Player to Watch guide across the Connell and Meninga Cups, and Harvey Norman 19s
Here’s your Players to Watch armchair guide to 111 players in the elite junior rugby league competitions - the Connell and Meninga Cups, and Harvey Norman girls’ 19s.
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Rugby league season is upon us, with the elite Queensland rugby league junior pathway competitions - the Connell Challenge and Meninga Cup - starting on February 26 - followed soon after by the Harvey Norman 19s (girls).
Here’s your armchair guide to key Players to Watch in competitions which we will be covering this season at www.couriermail.com.au
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
Meninga Cup:
Jayden Smith: The brother of NRL dynamo Brandon Smith is a running back row, skilful with a strong ball carry. Smith spent the last two seasons playing in the Langer Trophy for Wavell SHS.
Mason Kira: Kira is a middle or edge forward, a hard hitting defender with a powerful carry.
Tully McLellan:The Caloundra SHS halfback was man of the match in his school’s Gee Cup victory last season. He is a running half with a strong kicking game who is on the Storm’s radar.
Dyllan Cousens: The dummy half is an instinctive ball runner with a high work rate in defence
Connell Challenge
Zac Garton: Garton played every minute last year as a young kid and will be strong and powerful in the No.13. He has been named captain.
Jai Bowden: Hooker Bowden is quick on his feet and loves to run the ball.
Christian Simpson: He is a hard hitting centre who has a strong carry. He is one to watch in the future.
Elijah Birve: He is the baby of the side but you certainly won’t miss his hair, and on the field he is very skilled.
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BURLEIGH BEARS
Meninga Cup
Arama Hau: A big athletic lock with the ball playing ability of a half. He gained valuable experience playing in the Langer Trophy with Keebra Park SHS last season.
Wailer Whaiapu: He is a younger member of the side, a Keebra Park SHS student who is an imposing figure with defence to match. He was blooded in the Langer Trophy last year after playing in the Year 10 Walters Cup competition.
Connell Challenge
Raymond Puru: Puru is an electric outside back or fullback with quick footwork to match.
Sam Stephenson: He is a tall, rangy centre, who one-on-one will be a handful for the opposing players.
Harvey 19s
Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell: A talented Gold Coast Titans NRLW signing who can play in the outside backs or in the backrow.
Sunny Gerrard: An athletic middle forward, Gerrard has a big engine who has been picked up by the Gold Coast Titans NRLW squad as a development player. She is from a long line of elite talented kids coming through the Keebra Park SHS system.
Women
Ash Quinlin: A touch superstar, she has tremendous skills and will be a valuable asset in the halves with her passing and running skills.
Tarnisha Lyons: The daughter of former NSW Origin player Graham Lyons, she is a little like her dad in that she is an outside back and prolific try scorer.
TWEED SEAGULLS
Meninga Cup
weed Mal Meninga Cup Players to watch in 2022.
Keano Kini: A ball playing fullback, he only played three games for Tweed last year before injury ended his season. He is dangerous with the ball in his hands and has speed to burn. He was the joint Justin Hodges Medal winner last year for best Langer Trophy player.
Nick Hilton: The front rower is a tough middle forward with an all or nothing approach. He is looking to improve even more after a great 2021 season.
Tanu Nona: Nona is a PBC SHS product who is a hooker with the skills of a half. He has a great running game and loves the tough stuff. He will be looking to be a leader this year and guide the team around.
Connell Challenge
Xavier Tauaifaiga: He is a hardworking, tough utility back row, hooker or centre who will most likely feature in the centres for Tweed
Tom Summer: Summer is a skilful and competitive middle forward with the ability to play big minutes. He is showing real leadership potential.
Isopo Taunuu: Taunuu is a fleet footed, 120kg front rower with high work rate who, along with Summer, Jesse Sheriff and co, will provide the pack with plenty of go forward
Marley Skeen: The fittest player in the squad, this Mudgeeraba No.9 from Keebra Park SHS has the potential to cause plenty of havoc around the ruck
WYNNUM SEAGULLS
Meninga Cup:
Cameron Bukowski: A Broncos contracted hooker who has moved to the bayside feeder club. He has exceptional skill level and game awareness - and is also a First XI cricketer at Villanova College.
Felix Faatili: The towering front rower with speed and skill, Faatili played himself into last season’s Queensland 16-18 schoolboys side. From Wavell SHS, he is Broncos contracted
Ryan Jackson: Jackson made our 2021 AIC First XV Team of the Year after helping St Laurence’s College to a drought breaking rugby premiership last season. Shapes as a league front rower with good size and mobility.
