The Peter Mulholland Cup is confusing! The Colts are back! There was an actual flogging in the Jersey Flegg! All that and more in this week’s newsletter.
🏉 Hastings Deering Colts – Round 13
After a two-week break, the Falcons got the competition back underway with a 25–18 upset win over Wynnum Manly. The victory confirms the Sunshine Coast a place in the finals for the fourth consecutive season. Wynnum Manly drop to fifth but is on equal points with fourth-placed Townsville.
Norths picked up their first win since Round 3, demolishing Ipswich 66–4. The Devils ran in 12 tries to record their biggest-ever Colts victory. Norths could finish eighth. They just need to win out and hope all four teams above them keep losing. Simple.
The game of the round took place at Kayo Stadium with Tweed beating Redcliffe 24–22. It was a big missed opportunity for the Dolphins, who have won just two of their last six. They scored five tries to four, conceding the game-winning try while the Seagulls had a player in the sin bin. Tweed remains in first, level on points with Burleigh and the Tigers.
Townsville moved into the top four with a 48–0 win over Mackay. Blackhawks are top points outside the logjam for first, while the Cutters are now four points behind eighth. On the plus side for Mackay, they have a bye in hand and their final two games are against sides below them.
The Clydesdales have equalled their best Colts win total in a season when they grabbed their third victory, defeating the Capras 30–28. They’ll host the Devils in Round 14 with a big chance to break their record. The Capras, like Mackay, have 11 points but host the red-hot Blackhawks this weekend.
Burleigh extended their winning streak to eight games with a dominant 54–8 win over the Pride. In their first game without former head coach Matt Foster, the Bears scored 10 tries under interim boss Roy Leoni. Sitting in equal first, their final three games are against top five sides.
Team of the Week: 1 Taine Couper (SCF), 2 Jotham Russell (TWE), 3 Carsen Huth (CQL), 4 Braden Leigh (WCL), 5 Jesse Yallop (TSV), 6 Max Liles (TWE), 7 Boston Tagg (BUR), 8 TJ Devery (BUR), 9 Jai Camilleri (NOR), 10 Mitchell Leard-Lamont (CQL), 11 Jamal Shibasaki (TSV), 12 Harry Walters (NOR), 13 Brock Patti (WCL).
Harry Walters was named QRL’s “Heavy Lifter” this week. You can watch his highlights here.
🏉 Jersey Flegg Cup – Round 22
The game of the round opened the round with the second-placed Bulldogs and first-placed Roosters playing out a 22–all draw at Belmore. A try under the posts in the final two minutes to Joseph O’Neill gave Jonah Glover the easy conversion to tie the game.
Manly got back in the winners’ circle after two close losses, defeating St George Illawarra 32–16. The Dragons seem allergic to fifth place, blowing another opportunity against a lower-placed team and the chance to climb above Melbourne.
Speaking of Melbourne, they lost their fifth game in six weeks, with Parramatta getting up 26–18 in Victoria. The win pushes the Eels to seventh and now they sit just two points behind the fifth-placed Storm.
In typical Penrith fashion, Penrith overcame a 16–6 halftime deficit to defeat Cronulla 22–20. A try to Luron Patea, his second, in the final three minutes levelled it before Joseph Nohra slotted the winning conversion. Panthers’ fullback Liam Ison also scored twice. He’ll be a Shark in 2024.
The Wests Tigers scored the biggest win of 2023 so far, thrashing the Rabbitohs 56–14 in Lidcombe. Bolstered by the return of Tallyn Da Silva, the Tigers scored 10 tries, two of those to the NRL-experienced hooker. The Tigers are ninth, two points outside the top five.
Canberra’s hot streak continued in Round 22 with a 28–20 win over Newcastle. The Raiders, who were sitting last for most of the year, are now on 22 points, again, just two points outside the finals positions. The Knights have a bye this weekend before playing their final three games at home, where they’ll be out to avoid the wooden spoon.
Team of the Week: 1 Liam Ison (PEN), 2 Matt Komolafe (PAR), 3 Prinston Esera (CAN), 4 William Afualo (CBY), 5 Jay Kirk (WST), 6 Latu Fainu (MAN), 7 Joseph O'Neill (CBY), 8 Luron Patea (PEN), 9 Tallyn Da Silva (WST), 10 Salesi Foketi (SYD), 11 Brock Greacen (NEW), 12 Angus Hinchey (MEL), 13 Caleb Tohi (SYD).
Round 22 highlights are available here.
🏉 Schoolboy Cup updates
Aaron Payne Cup (North Queensland)
If I’m reading things correctly, Pool B is now complete with several forfeits in the last two rounds. Last week, Holy Spirit Mackay forfeited to St Augustine’s Cairns and this week St Augustine’s forfeited to Mackay SHS and Holy Spirit forfeited to Mareeba SHS. I have no idea what’s happened. Anyway, it seems like St Augustine’s and Mackay are through to the finals.
