Remember the Ballymore Kid? Junior Laloifi racks up his 100th first grade game for Sunnybank in Saturday’s final round clash against University of Queensland in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup.
It’s a worthy milestone for the loyal winger-fullback who will get to celebrate with the warm applause of his home fans at Sunnybank.
For Laloifi, 30, it will be a sign of how far he has come. He hopes the match will also be a sign of where the club’s new breed are heading.
Rewind to 2012 and the teenaged Laloifi made his top grade debut on the wing for the high-flying Dragons of that period.
“I’ll never forget it. It must have been a weekend that coincided with no Queensland game because Sunnybank had back all their stars like Liam Gill, Ben Tapuai and Jack Schatz,” Laloifi said.
While professional rugby would later take him to the Manawatu Turbos in New Zealand and Zebre in Italy, he’s always been a Dragon at heart.
“Whenever I was overseas, I’d always be checking how Sunnybank were going,” Laloifi said.
“Sunnybank made me the player and person I am. It’s a massive thing to reach 100 Premier Rugby games for one club. It’s shows your loyalty.”
When Laloifi was scooting down the wing scoring try after try for Brisbane City in the 2015 National Rugby Championship, there was extra motivation.
The Queensland Rugby Union had struck on a savvy incentive whereby a standout from the NRC would earn a Reds contract.
It was the “Ballymore Kid” project. The 21-year-old Laloifi, with his puffed up hairstyle, was the poster boy winner.
He was a smallish, 80-something kilos winger with rapid feet who pushed hard to always play bigger.
“Part of my drive was a saying, ‘If they say you’re not good enough, prove them wrong’,” Laloifi said.
He played six games for the Reds in 2016 because of that drive and embarked on his professional chances abroad.
When he returned to Sunnybank, he was a senior figure for a backline that needed one during a tough 2024 season. The green shoots of progress have come through this year with a win over UQ and painful last-minute losses to semi-finalists Easts and Bond University.
“We’d be a semi-final team if you took the scores at half-time. We are still learning how to win but there has been some really good progress this season with young players like Netani (Lesimaikimatuku),” Laloifi enthused.
With the top four decided, there is still intense interest in Saturday's final round because just who plays in the minor and major semi-finals is undecided.
Should Brothers beat Souths at Crosby Park, they will be minor premiers. Should Easts beat GPS at Ashgrove, it will set up a major semi between Brothers and Easts.
Wests, the competition's hottest team, will sit and wait. The Bulldogs are on a bye.
Norths host Bond University in the remaining game.
FIGHTING FINISH TO NEXT GEN 7s ON SUNSHINE COAST
A leg-pumping try from Taleah Ackland was typical of the fight shown by the Queensland girls to finish strongly at the ISPS Handa Next Gen 7s series event at Sunshine Coast Stadium last weekend.
The Queenslanders started strongly by beating the ACT Brumbies (31-17) before back-to-back losses to the NSW Waratahs (24-10) and Brumbies (34-19) put the success of the day at risk.
The home side responded perfectly against the champion Waratahs by jumping to a 19-5 lead and winning 19-15 to go 2-2 for the day.
Ackland, in her distinctive headgear, scored the only try of the first half. When she looked like being grounded 10m short, she kept on surging to make the tryline with defenders draped over her.
"I was so close, I just kept saying 'get there, get there' and kept the legs pumping," Ackland said.
"After two disappointing losses, it was really important to keep fighting for each other and it was an awesome feeling to win that last game against NSW.
"We know we have to find more consistency and improve our tackling for the next tournament."
The second leg of the series is set for Sunday, August 17 in Sydney.
There were some strong showings on the Sunshine Coast.
Pocket rocket Evie Sampson had a superb first hitout at this level. Her switches of play, sure pass, support and tackling were impressive. Backing up an offload from Ackland for a key try in the win over NSW was typical of her awareness.
Long-striding winger Tahli Devine showed her finishing skill and big engine. In the final game, she was on the spot to finish off a 45m dash from rookie Charli Nikola after making the initial dart herself to get things rolling 80m downfield.
The experience and game nous of 2023 Wallaroo Carys Dallinger was vital too. Her first half against the Brumbies in Game 3, when she set up a try and scored one herself, was dominant before the Queenslanders snoozed when leading 19-17.
Madi Pomerenke's urgency in defence was impressive.
REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF DAVID BEDGOOD
Friends of the late David Bedgood can celebrate the life of the former Queensland captain at Wests Bulldogs Rugby Club from 1pm on Friday, August 15.
The call has gone out to friends at University of Queensland (where he played), Wests (where he coached) and Churchie (where he went to school) for starters.
In tribute to his lifelong love of the game, guests are invited to wear their rugby jerseys in his honour. Any team, any colour.
This follows the recent service on the Gold Coast after Bedgood’s passing at 86.
