Queensland’s top touch footy talents set to star at National Youth Championships
The largest National Youth Championships on record has attracted 122 teams as top teen touch footy talents flock to the Sunshine Coast for the four-day carnival. These are the players to watch
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The largest National Youth Championships on record will begin on Wednesday with 122 teams of teenage touch footy talent flocking to the Sunshine Coast for the four-day carnival.
Touch footy players have come from across the country to take on the championships, which start Wednesday and culminate in finals this weekend.
Touch footy has been a proven breeding ground of outstanding NRL talents, with the likes of Benji Marshall and Scott Prince having thrived in the format.
Here are some of the top Queensland talents to keep an eye out for.
Central Queensland
Samantha Hancock
Team: QSST under-18 girls
Position: Link
Comment: Speed to burn with a great passing game and ability to read the game well.
Lilla Pratt
Team: QSST under-18 girls
Position: Middle
Comment: Solid all-round game, strong in defence and an ever-present threat in attack.
Clancy Hohn
Team: Queensland under-18 boys
Position: Middle
Comment: Australian rep in red-hot form. The complete package who always puts in the hard yards.
Liam Barnes
Team: Queensland under-18 boys
Position: Middle
Comment: Australian rep who is a great student of the game. A genuine workhorse who can throw a great long ball.
Maddy Johns
Team: CQ Bulls under-12 girls
Position: Link
Comment: A major contributor to the Capricornia 12 girls being crowned state champs, and rewarded with Queensland selection. Has great vision and strength.
Sunni Chopping
Team: CQ Bulls under-12 girls
Position: Middle
Comment: Small in stature, Chopping outlasts her opponents with her gutsy, never-say-die attitude. Was also part of the victorious Capricornia 12 girls team, earning Queensland selection.
Ronan Ramsay
Team: CQ Bulls under-12 boys
Position: Link
Comment: A young gun with plenty of potential. Was Player of the Final in Rockhampton’s win at the Junior State Cup.
Geordie Wakeman
Team: CQ Bulls under-12 boys
Position: Middle
Comment: A player who loves the game and thrives on the challenge, always giving 100 per cent.
Charli Hardy
Team: CQ Bulls under-14 girls
Position: Middle
Comment: A little star who makes a big impression every time she takes the field. A tireless worker and good organiser who inspires her teammates.
Millie Price
Team: CQ Bulls under-14 girls
Position: Middle
Comment: A team player with a selfless attitude, Price was rewarded for her efforts with selection in the Queensland 15 schoolgirls team this year.
Ollie Hinds
Team: CQ Bulls under-14 boys
Position: Middle
Comment: Equally impressive in defence and attack. Mixes it with the big boys, playing in the Rockhampton A-grade men’s division.
Eli Landsberg
Team: CQ Bulls under-14 boys
Position: Middle
Comment: Has all the skills, good leadership qualities and a great understanding of the game. Is finetuning his talent playing in the Rockhampton A-grade men’s competition.
Bronson Carlos
Team: CQ Bulls under-16 boys
Position: Middle
Comment: Reads the game like a book. Very fit and prides himself on his work ethic, preparing well for every game.
Chayce Bayles
Team: CQ Bulls under-16 boys
Position: Middle
Comment: Hard worker with plenty of skills. Can change a game with his vision and ability to read the play.
Kayla Vella
Team CQ Bulls under-16 girls
Position; Link
Comment: Was part of the winning Capricornia 15 girls team, going on to earn Queensland selection. Vella is a workhorse and key defender.
Eli Goodwin
Team: CQ Bulls under-16 girls
Position: Wing
Comment: Goodwin was an integral part of the successful Capricornia 15 girls team, and was selected in the Queensland team. Has a great work ethic and is very dedicated.
Tahlia Shuker
Team: Hunter Hornets under-18 girls
Position: Middle
Comment: Australian and Queensland underage rep following in the footsteps of her legendary father Gavin. Has a thorough understanding of the game, good organisational skills and impressive go-forward.
