List of league’s best players who didn’t make the NRL – or those that played handful of games only

From schoolboy stars that didn’t kick on to those hit with cruel career-ending injuries. These are the players who were destined for greatness but hit hurdles along the way. Who would you add to the list?

Here is a list of rugby league’s best players who, for one reason or another, didn’t make it to the NRL.

And what about those who got there, only to play a handful of matches despite being prodigious schoolboy talents?

Is there someone you thought would go all the way, but never did? Tellus in the comments below

BRADY PAYNE

Talent scouts were told to watch for this very skilful player coming through the schoolboy ranks and the North Queensland Cowboys swooped to sign him. Went on to play club football in the Townsville region, but not NRL.

Brady Payne playing for Brothers in Townsville.

AARON LEWIS

Won the Peter Stirling Medal in 2002 when he led Wavell SHS to the national schoolboy championships. Lewis was also the Queensland schoolboys player of the carnival at the state championship for under 12, under 15 and in open schoolboys age groups. On each occasion he helped his teams win their respective state championships.

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BEVAN BAPTISTE

The father of excellent NRL hooker Kurt, Baptiste played one BRL first grade match in 1977 while still at school at Wavell SHS, but did not play top grade football again and quit after the ‘79 season.

MICHAEL BOND

Bond was another talent out of the prodigious league nursery of Wavell SHS. Bond was an Australian schoolboys league player signed by the Broncos who played in their feeder teams. He went on to be a good rugby union player. Last year Andrew Dawson named Bond alongside Greg Inglis in Wavell’s best ever league side.

Bond pictured as an Australian schoolboy in 2004. Pic Bruce Long

NEIL SMITH

Smith was the outstanding schoolboy player of the 1984 Confraternity Shield. A centre, Smith was signed by the Ipswich Jets after impressing the great Tom Raudonikis who was watching the carnival. He played Brisbane grade, but NRL clubs never came knocking.

Greg Leleisiuao scoring in a game of nines earlier this year. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

JIM STAFFORD

Tall, mobile prop who seemingly had the rugby league world at his feet – until he snapped his achilles. Stafford was originally from the Newcastle region but had a link to the Brothers club in Brisbane through his older brother Dave who had played with the Brethren. Stafford was a member of the Brothers scholarship house in the late 1980s that also featured NRL players like Tony Rea and Clinton Mohr, Queensland Cup star Ray Herring, former NRL coach Anthony Griffin and popular Melbourne Storm manager, the late Michael Moore. Stafford was signed by Parramatta who were coming off four NSWRL premiership in six years, but then sustained his career ending injury.

Brothers Rugby League rising star Jim Stafford, far left, on the way Brothers won the 1987 first grade premiership.

GREG LELEISIUAO

Don’t give up on the Woodridge SHS student just yet. Leleisiuao was one of the outstanding players of the now defunct under 20 NRL competition while playing with the Gold Coast Titans. But he could not break into the Titans top team and was signed by Parramatta where he played one NRL match last season. Leleisiuao is now back with the Gold Coast and played at the nines in Perth earlier this season. There is still time for Leleisiuao to establish himself.

BARRY LEA

A freakish talented athlete who was a Wallaby tourist and Queensland Reds excitement machine.

Barry Lea scoring a try - again.

Anybody who knew anything remotely about his ability would have tipped him to make the transition from rugby to rugby league for the Canberra Raiders in 1997. As a schoolboy Lea boarded at the The Southport School and starred in GPS rugby. The late Allan McMahon, then coach of the Newcastle Knights, was onto Lea and wanted to sign him. McMahan even flew to Brisbane to watch Lea in action as a 100m sprinter at the national championships. But he stuck with rugby and became a Queensland Red and Wallaby before Canberra Raiders claimed his signature in time for Super League in the late-1990s. He played one Super League game.

GAVIN DARWIN

Gavin Darwin was not a schoolboy sensation. Infact Darwin – the man who scouted Cooper Cronk into the Melbourne Storm system – was a schoolboy and colts rugby union player at Marist College Ashgrove and GPS rugby club respectively. A teacher, he first tasted league at McAuley College and much to the delight of his father, former Brothers league player Barry, was an instant success.

