An insight into Queensland’s next generation World Cup players line up at Under-20 World Championships
Queensland Reds’ potential next generation World Cup rugby representatives will be glimpsed at the World Rugby Under-20 Championships starting this Saturday. Find out who they are.
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Queensland’s conveyor belt of rugby talent continues to churn out potential Wallabies, including nine players named in Australia’s World Rugby Under-20 Championship squad.
The championships will be staged in South Africa from June 29, and Queensland youngsters will have their thumb prints all over the tournament.
CLUB RUGBY: COLTS FORM PLAYERS ENTERING ROUND 12
QUEENSLANDERS PICKED FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
KADIN PRITCHARD (BRUMBIES)
What type of player he is: Kadin Pritchard is a tall, athletic outside back capable of playing anywhere. Fly half, in the centres, on the wing or at fullback he could do a job.
His primary positions are fullback and outside centre, where his vision, step, and aerial ability is to the fore.
Where he came from: Pritchard is an Australian raised 20-year-old with Ghanaian family heritage.
Of African descent though mother Brenda and Kiwi heritage from Dad Dan, Pritchard has rugby in his blood.
He attended St Peters Lutheran College Springfield, where he could be seen perfecting his craft at Bob Gibbs Park before playing one year of Colts 1 rugby at Brothers (2023), winning the premiership under coach Greg Beaver that season.
Prediction: Pritchard is a gun and some have earmarked his younger brother Treyvon, a Year 12 student at Churchie, to be just as good if not even better.
Kadin was in the Reds system but the Brumbies have him now and it would not surprise to see him break through in the next three years.
LINGTON LELI (BRUMBIES)
What type of player he is: Leli was an immovable force, close to the line and in general play where his strength, quick feet and soft hands earnt him Australian Under-20s selection.
Where he came from: Big boy Leli came out of rugby stronghold BBC, a schoolboy rugby nursery.
Toby Macpherson, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Taj Annan, Mason Gordon, Jack Howarth (NRL) were just a handful of elite players pushed out through the BBC system this decade.
Leli played for the Souths Magpies Colts 1 side under coach Cian O’Connor last year before being picked up by the ACT club.
Prediction: Leli’s escalation into higher honours over the last 12 months has been rapid.
After an injury ridden 2023 club season, Leli was picked up by the Brumbies and has been a walk-in to Australian Under 20s teams since.
That has to say something.
JACK HARLEY (BRUMBIES)
Nudgee College old boy Jack Harley is a versatile forward, capable of playing lock, flanker or No.8 with ease.
He is a great link man between his backs and his forwards and is a workhorse.
Strong over the ball, mobile and damaging in the wider chanels, Harley is the full package.
Where he came from: Harley comes out of rugby stronghold Nudgee who just churn out elite players.
He finished there in 2022 before playing Colts 1 club rugby for Brothers last year where he won a premiership.
The Brumbies then recruited him for their Under-19s side for the National Championships last spring.
Prediction: He has professional rugby player written all over him, if his performance at the U20 Rugby Championship at the Sunshine Coast earlier this season was anything to go by.
NICK BLOOMFIELD (REDS)
Nick Bloomfield is a no-nonsense prop who is a seasoned veteran at club land.
A master at his craft, Bloomfield was always going to be a good player. But who knew he was going to be a Junior Wallaby? His Colts 1 coach (2023) Tyrell Barker predicted he had a big future, but even he was surprised at how big of an impact Bloomfield had made and the improvement in his game since playing colts in 2022.
Where he came from: Bloomfield played First XV rugby at Churchie in a quality side which features the likes of Kaileb Crothers (Easts), Max Craig (Easts, Reds), Alex Kerr, Charles Brosnan (Brothers), Tom Stoddart (Easts), Archie Wilson (Easts), Zack Lamont (Panthers), Dre Pakeho (Brothers), Mac Kelley (Easts) and Will Herbert.
Bloomfield has been the most consistent prop in Colts 1 club rugby for three years now (2022, 2023, 2024), a scrum time weapon who is huge for Easts.
Prediction: Alex Hodgman and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen are signed for season 2025, which will likely be their final year with the Reds.
George Blake, Zane Nonngorr seem the immediate replacements if they aren’t already starters, but likes of Bloomfield, King, Craig and Massimo De Lutiis were highly thought of in the system.
