The 2023 DoorDash National Youth Championships, the 31st instalment of the event and the largest with 121 teams, saw four days of enthralling junior touch football action. Teams from the sunshine state dominated the event, claiming 7 of a possible 8 championship titles. Queensland Secondary Schools Touch (QSST) were crowned victors in both the Boys and Girls 18’s divisions achieving back-to-back championships on the Sunshine Coast. The largest contingent of referees to attend an NYC saw Brandon Sanderson (Sydney Scorpions and Manly Warringah TA) receive the male referee of the tournament award. Congratulations to the South Queensland Sharks for winning the NYC Champion Permit, with Sydney Scorpions finishing in 4th place.
Scorpions Boys 12’s were crowned champions taking out the double in winning the 2023 Junior Regionals and National Youth Championships. Season 2023 resulted in a combined 16 games undefeated across both events. The team were once again coached by Heath Cooper and Willie Bishop, with Joel Marsters serving as the Assistant Coach and Vanessa Cooper as Manager. At NYC the team won all 6 of their pool games and then defeated Central Queensland Bulls 3-1 in their semi-final and Hunter Western Hornets 7-5 in the grand final. Congratulations to Beau Cooper who had the unique achievement of being awarded Player of the Final in both the Junior Regionals and NYC grand finals. Lachlan Dorahy was awarded the Scorpions Medal.
The Girls 12’s were once again coached by Te Aroha Paki, with Aaliyah Berryman-Paki and Chloe Butcher Assistant Coaches and Kate Perrett Manager. The team went through their round games undefeated with 5 wins and a draw against the Brisbane Cobras. However, the Hunter Western Hornets had their measure in the semi-final winning 5-1. Unfortunately for the Blues state, the Hornets couldn’t get the better of the South Queensland Sharks in their grand final going down 6-3. Co-captain Kendall Kilby, playing in her third year of Girls 12’s, received the Scorpions Medal.
The Girls 14’s and Boys 16’s also had strong campaigns, both making it to their respective grand finals and both being awarded runners up medals. The Girls 14’s were coached by Keith Smith, Craig Beacroft and Joel Begnell winning all 7 of their pool games, plus their semi-final 4-3 over the Hunter Western Hornets. However, the team went down against a strong South Queensland Sharks team 8-3 in the grand final. Scorpions Medal was awarded to Beth Wilson with the Coaches Award given to Ellie Fairhall and Julia Meaker. Managers Kirsty Wilson and Roberta Wansey once again did an outstanding job.
The Boys 16’s had several debutants and line-up changes from Junior Regionals, and were coached by Craig Lowe and assisted by Phil McIlwraith, with Lena Lowe as Manager. The team went through their round games undefeated, winning their quarter final 9-6 over North Queensland Cyclones and then defeating Hunter Western Hornets 10-9 in a semi-final drop-off. However, in the grand final the South Queensland Sharks were too good taking out the game 11-4. The Scorpions Medal went to Isaac Fotu-Moala, whilst the Coaches Award went to the ever-impressive Jake Medved.
The Boys 14’s team were coached by Steve Matthews, with Bernadette Clarke and Paul Macpherson Managers. The team had 8 round games, winning 6, losing 1 and drawing against North Queensland Cyclones. In the semi-final they went down 6-4 to the Brisbane Cobras, who took out the grand final 9-5 against their rivals the South Queensland Sharks. This was big turnaround for Scorpions Boys 14’s from Junior Regionals so congratulations to all involved, with the talented Harry Smythe taking out the Scorpions Medal and Ben Slack the Coaches Award.
The Girls 18’s finished a credible fourth behind QSST, NSWCHS and NSWCCC. Well done to the team and coaches Gloria Berryman, Kalani Duff-Berryman, Craig Beacroft, along with Manager Kellie Cohen. With a short and challenging preparation, Scorpions had to combine their Girls 16’s and 18’s teams, due to 24 players (majority of which being Junior Regional incumbents) unavailable. This resulted in some players playing up an age division, which did provide excellent experience at this national level. The team greatly improved as the event progressed and it was pleasing to see many Scorpions incumbents have impressive tournaments with Zara Halliday taking out the Scorpions Medal and the always impressive Logan Lemusu winning the Coaches Award.
Additional congratulations to all Scorpions officials for their tremendous efforts in preparing their teams for the event. Scorpions six NYC teams experienced a 52% turnover in their team line-ups from Junior Regionals. The combined 2023 Scorpions achievements at the Junior Regionals, NTL, and NYC resulted in a remarkable total of 14 titles won out of the 19 grand finals played.
Special thanks to Amy Alagna for her exceptional performance as Tour Leader, as well as to our Medical Team led by Travis Masters, with support from Cruz Zhuolun Li and Shash Sharma. We also extend our thanks to TFA National Events Manager Lauren Pruscino and her team for their contributions in the lead-up to and during the successful NYC event on the Sunshine Coast.