Curtis Seierup
Team: CQ Bulls under-18 boys
Position: Link
Comment: Determined and driven with a never-say-die attitude. Has a great passing game.
Tommy Green
Team: CQ Bulls under-18 boys
Position: Middle
Comment: Can blow a game open with his blistering speed and deceptive runs. His positional play is outstanding.
Connor Guley
Team: CQ Bulls under-18 boys
Position: Link/middle
Comment: Team captain who always leads from the front. A team man whose versatility is a real asset. Does the little things well and never stops trying.
Mackay/Whitsundays
Mia Rovelli
Club: Tigers
Position: Middle
Rovelli was selected for the under-12 North Queensland Tropical Cyclones side. When she lines up for Tigers in Mackay Touch however she plays under-14s and b-grade women's. Her competitive edge and will to win is what sets her apart.
Learnie Scott
Position: Wing
Club: St Pat’s College
Scott’s interest in touch footy has picked up this season, leading her to playing open-age matches and culminating in selection for the National Youth Championships. She’s set to represent Cyclones under-12 girl’s side, in what will be her first appearance at the championships. Her speed is her greatest asset.
Ethan Mooney
Club: Tigers
Position: Link/wing
He usually lines up in the middle for Tigers, but Ethan will feature more on the outside for the Tropical Cyclones in the under-12 A boys side in his second time at the National Youth Championships. He loves the speed of the game.
Samuel Baira
Club: Tigers
Position: Middle
Sam is captaining the under-12 A boys Tropical Cyclones side, which is unsurprising given his strength as a communicator. It’s also his second time at the National Youth Championships, and he’s represented Mackay District School Sports in touch for two years.
Jade Geiger
Club: Tigers
Position: Middle
Jade Geiger is a hard working, hard running middle player. She enjoys the physicality & endurance that’s needed to play the middle role. She’ll line up for the under-14 A girls side, and has played North Queensland since under-12s.
Vitea Parter
Club: Waridube
Vitea is the captain of the under-14 B girls Cyclones side. She started her career as a middle player, but has slowly found her way into the link position due to her hard running, support play & communication skills. Has played touch since age nine.
Zoe Goodes-Stibbards
Club: Wolves
Zoe’s remarkable speed and agility perfectly complement the demands of the touch footy. Her journey in touch began at the young age of 10, and she made the under-14 B girls Cyclones team at the National Youth Championships.
Chelsea Webster
Club: Tigers
Position: Middle
This will be Chelsea’s first time at the National Youth Championships, and she has a bright future ahead of her given she’s relatively new to touch football. Chelsea puts her team first in every aspect, takes the hard carries and defensive touches when the team needs it. She’ll line up for the Cyclones under-14 B girls side.
Darcy Cabassi
Club: Tigers
Position: Middle
Darcy has good hands and is speedy through the middle. He can also read the play well and put other kids into holes. Is representing the Cyclones under-14 A boys side.
Isaac McFarlane
Club: Wolves
Position: Link
McFarlane’s a team player that loves team spirit. His greatest strength on the touch field is the cut-out pass, and he’s also a talented rugby league halfback. Won gold at the state schoolboys championships this year too with the Capricornia side. Will play for the Cyclones under-14 A boys.
Hayden Murry
Club: Tigers
Hayden has reached the National Youth Championships for the first time, and will line up for the Cyclones under-14 B boys team.
Riley Sampson
Club: Tigers/Wolves
Position: Link
What Riley lacks in size, he gains in speed. He loves to run from half and has represented the Mackay Thunder since under-10s in representative teams. Selected in the under-14 B Cyclones side, this will be his second appearance at the National Youth Championships.
Madison Mooney
Club: Tigers
Madi’s speed, knowledge, ball skills & explosive power has helped her cement her spot in the Mackay A-grade competition. She also represented Capricornia at the state championships this year, and featured in the Cowboys Q Youth Academy team on the Gold Coast last year. Will line up for the Cyclones under-16 girls A team.
