Melbourne Storm star Trent Loiero reflects on journey from Sunshine Coast to Queensland Maroons

With a Queensland Maroons call-up still fresh on his mind, Melbourne Storm forward Trent Loiero has opened up on his journey from the Sunshine Coast to the elite level and the key pathways the region has to offer.

Trent Loiero during a Queensland State of Origin training session at Sanctuary Cove on June 20, 2024. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Before bursting onto the NRL’s biggest stage, new Queensland Maroons addition Trent Loiero honed his skills on the Sunshine Coast and has reflected on the pathway he chose to reach the elite level.

The 23-year-old was ‘shocked’ when he received a call from Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater to join the squad for State of Origin Game two in Melbourne.

Loiero started his journey as a Kawana Dolphins junior before rising through the Sunshine Coast Falcons ranks.

During his teenage years, Loiero captained his Mountain Creek State High School Opens Gee Shield side to the 2018 title while also playing Queensland schoolboys in under-15s, Opens and the Queensland under-19 State of Origin side.

The talented second row forward joined the Melbourne Storm in 2020, making his debut the following year.

Trent Loiero pictured while playing for the Kawana Dolphins as a junior. Picture: Facebook.

He then encountered six sporadic appearances in 2021 before increasing to 17 in 2022 and a further 26 games in 2023.

This season he has played in all 14 games to date and said joining the Maroons camp last week was a dream come true.

“Obviously I was a little bit shocked to get the call up but I’ve just been trying to lay low and learn off the older boys as much as I can,” Loiero said following Melbourne’s 30-24 win over the Dolphins in round 16.

“My job is to learn and knuckle down but also to prepare the starting 17 as best I can.”

Trent Loiero during a Queensland State of Origin Training Session at Sanctuary Cove on June 22, 2024. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

Loiero has recorded six tries in his 63 NRL appearances since making his debut.

“I was in all the junior academies and representative Falcons teams from a young age so I’ve been really lucky to come through that system and have that development from a young age,” he said.

“You can play a fun but strong level of club junior footy, follow that up with Falcons and schoolboy stuff and then take that step to the Falcons first grade and more focused Storm affiliation.

“Compared to Brisbane, Gold Coast and other central areas there’s not too many players from the Sunshine Coast in the NRL but there’s a clear pathway there, it’s definitely growing and there’s great examples of how it’s happening.”

Falcons forward Trent Loiero in action in 2019. Picture: Warren Lynam.

Last week two current Sunshine Coast rising stars Mason Kira and Zac Garton ran out for the Queensland under-19 origin team for their clash against New South Wales.

Falcons CEO Chris Flannery said it was a credit to Loiero and the growing pathways of the Bokarina-based club.

“It makes us very proud to see, obviously those pathways are crucial in getting guys to the NRL and then hopefully when they get there they can take the next step like Trent is doing,” he said.

“We’re here to win football games and premierships but our overall goal is to try and get as many male and female players into NRL systems and hopefully representative honours after that.

“There’s a handful of local Sunshine Coast juniors running around now like Tyson Smoothy, Reed Mahoney, J’maine Hopgood but also players like Nicho Hynes, Chris Lewis, Tui Kamikamica and those guys who were in our system before being signed to the NRL.”