It's grand final time for Rockhampton District Junior Rugby League on Saturday for International age groups at Rugby Park. RDJRL president Michael Fletcher casts his eye over the matchups.
8.30am - Under 13 Boys
Brothers Blue v Capricorn Coast Brothers
Brothers Blue come into the grand final after beating minor premiers Norths Blue in week one of the semifinals and getting the rest.
They have only dropped one game this year and will be looking to Hugh McKinlay and Ronan Ramsey to lead from the front while they have the reliable boot of Lachlan Basham, who was this year's leading pointscorer.
Cap Coast Brothers have peaked late and are in with a real chance with this year’s leading try scorer Nate Caplick touching down for 23 tries in 2024.
Brothers have won the only meeting this year and will be looking to make two on Saturday. A very good start to the 2024 grand finals.
9.45am - Under 14 Girls
Emu Park v Rockhampton Tigers
Emu Park would have been watching with interest on Friday night when their opponents Rockhampton Tigers went to golden point to get through to the final.
Emu Park have lost only one game this year and will need crafty No.9 Muriel Saltner at her best again after scoring two tries in week one. Captain Leilani Penaia has been leading this side around all year and another big game will be required if they want to take the trophy home.
How much has Friday night taken out of the Tiger girls? If they want to be premiers, they will need to regroup this week and manage workloads. They do have three of the leading tryscorers in their side with Maddison Johns crossing 18 times this year.
In their last meeting, Emu Park took the points, but this is a grand final and anything can happen. The skills of the girls in this competition has been outstanding in 2024.
11am - Under 14 Boys
Fitzroy Sharks v Norths Blue
Fitzroy Sharks will be looking to go back-to-back after finishing second on the table in 2024. They were able to defeat the minor premiers Norths Blue in week one.
Greg Bani has been a point-scoring machine this year and they will need him to continue that in the grand final. He will be supported by Reid Doyle and Cordell Burnell.
Norths Blue toughed out a good win on Friday night against Yeppoon Blue, led by captain and halfback Romen Conway and second rower Angelo Sariman. Norths are looking to turn around last year’s result in the final and will need to be on their game.
These sides have met twice this year, each winning one apiece. This should be a great contest which could go either way.
12.15pm - Under 15 Boys
Capricorn Coast Brothers vs Fitzroy Sharks
Cap Coast ground out a tight win in the first week of the finals and will need that will to win again Saturday if they are to beat the Fitzroy Sharks in the grand final.
Front rower Cooper Stacpoole has been strong all year the Coast side and they will need his big runs to get them on the front foot for exciting backs Kobe Oberhardt and Brosnan Toby to use their speed.
Fitzroy made a statement on Friday night with a big win over Yeppoon Gold and they will need that intensity on Saturday to roll the Cap Coast side. Kaden West and Tyttus Auda have been scoring at will this year and will need to light up Rugby Park to give the Sharks a chance.
Cap Coast took out the round six clash and will be looking to do that again.
1.30pm - Under 16 Boys
Norths Blue v Capricorn Coast Brothers
Norths Blue finished the year as minor premiers and got over second-placed Yeppoon in round one of the finals.
Colin Leisha has been outstanding in the centres this year and being the leading try scorer he will need to be in fine form if the Knights want premiership glory, along with captain Alexander Fuller and lock Sam Adams.
Cap Coast Brothers have come from fourth and are looking to keep the momentum going after shutting out Yeppoon on Friday night. They will look to No.9 Kobi Wren and centre Steele Howard to get them on the front foot if they have any chance rolling the Knights.
These sides have met twice this year with Norths getting one win and then a draw. Watch out for this game - it could go either way.
3pm - Under 17 Girls
Rockhampton Tigers v Norths Knights
This under 17 Girls game could be close to the game of the day. Both sides are full of match winners. Tigers' Heidi Silvester has had an outstanding season, crossing for 15 tries this year - four clear of the field. Her combination with half Flick Barron will need to be spot on if they want to take the trophy in 2024. Norths, who finished minor premiers, have bounced back since the week one loss to Tigers. Coach Nicky Carpenter will want the same commitment they showed on Friday night when lock Chenelle Williams crossed three times and centre Tasmyn Blood bagged a double. Both sides have one win apiece this year. There is a real rivalry between these two sides and this game will excite the fans.
4.30pm - Under 17 Boys
Rockhampton Tigers v Yeppoon Seagulls
Cap Coast Brothers have dominated this age group over the years, so we will see a new club taking the oldest grade of the competition.
Tigers representative players Zac Bateman and Harry Meilland have been outstanding this year and they will need to lead the way.
Yeppoon have plenty of strike power and they will need Stacey Hollingsworth to lead from dummy half and give plenty of good service to the forward pack getting the on the front foot. This will allow centres William Quiland and Phillip York to explore attacking options.
A great way to finish a big day of rugby league
Main image: Johnathon Coyne from Yeppoon Seagulls' fends off a Cap Coast Brothers player in the under 17 boys preliminary final last Friday. Photo: Boothy's Action Photo Art
