftime: SYD 12–4. Tackles: M McCathie 28 (SYD), T Thorburn 26 (CAN). Run metres: C Tohi 144 (SYD), L Kaloutolu 192 (CAN).
St George Illawarra 22 (C Roberts 2, H Rudd, B Rumble tries; A Ward 3 goals) def. Melbourne 12 (P Manu, J Musu tries; K Russell-Smith 2 goals) at Seabrook Reserve. Referee: B Williams. Halftime: SGI 10–6. Tackles: G Satrick 30 (MEL), P Vetenibua-Finnerty 34 (SGI). Run metres: M Amosa 142 (MEL), B Rumble 194 (SGI).
Ladder: 1 Roosters (28 pts), 2 Bulldogs (26), 3 Panthers (25), 4 Sharks (24), 5 Storm (22), 6 Rabbitohs (19), 7 Dragons (18), 8 Knights (16), 9 Eels (16), 10 Sea Eagles (16), 11 Wests Tigers (14), 12 Raiders (12).
Hastings Deering Colts (Round 10)
Burleigh 32 (A Christensen, T Khan-Pereira, C Lasike, C Patu, J Tamepo, J Tu’inukuafe tries; B Tagg 4 goals) def. Tweed 18 (J Jackson, E Speed, J Stewart-Lewis tries; E Speed 3 goals) at UAA Park. Referee: T Wilkie. Halftime: BUR 22–6. Tackles: S McIntyre 27 (BUR), W Taylor 28 (TWE). Run metres: C Lasike 239 (BUR), B Forder 177 (TWE).
Brisbane Tigers 54 (J House 3, L West 2, T Woodman-Tuhoro 2, A Faitala, J Penquitt, G Reedy-Bartlett tries; B Black 7 goals) def. Ipswich 18 (E Masame 2, G Teo, J Wilson-Mackie tries; R Balint goal) at North Ipswich Reserve. Referee: J Funk. Halftime: BRI 16–14. Tackles: R Flute 44 (IPS), S Pratt 21 (BRI). Run metres: C Lalor-Brennan 139 (IPS), J Penquitt 204 (BRI).
CQ Capras 32 (J Barham 2, M Mitchell 2, J Heke, M Leard-Lamont tries; M Tanner 4 goals) def. Mackay 24 (B Coombes, B Dunbar, T Strecker, T Sullivan tries; A Lawton 4 goals) at Browne Park. Referee: A Rossiter. Halftime: MKY 18–12. Tackles: J Miller 34 (CQL), B Coombes 33 (MKY). Run metres: M Leard-Lamont 221 (CQL), T Strecker 160 (MKY).
Townsville 58 (C Hill 2, T Gunn-James 2, L Jack 2, E Suavai 2, K Fisher, M Hunter tries; R Wavik 6, C Hill goals) def. Northern Pride 6 (M Douthat try; D Lui goal) at Jack Manski Oval. Referee: J Eaton. Halftime: TSV 36–6. Tackles: J Hansen 29 (TSV), H Davies 40 (NPR). Run metres: J Matautia 210 (TSV), S Cramp 122 (NPR).
Wynnum Manly 34 (B Anders, T Bowman, C Hewett, S Roache-Faimalo, N Tangimataiti, J Zaghini tries; J Davies 6 goals) def. Redcliffe 30 (B Baira 2, A Hoad 2, W Cahill, C Thomas tries; B Baira 2, S Hoad goals) at BMD Kougari Oval. Referee: D Lawrence. Halftime: WYN 28–6. Tackles: J Radel 49 (WYN), B Major 37 (RED). Run metres: B Anders 169 (WYN), B Baira 179 (RED).
Souths Logan 32 (J Yow 2, B Johnson, L Kereopa, Z Lothian, C Potaka tries; C Hamilton 4 goals) def. Norths 28 (W Curran 2, D Haydon 2, J Camilleri tries; R Briers 2, B Dodd 2 goals) at Bishop Park. Referee: C Baker. Halftime: NOR 16–10. Tackles: T Voll 29 (NOR), M Pakai 27 (SLM). Run metres: E Jones 198 (NOR), J Muld 154 (SLM).
Sunshine Coast 44 (T Couper 2, M Peut 2, E Smethills 2, J Chappell, J Elich tries; J Chappell 5, P McGinn goals) def. Western Clydesdales 4 (K Buhse try) at Sunshine Coast Stadium. Referee: C Wegner. Halftime: SCF 20–4. Tackles: D Cousens 25 (SCF), F Kaiser Capewell 31 (WCL). Run metres: E Smethills 191 (SCF), K Buhse 121 (WCL).
Ladder: 1 Brisbane Tigers (18 pts), 2 Redcliffe (16), 3 Townsville (16), 4 Tweed (16), 5 Wynnum Manly (16), 6 Burleigh (16), 7 Sunshine Coast (14), 8 Souths Logan (10), 9 Mackay (8), 10 Clydesdales (8), 11 Norths (7), 12 CQ Capras (7), 13 Northern Pride (4), 14 Ipswich (4).
Daly Cherry-Evans (St Patrick’s College Mackay), Cameron Munster (Emmaus College Rockhampton), Valentine Holmes (Ignatius Park College Townsville), Ben Hunt, Harry Grant (St Brendan’s College Yeppoon), Lindsay Collins (Padua College) and Xavier Coates (Marymount College Burleigh).