Ipswich Jets next generation NRL stars revealed for 2023
Future NRL stars, young guns with a booming kicking game and proven game changers – the talent from the Ipswich Jets has everything as we reveal the up-and-comers shaping up as weapons for 2023. SEE WHO MADE IT
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Future NRL stars, young guns and proven game changers – the talent from the Ipswich Jets has everything as we reveal the up-and-comers shaping up as weapons for 2023.
We have taken a deeper dive into the club’s Colts, Mal Meninga Cup and Cyril Connell Challenge extended training squads, which are jam-packed with exciting young rugby league talent.
Having showcased their skills in the GPS rugby competition, the Langer Trophy, Reserves or Walters Cup competitions as well as in Junior Ipswich Rugby League and in other leagues – here’s an inside look at the next wave of superstar talent for the Jets.
Here is all we know about the squads sure to get Ipswich fans raring for the new year.
IPSWICH JETS MAL MENINGA CUP TRAINING SQUAD
ALTON NAIYEP
Alton Naiyep was every opposition’s worst nightmare in the Langer Trophy this season with his blistering speed and strength often piling on even more hurt than already inflicted by his freakish teammates.
You are never safe when Naiyep has the ball in hands and a full head of steam.
There’s countless tries to show it but one that shows his speed, step and build all in one was his try of the year contender against Redcliffe SHS.
He is going to be one entertaining talent this year, no matter what jersey number he has on his back.
BRANDON TIKINAU
Tikinau is an instrumental young playmaker, who racks up the try assists and was impressive for the Ipswich SHS Langer reserves team this year at five-eighth.
Whether it be through his pinpoint grubber kicks or bullet cut out passing, Tikinau will be putting his teammates over virtually untouched in 2023.
CAYLEB JOHNSON
Johnson, an Ipswich State High School student and West End Bulldog, adds much needed strength to whatever team he plays for.
His defence is unforgiving and on the other side of the ball he just breaks the line.
Ipswich SHS firsts rugby league coach Josh Bretherton commended Johnson following their season on his efforts and playing a role in the team's’s winning formula.
“The improvement he has made over the year has been outstanding,” Bretherton said.
DAVID LEOTA
Signed by the Bulldogs, backrower Leota is a wrecking ball.
He made a tremendous impact for Ipswich Grammar in the GPS Rugby season, making strong carry after another.
He is a talent in league as well as union, the headgeared powerhouse played extremely well in the Emerging Reds Cup and is going to look like a man among boys.
IOSEFA KOLIO
Kolio crunched the Redcliffe players in round three of the Langer Reserves season to help his team to victory.
Their first try of the affair was all thanks to the shoulder of Kolio – he blitzed his opposition so hard the ball came loose, giving Ipswich the chance to score.
Not only was he destructive in defence but running up the middle he was a handful to bring down.
He can kick too, slotting conversions is another habit of his to go along with leaving rivals on their back.
IZAIAH MAFI
You’d think Mafi was a basketballer the way he can catch fire in game.
His true playmaking ability is up there with the best and boy will he put on a few clinics in the new year with his kicking game and his decision making on when to pounce and who to strike through.
JACK LAING
Laing is a tremendous footballer, who went from strength to strength in the Langer Trophy season.
When you have enforcers like Oliva Iaulualo, Gabriel Satrick and Josiah Pahulu in your team, you need a glue player in the middle and Laing was just that for Ipswich State High.
In the back end of the season Laing took it up a notch and just broke the line with sheer will.
He is a clone of former Queensland Origin players and NRL premiership winners David Stagg and Scott Sattler, who proved with hard work, anything is possible.
JERIAH VAGANA
Vagana has a knack for scoring tries – hat-tricks to be specific.
The centre carves up with possession, is always in or around the action, works extremely hard and has a fierce fend, sharp step and hidden speed.
Vagana plays for the Goodna Eagles and his ability to play in the centres or halves will prove invaluable for the Jets in 2023.
LACHAN COBURN
Coburn is the youngest son of Ipswich Jet great Danny Coburn, the most-capped Jets 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 an impressive season.
He is tough and skilful and one to keep an eye on next year.
His older brother, Tyler, is also a skilled footballer, who plays for the Souths Logan Magpies and is currently completing a 15-week pre-season with the Brisbane Broncos.
LACHLAN STUART
Lachlan Stuart is a young halfback from St Peter Claver College, who idolises the great Darryn Lockyer.
