THUNDER SET FOR BROLGAS CHALLENGE
FNQ RUGBY TO TAKE A MIX OF EXPERIENCE AND YOUTH INTO NORTH QUEENSLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS
FNQ Thunder will face off with Townsville Brolgas on home turf with the North Queensland Championships to be played at Barlow Park.
This will be the first time the Thunder has hosted the tournament since 2019, with games across junior and senior age groups.
FNQ Rugby president Bradyn Boske takes us through the open men’s squad here.
FULLBACK
Dereck Letcher arrived at Port Douglas last season and made an immediate impact with his speed and diverse skillset.
“He had an impressive first year in the comp and was easy to bring in,” Boske said.
“He’s young – he was in the Colts team in 2019 – and he’s a very exciting player.
WINGERS
Dudley-Thomas Miles and Wayne Oui will start on the wings.
JCU Mariners flyer Miles is no stranger to the representative arena: he is a former Queensland Country winger and among the best in FNQ Rugby for the past few seasons.
A premiership player at the Mariners, there’s not much the fast, agile outside back Miles can’t do on the footy field.
“He just does everything," Boske said.
“He’ll get in and do the hard work, and he’s safe at the back.”
There aren’t many people who would have expected to see Oui on the wing, but his trial form was too good to ignore.
Initially in the extended squad as a halfback, Oui was brought on to the wing when Port Douglas teammate snapped his collarbone against TI.
“He played so well,” Boske said. “He scored a few tries and was just unbelievable.”
CENTRES
Maddi Bariball and Pa Walter have been given the nod to start in Saturday evening’s clash.
Bariball is described as a “monster”, and the Southside weapon will almost certainly have his Brolgas rivals on alert.
“He’s tall, well-built, and plays a really strong game,” Boske said.
Walter has represented FNQ Thunder before, but the Southside Crusader could be even better than he was then.
He is known to do a bit of everything on both sides of the ball, and with a higher ceiling could be one to watch.
Port Douglas centre Juan Andre Pena has been named to come off the bench.
The Uruguayan national is a key player at the Reef Raiders and will be looking to bring his form to the representative area,
PLAYMAKERS
Luke Edwards has been named in the No.10 jersey, with vice-captain Tom Christie slotting in at the scrumbase.
Port Douglas flyhalf Edwards has plenty of skill and with a reputation of leaving nothing on the table has been backed to perform at representative level.
There are big expectations on the shoulders of Christie, who is expected to push for Queensland Country selection.
The Mariners utility –
he can cover both positions – has played plenty of Premier Grade footy throughout his career.
“He’s a leader – he was playing reserve grade last year and was club captain,” Boske said.
“That tells you all you need to know about him.”
Ethan Chambers has been named to come off the bench.
A young gun from England, he arrived just in time to play for Wanderers’ reserves side in the first week of the season and has played his way straight into the rep side.
BACK-ROWERS
In perhaps the area with the most depth, Molia Feleleai and Richard Johnston have been named to start in coach Sven Schaefer’s side.
Thunder selection marks the next stage in Feleleleai’s remarkable return to rugby since seriously injuring his MCL in the last games of 2019.
He returned to the field last year, and by all reports the Southside gun has blown away his rivals to start the new season.
Boske said his performance for the Barbarians in a trial game for the Thunder this year made it impossible to overlook the Crusaders gun.
Johnston, from Port Douglas, was a clear starter in this forward pack.
“He will bring a lot of energy, he does his job well and doesn’t let anyone down,” Boske said.
Hemson Koi will start at No.8. There were questions about his availability but, after moving to Townsville and coming back, he has forced his way into the starting lineup.
William Allen and Bevan Reynolds will come off the bench.
Allen is as consistent as they come, similar to Johnston in that he will get his job done.
Reynolds played in Brisbane for a few years, leaving as an outside back but returning as a backrower.
He plays in crucial positions at Mudcrabs but his size will serve him well in the engine room.
SECOND-ROWERS
Jesse Kautu and William Brown will start in the Thunder’s second row.
Kautu is as tough as they come. A Queensland Country representative two years ago, Kautu didn’t play last year but retained his title as one of the most feared forwards in FNQ Rugby.
“He’s another guy who just does everything,” Boske said.
“He can play No.8 as well which will help the team.”
Brown, 23, is one of the region’s up-and-coming second-rowers.
He is a player earmarked for bigger things in the future, and will benefit greatly from the experience.
Alivereti Tokaduadua, who plays for Brothers, has been named on the bench.
“He’s a classic Fijian rugby player,” Boske said. “He has all of the skill, runs really well, gets offloads away – he plays with flair.”
HOOKERS
Liam Duncan is one of the first names written to the Thunder teamsheet.
The two-time JCU Mariners premiership player is a former North Queensland representative who is predicted to perform well
“He was one of the best in the trials, he shows some really strong form,” Boske said.
Craig Simpson will come off the bench. “Craig’s only just come back to rugby – his first game was the North v South trial earlier this year and he’s played himself into this team,” Boske said.
PROPS
Captain Kai Lowah and debutant Shadrach Cane-Toby form the Thunder’s front row.
As arguably the premier prop in FNQ, Lowah is just about an automatic selection in the position he has led JCU Mariners to two premierships in three seasons.
Immensely experienced, the twotime Queensland Country representative will lead this team into battle like he does every week.
Cane-Toby capped a swift rise from Mudcrabs’ reserves last year to starting for the Thunder.
He proved his wares throughout the training sessions and trials to secure a starting spot.
Experienced duo Cameron Scott and Nick Moller have been named on the bench.
Both have been consistent starters for their respective sides over the years, and will ensure the Thunder maintain their strength in the latter stages of the game.
Mudcrabs warhorse Scott has represented NQ before, while Moller has stepped into a coaching role at Mariners and will undoubtedly relish the opportunity to play a game without thinking about the coaching side of the game.