The ultimate guide to the 2023 Colts Grand Final
The Tigers and Blackhawks will battle for the final Colts premiership.
This is it.
The final game of Queensland’s under-21 Hastings Deering Colts competition.1
The Brisbane Tigers and Townsville Blackhawks will meet this Sunday afternoon at Kayo Stadium to decide who will lift the trophy for the fifth and final time.
For the Tigers, it’s a chance to claim their first silverware in the competition and their first statewide junior trophy since the under-16 Cyril Connell Cup in 2011.2 For Townsville, a shot a back-to-back premierships and to add to their illustrious junior trophy cabinet. Of the five Colts Grand Finals, they’ve played in four.
Alongside Tweed, the Tigers were the dominant side in the regular season, finishing level on points with the minor premiers but just short on points differential. One of their two losses came to Tweed, a narrow eight-point defeat in Round 12, while the other was a one-point loss to the Sunshine Coast in Round 9.
Townsville weren’t far behind, finishing third, two points behind the top two. Two of their three losses came to those two sides, going down 34-6 to Tweed in Round 1 and 28-24 to the Tigers two weeks later. Despite that, the Blackhawks finished with the best attack (580 points scored) and defence (241 conceded) in the regular season.
The two teams met in Week 1 of the finals, with the Tigers coming away with a dominant 36-12 win in Logan. Townsville led that game 6-0 before the Tigers turned it on, scoring six tries. Putting aside their rusty Round 1 loss, it was by far the Blackhawks’ worst performance of the season and quite possibly the Tigers’ best, as they put a fellow contender to the sword.
The win gave the Tigers the week off, while the Blackhawks fought for survival in Week 2, eliminating the Sunshine Coast in a high-scoring contest 44-30. In the prelims, they were first through to the big one, knocking out Tweed 24-12 on the Gold Coast. The next day, the Tigers joined them, taking care of Redcliffe 36-14 to set up a rematch in the decider.
The game kicks off at 3:15pm (local) and will be shown live and free on Kayo.
Team News
TIGERS: The Tigers welcome back winger Tea-Rani Woodman-Tuhoro in place of Liam Fitzsimmons, the only change to the 17 that defeated the Dolphins last week. Woodman-Tuhoro played all 14 games (scoring 10 tries) in the regular season before missing both finals games. Fitzsimmons moves to the reserves alongside Jack McCosker and Hayden Molkentien. The Tigers’ unreal line-up stability continues in the Grand Final, with six players having played every game in 2023. A further nine have only missed three or fewer.
BLACKHAWKS: Backrower Kurt Fisher returns to the 17 after missing the preliminary final due to suspension. He was replaced last week by Queensland under-19 rep Wil Sullivan, who spent the majority of 2023 in the Queensland Cup. Sullivan retains his starting spot, with Fisher moving to the bench. That move sees Sean Bourke drop to the reserves alongside half Reece Foley and prop Jack Taylor. Fullback and captain Ragarive Wavik and lock Luke Jack are the only returning players from last year’s Grand Final win.
Key Matchups
BECKETT & MORGAN vs. MATAUTIA & TEUTAU
Tigers’ middle-men Madison Beckett and Casey Morgan have played all 16 games up front for their side in 2023. Beckett has barged his way over for 10 (second most in the team), while Morgan has been his side’s top metre-eater several times this year. He’s topped the tally in six of the last seven games, including running for 200+ three times. The Blackhawks’ Kiwi front-row partnership of Jeremiah Matautia and Henry Teutau have both tasted Queensland Cup football this year. Matautia played three games (averaging 100 metres) and Teutau five (starting two at prop). Both are contracted to the Cowboys.
WEST vs. WAVIK
In his third year of Colts, Tigers’ fullback Lachlan West has been a sensation at fullback. He’s scored 22 tries in 16 games, which includes three hat-tricks, one of those against Townsville in Round 3. On top of that, he’s added multiple games with 200+ running metres. Blackhawks’ fullback Ragarive Wavik will be out for another premiership after starting on the wing in last year’s victory. The Brothers junior has enjoyed his move to fullback, scoring 14 tries in 17 games. In last week’s prelim, he had a hand in three tries and ran for 205 metres.