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Darwin, a centre, went on to play for Brothers and represent Queensland residents. If you saw Darwin play, it was like watching former Broncos and Maroons utility Sean Berrigan in action when Berrigan successfully played centre. But for whatever reason – maybe it was that Darwin was a mature age player – he was never given a chance by an NRL club.

Gavin Darwin burst through a tackle playing for Brisbane Brothers.

GUY HAMILTON

In 2017 then Intrust Super Cup coach Craig Ingebrigtsen tipped Guy Hamilton to follow Cody Walker into the NRL. There is no doubt he will end up in an NRL system shortly. I am really proud of him. He is a really good kid. Every task we have given him he has taken on and is really keen,’’ Ingebrigtsen said at the time. Hamilton, today an outstanding first grade player with the South Magpies, is still waiting for that chance.

PAUL CHILDS

Childs was a lovely bloke and a great physical specimen at Brisbane Wests Panthers. The Broncos certainly agreed he had promise and signed him. But he ended up playing rugby union at the GPS club.

Guy Hamilton playing for Souths Logan. Picture: Alix Sweeney

GORDON LANGTON

Ipswich Jets’ winger Gordon Langton was a sensation when he burst into Brisbane rugby league A grade competition. Retired veteran rugby league writer Steve Ricketts once recalled: “When I saw him run on to those Allan Langer chip kicks, I thought wow, the next Larry Corowa (former Australian winger),’’ Ricketts said.

PLAYERS WHO GOT A TASTE OF THE TOP

There have also been a host of schoolboy stars who may have tasted NRL, but who might not have played as many matches as many thought.

Ashley Alberts springs to mind. Alberts was an outstanding centre who represented the Australian Schoolboys in 2001 from Kirwan SHS after leading Queensland to a national title. He can always say he played 13 NRL more than most people, but many thought he could have been a regular. He played for the Cowboys and Manly.

Ashley Alberts tackles Albert Torrens. Picture: Stewart Mclean

Stocky Brothers’ five eighth Peter Lehmann was an excellent BRL player who went so well playing for the Brothers club in the late 1970s, that Jack Gibson signed him to South Sydney. But he also did not kick-on like some thought he might.

Souths centre Ken Gittens was unfairly likened to Mal Meninga in the 1980s and although he did well for the Magpies in the BRL, did not have a long NSWRL career. A very good player, he played a dozen or so games with Broncos and Penrith.

David Taylor being treated for injury.

Another who tasted NRL like Alberts was five eighth Ben Jones. Those that saw him play in a schoolboy carnival in Townsville thought he had the world at his feet. He played in the inaugural All Stars game in 2010, and played first grade for the Roosters and Cowboys, but not as much as most thought.

It is hard to say someone who represented Australia did not make it, but two who did play for their country – yet many feel had more to offer – were David Taylor and Mark Thomas. Taylor had all the skills of Artie Beetson and his time in top flight footie for Queensland Maroons was all too brief for someone so good.

The Indigenous All Stars rugby league squad train at Runaway Bay Junior Leagues club, Runaway Bay, Gold Coast. Photo of Ben Jones.

Thomas burst onto the scene as a young man with the Brothers club in 1977, playing his way into the Australian team after performing strongly for Queensland against NSW greats Steve Rogers and Mick Cronin. He did suffer knee injuries, but when he switched to Easts Tigers in 1980 he still was good enough to gain a place in the Brisbane rep team squad. But Thomas’ career was over all too soon.

Kirwan State High School Students Ashley Alberts, left. Picture: Fiona Harding fh035A16

Two little halfbacks whose careers were drastically affected by injury in the late 1970s and early 1980s were BRL halves Terry Saunders (Wynnum-Manly) and John Salter (Souths).

Terry Saunders was going to be a superstar and was selected for an Origin match, but then ruled out through injury.

Clinton Mohr, Tony Rea and Jim Stafford pictured in this Brisbane team shot. Picture by Paul Edwards.

Salter had blinding pace and represented Queensland pre-Origin in 1977, but his career was stop-start through no fault of his own.

His brilliant grubber kick try for Queensland against NSW will be remembered by those who saw it.