FRANKIE GOLDSBROUGH (REDS)
Frankie Goldsbrough was a hard running inside centre who can straighten the attack and also facilitate for his outside backs.
Aged 18 and signed by the Reds to their full time squad, Goldsbrough has improved considerably since this time last year.
The cornerstone of his game is defence and strong, hard running, but his kicking and passing game have come on.
Where he has come from: Goldsbrough graduated from Churchie last year and has trained alongside Queensland’s best centres, James O’Connor, Lawson Creighton, Hunter Paisami, Taj Annan, Josh Flook, Isaac Henry and Jordan Petaia, ever since.
He was a Brisbane Broncos Academy player in 2022, an elite edge forward who the Reds signed midway through his senior year of schooling.
Prediction: He will play Super Rugby Pacific. It could even be as early as next year although 2026 is more likely.
TREVOR KING (REDS)
Signed by Queensland, King was a prodigy at Downlands College but has been injured for much of his time in Colts since graduating in 2022.
King is a huge human. He has big shoes, big arms and a big engine.
Expertly coached by former Wallaby Garrick Morgan at Downlands, he progressed to be a Hospital Cup player aged just 18.
Where he came from: King was born in Lautoka, Fiji and only started his rugby journey when he arrived in Australia as a Year 2 in 2012.
The 19-year-old played his junior rugby at Gladstone RUFC before being a wrecking ball prop at Downlands College, the same school wing livewire Mac Grealy went to.
Prediction: If he stays healthy and fit, King will play Super Rugby Pacific.
HARRY MCLAUGHLIN-PHILLIPS (REDS)
Boom fly half Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is up next.
With explosive off the mark speed, McLaughlin-Phillips burst onto the club scene after playing as an outside back in BBC’s stacked First XV sides in 2020 (premiership winners) and 2021.
McLaughlin-Phillips was a sensation for the Souths Colts 1 side in 2022, winning the Under 20s Player of the Year medal, which has been won by blokes like Harry Wilson and Josh Flook.
Where he came from: He was born in Toowoomba but played his junior rugby for the Gunnedah Red Devils.
The 20-year-old then attended BBC where he was used as a winger, with Mason Gordon and Taj Annan conducting, and Jarrod Homan and Blake Davis the other outside backs.
He is now enjoying his third season at Souths after dipping his toes in the water this year as a Super Rugby Pacific fly half for Queensland.
Prediction: It won’t be long before him and Tom Lynagh are the Reds long term flyhalves.
Lynagh has the better kicking game, but McLaughlin-Phillips’ running game is second to none and he could play inside centre to allow for both to play.
He is the type of player who could come on in the final 20 minutes and win a game for a side.
DOM THYGESEN (REDS)
Dom Thygesen is a rough and tumble No. 8 who is a beast of a man.
Tall, strong and a real running threat, Thygesen is one of the most elite forwards in the Colts 1 competition. He was also a noted athlete at BBC.
Where he has come from: Another out of BBC, Thygesen played Second XV at school, graduating in 2021.
Since then Thygesen has been on a steady upward trajectory under Souths coach Cian O’Connor where he has been a staple in representative sides – when healthy.
Predication: You can’t write him off. This position is always hotly contested, and his selection is a huge compliment.
With a work ethic like he has, his size and mobility. He has it in him.
WILL MCCULLOCH (REDS)
Norths Eagles fullback McCulloch is the full package. He has pace and plenty of it, but is also a strong defender with high IQ, a good kicking game and knowledge beyond his years.
He can capitalise on half-chances and in broken play is a real wildcard. The gun left footer can also kick goals.
Where he came from: McCulloch comes from Padua College and is the next best thing coming out of the Eagles Nest.
After graduating from Padua in 2021, McCulloch played half of a season for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Meninga Cup rugby league competition before moving across to Norths rugby where he played his way into the Queensland Reds Under-19s.
After a bumper 2022 season which saw him make the Australian Under-18s, McCulloch was a Colts 1 wonder and first grade tryscorer for Norths, before returning to the Reds Under-19s side in the spring of 2023.
Prediction: He will play Super Rugby Pacific – he is too athletic and nimble not too.
It is a matter of opportunity.
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