10 Ipswich gun coaches— and 19 of their rookies on the rise
Ipswich’s latest sporting internationals have been revealed as 10 local super coaches reveal their 19 gun rookies on the rise.
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Here are 10 Ipswich super coaches delivering the goods at a grassroots level.
Here, we feature world class coaches from rugby league, union, netball, athletics and basketball in their own right and also ask them to put the spotlight on their next generation of medal winners and premiership title holders.
One of our coaches was selected as the naming-recipient of an NRLW medal, playing for Queensland and Australia and a big part of the Australian Women’s Rugby League Executive which established the women’s game in the 90s.
Coach Heath Ramsay and his daughter, new Australian Dolphins Ella Ramsay
Ipswich schoolgirl Ella Ramsay was last night named on her first senior Australian team bound for both the Commonwealth Games and world junior championships.
Ramsay, 17, blasted her way into the national team with a stunning 200m IM personal best time of 2:12.12 minutes - more than one and a half seconds better than her previous PB.
A former West Moreton Anglican College primary school student who is currently in Year 12 at St Peters Lutheran College, Springfield, Ramsay is from the swimming stable of Australian coach Dean Boxall at St Peters Western.
But her formative years were spent under the guidance of her father, Olympian Heath Ramsay, who runs the Heath Ramsay Swim Centre at WestMAC.
Ella said: “Being on the same boat as dad and now being called an Aussie Dolphin is pretty sick.
“So hopefully, like him, I will be able to compete in the Olympic’s one day.’’
Dad was Ramsay’s first learn to swim coach and tutored her during her primary school years.
“Her dad owned a learned to swim centre and she started mini squads when she was 5-6 years old and that was with her dad,’’ said Ella’s mum Rebecca.
“Her dad has been alongside her since her journey started.’’
She had high praise for all her daughter’s coaches, including Stewart Melton, John Gatwick, Boxall and his co-coach at St Peters Western Maxine Seear.
Ella Ramsay has been the outstanding All Ages junior swimmer for four years, but it is a huge progression into the senior side and a credit to her dedication and hard work.
Coach and coordinator of Ipswich State High School Girls Rugby league: Veronica White
In her 10th year with Ipswich SHS, Veronica White continues to grow the girls rugby league program and train up the next generation of young talent. White set up the girls rugby league program at ISHS. From 16 students across Year seven and eight, to 140 students from Year seven to 11, White has brought her 30 years of experience in women’s rugby league to take ISHS to the semi-finals of the Titans Schoolgirls Cup for the first time in 2021.
White played for Brothers Ipswich, North Ipswich and down in Sydney for Bankstown and South Sydney. She played for Queensland from 1999-2004 and Australia from 1995-2004, playing a major role in the administration of the women’s game in both New South Wales and Queensland. Having played representative rugby league and being at the forefront of establishing the womens game for many years, the NRLW named the Veronica White medal after her. This medal, equivalent to the Ken Stephens medal, is awarded yearly to an elite NRLW player who performs community work throughout the season. White coaches the Year nine and 10s and oversees the Year 11 and 12’s alongside Steve Brown, who used to be with the NRL development.
Rookie: Shalom Sauaso (Ipswich State High School)
Fourteen-year-old Shalom Sauaso is the captain of Ipswich SHS’s year nine and 10 girls rugby league team. She played for the Metropolitan West under 15’s representative team and won Player of the Tournament at the State Schoolgirls Rugby League Championships in Gladstone earlier this month.
Shalom’s achievements to date already make up a long list, the future-star being the youngest player ever to be selected in the Queensland Reds Women Academy last year. Coach Veronica White says it’s a matter of who picks her up first as “she’s really good at both union and league.”
“She’s the captain of the team and she just doesn’t stop. She’s still learning the game. That’s the unbelievable part. She’s still learning all areas of rugby league and she’s just got to learn not to get too involved all the time and learn not to take on everybody elses work,” coach Veronica White said about the young five-eighth.
“She loves getting in there and doing heaps of work.”
Shalom was going to be picked for the Gold Coast Titans under 17’s Academy last year but she was too young. White believes she will be picked this year because she’s “just that good a player.”
