More than 80+ juniors on the rise in Bundaberg junior sport
Bundaberg is littered with plenty of junior talent shining on the state and national stage. We list the best talent going around.
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When it comes to producing juniors, Bundaberg stands out as a place that delivers talent.
From national champions, to state representatives, to playing seniors, Bundaberg’s junior talent has done it all.
We list the best young juniors in the region with plenty of sports covered.
Sam Aitkenhead – The Waves Cities (Hockey)
One of Queensland’s brightest hockey prospects. Aitkenhead is already playing top tier hockey for The Waves Cities in Bundaberg, helping the team to back-to-back premiership titles in Division 1 in Bundy hockey. The attacker has also been selected for Queensland in the past two years in the under-18 team.
Layla Allwood – Swimming
Allwood last year won the 200m butterfly and the 200m individual medley in the 12 girls event at the City of Charm. Representing Wide Bay, this year, at the school sports titles, she finished second in the 200m in the 13 girls.
Saxon Blair – St Luke’s (Rowing/400m)
A talented rower, Blair is also excelling in the 400m in athletics. He finished 2nd in the state at the state school track and field titles in the 400m in the under-16 category.
Indi Bland – Swimming
Was the 12 girls age champion at the City of Charm last year. She also represented Wide Bay in school sports swimming in the relays.
Oliver Boge – Brothers (Cricket)
The son of a gun, Oliver Boge has followed into his father’s (David Boge) footsteps of playing seniors for Brothers. A talented all-rounder, Boge has already made an unbeaten 50 and taken three wickets in Division 1 so far. And he’s 16.
Eloise Campbell – East Bundaberg/Wide Bay (Cricket)
The under-12 East Bundaberg player has already represented Wide Bay in cricket in school girls and looks set for a strong future. She took five wickets, which included a hat-trick, in a Bundaberg Cricket Association game this season.
Connor Castelli – The Waves Citites (Hockey)
Recently represented Queensland at the nationals in hockey in under-13 in Hobart. He was the player of the match in one of the matches at the tournament. Castelli has been added to the under-15 Queensland training squad for next year and is a good chance to make the team again.
Sienna Clark – St Luke’s (Rowing)
The Year 11 student helped St Luke’s claim the Head of the River earlier this year and also won the double scull and quad scull for her year level. Clark is part of the Queensland girls pathways squad.
Tahj Coates – The Waves (Cricket)
A Wide Bay school cricketer who is already starting to shine in under-16 Bundaberg cricket. In his first full season, he has already made a 50 and averages more than 30 with the bat. Last season, he was the best player in under-14 and the best representative player for Bundaberg. He is also a talented rugby league player for The Waves.
Jada Critchlow – Shalom College (Rowing)
The talented Shalom College and Bundaberg Rowing Club junior has been earmarked by the Queensland Academy of Sport as part of their YOUFOR32 campaign to find Olympians for the Brisbane Games. Critchlow has had a stellar year, capped off by winning the year-9 quad scull at the Head of the River and finishing second in the same age group in the single and double scull.
James Cronin – Brothers/Wide Bay (Cricket)
An under-14 Wide Bay schools representative, Cronin is a fast bowler who has impressed for Brothers this year. So far this season he hasn’t taken many wickets but Cronin has been economical in under-14 Bundaberg cricket, conceding less than four runs an over.
Nicholas Delacy – The Waves (Cricket)
A top order batsmen who is already playing senior cricket despite being an under-14 player. He has already made a 50 this season in under-14 Bundaberg Cricket and is set to be one of the players to look out for in the competition.
Rhani Dodd – The Waves (AFL)
Dodd was named in the Brisbane Lions Academy training squad last month after her performances for The Waves this season. The under-14 player played 10 games in the boys and girls competition, kicking seven goals.
Tully Dorgan – Arrows Athletics (Hockey)
A Queensland representative in outdoor and indoor hockey, Dorgan is an attacking player who is excelling in all facets of the game. He is part of the under-15 boys Queensland training squad for next year and is likely to play.
Joseph Doyle – Past Brothers (Rugby League)
The fullback scored 11 tries for Past Brothers this season in under-16 in the Bundaberg Junior Rugby League. Doyle helped the team to the grand final and scored in the teams loss to The Waves.
Taylor Driver – Shalom College/Bundaberg Touch (Touch)
Driver is talented in not one but three sports, touch football, rugby league and rugby union. The teenager represented the Central Queensland Bulls at the National Touch League earlier this year at Coffs Harbour in under-20. Later in the year she won the Girls’ Player with Most Potential award at the rugby league Confraternity Schools carnival for Shalom College. She played at fullback in the tournament.