Claire Murry
Club: Tigers
A player who thrives in competitive environments, Claire is set to represent North Queensland for the second year running. She’ll line up for the Cyclones under-16 B girls side, and is also the brother of Hayden.
Coby Cabassi
Club: MSP
Position: Link/middle
The older brother of Darcy, Coby’s really good with his hands and reading the play. He’s quick and has a good left step, and plays men’s A and B-grade. Will line up for the Cyclones under-16 A boys side.
Lanie Hazeltine
Club: Raiders
Position: Middle/link
Hailing from the Whitsundays, Lanie’s the first player to represent Whitsunday touch at the National Youth Championships in close to a decade. She’s set to represent the under-12 girls Cyclones side. She’s fast, and her greatest strength is her ability to read the game and her positioning.
Cairns
Paityn Oberleuter
Age: 14
Affiliate: Cairns
First time representing NQ, a developing player who will be looking to gain experience at the championship.
Jett Porta
Age: 14
Affiliate: Gordonvale
Also represented in 2021 and 2022
Jayden Veronese
Age: 14
Affiliate: Gordonvale
Also represented in 2021 and 2022
Case Durighello
Age: 14
Affiliate: Gordonvale
Also represented in 2021
14 Girls
Lanaya Lively
Age: 13
Affiliate: Gordonvale
Lanaya has excellent attacking prowess. She instinctively finds the gaps and is able to score tries regularly.
Lily Singleton
Age 13
Affiliate: Gordonvale
Lily is a strong defender with the ability to lift her team through sheer enthusiasm and determination. From a Rugby League family, touch footy has come naturally to her from a young age.
Tanna Murphy
Age 13
Affiliate: Gordonvale
Tanna is a strong competitor who will sacrifice for the benefit of the team. She is a physically imposing athlete who has the agility to run and support her teammates.
12 Boys
Kieren Smith
Age 12
Position: Middle/Link
Affiliate: Gordonvale
Kieren is a versatile player who has an array of weapons at his disposal. He possesses strong vision, high IQ and a determination and diligence to bring his hard work to training and game day.
Kaynen Robati
Age 11
Position: Middle
Affiliate: Gordonvale
Kaynen always gets his eyes up early and breaks down defences. A cunning competitor who rises to the occasion, he reads the game well and brings his all to training as well as game day.
Blaze Murphy
Age: 11
Position: Link
Affiliate: Gordonvale
A fantastic reader of the game and of the opposition capable of executing long passes. Blaze is a strong competitor with the ability to draw defenders and execute passes at the right time.
Brax Way
Age: 11
Position: Middle
Affiliate: Gordonvale
Brax is a fierce worker who isn’t afraid to assert himself in the contest. His vision across the field has helped develop his playmaking skills to get the best out of his team.
Bailey Sheahan
Age: 12
Position: Link
Affiliate: Gordonvale
Bailey is a strong, reliable defender from a rugby league background. He is capable of being a dangerous option on offence who is another diligent worker with a strong read of play.
Lewis Williams
Age: 11
Position: Middle
Affiliate: Gordonvale
Lewis is a relentless player who always puts his body on the line for the team. He has a very strong running background which has given him the engine to consistently give 100% and run out the game.
12 Girls
Mackenna Fisher
Age: 12
Position: Middle
Affiliate: Gordonvale
Mackenna is a smart player who is capable of executing attacking plays to a high level. An all-round strong player who consistently gets the fundamentals right.
Bianca Aiken
Age: 12
Position: Middle
Affiliate: Gordonvale
Bianca acceleration and breakaway speed is a key reason she’s one to watch for the future.
She brings the best out her teammates and plays the game with passion.
Ruby Pender
Age: 12
Affiliate: Gordonvale
Position: Middle
Ruby has a great attitude towards training and has a strong tank to play consistently for the entire game. She holds her own game to a high standard but is encouraging to her teammates.
