Sunshine Coast Falcons 2025 A-grade player draft

The Falcons SCGRL A-grade draft is quickly approaching with local coaches ready to lock in some of the top squad’s best talent for the 2025 season. See who’s up for grabs and discover the tactics clubs will use.

Sunshine Coast Falcons 2025 eligible local draft players. Pictures: Phil Bradeley, Nicola Anne.

Sunshine Coast rugby league A-grade coaches, players and club presidents are ready to bid for some of the region’s best talent with the Falcons SCGRL draft this weekend.

Beginning in 2024, the event gives an opportunity for local A-grade clubs to draft eligible Falcons squad players to represent their A-grade side when they aren’t required for Queensland Cup.

All local players that have come through the junior or senior ranks before joining the Falcons are excluded from the draft with the remaining players placed into an availability pool.

The draft system runs in order of last to first from the SCGRL 2024 A-grade ladder with all nine clubs gaining three selections.

Falcons head coach Brad Henderson said he was excited to see how the event unfolded.

Sunshine Coast Falcons head coach Brad Henderson. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“Obviously all clubs will look to lock away the young, less experienced players that will spend a large amount of time in the local A-Grade competition, so having contingencies in place is critical for if and when their first or second choice priorities are picked up by other clubs,” he said.

“Our main goal for this draft process is to have a bit of fun and to show we are completely impartial to where, or who our players play for locally.

“Internally it’s also an opportunity for me to put an emphasis on how important going back and playing in the local A-grade competition is for us as a squad.

“It’s definitely helping us build better connections across the competition with all the clubs.”

Stanley River Wolves head coach Ethan Szendrey, who has the tough decision of the number one pick, said he was still finalising his opening selection.

“The Falcons are trying to service nine clubs which would create some headaches so I think it’s a good initiative,” Szendrey said.

“Instead of the clubs having that feeling of you get what you’re given I think the draft gives clubs the chance to try and identify some positions they feel they could use and target some certain players.

Stanley River Wolves head coach Ethan Szendrey.

“We’re in a completely different position to what we were last year.

“Without sounding cocky and saying all of the players in the Falcons system aren’t quality players, we’re just taking a different approach to the draft this year.

“We’re probably looking at guys that aren’t genuine fringe players who we might see every week, we’re more so leaning towards guys that are really on the edge of playing Queensland Cup.

“Maybe we won’t see them every week but when we do see them it’ll be a major boost for our side.

“I’ve still got no idea who we might take, which is a good headache to have at the moment.”

New Maroochydore Swans head coach Mick Duff picked up young guns Corey Herdegen and Blake Ginman for his Noosa Pirates A-grade side last season and said he was looking forward to the 2025 draft.

Corey Herdegen in action for the Noosa Pirates. Picture: Herdo Photography.

“It’s a fantastic idea that’s the fairest outcome for all of the clubs, I know it might be a bit hard on some players that have associations with local players or clubs but across the board it’s great,” Duff said.

“We did quite well up at Noosa last season and I’ve been lucky enough to get down to a few Falcons training sessions and trial games this year to try and get a better idea of what we might need and who would fit in well.

“There’s lots of quality players in their squad so I think whoever you get you’re lucky to have them playing for you.”

Former Falcons captain Tom Murphy in action in 2015. Picture: Che Chapman.

Former Falcon and new Noosa Pirates player coach Tom Murphy said he was excited for the coming days.

“I think it’s a great concept, you can really see the Falcons are trying hard to build on their relationships with each local club and the wider community,” Murphy said.

“We’re trying to prepare as if we’re not going to get any Falcons players each week but certainly any players you do get will be great additions.

“We’ve identified where we might be a little bit short as a playing group and which positions or players we’ll try to snag.”

Below is a snapshot of all 27 players up for grabs as well as the local allocated juniors for the 2025 season.

2025 PLAYER DRAFT PROFILES

Takai Mokohar in action for the Cook Islands. Picture: Instagram.

Takai Mokohar: A Cook Islands international representative player, Mokohar is a mobile middle forward who can also play on the edge. The 26-year-old, who is an aggressive defender with a strong skill set, also joins the Falcons in 2025 after previously representing the Capras and the Clydesdales.

Drew Timms: A new addition to the Falcons in 2025, Timms has already played 36 Queensland Cup games at just 20-years-old. The fast and instinctive hooker has a great passing game.

Mitch Henderson: Henderson joins the Falcons from the Canberra Raiders NSW Cup side where the 22-year-old slotted in at halfback for 18 games last season.

Harrison McIndoe: The 23-year-old continued to get better and better during the 2024 season and showed what a talented outside back he is. After returning from a shoulder injury midway through the season, McIndoe played 11 games for the Falcons and is set for a breakout year in 2025.

Neihana Oldham: The big, powerful and aggressive middle forward is another Clydesdales recruit this season. The 25-year-old will be a key enforcer for the Falcons in 2025.

