Sunshine Coast rugby league 2024 Falcons player allocation draft
The inaugural Sunshine Coast Falcons local A-grade player allocation draft has come to a close with coaches having their say in which players they want representing their club in 2024. See how the draft unfolded and where each player has ended up.
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The dust has settled on the Sunshine Coast Falcons inaugural local league player draft where A-grade coaches had their say for which affiliated players they wanted in their club’s colours for the 2024 season.
In recent seasons it’s been up to the Falcons Queensland Cup coaching staff to assign players evenly to each respective A-grade club but as you can imagine, some coaches and clubs feel as if they’ve been ‘hard done by’.
Falcons head coach Brad Henderson said he proposed the idea to the Sunshine Coast Rugby League board at the end of 2023.
“We were talking about player allocations between myself and my two assistant coaches Dan Murphy and Leon Cherry and it’s always an awkward part of the year trying to keep every club happy and things like that,” he said.
“The idea of a draft got thrown around and after we thought about it we figured there’s no reason why we can’t.”
Sunshine Coast and Gympie Rugby League seniors president Jodi Price said she was in full support of the idea.
“After our research we asked Brad (Henderson) to propose it to the local coaches to see what their thoughts were because ultimately it’s them that are affected by these allocations,” Price said.
“They all agreed so we went ahead with it and hopefully can see it continue over the coming years.”
Any genuine local players (eight of them) that had come through the junior ranks with a Sunshine Coast club were excluded from the draft, with the remaining players (30) placed into an availability pool.
The draft system worked backwards, starting with the team that finished bottom of the table in 2023 (Nambour) and ending with the premiers (Beerwah).
Given it’s their first time competing in the A-grade competition, Stanley Rivers were awarded the final pick behind Beerwah.
In the days leading up to the draft a player summary was sent around to all participating coaches outlining a bio, where each player had been, who they’ve played for, their availability, position and a spiel on their best traits to give coaches as much information as possible.
Coaches were then added into a WhatsApp group with the draft beginning on February 2.
“It started Friday night and there was a little bit of a stall waiting for Marty Cordwell from Nambour to make his pick but once he got the ball rolling on Saturday morning it was all done and dusted by Sunday evening,” Henderson said.
Henderson said he was pleased with how it was handled by coaches and his players.
“I spoke to all of the clubs at the end of last season and made them aware that it was really important that they weren’t trying to poach our Falcons players,” he said.
“We don’t need local clubs in their head, it’s where they go to when they’re not playing Falcons which they all understand now.
“There were a few plans in place that I knocked on the head pretty quickly to smoothen out the process and of course the boys wanted a bit more of a production value but who knows, maybe next year we can make a real night out of it all.
“Everyone bought into the process, there’s still no guarantees every week because ultimately they are still our players but it was good fun and I think that’s been reflected by the coaches, clubs and players.”
New Nambour head coach and former Falcons Marty Cordwell echoed Henderson’s statements.
“I think everyone got on board with the idea and it probably made it all a lot more consistent, knowing every coach and club was getting an equal opportunity,” he said.
“The Falcons players definitely bolster the local league but obviously you’ve got to plan like you’re not getting any Falcons players week-in-week-out, it’s more a bonus if you do get them.
“It gave everyone an opportunity to have their say in what players they wanted or what style of players they wanted which was good.
“Hopefully we win more football games this year so I end up with the last pick but I certainly think it was very transparent across the group of what the rules were and it all ran smoothly.”
See below to find out where each player landed for the 2024 season.
2024 FALCONS SUNSHINE COAST PLAYER DRAFT
1. Taine Couper (Nambour)
Taine is in his second pre-season with the cup squad after playing for the colts side in 2022 and 2023. The 22-year-old is progressing quickly in his preferred fullback position. Equally at home in the centres, he is a big body who competes hard on everything. He has a strong running game with a great pass off both sides of his body.
2. Matt Baker (Caloundra)
Matt is in his sixth year at the Falcons and made his Queensland Cup debut last year. The talented prop forward is an extremely smart and skilful player who is equally comfortable running great lines on the edge or bending the line through the middle of the field. Baker was a part of the Beerwah Bulldogs premiership winning team in 2023.
3. Ethan Saisoa’a (Coolum)
Ethan is in his second year with the Falcons and is thriving. He’s a big and aggressive middle forward who is still learning his trade but learning quickly.
