Round 2 in review: Junior statewide competitions
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The junior statewide competitions went to another level in Round 2, as Pools A and B joined the action.
Pool C kicked off the competition in Round 1, with now all teams across Queensland having at least one game under their belt.
Here is a wrap up of Round 2.
Mal Meninga Cup
Game of the week
After a strong opening week, the Mal Meninga Cup continued to entertain in Round 2, with two matches decided by just two points.
In their first game of 2024, the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Ipswich Jets came bolting out of the gates in a highly competitive showdown at Kawana Sports Precinct.
The Falcons looked in control for the opening half - scoring three tries in 20 minutes - before the Jets mounted a strong comeback through the middle of the match with their own three four-pointers.
The only difference was the accuracy of Finn Lawson's boot as he kicked two of three conversions compared to the Jets' one.
Match: Falcons v Jets
Round 2 -
home Team
Falcons
away Team
Jets
Venue: Kawana Sports Precinct, Sunshine Coast
Meanwhile, the Norths Devils and Wynnum Manly Seagulls put on a similar show on Sunday, with the Devils claiming a 24-22 win.
In what was more of a seesawing affair, the two sides went back and forth with the difference yet again one conversion.
It was backrower Maddox Goodwin who converted his own try, effectively sealing the win for his team in the 56th minute.
Match: Devils v WM Seagulls
Round 2 -
home Team
Devils
away Team
WM Seagulls
Venue: Bishop Park, Brisbane
Other scores
Tweed Seagulls 40 def Brisbane Tigers 18
Burleigh Bears 20 def Redcliffe Dolphins 12
Western Clydesdales 30 def Wide Bay Bulls 6
Townsville Blackhawks 38 def Central Queensland Capras 16
Northern Pride 16 def Mackay Cutters 10
Bye: Souths Logan Magpies
Harvey Norman Under 19
Game of the week
The Central Queensland Capras and Townsville Blackhawks started off their seasons with an exciting derby in Rockhampton on Saturday.
And it was the home side who walked away with the chocolates, after notching up a 14-10 victory over their rivals.
The Capras came racing out of the gates early on, with centre Tahlia Shuker and five-eighth Mackayla Oakley scoring within eight minutes of each other.
They took an 8-0 lead into halftime with the Blackhawks scoring their first try of their season 10 minutes into the second stanza through backrower Lhylla Williamson.
Central Queensland's Ella Lindsay responded five minutes later with what would be the winning try, with a late try to Townsville prop Chloe Watson not enough to get the away team the two points.
Match: Capras v Blackhawks
Round 2 -
home Team
Capras
away Team
Blackhawks
Venue: Browne Park, Rockhampton
Other scores
Tweed Seagulls 28 def Brisbane Tigers 8
Western Clydesdales 50 def Wide Bay Bulls 0
Redcliffe Dolphins 26 def Burleigh Bears 20
Central Queensland Capras 14 def Townsville Blackhawks 10
Mackay Cutters 30 def Northern Pride 0
Sunshine Coast Falcons 28 def Ipswich Jets 8
Wynnum Manly Seagulls 28 def Norths Devils 6
Bye: Souths Logan Magpies
Cyril Connell Cup
Game of the week
The Norths Devils kicked off their 2024 campaign with a tight loss on home turf, with a late comeback not enough to overcome the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
After enjoying a bye for Pool C in Round 1, the Devils started slowly against the Seagulls, as Wynnum Manly ran in four tries within 22 minutes - including a double to backrower Majah-Jose Peachey - to take a 22-0 lead.
It was a big effort, but the Devils upped the ante throughout the middle of the match, returning three tries - one before the break - to get within striking distance at 22-18.
It wasn't enough however to run down the Seagulls, who notched up back-to-back wins and now take the early lead on the Cyril Connell Cup ladder.
Match: Devils v WM Seagulls
Round 2 -
home Team
Devils
away Team
WM Seagulls
Venue: Bishop Park, Brisbane
Other scores
Burleigh Bears 16 def Redcliffe Dolphins 4
Townsville Blackhawks 16 def Central Queensland Capras 6
Tweed Seagulls 26 def Brisbane Tigers 10
Mackay Cutters 26 def Northern Pride 10
Ipswich Jets 24 def Sunshine Coast Falcons 6
Western Clydesdales 46 def Wide Bay Bulls 12
Wynnum Manly Seagulls 22 def Norths Devils 18
Bye: Souths Logan Magpies
Harvey Norman Under 17
Game of the week
The Brisbane Tigers became the first Harvey Norman Under 17 team to notch up back-to-back wins, with a nail-biting victory over the Tweed Seagulls on Saturday.
It took 17 minutes for either team to get on the board at Tugun, with skipper Porche John crossing, steamrolling her way through the defensive line to give her side the advantage.
They took a 6-0 lead into halftime, before halfback Kameryn Bray came into the second stanza firing, kicking through to then capitalise off a Tweed mistake and score.
But the Seagulls were not down and out on home turf.
Torah Luadaka and Aurora Maiden scored within 12 minutes of each other to equal the scores at 10-all for a thrilling finish.
And it was the Tigers who nabbed the two points with just two minutes left on the clock, when hooker Enah Desic dummied and dodged her way to the line to hand her side the 14-10 victory.
Match: Seagulls v Tigers
Round 2 -
home Team
Seagulls
away Team
Tigers
Venue: Tugun RLFC, Tugun
Other scores
Burleigh Bears 16 def Redcliffe Dolphins 10
Townsville Blackhawks 18 def Central Queensland Capras 4
Northern Pride 24 def Mackay Cutters 10
Western Clydesdales 42 def Wide Bay Bulls 0
Sunshine Coast Falcons 26 def Ipswich Jets 4
Norths Devils 32 def Wynnum Manly Seagulls 26
Bye: Souths Logan Magpies
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