Talented junior trio show their rivals that they mean business

THREE little known juniors shone like beacons for their respective Connell Challenge teams as round 3 action rocked and rolled.

Redcliffe fullback Dustin Appo, Tweed Seagulls interchange forward Fuifui Taito and Capras No. 1 Zakkaree Jenkyn emphasised to the rest of the competition that you don’t have to have a resume a mile long to succeed in the elite under 16 junior competition.

After Redcliffe’s 24-10 win over Tweed opened the round, Northern Pride led well before losing 20-14 after Blackhawks’ Jack Miller scored the winning try in the 58th minute.

In other Connell games, the Western Clydesdales also enjoyed a 24-16 win over Ipswich, the Capras beat Cutters 28-nil, Burleigh Bears had a home win over the Brisbane Tigers, 24-12 and Souths Logan blasted to a 38-12 win over Wynnum-Manly.

And in the Meninga Cup, Cutters hooker Xavier Kerrisk was a three try hero, while Redcliffe had an early win over Tweed, 34-10, with the Dolphins finding the tryline on six occasions courtesy of Mitchell Rogers, Adrian Sandy, Prestyn Laine-Sietu, Larry Siala, Zac Garton and John Fineanganofo.

And in Townsville the Blackhawks, with the relatively unsung Wyatt Lourigan prominent, defended their way to victory over a big Northern Pride pack in Meninga action.

Ipswich Jets also put their skates on to win 48-20 against Western Clydesdales. At Marsden SHS, Wynnum-Manly toppled Souths Logan in the final five to come away 30-26 victors.

And in Harvey 19s, Tweed Seagulls were sensational in their win over Redcliffe.

At Piggabeen Sports Complex, Redcliffe kicked off the round with a 24-10 win over Tweed in Connell Challenge action.

Dolphins centre Jake Carsburg and Seagulls edge forward Benjamin Quinlan were the best two players in the match, with Carsburg’s defence and effort finding the footy shining for the winners.

Quinlan, the Tweed captain, also played a grand hand alongside his halves Reef McKay and Caleb Cresswell, with Quinlan adjusting to life on the edge after being moved from No. 13 by coach Neil Richards.

“It was a real captain’s knock,’’ noted Richards, who said Quinlan’s cutting defence and communication with halves McKay and Cresswell were highlights.