Shalom Sauaso is a young player who has performed well beyond her years, winning the Ipswich SHS Player of the Year for two consecutive years and a nominee for the Ipswich Young Sportsperson of the Year in 2021. The 15 years Queensland Schoolgirls representative, and back-to-back Queensland under 15’s merit team representative is one to keep your eye on.
Rookies: Lishainah Ulugia and Tiresa Elika (Ipswich SHS)
Ulugia and Elika are more stars under the guidance of the great Veronica White. These Ipswich SHS girls are the definition of rookies on the rise. Coach White thinks so. She has high praise for her talented rooks, with Lishainah and Shalom Sauaso both selected for the Queensland u15s Schoolgirls merit team. Tiresa was selected for the first Queensland u18s Schoolgirls Rugby League Representative team who will play against New South Wales as the curtain raiser to game three of the Men’s State of Origin. These young girls have a very bright future.
Coach of Ipswich Grammar School First V basketball team: Jason Ralph
IGS First V basketball coach Jason Ralph is currently in his 12th year with the Ipswich Force in the NBL1 competition, and his 5th year as the captain. The 2012 IGS Old Boy has also played College Basketball at Valley City State University from 2015-2017. Ralph has been in the IGS First V basketball program since 2009, four years as a player, eight years as an assistant coach, and this is now his second year as head coach of the First V.
Ralph is passionate towards developing young talent, having implemented a Future V program at IGS for boys in Year 7, 8 and 9. These young guns follow a similar program to the First V as they aspire to be part of the senior program one day. Ralph has a relatively new group this year, after losing nine seniors last year. “it’s an exciting time of the year, seeing what boys have made the jump over the off-season,” Ralph said.
“Our goal is always to make the top three for GPS and see what that takes us. You need a lot of luck to win a GPS Premiership, so hopefully we can put ourselves in the position where luck comes our way.”
Rookie: Tristan Afamasaga (Ipswich Grammar School)
Ralph’s rookie on the rise is hard-working guard Tristan Afamasaga who joined IGS this year. Afamasaga’s older brother Riley is a GPS Premiership winning player for IGS back in 2018. “Tristan has an explosive game, with an extremely quick first step,” Ralph said.
“His dedication to the game will see him develop through the next three years at IGS.”
The Year 10 has represented Met West and coach Ralph said he can see him representing QLD in the future. Tristan is currently involved in the SPP (State Performance Program), and is one to look out for in this year’s GPS First V basketball competition.
Rookie: James Casaquite (Ipswich Grammar School)
Casaquite started at Ipswich Grammar School in 2020 as a Year seven, and now the Year nine young gun gets his first opportunity to make the First V basketball squad. He was involved in Basketball Queensland’s Future Development Program and Coach Jason Ralph said he is a combination guard that has a bright future representing the IGS First V. This year he will lead the IGS 9A team and take the experience he learns from the First V back to the Year 9 level. Even though Casaquite is the youngest in the squad, Ralph said he has shown he is up for the challenge and has worked hard throughout the pre-season.
Coach of St Edmund’s College First XV rugby team: Andrew Kirk
Kirk has been involved with the Eddies' First XV since arriving at the college four years ago. The once Western Bulldogs coach has brought the coaching style he acquired at the kennel to Ipswich. Kirk started coaching the core of his now First XV team when they were in Year eight and nine, and he said it has been a pleasure to be involved in the development of these fine young men.
“Players like Zane Kaatz, Logan Costello, Tyler Cuthbert-Hough and Regan Payne have been exposed to the First XV program for three years now and I believe the experience that they are bringing to this year’s squad has been invaluable,” he said.
“This year’s captains have also been a humbling and calming influence on the squad and credit must be given to Daniel Mavunda and Larry Siala.”
“This year’s squad has been proactive in building a culture of rugby around the College and with the help of the First XV coaching team have allowed Rugby to flourish in Ipswich.”
Kirk also extends his gratitude to Chad de Waard (Assistant Principal Activities) and Max Luxton (Director of Sport) for their continued support of the First XV rugby program.
