Five Sunshine Coast school rugby league players selected to represent Queensland
A host of rising Sunshine Coast rugby league talents have reached glowing state level heights with a five players from the region gaining Queensland School selection. Read what they had to say.
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Five school rugby league players have reached the glowing heights of Queensland representation after their performances for the Sunshine Coast at the state champs last month.
The players from Caloundra State High School and Mountain Creek State High School were selected after their efforts representing the
region at the respective male and female tournaments.
Both male and female, junior and senior Queensland teams will undergo a series of training camps before heading to the Australian secondary schools rugby league championships in Coffs Harbour and Townsville.
In 2024, Storm signed Jai Bowden (Mountain Creek SHS) and Dolphins signed Zac Garton (Caloundra SHS) flew the flag for the region while Garton also made the Australian schoolboys side.
Prior to the National Championships we caught up with each player to see what they had to say about their exciting selections.
Under 14-15 Boys
Chase Stewart (Mountain Creek SHS)
Talented dummy half Chase Stewart will step up to a state representative level for the first time as he continues to rise through the ranks.
“I feel like I was a bit slow to get going but I thought I had a good game against Met North which helped a fair bit,” he said.
The 14-year-old, who is signed with the Melbourne Storm on a academy contract, represents the Maroochydore Swans at a junior club level.
“The whole tournament was fun, it was tough but good to play against some really good players,” he said.
“I took a fair bit away from every game so it was a good experience and then I was so stoked when I heard my name called for the Queensland team.
“It didn’t really sink in until I was in the car on the way home but I’m excited for it all.”
With touch football and oztag background, Stewart is also a keen surfer.
He said he hoped to continue to grow his skills in the coming weeks.
“The training camps will be cool to learn as much as I can and getting the chance to play New South Wales will be pretty cool,” he said.
“To come up against players I’ve never played before will be enjoyable.”
Riley Apthorpe (Mountain Creek SHS)
Another Maroochydore Swans junior, Apthorpe is continuing to impress on the footy field against some much bigger opposition.
The 15-year-old is a talented prop forward but joked he didn’t mind having a run at fullback when given the chance.
“I started off playing rugby league in Toowoomba for the Highfields Eagles before moving to the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“Schoolboys was a great experience with some very tough games of footy
“It was fun getting to know my teammates, I was very happy with my performances and how our team played.
“We were able to mix it with some of the bigger teams.”
Apthorpe is also signed to the Melbourne Storm on a academy contract.
“I was very happy and proud of myself to be selected, I couldn’t stop smiling,” he said,
“I’m looking forward to representing Queensland and testing myself against the other teams.
“Chase and I play club footy together and we work well with each other so I’m looking forward to keeping the combination going when we represent Queensland.”
Under 15-16 Girls
Lily Bain (Caloundra SHS)
Another talented attacking threat, Bain generally plays in the halves for her Caloundra Sharks club side and with the Sunshine Coast Falcons but was moved into hooker during the schoolgirls carnival.
“It was a really cool experience to play at CBUS Stadium and it was a different crew to who I usually play with but that part was also really enjoyable,” she said.
“I was very happy with my performances, the selectors actually asked me to switch to hooker midway through the tournament which is a position that’s new to me but it was good to give it a crack.”
The 16-year-old has been playing rugby league for four years, bringing with her a strong oztag background and back-to-back Queensland schoolgirls rugby 7’s selections.
She said she was very proud when she heard her name called for the Queensland side.
“I was shocked but also super happy and grateful for the opportunity,” she said.
“I feel like all of the hard work that I’ve put in has shone through.
“I’m looking forward to the experience, playing alongside new teammates and learning as much as I can from the coaching staff.”
Under 16-18 Boys
Jackson Koina (Mountain Creek SHS)
Talented number 13 Jackson Koina has had a unique journey to reach the Queensland schoolboy level, one that started as a playmaker during his junior days.
Koina, who is signed to the Brisbane Broncos on a development contract, grew up playing in the halves before making the switch to lock as a 16-year-old.
The now 17-year-old and Kawana Dolphins clubman spent seven months on the sidelines recovering from stress fractures in his back but returned to footy in late March for the Falcons Mal Meninga Cup side.
“Falcons was a different but fun dynamic compared to club footy or even schoolboys as we had so many attacking players and we tried to use them as much as possible,” he said
“For me, I enjoy setting a bit more of a platform at lock which I felt I could do at the schoolboys carnival.”
Koina showed the best of his attacking and defensive game through the middle and was proud when he was selected for the state team.
“I always like to think you’re a chance of being selected but you never really know especially when it’s a high standard of footy and there’s plenty of good players at the carnival,” he said.
“When they were reading out the team I just had so much joy to be honest.
“I’ve been able to represent the Sunshine Coast teams in under-11s, 12s, 15s and now 18s so to finally be selected for Queensland and take that next step is really cool.”
He said to be selected alongside teammate Ellyjah Brive was another nice achievement.
“To get the chance to play at an even higher level, with so many good players around me is what I’m looking forward to the most,” he said.
“I can just focus on my game, use my strengths to help the team and learn as much as possible.”
Koina has also played at second row and lock for the Broncos NRLQ side.
Ellyjah Birve (Caloundra SHS)
Livewire attacking threat Ellyjah Brive will also continue his promising rise through the grades after previously representing the Queensland under-15 team back in 2022.
The 17-year-old, who plays his club footy for the Beerwah Bulldogs, will play five-eight for the Queensland side.
“It was a good weekend, we connected with each other as the tournament went along and on the field we played some good footy,” he said.
“I did think I had played pretty well throughout the tournament but after every game there were so many opposition players that stood out.
“I was a little bit surprised when they called my name but very honoured and privileged to be able to represent Queensland again.”
Birve, who is signed to the Melbourne Storm on a development contract, said he was excited to see what more he could learn in the coming months.
“There’s a few guys that I’ve been lucky enough to play with before so it will be cool to link back up again and also meet some new players and work alongside them,” he said.
“Jackson (Koina) and I have played alongside each other in a few representative teams now and we’re close mates so it was such a good feeling when I heard his name called out as well.
“Making Queensland was a big goal for me this year but being able to get my hands on a green and gold jersey would be unreal.”
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