A pool of 66 of the best players in Queensland cut to 18 for the 1st Grade Team of the Season

The votes are in and we’ve crowned the best first-grade player in Queensland - but rugby league takes more than one star to win. Here’s the Team of the Season as voted by you >>

The votes – all 556 of them – are in and Kawana Dolphins fullback Thomas Sly is Queensland’s best first grade rugby league player.

Sly beat-out Rockhampton Brothers back-rower Lachlan Campbell for the top gong with a late surge in voting in the final days of competition.

But rugby league is a team sport and it takes more than one star talent to win matches. Thus, News Corp has compiled an inaugural Queensland First Grade Team of the Season merit squad comprising the top vote-getters across all positions.

Read on for the full 1-18 squad of Queensland’s best club rugby league representative side.

1. Thomas Sly (Kawana Dolphins)

The former Gold Coast Titans prospect has taken his talents to the Sunshine Coast and, judging by his dominance in the vote count, has clearly not slowed down. Sly won the title of Queensland’s best 1st grade footballer with 16 per cent of the vote count. The Kawana fullback offers a perfect blend of speed and playmaking ability making him a nightmare for opposition defences.

Kawana Dolphins player Thomas Sly.

2. Taine Tuaupiki (Burleigh Bears)

Burleigh’s livewire fullback spent the majority of last season on the wing, helping the Bears to a Rugby League Gold Coast grand final berth. Heralded as one of the most exciting prospects on the Coast, Tuaupiki should see time in the Intrust Super Cup sooner rather than later. With a devastating turn of foot and prime finishing skills, he’s a great candidate on the wing.

3. Hezron Murgha (Yarrabah Seahawks)

Yarrabah’s Mr Do-it-all is Hezron Murgha, who settles into the right-centre position but could fill half of the roles in the team if called upon. That makes Murgha, one of the most naturally gifted footballers in north Queensland, an easy selection in the team.

4. Matthew Surha (Carltons Red Devils)

The Red Devils’ inspirational captain plays well above his weight and wills his teammates to do the same. With speed belied by his stature and a playmaking eye that can find gaps in just about any defence, Surha is a plug-and-play option at centre.

5. Josh McCarroll (Brothers Ipswich)

Speed is not a concern when it comes to McCarroll. The Brothers Ipswich fullback has regularly been considered one of the premier players in his local A-Grade competition and his finishing skills make him a perfect pick for the left edge.

6. Kazzi Doyle (Norths Chargers)

Chargers excitement machine Kazzi Doyle had a breakout season in 2021, joining the A-Grade ranks and immediately making a name for himself as a do-it-all playmaking threat. His combination of pass, kicking and ball running ability means defences have to respect every aspect of his game with ball in-hand.

7. Matt Duggan (Wattles Warriors)

A veteran of the Toowoomba competition, Duggan remains one of the state’s leading gamebreakers. His big game experience coupled with a devastating ability to take the line on and pick a pass makes him the premiere number seven in Queensland this season.

Matt Duggan for Wattles. Picture: Kevin Farmer

8. Joshua Harvey (Tugun Seahawks)

Everywhere he goes, Harvey wins awards – and the respect of teammates. A perennial players’ player, the Seahawks’ front-rower leaves his heart and soul on the field and there’s few big men who can do it better.

9. Dylan Hastie (Charters Towers Miners)

The Miners’ 2018 and 2019 Player of the Year, Hastie continued that form this season and made a name for himself as one of the toughest pound-for-pound players in Queensland. His service out of dummy-half is impeccable, but what makes Hastie a standout is his fierce defensive work. No one is too big to be taken down by the Miners’ gun number nine.

10. Gavin Hiscox (Yeppoon Seagulls)

The Yeppoon Seagulls stalwart is an experienced and aggressive front-rower who any coach would love to have in his side. Hiscox is the definition of a ‘set-and-forget’ player who does his job and does it incredibly well each week.

11. Lachlan Campbell (Rockhampton Brothers)

Campbell was leading the race for Queensland’s best player for a long stretch, which says something for the back-rower’s incredible ability considering the count was otherwise dominated by outside backs. ‘Workhorse’ doesn’t do Campbell justice. He’s an 80-minute player who leaves everything on the field and is just as damaging on both sides of the ball.

12. Darcy Wright (Whitsunday Brahmans)

Wright returned to the Brahmans this season and picked up where he left off at the end of 2019, after taking them to back-to-back grand finals. Regularly one of the biggest blokes on the field, Wright’s ball playing ability separates him from other big forwards. He’s another who can go all day if required.

13. Mitchell Grimes (Herbert River Crushers)

As his side was decimated by injury this season Grimes bucked the trend to play every game and led the Crushers through the finals series as one of their best players. He’ll play 80 minutes and never put a foot wrong.

14. James Poland (Runaway Bay Seagulls)

Rugby League Gold Coast’s Halfback of the Decade has been at the wheel of every successful Runaway Bay season in recent memory. His experience and leadership unmatched, Poland’s ability to play at a top level in any of the key playmaking positions makes him the perfect pick for the important bench utility role.

Runaway Bay player Jimmy Poland in action during the Gold Coast Rugby League A-Grade Grand Final against the Burleigh Bears played at CBus Stadium Photo: Scott Powick Newscorp

15. Clayton Mack (Beenleigh Pride)

One look at Mack should tell you he’s a perfect impact player. The mobile front-rower has great ball skills and a motor that keeps him involved in play after play. A nightmare to play and coach against and a valuable weapon off the bench in this side.

16. Jarrod Morfett (Southport Tigers)

‘Tough as an old boot’ is how Morfett’s coach at Southport describes the Tigers’ skipper. He plays the game at 100 miles an hour and leaves everything on the field for his team and teammates. A true leader who can play 80 minutes or provide a much-needed impact off the bench.

17. David Munro (Centrals Tigers)

The class and toughness that made him a staple for the Mackay Cutters in the Intrust Super Cup for a number of years was on display for Centrals Tigers this season. Munro’s return from a knee reconstruction started with a lot of questions but by season’s end, he had emphatically stamped himself as one of the premiere players in Townsville.

Emu Park's Travis Field scores a try.

18. Travis Field (Emu Park)

In a vote count dominated by outside backs, Field finished in the top 10 but was beat-out by Taine Tuaupiki and Josh McCarroll for a starting spot on the wing. Still, the Emu Park superstar tryscorer is without doubt a handy 18th-man to call upon if needed.

Originally published as A pool of 66 of the best players in Queensland cut to 18 for the 1st Grade Team of the Season