Everything you need to know: XXXX Chair's Challenge
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The XXXX Chair's Challenge will see the best A grade players from the South East region go toe-to-toe in men's and women's competitions.
It is the first time the women's competition has taken place as part of the XXXX Chair's Challenge, and will be contested between teams representing Brisbane, Gold Coast and Ipswich.
As is customary, Brisbane is split into two teams - Red and White - for the four-team men's competition.
Ipswich Diggers teams have spent the past few weeks deep in preparations, creating a buzz on social media by giving locals an insight into the intense action they can expect over the three days.
Ipswich Diggers centre Gemma Range said she was looking forward to the opportunity to represent Ipswich and her club Fassifern, and running out alongside some former Goodna Eagles teammates.
"We've had a few training sessions now... I think everyone's looking forward to it and Rugby League Ipswich is putting a lot into it for us girls, which is cool," she said.
"I was honestly quite shocked when Daryll (Squires) the coach approached me after our game against Brothers. I wasn't expecting it at all.
"I'm really grateful. It's a great opportunity and really good to be representing our own clubs and also Ipswich and being the first ever one is awesome.
"Hopefully it's successful, and after this year there will be a women's team every year, so hopefully it's something girls will want to take part in, and they pick a City team from this as well, so hopefully we have a few girls picked from our team.
"I'm expecting it to be tough. I'm sure there's going to be some really great girls playing for the Gold Coast and Brisbane teams and I'm expecting us to go out there and give it our best and I think we should go well.
"This group of girls has a lot of talent in there so I'm really looking to seeing how we all play together."
Diggers men's assistant coach Kieran Turner said the skill set among this year's squad was "incredible" and was bullish about their chances in front of the home fans.
"The buy-in is definitely there and it seems like we've gelled pretty quickly. I'm looking forward to it. It's one of the better squads we've had in recent years, and we're certainly expecting a couple of the boys to push on with City selection," he said.
"We've got a few boppers but Ono So'oialo at the back is excitement machine. We've had him in our squad the past few years and a player who has pushed on to higher ranks in (Hostplus) Cup and Queensland Rangers in the past.
"We think he's still good enough to be running around in Cup. He's a level above the competition and he was certainly our best player in the carnival last year and dangerous when he got his hands on the ball.
"But just our forward pack is really good. Caleb Esera is a giant of a man and we're looking forward to seeing him run around. He's been tormenting the competition a bit for Brothers.
"Taj Hinton as well, the half for Brothers, has been going really well, just a genuine leader who can put faith in the team."
All players will be vying for selection in Queensland City men's and women's teams to play in the XXXX Queensland City v Country on Hostplus Cup grand final day in September.
Main image: Hayden Herbert from Brisbane with the 2023 trophy. Photo: Vanessa Hafner/QRL
Everything you need to know - XXXX Chair's Challenge 2024
Key information
When: Friday, July 5 to Sunday, July 7
Where: North Ipswich Reserve
Broadcast: Qplus.tv (Round Pass - $4.99)
Points system: Two (2) points available for winner of each half, and two (2) points for winner of the match
Schedule
Friday, July 5
| Time | Competition | Match | Match officials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.30pm | Women | Ipswich Diggers v Brisbane Poinsettias | Izzy Davidson, Kirra Bowman-Ivers, Yaleena Harradine |
Saturday, July 6
| Time | Competition | Match | Match officials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12.30pm | Men | Brisbane Red v Brisbane White | Tori Wilkie, Will Batchelor, Ethan Brown |
