Suavai named in emerging Origin side

A GAME-breaking centre with the build of a backrower has been named Queensland’s under-18 emerging Origin squad just days before featuring in the Mal Meninga Cup grand final.

Elekana Suavai is one of 11 players and seven Blackhawks named for this weekend’s Mal Meninga Cup decider to make the squad.

Suavai started his young career footy at Kangaroos in Cairns and made a state schoolboys team while at Trinity Bay State High School, before heading to the Capras for the 2021 season.

He shone, and this year has found himself in Townsville where he is in the Cowboys’ sights, and playing for the Townsville Blackhawks.

Blackhawks U18s coach Roy Baira, who counts Suavai as a nephew, said the youngster, who was named in the No.19 jersey in his grand final team to face Souths Logan, had game-breaking talent.

“He’s got great speed as a centre, but he can play both there and in the back-row,” Baira said.

“He’s a player who is going to do some damage.

“He was down at the Capras for only a season or so but really impressed. The Cowboys picked him up from there and he’s moved into the system.

“He’s been going great guns for us.

“The boys are excited for the weekend. This was our goal at the start of the season, and he boys have played well and executed what we wanted.

“Souths Logan have a good coach in Karmichael Hunt and Justin Hodges has helped them out a bit as well.

“I’m proud of all the boys.” Baira is not settled on his starting 17 players for the decider, but said the 29 -strong squad, which includes Suavai’s former Trinity Bay SHS colleague Mahnihi Maurangi, had all played their part in getting the Blackhawks to the final.