60+ names: The speed demons of the Connell, Meninga, Harvey 17s and 19s junior representative competitions revealed
The niece of an ex-NRL star and countless Dolphins, Broncos signed juniors are among the 60 fastest junior league footballers leaving dust in their tracks in the Meninga, Connell and Harvey 17 and 19s competitions. FULL LIST
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The niece of an ex-NRL star and countless Dolphins, Broncos signed juniors are among the 60 fastest junior league footballers leaving dust in their tracks in the Meninga, Connell and Harvey 17 and 19s competitions.
Here we canvas the quicksilver speedsters setting games alight with their raw speed, from all corners of Queensland.
It is the first of many themed stories this season intenteded to shine a light on the fastest, strongest, smartest and most skilful youngsters making a name for themselves in clubland.
We present the speed demons of the junior statewide competitions.
Jump to: Cyril Connel Cup | Mal Meninga Cup | Harvey Norman U17s | Harvey Norman U19s
CYRIL CONNELL CUP
Western Clydesdales
Joseph Litidamu
‘Joey’ is a pacey outside back who can break through the defence with his raw speed.
Burleigh Bears
Seth Gundry
Fullback Gundry had speed. It is no secret.
With his speed, Gundry is a potent threat returning the ball from the backfield.
Kingstone Seve
Winger or fullback Seve is tall but has no loss of pace because of it.
Spare a thought for halfback Dallas Ingram who has wheels on him.
Townsville Blackhawks
Cohen Dittmann
The Dittmann family are known for raising elite bucking bulls for the Pro Bull Riding circuit but in young Cohen they have produced an out and out speedster.
The Blackhawks put their outside backs’ speed to the test over 40 metres and Dittmann, a centre, was the clear winner down the straight.
Riley Carbone
The starting five-eighth in the Queensland Under-15s honour team a season ago was the runner up to Dittmann in the Blackhawks’ outside backs footrace.
His speed, agility and acceleration had put him in the frame to wear the club’s No. 1 jersey but the rest of his skillset convinced coaches to instead install the Kirwan State High School playmaker as starting halfback.
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100+ NAMES: HEAD TURNERS OF QLD JUNIOR REP COMPS
Northern Pride
Floyd Sakail, Harmon Benioni and Kaelen Callaghan are fast. Really fast.
We could not settle on one but if any of these three get into open space, it’s almost game over.
Souths Logan
Siosaia Poese
Poese is a smoother operator, a genuine finisher who in round 1 gave the Magpies Flash Dan running power from the back alongside fullback Adaquix-Jeramiah Watts-Luke
and representative winger Benson Tau.
His brother is Maika, a 2023 St Joesph’s Gregory Terrace First XV outside back signed by the Raiders.
Wynnum Manly
David Bryenton
Originally from New Zealand, the Titans-signed fullback has dynamic speed, particularly over a short distance, and seems to use lightning footwork to propel him past defenders around the ruck.
The Keebra Park SHS student has more steps than you’d see during a performance at the Queensland Ballet.
Ipswich Jets
Ceaser Yeatman
Yarrabah winger Yeatman has wheels. The Ipswich SHS flyer can go from zero to 100 quicker than most.
His wing partner Conrad Browne and centre Finn Kendall will no doubt try and utilise their speed as often as they can.
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Kalen Beattie
Winger Beattie is far and away the fastest player in the Falcons squad this year. Beattie is a state level sprinter and uses that ability in any open space on the field.
His teammates and coach compare his pace to ‘a rugby league live cheat code’.
Wide Bay Bulls
Rowan Gordon
Winger Rowan Gordon iseclectic down the outside and any open space is a gift.
Brisbane Tigers
Dante Tahauhu-Wilson
Tahauhu-Wilson, a back three player,comes from that gold mine region of rugby league talent – Logan City. The Mabel Park SHS student has that x-factor about him, an attribute which has interested the Gold Coast Titans.
Redcliffe
Mereki Warradoo
Fullback Warradoo was one of the Dolphins’ first NRL junior academy signings. A Moreton Bay league club junior, he has been a regular in Queensland representative teams throughout junior football. Warradoo can ignite a match with his pace. But he has some competition from within the club – Logan Hudson, Duston Appo and Jake Carsburg can cover the ground quickly as well.
