RLO Newsletter 4/6: Jaxon Purdue
Remembered the password.
After a seven-week hiatus (oops) the newsletter is back with many things to discuss.
Things like, “Who won the Mal Meninga Cup Grand Final that happened two weeks ago?” and “Who the SG Ball Cup Grand Final that happened five weeks ago?” Let’s get into it.
🏉 Jersey Flegg Cup
Round 13 of the competition took place this past weekend, which means we’re halfway through the regular season.
Canberra have held the top spot since Round 3, winning nine of their first 12 games. Just below them are Canterbury and the Wests Tigers, both equal on 18 points, while Penrith and the Roosters round out the Top 5 with 16 points.
Canberra 56 – 0 Kaiviti Silktails: The Raiders ran in 10 tries to hand the Silktails their 11th straight loss. These two sides met three weeks ago in Fiji with Canberra winning that game 56-8. Five-eighth Ethan Alaia scored a hat trick in his second Flegg game since moving up from SG Ball. The Raiders face the Tigers in Round 14, looking to record back-to-back wins for the first time since Round 8. The Silktails have a three-week homestand, where hopefully their first win will come.
Canterbury 32 – 4 Newcastle: The Bulldogs shook off two straight losses with a strong win over the Knights. They play Souths this weekend, the last of their four consecutive home games. Newcastle have won just one game since Round 7 (in which they beat the Bulldogs 26-20).
Parramatta 26 – 16 Cronulla: Level 16-all at half time, the Eels score two second-half tries to move above the Sharks. They started their season with seven straight defeats but have won four of their last five. Cronulla’s disappointing run continues, this loss their third in a row and dropping them to 13th.
Wests Tigers 52 – 0 South Sydney: The Tigers bounced back from their Round 12 loss to Manly with their biggest-ever Flegg victory. They also scored 10 tries, with winger Navren Willett bagging three. They could be equal first with a win over Canberra this weekend.
Penrith 38 – 12 St George Illawarra: The Panthers trailed 12-0 after 10 minutes before running in 38 unanswered points to defeat the Dragons. They’ve now won two in a row after a stretch of five losses from seven. The Dragons have dropped to ninth after just two wins from their last seven.
Melbourne 22 – 18 Manly: The Storm ended Manly’s four-game winning run with a four-point victory at home. The win is just Melbourne’s second since Round 6. The Sea Eagles impressed on their win streak, defeating Canberra, Penrith and the Tigers.
Warriors 20 - 16 Sydney Roosters: A last-minute try to winger Raphael Sio gave the Warriors their fourth win of 2024 and back-to-back victories. The Roosters were on a four-game winning streak after a rough start to the season.
Ladder: 1 CANBERRA (20pts), 2 CANTERBURY (18), 3 WESTS TIGERS (18), 4 PENRITH (16), 5 SYDNEY ROOSTERS (16), 6 Manly (16), 7 Newcastle (15), 8 South Sydney (14), 9 St George Illawarra (14), 10 Melbourne (14), 11 Warriors (11), 12 Parramatta (10), 13 Cronulla (9), 14 Kaiviti Silktails (2).
Top try scorers: 11 Matthew Hill (MEL); 10 Nick Murphy (PEN); 10 Ben Rumble (SGI); 9 Tea-Rani Woodman-Tuhoro (NEW); 8 Regan Carr (CAN); 8 Broden Konz (MAN); 8 Siulagi Pio (MEL); 8 Kane Rushton (CAN); 7 Cain Barnes (SGI); 7 Kristian Dixon (CRO).
Top point scorers: 108 Cassius Tia (CBY); 98 Ashton Ward (SGI); 78 Kristian Dixon (CRO); 74 Te Hurinui Twidle (PAR); 68 Zakauri Clarke (WST); 60 Josh Durkin (SYD); 58 Mitch Henderson (CAN); 48 Brent Hawkins (SOU); 44 Matthew Hill (MEL); 42 Liam Sutton (NEW).
Vibes Team of the Week: 1 William Piliu (WAR), 2 Mohamed Alameddine (PAR), 3 Cathane Hill (SYD), 4 Prinston Esera (CAN), 5 Navren Willett (WST), 6 Ethan Alaia (CAN), 7 Blake Moore (PEN), 8 Herman Tofaeono (WST), 9 Shaun Packer (CAN), 10 Vaka Aho (WST), 11 Jock Brazel (PAR), 12 Jed Reardon (CBY), 13 Angus Hinchey (MEL).
