Norths Devils honour roll: Player list of every 2021 player

North Devils honour roll - here’s all 38 players who are premiership heroes. The 2021 player list includes several future Queensland Origin rookie prospects.

The Norths Devils grand final victory celebrations were only one minute old when skipper Jack Ahearn made sure Queensland league lovers knew the premiership was a squad effort.

In a sideline interview, amid the mayhem of celebrations that had been 23 years in the making, Ahearn barked out: “It has been a squad effort. We used almost 40 players this season.’’

So who are the 38 players who helped Norths to victory in one of the best grand finals?

Do you remember that thrilling Queensland Origin prospect Reece Walsh was one?

Yes before he left for the New Zealand Warriors where he made his NRL debut, Walsh left his mark on the Queensland Cup.

Two other superb forward prospects, Broncos Boys Brendan Piakura and Xavier Willison helped Norths on their way to the minor premiership. But there are many more.

Norths celebrate the Premiership in the Intrust Super Cup Grand Final between Wynnum Manly Seagulls and Norths Devils at Redcliffe Dolphins, Sunday, October 10, 2021 - Picture: Richard Walker

THE HONOUR ROLL

Jack Ahearn: The Devils captain since 2019 season, it was Ahearn’s second ISC grand final – he played in the losing Redcliffe team against Burleigh in 2016.

Nene Macdonald: Enormous ball runner from the wing, he joined the Devils from the NRL ahead of the June 30 deadline. Macdonald was born in Papua New Guinea and moved to Cairns at age 4.

Tyrone Roberts and Connor Broadhurst of the Devils celebrate victor. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Jacon Gagan: Like Nene Macdonald and Matthew Milson, he is another Devil who arrived before the June 30 deadline. He had been playing in France and moved to the Devils. Gagan and his fiancée Rachel Pitt have two children, son Chase, 3, and daughter Zara, 1.

Bernard Gregorious: Bernard arrived from France midway through 2019. In his first training session, he ruptured his ACL. He played his first senior game for the Devils in a trial against Redcliffe in February, joining Reece Walsh in the backline and scoring a try. He made his debut as Devil No. 1309

Michael Molo and Jack Ahearn celebrate the Premiership Picture: Richard Walker

Jon Reuben: Former Redcliffe and Canberra 20s player who thumped his side onto the front foot. He set the record as the fastest to score 100 tries (98 games) in the ISC.

Connor Broadhurst: Beenleigh SHS teacher who joined the Devils in 2019 from CQ Capras and played Queensland Residents that year. Raised in Baralaba alongside childhood friend Corey Oates. He is also a premiership winner with Burleigh Bears.

Leivaha Pulu scoresn Wynnum Manly Seagulls and Norths Devils at Redcliffe Dolphins, Sunday, October 10, 2021 - Picture: Richard Walker

Tyrone Roberts: The experienced NRL play maker made his Devils debut vs PNG in June, playing about 20 minutes off the bench before playing more than one half against Northern Pride.

Michael Molo: An Aspley Devils junior enjoyed the best season of his career - including scoring the match winning try on Sunday.

Danny Levi: Signed for the Devils for 2021 season as he aimed to return to the NRL. Was then signed by the Broncos after impressing with Norths. He had a huge impact on the Devils performances.

Leivaha Pulu of the Devils celebrates victory with his family.. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Piki Rogers: Came to Norths because his brother-in-law Carne Doyle-Manga urged him to join. He made his Devils debut in Rd 1 vs Tigers, scoring on debut playing right edge off the

bench after stints in the NSW Cup with North Sydney and Wentworthville.

Moses Noovao-McGreal: A Cook Island representative, he was one of the first Devils signed by coach Rohan Smith in a group that included Jack Ahearn, Michael Sio and Calum Gahan.

Leivaha Pulu: Joined the Devils with a strong NRL record with Gold Coast Titans and NZ Warriors. Coach Rohan Smith first met him at the Titans and he was a natural recruit.

The Devils players celebrate victory. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Michael Sio: Sio was one of the first players that coach Rohan Smith signed at Norths when he joined ahead of the 2018 season.

Matthew Milson: Came out of the Sunshine Coast Falcons system and scored one of the Devils’ best individual tries of the season in Townsville

Jerome Veve: Born in Utah of all places, he has been in the Titans program previously, where he first met Devils coach Rohan Smith.

