Mal Meninga squad breakdown, Wide Bay players to watch
As the next generation of Queensland rugby league stars prepare for kick-off in the Mal Meninga Cup, we uncover the Wide Bay players who might take their team to a premiership.
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Wide Bay Bulls Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup coach Shaun Hobson says the future is looking bright both on and off the field for the club as he looks ahead to the 2023 season.
The Bulls returned to the state competition three years ago after a 12-year hiatus and Hobson said there were plenty of good things to look forward to this season as the team prepares for its first hitout of the new campaign on Saturday, February 25 against the Western Clydesdales in Kingaroy.
“The expectation from within is that we just get better,” coach Hobson said when asked what his hopes were for his under-18 team.
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“It‘s our third year back in and it’s been a development pathway opportunity for our kids and a learning opportunity for all of us at a higher level of footy.
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“I think our expectation is to be competitive in every game and as long as we‘re giving our best effort and doing that, I think we’re going to do all right
“As a coach I‘m really confident in the boys we’ve got and I certainly think that they are a good group and on their day they are good enough to to earn some respect, that’s for sure.
“There are some standout players if we give them the right opportunity.”
Hobson said it was a real honour for him to be coaching kids from the Wide Bay region against teams from across Queensland, including major cities such as Brisbane and Toowoomba.
He said it was fantastic that players from the area had the chance to represent the Wide Bay to hopefully forge a career in rugby league.
“It‘s an amazing pathway into the QRL and then obviously onwards to the NRL,” Hobson said.
“It just really shows a real clear pathway of where you can be and what you can do, specifically for the Wide Bay area.
“It‘s amazing that we’re being represented in these competitions.
“It gives our kids from the country a chance to play at that same level and on the same platforms as kids from the major metropolitan areas as well.
“Given given time, I think we will see the best of Wide Bay come through and be a really competitive force in the competition.”
While Hobson said it was important to get the best results on the field, he also said he was keen to impress on his young team some life skills.
“Personally as a coach I‘m about development,” he said.
“I want to be a part of a journey for kids to be better people and excel in whatever they choose to do.
“If they go on and play in the NRL, well that‘s fantastic if that’s what they are they’re working for.
“There might be a couple that do but my main focus is to make sure that they get the learnings out of this program.
“That‘s not just helping them in rugby league, but helping them in life and making sure that they are good people.
“We‘ve got a good group of young men that are here that I’m very proud of them.
“It‘s exciting because most of the team played Cyril Connell Cup last year (under-16s), so if we keep them together and we do the development stuff right, things are heading in the right direction for Wide Bay.”
Wide Bay Bulls players to watch
Coach Shaun Hobson said he was spoilt for choice when choosing his standout players but here is his selection of the ones to look out for this season in the Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup.
Noah Law
Noah Law is a big backrower who has signed for NRL new boys the Dolphins. He‘s a Bundaberg Shalom College boy and is big and strong. He’s got a good skill set. He passes well, hits hard and certainly can play footy on both sides of the ball. He’s very explosive and and tough. We’ve got some really high expectations of him.
Quincy Booker
Quincy Booker, who comes from Chinchilla, will play in a middle forward role. The Chinchilla Bulldogs didn‘t have a team last year, so they combined with the South Burnett team at under-17s. So as he was in a Wide Bay competition, the Bulls grabbed him. Quincy is amazingly strong, fast and gives 100%. He also carries the ball well.
Ezekiel Monckton
Ezekiel Monckton is a halfback and a really explosive player. He defends well for a halfback and reads the game well. He‘s, he’s got a great skill set and he’s not afraid to use it. So he will take any opportunity that’s in front of him and have a red hot go at it.
Adam Khan
Adam Khan is our Fijian flyer who is in the Queensland Reds rugby program. He recently played in a state carnival in sevens and went well. He‘s just electrically fast. He’s just one of those kids that just makes things happen out of nothing. When there’s a chance he’s there and puts the ball across the strip.
Tom Morcom
Tom Morcom is with the Broncos. He plays centre and he‘s a good lad. He trains hard and works hard and he’s certainly runs good lines.
Wide Bay Bulls Mal Meninga Cup squad 2023
Adam Khan, Bayden Alexander, Boedie Dwight, Coen Searl, Daniel Cavanagh, Dawson Hess (cousin of Coen), Djuran Murray-Smith, Ethan Taylor, Ezekiel Monckton, Fletch Prendergast, Jack Picaro, Jake Rooks, Jamall Nelson, Jordan Hislop, Joseph Doyle, Junior Tokoia Tuitoma, Oahu Te Momo, Lachlan Ponder, Luke Adamson, Mathaniel Cuthbertson, Mitchell McCallum, Mitchell Sly, Noah Law, Patrick Curtis, Quincy Booker, Reece Volz, Ryan Bugeja, Ryan Smith, Samuel Blomdale, Tom Morcom, Troy MacGregor
The Wide Bay Bulls host the Western Clydesdales at TJ O‘Neill Oval on Saturday, February 25 kicking off at 3pm.
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