Thomas Elphinstone – Norths (Cricket)
A bowler who has already taken six wickets this season in the under-14 Bundaberg cricket competition. Elphinstone has represented Bundaberg in representative cricket and has been part of Bundaberg Rugby League’s RISE program. He has also represented the Coastal Marlins in the Brisbane Premier League’s T20 competition in his age group.
Atlas Felstead – YMCA (Cricket)
The under-12 cricketer has been named to represent Bundaberg in rep cricket this season after impressive performances for YMCA. The top order batsmen is not out in all matches so far this season, has made a 50, and taken three wickets in under-12.
River Felstead – YMCA, East Bundaberg, Wide Bay (Cricket)
Felstead is already playing seniors despite being eligible to play under-16. The YMCA and East Bundaberg batsmen has played three games so far. Felstead is also a Wide Bay representative and is also playing for the Lord’s Taverners for Wide Bay in under-16.
Darius Freeman – Wests (Rugby League)
A dominant forward for Wests in their under-14 Bundaberg Junior Rugby League season. Freeman scored 11 tries and played in the sides grand final win against the Wallaroos.
Casey Giles – Gymnastics
A talented gymnastics competitor for Gymfinity and surf life saver for Elliott Heads Surf Life Saving Club. Giles has represented Queensland in surf life saving and is at a high level in gymnastics.
Jasmine Gill – Brothers (Netball)
A goal attacker, Gill is already one of the best in the state. She’s part of the under-17 Queensland team for next year and represented Sunshine Coast at the under-16 state titles. She was also the best attacker last year in Division 1 in Bundaberg Netball and is in Bundaberg’s under-16 team. The St Luke’s student is a star on the rise.
Bailey Grigg – Natives (Netball)
The mid court netballer had a stellar season. She was the rookie of the year in the Division 1 Bundaberg netball competition and made the under-17 Bundaberg representative team. She also played for the Sunshine Coast Thunder in the under-18 state titles.
Levi Hack – Easts (Rugby League)
Hack is the captain of Easts under-13 team and a five eighth who can set up play and score tries as well. He scored 11 this season including a hat-trick against Brothers.
Robert Hadwen – The Waves (Rugby League)
The fullback scored the most tries from a Bundaberg player in the under-15 Bundaberg Rugby League competition. He scored 11 for The Waves. He also helped the team to the grand final win as well as scoring the third most points in the competition.
Lucy Hamilton – The Waves/Brisbane Heat (Cricket)
Hamilton is not only one of Bundaberg’s best prospects but one of the nations best. Hamilton has already made her debut for both the Queensland Fire in the WNCL and Brisbane Heat in the women’s Big Bash. A left arm quick, who can bat as well, she is rated highly by Queensland Cricket. Hamilton is also a talented footballer, winning senior premierships with the United Park Eagles in women’s football.
Asia Heaps – St Luke’s (Rowing)
The Year 11 student won the single scull title for her age group earlier this year in the Head of the River. She also helped the school win the title of Head of the River and won the double scull and quad scull events. She’s part of the Queensland girls pathways team.
Lachie Heycox – YMCA/Wide Bay (Cricket)
The YMCA captain is an all-rounder who has represented both Queensland and Wide Bay. He is also the captain for Wide Bay in Lord’s Taverners. A fast bowler who also bats high, he is a player to look out for after already making senior appearances for Brothers this year and last.
Kobi Holden – Elliott Heads Surf Life Saving Club (Surf Life Saving)
A star on the rise in surf life saving, Holden has represented both Australia and Queensland in pool rescue and surf life saving competitions. Earlier this year he won gold in both the 50m manikin carry and 100m manikin tow at the national pool rescue titles. He recently, after moving to under-17 competition, won the best male athlete in his age group at the Northern state titles in Surf Life Saving and qualified for the Queensland Country team. A talented kid.
Isak Hose – The Waves (AFL)
The under-17 AFL Wide Bay player was the best player in the competition this year, winning the best and fairest in his age group. He also won The Waves best and fairest award in under-17. A midfielder who can play in multiple positions, Hose has played not only in under-17 but in seniors as well. He’s made nine appearances and been in the best players three times.
Courtney Kendall – Raiders/Rovers/Shalom (Hockey)
Another Bundy junior who is part of the YOUFOR2032 campaign with Queensland’s Academy of Sport. Kendall was player of the final, this season, as she helped Raiders Rovers win the under-13 Bundaberg Hockey Association premiership. She also recently represented Queensland at the under-13 nationals in Hobart, playing for the Cinders.