Upcoming fixtures – Round 14
Fri Jun 7 - Canterbury vs. South Sydney, Belmore Sports Ground, 7 pm
Sat Jun 8 - Kaiviti Silktails vs. Warriors, Churchill Park, 12 pm
Sat Jun 8 - St George Illawarra vs. Parramatta, Collegians Sports Centre, 11:15 am
Sat Jun 8 - Cronulla vs. Sydney, Henson Park, 12 pm
Sat Jun 8 - Wests Tigers vs. Canberra, Lidcombe Oval, 12 pm
Sun Jun 9 - Melbourne v Penrith, AAMI Park, 11:30 am
Sun Jun 9 - Newcastle vs. Manly, Newcastle CoE, 1 pm
🏉 50-gamers
In 2023, Sione Moala and Jordan Swann became the first players to play 50 Jersey Flegg games since the competition was brought back in 2018. Moala did it across three clubs (Warriors, Raiders and Bulldogs), while Swann played all 50 for the Roosters.
In the last few weeks, three more have joined them with Rabbitohs’ captain Louis Grossemy, Storm prop Sheldon Diaz, and Eels’ hooker Ryley Smith all hitting the half-century. Grossemy played his 53rd game (all with Souths) in Round 13 and will equal Moala’s record of 54 if he plays this weekend. Diaz, a local Melbourne junior, sits on 52, as does Ryley Smith, who played 40 games for Penrith before joining Parramatta this year.
If you add in Colts games, Knights prop Blake Woodford (48) and Bulldogs’ back Ragarive Wavik (47) are also closing in on 50 total under-21s games. Woodford played 37 games for the Sunshine Coast, while Wavik played 36 for Townsville before they headed south in 2024.
🏉 Schoolboys competitions return
The national Schoolboy and Schoolgirls competitions are underway for 2024, with the Queensland conference getting started last week and the southern conference a few weeks into their season.
The Peter Mulholland Cup has seen another revamp with the ridiculous “seeded pool”, which saw the top four schools all progress automatically, disbanded. It’s already shown to be an improvement with two upsets in the opening round. Bass High defeated four-time national champs Endeavour and Central Coast Sports College thrashed reigning national champs Westfields 36-0.
The top two of each pool move onto the finals, while the eight-placed side (based on points and points differential) will play the winner of Victoria’s Storm Cup pool in a play-in match. Hallam Secondary College is the current leader in the pool, coming off an 86-0 win over Manor Lakes two weeks ago.
Southeast Queensland’s Allan Langer Trophy also got started with a huge upset, Ipswich State High defeating reigning state champs Palm Beach Currumbin 34-0. PBC’s side featured several of Tweed’s dominant Mal Meninga Cup premiership winning side.
In north Queensland’s Aaron Payne Cup, Kirwan State High defeated St Patrick’s Mackay 32-6 in a rematch of last year’s final. Central Queensland’s Dolphins Cup opened with big wins from Cathedral College (40-0 over Emmaus) and St Brendan’s Yeppoon (38-6 over Shalom College).
Round 1
Peter Mulholland Cup
Hallam Secondary 20 def. Vic Uni Secondary 14
St Gregory’s College 12 def. St Dominic’s College 10
The Grange College 42 def. Mt Ridley College 18
Holy Cross Ryde 28 def. Farrer MAHS 12
Bass High 20 def. Endeavour Sports High 14
Central Coast Sports College 36 def. Westfields Sports High 0
Patrician Brothers’ Fairfield 38 def. All Saints’ Maitland 16
Tue Jun 4 - Erindale College vs. Illawarra Sports High
Tue Jun 4 - Patrician Brothers’ Blacktown vs. Matraville Sports High
Wed Jun 5 - Hills Sports High vs. Hunter Sports High
Aaron Payne Cup
St Augustine’s Cairns 30 def. Mackay SHS 0
Kirwan SHS 32 def. St Patrick’s Mackay 6
Ignatius Park Townsville 24 def. Trinity Bay SHS 10
Mareeba SHS 30 def. Holy Spirit Mackay 4
Allan Langer Trophy
Marsden SHS 30 def. Redcliffe SHS 4
Mabel Park SHS 26 def. Caloundra SHS 12
Keebra Park SHS 28 def. Wavell SHS 26
Ipswich SHS 34 def. Palm Beach Currumbin SHS 0
Dolphins Cup
The Cathedral College 40 def. Emmaus College 0
St Brendan’s Yeppoon 38 def. Shalom College 6
🏉 Tweed takes third title
On 25 May, Tweed capped off their undefeated season by defeating Burleigh 36-12 in the under-19 Mal Meninga Cup Grand Final at Redcliffe. The Seagulls, like they did all year, rarely looked troubled. At 6-all they withstood 10 minutes of Bears attacks on their line before forcing an error and going downfield to score in the next set. From there, they took a 24-6 lead into halftime and pushed it out to 30 before a late consolation try from Burleigh.
