Memo rugby clubs: Club less schoolboy bolter makes state team

A year 12 student has made the Queensland schoolboys rugby union squad despite being club less - and playing a rival code.

A year 12 student has made the Queensland schoolboys rugby union squad despite being club less - and playing a rival code.

Jodeci Letalu, who is part of the Marsden SHS Langer Trophy rugby league squad, is so naturally gifted that he recently made the No.2 Queensland schoolboys merit team - despite not playing a game of rugby this season and not being aligned to a club.

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He beat private schoolboys currently playing week to week club rugby into the squad which was a huge achievement.

This was after playing a role in Marsden SHS’s 36-nil first round Langer Trophy win last week.

Jodeci Letalu made one of two Qld schoolboy merit teams. (News Corp/Attila Csaszar)

Good news for the nine Premier rugby clubs is that despite him playing in the elite schoolboy rugby league Langer Trophy, he sees his future in the 15-a-side code.

The New Zealand-born Letalu, who plays fullback in rugby and five-eight in league, grew up in his native country playing rugby and was introduced to league when he arrived at Marsden SHS six years ago.

“Both help with each other,’’ Letalu said.

“Rugby has more freedom and league is more structured.’’

He said his family would prefer him to play rugby union once he leaves school because “that is where they see my future’’.

Jodeci Letalu posing at Marsden State High School (News Corp/Attila Csaszar)

Letalu said the Easts Tigers had indicated their interest in him playing colts in 2022, but where he played next season was not finalised.

Letalu is in great company, joining an array of highly rated rugby talents. The No.1 Queensland schoolboys No.1 team was: 1. K Golding (South Coast), 2. N Herlihy (Cap), 3. T King (Darling Downs), 4. T Twaddell (Met East), 5. S Tualima (Met East), 6. S Sekona (Met East), 7. Flynn Carson (South Coast), 8. S Smallacombe (Cap), 9. T Segger (ME), 10. S Howlett (South Coast), 11. J Bensen (Met East 12. J Radliffe (South Coast), No.13 G Godwin (Met East), J Bierton (Met East), T Dowling (South Coast).