Here’s the 40 speed demons who excited the Meninga Cup, Connell Challenge and Harvey 19′ girls junior league this season.
They are the speed demons who can break a match open with pace – raw speed.
We asked each club to nominate their quickest player across the Meninga Cup, Connell Challenge and Harvey Norman under 19 girls competition and it makes for interesting reading.
NOTE: Our coverage will continue on Saturday when the semi-finals are played between Souths Logan and Norths, Blackhawks and SC Falcons.
MACKAY CUTTER
Meninga Cup
The Cutters had two nominations. Over the Olympic distance – 100m, center Kai Simon had his teammates covered. But across a 40m burst, fullback Brad Hazeldine was your man.
Harvey 19s: Issy Bartolo
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Meninga Cup
Crowd favorite Tekelu Mene was the club’s quickest under 18 player.
Connell Challenge
Keelin Hookey gives the Blackhawks momentum from their own end, but also blazing finishing power with his speed.
Harvey 19s
Remi Bishop and Michelle Abai
IPSWICH JETS
Meninga Cup
Jets with jet power – winger Jamal Laurie or outside back Hayden Molkenstein can motor for the Ipswich team.
Harvey 19s
The Jets have multi players who would star in a foot race. Fullback Tia Chapman and winger Relna Hosea were quick, along with Imogene Davidson and Brailey Howgego who ran down a player during the season to stop a try against the Clydesdales.
capras
Meninga Cup
The man with a need for speed is Preston Richards.
Connell Challenge
The under 16s quickest over 20m would be utility half Simon Green who held the fastest time at 3.01 secs, just ahead of Logan Barclay and winger Cody Sanewski (3.02 secs). Over the 1.2km Bronco test, half Clancy Hohn has bragging rights, clocking an impressive 4 mins 40 secs.
CLYDESDALES
Meninga Cup
Hawks junior Kaden Buhse wins the sprints for the Clydesdales.
Connell Challenge
Brothers junior, winger Lucas Paynter, was his team’s quickest player.
Harvey 19s
Although they never had a shoot out, teammates of Kulie Janes would have been hard pressed to beat her, although Anna Dingley would give it a shake. Both were Toowoomba girls who made the Queensland Sapphires side.
SOUTHS LOGAN
Meninga Cup
Brisbane Broncos signed Jye Gray would win the short sprints and the long sprints. The little halfback is just very, very quick.
Connell Challenge
Utility outside back Benson Tau, who could cover centre, wing or fullback, was his team’s fastest.
SC FALCONS
Meninga Cup:
Falcon’s winger Lachlan Hill was his team’s quickest in the sprints.
Connell Challenge
Fullback Brooklenn Mundraby Grogan and Jayden Marshall had their teammates covered for speed.
TWEED SEAGULLS
Meninga Cup
Keano Kini has all the skills – and is quick. He is a ball playing fullback but he plenty of pace himself. Second to him would be the aptly named Jett Forbes
Connell Challenge
Hunter Smith
Harvey 19s
With a name like Rapana, how can’t you be quick. And so it was the case at Tweed Seagulls where Miya Rapana-Faifua was fastest among the girls.
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Meninga Cup
Guireh Brooks
Connell Challenge
Jesse Bender
Harvey 19s
Amy Bird
BRISBANE TIGERS
Meninga Cup:
Joshua Tokam, the Tigers winger, had serious wheels when he got the chance.
Connell Challenge
Tyreese Tavao scored four tries in a remarkable performance against Norths, twice chasing long distance kicks to score when many would have given up the chase. But he had some competition in the pace department from Grafton Ghosts junior Josh Donovan and Jack Forrester
Harvey Norman 19s
Tarleah Fisher Pearson
WIDE BAY
Meninga Cup
Lucas Kemble
Connell Challenge
Blake Power
NORTHERN PRIDE
Meninga Cup
The athletic Trinity Bay State High School product Joseph Pearson is quick, don’t worry.
Connell Challenge
Caesar Teatman
WYNNUM MANLY
Meninga Cup
Newcastle Knights signed fullback Jeremy Trappett can motor when he wants to, although winger Karlin Henry would be hot on his coattails.
Connell Challenge
In a blanket finish Wynnum Manly’s Sylas Simon would probably have shaded Saxon Inness, Cameron Phillip and Xavier Kirk, although injury prevented Simon from showing his wares on the field this season.
BURLEIGH BEARS
Meninga Cup
Karauria Stokes
Connell Challenge
Billy Wellard
NORTHS DEVILS
Meninga Cup
Tyreece Tait. When you are on the end of a backline like the Devils, there are times when you may only need to fall over the line to score. But if needed, Tait can find the tryline from a long way out.
Connell Challenge
Robertson Tusi Tofu
Harvey 19s
A winger or centre, Ava Walters is from the famous Walters’ family and the daughter of Broncos coach Kevin Walters.
Originally published as Here are 40 speed demons of the Meninga, Connell Cups and Harvey 19s
†