A TENACIOUS defensive effort paved the way for Queenslands stunning success at the Australian 15 Years Championships held in Canberra.
The Queensland team capped off a strong campaign with a determined 26-12 win over NSWCHS in the Championship Final last Friday.
Queensland manager Steve Cameron said the Maroons conceded just five tries in four games.
The team had four extremely tough games over five days in very difficult playing conditions, Cameron said.
However, the boys were relentless and kept turning up for each other.
Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga (Anglican Church Grammar) was named Most Valuable Player in Pool A.
He was one of five Queensland players named in the Australian Merit team.
Championship Final
Queensland Maroon 26 (Apiata Noema, Kalyn Ponga, Gehamat Shibasaki, Michael Carroll tries: Sean Garner 2, Hayden OHara goals) def NSWCHS 12 (Matthew Atchison, Heath Gibbs tries; Adam Campbell 2 goals).
Pool A Most Valuable Player of the Championships:
QLD 1 Kalyn Ponga (Anglican Church Grammar)
Pool B Most Valuable Player of the Championships:
WA 6 Jayden Hocking Aranmore Catholic College
Australian Secondary Schools Pool A Merit team
1. Kalyn Ponga (QLD Maroon)
2. Nick Cotric (ACT)
3. Christian Poutoa (NSW CCC)
4. Amaziah Slavin (NSW CHS)
5. Tyrone Taukamo (NSW CIS )
6. Lachlan Lam (NSW CCC)
7. Will Kerr (NSW CCC)
8. Giordan Patea (NSW CHS)
9. Brent Woolf (QLD Maroon)
10. George Francis (NSW CHS)
11. Sean Garner (QLD Maroon)
12. Syd Smith (QLD Maroon)
13. Reuben Cotter (QLD Maroon)
Australian Secondary Schools Pool B Merit team
1. Jason Nicholls (WA)
2. Jason Stevens (NT)
3. Tyler Lee (WA)
4. Samuel Hutcheson (WA)
5. Dylan Veatewhare (VIC)
6. Jayden Hocking (WA)
7. Callum Cook (VIC)
8. Bowen Tigafua (VIC)
9. Tyler Black (SA)
10. Tre Meunier (WA)
11. Jared Spencer (WA)
12. Brody Whitehead (WA)
13. Corey Kurnoth (NT)