Connell Challenge
Coby Black: The Marsden SHS Walters Cup halfback will be pushing hard for Langer Trophy selection this season. He is a Logan Brothers junior who joins Wynnum Manly as a Broncos contracted player.
Zac Herdegen – Zac is the younger brother to Jayde and Corey who both play with the Seagulls. He is a talented half who will partner Coby Black.
Frankie Goldsbrough: He is a hard working back rower from the Simon Mannering play book. Frankie is a Wynnum junior who is Broncos contracted.
Harvey Norman 19s
Jayde Herdegen: A Broncos NRLW development half who has a huge future in the game. The club expects her to be push up to QRLW straight after 19s competition is finished.
Jacinta Carter: Broncos NRLW development player. Strong ball carrying forward with commanding presence on the field
Women
Patrice Chambers: Chambers is an ex-Valleys hooker with strong experience and an outstanding work ethic.
Essay Banu: Banu is a strong ball carrying prop with outstanding leg drive. She is from a Tully banana farm, a region rich with rugby league history.
CENTRAL CAPRAS
Meninga Cup
Owen Pattie: Pattie is a dynamic half who reads the play and controls the game well. He is from the famous St Brendan’s College breeding ground.
Thomas Powell: Fit, strong and a competitor, the representative prop takes great pride in his work in the middle.
Bailey Cavanough: A back rower who brings plenty of energy and presence to Capras’ forward pack.
Connell Challenge
Tavita Penaia: Penaia is a big, mobile, ball playing front row who always leads by example.
Jett Day: Day is a hard running second rower who offers a brick wall in defence.
Clancy Hohn and Braelan Marsh: The boys are a dynamic duo who will be a dangerous dummy halve tag team. They are fighting it out for the starting No.9 jersey.
Seth Carpenter: A former state touch football representative, Carpenter is a ball playing fullback. The more he has the ball in hand, the more dangerous in attack his side will be.
Carter Ford: A tall, rangy middle forward who is as quick as any outside backs. He will never take a backward step.
WESTERN CLYDESDALES
Meninga Cup
Declan Ryan: A veteran of St Mary’s College Langer Trophy campaigns, he is a natural footballer with good footwork and natural ability.
Will Brady: He is a level headed half who plays with good tempo. Brady is a calm influence on the team
Darcy Carswell: The front rower has good go forward and soft hands, enabling him to tip on a pass.
Riley Wockner: The seasoned Wockner is a fullback with safe hands and good vision.
Connell Challenge
Ben Waters: A Dalby product, the young fullback is very skilful. He returns the ball well and is a good talker, enabling him to organise the defence.
Hudson Heath: A very fit and quick forward from Roma, he plays tough and will go all day.
Bohdi Sharpley: From the famous Toowoomba Brothers club, Sharpley is versatile, strong for his size and ultra competitive.
IPSWICH JETS
Meninga Cup
Josiah Pahulu: Pahulu is an explosive and powerful prop with a great engine who is a handful for any defender. He is not unlike Jason Taumalolo and is Gold Coast Titans contracted. He made our Langer Trophy Team of the Year last season from Ipswich SHS.
Jake Self: Halfback from the Springfield Panthers junior system, Self possesses one of the best kicking games in the competition. He is a good organiser and a natural leader who graduated from Ipswich SHS after completing his carpentry apprenticeship.
Caleb Jackson: A centre or fullback, Jackson is a naturally athletic type and a great competitor. He can play any position in the backline and do it well at it. He uses his speed and quick hands to worry defenders, not unlike NRL star Clint Gutherson. He is a Norths Tigers Junior and Ipswich SHS product.
Gabriel Satick: Satick is quick and agile for a hooker, and defenders can’t afford to give him any space. He is also a tough defender and will worry teams with and without the ball. Watch for him later in the year playing at Ipswich SHS.
PJ Poutasi: He is a big, thick middle forward with hands like a halfback. PJ is very strong and finds his front on nearly every carry he does. He’s got good speed for a bigger guy as well and shows the benefits of being in the Keebra Park SHS system.
Hayden Molkentein: The Storm have signed this centre and fullback who attends St Edmund’s College Ipswich. He plays wing or centre and is a natural competitor. His movement off the ball is his biggest strength. He’s constantly moving, talking, and watching defenders. He has a combination of good speed and quick footwork.
David Su’a: Su’a is a strong, powerful prop. He is tough and is a good leader who works.