Rookie: Larry Siala (St Edmund’s College)
Siala has been a cornerstone of the St Edmund’s rugby program since Year 7. The First XV co-captain is a talented rugby league player that has taken to rugby like a duck to water. He is capable of playing everywhere from second row to inside centre. Coach Kirk said: “Larry is a level-headed team captain, who will let his actions do the talking.” In 2021 Siala was selected in the Queensland u16 Maroon team and his transition to rugby union has continued with selection in the Queensland Reds u18 Academy. So far this season Larry has been a rock in the Eddies' forward pack, always leaving his heart out on the field.
Kirk said: “It has been pleasing to watch him grow into a well-mannered, hardworking rugby player.”
“Larry will continue to lead his team and hopefully leave a lasting legacy on the St Edmund’s rugby program.”
Rookie: Tafito Falaniko Ah-Ki ( St Edmund’s College)
Tafito, or “T” as he is known around the College is a scrumhalf with a bright future ahead of him. Tafito joined the Eddies' community as a Year 7 student back in 2018 and is a well-rounded student both on and off the rugby field. He captained his year level from the first time he pulled on an Eddies' jersey, and leads his team from the back of the ruck. This is Tafito’s second year as a First XV player, after debuting as a Year 10 student in 2021. In 2021, Tafito was lucky enough to be selected as scrumhalf for the Queensland u16 white side. This has continued in 2022 after being selected in the Queensland Reds Academy (u18).
Coach Andrew Kirk said: “Tafito is a well-respected student in the school community and is humble in his approach to each game.”
“He looks forward to continuing his path as the year progresses and will be hoping to continue to be an integral part of the rugby program and St Edmund’s.”
Coach of St Peter Claver College’s First VII netball team: Amy Fatialofa
After starting her netball career with the Ipswich Netball Association at eight years old, Amy Fatialofa has played a number of seasons with the Ipswich Flyers and is now chasing her fourth consecutive premiership with the Over 40s Ipswich Superleague team.
Fatialofa started coaching at 17 years of age, and has since brought a premiership to the Ipswich Flyers state league team in 2009, and back-to-back premierships to an Ipswich junior representative team who were named the Team of the Year in 2016 at the Ipswich City Sports Awards. The list goes on, having coached many school level teams to district premierships and school representative teams including Met West and North Queensland. Fatialofa has worked at Claver since 2011 and has been in charge of the netball program ever since. Her coaching philosophy comes in two parts: developing the whole person, not just the netball player and coaching netball players to think on the court. Fatialofa gets satisfaction when seeing players take leaps forward in confidence and resilience. She along with her team are very excited to have been promoted to division one and two in this year’s QISSN tournament.
Rookie: Kirsten- Lupe Tanielu (St Peter Claver College)
Kirsten-Lupe Tanielu is St Peter Claver College’s First XII netball captain, and best netballer. The grade 12 plays for the Ipswich Jets Ruby team, and played in the team last year as their youngest contracted player. In April 2022 she represented the Queensland under 17’s team at the National Netball Championships in Hobart, where QLD came second. Only two weeks ago she represented Metropolitan West at the under 19s Queensland Schoolgirls State Netball Championships in Toowoomba, where Met West came second. Kirsten was the team captain, Met West MVP and she was selected in the under 19’s QLD Schoolgirls team.
The netball program at Claver has attracted some talented players over the last few years and Kirsten is certainly at the head of that talent. Coach Amy Fatialofa said the best quality that Kirsten possesses is her ability to bring the best out of her teammates.
“She plays with her team, never above them. She gives everyone confidence by making each of them feel important,” Fatialofa said.
“So while she is undoubtedly a talented netball player, she is an even better leader and teammate. I feel blessed to have worked with her for four years now.”
Kirsten is making a name for herself in Netball and has a very bright future.
Rookie: Molly Green (St Peter Claver College)
16-year-old Molly Green is a Goal Keeper and Goal Defender who is a natural leader on the court. Coach Amy Fatialofa said: “She has high expectations of herself and as such, she is quite inspiring for her teammates.” Green is a 2022 Ipswich Jets training partner and u19’s Metropolitan West Schoolgirls Representative.
