NSW U16s v QLD U16s: Standout performers
New South Wales’ U16s side capped a brilliant undefeated National Championship campaign with a dominant 40-10 victory over Queensland in Sunday’s grand final at a wet Rat Park.
Here are a few of the players that caught the eye in the decider.
Standout Performers
Zion Poitaha – The big bodied lock showed good hands and footwork to score the first try of the grand final from a short lineout play. The Southern Districts junior continued to dominate at lineout time and at the breakdown all match.
Toby Brial – Poitaha’s lock partner, Brial did the hard work in tight in the first half to give his side the advantage, then made the most of his opportunities in the second half as the match and Queensland’s defence opened up.
NSW forward pack – Dominated their Queensland counterparts at scrum and maul time in the wet and did the necessary hard work in tight initially, which created plenty of space for the classy NSW backs out wide later in the match.
Mitchell Woods – The NSW fullback showed speed and class to beat three defenders and score a brilliant individual try from inside his own half, then repeated the effort to set up a second try after the break.
Woods was the competition’s leading try scorer and is also a member of Sydney Swans Academy and the Canterbury Bulldogs junior program.
Ollie Aboud – Scored two tries from close range on the back of a dominant forward pack that dominated at scrum and lineout time on a wet day at Rat Park.