
Mia scores another title at National Youth titles
TOUCH FOOTBALL: Despite her friends and team mates best efforts, National Youth Championships winning under-18s captain Mia Johnstone won't be lured to rugby sevens.
Coast duo Johnstone and Emma Sykes dominated the competition for the Queensland Secondary Schools Touch team on the Coast this weekend, beating Brisbane City 8-3 with Sykes winning player of the series and final.
Johnstone has grown up playing alongside the likes of Australian rugby sevens star Sykes, but said her future remained firmly in the touch format.
"They (her friends and team mates) all try to get you into it and they're (rugby seven scouts) always scouting tough girls," she said.
"The skill sets come from touch and then you've just got to learn the physical side of the game.
"It's just not my thing.
"You definitely won't see me playing sevens.
"I love the tactics of touch, every team is a different challenge."
The 17-year-old has played since 2009 and has already represented Australia in a Trans-Tasman series win earlier this year, and has won the national league with the Queensland Chiefs.
Having already achieved just about everything her sport has to offer, Johnstone said playing alongside Australian captain Peta Rogerson at Kawana was a massive inspiration to stay competitive.
"I'm surrounded by a lot of great players," she said.
"It's so encouraging, I just adore her as a player and she really motivates me.
"Players like Cath Sargent really look after me and teach me, which keeps me striving to be better."
Johstone is in her final week of year 12 exams and hopes to pursue career in arts.
She said the win was a nice way to finish up her last youth carnival before going on to study at QUT.
Queensland Secondary Schools Touch completed the double as the under-18s boys also took out the grand final.
NATIONAL YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS
18's Boys Grand Final
Queensland Secondary Schools Touch 11 defeated Central Queensland Bulls 4
Player of the Final: Matt Egan
Player of the Series: Jack Hughes
18's Girls Grand Final
Queensland Secondary Schools Touch 8 defeated Brisbane City Cobras 3
Player of the Final: Emma Sykes
Player of the Series: Emma Sykes