4. Liam Harris (Caboolture)
Liam is a former Canterbury Bulldogs Junior who has played over 30 games of NSW Cup for both Western Suburbs and Newtown Jets. He’s a quality lock forward who can also play on an edge.
5. Cruz Lasike (Maroochydore)
Cruz is a fresh face to rugby league but had a breakout year for the Burleigh Colts in 2023, scoring 20 tries for the season. The 22-year-old is big, extremely fast and although he is still learning the game he always has a big impact with his tough carries and physicality.
6. Corey Herdegen (Noosa)
Rising through the Colts ranks in 2023, Herdegen is in his second full year with the Falcons after previously playing for Wynnum Manly Colts in 2021 and 2022. He’s a developing half that possesses a great running game and good footy smarts to get his team around the paddock.
7. Poasi Manu (Kawana)
After being crowned the Melbourne Jersey Flegg player of the Year in 2023, the Falcons and Storm have high hopes for him in the future. At just 22-years-old, Manu is 188cm and 112kg who plays as a mobile forward and possesses a high footy IQ.
8. Thallon Peters (Beerwah)
Peters is a very tough, young edge forward who played the first four games for the CQ Capras last season before rupturing his ACL. He’ll be back in round two and is a very skilful, ex halfback who carries the ball with intent and hits to hurt.
9. Morgan McWhirter (Stanley Rivers)
McWhirter is a former top 36 contracted North Queensland Cowboy and managed to play just one game in 2023 for the North Sydney Bears before sustaining a season-ending knee injury. Prior to that he played 27 Queensland Cup matches for the Cutters. He’s a big aggressive middle forward who can play for long minutes and is a strong runner who bends the line every carry.
10. Kaden Williams (Nambour)
Williams, 22, has relocated to the Sunshine Coast after spending the last two seasons with the Canberra Raiders Jersey Flegg squad. The rising edge back rower is a former Australian Schoolboy and is more than capable of playing in the centres.
11. Kai Parker (Caloundra)
A former captain of Cronulla's Jersey Flegg squad, Parker is a tough and skilful backrower with a very strong work ethic. The 22-year-old is a great addition to the Falcons line up and will push hard for a spot in the 17 throughout the year.
12. Jed Bignell (Coolum)
Bignell comes to the falcons after experiencing a couple of other cup systems such as Colts with Wynnum Manly and Mal Meninga Cup with the Ipswich Jets. The 20-year-old is a big skilful half and can get his team around the park.
13. Harrison McIndoe (Caboolture)
McIndoe is a great signing for the Falcons as he’s a very fast and elusive outside back who ticks the scoreboard over consistently. He is on the recovery from shoulder surgery and looking to return in round seven.
14. Matt Lyons (Maroochydore)
Lyons is an extremely talented outside back who can play centre, wing and fullback. The 25-year-old is an extremely fast and elusive player that has also been in some great systems and has a high footy IQ.
15. Blake Ginman (Noosa)
Ginman has been on the Sunshine Coast for three years after finishing high school and venturing north. He’s since risen through the Falcons Colts ranks as a talented hooker and middle forward. Ginman leads from the front and possesses a strong running game.
16. Zac Miles (Kawana)
Miles is in his fourth year with the Falcons and represented Kawana on a number of occasions last season. The 24-year-old is an outstanding athlete offering speed, agility and great try scoring ability.
17. Jason Gillard (Beerwah)
Gillard is an experienced outside back who has played both Queensland and New South Wales Cup. He offers great yardage carries and finds the tryline regularly.
18. Harry O’Toole (Stanley Rivers)
O’Toole is an experienced winger with great speed and athleticism but has had a tough last two years recovering from a ruptured ACL. The 25-year-old is back to full strength and speed now and is a genuine try scorer and a great metre eater.
19. Flynn Camilleri (Nambour)
Camilleri comes to the Falcons after playing 20 cup games for the Mackay Cutters at wing and centre. He’s a big body who has express pace and also offers great yardage carries.
20. Javvier Pitovao (Caloundra)
A Junior Kiwi rep, Pitovao was in the Canterbury Bulldogs system for four years playing both Jersey Flegg and New South Wales Cup. He is a very skilful and tough middle forward who can also play on an edge.
21. Scott Galeano (Coolum)
A big, powerful and very fast outside back, Galeano is a consistent tryscorer and averages nearly 200 metres per game in Queensland Cup. He’s a high quality player that’s destined for the NRL.
