The 165cm tall Ipswich Jets dynamo Tyler Peckham-Harris is among our x-factor players of the Meninga and Connell junior league representatives competitions.
Peckham-Harris was a member of last season’s all-conquering Ipswich SHS team which swept through 2022 unbeaten to claim the state and national schoolboy championships.
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He was a fullback across last season - making our 2022 Meninga Cup Team of the Season and also our Langer Trophy Squad of the Season.
But in a coaching masterstroke Jets Meninga Cup coach Shane Harris has swung the pocket-sized dynamo to dummy half where he has been electric in the Meninga Cup this season.
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Coach Harris said it was Peckham-Harris’ first go at hooker, but with the exciting Dom Sandow and Jeriah Vagana capable of playing No. 1, it was a no brainer.
“He’s never played there before. Obviously he was an excellent fullback last year. Apart from Keano Kini (PBC SHS old boy), he’s probably the next best fullback.
“He (Kini) was the benchmark as far as a fullback but I think Tyler is the second best fullback in the country behind him.
“But his height. NRL clubs look at him and go too short.
“He had an unbelievable year last year. With him at hooker, hopefully they overlook the height.
“He’ll only get better as the year goes along,” Harris said about Peckham-Harris, who will play No. 9 for the Jets and Ipswich SHS in the Langer Trophy.
Here we present 40 of the x-factor players from the Meninga under 18s and the Connell under 16s competitions.
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Cohen Dittman (Blackhawks)
The Townsville Brothers junior made the 2022 Queensland schoolboys No. 1 side last season as a winger, but it is at fullback where Dittman can impact matches for the Blackhawks. Whether he is sniffing around the ruck or injecting himself on the edge, he is an x-factor player for sure.
Tyler Melrose (Capras)
He plays in a competition (Cyril Connell Challenge) named after one of Central Queensland’s greatest ever players who, like Melrose, played in the halves. And now the Emu Park junior is the x-factor player for Capras where he uses his speed, dummy and step to crack a game open. Rugby league rich Rocky continues to produce elite young players and Melrose is one of those. Melrose should be even more effective when representative forward Zac Bateman and centre Eli Mackay return from injury soon to take some pressure off him.
Joseph Tupuse (Souths Logan)
The 2022 Queensland schoolboys 15 years centre from Keebra Park SHS is a real handful with every touch of the ball. “Weather it’s on a 50m carry, offload or his running clean over a defender, he is just a threat 100 per cent of the time,’’ praised his coach Scott Bannan. Outside of that, he is prepared to run crash ball and do the hard yards as well.
Seth Gundry (Burleigh Bears)
Gundry is a jack-in-the-box fullback who is so elusive, it’s not funny. He scored the try of the season - so far - last weekend is just a class act. South Sydney have him signed. Gundry is the son of Ryan Gundry, the Q-Cup champion with Bears and the Devils.
David Bryenton (Burleigh)
Bryenton has been a midfield spark for Burleigh since arriving this year from New Zealand. He is a class act on the edge, but also a strong defender which brings opponents its own pressure to opponents.
Tyson Walker (Ipswich Jets)
From the famous Walker family, Tyson is another play-maker who coach Jye Tuaimau-Gadsdon earlier this year described as “unpredictable and exciting to watch’’.
Jedidiah Mulitalo (Wynnum-Manly)
Mulitlalo has an impact off the ball not many others come close to having. The chirpy centre is the king of getting under the opposition’s skin.
If you search excitement in the dictionary you should find his face in there somewhere, that’s how enjoyable it is watching the young gun get fired up from the sidelines.
Tawa-Dean Simpkins (Wynnum-Manly)
We’ve loved seeing Dean Simpkins ignite the Seagulls offence from the back and hold together their line in defence.
The 15-year-old has turned up in the first four games of the season and we presume it will be no different heading into the final three matches.
Leroy Charles (Jets)
Like The Flash, Charles possesses unearthly speed.
A speedy customer who lurks on the wing with endless danger for the opposing winger.
In space, it’s hard to believe any in the competition could catch him.
Finn Kendall (Jets)
Ipswich Grammar will have a lovely addition to their First XV this year with Kendall in the ranks.
He’s a great footballer in both codes, possessing hidden wheels which on Saturday saw him make the best try saving tackle we’ve seen all year.
Pictures from Saturday at the North Ipswich Reserve (Ipswich v Wide Bay) here.
Toby Woodall (Mackay Cutters).
The St Patrick’s College student he has speed to burn and can sniff a try out of anywhere. The young Cutters fullback has great balance and footwork and can produce that special play when his team needs it most.
Ethan Grimshaw (Norths Devils)
Grimshaw has something money just can’t buy - raw pace. A fullback who attends Nudgee College, Grimshaw is the state sprint champion in his age group and his speed makes him an x-factor player from anywhere on the ground.
Mereki Warradoo (Redcliffe)
A home grown Dolphins talent signed by the Peninsula-based NRL club, Warradoo is a thrilling talent from the Moreton Bay rugby league club who made the Queensland schoolboys 15 years team last year. He has that special spark about him.
Ellyjah Birve and Tyler Conquest (Falcons)
An all energy player, Birve has dancing feet, acceleration and a will to take the line on which challenges opposition sides. A Queensland under 15 five-eight last season, Birve was also an outstanding goal kicker. His fullback Conquest is also willing to take tough runs out of his own end, with his speed having the potential to provide his team with momentum early in the set. But give him a sniff of open space and Conquest is elusive and very good.