In Pool A, Kirwan SHS flogged Ignatius Park 36–8 in their local derby, while St Patrick’s Mackay defeated Trinity Bay SHS 24–10. Kirwan and St Patrick’s are both through to the finals but will play for the top spot this week in the final round.
Allan Langer Trophy (Southeast Queensland)
The top-of-the-table clash between Marsden SHS and Mabel Park SHS was abandoned after 25 minutes when Mabel Park’s Alex Leapai and Marsden’s Jury Taewa clashed heads and were both taken to hospital. Thankfully both players have since been cleared. Marsden was leading 14–10.
Palm Beach Currumbin SHS got one up on their local rivals Keebra Park SHS with an 18–6 win, while Wavell SHS and Ipswich SHS defeated the two winless schools Redcliffe SHS and Caloundra SHS respectively. The top seven teams move onto the finals, meaning this week’s Redcliffe and Caloundra fixture will be for a finals spot.
The final spot in the finals was to be decided by Gee Shield winners St Mary’s College Toowoomba and Titans Cup winners Marymount College but Marymount has forfeited, meaning St Mary’s move into the Langer Trophy finals and the competition in 2024.
Dolphins Cup (Central Queensland)
The Dolphins Cup semi-finals are set after last week’s final round of action. The Cathedral College Rockhampton secured third with an 18–8 victory over Shalom College Bundaberg, while Emmaus College finished first and knocked out Rockhampton Grammar with a 28–12 win.
The finals begin next Tuesday (August 8) at Browne Park, with Emmaus facing Shalom and St Brendan’s Yeppoon battling Cathedral College.
Peter Mulholland Cup (NSW / ACT / Victoria)
There are three games left to play of the Mulholland Cup regular season with two taking place this week. Endeavour Sports High host Patrician Brothers’ Blacktown on August 2, while Bass High face St Gregory’s Campbelltown on August 4. Endeavour and Patrician Brothers are both winless in 2023 but, as they’re in the seeded pool, are both assured of spots in the final eight.
The other game left to play is St Dominic’s College vs. Holy Cross Ryde, which was postponed in June. I don’t believe it has been rescheduled yet. St Dominic’s lead Central Pool 1, with St Gregory’s and Bass a chance to take the spot this week.
In Central Pool 2, Erindale College claimed the top spot with a 22–10 win over last year’s national runners-up Patrician Brothers’ Fairfield. In the Northern Pool, All Saint’s Maitland pipped Central Coast Sports College for first when they defeated Farrer MAHS and Central Coast lost to Hunter Sports High.
Down in Melbourne, Victoria Uni Secondary will play Hallam Secondary this week in the final of the Storm Cup. The winner qualifies for the quarter-finals of the Mulholland Cup. These schools played in the Southern Pool (with VUSC finishing 1st and Hallam finishing 3rd) but also simultaneously played in the Storm Cup. Maybe I’m actually a very dumb person but I literally have no idea what’s happening down south this year.
For anyone interested in watching some games without having to pay News Corp, the NRL Pathways YouTube account uploads full games and highlights.
🏉 Muhleisen debuts
22-year-old Connor Muhleisen came off the bench for his NRL debut in St George Illawarra’s 24–18 loss to Manly last Saturday. The hooker, who has played 40 NSW Cup games over the last two seasons, had a 10-minute cameo in which he made five tackles without a miss.
Originally from the little village of Buxton in the Macarthur region, Muhleisen played his junior footy for Thirlmere before relocating to Wollongong as a 15-year-old. He played two seasons of Harold Matthews Cup for Illawarra before moving up to their SG Ball team in 2018.
In 2019, he started at hooker in their Grand Final win over, coincidentally, Manly. Muhleisen is now the seventh player from that side to play first grade.1 In 2020, he played one game in the abandoned Jersey Flegg season and just 10 in 2021 before being called up to the NSW Cup full-time in 2022.
🏉 Three more graduate to the NRLW
Rilee Jorgensen and Dannii Perese made their NRLW debuts for the Titans against Brisbane at The Gabba last Thursday night. Jorgensen started at second row, playing 58 minutes and making 20 tackles, including a massive hit on Jasmine Fogavini. Perese played 16 minutes off the bench, making seven tackles. Both played in Burleigh’s BMD Premiership win over Wynnum Manly in May.
Jorgensen, originally from Ipswich, played lock and halfback for Burleigh during her short time in the QRL U19s competition in 2022. She was called up to the BMD side when the U19s competition ended playing seven games as a 17-year-old. Just last month, she won Player of the Match in Queensland Under-19’s win over New South Wales.
