Brisbane Broncos boom boys make impression; 14 of the best schoolboy signings
We give you the hot tip on Brisbane Broncos next boom boys, 14 of the best SEQ teenage signings as two rookies star at pre-season training.
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Schoolboy centre sensation Deine Mariner and boom halfback talent Ezra Mam have made an instant impression at the Brisbane Broncos.
Mariner blazed to the club squad’s quickest time during a 40m sprint session at Red Hill last week while Mam won the gruelling 1.2km sprint.
They are just two of a number of ace rookie talents which Broncos fans can expect to make an impression in the short to medium term.
Mariner is a product of the Marist club in Auckland who last week graduated from the crack Palm Beach SHS system after three years on the Gold Coast.
He had a bumper 2020 under his school and club coach Tim Maccan, helping Tweed (Meninga Cup) and PBC SHS (Phil Hall Cup) to premierships while claiming the Player of the Carnival at the schoolboy state trials in May.
He was also rated by www.couriermail.com.au as the No.1 player seen across Langer Trophy league, GPS and AIC rugby First XV systems in 2021.
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JUSTIN HODGES MEDAL WINNERS, 2021
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The couriermail.com.au first introduced Broncos fans to Mam, 19, in March and the Souths Logan No.7 had a superb season in Super Cup after starting the year in the under 18s.
A cousin of 2020 Queensland Origin series winning heroes Brenko Lee and Edrick Lee, Mam scored three tries in his Super Cup debut.
After that match he played so well, the Ambrose Treacy 2020 school leaver was a contender for the player of the year - despite missing a third of the season when he was in the 18s.
Mariner and Mam are just some of the exciting south east Queensland talent secured by the Broncos.
After telling our readers about TC Robati (Marsden SHS, 2019), Mam and Xavier Willison (PBC SHS, 2020) long before they hit the limelight, we are telling you about another 15 hot rookies signed by the Broncos.
HERE ARE 14 OF THE BEST
1. Deine Mariner
The right centre was untouchable in the Phil Hall Cup state-wide schoolboy grand final, scoring three first half tries. His performance for PBC SHS on grand final day had St Brendan’s College coach, former Bronco Scott Minto, likening his influence on schoolboy football to that Cowboys and Queensland young gun Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
2. Blake Mozer
Keebra Park SHS was selected in the Australian schoolboys merit squad following his influential Langer Trophy season. Tall for a hooker and a natural leader, he can comfortably come up with six different ball-playing options in a set and is a white hot prospect.
3. Karl Oloapu (Wavell SHS)
Some excellent judges say Wavell SHS five-eighth Karl Oloapu has the most potential out of any of the schoolboys signed by the Broncos. He was regarded as the best under 16 player in Queensland when Brisbane signed him and the Year 12 school leaver - who is a Redcliffe Dolphins product - made our Langer Trophy Team of the Season.
4. Ben Te Kura (Wavell SHS)
There is a bit of Xavier Willison in Te Kura, who was coached by Michael Roberts at Wavell SHS this season. While Te Kura is a right edge backrower - Willison is a mobile prop - they have similar frames and one can easily image Te Kura growing into this frame just as Willison has done.
5. Nathaniel Tangimataiti (Marsden SHS)
Injured robbed Tangimataiti of the second half of the Langer Trophy season, but in that time he showed plenty to suggest the New Zealand product via Marsden SHS would be an astute signing by the Broncos. An edge backrower or centre, Tangimataiti made the Queensland schoolboys merit team in May.
6. Lykhan King-Togia
Here is one for the little black books. From Dalby, King-Togia is a prodigious schoolboy talent. He plays five-eight, but don’t be surprised if he one day progresses to dummy half. A real jack-in-the-box, King-Togia has a high skill level and is an astute signing by the Broncos.
7. Shaun Packer
Another Darling Downs product, Packer was signed by Brisbane from. St Mary’s College and this season played Meninga Cup in the Wynnum Seagulls side which was one of the state’s top under 18 teams. He is a busy dummy half, a little in the Andrew McCullough mould who expertly brings his forward onto the ball. But he also has an effective running game and is a very good player.
8. John Radel
Look up the word tough in the dictionary. I am sure it was created to one day describe Radel. Shaun Parker’s front rower at Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Radel is old school tough who we are sure will find his way up the ladder and into the NRL.
9. Jye Grey
Speed demon Grey has pace to burn. He plays league in the halves or on the wing, but played fullback for The Southport School in the GPS First XV rugby competition. Gosh he is fast.
10. Devonte Vaivela
Another wildcard choice, Vaivela is a Marsden SHS centre whose winter of dreams was spoiled by injury. But if you had seen his pre-season training and form, you would have picked him out of the pack as someone with x-factor. Watch for the year 11 student to impact the Langer Trophy in 2022.
11. Cameron Bukowski
The Easts Tigers is another ripping dummy half talent with a background in the halves. He is multi-talented, having helped Villanova College to the 2021 First XI cricket premiership, then played No.10 or inside centre in Villa’s First XV.
12. Felix Fa’atili
Another New Zealand national who polished their game playing in the Langer Trophy competition (Wavell SHS), big Felix was at the peak of his powers when he helped pave the way for Met North’s state carnival victory in May. As a result he was named as starting prop in the Queensland schoolboys merit side.
13. Tim Sielaff-Burns
Coombabah SHS’s best player, the fullback-centre frustratingly missed the first half of Coombabah’s comeback season into the Langer Trophy. But when Sielaff-Burns returned he injected class and gave team mates confidence.
14. Coby Black
One for the future is Coby Black, a Marsden SHS play-maker whose progressed will be watched very close when he makes his Langer Trophy debut in 2022.
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