Hear from some of Ipswich SHS’s emerging rugby league talents ahead of the school season
Ipswich State High rugby league season preview: What is fuelling the school’s charge in this year’s elite schoolboy and schoolgirl competitions as we feature a Super Seven youngsters.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Motherly is the overarching theme powering Ipswich State High School’s emerging rugby league talents into the new schoolboy and schoolgirl seasons in 2024.
Year 10 edge forward Innocent and older brother Velonte, a Year 12 outside back, will have caring mother Wuni in the forefront of their mind when they run out for their Walters Cup and Langer Trophy showdowns this season respectively.
LANGER TROPHY PLAYERS TO WATCH
30 TOP PLAYERS FROM THE LANGER RESERVES
The two towering young prospects, who started gathering league momentum at the Goodna Eagles, also have older brothers Kulu and Munga as family role models, with both having graduated from Ipswich SHS and Keebra Park SHS respectively in 2022.
Velonte, Innocent and a handful of other Ipswich footy players on the rise feature in our story below following the Ipswich SHS rugby league excellence program seasdon launch.
SEASON PREVIEW: YOUNG GUN QUESTION AND ANSWER
VELONTE BARUANI (LANGER TROPHY)
Junior club: Goodna Eagles now I am at the Norths Tigers.
Childhood playing hero: Johnathan Thurston, he is a real leader. He is a good example.
What sport would you play if it wasn’t rugby league: Basketball or soccer. I followed my brothers (Kulu, Munga) footsteps. They started (rugby league) and I followed.
Favourite pump up song before a game: I am more of a genre guy. Before a game just chilled RnB and gospel.
Which player in your team excites you most this season: Kanaan Magele. He has seen big improvement since he came and had a blowout Mal Meninga season. And Saifiti Junior Saifiti.
How do you feel you have improved at ISHS: I started at Ipswich in Year 10. Came over because my brother (Kulu, 2022 old boy) was there. They set standards out for me and show how to be a leader. They have made me into the person and player I am today.
Who are you most looking forward to playing this season: Palm Beach Currumbin round one. We are looking to take them down.
Who motivates you to give it your all: Mum (Wuni) because she is the driver of my game. For the past couple of years she has been. She is always there when we are playing so everything I do is for her.
A couple words to describe this year’s ISHS side: Determined.
BILL FRASER (LANGER TROPHY)
Junior club: Fassifern Bombers.
Childhood playing hero: Billy Slater. I used to play fullback so I just loved him.
What sport would you play if it wasn’t rugby league: Gridiron. My dad (Clinton) played for Australia in gridiron. I did a couple of seasons with the Ipswich Cougars then Brisbane Rhinos as a defensive end or quarterback.
Favourite pump up song before a game: Hells Bells by AC/DC.
Which player in your team excites you most this season: Kanaan Magele. He is very powerful.
How do you feel you have improved at ISHS: Just like the standards that they demand in everything. Standards in life, in schooling especially. It correlates with your footy.
Who are you most looking forward to playing this season: Palm Beach Currumbin round one. They are probably the biggest fish in the sea.
Who motivates you to give it your all: Probably my younger self. Just trying to achieve that little boys dream that I have always had and go play in the NRL. It gets me up everyday.
A couple words to describe this year’s ISHS side: Definitely determined.
INNOCENT BARUANI (WALTERS CUP)
Junior club: Goodna Eagles.
Childhood playing hero: Johnathan Thurston.
What sport would you play if it wasn’t rugby league: Probably soccer. I have played before.
Favourite pump up song before a game: I got a few. No. 1 would be ONEFOUR, Cruise Control.
Which player in your team excites you most this season: Ira Yeatman, Cesar’s cousin. He is a five-eighth. Very quick.
How do you feel you have improved at ISHS: Yeah I have improved a lot not just as a player but as a person. They have the leadership program so that’s making me want to be a leader. They put school first.
Who are you most looking forward to playing this season: Probably Keebra again. Because of the rivalry.
Who motivates you to give it your all: My Mum Wuni.
A couple words to describe this year’s ISHS side: Fast and physical. Always there for each other.
JABIRI MACK (LANGER TROPHY)
Junior club: Brothers Ipswich then Norths Tigers.
Childhood playing hero: Sam Thaiday.
What sport would you play if it wasn’t rugby league: Soccer as well.
Favourite pump up song before a game: Probably anything by Fredo Bang. He is one of the main guys I listen to before a game.