Pirates:
Name: Grace Anderson
Age: 18
Position: Middle
Team/Club: Cyclones 18s / Cairns team is Vipers Womens A Grade
Grace has a great attitude to want to perform to the best of her ability at all times. Her speed off the mark and ability to maintain her speed are her best attributes.
Name: Ky Stammers
Age: 16
Position: Middle
Team/Club: Cyclones 16 Boys / Cairns team is Spice Girls Mens 1
Ky’s knowledge of the game is what allows him to thrive in competitions. He is a well liked teammate with a competitive nature, who also has an impressive long ball on his resume.
Name: Billy Helion
Age: 16
Position: Middle
Team/Club: Cyclones 16 Boys / Cairns team is Vipers Mens 1
Billy is great on his feet and particularly loves defence. He really enjoys the team camaraderie and wants to help his teammates however he can.
GOLD COAST
Oliver Flaherty
SQ Sharks 12A
Wing
Oliver has been playing Touch since he was 5 years old. 2023 has seen Oliver qualify for Junior State Cup with Gold Coast Touch 12A Boys. He competes in All Schools Touch with Benowa State High School’s Red Backs Under 13’s Team where he is also a Sports Excellence student. Oliver is a hardworking winger who loves the game and being part of a team.
Legend Gentles
Middle/Link
Legend took to the field at 4 years and never looked back. He has been playing club reps since 7yrs old. He is a current Gold Coast touch rep. He has played for South Coast 10-12yr boys for 3yrs, becoming captain in 2023 & leading his team to an undefeated win at QSST Touch champs. He recently captained the QSST 12 boys team to a gold medal win over NSW at the Australian School Sport Touch Champs in Darwin.
Kelsey McLaren
Sharks Girls 12 A
Middle
Since moving to QLD in 2019 and first starting to play touch mid way through 2020, Kelsey has represented Sharks and Palm Beach Stingrays in both A teams 2023, 2022 and 2021. She attends PBC and this year was selected to represent the 12 girls South Coast School team where they made the GF, coming 2nd in QLD. From this carnival Kelsey was selected as a shadow player in the 12 girls QLD school girls side. Kelsey’s key attributes would be her strong knowledge of the game, competitiveness, her ability to organise the team both in attack and defence, positive attitude, ball playing and her low dives on sweeper plays (C1 and C7).
Abby Adair
Sharks Girls 12 A
Middle
Abby is quietly determined, quick off the mark and a strong defensive player. She has been selected for Palm Beach rep since she was 9, SQBD Sharks 12B girls in 2022 at NYC, All Nations Touch U12 Champions (Scotland), South Coast Touch U12 Runners Up, Junior Touch State Cup U12 Champions, National All Schools - Queensland U12 representative.
Kyden Riley
Link
Redlands Touch Football Association
2022 South Queensland Sharks Under 14 B team and 2021 Met East representative. An exciting player of the future, has all the confidence and skills to make the side this year as a link. Kyden is a great mover of the ball whether he is running or passing.
Oceiana Graham
U16 Girls
Middle/Link
Blessed with great vision and a playmaking ability that defies her years, Oceiana Graham surged through the ranks to be chosen in the Queensland team at just 14. Adept at setting up opportunities for her teammates or scoring herself, she works really hard on her game and has a big future in the sport.
Skylah Samson
Sharks u16 girls 2023
Link
“I fell in love with the game of Touch last year, when I started playing Reps. I‘m a player that drives hard but there is no greater feeling like going out in the field and playing the game you love with the girls that you can now call your family. Honours/ Achievements. I have been fortunate enough to have been selected for the following: Sharks U15 girls touch 2022 Sharks U16 girls touch 2023 South coast u18s girls Touch Queensland country rugby union team 2022 and won the Championship. Queensland country 2023 we play in September. I was selected for Ohana Hogs Rugby 7s team to play at the worlds all schools Rugby tournament to be played in New Zealand in December. I am also fortunate enough to be offered a place in the Gold Coast future Titans female Rugby League academy 2023.”
