Meeting 28 gun Queensland rookies bound for the NRL
These 28 uncapped Queensland NRL rookies are gearing up to have a chance at a shot in the big time this season. Read here who you simply must know about ahead of the 2023 campaign.
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Here are 28 Queensland league rookies you simply must know about ahead of your club starting its 2023 NRL campaign in March.
Every season the next crop of NRL players gain a toehold in the rough and tumble rugby league world.
Last year the likes of Jo Jo Fifita, Kless Haas (both Titans), Ezra Mam, Deine Mariner (both Broncos) and Innisfail’s product Bailey Biondi-Odo (Canterbury) were young Queenslanders who made their NRL debuts.
So who will debut this season? We give you an insight into 28 youngsters with Queensland links who will be on the cusp of their first match during 2023.
BLAKE MOZER (Broncos): Mozer’s march into the Broncos top 30 squad has been well documented and, having observed the Keebra Park SHS for the last four years, we believe he is worth the hype. Watch for the tall, head gearing wearing dummy half to be blooded in the top grade this season.
JACK HOWARTH (Storm): Howarth’s debut in the big league is even more eagerly awaited than Mozer. The Mackay born Howarth is a Brisbane Boys College old boy who initially had his progress toward the NRL halted in 2021 by an Achilles’ heel injury but after gaining match fitness last season, the edge forward is ready for take off in 2023.
KEANO KINI (Titans): Don’t be surprised if Kini is one of these rare birds that goes from schoolboy league one season, to playing NRL the next. He is the two-time winner of the Justin Hodges Medal for Langer Trophy’s best player (2021 and 2022), a Palm Beach Currumbin SHS alumni who is a dynamic fullback capable of ball playing in the front line on either side of the ruck. Kini also has a killer step pouring down the middle of the field.
TOM WEAVER (Titans): We expect Weaver to make his NRL debut this season – it is as simple as that. The Cudgen Headland halfback junior is another from out of the Palm Beach Currumbin SHS system. He is not explosive off the mark, but quick enough, however he is extremely fast between the ears and reads a game so well. He is also an ace goal kicker. The kid can play.
JERAL SKELTON (Canterbury): Having switched codes from rugby (Melbourne Rebels) last year, the 191cm tall centre giant made a late season impression in the Bulldogs system earning him a place in Canterbury’s top 30.
An Albany Creek Crushers junior, he played rugby at St Patrick’s College Shorncliffe and at Wests Bulldogs, graduating to play seven-a-side for Australia but has now returned to the league fold.
ROB TOIA (Roosters): The Roosters have not mucked around with this exciting North Lakes centre, rushing him straight from school (Nudgee College) into the top 30 following his graduation last November. This kid is the real deal, trust us, although Toia did suffer a major knee injury last year which hopefully is a merely a speed bump on his way into the NRL.
ATIVALU LISATI (Penrith): You know he is a good player if he has broken into the Panthers top 30 despite Penrith having the strongest junior base in the league. The likeable, respectful Ipswich SHS alumni is a dynamic edge forward who complements commitment with something you cannot teach – pace. He was initially signed to a two-year deal in 2019 but Penrith have kept him in their family well beyond that deal expiring.
RAGARIVE WAVIK and JODECI BAKER-TIRAHA (Cowboys): North Queensland may have lost The Hammer (Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow) but don’t worry, the club has plenty of outside back talent coming through the system. Two of the quickest were Wavik and Baker-Tiraha who have fast feet and pace to burn. Get excited Cowboys’ fans. PS: We also have a watch on a rookie called Tekelu Mene, but he will be a story for another year.
JAYDEN CLARKSON (Canberra): An old-fashioned front rower who does the simple things right, Clarkson has been learning his craft in the Raiders system for the past two seasons since graduating from Wavell SHS. This season shapes as a big year for the Wynnum-Manly junior.
TRISTIAN POWELL (Melbourne): A similar type of player to the impressive Clarkson, the St Mary’s College prop forward product earned a development contract with the Storm. The chicken schnitzel loving front rower is a Craig Bellamy-type of player who should relish being absorbed into the Melbourne system.
LEON TE HAU (South Sydney): A Marsden SHS product was a three season Langer Trophy player before being snapped up by the Rabbitohs. Te Hau, having progressed from a development contract into the top 30, is a the former Queensland under 18s selection from Beenleigh Lions country is a ball-playing fullback.
