20 of Mackay’s most exciting sporting talents aged 20 and under to watch in 2024
From AFLW, NRLW and international stars, to baby-faced senior premiership players, these are the up and coming names you need to know in Mackay sport in 2024. Discover the full list.
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From Cathy Freeman to an abundance of rugby league greats and everything in between, the Mackay region is a sporting mecca that has produced some of Australia’s finest athletes.
But who are the stars of tomorrow gracing our local sporting fields?
In no particular order, we’ve profiled a snapshot of the region’s most exciting 20 and under sporting talents to watch in 2024.
Claire Colwill (Hockey)
At 20, Colwill just qualifies for this list, and she was just about the first name penned down with good reason.
The Arsenal product made her Hockeyroos debut in May of 2022 and has already registered 34 appearances and two goals with Australia’s premier female hockey side. At the end of 2023, Colwill travelled to Chile to represent Australia at the U21 Junior women’s World Cup. Her success would come as no surprise to many, given she played A-grade from a very young age and figured in effectively very representative side possible growing up.
Jordan Bliss (Hockey)
Twenty-year-old Norths goalkeeper Jordan Bliss is in a very similar boat to Colwill when it comes to an abundance of junior representative experience, and grew up playing alongside the Hockeyroo. The campaign ended on a high note in Chile, with a 2-0 victory over Germany seeing the Aussies finish fifth.
Libby Surha (Rugby league)
Libby Surha has been making waves in the rugby league scene. She earnt the opportunity to represent the Queensland U19s in State of Origin earlier this year. That game was preceded by an appearance on Suncorp Stadium, with Surha representing Australia’s PM’s XIII. After being crowned Mackay Cutters rookie of the year in the 2023 BMD premiership season, the second-rower notched an NRLW debut with the Cowboys in round six and even scored a try, but a shoulder injury would curtail the remainder of her campaign. Surha was also a talented hockey player and previously represented underage Queensland sides for both the indoor and outdoor variations of the sport.
Lily Peacock (Rugby league)
Lily Peacock would register an NRLW debut the week after Surha in round seven, finishing the season with three appearances for the Cowboys. The Brahmans junior also figured alongside her NRLW teammate in the Queensland U19 women’s State of Origin side.
Emily Bella (Rugby league)
The niece of famed Origin star Martin Bella, Emily could well fill his shoes on the rugby league. She, along with Peacock and Surha, figured in the Queensland U19 State of Origin side. Despite her youth, already has a BMD premiership under her belt with the North Queensland Gold Stars as well as a hat-trick in the competition. Is also one of the standout players for RLMD A-grade side Sarina.
Kai Simon (Rugby league)
The powerful centre is one of many Mackay prospects to hold a Cowboys development contract, and he earned a position as a replacement player for the Queensland U19s State of Origin side in 2023.
Cohen Frith (Aussie rules)
One of the brightest young prospects in AFL Mackay, Cohen Frith had a 2023 season to remember. At just 16-years-of-age, Frith etched his name into the North Mackay Saints history books as a senior premiership player, while he also tied for his U17s best and fairest.
Ryleigh Wotherspoon (Aussie rules/cricket)
Wotherspoon, 19 turned heads on AFLW draft night when she was taken at pick 12 by the Melbourne Demons, despite having played just five games of Aussie rules since she was 11. Arguably Mackay’s most talented athlete, Wotherspoon is also proficient in a number of sports, having represented her state in softball, soccer, and cricket - a sport in which she won the coveted Australian Country Championships with Queensland just last week. In her younger days Wotherspoon was twice crowned Mackay District School Sport’s Junior Sportsperson of the Year, and also won young player of the year in the 2020 season of women’s premier football in Brisbane.
Alana Gee (Aussie rules)
Still only 19-years-of-age, Mackay product Alana Gee will be gearing up for a third AFLW season with the Gold Coast Suns in 2024. The start of her AFLW career hasn’t been easy going, with her maiden season in the red and yellow hampered by back fractures. The North Mackay Saints junior would overcome the injury last season however, making her debut and registering seven games and a goal for the Suns. It’s a foundation she’ll be hoping to build upon alongside fellow Mackay talents Wallis Randell and Lauren Bella this season.
Blake Potter (Futsal)
Despite having played futsal for less than a year, a 13-year-old Blake Potter earnt selection into an underage Australian side that travelled to Spain to compete in the World Cup in 2023. In a busy year for the teen, he also embarked on a trip to the UK where he took on some of the world’s biggest football academies in the outdoor game.
Ciara Storch (Boxing)
One of the state’s most promising boxing prospects, Ciara Storch tasted success overseas twice in 2023, tasting success on both occasions. He boxing resume reads Oceania champion, two-time Australian champion, five-time Golden Gloves champion, and six-time State champion, while she also won her bout at the Rip City Fall Classic Tournament in America in October. Remarkably, Storch hasn’t lost a fight in six years and she was also a Junior Sports Award finalist at this year’s Queensland Sports Awards.
