Superstars and cult heroes: Ipswich‘s top 20 rugby league legends since 2000
From local heroes to sporting stars at the pinnacle of their game, Ipswich has no shortage of homegrown league legends. We’ve found the 20 best players and now you can vote for your favourite here.
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Over the last 20 years, Ipswich has cultivated some of Queensland’s most talented rugby league stars.
From legendary Broncos elite Alan Langer to rising stars like Phillip Sami, Ipswich’s history has no shortage of sporting talent.
The Queensland Times has put together a list of 20 homegrown league legends who have taken to the field since 2000.
Do you agree with our list? Vote for your favourite below.
CHRIS BEATTIE
Former Ipswich Jet Chris Beattie was at the peak of his career in the early 2000s.
Beattie played for the Maroons in the 2001 and 2002 State of Origin, before taking his career international.
The icon still has his roots in Ipswich however, returning to his home turf when he can.
He told the Courier-Mail in 2017 that he still owns land in Fernvale and gets out there every weekend.
Although Beattie’s league career has reached its end, Ipswich fans still remember the big-hearted front rower as a local sporting legend.
ALI BRIGGINSHAW
Broncos captain Ali Brigginshaw has come a long way since playing footy in her Ipswich backyard.
The former Raceview and Bremer State High School student played junior rugby league with the North Ipswich Tigers, before kicking off her career in 2009, playing for the Souths Logan Magpies.
“When I first started, we were playing on little fields on the side of a road,” Brigginshaw told the Courier Mail in 2019.
Brigginshaw has since rocketed to stardom, winning numerous accolades including the Broncos Player of the Year award in 2019, two Women’s Rugby League World Cups, and three consecutive NRLW Grand Finals.
Brigginshaw has supported Ipswich’s rising stars throughout her career, and took on the role of assistant coach at Brothers Ipswich in 2019.
“I don’t mind where I play football, like a lot of people, we just love the game, whether we’re playing in Ipswich or a big stadium,” she said.
KURT CAPEWELL
Maroons star Kurt Capewell was born in Charleville, but played junior league for the North Ipswich Tigers.
The Ipswich Jets alumni attended Ipswich Grammar School in grade 11, and drew the Bronco’s eye as Ipswich Mal Meninga Cup captain in 2011.
Capewell told The Courier Mail at the time that his love of rugby league runs in the family.
As cousin of Ipswich Jets player Luke Capewell and brother of fullback Liam Capewell, it’s safe to say sporting prowess runs in his family as well.
Currently 29, Capewell recently returned to his Broncos roots, playing as a backrower in the 2022 season.
DANNY COBURN
What is an Ipswich rugby league list without the greatest jet of all – Danny Coburn.
With a whopping 258 caps next to his name and a brilliant 13 year career, Coburn stands as one of Ipswich‘s greatest rugby league legends – a Jet through-and-though.
Whether it is helping out club coaches in Christopher Ash, overseeing the progression of the teams or running water, Coburn has stayed loyal and involved post retirement.
He was and is a role model, embodying what it means to be a part of the club. Being tough, uncompromising, humble and caring – characteristics he embodied while encouraging others to follow suit.
It’s interesting to see how Coburn’s sons Lachie and Tyler are fairing with their rugby league endeavours with such a great mentor, player and father figure guiding them on their path. They are both Ipswich Jets and both very talented.
Tyler, 21, is a strong lock playing in the Hostplus Cup while Lachie, 16, played in the Meninga Cup earlier this year.
TIRESA ELIKA
What a year 2022 has been for one of Veronica White’s most promising rugby league rookies.
Tiresa Elika, from Ipswich State High School, ran out in the State of Origin III curtain raiser and put on a show.
The Brothers Ipswich junior earned her spot in the first ever Australian Schoolgirls side, which will be travelling internationally to play in September.
This puts Elika at the forefront of one of the most monumental steps for women’s rugby league.
Her hard work and recognition in the inaugural schoolgirls team will see increased participation from young girls wishing to represent Australia and encourage more and more development programs in schools.
FLEUR GINN
Brothers Ipswich is becoming one of the biggest breeding grounds for future NRLW stars, with Fleur Ginn and her QLD Schoolgirl counterparts encouraging the younger generation.
Ginn attends Canterbury College in Waterford, but was a Brothers Ipswich junior. She now plays for Logan Brothers.
