Sunshine Coast’s best ever schoolboy rugby league players

From Queensland legends to NRL club heroes, a number of Sunshine Coast schoolboy rugby league talents have taken their skills all the way to the elite level. Vote now.

The Sunshine Coast has served as a stomping ground for a number of rugby league talents who have launched themselves all the way to the national competition level.

After taking a look at some of the region’s next generation NRL and NRLW stars, we decided to reflect on those who have carved the pathway to elite success.

From Australian and State heroics to outright club legends, here are some of the Sunshine Coast’s best ever schoolboy rugby league players.

Vote in the poll down below for who you think is the Coast’s greatest schoolboy rugby league prodigy?

Sunshine Coast schoolboy rugby league stars

Mal Meninga (Maroochydore State High School)

Left: Mal Meninga (front right) in 1972 apart of the Maroochydore Swans under 14 team. Right: Mal Meninga walks out of the grounds in the 1994 origin. Picture: Getty Images

That’s right, one of the games greatest ever players forged his skills on the Sunshine Coast before going on to have an established career in the NRL.

“I fondly remember moving to the Coast when I was about 11 years of age and going to Maroochy primary school and high school,” Meninga told the Daily.

“I remember going to swimming lessons with Grant Kenny and people like that at Nambour pool, so it was a really good upbringing and I really enjoyed it.”

The Australian Kangaroos coach had 46 appearances for Australia and 32 appearances for Queensland.

He not only captained at those levels but also for his side, the Canberra Raiders.

He played 517 games across his 17-year career and won premierships in 1981, 1985, 1989 and 1994.

Meninga‘s wrap sheet also includes a Dally M player of the year medal in 1989, Golden Boot Award in 1989, Dally M centre of the year in 1990 and 1991, Dally M captain of the year in 1991 and 1994, was inducted into the Australian and International hall of fame in 2003 and was announced as a rugby league Immortal in 2018.

Reed Mahoney (Beerwah State High School)

Left: Reed representing the Sunshine Coast regional team. Right: Reed in action for the Parramatta Eels. Picture: Brett Hemmings Getty Images

The Parramatta Eels player that is set to join Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2023, made his NRL debut in 2018 after graduating Beerwah State High School in 2015.

Mahoney played his junior club football for the Kawana Dolphins and Beerwah Bulldogs and played in a number of Sunshine Coast regional teams.

The 24-year-old has gone on to play 90* NRL games and was selected in the Queensland Maroons squad in 2021.

Jake Friend (Noosa District State High School)

Left: Jake Friend in action as a Noosa Pirates junior. Right: Friend playing for the Sydney Roosters. Picture: Dean Lewins

The former Noosa District State High School student and Noosa pirates junior joined the Sydney Roosters at just 15-years-old and made his first grade debut in 2008 at the age of 18.

Friend went on to play 264 games for the blue, white and red and is the club’s second most-capped skipper with 121 games.

He played in grand finals in 2010, 2013, 2018, 2019 and won premierships in 2013, 2018 and 2019.

He played one Test for Australia in 2016, represented Queensland on three occasions, and was recognised for his efforts during the Maroons’ 2020 Origin win as the recipient of the Ron McAuliffe Medal as Queensland’s Player of the Series.

Friend is a two-time recipient of the Jack Gibson Medal, awarded to the Roosters’ Player of the Year in 2011 and 2016 and was named the Sydney Roosters’ Clubman of the Year in 2018.

Friend announced his immediate retirement from rugby league in 2021, following extensive medical advice.

Craig Polla-Mounter (Bli Bli State School)

Craig Polla-Mounter passes the ball during Sydney Roosters v Canterbury Bulldogs NRL game in 2001. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Polla-Mounter was a student at Bli Bli State School before attending Ipswich Grammar for his senior schooling.

He went on two tours with the Australian schoolboys rugby union team before joining and debuting for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 1992.

The tough halfback went on to play in the NRL for 10 years and 192 games, playing in three grand finals for one win in 1995.

Moses Mbye (Sunshine Beach State High School)

Left: Mbye playing for the Noosa Pirates on the Sunshine Coast. Right: Mbye looks pass to his St. George Illawarra teammates. Picture: Jason McCawley Getty Images

Former Sunshine Beach State High school student and another Noosa Pirates junior, Mbye made his NRL debut in 2014 for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

In 2018 Mbye joined the West Tigers and was announced captain in 2019 before representing Queensland in the three match Origin series.