Tweed halfback Zane Harrison, a local Seagulls junior contracted to the Titans, was named player of the match. Winger Tyson Ploegsma scored a hat trick and centre Sam Stephenson, also with the Titans, ran for 161 metres.
Bears’ edge Kilarney Lavender made his Mal Meninga Cup debut in the loss. He played six games (scoring eight tries) for their Cyril Connell Cup side earlier in the year and represented Queensland City under-17 the month before.
This was the first time the rivals had met in a Meninga Cup decider and Burleigh’s first-ever appearance. Before 2017, the region was represented in the competition by two Gold Coast teams, usually called Gold and White, or, Gold and Blue, for example. In 2013, Gold Coast White made the final, losing 44–16 to Redcliffe.
For Tweed, it’s their third Meninga Cup triumph, having also won in 2019 and 2021. Their 2019 side was stacked, featuring the likes of Reece Walsh, Xavier Coates, Brendan Piakura and Toby Sexton, while Deine Mariner, Tom Weaver and Blake Mozer were the standouts in 2021.
🏉 Warriors make history, Dragons break drought
Back on 27 April, the Warriors completed their fairytale run in the under-17 Harold Matthews Cup, beating Western Suburbs 34–16 in the Grand Final.
Competing in the competition for the first time, the Warriors scraped into the finals on the final day of the regular season, defeating St George to finish sixth. From there, they made three trips to Australia, knocking out the third-placed Eels, first-placed Bulldogs, and second-placed Magpies on their way to the title.
Halfback Jack Thompson, a mid-season recruit from Newcastle, scored a double in the win. Player of the match Lennox Tuiloma scored the title-securing try inside the final five minutes.
In the under-19 SG Ball Cup decider, St George won their fourth title and their first since 1992 with a 40–18 victory over Canterbury. The Dragons’ forward pack, which featured three Australian Schoolboys, were far too strong for the Dogs, with second-rower Jacob Halangahu running for 228 metres and being named best on ground. Winger Jesse Williams scored twice, finishing his season with 20 tries in 11 games.
St George Illawarra’s great day out continued with the undefeated Illawarra Steelers winning the under-19 Tarsha Gale Cup final 24–12 over Newcastle. Their forward pack was bolstered by prop Ella Koster and backrower Charlotte Basham, both with NRLW experience. Centre Indie Bostock, younger sister of Dolphins’ winger Jack, scored a double, ran for 267 metres, and was named player of the match.
The day got underway with the Bulldogs also completing a dominant undefeated season in the under-17 Lisa Fiaola Cup, beating the Wests Tigers 36–0 in the final. The Dogs scored 526 points over 10 games and conceded just 52. Hooker Fetuao Taito was named player of the match, while winger Asha Taumoepeau-Williams scored four tries.
🏉 NSW Junior City-Country
The NSWRL’s annual City-Country weekend took place on May 18-19, with City taking out three of the four junior contests.
They won the boys under-16’s game 54–10 and the under-18’s game 48–18. Since 2021, City have won all four games in both age groups and they’re never really close. For some reason, the boys’ teams are SG Ball/Harold Matts vs. the regional Laurie Daley/Andrew Johns Cup. Meaning, several country-eligible players who play for the likes of Canberra, Newcastle and Illawarra represent City.
Thankfully, the girls’ fixtures are played under normal eligibility rules and they’re actually close and sometimes Country even wins! Like they did this year, with Country under-19 defeating City 26–18. City took out the under-17 game 20–12.
🏉 Queensland U17, U18 squads named
The QRL has been going squad wild in recent weeks, naming boys and girls under-17 Emerging squads and an under-18 Emerging squad, with all three undergoing a weekend training camp.
The most interesting part of the release of the under-17s squad was the mention of the QRL’s support for the reintroduction of under-17s Origin fixtures. Under-19 Origin was brought back in 2022 but before 2020 we had a full slate of junior Origin games, with 16s, 18s, and 20s. Here’s hoping the 17s (which was last played in 2007) returns in 2025.
