Shalom is also sending two netball teams, coached by Shelley Naumann and Sharyn Batt, to defend their Queensland Independent Secondary Schools title in Caloundra.

But locally all eyes will be on the Confraternity, touted as the best school rugby league competition in the country.

When the tournament was last held in town, some of the current NRL representatives who have played include Johnathan Thurston, Brett Seymour, Grant Rovelli, David Shillington, David Stagg and Nate Myles.

The Shalom team, led by Storm-contracted second-rower Felise Kaufusi will compete in division two against Scarborough's Southern Cross, Gladstone's Chanel and St Joseph's/Assumption from Stanthorpe and Warwick.

Quarter finals will start on Tuesday afternoon before a winner is crowned on Friday.

“We are quietly confident of doing well, injuries killed us last year, so we are hoping we get a good run this time,” coach John Gilbert said.

They will play Chanel at 10.30am on Monday at Shalom, a team that has beaten them in a previous tussle this year.

“We had Felise, Joe Trost and Jan De Villiers out that game, so it will hopefully be a different story this time,” he said.

Last year's winners Ignatius College from Townsville, St Brendan's and Rockhampton Grammar are shaping as the pre-tournament favourites.

“The Ignatius hooker, who is the Queensland under-18 hooker and player of the carnival last year will be playing, I think they are the team to beat,” carnival committee member Vince Habermann said.

According to Habermann and Gilbert, who have both been involved in the tournament for nearly 10 years, scouts from most NRL teams attend, meaning a good performance could be career defining.

“The opportunity is there to go on ... Denan Kemp got picked up by the Broncos from division two a few years ago,” Gilbert said.
Shalom's Games

Shalom College v Chanel - Monday 10.30am Shalom College

Shalom College v St Josephs - Monday 6pm Brothers Field One

JOY OF THE GAME ... Gorden Tallis with the winning team

After 10 games in two days and a close semi-final win over the Western Lions, Brethren coach Aaron Bryant wasn't sure his team would have enough energy in the decider.

But Brothers lifted a notch, overcoming a 12-6 halftime deficit, to earn the club its second Gorden Tallis Cup in three seasons at Kern Brothers Drive.

The champions did not lose any games during the weekend, with two draws the only thing standing in the way of a perfect tournament.

"They all played well, they all played for each other, so it was good to see in their first grand final," coach Bryant said.

"They were buggered but they picked up for the grand final and they went well."

More than 600 under-10s players from 40 teams competed in the two-day competition. As well as local sides, teams from Gladstone, Richmond, Hughenden, Palm Island, Edmonton, Cairns, Mossman, Mareeba and Mackay took part.

Centrals White used a strong wind to their advantage in the first half, pinning Brothers in their own end with a series of booming kicks downfield.

But the change of ends marked a change of fortunes as Brothers turned the tables on their opponents, winning the second half 18-4 to clinch the trophy.

"We got the wind with us in the second half and we went on with it," Bryant said.

In other results, Gladstone Brothers won the Junior Supporters Trophy by beating Brothers Paddys, while Herbert River defeated Cairns Kangaroos Blue to take out the Reggie Matthews Memorial Shield.