Glimpse at who could come into the mix at the Queensland Reds
What does the Queensland Reds next generation of players look like? Here’s an insight into the organisation’s next generation as the storied club rebuilds replace departing or ageing players.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Queensland Reds’ future is in safe hands judging by this lavish list of talent flowing from school and club land.
At a time when rugby supporters, administrators and players lick the wounds following an ill-fated World Cup campaign by the Wallabies, we can reveal all is not lost.
Here’s an insight into the type of talent player still being developed under the Reds umbrella.
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Peni Ravai goes out, so who goes in?
Nick Bloomfield
The experienced Toomaga-Allen and Ravai are not going anywhere anytime soon.
In fact, Toomaga-Allen only just got here and Ravai has re-signed so don’t expect to see Junior Wallaby Nick Bloomfield in the immediate future.
But the Easts Colts 1 player and Churchie old boy is on the trajectory.
Aside from Bloomfield, the Reds have wasted no time strengthening their front row stocks after losing Taniela Tupou to the Rebels, with Toomaga-Allen, Ravai, Alex Hodgman, new recruit Massimo De Lutiis, Matt Faessler and Zane Nonggorr ready to rock and roll.
Sef Fa’agase goes out, so who goes in?
George Blake, Trevor King
We are not retiring Fa’agase, the champion prop from Sunnybank, just yet. He is only 32.
But coming through is TSS old boy George Blake and Junior Wallaby Trevor King, two great prospects.
Blake was a wrecking ball front rower in TSS’ GPS premiership winning 2019 season and has scored a handful of tries already at the back of the Reds rolling maul, while King is a prodigy.
The 18-year-old Fijian graduated from Downlands College last year where he was mentored by former Reds and Wallaby champion Garrick Morgan. Such is King’s talent, he bypassed the Colts 1 system and went straight into Premier Grade rugby with Souths.
James O’Connor goes out, so who goes in?
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
McLaughlin-Phillips is next up in case you didn’t know. Who isn’t excited about this 19-year-old BBC old boy?
He hails from the old school of fellow Reds utility back Taj Annan and like Annan, McLaughlin-Phillips has a future in a Queensland jersey.
Gunnedah Red Devils junior McLaughlin-Phillips has wonderful footwork, acceleration, a knack for scoring, a booming kick and instincts.
He is fun to watch, and of course the Reds also have fly half Tom Lynagh, son of Reds legend Michael.
And don’t forget about Lawson Creighton who will play No. 10 or No. 12 depending on where O’Connor and Paisami fit into the equation.
Suliasi Vunivalu goes out, so who goes in?
Tim Ryan
Although it is hard to believe, Vunivalu is still just 27 years of age.
But in terms of rookies, Ryan, the St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe alumni, is an exciting prospect to replace him when the time comes.
He has continued to improve out of sight across club rugby after bursting onto the scene like a bolt out of the blue to dominate the 2021 AIC First XV rugby competition.
Ryan has plenty of upside and we are keen to see this elusive winger give it a go against men.
He already has a premiership with The Brothers Hospital Cup team, and Ryan is only at the start of his journey.
He is a good investment for 2024 and beyond.
Floyd Aubrey
Like Ryan, winger or fullback Aubrey was an electric talent who has come from an AIC school, Marist College Ashgrove.
From Murgon, hot-stepper Aubrey is a naturally gifted back who has been a Junior Wallaby, and a Colts 1 premiership winner with GPS.
He is not as light-on-feet as Ryan but he is awfully close, and is strong, powerful and gathering experience as the months roll by.
He is sure to play Super Rugby by 2025.
Mac Grealy
Grealy is probably ahead of these two in terms of the amount of game time he will get in the upcoming season because he has already tasted Super Rugby action.
From Downlands College, Grealy is similar to Aubrey and Ryan in that he possesses very sharp footwork and is a Junior Wallaby.
The 21-year-old Souths Kookaburras Toowoomba junior has 15 caps to his name, and has recently re-signed for another year.
Cormac Daly goes out, who goes in?
Lachlan Connors
The best schoolboy rugby player in Queensland in 2017 was St Patrick’s College’s lock Lachlan Connors.
The tall and mobile Connors spearheaded Bond University to the Hospital Cup minor premiership this season. He was then a standout in the Challenger Series which earned him a spot on the Reds bench in their clash with the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights on Saturday.
We are not saying he will play Super Rugby next season - because the club has Seru Uru, Ryan Smith, Cormac Daly, Connor Vest and Jake Upfield.
Crystal ball prediction: There will be a time, very soon, where towering TSS old boys Angus Blyth and Wilson Blyth run out alongside each other.
Fraser McReight or Harry Wilson injured, who goes in?
John Bryant
Obviously the Reds have Wallabies calibre players Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight locked and loaded, but Bryant is the future.
The Junior Wallaby has progressed nicely in the Reds Academy, earning a starting spot in Saturday’s clash at Ballymore.
He is a big No. 8 or flanker who hits and sticks in defence, and can also run.
One thing we admire about Bryant, a St Laurence’s College old boy, was that he stuck solid to the Souths Magpies colts program when he left school at a time when Souths were the competition’s easybeats. That said a lot about his personality.
Crystal ball prediction: We hope to see Nick Baker (Marist College Ashgrove) recover from a knee injury and eventually run out alongside Bryant (St Laurence’s College), his ex-arch-nemesis when playing AIC schoolboy rugby.
Tate McDermott gets injured, who goes in?
Kalani Thomas then Louis Werchon, Spencer Jeans
We are not trying to jinx McDermott, the Wallabies scrumhalf. He is incredible and the Reds need him.
But if he was to get injured, 21-year-old Kalani Thomas is next in line.
Among other options, the Reds have Sunshine Coast Grammar old boy Louis Werchon and TSS old boy Spencer Jeans ready to roll although Jeans has been put on ice for some time.
The Reds do not have a shortage of quality halfbacks, and coming through is another Sunshine Coast Grammar student, Australian Schoolboy Luke Aiken.
But in the immediate future, the Reds have Ipswich Grammar School old boy Thomas.
He is an electric player whose workrate is extraordinary, someone who puts 100 per cent into every play.
When given an opportunity, he has shown up for the Reds in the 2020s after graduating in 2019.
He was the ants pants in that GPS rugby season alongside Roosters half Sam Walker.
Crystal ball prediction: Werchon, a super talent, has got his nose slightly in front of Jeans for the Reds third option scrumhalf.
Rising stars: 60 players to watch in Meninga Cup U19s club league
Players to watch: Who were the rising stars of the the Mal Meninga Cup under-19s club league competition? Here’s 60 of the finest across all 14 teams ahead of round one this Saturday.
GPS First XI: Batsman who hit more sixes than fours makes Team of the Week
GPS First XI cricket Team of the Week: The round 2 team includes a player who hit more sixes than fours, a Year 10 rookie from a losing side and a Gremlins’ junior from the bush.