Hailey Kendall – Raiders Rovers (Hockey)
A talented umpire who umpired Division 1 grand finals at the under-13 and under-15 state champs this year. At the under-13 state championships she was awarded the Kim Thomasson and Julie Ashton-Lucy Young Aspiring Umpire Award. She also won the community umpire of the year award with Hockey Queensland.
Jano Kirchner – St Luke’s (Cricket/Athletics)
A talented athlete who is dominant in a few sports. He’s a national medallist in javelin and is currently part of the Queensland Pathways squad for cricket. When he isn’t playing those sports, Kirchner is also involved in rugby union. He was also St Luke’s best athlete in the open age group at their athletics carnival this year.
Sam Klotz – St Luke’s (Rowing)
The best Bundaberg rower in year-12 boys this year. The St Luke’s student won his single scull event at the Head of the River by an incredible 25 seconds over the rest of the field. He also won the double and quad scull events while helping the school to the coveted Head of the River title. Klotz is also part of the Queensland Rowing Schoolboys program.
Kasey Krueger – Fairymead Swimming Club/Shalom College (Swimming)
A part of the Swimming Queensland development squad, Krueger has represented Wide Bay and Queensland in her career so far. She’s a talented swimmer in three disciplines, backstroke, butterfly and freestyle.
Ashton Lamond – Brothers/Wide Bay (Cricket)
The Brothers leg spinner is an under-14 Wide Bay schools representative and a Bundaberg player as well. Lamond has taken five wickets in the under-14 Bundaberg Cricket Association competition this season so far.
Toby Lamond – Brothers/Wide Bay (Cricket)
A Queensland representative in under-15 indoor cricket, Lamond is also a Wide Bay representative for the Lord’s Taverners in the under-16 Premier Cricket competition. The under-16 captain for Brothers in the Bundaberg Cricket Association, Lamond has had a great start to the season, averaging 45 with the bat and taking seven wickets with the ball.
Travis Larner – Past Brothers (Rugby League)
The second rower for Past Brothers was one of the best for the club in under-16 this year in the Bundaberg Junior Rugby League. The forward stormed his way over the line to score 12 tries, the second most in the competition. He helped the team make the grand final this season.
Noah Law – Dolphins/Wests (Rugby League)
Law has joined the NRL’s newest club, the Dolphins, after a stellar season for Wests Panthers in under-16 in the Bundaberg Junior Rugby League. He led the scoring in under-16, scoring 13 tries for Wests during the year, playing at fullback.
Tiarna Law – Brothers (Softball)
Law will be part of the Queensland under-18 squad to contest the softball nationals next year. The talented softballer is part of Brothers Softball Club and represented Coral Coast Softball Association at the recent state titles in under-18.
Beau Marshman – Brothers/Wide Bay (Cricket)
A fast bowler who is playing seniors in Division 2 for Brothers and also representing Wide Bay in Lord’s Taverners. The 16-year-old has taken four wickets so far this season in Division 2 in the Bundaberg Cricket Association.
Pat Marshman – Brothers/Wide Bay (Cricket)
Another junior who is playing in seniors for Brothers Cricket Club. The spinner has taken four wickets in Division 2 and one in Division 1 so far this season. He’s also made a 47 in Division 2 with the bat. He also represents Wide Bay in Lord’s Taverners.
Leyton McDonald – Norths (Cricket)
Another under-12 cricketer is another player set to represent Bundaberg after a strong start to the season. McDonald has already made a 50 for Norths in under-12 Bundaberg cricket, at the top of the order, and has yet to be dismissed in the competition so far.
Kate McFarlane – Shalom College/Bundaberg Golf Club (Golf)
The Bundaberg golfer is one of the best in the state and has already represented her state and country in national and international events. McFarlane recently took out the Invincibles IGA Junior Masters title on the Sunshine Coast, winning by one stroke. She is also a former winner of the best golfer at the Bundaberg Junior Golf Club.
Patrick McMahon – Bingera (Football)
The 17-year-old is already playing seniors for Bingera, making 11 appearances in the Football Queensland Premier League this year. McMahon also represented Queensland at the schoolboy titles in Sydney and was the only player from Wide Bay to make the team. McMahon usually plays in the midfield but he has been used in defence and attack before.
Benny Medley – Past Brothers (Rugby League)
The Brothers centre scored 11 tries for Past Brothers in the under-16 Bundaberg Rugby League and was one of the standouts for the team.