Which player in your team excites you most this season: Probably Saifiti Junior Saifiti. He is a freak. He runs so hard.
How do you feel you have improved at ISHS: Just everything, consistently training. Everything we get right, just one per cent plays. They teach us to be good people, the standards we hold off the field and then on the field.
Who are you most looking forward to playing this season: Palm Beach Currumbin.
Who motivates you to give it your all: Mum (Rebecca). She has done a lot for me.
A couple words to describe this year’s ISHS side: A group of hard workers. We are a very old team this year. All Year 12s.
SAIFITI JUNIOR SAIFITI (LANGER TROPHY)
Junior club: Satupaitea (A village on the south east coast of Savai’i Island in Samoa).
Childhood playing hero: Sonny Bill Williams.
What sport would you play if it wasn’t rugby league: I played a lot of sport (growing up). Volleyball, cricket too. Probably volleyball or the 100m. Saifiti said he has clocked an impressive 11.12 in the 100m.
Favourite pump up song before a game: I like a church song. I always play a church song before I play. I pray before the game.
Which player in your team excites you most this season: Sam Martin, Jabiri Mack and Kanaan Magele.
Do you feel you have improved at ISHS: Yes I have improved a lot from them since I started last year.
Who are you most looking forward to playing this season: Wavell Warriors or Palm Beach Currumbin.
Who motivates you to give it your all: My family and also my heavenly father.
A couple words to describe this year’s ISHS side: Talented.
SKY-YVETTE FAIMALIE (OPENS GIRLS)
Junior club: Springfield Hawks rugby union
Childhood playing hero: Ardie Savea.
What sport would you play if it wasn’t rugby league or rugby: Netball
Favourite pump up song before a game: I kind of just press shuffle.
Which player in your team excites you most this season: I think the whole team to be honest. We came second (last year) and I think everyone this year really wants it.
How do you feel you have improved at ISHS: It has taught me a lot of life lessons, being at this school. Everyone is kind of their own person. So it has been really good.
Who are you most looking forward to playing this season: Probably Mabel Park.
Who motivates you to give it your all: My family. They have sacrificed a lot to get me where I am. My Mum Mita and Dad Jedi.
A couple words to describe this year’s ISHS side: Resilient.
TOFI ULUGIA (YEAR 10 GIRLS)
Junior club: Ipswich Brothers.
Childhood playing hero: My sister Lishainah Ulugia.
What sport would you play if it wasn’t rugby league: Basketball.
Favourite pump up song before a game: All I Need, Cutthroat Mode.
Which player in your team excites you most this season: Our captain Charity Faalogo. She is the other prop.
How do you feel you have improved at ISHS: I have definitely learnt a lot here, from the coaches, like Ms Cox, especially. No excuses and putting in those one per cent plays.
Who are you most looking forward to playing this season: Marsden SHS.
Who motivates you to give it your all: Definitely my sister Lishainah and Shalom Sauaso. Shalom is always trying to get me to train a lot more, get up to her standards and be the best I can.
A couple words to describe this year’s ISHS side: Hardworking.
LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE
Round 1 fixtures
Langer Trophy
3.50pm: Mabel Park SHS v Caloundra SHS (Langlands Park); Walters Cup (1.20pm)
4pm: Redcliffe SHS v Marsden SHS (Dolphin Oval); Walters Cup (2.45pm)
5.30pm: Keebra Park SHS v Wavell SHS; 4.15pm (Southport Tigers),
5.30pm: PBC SHS v Ipswich SHS (Tugun); Walters Cup (4.15pm)
This season all eight rounds and finals from the Langer Trophy and the Year 10 Walters Cup will be LIVE STREAMED on KommunityTV in a deal with the NRL and Queensland Secondary Schools Rugby League. The Brisbane Broncos-sponsored competitions were named after Broncos’ greats Allan Langer and Kevin Walters respectively.
AIC First XIII rugby league Team of the Season after Iona triumph
Who has made the AIC First XIII rugby league Team of the Season following Iona’s premiership confirmation? All is revealed here, along with the best of the best who just missed selection.
BJRU grand finals: Players of the Day includes next-gen Nudgee weapon
BJRU grand finals: See who the Players of the Day were after five stunning Div 1 and 2 deciders between Easts, Logan Saints, Caboolture, Wynnum, Souths, Brothers, and Riverside. The list includes an exciting outside back from Nudgee that set Bottomley Park alight on Sunday.