Ginn was the youngest to don the Queensland 16-18 years Schoolgirls jersey on State of Origin night at just 15 years of age.
She said she was “very grateful to be a part of such a special team.”
Given how young she is, it’s likely we will be seeing much more of the talented young centre.
RELNA HOSEA
Relna Hosea is an Ipswich Brothers junior and current Goodna Eagle talent.
She is another young star who continues to bolster the communities strong rugby league reputation.
From Ipswich Girls Grammar School, Relna Hosea was another Ipswich representative to make history on State of Origin night.
She told the Queensland Times earlier this year that it meant a lot to play for the Queensland 16-18 years schoolgirls.
“It is a big thing and it makes my family and community proud,” she said.
LUKE KEARY
Luke Keary moved from his hometown of Ipswich to Parramatta aged 10, but the league star is a Queenslander through and through.
Keary grew up in Raceview idolising Ipswich icon Alfie Langer, and wanted to follow in his footsteps.
The halfback has played for the Sydney Roosters since 2017, but Queensland league fans have long been vying for the Broncos to bring Keary back on home soil.
Keary told the Courier Mail earlier this year that his extended family still lives in Ipswich, and that he chose to move back after finishing school.
Although the State of Origin eligibility rules have prevented Keary for playing for Queensland in the past, Queensland fans hope to see Keary donning a Maroon jersey before long.
KEIRON LANDER
Tough and relentless, Keiron Lander doesn’t know the word quit.
Known for never compromising his morals or values, Keiron is an inspiration to a lot of young indigenous males.
Lander was Jets captain of the all-concurring 2015 Intrust Cup team and National champs team.
He went on to coach the Jets in 2020 and 2021 — before leaving the Jets after 12 years last year.
“It will be good just to freshen up and sit back and enjoy a bit of time with family,’’ Lander told The Queensland Times at the time.
“The club has been a wonderful place for me and a big part of my life for 12 years … good memories and I’ll be looking and watching with interest and we’ll see how things unfold after that.’’
NATHANIEL NEALE
New Zealander Nathaniel Neale is captain of the Ipswich Jets, and a great leader on and off the field.
The three time QRL player of the year plays big minutes and never shies away from a challenge.
Neale is known for toughing it out through thick and thin – and even played through a fractured eye socket last year.
“You’ve got to go through tough times to come out the other side and get to the better times,’’ he told The Queensland Times at the time.
“You can’t always have it easy, your own way.’’
JOSIAH PAHULU
Josiah Pahulu is inspiring the next generation of Ipswich rugby league stars.
The Springfield Panther junior has shown how far hard work and consistency can take you.
Pahulu, a brilliant young prop from New Zealand, is steering the Ipswich SHS to a Langer Trophy championship with a promising 5-0 record.
The impact Pahulu has on rugby league youngsters around Ipswich will only continue to increase as the 18-year-old makes strides in his career.
From signing with the Gold Coast Titans, playing for the Queensland Under 19 Origin team and playing for the Australian Schoolboys, Pahulu has gone from strength to strength.
One of the Langer Trophies best is a real role model for the younger kids at Ipswich State High School wishing to one day throw on the Australian Schoolboys, Maroons and NRL jerseys.
Pahulu said his goal is to one day run out in an NRL game, but right now he will “stay working and stay focused as he knows there are always things to work on.”
MATT PARCELL
For Matt Parcell, sporting success runs in the family.
Grandson of league star Gary Parcell, Parcell currently plays as a hooker for the Hull Kingston Rovers, but his career kicked off in his hometown of Ipswich.
Parcell attended Ipswich Grammar School and played junior rugby league for the Fassifern Bombers, before being signed by the Ipswich Jets.
Parcell played for the Broncos in 2015 and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in 2016 – before taking his career international.
As Parcell soars to new heights, his hometown will celebrate how he has done his Ipswich Jets jersey proud.
MICHAEL RYAN
Former Ipswich Jets hooker Michael Ryan was at the top of his game in the 2000s.
The 41-year-old played NRL for the Broncos from 2001 to 2004, before taking his career international in 2006.
Ryan ultimately ended his sporting career to take on a role in law enforcement, but continued playing for Ipswich for fun throughout the 2010s.
“I’m enjoying it rather than getting into the competitive side of it,” he said at the time.
In 2019, Ryan joined fellow police and emergency services officers playing a September 11 memorial match in New York.
