Cross-code Brisbane Boys’ College student Jonah Wilde ‘hungrier than ever’ to kick goals, literally, in school rugby and club league for the Tigers in 2025

Learning the tricks of the trade from a former All Blacks strongman and NRL great is a luxury few rugby rookies can boast. Coaching gems handed down from Brad Thorn and Shane Walker will be put to good use this year when an aspiring 16-year-old attending one of Queensland’s great rugby nurseries lets rip in both codes.

Jonah Wilde. Picture: Benny Hassum Photography.

Learning the tricks of the trade from a former All Blacks strongman and NRL great is a luxury few rugby rookies can boast.

Jonah Wilde, 16, is one of the few emerging dual-code rugby rookies in Queensland that has benefited from the coaching of both Brad Thorn and Shane Walker in his fledgling career.

That career will go up two notches this year when he captains the Easts Tigers in the high-octane Cyril Connell Cup representative under-17s league competition and plays in a highly fancied Brisbane Boys’ College First XV squad in GPS rugby.

“When I went to my first Firsts camp with Brad (First XV assistant coach) and Dan (Leo, head coach) I learnt a lot about the mental toughness in the game, especially as a game manager,” the Year 11 student said.

“Shane coached me in the under-15s league (at Easts Tigers). I learnt a lot about competing. He always pushed me at training and wouldn’t let me end on a bad set. He used to teach me to never give up and always push.”

Tigers under-17s captain Jonah Wilde runs the ball in round 1 of the Connell Cup competition last Saturday. Picture: Benny Hassum Photography.

Wilde, whose New Zealand heritage derives from his Father Billy and Mother Katrina, is as passionate as any schoolboy trying to fulfil their childhood dream of playing rugby or league professionally.

And he’s willing to work for it.

His weekly schedule consists of countless early morning gym sessions, three club league training sessions, school field sessions, Saturday games and regular passing and kicking extras on the St Peter Chanel Primary School oval near his family house in The Gap.

When Wilde lacks energy, his motivation stems from looking around his room at all the playing jerseys he has decorating the walls.

The flyhalf or inside centre in rugby and lock in league is surrounded by high achievers in both his school and club environment. This is pushing him to be the best leader, trainer and ball of physicality he can be.

This decade, BBC old boys such as Jack and Frank Howarth (Melbourne Storm), Mason and Carter Gordon (Reds and Titans respectively), Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Reds), Taj Annan (Knights), Toby Macpherson and Lington Leli (Brumbies) have progressed towards higher honours.

“As a young kid you look up to those boys. Especially now, Gray (O’Neill), Jack (Randall) and Oscar (Donovan, all BBC seniors) … When you go to training and see how hard they push themselves it makes me just want to match it and be better,” Wilde said.

“With Howie (Jack) and playing with Frank last year in the centres for a couple games I saw the level he was at and it made me think this year I just want to get to that level and be the best I can.”

Jack Howarth of the Storm runs the ball during the NRL Preliminary Final match between the Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters last year.

Goalkicking playmaker Wilde was a crash-running No. 12 for his junior club GPS and has “always been the one talking on the field”. “It wasn’t until two years ago that I had my first crack at No. 10 and I loved having control of the game, dictating, playing eyes up footy and playing off my gut,” Wilde said.

All Blacks World Cup-winning flyhalf Dan Carter was often a fixture on the TV screen, and in back and forth messages with his Father Billy who “always sends me videos of Dan Carter highlights”.

Unfortunately Wilde was cruelly denied the chance at gaining selection in the Reds Under-16s side last year having missed the Emerging Reds Cup tournament. It is a three-day bonanza of rugby and selection process for the representative team which he missed after sustaining an ankle injury the day before it was set to start.

He is now back to full strength.

“It has (motivated me to make up for lost time). I am more hungry than ever this year” Wilde said.

That hunger was fostered more than a decade ago when he used his sharp footwork to weave around older brothers Luca and Zach, both of whom are props.

“I am the most competitive kid … We used to play backyard footy and we wouldn’t stop until I won,” he said. “We used to go downstairs and do hot potato, and 200 passes a night … My passion definitely grew there.”

Jonah Wilde (centre, back), with Mother Katrina and brothers Zach and Luca at GPS Rugby Club earlier in his rugby career. He started his rugby league journey at Brothers in Stafford.

Wilde will captain the Tigers in round 2 of the Connell Cup this Saturday but is also looking ahead at the Australian Under-18s and Reds Under-18s squads.

“I am just trying to work for everything right now.”