Faaleo Aholahi. The Logan Brothers front rower was in late 2018 selected in the 2019 Burleigh Bears MM Cup squad after playing a leading role in the GBJRL Nev Blair U18 competition this season with Logan Brothers last year.

Instead of turning out for Burleigh in the MM Cup competition, Faaleo Aholahi turned out for Gatton in the Toowoomba Rugby League competition in 2019.

In total in the Toowoomba Rugby League U18 regular season competition Faaleo Aholahi played in thirteen matches scoring three tries with those tries coming against Oakey, Wattles and Highfields.

In Week One of the Toowoomba Rugby League U18 Finals series Faaleo Aholahi started in the front row for Gatton but they went down to Dalby 40 – 22.

Week Two with Faaleo Aholahi once again starting in the front row and scoring, Gatton bounced back to defeat Highfields 28 – 24 to qualify for the Preliminary Final against Toowoomba Souths.

In the Toowoomba 2019 U18 Rugby League Preliminary Final Faaleo Aholahi started in the front row as Gatton defeated Toowoomba Souths 38 – 24 to progress to the Grand Final against Dalby.

In the 2019 Toowoomba Rugby League U18 Grand Final Faaleo Aholahi started in the front row as Gatton went down 42 – 22 to Dalby.

In late May Faaleo Aholahi made his debut appearance in the Toowoomba Rugby League First Grade competition when he came off the bench for Gatton against Wattles.

The way Faaleo Aholahi plays in attack has no subtlety involved, he just runs hard and straight throwing self-preservation out of the window, in a long run that probably not great for him but it does fire up his team mates when they see him charging at full speed into a set forward defensive line.

I have not seen many offloads from Faaleo Aholahi but obviously the type of game he plays requires few mistakes although on rare occasions Faaleo Aholahi does lose a touch of focus and his technique suffers a touch and he can run too front on. I thing that the biggest reason why is that he is so determined to get the ball and run hard which is a great trait to have.

Defensively Faaleo Aholahi hits very hard and usually aims for just under the ribs and is certainly someone opposing forwards look for when running the ball up and is adept at making sure the opposition do not get quick play the balls, read that he is very good at winning the wrestling battle in the ruck but just needs to adjust to how each referee controls a particular game.

Faaleo Aholahi defends in the centre of the ruck and seems best suited in the long run defending there and adds a degree of intimidation to any forward pack he plays for, continued work from a stamina perspective will aid this as the game progresses.

It will be interesting to see where Faaleo Aholahi plays in 2019, will he stay in Toowoomba or does he move back to Brisbane to play in the 2020 Hastings Deering’s competition for Souths Logan or even with Burleigh. It will be interesting to see.

Faaleo Aholahi is probably considered by some as a bit of a late bloomer but that is not necessarily the case. Over the last couple of years, Faaleo Aholahi’s game has continued to develop and mature so his play this season would come as no surprise to anyone who has been him play over the last couple of seasons or the Logan Brothers coaching staff.

From a position perspective I firmly believe that Faaleo Aholahi’s best position as he progresses in the junior rugby league ranks is where he is currently playing being the front row.

Faaleo Aholahi’s game resembles that of former St George Dragon and Brisbane Bronco and current English Super League front rower Ashton Sims. Like Sims, Faaleo Aholahi seems to have little thought other than to crash head long into the opposition and then to get a quick play the ball.