Mbye now plays for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and has accumulated 174* appearances in the NRL.

Ben Ross (Burnside State High School)

Ben Ross in action against the Penrith Panthers in 2009. Picture: Robb Cox

Ross, a former Burnside State High School student and Nambour Crushers junior, began his rugby league journey in the 90s when playing against the likes of future Queensland teammates Chris Flannery and Casey McGuire.

The damaging front-rower also shared the field with his junior halfback and former Sunshine Coast Falcons coach Sam Mawhinney.

Ross made his first grade debut in 2002 before lifting the premiership in 2003.

Ross went on to play six origins for Queensland and represented the Dragons, Panthers, Sharks, and Souths across his 174 NRL game career.

Casey McGuire (Caloundra State High School)

Casey McGuire on the attack for the Parramatta Eels in 2011. Picture: Renee McKay

The former Caloundra Sharks and Kawana Dolphins junior attended Caloundra State High School and in 1997 was selected for the Australian Schoolboys rugby league team.

McGuire made his NRL debut one year later in 1998 and went on to play 150 first grade game across his 14 year career with Parramatta and Brisbane.

McGuire also played 99 games for Super League club Catalans and was part of the 2005 Origin series coming off the bench for Queensland.

Chris Flannery (Kawana Waters State College)

Left: Chris Flannery during Game Two in Sydney. Right: Flannery smiles as the Sunshine Coast Falcons CEO.

The Sunshine Coast Falcons CEO began playing rugby league at 10-years-old for the Kawana Dolphins and made his NRL debut for the Sydney Roosters in 2000.

In 2002 he was selected to play for Queensland in the State of Origin series and went on to play a further 10 matches.

Flannery went on to play 126 games for the Roosters, winning one premiership in 2002, before travelling to England to play for St Helens where he played a further 139 matches.

Adam Mogg (Currimundi Primary School)

Queensland’s Adam Mogg goes for the corner and scores at Suncorp Stadium in 2006. Picture: Adam Head

Mogg attended Currimundi Primary School from grade four to seven (1987 to 1990) and captained the rugby league team that won the Coastal District Championship in 1990.

Mogg played for the Kawana Dolphins at a club level before being signed as a teenager by the Redcliffe Dolphins.

He was awarded the club‘s Player of the Year award in 2001 before being signed by the Parramatta Eels in 2002.

Mogg made his NRL debut in 2002 and went on to play a further 189 first grade games with the Eels, Raiders and Super League team, the Catalans Dragons.

Mogg also scored represented Queensland on two occasions, scoring two tries on debut in 2006, before announcing his retirement at the end of 2010.

He was also the coach of the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles in 2011.

Honourable Mentions

Tino Fa‘asuamaleaui (James Nash State High School)

Left: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui alongside David Fifita as teenagers representing Queensland. Right: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui of the Maroons is tackled during game two of the 2020 State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons. Picture: Mark Kolbe

Current Gold Coast Titans captain and Melbourne Storm premiership winning player Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, played school rugby league and rugby union for James Nash SHS whilst playing club footy for the Gympie Devils in the Sunshine Coast and Gympie Rugby League Competition.

Fa’asuamaleaui represented the Sunshine Coast Falcons from under 16s and made his NRL debut in 2019.

He was award Melbourne’s rookie of the year in 2020 and Gold Coast’s player of the year in 2021.

The now 22-year-old has played 63* first grade matches and represented Queensland on nine occasions.

Hymel Hunt (Deception Bay North State School)

Left: Deception Bays Hymel Hunt drags a pack of tacklers along. Picture: Brett Wortman. Right: Hymel Hunt of the Knights makes a break during the Round 7 of the NRL in 2019. Picture: Darren Pateman

An honourable schoolboy mention on this list as Hunt was apart of the Sunshine Coast regional team that claimed the region‘s first State carnival win in 2005.

Hunt played his junior club rugby league for the Redcliffe Dolphins before making his NRL debut in 2013 for the Gold Coast Titans.

Since then Hunt has played 108* first grade games for the Melbourne Storm, South Sydney Rabbitohs and currently plays for the Newcastle Knights.