| 2pm | Women | Brisbane Poinsettias v Gold Coast Vikings | Rochelle Tamarua, Amberley Keating, Mikki Williamson |
| 3.45pm | Men | Ipswich Diggers v Gold Coast Vikings | Cody Kwik, Jakob Funk, Scott Whelan |
Sunday, July 7
| Time | Competition | Match | Match officials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11.30am | Ipswich Diggers v Gold Coast Vikings | Women | Ben Casey, Cachella Williamson, Jacob Van Ek |
| 1pm | Gold Coast Vikings v Brisbane Red | Men | Ben Sepalla, Ryan Littleford, Henry Goddard |
| 2.30pm | Ipswich Diggers v Brisbane White | Men | Trey Hubert, Bayden Sawyers, Matt Colclough |
Squads
Men
Brisbane Red
| Number | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Samuela Vakadula |
| 2 | Marcus Spence |
| 3 | Montel Lisala |
| 4 | Cole Waaka |
| 5 | Tyler Han |
| 6 | Noah Natupu |
| 7 | Brayden Torpy |
| 8 | Beni Allen |
| 9 | Logan Cox |
| 10 | Madison Beckett |
| 11 | Sam Collins |
| 12 | Levi Wilson |
| 13 | Nathan Keggs |
| 14 | Harrison Hill |
| 15 | Heath Wilson |
| 16 | Harry Armstrong |
| 17 | Zane Ford |
| 18 | Regan Glynn |
Brisbane White
| Number | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Braden Whittaker |
| 2 | Jack Stafford |
| 3 | Ethan Unicomb |
| 4 | Isaiah LeaLiiee |
| 5 | Oskar Enasio |
| 6 | Nathan Brown |
| 7 | Hayden Herbert |
| 8 | Cameron Torpy |
| 9 | Jackson Chang |
| 10 | Garrett Smith |
| 11 | James Robinson |
| 12 | Kelepe Faukafa |
| 13 | Dredin Sorenson |
| 14 | Savaan Tahere |
| 15 | Reed Young |
| 16 | Dilbert Isaac |
| 17 | Tieran Ross |
| 18 | Max Pakai |
Gold Coast Vikings
| Number | Name |
|---|---|
| 1. | Liam Wilson |
| 2. | Michael Walit |
| 3. | Regan Ogle |
| 4. | Queile Murray |
| 5. | Dredin Goldsmith |
| 6. | Ryder Williams |
| 7. | Campbell Pirihi |
| 8. | Dan Shannon |
| 9. | Jordan Scott (C) |
| 10. | Takitau Mapapalangi |
| 11. | Samuel McIntyre |
| 12. | Erris Kane |
| 13. | Blake Scott (C) |
| 14. | Matthew Canning |
| 15. | Samuel Shannon |
| 16. | Aston Bai |
| 17. | Reico Ratana |
| 18. | Andrew Henry |
Ipswich Diggers
| Number | Name | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ono So'oialo (C) | Redbank |
| 2. | Eli Teariki | Brothers |
| 3. | Bessie Toomaga | Redbank |
| 4. | Luke Maddaford | Jets |
| 5. | Deijon Leugaimafa | Brothers |
| 6. | Taj Hinton | Brothers |
| 7. | Tristan Sami | Swifts |
| 8. | Pat Samatua | Fassifern |
| 9. | Isi Hafoka (C) | Fassifern |
| 10. | James Tutulia | Brothers |
| 11. | Matt Bell | |
| 12. | Charles Christiensen | Fassifern |
| 13. | Saunda Seumanutafa | Redbank |
| 14. | Sam Madden | Norths |
| 15. | Chayse Cavanagh | Jets |
| 16. | Nathan Fraser | Jets |
| 17. | Wilson Malesilia | Swifts |
| 18. | TJ Siakisini | Redbank |
Women
Brisbane Poinsettias
| Number | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Vyiesha Tuua |
| 2 | Amy Bird |
| 3 | May Tareha |
| 4 | Alexandrea Kiriwi |
| 5 | Ruby Bezgovsek |
| 6 | India Seeto |
| 7 | Memory Paitai |
| 8 | Acacia Wulf |
| 9 | Liliele Vaitolo |
| 10 | Antonia Vito |
| 11 | Patricia Wani |
| 12 | Harmony Baanders |
| 13 | Eden Utatao |
| 14 | Jiniah Miru |
| 15 | Hayley Bush |
| 16 | Elaina Saluni |
| 17 | Seromelina Tanielu |
| 18 | Gabrielle Finn |
Gold Coast
| Number | Name |
|---|---|
| 1. | Chantelle Holloway |
| 2. | Baylee Davies |
| 3. | Shanarlii Peckham |
| 4. | Chazmin Holloway |
| 5. | Tarnisha Lyons |
| 6. | Mystery Kora |
| 7. | Izzy Lee |
| 8. | Aza Wallace |
| 9. | Nadia Windleborn |
| 10. | Jonel Lavender |
| 11. | Jaime Phillips |
| 12. | Liantre Anderson |
| 13. | Crystal Tamarua (C) |
| 14. | Tiah Betteridge |
| 15. | Kadi Roberston |
| 16. | Rona Peters |
| 17. | Tamika Smith |
| 18. | Emylee Hawke |
| 19. | Kaliyah Browning |
Ipswich
Squad: Alayna Poasa, Aliya Hura, Ariana Henderson, Bella Pita, Chynna Leota, Coourtney Lee Nolan, Gemma Range, Grace Naleba, Imogen Davidson, Kita Sao, Latia Schefe, Lyllian Mikaio, Mercedes Taulele Siala, Nicki Cox, Paris Va, Patrice Chambers, Pauline Moliga, Shalom Tuifao, Tino Ah Him, Vaituulina Soe