Lacey McLaren
U16 Sharks
Link/ middle
Great footwork, strong runner with speed, solid mid field & line attack. Lacey plays a running game and uses her speed to run from half, she has a great right to left ball and has extremely solid defensive shape. She has made the Sth Coast U15 team 2021-2023, also made the QLD 2023. She has represented Palm Beach Stingrays and SEQ Sharks at NYC for the past 3 years.
Murphy Phillips
Link
Palm Beach Touch Football Association
One of the best young players coming through the Touch Football program earning himself a spot in the Queensland school Under 15’s team at the age of 14. Murphy also received MVP from his Sharks teammates at NYC in 2022 as well receiving player of the final in the 2022 Queensland All Schools grand final which he had an integral part in his team's victory. Well known for his long ball pass.
Lennix Teika
Link
Has just turned 17 however has been a representative player through all the ages for Gold Coast, Sharks, Queensland & recently playing for Australia in the Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup. Lennix has superb ball skills, is a team player, quick out of half & has great speed.
Levi Fein
Link
Palm Beach Touch Football Association
An extremely talented player and also an extremely hard trainer which allows his game to continually improve. A great rucker of the ball, sets up from half extremely well, has a great step and has no trouble running through from half.
Cambel Hartley
Wing
Played Sharks since u14’s (National Champs ‘23), Palm Beach Rep 2016-2022. In 2023 he played JSC for Gold Coast in U18s where they placed runners up. Cambel is a hard worker, loves the game and the friendships he makes.
Dylan May
Wing
Gold Coast 16’s & 20s. South Coast U18’s. Sharks U16 and U18s over the past two years. Dylan currently plays men's division one Metro Cup. He is a very passionate and resilient player. Excellent in defence. After snapping his patellar tendon in 2020 playing touch, Dylan is more determined than ever to reach his goals.
Brooke Bray
U14 Girls Development
Middle/ link
Brooke has exceptional touch IQ and has good speed. During Junior State Cup, Brooke represented Palm Beach in the Under 14 girls A team.
TOWNSVILLE
Quaid Smith
Team: NQ U12 Boys
Position: Middle
Quaid has been playing touch since he was six years old playung under-7s. He represented the NQ Schools U12 team this year and represented Townsville Touch at the Junior State Cup in Rockhampton.
Estella Smith
Team: NQ U14 Girls
Position: Middle
Like her younger brother Quaid, Estella represented both NQ Schools and Townsville Touch in 2023. The siblings both play locally for Sharks Touch.
Teesha Edwards
Team: NYC U18
Position: Link
Edwards has been playing touch since she was 11 and has represented the Cyclones the whole way through, highlighted by becoming national champions in 2021.
She is a member of the Aussie Junior Squad and has a very bright future in the sport.
Anthony Iorangi
Team: NYC U18
Position: Link
Iorangi has more than 10 years experience in the sport and this is his second year playing for the Cyclones U18 team after alsso representing NQ in U12, U14 and U16.
Elka Sheppard
Team: U12
Position: Middle / Link
Elka Sheppard is 11 years old and started playing touch football at the age of six. This year, she has represented Townsville Saints at Junior State Cup and was selected in NQ Schoolgirls 10-12 years.
Farrah Sheppard
Team: U14
Position: Middle / Link
Farrah Sheppard is 14 years old and started playing touch football at the age of six. This year, she has represented St Margaret Mary’s College at All Schools, Townsville Saints at Junior State Cup and NQ Schoolgirls 13-15 years.
Matthew Bowen
Team: U12 Boys
Position: Link
This is Matthew’s first year playing for Cyclones and he’s pretty excited for another carnival coming off a win for his club team Brothers in the junior state cup north. Was also a U12 NQ Schoolboys rep in 2023.
Diaz Bowen
Team: U14 Girls
Position: Link
Diaz has been playing touch since she was six and has represented the NQ Schoolgirls, but this is her first year playing for the Cyclones.
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