22. Cody Hunter (Caboolture)
A Redcliffe Junior, Hunter was full-time in the Dolphins NRL System in 2023 and is a quality signing for the Falcons in 2024. The 23-year-old is a big half that is a strong runner and game controller.
23. Patrice Siolo (Maroochydore)
Patrice is a highly skilled middle forward with an incredible work ethic. He’s a very robust and aggressive defender with NRL experience. Recovering from a round five ACL injury, Siolo will return to full play in round four and will be a major boost for the Falcons.
24. Kane Jackson (Noosa)
Jackson is a high quality centre with great speed and power. The 24-year-old is a genuine hole runner with great skill and the ability to produce points against quality opposition. Is easily one of the best defensive centres in the Queensland Cup.
25. Nofoasa Malutoa (Kawana)
‘Foa’ is an explosive runner and brutal defender. Off the back of a very successful year for the Clydesdales, Foa has spent the pre-season with the Storm and is very eager to keep progressing his game with the Falcons.
26. Caius Faatilli (Beerwah)
Faatilli joins the Falcons this year and has just completed a seven week pre-season block with the Melbourne Storm. The 23-year-old middle forward is very big, mobile, highly skilled and a real handful for any team defensively.
27. Luke Polselli (Stanley Rivers)
Polselli is a leader for the Falcons squad and is an exceptional player at Queensland Cup level. After previously playing fullback, Polselli will focus on playing in the halves for the Falcons in 2024.
28. Danny Heenan (Nambour)
Heenan is in his third year with the Falcons and has amassed 16 Queensland Cup games. The 23-year-old is a strong defender and presents an outstanding dummy half pass.
29. Kyle Paterson (Caloundra)
Paterson is a very crafty dummy half who was a full-time player with the Cronulla Sharks in 2019 and 2020. The 25-year-old is a Queensland boy who did his time as a Canberra Raider junior. He has just returned to the game and is excelling at training.
30. Sam Burns (Coolum)
Burns is an experienced and highly skilful middle forward with a very high work rate. He connects his middle forwards with his sharp passing game and is also a very strong defender.
2024 LOCAL FALCONS CLUB ALLOCATIONS
Joseph Price (Coolum)
Following a four-year stint up North for the Townsville Brothers, Price has returned to the Sunshine Coast after previously climbing the Coolum junior ranks and representing their senior side in division two. Price is a talented edge forward that started on a train and trial contract but has impressed the coaching staff and will be staying on for the duration of the 2024 season.
Louis Geraghty (Maroochydore)
Geraghty has been in the Falcons system for many years, making his Queensland Cup debut in 2017 and has since gone on to play 82 games for the club. Brother of Maroochydore Swans captain Tom, Louis is an experienced player in the Falcons forward pack.
Mason Peut (Maroochydore)
Peut was a standout in the Hastings Deering Colts competition last season, finishing as the leading try scorer with 23 and crossed the line six times in round 12 against the Northern Pride. The crafty and speedy centre also made his Queensland Cup debut in round 24.
Riley Moore (Maroochydore)
Moore made his Falcons debut in 2019 before switching to the Clydesdales in 2023, where he made nine appearances. He’s since returned home to the Sunshine Coast and is a nice addition to the Falcons outside backs.
Harry Dwyer (Noosa)
A Noosa homegrown talent, Dwyer is a talented middle forward that has impressed his teammates and coaching staff during the pre-season. The 20-year-old is a graduate of the 2023 Hastings Deering Colts side and is known for his strong hit-ups and ball skills.
Jackson Whitby (Kawana)
Whitby lit the Sunshine Coast A-grade competition alight last season, helping Kawana reach the grand final and eventually taking out the James Ward Senior Player Of The Year award. He filled in at a number of positions for the Dolphins but does his best work in the centres both on and off the ball.
Kaleb Sutton (Kawana)
Sutton has notched up 11 appearances for the Falcons across 2022 and 2023 and is a strong developing front row forward. The Dolphins junior lets his workrate and damaging runs to the talking.
Elliott Smethills (Kawana)
Smethills is another Hastings Deering Colts graduate who has impressed and earned a call up into the Queensland Cup squad in 2024. The rising outside back was well complemented by a fast paced under-21s team last season and will be looking to build on his performances across the coming months.
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