Corey Herdegen: The rising Falcons halfback made his Queensland Cup debut in 2024 and was arguably the best player picked in the local A-grade draft. Herdegen was taken by Noosa with the sixth pick in 2024 as his game management, strong kicking and running game was evident all year. The 23-year-old looks on track to pull on the yellow and black jersey again in 2025.

Patrice Siolo: The 30-year-old is a highly skilled middle forward with an incredible work ethic. He’s a robust and aggressive defender with NRL experience.

Fletcher Spicer: A former Wests Bulldogs premier rugby union star, the 24-year-old is a big skilful fullback that could slot in anywhere in the backline.

Fletcher Spicer.

Ethan Saisoa’a: A key third draft pick from Coolum in the 2024 draft, the 24-year-old has undergone three pre-season with the Falcons and is building towards a team spot in 2025.

Nofoasa Malutoa: The 26-year-old is an explosive runner and a brutal defender. Malutoa spent the last half of the 2024 season recovering from ACL surgery. The gritty middle is a standout Queensland Cup player and will be a welcome addition to the Falcons when he returns from injury.

Denver Ford: The big and mobile outside back can cover a multitude of positions. Ford joins the Falcons after previously playing in the strong Wollongong A-grade competition. The 23-year-old will push hard to debut in 2025.

Josh Billing: The 22-year-old is an exciting addition to the Falcons for 2025 following a number of standout years in the Raiders lower grade system. Billing, a talented edge forward or centre, is fresh of a pre-season with the Melbourne Storm.

Cooper Page-Wilson: A high quality recruit that joins the Falcons after two strong seasons with Wynnum-Manly. Page-Wilson, 24, is another that completed a 10 week pre-season with the Melbourne Storm as he looks to claim a NRL spot in the near future.

Zion Johnson: A classy outside back that joins the Falcons after several years in the BRL competition. The 24-year-old has been a quality pick-up for the Sunshine Coast squad and will look to break into the top 17 sometime this season.

Joseph Vite: The 24-year-old dominated the local Toowoomba competition in 2024 earning 47th Battalion player of the tournament honours plus Queensland Country selection. Vite is a damaging centre or edge forward.

Scott Galeano: A big powerful and very quick outside back, Galeano is a consistent performer and a tryscorer that averages close to 200m per game. The 25-year-old is a standout player at Queensland Cup level.

Sunshine Coast Falcons player Scott Galeano in action. Picture: Nicola Anne Photography

Blake Moore: Moore, 22, is a new recruit for 2025 after playing the past two seasons for the Penrith Panthers Jersey Flegg side. The rising playmaker will put up a great fight to get a spot in the Falcons 17 each week.

Jeremiah Schuster: After debuting for the Warriors in NSW Cup last season, the 23-year-old joins the Falcons in the hope of continuing his career progression. Schuster is a very mobile middle with quality ball skills.

Cody Hunter: The 24-year-old will enter his second season with the Falcons after playing in all 22 matches last year. Hunter is a high quality halfback with a strong running and kicking game.

Flynn Camilleri: An explosive wing or centre who is constantly in the game. The 24-year-old contests hard in every moment of the game and always finds the tryline. Camilleri made 18 appearances for the Falcons in 2024.

Danny Heenan: A powerful dummy half that is a constant run threat and a brutal defender. Heenan has an incredibly strong work ethic and brings great energy to the middle of the park. Heenan played 19 games for the Falcons last season after 26 appearances across 2022 and 2023.

Sunshine Coast Falcons player Sam Burns leads his side out during a 2024 pre-season trial. Picture: Nicola Anne Photography

Sam Burns: A highly experienced and highly skilful middle forward with an insane work rate. Burns connects well with his middle forwards and has a great passing game. This will be his fifth straight season in Falcons colours.

Gideon Afemui: Has spent the past two seasons in the Canberra A-grade competition following several years in the Raiders academy system. The 25-year-old is a fast and powerful centre who is also a devastating defender.

Cruz Lasike: The 23-year-old made his Queensland Cup debut and played two games for the Falcons last season while dropping back and representing Maroochydore in the local competition. Lasike has shown rapid development at the Falcons and the coaching staff have high hopes for the rising outside back.

Kaden Williams: The 23-year-old missed the entire 2024 season due to pre-season shoulder surgery but he is on track for round one of 2025. Williams is an outstanding young prospect with high expectations.

Thallon Peters: The 23-year-old is in his second season with the Falcons and is a proven tryscorer. Peters played in 17 Queensland Cup matches last season.

Taine Couper: The 22-year-old was the number one pick by Nambour in 2024 before making his Queensland Cup debut in round seven and going on to make another eight appearances. Couper showed his class in the backline and is having a huge pre-season.

2025 LOCAL FALCONS CLUB ALLOCATIONS

Kaleb Sutton (Kawana)

Harry Dwyer (Noosa)

Mason Peut (Maroochydore)

Jett Thorpe Elich (Maroochydore)

Taj Ridley (Nambour)

Sam Elara (Coolum)

Tom McClure (Beerwah)

Billy Lawrence (Kawana)