All photos from the event can be found via here.
NYC 2023 Scorpions Final Standings
Boys 12’s – Champions
Girls 12’s – 4th
Boys 14’s – 3rd
Girls 14’s – 2nd
Boys 16’s – 2nd
Girls 18’s – 4th
NYC 2023 Champion Permit
1st – South Queensland Sharks 101 pts (entered 12 teams)
2nd– Brisbane Cobras 84 pts (entered 14 teams)
3rd – Hunter Western Hornets 77 pts (entered 8 teams)
4th – Sydney Scorpions 75 pts (entered 6 teams)
5th – Central Queensland Bulls 55 pts (entered 10 teams)
6th – North Queensland Cyclones Tropical 53 pts (entered 12 teams)
Boys 12’s
Grand Final – Sydney Scorpions 7 defeated Hunter Western Hornets 5
Semi Final – Sydney Scorpions 3 defeated Central Queensland Bulls 1
Final Position – Champions
Scorpions Medal & TFA MVP – Lachlan Dorahy
Player of the Final – Beau Cooper
Final Placings
Sydney Scorpions
Hunter Western Hornets
Central Queensland Bulls
South Queensland Sharks A
South West Queensland Swans
Brisbane Cobras A
South Queensland Sharks B
North Queensland Tropical Cyclones A
Sunshine Coast Pineapples
NSW Northern Eagles
ACT Raiders
Tasmania Thunder
North Queensland Tropical Cyclones B
Brisbane Cobras B
Girls 12’s
Semi Final – Sydney Scorpions 1 defeated by Hunter Western Hornets 5
Final Position – 4th
Scorpions Medal & TFA MVP – Kendall Kilby
Coaches Award – Zoe Lynch
Final Placings
South Queensland Sharks A
Hunter Western Hornets
Southern Rebels
Sydney Scorpions
Brisbane Cobras A
West South West Suns
South West Queensland Swans
Sunshine Coast Pineapples
Central Queensland Bulls
North Queensland Tropical Cyclones
South Queensland Sharks B
Tasmania Thunder
NSW Northern Eagles
Northern Territory Devils
Brisbane Cobras B
Boys 14’s
Semi Final – Sydney Scorpions 4 defeated by Brisbane Cobras A 6
Final Position – 3rd
Scorpions Medal & TFA MVP – Harry Smythe
Coaches Award – Ben Slack
Final Placings
Brisbane Cobras A
South Queensland Sharks A
Sydney Scorpions
Hunter Western Hornets
Central Queensland Bulls A
NSW Northern Eagles
North Queensland Tropical Cyclones A
West South West Suns
Southern Rebels
South West Queensland Swans
Central Queensland Bulls B
Sunshine Coast Pineapples
South Queensland Sharks B
Tasmania Thunder
North Queensland Tropical Cyclones B
Victoria Storm
Brisbane Cobras B
ACT Raiders
Girls 14’s
Grand Final – Sydney Scorpions 3 defeated by South Queensland Sharks A 8
Final Position – 2nd
Scorpions Medal & TFA MVP – Beth Wilson
Coaches Award – Ellie Fairhall, Julia Meaker
Final Placings
South Queensland Sharks A
Sydney Scorpions
North Queensland Tropical Cyclones A
Hunter Western Hornets
Brisbane Cobras A
Southern Rebels
Central Queensland Bulls A
South West Queensland Swans
South Queensland Sharks B
Sunshine Coast Pineapples
Brisbane Cobras B
Central Queensland Bulls B
North Queensland Tropical Cyclones B
NSW Northern Eagles
ACT Raiders
Tasmania Thunder
Victoria Storm
Boys 16’s
Grand Final – Sydney Scorpions 4 defeated by South Queensland Sharks 11
Final Position – 2nd
Scorpions Medal & TFA MVP – Isaac Fotu-Moala
Coaches Award – Jake Medved
Final Placings
South Queensland Sharks
Sydney Scorpions
Brisbane Cobras A
Hunter Western Hornets
Central Queensland Bulls
South West Queensland Swans
Brisbane Cobras B
North Queensland Tropical Cyclones
Victoria Storm
Tasmania Thunder
Western Tigers
Sunshine Coast Pineapples
NSW Northern Eagles
South Australia Heat
Girls 18’s
Semi Final – Sydney Scorpions 2 defeated by NSWCHS 9
Final Position – 4th
Scorpions Medal & TFA MVP – Zara Halliday
Coaches Award – Logan Lemusu
Final Placings
QSST
NSWCHS
NSWCCC
Sydney Scorpions
NSWCIS
Hunter Western Hornets
South West Queensland Swans
Brisbane Cobras
South Queensland Sharks
Victoria Storm
ACT Raiders
Sunshine Coast Pineapples
North Queensland Tropical Cyclones
Tasmania Thunder
South Australia Heat
Western Tigers
