Rugby League legend Mal Meninga was the guest at last Saturday’s clinics and 9’s games at Kawenu field. Players in attendance had the double bonus by receiving coaching from two former NRL stars and current elite coaches in the form of QLD Origin Coach Meninga and Vanuatu National Head Coach Dane Campbell.
Meninga, a descendent from Tanna Island was in Vanuatu along with Netball great Vicki Wilson as guest speakers at a Charity Sports Luncheon held by the Carbine Club of Vanuatu. Meninga was thought to be pleasantly pleased with the raw talent in Vanuatu and the development of the game so far in such a short space of time.
Campbell also ran a highly successful clinic for 14 to 18 year olds at Malapoa College that attracted in excess of 50 youngsters trying the game for the first time. As a result of both events, a number of players have been identified to come into the soon to be formed Vanuatu Rugby League (VRL) High Performance Unit.
For more information on how to get involved in Rugby League in Vanuatu you can contact VRL Official Leonard Ngwero on +678 7788992 or email vanuaturugbyleague@gmail.com, visit the website www.vanuaturugbyleague.com or follow the VRL on Facebook.
NRL
It was six straight wins for Justin O’Neill’s Melbourne Storm as they defeated the only other previously undefeated team the South Sydney Rabbitohs with a 17-10 victory to sit on top of the NRL ladder. O’Neill should return in the next week or two.
There are no NRL games this weekend as it is the representative round with Australia playing New Zealand in Canberra on Friday night, NSW and Queensland U/20’s playing their Origin fixture before the Samoa and Tonga game on Saturday night. NSW City also play NSW Country on Sunday to round out the representative weekend.
U/20’s – National Youth Competition
Samsen O’Neill played all 80 minutes on the wing for North Queensland Cowboys U/20 side that was narrowly defeated by the Brisbane Broncos 36-34 in Brisbane last Friday night. O’Neill ran 9 times for 119 metres, including 3 tackle breaks and made 8 tackles.
There are no U/20’s games this weekend due to the representative round.
NSW Cup
Alehana Mara’s Auckland Vulcans had a strong 28 to 6 victory over Mounties despite Mara remaining sidelined with an ankle injury. The Vulcans have the bye in this weeks NSW Cup.
QLD Cup
Jarvan White was the only player in action in the QLD Cup over the weekend with his Ipswich Jets suffering a 20-14 loss to Ben Henaway’s Souths Logan Magpies last Saturday in Brisbane. Henaway missed the match through injury in what would have been an early season shootout for the respective fullbacks fighting to claim the Vanuatu fullback position for the end of season Test matches. Vanuatu Captain James Woods Tweed Head Seagulls had the bye over the weekend.
Woods gets his first chance to impress audiences across Queensland as he starts at centre and co-captain of the Seagulls match against Easts Tigers which will be featured Live on Channel 9 Queensland on Sunday at Langlands Park (Brisbane, Australia) with the match to kick off at 2pm (3pm Vanuatu time). White will start at fullback in the Jets game against Northern Pride at Ipswich Reserve (Brisbane, Australia) on Saturday at 3pm (4pm Vanuatu time). Henaway remains out with injury.
Regional Leagues
In regional leagues throughout Queensland, Kunro Kalo was the standout with two tries in a man of the match performance for Townsville Brothers and if his development continues he is no doubt on a collision course for the Queensland Cup in future seasons. James Wilfred and Robert Franklin had strong games in Noosa’s A Grade victory over Maroochydore.