Beau Molo – Wests (Rugby League)
The forward dominated for Wests in under-14 in the Bundaberg Junior Rugby League this season. He scored 12 tries, including a try in the clubs grand final win over the Wallaroos.
Tom Morcom – Brisbane Broncos/The Waves (Rugby League)
The talented teenager has already signed for an NRL club and is one of the rising stars in the game. Morcom is currently in his first season of a three year deal with Brisbane after dominating for The Waves in the Bundaberg Junior Rugby League. A talented centre/winger or even five eighth, he has pace to burn and knows how to score a try or two.
Beau Moxon – The Waves (Rugby League)
The third leading try scorer in under-13 in the Bundaberg Junior Rugby League and first from Bundaberg, Moxon had a strong season for The Waves. The lock forward scored 17 tries during the season to show his power in attack.
Tariq Munkayilar Moore – The Waves (Football)
The leading goalscorer in the Wide Bay North under-13 competition this season for The Waves. Has scored 42 goals in the past two seasons in all Football Queensland Wide Bay competitions.
Jonty Murdoch – West Bundaberg Little Athletics Club & Bundaberg Athletic Club (Shot Put, Discus & Javelin)
Murdoch is the best javelin and shot putter in the country for his age group, under-16, after claiming the national titles for both earlier this year. He won the shot put by almost a metre over his rivals and by 0.27m in javelin. He’s also the second best in the country in discus. The West Bundaberg Little Athletics Club & Bundaberg Athletic Club is a star.
Tielman Nieuwoldt – Norths (Cricket)
Nieuwoldt is averaging more than 30 at the top of the order in under-12 Bundaberg cricket so far this season, The Norths player will play for Bundy in representative cricket later this year after being named in the squad recently.
Lara Parker – Swimming
Parker won the 50m freestyle at the City of Charm last year in 12 girls. She also represented Shalom and Wide Bay in school sport swimming this year.
Connor Pashley – The Waves (Softball)
Has been selected in the under-19 Queensland team for the upcoming nationals in softball. From Mundubbera, Pashley plays his softball in Bundaberg for The Waves Softball Club and has been playing seniors for a few years as he has risen through the ranks. He’s represented Queensland multiple times.
Damon Pegg – Raiders Rovers (Hockey)
Represented Queensland at the under-18 nationals despite being originally named as a shadow. Pegg has already started playing seniors and is one of the key players at the Raiders/Rovers.
Zedd Peters – Brothers Aston Villa (Football)
Dominated the Wide Bay North under-15 competition this season, scoring 40 goals in 20 games. Peters is also a handy lawn bowler, playing for the Burnett Bowls Club. Last year he won silver in the pairs in under-15 at the state titles.
Blake Powter – Canterbury Bulldogs/Past Brothers (Rugby League)
Another young star who is already with an NRL club. Powter signed for Canterbury last year after impressing Bulldogs board member Andrew Gifford, who lives in the region. He had a stellar year this year for his junior club, Brothers, leading the points scorers in the under-16 competition and scoring nine tries. The team finished as runners up in the competition.
Dehan Pretorius – St Luke’s (Aquathlon Multi-Class)
A Queensland representative in the aquathlon multi-class, Pretorius is also a national gold medallist in swimming. A couple of years ago he won two gold medals at the Pacific Games in Adelaide. Pretorius is also a handy athletics competitor, winning medals for Wide Bay and competing for Queensland in multiple disciplines.
Ben Rudd – St Luke’s (Triathlon)
Rudd recently went to the Wide Bay trials for aquathlon and triathlon. He’s also represented Queensland at school sports in triathlon this year. A talented athlete, Rudd also finished in the top 10 in the 800m and 1500m at the Queensland school sports title in athletics.
Chris Rudd – St Luke’s (Triathlon)
The younger brother of Ben, Chris is also a talented triathlete, representing Queensland in school sports title. He is also a state champion in the duathlon, winning the title this year in the 14-15 boys category.
Jayden Santacaterina – Brothers/Isis (Cricket)
The Childers based player is now at Brothers after playing his junior cricket for Isis. Santacaterina is now playing seniors but has represented South Queensland and Wide Bay in juniors. The fast bowler has already taken four wickets in Division 1 in Bundaberg cricket this season.
Tarah Staines – The Waves (Cricket and Softball)
Staines is not talented in just one sport, she’s dominant in two. The talented teenager hails from Monto, a couple of hours from Bundaberg, but travels to the Rum City every weekend to play for Bundy teams. She plays for The Waves in cricket and softball and has already represented Queensland in both. In fact, she has been named to play in the Queensland Country under-19 squad in cricket recently and will also play for Queensland at the under-18 nationals in softball. To top it off, she plays premier women’s cricket for Sunshine Coast as well. A talented star.