He has a fierce competitive nature, a great show-and-go and an impressive short kicking game.
He had a pre-season with the club’s Mal Meninga Cup team this year so expect him to find his stride in 2023, especially after his Confraternity Carnival showcase, which earned him a sport in the QISSRL honorary representative team.
He was selected at No.7 in the elite team, which has included some all rugby league’s greats, such as Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen.
LARRY SIALA
Siala was St Edmunds College’s prime-mover in their firsts team, who had their best season in years.
A powerhouse lock with the run of a rampaging No.8, his ball carrying giving Eddies momentum.
But, it’s on the rugby league field where he excels.
With an unearthly work rate and tremendous effort, Siala, a Norths Tiger, will be one who leaves his heart out on the field after every hit out.
LJ NONU
The news on Nonu is that he has received a South Sydney Rabbitohs scholarship and there’s little wonder why.
The athletic centre has all the potential in the world with his long strides, step and fend just what the Rabbitohs were after.
He’s one for the little black book as we head towards not only the Jets season but also the 2023 Langer Trophy season as Ipswich’s brilliant backs pass down the torch.
MAARO DAVID
David is a Redbank Bears junior, who plays lock and does all the heavy lifting.
He loves doing the dirty work – making tackles, rushing up in defence.
He will bring the experience of being a part of the best schoolboy rugby league team in the nation with him to the Jets.
MAFIOU CHERIF
Cherif is one of the most entertaining forwards out there – it’s not often you see a player run as hard and fast into contact as this young gun.
It seriously looks like he enjoys levelling his opponent – whether it be a crunching tackle or unstoppable surge to the try line.
He was a standout in Ipswich State High’s Walters Cup side this year, scoring hat-tricks, dominating with his full pace charges into the defensive line, and just running riot up the middle.
He’s full of heart, puts in 110 per cent, makes courageous plays and has great game awareness.
OGDEN GEORGE
Year 11 Ogden George is a Goodna Eagle junior, who has just reached the end of a two-year Academy contract with the Canterbury Bulldogs.
The 17-year-old has good footwork, a great change of direction and is one of many exciting young Jets coming through the ranks.
SAIFITI JUNIOR SAIFITI
Goodna’s Safiti is a fullback weapon but, he can play elsewhere – it really doesn’t matter position he plays, he will still make an impact.
He takes tough carries and pops up all over the park, just the player you want sweeping in from the back.
TALON BIDDLE
Biddle is an Eddies’ boy who can play both league and union.
He plays his club footy for Ipswich and comes into this pre-season more than ready to make a statement with the young talent boasting a great step off the mark.
TAYSHON FOLEY
Foley is an Ipwsich State High product affiliated with the Canterbury Bulldogs.
We didn’t see much of him this year but there’s no question mark on his talent.
TYLER PECKHAM HARRIS
Talk about a golden patch of form – Peckham-Harris was a finals series sensation for Ipswich State High with his two-try effort in the semi-final a moment he and his family will cherish.
Although he is small, the dynamic fullback uses his build to his advantage by ducking and weaving, dancing and stepping at the line.
The Jets will be in good hands with Peckham-Harris at the back, especially if he brings his Langer Trophy and Mal Meninga Cup form from this year.
VOLONTE BARUANI
Baruani was brilliant returning the ball from the back in the Walters Cup competition this year.
He had countless carries giving Ipswich great field position, played the ball in the middle of the paddock to give his teammates room to move and his mistake-free game also flew under the radar.
IPSWICH JETS CYRIL CONNELL CHALLENGE TRAINING SQUAD
XZAVIER TIMOTEO
Timoteo will look like a man among boys in the Cyril Connell Challenge.
The Springfield junior led from the front all year, scoring tries and putting on big hits in defence.
He can play both league and union at a high level and he will be an enforcer for the Jets with his big frame and physicality sure to leave bruises on the shoulders of his rivals.
TJ SAUASO
Year 8 TJ Sauaso, brother of Samson and star rookie Shalom, will be an exciting player to keep an eye on in 2023.
If he has half the tricks Shalom and Samson have up their sleeves then opponents will not know what’s coming.
HARRY VIDLER
Harrison Vidler won the Fassifern Bombers’ under-14 Most Outstanding Player award in only his second season playing rugby league.
Expect even more improvement from the Bomber as he mixes it with this talented Jets squad.
LYRIC RUSKA
Norths Tiger Lyric Ruska is a hard-running second rower, who just never stops toiling.
