Queensland flavour abounds in NSWRL junior reps rugby league
Who were the Maroons’ raiders embedded deep in enemy territory playing in the SG Ball and Harold Matthews competitions? Revealed here, along with Queensland’s best female teens at Sydney clubs.
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Queenslanders have added a special Maroons’ flavour to the NSWRL junior reps rugby league programs this season, with raiders from north of the border playing in both the SG Ball and Harold Matthews competitions.
Some of the state’s best of the best were embedded deep in enemy territory, including
MAROONS U19 MALE AND FEMALE EMERGING ORIGIN SQUADS
See which Queenslanders were playing either SG Ball or Harold Matts in round 2 this weekend.
SG BALL
Canterbury v Western Suburbs
Bulldogs
Mace Andrew (Canterbury)
Andrew is a big off-season signing by Canterbury from South Sydney. From the decorated Marsden SHS program, Andrew is a mobile prop or No.13 who has the goods. He has a huge motor and is one of Queensland’s finest young middle forwards because of his work rate and mobility.
David Leota (Canterbury)
Canterbury were all in on David Leota, an imposing middle forward from the south west of Brisbane who was schooled at both Ipswich Grammar School and Ipswich SHS. He was snapped up by Canterbury after a stellar Connell Cup campaign for the Jets several years ago and they have invested heavily in this mobile prop.
Azariah Toki-Mautairi (Canterbury)
A 2023 Queensland schoolboy representative, Toki-Mautairi is a New Zealand boy who went to league finishing school at Wavell SHS where his leadership and utility back value impressed. But he can really play anywhere, from No.13 to hooker to edge. He actually did Year 12 playing rugby union at Toowoomba Grammar School.
Lyncoln Cliffe (Canterbury)
Tough as teak forward Cliffe comes from Allan Langer and Kevin Walters country - Ipswich - where he has been one of the most respected middle forwards. A big man who attended Ipswich Grammar School, you get a high work rate player with size and strength when Cliffe takes to the field. He is coming off the interchange bench this weekend.
Another Queensland boy in the Bulldogs SG Ball squad was Clancy Hohn (Emmaus College, fullback).
Tigers v Dragons
Logan Deininger (Tigers)
The Tigers have a nice fullback talent here in Logan Deininger, a smooth operator from FNQ who can score tries, work hard with his ruck carries, and also kick goals.
He comes from the famous Kirwan SHS catchment.
Xavier Tauaifaiga (Tigers)
The Gold Coast region can produce a rugby league player, that is for sure, and another outstanding rookie from the region is Tauaifaiga.
A hardworking, tough utility backrower, hooker or centre, the powerful Tweed Seagulls product is playing No. 4 for the Tiger cubs.
Footnote: Another Queensland boy in the Tigers squad, but not playing this weekend, was Logan Brookes (PBC SHS, fullback).
The livewire fullback has speed to burn and the footwork to match.
Cooper Young (Tigers)
Cooper Young, a prop, hails from Greg Veivers country, beautiful Beaudesert, which is a rich breeding ground for sport. Veivers was Queensland’s best prop of the 1970s and an Australian captain. Young played U17 representative football and shone in schoolboy football last season for Marsden SHS.
Antonio Okusitino (Dragons)
Edge forward or centre Antonio Okusitino was a rip-and-tear crash runner during the 2024 Langer Trophy season where he was one of the finds of the competition.
He runs a great line and reads well in defence. He is a wildcard signing.
Xavier Kirk (Dragons)
Kirk is an x-factor player because of his speed. He comes from the powerhouse Ipswich SHS rugby league program where he was used as a spark plug at dummyhalf or fullback.
Kirk is playing fullback which is an ideal position for him to use his evasive skills and quick decision making to attack.
Just last year the Dragons had dynamo Tyler Peckham-Harris (Ipswich SHS old boy) in their ranks and this year Kirk, also a dangerous attacking player, is eager to leave an impression.
Velonte Baruani (Dragons)
The Dragons have made a beeline for the Ipswich region in recent seasons and caught in the club’s recruitment list is another Ipswich SHS outside back ace - Velonte Baruani.
A winger, he is brilliant returning the ball from the back and has countless runs in his game.
Baruani is a towering young man, effective in the air and in defence. His older brothers Kulu (Ipswich SHS, 2022) and Munga (Keebra Park SHS, 2022), as well as Ipswich SHS coaches John Dore, Shane Harris and Josh Bretherton have got him up to speed for this opportunity south of the border.
Tarell Indich (Dragons)
Indich is living the dream just being given a chance by the Dragons club. The tall second rower or No.13 comes from the famous Cherbourg township of Queensland which has a rich rugby league history - think Steve Renouf, Chris Sandow, Selwyn Cobbo, just to name a few of. He was signed from Ipswich SHS and is an exciting raw talent.
Manly v Illawarra
Hugo Hart (Manly)
Talk about raw prospects. Hart joins Manly from the Nudgee College First XV premiership winning program where his extraordinary pace was highlighted on numerous occasions. He will play back row, but he can match strides with outside backs - with ease.
Footnote: Tyler Melrose (Manly)
Manly have Sea Eagles spies circling around central Queensland and as a result have plucked out clever half Tyler Melrose.
From Harry Grant country, Yeppoon, he impressed last season for the CQ Capras and St Brendan’s College as a fine running half. He is a reserve.
Another Queenslander at Manly is Keoki Koraba (Wavell SHS).