Norths
Ethan Grimshaw and James Grey
Centre or wingEthan Grimshaw is a speed demon. He is both a former state and national 100m sprint champion for his age group who, ironically, shaded his centre partner, James Grey, for the titles. Between Grimshaw and Grey, the Devils had pace to burn. Both boys were signed by the Dolphins and scored tries at the weekend thanks to sheer pace.
Blackhawks
Lincoln Baker
The brother of McKenzie Baker who’s been in a few NRL systems, Baker has a few strings to his bow and can play several positions and roles. A fullback for the Blackhawks, Baker possesses pace and he has plenty of it.
Capras
Leo Fanuatanu, Tyler Melrose
Winger Leo Fanuatanu currently has the squad bragging rights, with a blistering 2.79 secs over 20m.
Hailing from Emerald, he is boarding at Rockhampton Grammar School on a sports scholarship, and represented the Queensland Reds under-16s last year in rugby union.
Captain and halfback Tyler Melrose is fast off the mark, and blistering when he hits full speed.
His step and pace make him a huge threat.
Tweed Seagulls
Boston Hubbard
Hubbard impressed last year with his finishing ability on the wing and this year it is the same story.
He is fast and would have been an easy choice for selectors to have him on the wing.
MAL MENINGA CUP
Western Clydesdales
Brooklenn Grogan, Aaron Hinch, Carter Blades
The Caloundra SHS old boy is a speedy customer, as is Aaron Hinch and Carter Blades.
The Clydesdales were without all three of their speed demons at the weekend.
Townsville Blackhawks
Rayzarlin Pearson
Winger Pearson is the fastest player in an already rapid Blackhawks outfit.
Rayzarlin Pearson, the Ignatius Park College graduate and Souths Bulls Townsville A Grade player, has both blinding straight line pace and the ability to find it quickly with rapid acceleration.
Tekelu Mene
There were plenty of candidates to join Pearson, including Logan Brookes and Davidson Benioni, but the Torres Strait Express Tekelu Mene is probably the closest over 40m.
The former standout schoolboy winger from Ignatius Park has moved infield in 2024 to play as a strike centre but his pace has not faded at all.
Mene’s explosive speed translates into a respectable power game too but his calling card has and always will be that ability to hit the home run from anywhere on the field.
Burleigh Bears
Phil Coates
The brother of Melbourne Storm winger Xavier, Philip Coates is a centre who can motor.
He has pace and loves contact.
Ray Puru
The Burleigh fullback and PBC SHS schoolboy champion is well-built and has a turn of pace. Spare a thought for his PBC teammate Creedence Kelly Donovan who is a known finisher.
Saxon Innes
A fullback, Innes is damaging with his ball returns.
His speed is his weapon, and it can tear teams apart.
Tweed Seagulls
Tyson Ploegsma, Mason Barber
Ploegsma is pace personified, while fullback Barber combines his speed with power, a fend and his tall stature to be one of the competition’s most promising No. 1s.
Brisbane Tigers
Will Quinn, Tayvius Peo, Josh Tokam
Quinn (fullback) dabbled in rugby union last season but moved his footy base about 1km west from Bottomley Park to the Brisbane Tigers where he plays fullback. Peo (wing) is a Mabel Park SHS student, a former hooker who now shines on the wing.
Meanwhile Tokam (centre) hails from a famous PNG league family – his grandfather Joe is a legend up there. Tokam has power and speed and is helping the Tigers in a resurgent season.
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Kye Porter
Off the mark five-eighth Porter is damaging. He surprised a lot of people in the trials and burnt his one-on-one defender with pure speed and good footwork.
Souths Logan
Lachlan Offley, Kohen Briggs
The Cowboys circled outside back Briggs and it is little wonder given the speed this 2023 Queensland Emerging Origin squad member possesses. His teammate Lachlan Offley hails from Ballina in northern NSW and along with Ryan McCann, they give the Magpies an extra dimension with their pace.
Ipswich Jets
Amaziah Murgha
Another wildcard talent from the Far North Queensland community Yarrabah, the Seahawks junior has blinding speed that you simply cannot coach. Blink and you will miss him.
On the other wing Saifiti Junior Saifiti is a player who can wind up and with his mix of speed and power, is a tough bloke to bring down. Especially front on.