Rookie: Saupo Toeleiu (St Peter Claver College)
Toeleiu is another one of St Peter Claver College’s talented young netballers. The 16-year-old Goal Defender is the first Grade seven student to be selected in their QISSN team. Due to her sheer athletic ability, Toeleiu was selected in the team in 2019. Coach Amy Fatialofa said: “She is hungry to win the ball on the court which makes her a great asset for the team.” Like Molly Green she is a 2022 Ipswich Jets training partner, and an u19’s Metropolitan West Schoolgirls Representative. Saupo Toeleiu is another young rookie on the rise, the Year 10 a QLD schoolgirls netball representative and QISSN all star last year, and a 2022 member of the under 17’s Queensland Netball Squad.
Rookie: Armani Apelu (St Peter Claver College)
Apelu is a 15-year-old Goal Shooter who has shown immense improvement over the last 18 months. Coach Amy Fatialofa said “she has always had a good grasp on the physical side of netball,” about the 2022 under 15’s QLD Schoolgirls and Metropolitan West Representative. She said Apelu is learning how to handle the psychological side of netball as well.
“She has the potential to become a very dominant Goal Shooter.”
Coach of Claver First XIII Rugby League team and Head of the program: Christopher Ash
Christopher Ash started teaching at Claver in 2014, and in 2018 took over leadership of the rugby league program. The Claver First XIII old boy was an Ipswich Brothers Junior and a Jets u18s, Colts, Reserve Grade and Cup player before retiring in 2019. Ash was the head coach of the Ipswich Jets HDC Colts team in 2021 and will be again this year. Ash says Claver’s focus is on the students first and the athlete second.
“Two students who are great examples of that are Lachlan Coburn and Clinton Smith. Both of these boys are quietly spoken, always wanting to learn and improve and are great students.”
Rookie: Lachlan Coburn (St Peter Claver College)
Lachie is the youngest son of Ipswich jet great Danny Coburn who is the most capped Jet player ever. The scooter whiz turned gun rugby rookie played in the Cyril Connell Challenge for the Jets this year at lock and hooker and had a great competition.
“He will continue to progress...and he is a great endorsement of our program.”Ash said about the 16-year-old.
“He’s tough, skilful, respectful, humble and a good student.”
Rookie: Clinton Smith ( St Peter Claver College)
Fourteen-year-old Clinton Smith from St Peter Claver College is currently playing in the u14/15s Rugby League State Championships for Metropolitan West at Burleigh Bears Junior Rugby league Club. The Year 8 is a humble and talented rugby league player who plays as a second rower or lock. He began playing club football in 2016 for Brothers Ipswich. In 2019 he was selected in the u12 Queensland Schoolboys team playing in the National Carnival at Langlands Park in Brisbane. The year later he transferred to East’s in the Brisbane Rugby League competition. This year Smith was successful in being selected in the East Tigers U16 Cyril Connell Q Cup team coached by Lote Tuqiri. The young gun has also begun a four year rugby league scholarship with the Canberra Raiders.
Clinton said he will keep working hard as he knows how hard it is to make the NRL and would love nothing more than one day pulling on the Raiders jersey and running out to the Viking clap.
Rugby League coordinator at Ipswich State High School: Josh Bretherton
At Ipswich SHS there is a group of dedicated coaches that have a profound impact on their students. Josh Bretherton has been the head coach at Ipswich SHS for four years, and has worked as part of the elite program for nine. In that time he has seen over 30 students graduate and move to opportunities with NRL clubs.
Bretherton said he is immensely proud of his coaching staff as they work so many hours of their own time.
He said “The players they have been lucky enough to play a role in developing benefit massively from not only the quality and experience of his staff but most importantly their dedication to helping these young men better themselves.”
“Their hard work and quality of character is the secret to our success.”
Bretherton has coached Josiah Pahulu over a number of years and said he has been one of his leaders for a very long time.
“Josiah is one of the hardest working players I have ever coached. He has the respect of his coaches, teammates and opponents because he is a hardworking, ruthless competitor that treats everyone respectfully.”
“He’s a great prospect. His natural power and strength coupled with his work ethic makes him a unique athlete.”