Connell Challenge
Nathan Fraser: A halve, he is a great organiser and a real student of the game who has even been attending some HostPlus Cup sessions.
David Leota: Leota was one of the stars of last season’s QRSSL carnival and both he and Olive Smith: are middle forwards with very silky skills. The boys will bend the line at will.
Harvey 19s
Crystal White: White is a creative backrower with a high efficiency in defence
Katelyn Anderson: A lock, Anderson has a strong passing game and can run good lines
LaSchaya Body: She will be a strong defender for the Ipswich 19s and can mix it up with the forwards when required.
NORTHS DEVILS
Meninga Cup
Karl Oloapu: Brisbane Broncos contracted, Oloapu is a bit of a rare diamond with skill to burn. A five-eight, he made our Langer Trophy Team of the Year in 2021.
Will Curren: Another Wavell SHS product, Curren is a highly talented centre or winger.
Kallum Weatherall-Stacey: Don’t blink or you might miss him. A fullback or winger, Weatherall-Stacey is a genuine speedster.
Connell Challenge
Cyril Connell
Robertson Tusi Tofu: Will be a strike weapon at centre or fullback
Carter Welfare: Will guide the Devils around from the halves.
Harvey Norman 19s
Fiona Jankhe: A Pine Central Holy Spirit Junior who is contracted to the Gold Coast Titans Girls Academy. The Wavell SHS alumni played for Wests in 2021 and is looking to impress at her new club.
Hannah Larsson: Another Wests under 19 and BHP player, she is an edge player who is a great communicator and lets her actions speak for themselves.
Aliya Hura: Hura plays way above her statue. She is chasing Queensland under 19 squad selection this season.
Georgia Midson: A Western Australian native and former representative player from the West, Midson is looking to advance her rugby league career at Norths.
Hunter Davis: Davis is from the powerhouse Aspley Devils junior network. Her coach Sahen Morris said she was “a great young person’’ who has not missed a session. “She is always looking to better herself both on and off the field,’’ Morris said.
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Meninga Cup
Damon Marshall: Marshall is a very consistent prop who featured in last season’s grand final. A Ignatius Park College product, he is a leader, a good worker who is as reliable as they come. Last season he gained experience playing up in the grades.
Rhys Foley: A Townsville kid, he is a halfback who is in the Cowboys system. He is seen as a good leader within his age group.
Elekana Suavai: Here’s one to watch. Suavai is a towering centre who at one stage went to school at St Brendan’s, but has moved north to be closer to the Cowboys system. He was originally a Trinity Bay SHS boy.
Connell Challenge
Elijah Tapau-Taylor: Tapau-Taylor is returning for his second year in the under 16s. He is powerful and skilful, playing middle or back row.
Kaiden Lahrs: The son of Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, the Kirwan SHS student is a powerful middle forward with a high work ethic. Last year he made the Queensland schoolboys under 15s as a lock. The rookie has been signed by the Brisbane Broncos.
SOUTHS LOGAN
Meninga Cup
Jye Grey: A halfback with blinding speed, Grey is crafty and creative. Did we mention he is really, really fast?
Devonte Vaivela: A centre who missed a lot of last season due to injury, the Marsden SHS student is a strong ball runner with lightning speed off the mark.
Ahmani Leilua: This will be the Magpies forward leader, a highly skilled front rower with a big motor.
Connell Challenge
Bailey Trew: Trew is a towering outside back with plenty of speed and agility
Cory Pearce: Pearce is a tough hooker, very crafty and great communicator. He will also be a handy defender.
Dihrys Sefo: Sefo will play middle forward where he will offer strong defence, while also being a great carrier of the ball. Has a big motor
Mahonri Tiotola: Tiotola is an edge player, very aggressive with great footwork and toughness.
Harvey 19s
Lyza Leugaimafa: Lyza is a second year Souths Logan Magpies player who will lead the side after a very impressive debut last year. Watch out for her devastating runs down the middle. She is a natural leader.
Shauna Barnham: Barnham is from the rich rugby league region of Rockhampton who will be in her first season at the Magpies. She has displayed excellent skill in the halves and also exceptional defence. She is really dedicated and has not missed a training all year
Kiarah Siauana: A fullback, Siauana capped off a stellar 2021 by making the Queensland Open Schoolgirls under 17 merit team. She is a Keebra Park SHS Titans Cup premiership winner and one of the elite juniors coming through the schools system. She is a junior from the powerhouse Waterford Demons.