Redcliffe Dolphins
Lachlan Buchbach and Zac Herdegen
The boys come from different parts of the compass – Buchbach is a Logan Brothers junior and Herdegen a Bribie Island boy – but they were two slippery characters now playing in the halves together at Redcliffe. Buchbach (Mabel Park SHS) was one of the discovery players of the Langer Trophy last season, earning a Dolphins academy contract, while the explosive Herdegen looms as one of the Players to Watch in both club and school football (he attends Wavell SHS).
Fullback John-Paul Donevski is also a smooth operator, as are wingers Siosifa Kava and LJ Nonu.
Norths Devils
Adam Khan
Winger Adam Khan is a Hervey Bay Seagulls junior who has swooped onto the big stage to earn a starting position in the strong Norths Devils top side. He turned heads of NRL talent scouts playing with the Wide Bay Bulls in the Meninga Cup, and has earned a chance in the big smoke of Brisbane.
Central Queensland Capras
Mataio Tapua-Bond
Winger Mataio Tapua-Bond possesses lightning speed out wide and lingers as a constant threat to the opposition.
Ryan Keating is another Capras winger that is also lightning quick.
Mackay Cutters
Jaxon Purdue
Halfback Jaxon Purdue’s scintillating pace was on full display in the dying minutes of the NRL trial match between the Cowboys and the Broncos, with the 18-year-old – who was playing out of position at fullback – dashing close to 100m and outpacing NRL opponents to score a try.
He has gotten much stronger over the last 12 months but has kept his pace.
Mutua Brown
A super classy fullback who is lightning fast and very dangerous whenever he touches the ball, Rockhampton product Brown is quick and uses his footwork to his advantage.
Signed by the Cowboys.
Northern Pride
Rhys Woolcott and Reece Boyle bring the speed in the Pride side as does winger Jirra Twist, a St Peters Lutheran College old boy who has done well to come back from a knee injury and make an impact on the wing.
Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Jaycob Kingston-Francis
Speed is something Mabel Park SHS product Kingston-Francis has an abundance of.
Fullback Kylem Vunipola, Charlie Johnstone (winger), centre Tariq Tanner and hooker Cameron Bukowski have wheels too, but Kingston-Francis was the quickest.
HARVEY NORMAN U17S
Burleigh Bears
Campbell Phillips
Phillips has impressed with her communication and leadership out of halfback but her pace cannot be underestimated.
She is speedy and can slice defences open.
Isabella Brown
Second rower Isabella Brown is a tearaway edge forward who runs like a back when she breaks free.
Townsville Blackhawks
Siena Tabacchi
How would coach Bec Petersen describe winger Tabacchi’s speed? “Pretty extreme, actually.”
Even more dangerous is Tabacchi’s deceptive gait, where defenders are lulled into a false sense of security believing they’ve got the winger covered for pace.
Until she drops the clutch and bursts past, leaving those same defenders grasping at thin air and making mental notes not to underestimate that vicious speed again.
Jade Cowan
A country lass with a rugby union background and speed to burn.
Winger Cowan is only in her second year of rugby league but has displayed plenty of raw potential to command a wing position for the Blackhawks.
Speed on the flanks will be one of the team’s great weapons in 2024 with Tabacchi and Cowan zipping up and down the sidelines.
Tweed Seagulls
Skyla Samson, Torah Luadaka
Luadaka is the full package. The headgeared halfback has speed, she is tall and she is a natural.
She can score and create well for others like the fast paced Skyla Samson who missed round three through injury.
Souths Logan
Janique Mili
Fullback Mili is a running natural who darts down the athletics track in around 12.70. From a small tiny village Gwarumemase and Gereka in Papua New Guinea, she migrated to Brisbane in 2014. She has been a state championship track and field regular and is a Queensland schoolgirls league representative.
Wynnum Manly
Jada Waerea
Exhibit A was her 70 solo try last Sunday when she produced classical centre play to twice beat defenders. And to think the centre is relatively new to the sport.
Wait until she gets more experience under her belt.
Ipswich Jets
Emily Jackwitz
A Brothers Ipswich junior, centre Jackwitz is an all around talent who, in her past, has played halfback. But she is a centre now where her pace on the edge can become a trump card for the Jets.
Norths Devils
Eva Steers
Steers hails from the famous Caboolture Snakes junior system from where, last year, she represented the Queensland Country under-17s. Steers is so skilled, she can play hooker or fullback, and it is in the No. 1 jersey where she has started the season with the Devils.