Team Profiles
BRISBANE TIGERS
Finished 2nd - 12 wins, 2 losses
494 points scored (6th), 241 conceded (2nd)
Road to the Grand Final
R1: WIN vs. Clydesdales (44-16), R2: WIN vs. Burleigh (40-26), R3: WIN vs. Townsville (28-24), R4: WIN vs. Norths (22-4), R5: Bye, R6: WIN vs. Mackay (30-14), R7: WIN vs. CQ Capras (40-6), R8: WIN vs. Redcliffe (22-16), R9: LOSS vs. Sunshine Coast (30-31), R10: WIN vs. Ipswich (54-18), R11: WIN vs. Pride (48-12), R12: LOSS vs. Tweed (30-18), R13: Bye, R14: WIN vs. Souths Logan (20-16), R15: WIN vs. Ipswich (52-14), R16: WIN vs. Wynnum Manly (30-16), F1: WIN vs. Townsville (36-12), F3: WIN vs. Redcliffe (36-14).
Junior Rep Honours
Mal Meninga Cup: 2015 runners-up
Cyril Connell Cup: 2011 premiers; 2013 runners-up
U16 National Final: 2011 runners-up
Colts Challenge (1986-2017): 1992, 2009, 2010, 2013 premiers; 2004 runners-up
Colts History
2018 Finished 13th, missed finals
2019 Finished 7th, lost Qualifying Final
2020 season cancelled
2021 Finished 5th, lost Qualifying Final
2022 Finished 5th, lost Qualifying Final
NRL Graduates
4 Daniel Atkinson (3 games, 2021), Sione Finau (16 games, 2022), Jaiyden Hunt (2018, 12 games), Jonah Pezet (3 games, 2021)
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Finished 3rd - 11 wins, 3 losses
580 points scored (1st), 216 conceded (1st)
Road to the Grand Final
R1: LOSS vs. Tweed (6-34), R2: WIN vs. Souths Logan (58-12), R3: LOSS vs. Brisbane Tigers (24-28), R4: Bye, R5: WIN vs. Norths (52-6), R6: Bye, R7: WIN vs. Wynnum Manly (42-30), R8: WIN vs. Sunshine Coast (42-30), R10: WIN vs. Pride (58-6), R11: LOSS vs. Redcliffe (24-28), R12: WIN vs. Clydesdales (62-6), R13: WIN vs. Mackay (48-0), R14: WIN vs. CQ Capras (38-14), R15: WIN vs. Pride (44-6), R16: WIN vs. Burleigh (36-22), F1: LOSS vs. Brisbane Tigers (12-36), F2: WIN vs. Sunshine Coast (44-30), F3: WIN vs. Tweed (24-12).
Junior Rep Honours
Colts: 2022 premiers; 2018, 2021 runners-up
Mal Meninga Cup: 2010, 2012, 2014-16 premiers; 2009, 2011, 2021-23 runners-up
Cyril Connell Cup: 2015, 2016 premiers; 2009, 2012, 2014 runners-up
U18 National Final: 2014 winners; 2012, 2015, 2016 runners-up
U16 National Final: 2015, 2016 runners-up
Colts History
2018 Finished 1st, lost Grand Final
2019 Finished 1st, lost Semi-Final
2020 season cancelled
2021 Finished 2nd, lost Grand Final
2022 Finished 2nd, won Grand Final
NRL Graduates
13 Daejarn Asi (17 games, 2019), Tom Chester (8 games, 2020-21), Ben Condon (33 games, 2018-19), Adam Cook (40 games, 2018-19), Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (6 games, 2022), Tom Gilbert (10 games, 2018), Wirmeu Greig (15 games, 2019), Jacob Kiraz (1 game, 2020), Zac Laybutt (22 games, 2021-22), Griffin Neame (17 games, 2019-20), Riley Price (14 games, 2019), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (5 games, 2019), Tukimihia Simpkins (1 game, 2020).