Queensland U17s Boys
Taakoi Benioni (Townsville), Charlie Dickson (Redcliffe), Cohen Dittmann (Townsville), Fa'apale Feaunati (Souths Logan), Noah Fien (Redcliffe), Seth Gundry (Burleigh), Jared Horne (Wynnum Manly), Finn Kendall (Ipswich), Jackson Koina (Sunshine Coast), Lui Lee (Sydney Roosters), Adaquix Luke (Souths Logan), Sam Martin (Souths Logan), Elijah McKay (CQ Capras), Marley McLaren (Burleigh), Mark Morrow (Mackay), Oliver Patterson (Norths), Siosaia Poese (Souths Logan), Brian Pouniu (Redcliffe), Braithen Scott (Clydesdales), Cody Starr (Redcliffe), Xzavier Timoteo (Ipswich), Joseph Tupuse (Burleigh), Hayden Watson (Burleigh), Amare Wynyard (Redcliffe). Coach: Nathan Small. Assistants: Nathan Norford, and Shayne Boyd.Queensland U17s Girls
Mia Byrnes (Clydesdales), Orianna Clark (Brisbane Tigers), Okalani Compton (Burleigh), Enah Desic (Brisbane Tigers), Makayla Elliott (Sunshine Coast), Sky-Yvette Faimalie (Brisbane Tigers), Pypah Ferguson (Clydesdales), Lilianah Lewis (Souths Logan), Torah Luadaka (Tweed), Janique Mili (Souths Logan), Amanii Misa (Souths Logan), Shar-Lene Nati (Redcliffe), Nikeisha Ngaru (Souths Logan), Raewyn Olomallii (Redcliffe), Deleni Paitai (Redcliffe), Keira Rangi (Redcliffe), Zoe Robson (CQ Capras), Easter Taualai (Norths), Pauline To’o (Ipswich), Sienna Trew (Souths Logan), Evoltia Tuala (Townsville), Danielle Tutakangahau (Souths Logan), Lishainah Ulugia (Brisbane Tigers), Chanelle Williams (CQ Capras). Coach: Maia Tua-Davidson. Assistants: Matt Sanders, Ana Fotu.Queensland U18
Javon Andrews (Souths Logan), Cooper Bai (Burleigh), Coby Black (Burleigh), Jai Bowden (Sunshine Coast), Jett Bryce (Burleigh), Lachlan Buchbach (Redcliffe), Seth Carpenter (CQ Capras), Phillip Coates (Burleigh), Braith Dowson (Northern Pride), Jac Finigan (Tweed), Carter Ford (CQ Capras), Zac Garton (Redcliffe), Zac Herdegen (Redcliffe), Harrison Hill (GC Titans), Clancy Hohn (CQ Capras), Sam Hyne (Canberra), Saxon Innes (Burleigh), Sunny Kama (Burleigh), Prestyn Laine-Sietu (Redcliffe), David Leota (Canterbury), Braelan Marsh (CQ Capras), Amare Milford (Burleigh), Mark Nosa (South Sydney), Cory Pearse (Tweed), Tavita Penaia (Mackay), Ray Puru (Burleigh), Dirhys Sefo (Souths Logan), Bodhi Sharpley (Clydesdales), Sam Stephenson (Tweed), Disharne Tonihi (Burleigh). Coaches: Darius Boyd, Jordan Rankin.
🏉 Colts down south
Remember the Hastings Deering Colts? Rather than stick around in A Grade, several would-be Colts-eligible players in 2024 have headed down to play in the Jersey Flegg Cup this year. Here are the 2023 Colts players who have played in the under-21 competition so far this season.
Canberra: Bailey Nash (Western Clydesdales), Jaxen Yow (Souths Logan)
Canterbury: Bud Smith (Western Clydesdales), Ragarive Wavik (Townsville)
Manly: Jesse Jackson (Tweed), Carsen Patu (Burleigh), Kallum Weatherall-Stacey (Norths)
Melbourne: Jak Goulding (Redcliffe), Tulloch McLellan, Chase Paterson (Sunshine Coast), Braydon Seu-Easthope, Trent Veukiso (Brisbane Tigers)
Newcastle: Edward Finau (Burleigh), Jake Self (Western Clydesdales), Corey Thomas (Redcliffe), Jeremy Trappett (Wynnum Manly), Khyan Weir (Tweed), Blake Woodford (Sunshine Coast), Tea-Rani Woodman-Tuhoro (Brisbane Tigers)
Parramatta: Tyler Cuthbert (Ipswich), Antioch Faitala-Mariner (Brisbane Tigers), Matthew Hunter (Townsville), Damascus Neemia (Norths)
Penrith: Zack Lamont (Townsville)
South Sydney: Jack Field, Jared Johnson (Tweed), Mikael Ibrahim, Hayden Molkentien, Jordan Plath (Brisbane Tigers), Toby Sullivan (Mackay), Jeremaiah Tamepo (Burleigh)
St George Illawarra: Khye Russell (CQ Capras), Will Starling (Redcliffe)
Sydney Roosters: Reece Foley, Cathane Hill, Luke Jack (Townsville), Tyreece Tait (Norths)
Warriors: Cassius Cowley (Wynnum Manly), Eli Tuli (Tweed)
🏉 State of Origin pathways
13 of Queensland’s Game I lineup played junior Origin for the state as they progressed through their careers.