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Aamira Renouf
The niece of former NRL star Steve, winger Aamira has already stamped her feet on the competition and shown plenty of pace around the edges. Renouf is only a small outside back but weasels her way through the smallest of gaps and makes defenders pay.
Wide Bay Bulls
Bella Barrett
Fullback Bella Barrett may be small in stature but is a very evasive fullback and finds the right gap every time she runs the ball.
Brisbane Tigers
Kameryn Bray and Imrana and Aganoa Pasese
It is double trouble for opposition teams when they play the Tigers courtesy of the Pasese twins, Aganoa and Imrana. Imrana plays fullback and Aganoa winger, while another quicksilver member of the Tigers den is ace halfback Kameryn Bray.
Opposition teams need to be careful when she runs to the defensive line.
Redcliffe Dolphins
Shar-Lene Nati, Esme Hearsum, Layla Satui
What is in the water at Pine Central Holy Spirit. The club sure can develop elite junior talent, and two of the quickest females to come from the club were Redcliffe under-17 captain Shar-Leme Nati (fullback) and centre ace Layla Satui.
Another local club, the Moreton Bay Raiders, has also produced the team’s other speedster, winger Esme Hearsum.
Northern Pride
Jaeda Morato and Summer-Rose Phair
Morata is the teams five-eighth while Phair is the hooker. Both are speedy.
Central Queensland Capras
Teleah Cassar
The dynamic winger is one of the smallest but fastest players on the field.
Her agility and speed off the make are remarkable, making her a constant threat.
HARVEY NORMAN U19S
Tweed Seagulls
Ava Swain, Sharnalii Peckham
The Tweed Seagulls are going to be hard to beat and pace is the reason.
The team has countless speedy customers. From Mercedez Taulelei-Siala and Phoenix-Raine Hippi to Ava Swain and Sharnalii Peckham, the Seagulls were capable of taking out the premiership.
Mackay Cutters
La Naliah Hine
The young fullback had a taste of Harvey Norman under-19 last year with couple of games, and has impressed pre-season with her work ethic. “Slight little frame but goes at it 100 miles an hour,” said coach Matt Sanders.
Jen Kimber
An underage player, Sanders is excited by centre Kimber’s potential and believes there’s much more to come from her. “We’re only on the surface of what she can be as a player,” he said. The Moranbah product also managed a try in the RLMD A-grade women’s grand final last season.
Townsville Blackhawks
Ana Malupo
Centre Ana Malupo can accelerate and run with tremendous balance, which is why the gun junior fullback is being deployed in the centres in 2024.
Malupo excels at moving at pace and can cut on a dime. She will be a potent threat in the front line.
Ashlyn Hoey
The Charters Towers rugby union product missed a chunk of pre-season with illness but has returned just in time to show off her dazzling pace on the Blackhawks sidelines.
While Malupo can swerve, Hoey’s speed is more straight line in nature and particularly deadly when given a sniff at a clear run to the line.
Every dash is a challenge to the opposition to catch her if they can.
Brisbane Tigers
Relna Hosea and Lily Neill
Relna Hosea blazed into the spotlight when, from Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School, she won a place in the historic 2022 Queensland schoolgirls side as a Year 11 student. An outside back, Hosea has pace in the open, but also power in contact whether she is running the ball or tackling. Neill is arguably the quickest in the club, a lightning winger who is light on her feet.
Redcliffe Dolphins
Tshia Nielsen
Winger Tshia Nielsen has had a disrupted start to the season, but whens he makes her comeback, watch for her pace. The Aspley Devils junior can really make a difference.
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Sky Antoniolli
Fullback Antoniolli dominates the speed drills and training exercises each week and possesses that pure pace that every good fullback needs.
Souths Logan
Angel Austin
Angel Austin has moved across town from the bayside to Souths Logan where the flashy winger has added an extra dimension to the Magpies line-up with her genuine pace.
Ipswich Jets
Lilly Shaw
A local junior from the Ipswich district, Shaw has some competition from Paulini To’o within the squad for speed, but when it comes to a foot race we’ll give it to the speedy Shaw in a photo-finish.
Norths Devils
Madison Morris
Local junior Morris has come through the system and was hungry for a play under 19s after a successful 2023 with Aspley-Valleys.
Morris is small but has the type of pace which gives her halves confidence to kick ahead.
At full-throttle no one is catching her.
Northern Pride
Tomiko Hirakawa
The Pride have a quicksilver fullback in their ranks in Tomiko Hirakawa.
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