Perese played two seasons of U19s for Burleigh, before (like Jorgensen) getting called up to the senior side in 2022. She hasn’t missed a game for them over the last two seasons, starting 11 of her 17 matches at prop.
Rosemarie Beckett was a late call-up for Parramatta in Round 2, starting at halfback in their 38–12 loss to the Dragons last Saturday. She set up a try, made 23 tackles and kicked for 241 metres in the defeat. She
Beckett began her Tarsha Gale Cup career for Penrith in 2020, playing five games at fullback. After the Panthers withdrew from the competition in 2021, she moved to St George, where she transitioned to centre and scored a try in the Dragons’ Grand Final win over the Roosters.
She was on the move again in 2022, heading to Parramatta where she played seven games, shifting to her current role at halfback. She capped off the season with selection as the 18th player for New South Wales Under-19 in their win over Queensland.
🏉 Here and There
Siteni Taukamo made his long-awaited Flegg debut for Cronulla this past weekend. Taukamo ditched his HSC exams to represent Greece at last year’s World Cup, scoring two tries. He injured his shoulder at the tournament but returned earlier this year to play two SG Ball games. Taukamo signed a four-year contract with the Sharks as a 16-year-old back in 2020 and is currently a member of the club’s NRL squad.
Dragons’ centre Hayden Buchanan also made his debut in Round 22, completing the rare feat of playing Harold Matthews and Jersey Flegg in the same season. It would happen from time to time in the early days of the Toyota Cup, with several 16-year-olds playing in the competition before the minimum age was moved up to 17. Buchanan, who played junior footy in Yeppoon, Mona Vale and Gerringong, has been playing A Grade locally for Gerringong since the Matts season ended. Roosters’ halfback Jake Elliott is another who has, so far, bypassed SG Ball. He played Harold Matts last year before making his Flegg debut recently.
A pair of ex-Canterbury Flegg players popped up in the Colts this weekend with Kallum Weatherall-Stacey running out at fullback for Norths and Tyrone Nean starting on the wing for Redcliffe. Weatherall-Stacey, originally from Queensland, joined the Dogs from Norths earlier this year. He played SG Ball before moving up to play two Flegg games. On his Colts debut, he scored twice and ran for 142 metres. Nean, a Newcastle junior, began the season as Canterbury’s fullback, playing three games. He crossed for a try in Redcliffe’s loss to Tweed last Saturday.
Around the grounds
For more information on all games head to 18thman.com.
Jersey Flegg Cup – Round 22
Canterbury 22 (W Afualo, A Jones, J Mazzone, J O’Neill tries; J Glover 2, J Papalii goals) drew with Sydney 22 (K Fekitoa, T Henare-Schuster, C Ross, S Vaenuku tries; V Tamati 3 goals) at Belmore Sports Ground. Referee: M Ford. Halftime: CBY 10–6. Tackles: L Vale 36 (CBY), M McCathie 34 (SYD). Run metres: W Afualo 182 (CBY), S Foketi 146 (SYD).
Manly 32 (K Douglas, K Fulton, A Taufa, C Thompson, H Wilson tries; J Humphreys 6 goals) def. St George Illawarra 16 (H Buchanan, L King-Togia, T Phillips tries; A Ward 2 goals) at Ron Costello Oval. Referee: B Mani. Halftime: MAN 20–10. Tackles: K Hjaltason 44 (SGI), J Humphreys 27 (MAN). Run metres: L Pasifiki Tonga 119 (SGI), I Mapu-Satiu 119 (MAN).
Parramatta 26 (M Komolafe 2, E Martin, S Pryke, M Tupou tries; E Sanders 3 goals) def. Melbourne 18 (A Hinchey, P Manu, G Satrick tries; K Russell-Smith 3 goals) at Seabrook Reserve. Referee: E Klein. Halftime: PAR 8–6. Tackles: S Diaz 29 (MEL), L Blackburn 30 (PAR). Run metres: A Hinchey 219 (MEL), E Martin 282 (PAR).
Penrith 22 (L Ison 2, L Patea 2 tries; J Nohra 3 goals) def. Cronulla 20 (L Crouch, K Dixon, N Lester, H O’Kane tries; K Dixon 2 goals) at BlueBet Stadium. Referee: A Sirianni. Halftime: CRO 16–6. Tackles: B Scott 40 (PEN), K Wilson 37 (CRO). Run metres: L Ison 187 (PEN), K Dixon 182 (CRO).
Wests Tigers 56 (J Kirk 3, T Da Silva 2, C Faagutu, J Feledy, K Laulili’i, T Lolesio, H Mason tries; L Saukuru 8 goals) def. South Sydney 14 (A Macey 2, D Hawe-De Thierry tries; E Ferguson goal) at Lidcombe Oval. Referee: B Williams. Halftime: WST 26–0. Tackles: T Da Silva 17 (WST), R Cook 25 (SOU). Run metres: T Da Silva 138 (WST), E Ferguson 88 (SOU).
