Last weekend saw the Under 17s kick off the 2026 junior statewide competitions, but this weekend sees the Under 19s join the party, as the Mal Meninga Cup and Harvey Norman Under 19s play their first scheduled games of the season.
The game of the weekend can be found in the Mal Meninga Cup when the Redcliffe Dolphins play host to the Norths Devils on Saturday night at Kayo Stadium.
The likes of Jeremiah Patea, Amare Wynyard and Cody Starr will have fresh memories of their sides’ last-minute defeat in last season’s Grand Final and will be looking to get their 2026 campaign started on the right foot.
Dolphins’ halfback Adam McSherry is another player who is fresh off a Grand Final loss, though his loss came in the Cyril Connell Cup playing for the Mackay Cutters.
The half will be looking to get behind his big forward star in name and performance with Cody Starr and Amare Wynyard back for another season.
For the Devils, Charlie Dickson will be their forward leader, destroyer and a fearsome sight for everyone else.
The Moreton Bay Raider is fresh off a performance for the NRL Dolphins last week against the Central Queensland Capras.
In the Cyril Connell Cup, the Burleigh Bears are preparing for their first hit-out in 2026 as reigning premiers after a first week bye.
The last time we saw the Bears in action, Francis Tupou was busy tearing up opposition defences, scoring two tries in a man of the match performance against the Mackay Cutters.
Unfortunately for the Bears, and fortunately for their opposition, Francis is busy suiting up for the Brisbane Broncos in their trial against the Sunshine Coast Falcons and will be unavailable for his side’s Round 2 clash.
Despite this, Burleigh have ten returning players from last year’s premiership campaign, providing them a good core to work with in 2026.
The first thing Burleigh’s opposition, the Brisbane Tigers, will have to fix from their match last week, is their completion rate.
The Tigers proved to be their own worst enemy in attack and will focus on not providing their opposition easy field position and let offs in defence.
In the Harvey Norman Under 19s, the Souths Logan Magpies are buzzing following their upset against the reigning champions, the Brisbane Tigers.
The Magpies will look to use this momentum against an upstart Wynnum Manly Seagulls side who are fresh off a dominant victory against their avian sisters, the Tweed Seagulls.
It’ll be the usual suspects to look out for with the Magpies, as Amanii Misa, Harlem Walker and Keira Rangi look to use their immense talent to dominate opposing forward packs.
Round two of the Harvey Norman Under 17 will bring together the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Townsville Blackhawks.
The Falcons had a win round one against the Redcliffe Dolphins 14-12.
What was most impressive was that the Falcons did it without the ball, they scored three tries but only had limited ball with 45 percent.
Pearl Llyod was a gem with 21 tackles and Sage McRae made 102 meters.
The Falcons will be looking to keep that steely resolve on this away trip and start the season with two wins.
The Townsville Blackhawks were sitting back last week watching plenty of football and now it’s time to put what they learnt into practise.