The Devils players celebrate victory after the 2021 QRL Intrust Super Cup Grand Final match between the Norths Devils and the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls at Moreton Daily Stadium on October 10, 2021, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Ben Nakubuwai: Former soccer player Nakubuwai is from Fijian football royalty – his father Pio represented his country in rugby union and league.

Hiale Roycroft: A proud graduate of the Devils junior system, he also played with CQ Capras this season as part of a loan arrangement between the Devils and Capras.

Liam Horne: Another proud graduate of the Devils junior system, Horne is a versatile player who can play hooker or backrow. He played centre in the Devils’ 2018 Colts premiership team alongside the likes of Ethan Bullemor, Cory Paix, Kobe Hetherington and Jordan Riki.

Jerome Veve of the Devils is congratulated by teammate Moses Noovao-McGreal. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Kyle Van Klaveren: A former Redcliffe teammate of Jack Ahearn, he had an emotional jersey presentation for his Devils debut, attended by his three young children.

Tony Tumusa: Tony Tumusa’s first rugby league club was Point Chevalier Pirates in Auckland (Stacey Jones’ club)

Jesse Arthars of the Seagulls and Jacob Gagan of the Devils compete for the bal. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Auzzie Tuwhanguai: An excellent artist, Tuwhanguai is a representative of New Zealand under-age teams, he also spent time with the Bulldogs in their NRL system.

Ethan Bullemor: A central Queensland raised backrower who earned an OP1 while attending Nudgee College where he was a member of the First XV..

Jordan Riki: A former Colts and Under 18s player with the Devils, he won the Colts premiership in 2018.

Dale Copley: The Broncos recruits and well travelled NRL players is actually a local junior from Aspley Devils.

Brendan Frei: The son of former Queensland Shield cricketer and brother of NRL player Mitchell, the Wavell SHS alumni played juniors with the Devils.

Brendan Piakura: A Coombabah SHS and Keebra Park SHS schoolboy talent who will get an extended chance in the Broncos top squad next season.

Calum Gahan: Gahan was raised in Humpty Doo and began his junior career aged 11 with the Litchfield Bears in the Darwin competition. He moved to Townsville and was part of Kirwan State High School’s national championship team.

Jack Miers: Miers is a Devils junior who captained the club’s Colts team that lost a grand final to Redcliffe. He is a versatile half or hooker who is elusive in attack.

Xavier Willison: A mobile prop fresh out of the 2020 Langer Cup where he starred for Palm Beach Currumbin SHS

Reece Walsh: Another Gold Coast boy (Keebra Park SHS), Walsh is one of the top two or three young players in the NRL who is certain to play State of Origin

Viko Puliuvea: Formerly part of the Newcastle Knights Under 20s program, he moved to Brisbane in 2020 and played in the Brisbane Rugby League comp after featuring in one trial match for Souths Logan. He signed a two-year deal with the Devils this year.

Bryce Donovan: A half who kicked the winning field goal in the 13-12 win over Northern Pride in the rain in Cairns on Anzac weekend.

Jared Chambers: Chamber is a graduate of the Devils football program, a strong, young centre who won a BRL premiership with Valleys.

Rasheun Denny: Denny shone in his performances for the Devils, making his debut on the wing and scoring an important try against Wynnum.

Sosefo Filipine: Was a Devils colts graduate and powerful forward who made his debut in the final round against Ipswich

Harry Freebairn: Was a quick-footed utility who played early in the season/

Tyson Gamble: He gave his all in four appearances, making one of the plays of the year when he ran 70m to chase down Pride halfback Jake Clifford.

Rhys Kennedy: The Broncos prop played an important game for the Devils when they toppled Anthony Milford led-Souths Logan

FAST FACTS

+ It was Devils’ 22 nd grand final in first grade since the club was formed in 1933.

+ The Devils have 14 premierships: 1934, 1938, 1940, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964,

1966, 1969, 1980, 1998, 2021.

+ The Devils have been runners-up seven times: 1939, 1941, 1944, 1945, 1967, 1970, 1990,

2010.

+ The Devils’ last premiership came in 1998 – also the last year the Devils won the minor

premiership. On that day at Lang Park, the Devils fell behind 0-16 to Wests. However, three

tries to Matt Geyer and another outstanding performance from captain Kevin Carmichael

sparked the Devils to a 35-16 win.

+ The win over Wynnum broke the Devils longest premiership drought. The previous drought started after the 1940 premiership win and was broken in 1959 when Clive Churchill, as captain-coach, led the Devils back to the top.