Head to Head (All-Time)
2018, Round 14, Townsville won 36-6
2019, Round 11, Townsville won 14-16
2019, Round 23, Townsville won 34-14
2021, Round 9, Brisbane Tigers won 28-26
2022, Round 10, Townsville won 23-10
2023, Round 3, Brisbane Tigers won 28-24
2023, Finals Week 1, Brisbane Tigers won 36-12
Player Profiles
BRISBANE TIGERS
1. Lachlan West
2023 stats: 16 games, 22 tries, 88 points
West has been the Tigers’ Colts fullback since making his debut in 2021, playing 46 games and scoring 43 tries in that period. A Casino junior, he played under-18s for the Northern Rivers Titans in 2019 before joining the Tigers’ Mal Meninga Cup side in 2020. On Friday, he was named the Colts Player of the Year at the QRL Awards.
2. Tea-Rani Woodman-Tuhoro
2023 stats: 14 games, 10 tries, 40 points
Originally from Whangarei in northern New Zealand, his grandfather Fred Woodman played three Tests for the All Blacks in the 80s. In 2021, he was signed by the Storm and moved to Australia, joining the Tigers’ MM Cup side while attending Marsden State High.
3. Samuela Vakadula
2023 stats: 14 games, 2 tries, 8 points
Vakadula locked down a starting centre spot halfway through the year after first coming off the bench. Originally from the Taranaki region of New Zealand, Vakadula attended New Plymouth Boys’ High and represented the NZ Fijians at the World Schools 7s last year.
4. Antioch Faitala-Mariner
2023 stats: 9 games, 5 tries, 20 points
Faitala-Mariner is an Easts junior who has come through the club’s MM Cup system, playing two seasons before making his Colts debut in 2022. The former Brisbane State High student is contracted to the Titans, playing for their under-19s side in a trial game against Newcastle earlier this year.
5. Glen Fisher
2023 stats: 14 games, 4 tries, 16 points
Fisher played his junior footy for the Cherbourg Hornets and Murgon Mustangs before representing the Central Crows at the 2019 U16 State Championships. He finished his schooling in Brisbane at Mabel Park State High while spending time in the Wynnum Manly junior system. After a year back in Murgon, he returned to Brisbane in 2023, cementing a spot with the Tigers.
6. Bailey Black
2023 stats: 16 games, 5 tries, 79 goals, 178 points
A Mackay junior, Black made his Colts debut with the Cutters in 2022 before moving south to join up with the Tigers this year. The move has paid off, with Black playing every game in his side’s run to the Grand Final. The St Patrick’s College Mackay old boy was selected in the Australian University side in July.
7. Jake House (co-captain)
2023 stats: 15 games, 6 tries, 24 points
One of the Tigers’ co-captains, House hails from Inverell and was signed to a scholarship contract with the Storm in 2019. In 2021, he relocated to Brisbane to attend Nudgee College and played for Norths in the Mal Meninga Cup.
8. Madison Beckett
2023 stats: 16 games, 10 tries, 40 points
Beckett was the Tigers’ Colts Player of the Year in 2022, starting all 17 games at lock. He’s backed that up this year, his third season of Colts, by playing every game in the middle once again.
9. Brayden Seu-Easthope
2023 stats: 14 games, 3 tries, 12 points
Seu-Easthope moved across from Wynnum Manly in 2023, after playing MM Cup and Colts for the club. Primarily a bench player at the Seagulls, he’s been a revelation as the Tigers’ starting hooker in this season. A member of the Storm’s academy, he attended Mabel Park State High.
10. Casey Morgan
2023 stats: 16 games, 4 tries, 16 points
Morgan has been possibly the most dominant prop in the Colts this season, racking up big metres each week. A Camden Haven junior, Morgan played Laurie Daley Cup for the North Coast Bulldogs in 2020 before joining the Tigers in 2022, playing 31 games over the last two seasons.
11. Simon Pratt (co-captain)
2023 stats: 13 games, 5 tries, 20 points
Another Casino product, Pratt played for the Northern Rivers Titans in the Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cups before moving to the Tigers in 2021. A regular on the edge for the last three seasons, he scored a hat-trick in last weekend’s prelim win over Redcliffe.
12. Trent Veukiso
2023 stats: 15 games, 8 tries, 32 points
Veukiso was named an under-15 Australian Schoolboy while attending Aspley State High in 2019. In 2022, he moved up to the Tigers’ Colts side after playing five MM Cup games. Another who has spent time in the Storm academy, Veukiso has started all but one game at second row this season.
