Meet Logan’s top dozen sporting young guns who are making waves in their respective sports

Meet Logan’s top dozen sporting young guns, including four prospective Tokyo Olympians, who are rookies on the rise in their respective sports. Andrew Dawson reports.

Meet Logan’s top dozen sporting young guns, including four prospective Tokyo Olympians, who are rookies on the rise in their respective sports.

Brisbane boxer Justis Huni turning pro before the Olympics. Pic Peter Wallis

1. JUSTIS HUNI (Boxing)

Is this man destined to become Australia’s first heavyweight Olympic Games gold medallist? The hulking youngster from the Bethania Boxing Club has swept all before him and now has his eyes set on the biggest prize of all. Huni, who is jointly trained by Mark Wilson at Bethania and his dad Rocki, has been a youth world champion, a multiple golden gloves and Australian champion, a bronze medallist at the world championships and now a silver medallist at the Olympic trials. “It has been kind of crazy, thinking back to when I was young and learning the basics,’’’ Huni said. “Achieving and winning at international and tournament levels, to think now I will be going to the Olympics. It shows all the hard work pays off.’’

Ashley Moloney and coach Eric Brown.

2. ASHLEY MOLONEY (Athletics)

The Regent’s Park decathlete is the sleeping giant of world athletics. It is difficult to put into words the potential of this strapping, multiskilled athlete. Moloney, a Brisbane Boys College old boy, is learning off veteran jumps coach Eric Brown and his training partner, Rio Olympian Cedirc Dubler, at the UQ Athletics Club. Asked what his chances of making the Olympics were Brown said: “I’d say he is a near certainty’’. Moloney, with all the untapped potential in the world, just needs to stay injury free to make the world sit up and take notice in Tokyo.

Mollie O'Callaghan, left, pictured earlier this year.

3. MOLLIE O’CALLAGHAN (Swimming)

Brilliant freestyle sprinter who is the best swimmer in junior competition in Australia. Such is O’Callaghan’s development, the Greenbank State School past student now finds herself ranked No. 4 in Australia – a white 100m field which includes open swimmers like No. 1 and No, 2, Cate Campbell and Emma McKeon. Asked why she became hooked on swimming, the Greenbank resident said.: “I like the competition in swimming not only when I swim for myself but also when I swim for my team which maybe my club, state or country. I also enjoy swimming as part of a team in relays. I enjoy training hard. It gives me a sense of satisfaction especially when it helps me get better,’’ Given the quality of training she receives at St Peters Western, and given her ability to improve, don’t right O’Callaghan off for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Jordan Petaia. Picture: Brendan Hertel

4. JORDAN PETAIA (Rugby union)

Chatswood Hills State School past student has had a wretched run with injury since breaking into the Wallabies set-up. But Petaia has so much to offer the rugby world.

“He has been unbelievable,’’ said Reds teammate Issac Lucas. “To do what he has done at such a young age, it is a true testimony to his ability and it is only early days for him.’’

As an 18-year-old on the 2018 Wallaby tour of the northern hemisphere, the past student of Chatswood Hills State School and Calvary Christian College should have made his Test debut against Italy, but was injured. He was then injured again and again but rugby is yet to see his enormous potential.

Nathan Colenso was ther QAFL Rising Star winner.

5. NATHAN COLENSO (Australian football)

QAFL Rising Star winner Nathan Colenso from 2019, Colenso is a Park Ridge Pirates foundation player who started as a junior and progressed to the 2018 premiership winning side before branching out into the QAFL. It was last year playing senior footy with Morningside that the rookie really shone, culminating in his Rising Star award. A deep forward and sometimes midfielder, Colenso kicked 38 goals for the Panthers. “Going to another level of professionalism at Morningside has been a real eye opener,’’ said Colenso, who at aged just 17 was also named on the interchange bench in the QAFL team of the year.

Tesi Niu. The Brisbane Broncos training at Red Hill. Pic Peter Wallis

6. LYVANTE SU’EMAI (Athletics)

A brilliant field athlete from the Springwood Sharks Little Athletics Centre set-up. Proud of her heritage, her community, her school community at Marsden SHS and her family, Su’emai is an Australian champion discus, javelin and shot put athlete who continues to reel in the milestones with each major meet she contests. “As a school captain this year, I want to leave a positive legacy for all of the upcoming Makos (Marsden) teams,’’ Su’emai said. “I also want to demonstrate that students from Marsden and Logan City can achieve great things if we put in the work.’’ She is such a prolific talent that she is ranked No. 1 under 18 in discus and hammer, No. 1 under 20 in discus and shot put and No. 3 in hammer, while in the open competition she is No. 4 in the discus and No. 3 in shot put.

Jesse Wardlaw players from in front for the Lions during the 2020 AFLW. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

7. JESSE WARDLAW (Australian football)

Brilliant netball exponent who switched spots and now played in the AFLW competition with the Brisbane Lions. The past student of Slacks Creek State School and then John Paul College, Wardlaw dabbled in many sports including cross country and basketball, netball and touch rugby before entering the Australian football fray. She was a particularly outstanding player in netballer where she most recently played with Wildcats. But John Paul College teacher Lisa O’Donnell, the wife of former Essendon star Gary O’Donnell, had already spied her athletic talent as a year 11 student. Wardlaw learned her Australian football craft with Coorparoo before the Lions came knocking in November. She is a raw talent who will only get better as she grows into her body and gets stronger.

8. TESI NIU (Rugby league)

Thrilling rugby league prospect who emerged out of Marsden State High School in 2018. A fullback, Niu had the thrill of a lifetime in fullback in an unofficial Test for his native Tonga when Tonga beat England in New Zealand. It was a moment to treasure sparking a national celebration. Tesi is certainly a future NRL player who, when called upon in the NRL, will fall back on that big match experience gathered in the Tonga-England international.

Lyvante Su’emai at the 2019 Oceania Champs in Townsville, competing in under 18 shot put event.

9. TORI GROVES (Australia football)

Unlike Wardlaw, the Beenleigh AFC came from a more traditional Australian football background and ended up being recruited at the same time into the Lions system as Wardlaw.

“It makes me proud to see local talent making to the top level,’’ said Beenleigh AFC president Mick Jordan. He said she was a great example to youth of the district that they can achieve from their local clubs. “Tori played all her youth football at Beenleigh

10. DESTINY BRILL (Rugby union)

You go girl. Brill is a brilliant women’s rugby player out of the rich Marsden State High School sporting nursery. Strongly built with natural flair, Brill has already broken through into the Queensland Reds senior women’s side and will only get better with experience. She is receiving expert mentoring from Reds halfback and Marsden SHS schoolteacher Cobie-Jane Morgan.

Marsden State High School open Queensland schoolboy representatives TC Robati, left, with and Tyrone Sa'u before he left school last year.

11. TC ROBATI (Rugby league)

Robati comes out of Marsden SHS’s Langer Cup outfit from last season. A powerful backrower with pace and strength, Robati has plenty of run in his legs and willingness in defence. Backrow is a hotly contested position at the Broncos but this kid could make it.

12. CAITLIN HANNIGAN (Athletics)

The sky was the limit for the Beenleigh’s Trinity College year 12 student who is coming off a stunning 12 month block of success which saw her secure a race record at the 2019 Oceania Games and then earlier this year win a place in the Australian team bound for the World Race Walking Championships.