He is strong and will lift the team with his tireless effort holding out the attack.
JOSIAH GREY
Grey is a Springfield junior, who will make an impact at lock.
He has great leadership qualities and leading by example is his forte with a high work rate and gutsy defence being trademarks of his.
INNOCENT BARUANI
We haven’t seen Innocent Baruani in action but we will use his older brothers as an indication of his ability.
Velonte and Kulu of Ipswich and Munga of Keebra Park State High all had brilliant years playing school footy and there’s no doubt Innocent will put into play some of what we have seen from them.
The Baruani brothers are quick, unselfish, team players who expertly return the ball from the back.
FINN KENDALL
Kendall is a tall, fast and versatile young back who can really score the ball.
He is an Ipswich Grammar boy, who we might see in the firsts as well as the Cyril Connell Challenge.
COREY ELDER
Elder was a masterful halfback for the Redbank Bears this year in the Ipswich Rugby League’s (IRL) under-15 competition.
The youngster has a cheeky chip kick to go along with his excellent goalkicking ability.
On one occasion this season he steered his team to victory over Brothers using his prowess with the boot.
COOPER CRACKNELL
Cracknell has a freakish ability to keep the play alive and get the ball free with sneaky offloads in contact.
A handful of the time it pays off with a try out of nowhere, the Queensland Schoolboy select executing his offloads with care and precision.
It’s worth noting the backrower is a fearless ball carrier and an excellent leader in the defensive line.
As such, he has a scholarship with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
BERAKAH TUIFAASISINA
Tuifaasisina is big and strong, with the body shape to pile on the pain in the forward pack.
He brings suffocating defence to the table along with plenty of ‘ticker’.
IPSWICH JETS COLTS TRAINING SQUAD
SAMSON SAUASO
Sauaso played his junior footy for Springfield as a halfback before finding his way as a prop, a position where he casts a powerful presence.
The Ipswich State High Old Boy will bring Mal Meninga Cup, Langer Trophy and Colts experience with him as well as great leadership.
KY RASHLEIGH
Rashleigh is from the Granite Belt town of Stanthorpe, a country region with rich links to Marist College Ashgrove.
He is a Marist Old Boy of 2021, playing two seasons in their First XV and First XIII.
He’s an exciting player sure to get the crowd on their feet with his goose step, strength in contact and instinctual playmaking ability.
Don’t expect too many to pass by his defence at inside centre.
BENJAMIN PULA-FATU
Pula-Fatu will fit right in at the Jets with the Ipswich Grammar forward boasting size, strength and dominance.
He is another cross-code talent, who mixes it with the best in the GPS Rugby competition and even the under-18 Queensland Reds team.
He will drive the Jets to the winner’s post with powerful running and physicality.
L J POKI POKI
Pokipoki was the 2022 Tyson Lofipo Emerging Jet of the year.
He played superbly in the Colts competition, made his Hostplus Cup and Cook Islands Debut and was rewarded with an opportunity to showcase his talent to the Sydney Roosters.
This came in the form of pre-season training with their SG Ball and Jersey Flegg teams.
MOSES JONES
Jones, the brother of Wallaby great Quade Cooper, will bring years of rugby union experience to the Colts team in 2023.
He was fly half for Brisbane State High and since graduating in 2019 has been a standout for Sunnybank in their colts side.
He is sound defensively, has an excellent kicking game and can play multiple positions in the backline.
JAMES FRAZER
Last but certainly not least is one of our favourite Ipswich State High footballers in James Frazer.
It was round one of the Langer Trophy season against competition powerhouses Keebra Park, where Frazer put on a clinic with his try-scoring raids out of five-eighth.
He was the catalyst to the best schoolboy rugby league side we have seen in years.
He does his job without fuss and makes his tackles.
“That is one of James’ great strengths,’’ coach Josh Bretherton said.
“He is a good half, but he is a very strong defender as a half and has been an excellent asset to us with his defensive effort.’’
He can kick for goal, as well as ace cross-field kicks in the air and grubber kicks in general play.
HARRY MIDGLEY
Harry Midgley, an Old Boy of St Edmund’s College, was a standout player in the AIC Rugby competition and if he brings his relentless attitude from his 2020 campaign then he will be a force for the Jets.
CAMERON BUNDOCK
Bundock is a winger with flair – he has speed, gets involved in almost every play and scores plenty of tries.
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