Mal Meninga Cup Grand Final day is one of the great days on the Queensland Rugby League calendar, and on Saturday at Kayo Stadium two brilliant nurseries of Queensland talent will go head-to-head for the ultimate prize.
We’re talking about the Townsville Blackhawks and Wynnum Seagulls.
The Blackhawks haven’t won the Mal Meninga Cup (presented by Ford) since 2016 but in between 2016 and Saturday, they lost three finals in a row in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
The Seagulls are back on the big stage for the first time since 2019 when they lost 28-24 to Tweed Seagulls.
In that Tweed side was Reece Walsh, Brendan Piakura and Xavier Coates.
Both sides have rights to wrongs when it comes to grand finals and when it comes to the big stage on Saturday you don’t need to look any further than Mal Meninga.
No one knows grand finals like Mal Meninga – the man the competition is named after – the NRL Immortal played in grand finals for Souths Magpies in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984 and 1985 then at the Raiders in 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1994.
Eleven grand finals for five wins. Meninga dominated finals for 15 years.
From 1979 to 1994, he would play in 32 finals games and win 22.
Of Meninga’s 32 finals games it would only be six that he wouldn’t contribute points.
He scored 177 points in finals with 13 tries and 65 goals (five tries worth three points.)
That’s the Meninga legacy, when it’s finals you must contribute, and no one brought more to the finals table than the big Magpie and Raider when it mattered most.
“Congratulations to all teams who participated in season 2026,” Meninga said.
“I thank all of those who played integral parts in each of the team’s preparation and performance.
“It’s two of our biggest junior clubs running onto the field in the final of the Mal Meninga Cup.
“I know all players will be ready to play so all the best. May the game be played in the right spirit and both teams thrive.”
Whose contribution will we be talking about on Saturday?
Who is going to give a Mal Meninga finals performance?
It’s the best of the future Cowboys against the best of the future Broncos.
The Townsville spine flows like water down a hill, and it feeds everyone on the way.
Fullback Archie Mesritz. The Nudgee College alumni will return to South East Queensland determined to show us what we could have had.
The fullback can mix it up and glide along on the left waiting for a pass from Tyson Walker or go to dummy half and create his own try like he did in the preliminary final against the Dolphins.
You can’t sleep on him no matter where he is, the two try hero made two-line breaks and scored two tries to get his team this far.
Delivering the ball to Mesritz will be his halves and hooker who have been the form spine of the Mal Meninga Cup.
Taj Lateo is the big number 6 that dominates teams with guile and finesse and when that doesn’t work, he just runs over players.
His deft grubber kick regather and score in the 60th minute against Redcliffe broke peninsula hearts and minds.
Then his cover defence buried them on their own home ground.
Lateo is a future Cowboys No. 6 and his three tries in three games for the Cowboys NRLQ and five tries in eight Meninga Cup games shows he’s a game changer.
Tyson Walker throws a pass that could be classed as artwork and will be looking to add a Meninga Grand Final medal to his SG Ball Roosters premiership last year. Walker’s work on the left with Mesritz could be where this game is won.
“I can’t wait for Saturday and the grand final, it feels like we have only been together a short time but can achieve something,” Walker said.
“I think Wynnum will be favourites, they are the minor premiers and beat us convincingly last time.
“Our spine I think is our strength and we work well together.
“Grand finals are special and I can’t wait for this.”
Now to the Wynnum Seagulls.
Nate Wallin has had a sublime season; the Wynnum fullback has everything a fullback could want or need in life. Fast across the grass and quick between the ears.
More than 190 metres in a preliminary final win shows exactly how dependable the Wynnum fullback will be on Saturday.
Backing up his 264 metres in round nine against the Brisbane Tigers. The Seagulls fullback is bringing form to the table on Saturday.
In fact, the super fit Seagulls fullback is full of running having made over 200m in four games in 2026.
When Wallin has returned the ball, it will be over to Payton Gifford the Wynnum half has scored five tries in seven games and his kicking game has got the Seagulls out of plenty of tight spots.
Wallin and Gifford will be looking to their big mean mates Oliver Kleijn and Koby McGarrity to deliver minutes and metres.
Klejin and captain McGarrity are the front row double act that wins grand finals.
A true front row enforcer, McGarrity sets the tone early with relentless carries, huge minutes, and an elite defensive work rate. His ability to bend the line and win the middle third consistently gives his side the platform to dominate games.
Then add in his leadership skills.
The last time the Blackhawks and Seagulls played in round eight it was McGarrity that scored a try on the left with great hole running just before half time that put the Seagulls up 22-4 and an unbeatable lead.
“We have to win our collision on Saturday, that’s our strength, our forwards,” Wynnum captain McGarrity said.
“I am so excited, I haven’t played in a grand final in Cyril Connell or Mal Meninga, so this is exciting for me.
“Townsville has weapons but particularly Taj Lateo and Taylan To'a.
“I think from our perceptive Payton Gifford and Bailen Noy will be our guns on the day that need big games.”
This is looking like a Meninga Cup grand final classic.