Charlie Steele – East Bundaberg/Wide Bay (Cricket)
A Wide Bay school cricket representative, Steele is an East Bundaberg junior who can bat and bowl and plays in under-14 and under-16. He’s made 30 runs so far in three matches and taken five wickets as well for the team this season so far.
Sophie Steele – East Bundaberg/Wide Bay (Cricket)
A talented junior who represented Bundaberg and Wide Bay in under-12 cricket this year.
Bridget Stehbens – Arrows Athletics (Hockey)
Stehbens represented Queensland at the under-15 national titles in Newcastle this year. She was also named as the best player in Division 2, which Bundaberg competed in, at the state titles for under-15 this year.
Alex Stuchbery – The Waves/Wide Bay (Cricket)
A Wide Bay school sports representative, Stuchbery, like his brother Sam (below) is talented and a junior on the rise. He’s already made a 50 this year, opening in under-14, and is on track to easily eclipse his run total from last year, which was his first in the age group. In under-12, in 2020/21, he averaged 88 with the bat and made more than 500 runs. A player to look out for in the future.
Sam Stuchbery – The Waves/Wide Bay (Cricket)
One of the best spinners in Bundaberg and he’s still a teenager. Stuchbery has represented Queensland and also played for Wide Bay in school cricket and the Lord’s Taverners. In under-16 this year he averages more than 200 with the bat and is leading the wicket takers with eight so far. He’s also playing Division 1 cricket and took wickets this year and last year. A talent.
Taylor Stumer – United Park Eagles/The Waves (Football and Cricket)
A talented sports junior who is excelling in two sports. She already plays seniors for the United Park Eagles in football and has won a premiership with the team in Bundaberg and Wide Bay. In cricket the wicketkeeper and batsmen plays for Sunshine Coast in premier cricket and has represented Wide Bay and Queensland. The Waves junior will represent Queensland Country in under-19 at the nationals in Perth next month.
Caitlin Tanner – Wests/Shalom College (Rugby League)
Don’t be surprised if you hear more about Tanner over the next few years. Tanner represented Queensland Country this year in under-17 in their match against Queensland. She also represented Shalom College in Confraternity and played for the Wide Bay Bulls in under-17 at the 47th Battalion this year.
Bo Tankey – Brothers Bulldogs (AFL)
The 15-year-old is already dominating seniors in the women’s AFL Wide Bay competition. The talented teenager won the clubs best and fairest by 20 votes over more established players in the team. She is the daughter of Brothers coach Felicity Tankey.
Hugo Timms – Brothers Bulldogs (AFL)
A talented AFL and football player. Last year, he helped guide Bingera to the under-12 Wide Bay North title by saving penalties as goalkeeper in the penalty shootout in the grand final. This year, he won the best and fairest in under-12 in AFL Wide Bay and also won the same award for Brothers.
Xavier Ulbl – The Waves (Football)
A talented footballer and surf life saver who has excelled in the past 12 months in the round ball game. Ulbl was the leading goalscorer in the Football Queensland Wide Bay under-15 competition for The Waves with 23 goals. He was also a shadow player in the Queensland under-14 squad for the national titles earlier this year.
Joey Vella – St Luke’s (Triathlon)
Another Queensland representative in triathlon from St Luke’s Anglican School. Vella also trialled recently for the Wide Bay team in aquathlon and triathlon and is also a 1500m runner in athletics.
Isaac Wales – All Blacks (Hockey)
Already playing seniors and has won multiple premiership in Division 1 in Bundaberg Hockey. He represented Queensland at the nationals in under-18 in the Northern Territory. An attacker who loves to score, his speed and power is his strength.
Preston Walsh – The Waves (Rugby League)
The five eighth did everything this season for The Waves, including a win in the under-15 Bundaberg Junior Rugby League grand final. He scored nine tries and was the leading pointscorer in the competition.
Oliver Wendt – Norths (Cricket)
Another talented junior playing senior cricket already with two appearances for Norths this season. Has already scored a 50 in under-16 cricket for Norths and also taken a couple of wickets. He has been selected as well for Bundy in representative cricket.
Aeddan White – YMCA/Norths (Cricket)
An opening batter and wicketkeeper, who is playing for YMCA in juniors and Norths in seniors. He’s played Division 1 this year for Norths, making three appearances and also made 85 for YMCA in the first game of the season in under-16 Bundaberg cricket. White is representing Bundaberg in rep cricket this season as well after being named in the squad.
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