Monique Bobongie (Basketball)
Monique’s meteoric basketball rise was capped by being awarded Basketball Queensland’s Female Player of the Year at the conclusion of 2023. This year alone Bobongie led the Meteorettes to silver at the Queensland State Championships, before lining up for Queensland North at U18 Nationals in April. She also had the opportunity to represent Australia at the FIBA U16 Asia Championships and the U17 Women’s World Cup. The young star is one of the region’s most promising basketball talents.
Lilly Shepherd (Tennis)
Shepherd had an exceptional year on the tennis court in 2023, culminating in her qualification into the Australian Junior Tour Masters in December as one of the country’s top junior U16 girls, as per points accumulated throughout the season. The tournament was staged at Melbourne Park with the winner earning a spot in the junior Australian Open. Her wins last year alone included the Queensland Development Series Finals, the Queensland State Age Junior Championships (singles and doubles), the Sarina Age Championships (singles and doubles), and the Burdekin Open Age Championships. It’s also worth noting it was the second year running she had won the Queensland State Age title.
Dylan Secher (BMX)
Mackay and District BMX’s very own Dylan Secher cemented his claim as the country’s top 12-year-old BMX rider at last year’s national championships in Shepparton. In 2022, Secher travelled Scotland to race in the World Titles where he would finish second in the cruiser category (24-inch wheels), while he narrowly missed the finals for his age on regular wheels, coming fifth in his semi-final when the top-four progressed.
Manaia Hauiti (Rugby union)
If he hadn’t already, Manaia Hauiti announced himself on the Mackay Rugby Union scene in the 2023 grand final, earning player of the match honours at just 18 years of age as the Proserpine-Whitsunday Raiders triumphed over the Moranbah Bulls. A name to keep an eye firmly fixed on in years to come. Also figured for the Central Queensland Bushrangers U19 side.
Cam Tomerini (Cricket)
The 16-year-old Brothers first-grade tweaker was afforded the experience of a lifetime when he trained with and sub-fielded for Australia A when they took on New Zealand A in Mackay last year. Tomerini was able to bowl the country’s best batsmen, even dismissing Cameron Bancroft in the nets. Has 25 wickets at an average of 23.88 to date this season, and has claimed three and fur-wicket hauls in first-grade.
Jack Law (Cricket)
At just 15 years of age, Jack Law had a red-hot start to the Mackay cricket season. Within the space of a week he made his first grade senior debut for Brothers and also registered a representative century for the Mackay-Whitsunday U15s. Has plundered over 700 runs in 31 matches to date this season, and also had a third grade century to his name.
Toby Rule (Athletics)
Toby Rule performed strongly at the Australian All-Schools Championships to win bronze in the U17 3000m in December. Among other medals at the North Queensland Championships earlier in the year, Toby won gold in the mile and the 3000m for his age group. One of Mackay’s brightest running prospects, along with older brother Oliver who has shared similar success in the middle-distance space and took out the inaugural 10,000m event at North Queensland Championships.
James Galea (Athletics)
Throwing specialist James Galea had an exceptionally strong North Queensland Championships, taking home four gold and two silver medals. The Olympic discus hopeful previously competed at the U18 Oceania Championships, and is eyeing a spot at this year’s U20 World Championships in Peru. James is one of three generations of Galea’s competing for Mackay Athletics Club.
Mikayla Webb (Athletics)
The talented Mackay Athletics Club sprinter capped off a strong year in 2023 by representing Queensland at the Australian All-Schools Championships. Competing in Perth, she would run a personal best in the U17 100m to pick up a silver medal, and finish fifth in both the U17 200m and the u18 4x100m relay. Earlier at the North Queensland Championships she would pick up three medals across her fancied sprinting events.
Other names to keep an eye on
Jaxon Purdue (rugby league), Xavier Kerrisk (rugby league), Will Shears (rugby league), Kayne Smith (rugby league), Jake Bryan (rugby league), Bailey Anderson (rugby league), Cohen Jackson (rugby league), Adam McSherry (rugby league), Declan Grady (rugby league), Grange Womal (rugby league), Norman Campbell (rugby league), Sam Anderson (rugby league), Nehemiah Wuatai-Davis (rugby league), Jaffahl Skillington (rugby league/rugby union) Jen Kimber (Aussie rules/rugby league), Josh Wilson (tennis), Kayce Hoani-Vincent (pole vault), Oliver Rule (running), Haiden Mellifont (hockey), Kaleb Mayfield (hockey), Sam Riggs (hockey), Amarco Doyle (basketball) and Max Cain (basketball).
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