13. Brock Ashton
2023 stats: 13 games, 6 tries, 24 points
After a handful of games in 2021 and 2022, Ashton has become a regular this season, starting 11 of his 13 games at lock. A workhorse, he’s topped the Tigers’ tackle count in six games this year, including 43 in the prelim last weekend.
14. Jackson Chang
2023 stats: 11 games, 3 tries, 12 points
Like Ashton, Chang made the odd appearance over the previous two seasons before getting a bigger opportunity in 2023. He started two of his 11 games at hooker while Seu-Easthope was out. In Week 1 of the finals, he scored twice against Townsville. He is of Papua New Guinean heritage.
15. Joe Nadenic
2023 stats: 16 games, 4 tries, 16 points
Nadenic has played every game for the Tigers this season, filling in at second row and centre. He played for the Tigers’ MM Cup side last year while attending St Laurence’s College. He’s contracted to the Titans, playing in their under-19 game against the Cowboys earlier this year.
17. Jordan Penquitt
2023 stats: 16 games, 1 try, 4 points
An Ipswich Grammar School old boy, Penquitt is in his third year of Colts and will play his 47th game this weekend. Alongside Gabriel Reedy-Bartlett, he’s been a force off the bench. In Round 10, he ran for 204 metres. He did a pre-season with the Titans’ NRL squad in 2022.
19. Gabriel Reedy-Bartlett
2023 stats: 15 games, 1 try, 4 points
A Victorian junior, Reedy-Bartlett played SG Ball with the Thunderbolts before moving to the Tigers in 2022, following his older brother Jacob to the club. He was selected for the under-15 Australian Schoolboys B side in 2018 while attending Hallam College.
16. Jack McCosker
2023 stats: 6 games
McCosker has played all three junior grades for the Tigers, starting in the Cyril Connell Challenge in 2021. After a season in the MM Cup, McCosker has played six Colts games in 2023, starting at second row in Round 11.
18. Hayden Molkentien
2023 stats: 1 game
Molkentien has been the Tigers’ 18th player on several occasions this year, getting a taste of the Colts in their Round 9 loss to the Falcons. An Ipswich junior, he played for the Jets in last year’s MM Cup playing six games at centre and wing.
20. Liam Fitzsimmons
2023 stats: 3 games, 2 tries
Fitzsimmons scored two tries on his Colts debut last month and kept his spot on the wing while Woodman-Tuhoro was out. Originally from Wagga Wagga, he played three Harold Matthews games for Canberra in 2018.
Coach: Mark Gliddon
The Tigers’ Colts have seen their best-ever results since Gliddon took over the role in 2021, with two fifth-place finishes before this season’s Grand Final run. Gliddon brings a ton of experience to the under-21 competition, having coached the Devils Queensland Cup side for four seasons (2014-17).
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
1. Ragarive Wavik (captain)
2023 stats: 17 games, 14 tries, 76 goals, 208 points
The Blackhawks’ most experienced player, their captain and their goalkicker, Wavik has been instrumental for his side this year. The Port Moresby-born fullback won a national Schoolboy title with Kirwan State High as a 16-year-old in 2019. In 2021, he was selected in the Australian Schoolboys side. He is one of the several Cowboys-contracted players in the squad.
2. Jesse Yallop
2023 stats: 15 games, 25 tries, 100 points
The try-scoring king of the Colts, Yallop has run in 25 this year to take his career tally to 51 from 37 games, by far the most of any player. A national champion with Kirwan State High in 2019, Yallop played two Queensland Cup games for Townsville this year.
3. Elekana Suavai
2023 stats: 15 games, 5 tries, 20 points
Signed by North Queensland from the CQ Capras’ MM Cup side in 2021, Suavai has been powerful out wide in 2023. Originally from Cairns, Suavai was attending The Cathedral College Rockhampton when spotted by the Cowboys.
4. Dudley Dotoi
2023 stats: 11 games, 11 tries, 44 points
Dotoi returned to Townsville in 2023 after a season in Sydney and has been dominant for the Blackhawks, scoring 11 tries in 11 games. An Australian Schoolboy at Kirwan State High in 2021, Dotoi was signed by the Wests Tigers and played SG Ball for the Magpies in 2022 before moving back home.