The four that didn’t are captain Daly Cherry-Evans, Jeremiah Nanai, Mo Fotuaika and Selwyn Cobbo. An 18-year-old Cherry-Evans missed out on U19 selection while playing for Wests in the old Colts Challenge back in 2007.1 Fotuaika represented the Junior Kiwis before later pledging his allegiance to Queensland, while Nanai and Cobbo would have most likely had some representative honours in 2020-21 if not for the pandemic.
Reece Walsh and Reuben Cotter are the only players from either side named who played in the annual under-16 Koori vs. Murri game. Cotter in 2014 and Walsh in 2018, playing at halfback alongside Zac Laybutt.
Seven of New South Wales’ 17 picked up state representative jerseys in their junior careers. James Tedesco was an Australian Schoolboy in 2010 but not a junior Blues rep. A spot in the inaugural U20 Origin in 2012 may have been his had he not torn his ACL that year. When he returned from injury in 2013, he’d already earned a senior rep jersey with City. Halves Jarome Luai and Nicho Hynes both went without selections through their juniors. Luai, like Fotuaika, also represented the Junior Kiwis.
Blues captain Jake Trbojevic and Maroons' second-rower Jaydn Su’a are the only two players in each side who have represented their state at every age level - 16s, 18s, 20s and seniors.
🏉 NRL debuts since Round 7
16 players have made their NRL debuts since the last newsletter in April, including six in last weekend’s Origin-affected round. That takes the 2024 count to 32 (not including players with Super League experience).
Round 8
David Armstrong (Knights): A Mungindi junior, recruited from Goondiwindi, Armstrong has had a solid start to his NRL career filling in for the injured Kalyn Ponga. He scored on debut and has five from five games.
Zyon Maiu’u (Warriors): Maiu’u spent time with Redcliffe during their Warriors affiliation and played a full season of NSW Cup last year. He played 13 minutes in his debut against the Titans.
Ethan Sanders (Eels): Headed to Canberra in 2025, Sanders was a standout for NSW U19 in their win last season. The Hills Bulls junior has filled in for Mitch Moses in two games for Parra this year.Round 10
Matthew French (Rabbitohs): A Central Coast junior, the 24-year-old French has been in the Rabbitohs system since 2019, winning a Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup Grand Final with the club.
Dion Teaupa (Rabbitohs): In Souths’ system since he was 16, Teaupa was a bright spark in the trials earlier this year. Started at five-eighth in their NSW Cup Grand Final win.Round 11
Sione Fainu (Wests Tigers): Fainu became the fourth of his brothers to play first grade, playing alongside younger brother Samuela on debut. He represented NSW U18 in 2019.
Josiah Karapani (Broncos): Originally in the Warriors system before heading to Souths, Karapani joined the Broncos this season, playing for Burleigh before his NRL call-up.Round 12
Tony Francis (Titans): Francis won a Harold Matts title with Manly in 2018 as a five-eighth before moving to Queensland. Spent time in both the Cowboys and Broncos systems before joining the Titans in 2021. Scored three tries in Burleigh’s Grand Final loss last year.
Lehi Hopoate (Sea Eagles): Like Fainu, Lehi became the fourth of his brothers to play in the NRL when he started at fullback against the Storm.
Alex Lobb (Wests Tigers): A Wests Wollongong junior, Lobb made his debut as an 18th-man replacement in the Tigers’ loss to the Cowboys. He spent three seasons with the Dragons before joining the Tigers this year.Round 13
Lipoi Hopoi (Bulldogs): A local junior who won the Jersey Flegg with the Dogs last year, Hopoi impressed off the bench in his debut, running for 121 metres.
