THE under-14 Northern Outback rugby league team has taken out the 2015 Queensland Outback Junior Challenge Carnival held in Charleville last weekend.
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The Mount Isa-based side won both of their two games against the Southern Outback team with nine Northern players being selected for the Queensland Outback side at the conclusion of the carnival.
The Northern side clenched a narrow 8-point win over the Southern team in round one, winning 22-14.
In the second game, Southern Outback proved no match for the Northern boys, who thrashed their opponents 42-6.
The under-14 Player of the Carnival went to Northern Outback lock Manahi McGregor, who plays for Town in Mount Isa.
Manahi scored a brace of tries in each game, while teammate and fullback Phoenix Quinlan, who hails from Black Stars rugby league club, scored an emphatic six tries in the carnival.
Northern Outback coach Bruce Nott said Manahi was deserving of his award after he constantly lead from the front in the defensive line.
“His running and defence is great,” Nott said.
“He had a few people come up and ask him who he was. He’s got good brains.”
Manahi was humble on receiving his award but recognised his own good work for his team.
“I was pretty surprised (to get the award),” Manahi said.
“I thought my tackling was good.”
Nott, who will also coach the Queensland Outback team, was pleased for his players and particularly for the large number of boys from the North West, who were picked for the Glyn Rees Cultural Exchange City-Country Carnival to be held at Coolum on the Sunshine Coast on June 27-28.
“They will get to go watch a Broncos game and go into the dressing sheds,” Nott said.
“Then they will go back up to the Sunny Coast to play the City teams over three or four days.”
The under-16 Northern Outback team returned from the carnival as runners-up after drawing 16-16 with Southern Outback in the first game, followed by a 26-12 defeat in round two.
Ten players were picked from under-16 Northern Outback coach Scott Kyle’s side that will also make the trip down south at the end of the month representing Queensland Outback.