5. Cathane Hill
2023 stats: 15 games, 16 tries, 1 goal, 66 points
A former member of the Cowboys’ Young Gun system, Hill also joined the Wests Tigers in 2022, playing eight games for Balmain in the SG Ball before returning home. An adept fullback, Hill has spent the majority of 2023 on the wing, scoring 16 tries.
6. Matthew Hunter
2023 stats: 13 games, 3 tries, 12 points
An Australian under-19 touch representative, Hunter steered Ignatius Park College to the Queensland state final at halfback last year. A member of the Cowboys’ Young Guns squad, he has grown as the seasons progressed.
7. Zack Lamont
2023 stats: 15 games, 1 try, 4 points
A Sunshine Coast junior, Lamont got a small taste of Colts last year, playing one game before becoming the club’s starting halfback in 2023. He played for the Tigers’ MM Cup side in 2021 while attending Anglican Church Grammar where he was signed by the Cowboys. In July, he started at halfback for Queensland under-19.
8. Jeremiah Matautia
2023 stats: 14 games, 3 tries, 12 points
Matautia began the year on the edge before moving back into the middle where he’s been a standout for Townsville. An Otara Scorpions junior, he moved to Australia in 2022 after signing for the Cowboys, attending Kirwan State High. A tall unit, he played three Cup games this season.
14. Lachlan Lerch
2023 stats: 6 games, 2 tries, 8 points
A Townsville Brothers junior, Lerch made his Colts debut this season and has earned the starting hooker just in the last three weeks. A speed threat from dummy half, he has also spent time at fullback during his junior career. An Ignatius Park College old boy.
10. Henry Teutau
2023 stats: 11 games, 2 tries, 8 points
Like his front-row partner, Teutau moved to Australia in 2022 after signing with the Cowboys, attending Ignatius Park College. Previously contracted to the Warriors, the Marist Saints junior is all power. He played five Cup games for the Blackhawks this year.
11. Wil Sullivan
2023 stats: 4 games, 1 try, 4 points
Sullivan has spent the majority of his 2023 in Cup, playing six games and starting four of them at second row, returning to the Colts just last week. An Ipswich junior, Sullivan is a Cowboys’ Young Gun and represented Queensland under-19 in July, scoring a try.
12. Jamal Shibasaki
2023 stats: 10 games, 9 tries, 36 points
One of the country’s top forwards in his age group, Shibasaki made his Cup debut in May as a 17-year-old. Contracted to the Cowboys, Shibasaki has played all four grades with the Blackhawks, starting in the Cyril Connell Challenge in 2021. The former Ignatius Park student represented Queensland under-19 in July. On Friday, he was named the Mal Meninga Cup Player of the Year at the QRL Awards.
13. Luke Jack
2023 stats: 11 games, 2 tries, 8 points
A premiership winner last season, Jack returned to the Colts as a starter this year and has been a workhorse in the middle. A Burdekin junior, Jack was an Australian Schoolboy in 2021 at Ignatius Park and represented Queensland under-19 in 2022. He was formerly contracted to the Cowboys.
9. Joel Baldwin
2023 stats: 14 games, 3 tries, 12 points
Originally from Bundaberg, Baldwin made his Cup debut earlier this year after three seasons in the Colts system. He was unlucky to miss out on last year’s Grand Final, serving as Townsville’s 18th player for the game. He’s topped his side’s tackle count in four of the last five games.
15. Darnell Geia
2023 stats: 8 games
A Townsville Brothers junior, Geia played A Grade for the club in 2022 before getting a shot in Colts this year. He has brought a ton of energy off the bench in his eight games this season.
16. Kurt Fisher
2023 stats: 16 games, 5 tries, 20 points
A lanky backrower, Fisher is originally from Gunnedah, where he played for Greater Northern in the Andrew Johns Cup. He then moved to Rockhampton, attending The Cathedral College and playing MM Cup for the Capras before signing with the Cowboys. He spent time at fullback and five-eighth as a junior before transiting to the forwards.