Jaxon Purdue (Cowboys): A halfback, Purdue played 80 minutes at centre on debut in the Cowboys’ win over the Roosters. Norths Mackay junior who this time last year was playing for St Patrick’s College in the Aaron Payne Cup.
Preston Riki (Panthers): 26-year-old Riki played Holden Cup for the Warriors in 2016 and 2017 before moving up to the NSW Cup. Joined Penrith in 2022 after a season in the Queensland Cup with the Dolphins.
Jamal Shibasaki (Cowboys): Debuted in the Queensland Cup as a 17-year-old and represented Queensland U19 last season. The Townsville local played 19 minutes off the bench in his debut, making 10 tackles without a miss.
Blake Steep (Roosters): Port Macquarie junior who played just two Flegg games in 2023 after recovering from a torn ACL. Captained the Roosters SG Ball side this year before progressing to the NSW Cup.
Trent Toelau (Panthers): A Victoria junior who was named the Thunderbolts U20s Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019. Got a chance with the Panthers NSW Cup side in 2021 after leaving the Storm, playing 37 games over four seasons before his NRL debut.
Around the grounds
For more information on all games head to 18thman.com.
Jersey Flegg Cup – Round 13
Canberra 56 (E Alaia 3, X Cacciotti, P Esera, J Lavender, J Limon, J Purser, K Skipps, M Tuialii tries; T Bennetto 6, J Limon 2 goals) def. Kaiviti Silktails 0 at Raiders Belconnen. Ref: G Miles. HT: CAN 28-0. Tackles: T Withington 28 (CAN), K Vunibola 24 (KAI). Run metres: P Esera 143 (CAN), M Poulter 124 (KAI).
Canterbury 32 (W Afualo 2, T Cochrane 2, S Finau, J Mazzone tries; C Tia 4 goals) def. Newcastle 4 (J Davis try) at Belmore Sports Ground. Ref: L Greenfield. HT: CBY 18-0. Tackles: J Reardon 30 (CBY), J Davis 32 (NEW). Run metres: S Kaufusi 114 (CBY), L Aoake 91 (NEW).
Parramatta 26 (J Brazel 2, A Nanva, B Newlands, D Vaivela tries; T Twidle 3 goals) def. Cronulla 16 (S Ataata 2, P Gray tries; K Dixon 2 goals) at PointsBet Stadium. Ref: P Eden. HT: 16-all. Tackles: S McCulloch 33 (CRO), R Smith 39 (PAR). Run metres: F Fa’atili 138 (CRO), M Alameddine 147 (PAR).
Wests Tigers 52 (N Willett 3, H Tofaeono 2, T Heremia-Tukere, H Pritchard, F Tavana, S Vaihu, K Wilson tries; K Wilson 4, J Ibrahim 2 goals) def. South Sydney 0 at Redfern Oval. Ref: B Hunt. HT: WST 20-0. Tackles: L Grossemy 42 (SOU), K Wilson 26 (WST). Run metres: W Abou Arrage 87 (SOU), V Aho 195 (WST).
Penrith 38 (N Murphy 2, P Hotere-Papalii, H Lemoto, J Liddiard, F Manuleleua, B Moore tries; J Liddiard 5 goals) def. St George Illawarra 12 (B Rumble, C Stanley-Traill tries; A Ward 2 goals) at BlueBet Stadium. Ref: A Sirianni. HT: PEN 16-12. Tackles: B Phillips 24 (PEN), H Stewart 39 (SGI). Run metres: N Murphy 178 (PEN), H Stewart 122 (SGI).
Melbourne 22 (P Conn, M Hill, S Pio, T Veukiso tries; J Berryman 2, D Perese goals) def. Manly 18 (J Clark, B Konz, D O’Donnell tries; K Weatherall-Stacey 3 goals) at Seabrook Reserve. Ref: B Mani. HT: MAN 12-6. Tackles: A Hinchey 41 (MEL), B Konz 40 (MAN). Run metres: A Hinchey 140 (MEL), B Metcalfe 162 (MAN).
Warriors 20 (A Chong Nee, R Sio, R Tuipulotu-Vea tries; W Piliu 2, S Faeamani, M Winitana-Patelesio goals) def. Sydney 16 (R Foley 2, X Chatfield-Mooka, C Hill tries) at Wentworth Park. Ref: M Pitscheider. HT: WAR 12-0. Tackles: D Readon 33 (SYD), H Durbin 31 (WAR). Run metres: C Hill 204 (SYD), W Piliu 189 (WAR).
Queensland’s halves that year were Luke Capewell and Josh Costello.