Qld’s brightest rugby rookies unveiled in Reds Under-16s team set for battle on Friday
A terrific trio from the Sunshine Coast, a dynamic duo from the Northside, a Townsville flyer and exciting State High prospects headline the Reds Under-16s rugby squad set for take off. Here’s an insight into the team named for Friday’s season opener.
Returning to the Super Rugby Under-16s grand final will be objective number one for the mighty Queensland Reds set for lift off this Friday at Ballymore.
The Reds take on Victoria from 1.40pm at the home of rugby and with just three sessions under their belt, the team of tenacious teens have to get acclimated quickly.
It is a five-week tournament featuring a grand final. There’s little room for error.
Especially against a Waratahs outfit who have never lost this age division and enter round 1 with five weeks of training behind them.
This year’s Queensland team is well balanced, slightly unheralded and has a strong contingent of players who played in the under-15s team last year that beat NSW on their home turf to draw 1-1 in the series.
Sunshine Coast product Moses Faleafa has been named at loosehead prop after a strong GPS season at BBC and positive performances at the recent Emerging Reds Cup.
The ERC was used as the main selection process for this team.
Playing hooker will be Brisbane Grammar rookie Noah Gaffney, an unsung hero and impressive scrummager during this year’s First XV competition.
At tighthead prop is unheralded Toowoomba Grammar strongman Nate Te Whitu, a Helensvale Hogs junior.
Solid as a rock in close quarter combat, Te Whitu is stepping up in class here and excitement is high.
In the second row is ERC Best Forward awardee Denver Bradford. Not much needs to be said.
Bradford is big, skilled, mobile and a supreme lineout target.
His partner in crime is BBC lock Nathan Van Huyssteen, a tough and physical forward from the Bulimba Riverside club.
The Reds back row is brimming with ability.
Blindside Charlie Grieves had a stunning ERC campaign and looks a top prospect full of energy, chat and rugby smarts.
His partner is State High First XV breakout breakaway Henry Willis, a strong over the ball flanker who has physicality, aggression and a high work rate on both sides of the ball.
Rounding out the pack is Nudgee College’s Dylan Goodwin, a sizeable teen who will be tasked with getting Queensland over the gain line with his strong charges.
The prized No. 9 jersey has been snared by Harry Dowling, a utility from TSS who could play anywhere in a backline.
The nippy scrumhalf was dangerous around the ruck for the victorious Brisbane Grey under-16s.
Trusty Sunshine Coast Grammar playmaker Charlie Meredith will don jersey No.10 after showing his run, kick and pass class at the ERC.
He is no flash dan but one thing Meredith does well is make others around him look better by making the right play very often.
His inclusion follows the selection of fellow Sunshine Coast Grammar high achiever Rohan Nichol who played No.10 and No.12 in last year’s team.
Gold Coast based outside back Seth Chapman has been named on the wing after standout performances at the ERC.
The Toowoomba Grammar boarder has a light frame and light footwork. He moves from fullback to the wing for this campaign.
On the other wing is State High flyer Mitch Durrheim, a genuine winger who has a good turn of foot and exciting tendencies on the football field.
In the midfield are the bash brothers.
Western Australia product Kyron Arthy (Redcliffe SHS) and Mackay junior Sas Chinula (Brisbane Grammar) will run hard, tackle harder and both have plenty toughness about them.
Arthy’s green headgear and angled runs will be easy to notice.
Returning under-15s representative James Smith will play fullback after pulling the strings at No.10 last year.
Arguably the top rugby player in this age group, Smith is thought out with his decisions on the field and had a fine First XV season for TSS.
The Canberra product has a touch of class and is safe in the back field.
Victoria won’t know what’s coming for them when the bomb squad wearing Red enter the fray for Friday’s encounter.
Sunshine Coast product Xavier Hill is the reserve hooker out of Nudgee College. He has speed, an arrow-straight lineout throw and the core skills down pat.
Prop-hooker Mitch Wallis has been named after a 2025 season of considerable force. He was arguably the best hooker in AIC First XV rugby this season as a Grade 10 student and showed why in the third and final day at the ERC when he scored a try and left a strong impression.
Another northside ace, Nudgee College’s Harry O’Hare, can be called upon to add the finishing touches.
O’Hare was a top performer in the GPS 16A’s competition and at the ERC. He could play prop or lock such is his versality.
Big Fraser Boakes will have No.19 on his back. The State High sleeping giant improved this year playing spurts of First XV rugby after being a key forward in the Reds Under-15s in 2024.
The lone backrow reinforcement is Ryker Smith, a dynamic Noosa Dolphin who runs just like his father George Smith.
The raw 16-year-old showed excellent signs of what is to come at the ERC as SEQ’s No.8 enforcer.
The wide-stretched origins of this Queensland team are on show again with the selection of scrumhalf Ralph Labor, a Rockhampton product now at Brisbane Grammar.
The Pommy No.9 was seen playing well on the wing at times throughout the ERC but his bread and butter is conducting from the breakdown.
He is getting better with time.
Emerging Padua College playmaker Lucas Humphrys will get his chance to show his wears as well.
Lucas is the younger brother of 2023 selection Damon, the two-time AIC First XV rugby premiership winning flyhalf.
Lucas, like Damon, has a flash of speed, sharp instincts and a deft short kicking game.
Rangy Kirwan State High student Tom Tugai has been recognised for his try-scoring blitz at the ERC with selection in jersey No.23.
The raw, rugby league junior was first spotted at a Queensland Rugby Talent ID session in Townsville where he attended as part of Matt Bowen’s MB1 academy.
That was where Queensland Rugby Indigenous Strategies Manager Dylan Blackman saw the First Nationals talent run a rapid 60m sprint in five seconds.
The Reds also have weapons in waiting who will be available for selection as soon as next week, including:
+ High class BBC prop Jeremiah Kite and Toowoomba Grammar surprise packet James Tulikaki, a young giant from South Auckland.
+ Reds Under-15s flyhalf-fullback Chilli Smith, the ERC Best Back awardee who is out due to concussion protocols.
+ State High Mr Versatile Iverson Anitema, Brisbane Grey’s fullback during its 3-0 run to the ERC title.
+ Representative rugby league forward Karter Iva, a rugby inside centre, will be back in the coming weeks.