MICHAEL ROBERTS (Dolphins): You probably won’t see Roberts in first grade this season, but the Dolphins have an elite youth player in the ranks. Currently on a development contract, the Palm Beach Currumbin SHS utility back is exactly the type of kid who will make the big league. Yes he has flair and pace, but he is also tough and can play well even when outside his comfort zone. The brother of NRL speed demon James Roberts made the 2022 Australian schoolboys side.
JYE GRAY (South Sydney): Few rookies have had a season like Gray enjoyed in 2022. A halfback with blazing pace over the first 20m, he was a member of the Meninga Cup premiership winning Souths Logan side, captained the Queensland schoolboys to the national rugby league championship win and captained The Southport School to a joint GPS First XV rugby union premiership. In GPS First XV Gray was basically one and a half players when he ran on for TSS, defending at inside but switching to fullback in attack.
RYAN JACKSON (Dolphins): The signing of young Queensland Origin forward Tom Gilbert and the Bronwich brothers was a coup for the Dolphins on the field, but their benefit will flow through to the training paddock where the likes of Ryan Jackson was sure to benefit from their presence. Jackson, a Wynnum-Manly junior and former St Laurence’s College First XV premiership player, is a mighty front row product who will be doing his apprenticeship in the best possible environment.
JOSIAH PAHULU (Titans):No. 13 Pahulu and fellow Titans signing Arama Hau were the two best forwards in the Langer Trophy last season, with Pahulu immediately elevated to a development contract for 2023.
Pahulu captained Ipswich to its remarkable unbeaten run last season, including regional, state and national grand while premierships. The Springfield Panthers junior led the way with explosive leg power, an ability to slip a late ball and the endurance of a marathon man, and while he is not a clone, he is a little like Cowboys ace Reuben Cotter.
ALOFIANA KHAN-PEREIRA (Titans): The Titans is a land of opportunity for young Queensland league players and one of the most exciting rookies in the club’s top 30 is winger Khan-Pereira. Simply, he has pace and plenty of it. He is light weight, but boy the Burleigh Bears junior from Keebra Park SHS can motor.
Also watch for:
Josh Rogers (Broncos): The Perth-born Brisbane signing who earned a train and trial with the Broncos after chipping away with the Burleigh Bears since his arrival from the west as a schoolboy in 2015.
Jordan Lipp (Cowboys): Ragarive Warik and Jodeci Baker-Tiraha (see earlier in story) have the pace and Lipp the size and power. A 195cm tall centre, aged 22, Darling Downs product Lipp is getting closer to an NRL call up.
Brandan Clarke (Canterbury): A 21-year-old dummy half from the wonderful Darling Downs nursery.
Jayden Berrell (Cronulla): Not so much a rookie but rather an NRL novice, Berrell is a seasoned Q-Cup campaigner and ex-Wynnum-Manly grand final dummy half.
Tom Chester (Cowboys): The Ignatius Park old boy has reinvented himself in the halves after transitioning from fullback. He is a tenacious type from the Townsville Brothers system who never fails to impress.
Cole Gyer (Melbourne): From the Currumbin Eagles, the Marymount College old boy is the son of Melbourne grand final hero Matt Geyer who has earned a development contract as a dummy half.
Tom Duffy (Cowboys): Duffy is an exciting fullback or halves prospect who helped the Blackhawks’ colts win the 2022 premiership after representing the Queensland under 19s.
Jake Bourke (Cowboys): The Townsville Centrals native is a young halfback who has been all eyes and ears during the off-season watching the club’s No. 1 halves pairing Wade Townsend and Tom Deardon work their magic.
Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans): If work ethic counts for anything expect Iszac, the younger brother of Titans skipper Tino, to work his way into Gold Coast’s top 17 sometime this season.
Tony Francis (Titans): A dynamic edge player who played Langer Trophy with Marsden SHS, Francis is a real wildcard rookie who could turn heads if given a chance in 2023.
Jai Hansen (Cowboys): A development contracted dummy half who played alongside fellow North Queensland young guns such as Lipp, Bourke, Jacob Mene, Zac Laybutt, Wavik, Duffy, Ipswich SHS alumni Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, tough tackling Luke Jack, William Latu and Marly Bitungane in the premiership winning colts outfit of 2022.
Footnote: He is not uncapped, but Brisbane Broncos’ fans should not forget they have Xavier Willison on their books. The tall, athletic prop from PBC SHS made his debut in 2021 but suffered a knee injury and was not seen at NRL level last year.
Originally published as Meeting 28 gun Queensland rookies bound for the NRL
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