Canberra 28 (P Esera 3, J Billing, S Packer tries; M Henderson 4 goals) def. Newcastle 20 (J Afoa, B Greacen, L Pietnzer, F Sharpe tries; J Afoa 2 goals) at Raiders Belconnen. Referee: J Bird. Halftime: NEW 10–6. Tackles: J Piper 31 (CAN), T Blackman 26 (NEW). Run metres: L Kaloutolu 144 (CAN), B Greacen 197 (NEW).
Ladder: 1st Roosters (37 pts), 2nd Bulldogs (33), 3rd Panthers (31), 4th Sharks (28), 5th Storm (24), 6th Dragons (24), 7th Eels (22), 8th Sea Eagles (22), 9th Wests Tigers (22), 10th Raiders (22), 11th Rabbitohs (21), 12th Knights (18).
Hastings Deering Colts – Round 13
Sunshine Coast 25 (C Herdegen, M Kira, M Peut, E Smethills tries; J Chappell 4 goals, field goal) def. Wynnum Manly 18 (T Bowman, L Corbett, N Tangimataiti tries; J Davies 3 goals) at Eskdale Park. Referee: L Sutton. Halftime: SCF 18–12. Tackles: B Ginman 32 (SCF), C Hewett 44 (WYN). Run metres: T Couper 225 (SCF), J Trappett 178 (WYN).
Norths 66 (D Gibb 2, H Walters 2, K Weatherall-Stacey 2, W Curran, B Dodd, D Haydon, D Neemia, B Norris, H Spragg tries; K Weatherall-Stacey 5, B Dodd 4 goals) def. Ipswich 4 (G Teo try) at North Ipswich Reserve. Referee: C Wegner. Halftime: NOR 34–0. Tackles: R Reid 38 (IPS), J Burke 20 (NOR). Run metres: I Fels 112 (IPS), D Haydon 183 (NOR).
Tweed 24 (R Foran, J Jackson, L Radzievic, J Russell tries; E Speed 4 goals) def. Redcliffe 22 (S Hoad, T Nean, C Thomas, M Waqa, C Williams tries; S Hoad goal) at Kayo Stadium. Referee: D Lawrence. Halftime: TWE 18–8. Tackles: T Otukolo 31 (RED), J Stewart-Lewis 29 (TWE). Run metres: W Starling 219 (RED), J Russell 153 (TWE).
Townsville 48 (J Shibasaki 2, R Wavik 2, J Yallop 2, T Gunn-James, J Hansen, E Suavai tries; R Wavik 6 goals) def. Mackay 0 at Jack Manski Oval. Referee: C Wilson. Halftime: TSV 28–0. Tackles: J Shibasaki 25 (TSV), T Parrish 31 (MKY). Run metres: J Yallop 209 (TSV), K Simon 185 (MKY).
Western Clydesdales 30 (K Buhse, A Donn, K Duggan, B Leigh, B Smith, C Tate-Roche tries; K Duggan 3 goals) def. CQ Capras 28 (C Huth 2, B Cavanough, M Mitchell, M Tanner tries; H Barham 2, J Barham, M Tanner goals) at Clive Berghofer Stadium. Referee: C Kwik. Halftime: WCL 30–16. Tackles: B Patti 33 (WCL), M Leard-Lamont 36 (CQL). Run metres: B Smith 194 (WCL), M Leard-Lamont 214 (CQL).
Burleigh 54 (Z Munn 2, J Tu’inukuafe 2, K Chan-Tung, T Devery, S McIntyre, H Ploegsma, B Tagg, J Tamepo tries; B Tagg 7 goals) def. Northern Pride 8 (L Rayson, H Williams tries) at UAA Park. Referee: T Wilkie. Halftime: BUR 28–8. Tackles: S McIntyre 21 (BUR), S Long 32 (NPR). Run metres: P Hakaraia-Ngamotu 180 (BUR), B Salameh 120 (NPR).
Ladder: 1st Tweed (22 pts), 2nd Burleigh (22), 3rd Brisbane Tigers (22), 4th Townsville (20), 5th Wynnum Manly (20), 6th Redcliffe (18), 7th Sunshine Coast (18), 8th Souths Logan (15), 9th Mackay (11), 10th CQ Capras (11), 11th Western Clydesdales (10), 12th Norths (9), 13th Northern Pride (4), 14th Ipswich (4).
The others are Tyrell Sloan, Aaron Schoupp, Max and Mat Feagai, Talatau Amone and Jayden Sullivan, who captained the side that day and scored 18 points.