HOW’S THIS FOR YOUNG QUALITY
To celebrate the historic Harvey Norman under19 finals on April 6, we give you the Harvey Norman Under-17 girls Team of the Season,
Never before has the Harvey 19s progressed to a finals format, with Tweed v Tigers and Clydesdales v Cutters the teams that qualified for the sudden-death affair at Logan Metro on April 6.
Below we name our Team of the Finalists made up of players from those four teams.
Then, we name a Best of the Rest Team of the Season from teams which did not reach the top four.
The strength of both teams highlights the most important thing – the fact girls’ rugby league is growing in both participation and standard as each season passes.
TEAM OF THE SEASON FROM THE FINALISTS 1. MERCEDEZ TAULELEI-SIALA (TWEED)
A glorious ball running outside back or fullback who can also play physical around the ruck. You will see what all the fuss is about on Saturday week and who knows, maybe for the Broncos in the next year or two.
2. PHOENIX-RAINE HIPPI (TWEED)
The Ballina product was a prolific tryscorer from start to finish, a player with more than a smattering of pace.
She was hard to tackle, seemingly slippery at times.
3. JENNIFER KIMBER (CUTTERS)
Kimber was an attacking weapon every week, a strike player responsible for a vast majority of her team’s tries this season.
4. RELNA HOSEA (TIGERS)
From the Badu Island in the Torres Strait, Hosea continued to flourish into a quality outside centre – a player of immense potential and a knack for scoring.
The Ipswich Girls’ Grammar alum knows how to find the tryline and flatten her opposition at a regular time stamp.
5. SAVANNAH ROBERTSHICKLING (TWEED)
Blink and you might miss her. A twinkle toes ball runner with footy smarts who can also ball play in the halves.
6. CHLOE PALLISIER (CLYDESDALES) A remarkable young talent who is
quick between the ears. If you are an edge forward or centre, you make good friends with her at training because she’ll spiral a ball into space for you come game day.
7. INDIA SEETO (TIGERS)
The sporting all-rounder who previously excelled in track and field athletics showed her silky playmaking ability throughout the season and was an easy pick. It was even easier when taking into account the success of her team.A Broncos signing, Seeto, was once a nationally
ranked weightlifter and is a natural despite being a relative latecomer to the sport.
8. ALICE SHANNON (TIGERS)
The Mabel Park SHS senior was Consistent with a capital C.
She was tough as nails, rucking the ball up with ferocity and defending until there was nothing left in the tank.
9. PAITYNE JOHNS (CUTTERS)
The 2023 Queensland schoolgirls representative was the best dummy half in this competition.
The Cutters’ forwards and halfback could not be in better hands when she touches the ball first.
10. GRACIE WATT (CUTTERS)
The front row powerhouse who most benefited from Johns’ passing from dummy half. She took her team forward time and again.
11. KAYLEEN TAKAI (TIGERS)
A damaging fringe runner who loved getting into space – and the rough stuff.
She added an important dimension to the Tigers’ attack on their fringe.
12. SIENNA SMITH (CLYDESDALES)
The Harristown SHS student was consistently among the best players in her high achieving team across the season. A no-nonsense edge forward who did her job at a high standard.
13. TIRESA ELIKA (TIGERS)
Elika was our starting hooker in last year’s Team of the Season when she
was an absolute whiz for the Jets. This year, playing lock for the Tigers, it was much of the same for the gritty Titans Academy ace who has a fearlessness about her.
14. MIA BYRNES (CLYDESDALES)
No you are not stuck in a time warp. Two weeks ago we named the quickstepping Byrnes as the Harvey 17s Team of the Season fullback, and she’s back in the under-19 team as the replacement dummy half.
15. EBONY TEMPLE (CUTTERS)
Temple would roar off the bench for the Cutters this season and maintain the momentum generated by her props Gracie Watt and Ella CroninFlanagan.
16. LIBBY DUNN (CLYDESDALES)
Dunn has been a slightly unsung hero of the Clydesdales campaign. Clydesdales have a host of edge forwards, halves and outside backs in both its under-17 and under-19 squads, but it all starts in the ruck and Dunn is as good as any in the middle.
17. LUCY DAVIS (CLYDESDALES)
Outside back Davis loved life on the edge of her backline, but not content with scoring tries, she’d go looking for work as well. She deserves recognition in this company.
18. SHAYLEE JOSEPH (TIGERS)
She won’t win a lot of Best Player awards, but she gets through a ton of work, makes an impact on and off the ball in the middle, and does the little things well.
SPECIAL MENTIONS:
Leilani Tuqiri (Tigers) Aaliyah Murray (Clydesdales) Sian McNeill (Tweed) Seromelina Tanielu (Tigers) Mia Dendle (Tweed) Kaylah Moloney (Tigers