PETER RYAN
Player-turned-coach Peter Ryan is as homegrown as they come.
“I started playing for the Laidley Lions when they didn‘t have really young teams, so I played under eights for three years in a row,” Ryan told The Courier-Mail in 2014.
Ryan won first grade premiership rings with the Broncos in 1993 and 1997, and the 2001 Super 12 title.
He took on the mantle of coach in the 2000s, and worked on Wayne Bennett’s coaching staff when the Bronco’s won the 2006 premiership.
More recently, Ryan has worked as a coach for the Queensland Reds, and spent his spare time lending a hand to the Broncos.
PHILLIP SAMI
Phillip Sami turned down the Melbourne Storm to play for the Gold Coast Titans — but he got his start in his hometown, Ipswich.
The 24-year-old winger played for the Goodna Eagles before making his NRL debut in 2017.
The young gun told the Courier Mail back in 2018 that he chose to play for the Titans to be close to his family.
“My family wasn’t happy. They wanted me to go to Melbourne Storm but mum said ‘do what makes you happy’. I chose the Titans and she was happy for me,” he said.
Sami has risen to the top of his game with the Titans, who re-signed him earlier this year until the end of 2024.
SHALOM SAUSO
Shalom Sauaso is a cross-code talent with incredible rugby league and union ability.
Sauaso’s rugby league coach at Ipswich State High School Veronica White said it was a matter of what code goes after her.
The 14-year-old has recently been trending down the rugby union path; however, White believes the Gold Coast Titans Under 17’s academy will select her given just “how good she is”.
Sauaso and school friend Ariana Henderson represented Queensland earlier in the month at the Australian Schools Championships in Sydney.
Sauaso gained selection in the U16 Girls National Merit Team and was rewarded the QLD under 16 Players Player Award.
She won the Ipswich State High School Player of the Year for two consecutive years, was a nominee for the Ipswich Young Sportsperson of the Year in 2021, and is the youngest player ever to be selected to the Queensland Reds Women Academy. Indeed Sauaso has a bright future.
MARION SEVE
Centre for the Melbourne Storm Marion Seve, 27, is “as Ipswich as coal mines”.
The former Ipswich Jets player attended St Peter Claver college and got his start in league with the Ipswich Brothers.
After fighting a cancer diagnosis in 2012, Seve said he was even more determined to strive for his goals.
He signed for the Wests Tigers, before being snared by the Brisbane Broncos back in 2016.
At the time, his coach Greg Lenton, said Seve was one of the best players he’s ever mentored.
“You don’t coach kids like this. They’ve got unique special gifts and the worst thing you could do is interfere with that,” said Mr Lenton.
“You put them in place on the football field, sit back and watch the music.”
Since signing with the Melbourne Storm in 2018, Seve has been doing his hometown proud – and is always happy to return to his old stomping ground.
CRAIG SMITH
Ex-Knights player Craig Smith may have been born in New Zealand, but he was introduced to rugby league in Ipswich.
Smith attended Ipswich Grammar School, before kicking off his career as a prop for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
He represented Queensland in the 1997 State of Origin series, and played for the Illawarra Steelers, St George Illawarra and the Newcastle Knights before retiring in 2006.
More recently, Smith has taken on the mantle of coach in Newcastle.
Although Smith has settled on the blues side of the border, Queensland fans may take pride in knowing Smith got his start in Ipswich.
TREYMAIN SPRY
Young gun Treymain Spry’s sporting career was on the rise earlier this year, before he suffered an alleged assault in Fortitude Valley.
Spry was born in Ipswich and attended Ipswich High School, before signing with the Sydney Roosters in 2017.
He started playing for the Gold Coast Titans in 2020, but has recently been released from his contract and will continue playing with the Tweed He`ad Seagulls in the meantime.
VERONICA WHITE
Ipswich’s Veronica White has been one of the most influential ambassadors of women’s rugby league.
She began her journey at Brothers Ipswich and has since given back an incredible amount to the sport whether it be through establishing the game in the early 2000s or coaching the next crop of international schoolgirls more recently.
White represented Queensland and Australia, and the NRLW‘s Veronica White Medal was named in honour of how much she has done for the community.
White is a staple in women's rugby league and continues to grow the game with her dedication and passion.
She coached the Queensland Schoolgirls 16-18 years team who made history with their brilliant win over a combined NSW-ACT side before the State of Origin decider at Suncorp earlier this month.
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