Braithen Scott (Western Clydesdales)
We left one of the best until last. Texas-born Scott is an outstanding young talent from St Mary’s College who can play halfback or fullback with ease. In a coaching master stroke Clydesdales’ coach Ned Murphy gave him a roving commission from No. 1 this season where he has created tries and scored tries himself.
Keoki Koraba (Tigers)
A strapping centre who last season attracted interest from the Melbourne Storm talent scouts, no less. He is an impact player on the edge, with size and strength, the type of bloke to get his side out of a tight spot.
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Teke Mene (Blackhawks)
Mene’s dummy half running featuring leg speed and strength when he comes out of his own end gives Blackhawks momentum from their kick-returns, but in open play no player is more dangerous than Mene. Why? He has Speed with a capital S. The Ignatius Park College product has been signed by the Cowboys.
Mutua Brown (CQ Capras)
Brown is an elite fullback who Capras’ coach RJ Stewart describes as “an exceptional player who competes on every play’’. A member of the 2023 Queensland under 19 State of Origin emerging squad, Brown is a Cathedral College product signed by the Cowboys.
Kohen Briggs and Liam O’Brien (Northern Pride)
The Cowboys-aligned outside back is shining in the Meninga Cup with Northern Pride wearing the No. 1 after impacting the GPS First XV rugby season last year with Ipswich Grammar School. Briggs, who played wing for the Cowboys Young Guns pre-season, and interchange player Liam O’Brien - a junior from the famous Cairns’ Kangaroos - can influence a match.
Tyler Peckham-Harris (Ipswich Jets)
With his fast feet and acceleration, it is red alert time when Peckham-Harris touches the ball. He is only 165cm tall, but uses his lack of height as a weapon to avoid tired markers or big men around the ruck. He is explosive off the mark, and quick enough to sustain speed in a long distance sprint to the line. The kid is also tough and takes the hard runs from his own end.
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Kia Simons and Bailey Anderson (Cutters)
Anderson not only has pace to break a game open, but he has a high worth ethic who gets into dummy half to drive, and therefore a quick play the ball on the next play. Simons, a centre out of the high class production line of St Patrick’s College, has been identified by the Cowboys and it is little wonder.
Saxon Innes and Coby Black (Wynnum-Manly)
From the rugby league gold mine of the Helensvale Hornets, Innes is an outside back going from strength to strength within the Marsden SHS rugby league program. South Sydney have recognised the Seagulls rookie by signing him. Coby Black is an x-factor player simply because he reads the game and can throw a ball into space like few others in his age group.
Mason Barber (Tweed Seagulls)
The Tweed x-factor can hurt teams at the drop of a hat with his blistering pace, support play and uncanny ability to find a hole. The flying fullback from the Coomera Cutters is a Danger man with a capital D.
Finn Lawson (Falcons)
Lawson is a livewire fullback with the ball skills of a hooker and the football brain of a halfback. From the Kawana Dolphins via the Nambour Bulls, the Mountain Creek State High School is such a natural, rugby union came knocking last season when he was a shock selection in the Australian schoolboys rugby team which toured Japan.
Aaron Hinch (Clydesdales)
The Warwick State High School product has flair and pace that make him a Mr Natural, a real x-factor player. He can play wing or centre and will be on the tip-list of rival coaches confronting the Western Clydesdales.
Alton Naiyep (Jets)
Naiyep is getting better and better and is clearly showing the benefits of his role in the Ipswich SHS’s match across the competition in 2022. A stunning finisher and creator of tries from centre, he is also a powerhouse dummy half runner who can beat a man one-on-one.
Will Saunders (Tweed Seagulls)
Dad Don was an NRL player with both the Gold Coast Seagulls and South Queensland Crushers, and his son Will is a dummy half young gun who can light up the ruck with his work in the middle. If you have players on the ground or one marker, Saunders will challenge the opposition.
John-Paul Donevski (Redcliffe Dolphins)
The Dolphins have been snapping up local Queensland talent but club scouts thought so highly of Donevski, they went to Sydney to sign him. The Doonside Junior played strongly for the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges at last year’s national schoolboy championship and is an x-factor player for Redcliffe. Also put Redcliffe No. 6 Tauave Leofa on your x-factor list - he has genuine skill, backed with fast feet and short term speed.
Tyrese Tovao (Brisbane Tigers)
A Dolphins’ aligned centre from Mabel Park SHS, Tovao is an explosive outside back capable of smashing a match wide open with his speed and strength. Watch for the youngster to go up a level in the Langer Trophy this year having benefited from playing against older teenagers in the under 18 Meninga Cup.
Adam Khan (Wide Bay Bulls)
A Maryborough SHS product, Khan is a genuine X-factor player. His dazzling footwork sees him create his own space from nothing and he is a great threat for the Wide Bay side.
Ryder Williams (Burleigh Bears)
Pencil in halfback Ryder Williams as an x-factor player for the Bears and his school, Keebra Park SHS. He is fast developing in the Keebra system and learning his trade against Meninga Cup aged rivals will only advance his development. Also powerhouse centre Sunny Kama is a real handful on the edge. .
Tyreece Tait (Norths)
Tait is an x-factor player because of his speed. Contracted by the Broncos, he seems to have springs in his legs and with a long stride, can be up and gone in the blink of an eye. Good luck running him down in a foot race to the tryline.
Ryan McCann (Souths Logan)
The Logan Brothers player of the year (under 16s, Div 1), is speedy for sure. Coming off a Langer Trophy campaign last season with Coombabah SHS, and a bumper club season with Brothers, watch for McCann to influence games as the season progresses. Israel Leota is also an x-factor for his athletic ability.
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