Rookie: Josiah Pahulu (Ipswich State High School)
Ipswich SHS senior Josiah Pahulu is a powerful prop with damaging ball running ability. He stars in the Langer Cup Super 8 competition. This year Pahulu played for the Burleigh Bears in the Mal Meninga Cup, and was playing in the State Championships with the Met West under 19’s this weekend. This rook played Queensland City under 17’s in the Emerging Origin game in 2021 and was with the Queensland under 19’s Origin Squad in a training camp last week.
Rugby League coach and S&C at Ipswich State High School: John Dore
John Dore is both a coach and head of strength and conditioning at Ipswich SHS. Dore is also in S&C for the Ipswich Jets and the Queensland U18’s Emerging Origin Squad in 2022. He puts in huge hours of his own time to help students become high quality athletes. Dore has been working closely with rookie Cooper Cracknell over the last 12 months. Cracknell is a very driven young man and has been doing extra training sessions separate to the training group with John. Both in their own time, by choice.
Ipswich Rugby League coordinator Josh Bretherton said,
“ Cooper is a highly skilled forward. He works very hard on his craft and has great attention to detail for a 15-year-old.”
“He constantly asks questions and wants to know how to improve himself every day.”
Rookie: Cooper Cracknell (Ipswich State High School)
ISHS Year 10 Cooper Cracknell is a cracking rugby league player. The 15-year-old backrower has very good footwork and skills for a forward. The hard worker played for the Ipswich Jets in this year’s Cyril Connell Challenge and was at the State Championships with the Met West u15’s this weekend. Cracknell has just signed a three year deal with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Mother and coach of future star Toby Stolberg: Theresa Stolberg
Former heptathlete and supportive mum “Marty,” coaches her future star Toby Stolberg and continues to provide terrific encouragement for the up-and-coming athlete who is in Year 11 at St Peters Springfield.
Marty was a national level heptathlete in the 1990s. She was a Pan Pacific school champion in high jump and represented Australia in Taiwan and New Zealand. The Ipswich and District Athletic Club vice-president has developed a fine young talent in Toby Stolberg.
Rookie: Toby Stolberg ( St Peters Springfield)
Year 11 Springfield sensation Toby Stolberg has been selected in the U20 Australian Athletics Team to compete in High Jump at the World Junior Championships in Columbia this August. The Ipswich and District Club member is one of the youngest in the Australian Junior team, having only just turned 16 this month. Stolberg’s best in high jump is 1.82m and she is looking to improve on this in Cali, Colombia. Help Stolberg get there here.
Stolberg is a superb athlete in the very capable hands of her mother and coach Marty. Keep an eye out for Toby in the coming years.
Coach of St Peters Lutheran College First XV rugby team: Russell Todd
Todd was appointed head coach of the St Peters First XV schoolboy rugby team in 2021 to salvage a rugby program starved of success. After an underwhelming 2021 season, Todd and his First XV squad have shown a massive improvement in the first three games of the 2022 season. With a heartbreaking one-point-loss to Padua College, a victory over Villanova College and a valiant effort against reigning premiers St Laurence’s College, the St Peters First XV rugby team is brewing something special. Unfortunately due to the weather, St Peters round three fixture against St Edmund’s College was cancelled, a game shaping up to be a cracking contest. However, Todd and the up-and-coming St Peters First XV look to finish their season off strong regardless of the weather and sickness among his team.
Rookies: Kadin Pritchard and Treyvon Pritchard (St Peters Springfield Campus)
Kadin, Year 12 and Trayvon, Year 10 are cracking players in St Peters First XV rugby team. The Newzealand and West-African mixed brothers go to school at the Springfield campus. This year is Kadin’s third and final year in the First XV, and he has saved his best for last. So far this season the fullback has been a standout, especially with the boot. He has been the catalyst for the growth and improvement of the St Peters’ rugby program. Treyvon looks to build on the legacy Kadin has strived to create at St Peters over the last few years, as he continues to improve. Treyvon is currently coming off the bench, however he is chasing a starting position in next year’s side, and will stop at nothing to leave his mark on an on-the-rise St Peters rugby program. With the help and guidance of coach Russell Todd, Treyvon will be a First XV force in years to come.
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