17. Tyrone Gunn-James
2023 stats: 13 games, 4 tries, 16 points
Gunn-James spent three seasons with the Tigers, playing MM Cup and Colts, before returning to Townsville this year. In 2019, he was a member of Kirwan’s champion Schoolboy team alongside Wavik and Yallop. He made his Cup debut against the Jets in Round 14.
18. Reece Foley
2023 stats: 7 games, 1 try, 4 points
After playing halfback for Townsville in the MM Cup final earlier this year, Foley made the move up to Colts, playing seven games. A highly regarded player in the Cowboys’ system, he missed the entire 2022 season after injuring his shoulder in a Young Guns trial.
21. Sean Bourke
2023 stats: 11 games, 1 try, 4 points
The younger brother of Cowboys’ squad member Jake Bourke, Sean made his Colts debut this year after two seasons in the Blackhawks’ MM Cup side. He has started six of his 11 games at second row.
22. Jack Taylor
2023 stats: 6 games
An Ignatius Park College old boy, Taylor has been a reliable middle option off the bench for the Blackhawks. A Townsville Brothers junior, he started at prop in their Round 16 win over Burleigh.
Coach: Roy Baira
An A Grade legend in Townsville, Baira coached the Blackhawks’ MM Cup side for three seasons, taking them to a Grand Final in 2022. He’s overcome a major roster overhaul to lead the Blackhawks back to the Grand Final. His son, Tyreice Baira-Gela, is a member of the squad.
The QRL has done some nice pieces on Colts players throughout the year for their “In the Spotlight” series. Here are a few featuring this weekend’s Grand Final players:
Grand Final Facts
PREVIOUS GRAND FINALS
2018 Norths 20 def. Townsville 16
2019 Sunshine Coast 34 def. Wynnum Manly 28
2021 Wynnum Manly 17 def. Townsville 16 (golden point)
2022 Townsville 46 def. Redcliffe 32
PREMIERSHIP WINNING COACHES / CAPTAINS
2018 Kevin Neighbour / Kobe Hetherington & Joe McGuire (Norths)
2019 Sam Mawhinney / Jayden Wright (Sunshine Coast)
2021 Michael Dobson / Jacob Sturt (Wynnum Manly)
2022 Steve Sheppard / Zac Laybutt (Townsville)
PLAYER OF THE MATCH WINNERS
2018 Nesta Watene (Norths)
2019 Tyson Smooth (Sunshine Coast)
2021 Ben Farr (Wynnum Manly)
2022 Jacob Mene (Townsville)
PREMIERSHIP WINNERS IN THE NRL
2018 Ethan Bullemor, Kobe Hetherington, Cory Paix, Jordan Riki (Norths)
2019 Trent Loiero, Tyson Smoothy, Blake Wilson (Sunshine Coast)
2021 Harrison Graham, Max Plath, Alec MacDonald (Wynnum Manly)
2022 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Zac Laybutt (Townsville)
MOST TRIES IN A GRAND FINAL
3 Jacob Mene (Townsville) v Redcliffe, 2022.
2 Ragarive Wavik (Townsville) v Redcliffe, 2022.
2 Dylan White (Townsville) v Redcliffe, 2022.
2 Tomas Chester (Townsville) v Wynnum Manly, 2021.
2 Steven Borg (Sunshine Coast) v Wynnum Manly, 2019.
MOST GOALS IN A GRAND FINAL
7 Dylan White (Townsville) v Redcliffe, 2022.
6 Shannon Gardiner (Wynnum Manly) v Sunshine Coast, 2019.
5 Tyson Smoothy (Sunshine Coast) v Wynnum Manly, 2019.
MOST POINTS IN A GRAND FINAL
22 Dylan White (Townsville) v Redcliffe, 2022.
14 Tyson Smoothy (Sunshine Coast) v Wynnum Manly, 2019.
12 Jacob Mene (Townsville) v Redcliffe, 2022.
12 Shannon Gardiner (Wynnum Manly) v Sunshine Coast, 2019.
BIGGEST WINNING MARGIN
14 Townsville 46 def. Redcliffe 32, 2022.
The final game, for now.
The Tigers won the under-20 FOGS Colts Challenge three times after that (2009, 2010, 2013) but that was a southeast Queensland-only competition.