Open women
Frieda Seu: Sue is a returning Souths enforcer who epitomises the values and the future of the club. She is a respected leader on and off the field and her loyalty to Souths and the Logan community is renowned. She is a Logan Hawks and Souths Acacia Ridge past player who was 18th woman for Queensland in 2018.
Jhana Magele: Magele has come to Souths from Ponsonby Ponies to pursue her dream of playing footy at the highest level. Having spent her younger years playing in the SEQ comp for Norths Ipswich, Magele returned to New Zealand in 2018 for her last year of school.
While there, she notched up representative honours for Auckland Vulcans at only 18 years of age and represented Fetu Samoa. She is a specialist hooker with a brutal tackle.
Melanie Williams: Williams is new to rugby league having played one season with Logan Brothers in 2021. A rugby convert, Williams is a youth rugby Queensland 7s player with speed, serious speed.
Tyesha Mikaio: Another returning Souths player, Tyesha represented Queensland in the national championships last year and is a Queensland Origin under 19s player. Traditionally an edge player, she has the skills of a centre and speed of a winger and is an outstanding defence. Her versatility, while an asset for her team and her coaches, has left her overlooked for NRLW so far.
BRISBANE TIGERS
Meninga Cup
Mikael Ibrahim: Another player from St Laurence’s College’s First XV premiership winning side, Ibrahim is a strong lock forward who can unload.
Tom Luhrman: Luhrman is a seasoned dummy half, hardened by playing Langer Trophy with the Ipswich SHS side. He is tough and competitive, but quick around the ruck.
Rickson Aliva: Keep an eye on this powerful outside back who runs the ball hard.
Connell Challenge
Mark Nosa: A Queensland schoolboys merit team selection (14-15 years) last season as a fullback, Nosa will play in the halves for the Tigers. He has a lot of
Ioteva Gray: He will be the Tigers biggest player at 130kg, but the 16-year-old front rower who has a lot of skill. Gray is from the local Sunnybank catchment.
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Meninga Cup
Drew Timms: He has tremendous ball skills and is a competitor in attack and defence. He is a real Wayne Bennett type of footballer.
Mitchell Rogers: Rogers is a tireless defender and a threat running from dummy half.
Jacob Taulani: The Redcliffe SHS edge forward has great pace and raw power who is hard to contain one on one.
Leroy Murray: Murray has a great kicking game and play making skills.
Connell Challenge
Prestyn Laine-Sietu: Sietu was the 14-15s Player of the Carnival at last year’s QRSSL carnival. A Wavell SHS Walters Cup player, he is a mobile second rower who has a high work rate in the middle, while also having the agility to be an edge player. A local junior, he will be the Dolphins captain after playing Connell Challenge last year as a 15-year-old.
Ben Uini: Uini is an aggressive defender with a high work rate and ball skills.
Redcliffe Harvey 19s
Charmayne Pakura: A five-eight will great skills
Kaieisha Afoa: A natural leader who is an experienced halfback
Brooklyn Pasese: Pasese will hit hard in defence but is also a skilled front rower
Georgina Tuutitalia: Excellent mobile player who can handle centre or edge second row with ease.
MACKAY CUTTERS
Mal Meninga Cup:
Henry Thorpe: A talented hooker who reads the game well, Thorpe will be a constant threat out of dummy half for the Cutters.
Baden Robinson: A natural leader who has an excellent work ethic, the backrower will be a danger in attack with a strong running game and good offload.
Decy Jones: Jones is a hardworking front-rower who has impressed during pre-season training. He is a strong ball runner who will look to be a dominant middle-forward for his team.
Cyril Connell Cup:
Hayden Cumming: The talented fullback brings an abundance of energy and enthusiasm to the team. Very strong ballrunner with excellent game knowledge.
Darcy Clark: Genuine leader with an aggressive defensive game in the middle, Clark also runs excellent lines in attack and will constantly threaten the defensive line.
Hunter Harris: Harris is an athletic back-rower who will prove to be a handful for opposition defensive lines. He is an aggressive defender who leads by example.
Harvey Norman Women 19s:
Ataliah Love: Love is an inspirational leader who packs a dangerous running game, always bending the defensive line. She is a threat every time she carries the ball.
Lily Peacock: The young gun of the Cutters 19s, Peacock brings a physical presence to the field with her aggression in attack and defence. Look out for her trademark big hits.
Isabelle Bartolo: Small in stature but big in heart. Bartolo is a genuine tryscorer who also shows a willingness to take the tough carries for her team.
NORTHERN PRIDE
Due to unforeseen circumstances information not available at the time of publication, but will be added when available.
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