Saifiti Junior Saifiti (Illawarra)
Crash, bang, and crash again - the Steelers have an all or nothing winger here in Saifiti Junior Saifiti.
He is absolutely fearless bringing the ball out of his own end, dynamic, tough and courageous - regardless of the scoreline. He can also run in a try from a distance. The kid will give his all.
Footnote: Mason Phillips (Illawarra), an excellent hooker prospect from Wavell SHS, played round 1 for the Steelers.
Storm v South Sydney
Amaziah Murgha (Storm)
Melbourne Storm can find a promising young player, that is for sure. Originally linked with the Roosters, North Queensland centre Murgha can sniff out a try like it is no one’s business. Slightly built but with genuine wheels, Murgha attended Ipswich Grammar School and can play wing or centre.
Alize Clarke (Storm)
You have to hand it to Melbourne. They can find a talent and Clarke is a Talent with a capital T. A Logan boy, Clarke went to finishing school at Mabel Park SHS where he could score tries for fun. Grubber kick tries, long distance tries, tries backing up down the middle or out wide, this kid is worth the roll of the dive.
Jai Bowden (Storm)
Bowden has been a long term investment for Melbourne and has come through the club’s Sunshine Coast program. Bowden is an outstanding No.9 prospect from Mountain Creek SHS who can effortlessly take advantage of a quick play the ball. He is a rugged, tough defender as well. He is a fine prospect.
Ronnic Starkey (Storm)
An athletic back rower who originally hailed from Forest Lake SHS, Starkey had a huge season for Souths Logan in Connell Cup last year and steps up in class here. Last year he made the City U17 side.
Amare Milford (Storm)
The Storm talent scouts have a keen eye for talent and one of Queensland’s most exciting edge of No.13 talents is this big, strapping Gold Coast kid who played for Burleigh at club level. He is from The Southport School.
Kobi Floro (Storm)
It is hard to miss Floro in a crowd. The towering prop was an early signing by the Storm some years ago and would have seen the big fella’s physique and listed him as a priority project player.
Importantly Floro gathered experience playing Langer Trophy for Wavell SHS last year.
Another Queensland boy in the Storm SG Ball squad was Frank Howarth (BBC), Jack’s brother.
Footnote: Cooper Clarke (Storm) had his final year of school last year at Caloundra SHS where he earned Queensland schoolboys selection, but the young prop is a western Sydney boy.
Elijah Keung (Souths)
Congratulations to South Sydney for winning the race for his signature. Keung, a prop, was the undisputed discovery player of last year - at both club (Tigers) and school (Mabel Park SHS) level. Originally from St James’ College, Keung played his way into the Queensland schoolboys side last season.
Roosters v Parramatta
Tyson Walker (Roosters)
A Walker playing No.7 at the Roosters? Does that sound familiar? Tyson is the younger brother of Roosters’ NRL halfback Sam, a fine player in his own right who knows the game backwards. Walker attended Ipswich Grammar School where he played First XV as a fullback.
Peter Benjamin Uini (Roosters)
Uini is a long term investment for the Roosters, plucked from Wavell SHS and flown to Sydney for matches each weekend.
Footnote: Kanaan Magele (Roosters) had his final year of school last year at Ipswich SHS where he earned Queensland schoolboys selection, but the young prop is a New Zealand boy.
Beau Lucien (Parramatta)
A big man, a young giant from an extraordinary junior club called Moreton Bay Raiders that churns out talent for fun, Lucien has been embedded in the Eels system. He is learning his craft the hard way in matches - which is the only way to go for a young prop.
Tom Summer (Parramatta)
Summer is a tremendous, blue collar middle forward, strong and mobile who never lets his side down. He comes from the Gold Coast.
Sharks v Raiders
Prestyn Laine-Sietu (Cronulla)
Originally from Wavell SHS before attending school at Nudgee College, he won premierships with Redcliffe in the Meninga Cup and twice with Nudgee College in First XV rugby. A fine defensive player who can also put his man away, Laine-Sietu has a high work rate.
Chaev Kolone (Raiders)
Canberra has a proud tradition in recruiting Logan City talent - think way back to Anthony Milford, Josh Papalii and even Will Zillman - and Kolone is Logan to the core. A tough big man from Mabel Park SHS, Kolone will come off the interchange bench this weekend.
Ezra Leota (Raiders)
Yet another player from Cameron Smith country - Logan City - Leota is a terrific utility forward who excels at hooker. He had a full season of Langer Trophy last season with Mabel Park SHS and is primed for a big season with Canberra after playing last year at Parramatta.
Sam Hyne (Raiders)
Yet another premiership winning player from the famous Nudgee College First XV rugby family, Hyne is a tall, mobile forward who will play prop at the weekend. He is extremely consistent. There is not much difference between a good and a quiet game for Hyne.
HAROLD MATTHEWS
Bulldogs v Magpies
Jackson Winnett (Bulldogs)
Winnett has great pedigree, hailing from the Darling Downs where he played juniors for the Valleys club in Toowoomba. An outside back, Winnett can sniff out a try either as a fullback streaming down the middle of the field, or from the wing. He will play No.1 this weekend.
Billy Mulheran (Bulldogs)
Well done Canterbury recruitment officers. You have done well signing Billy Mulheran from the famous Palm Beach Currumbin SHS school. He made News Corp’s Walters Cup Year 10 Tear of the Season last year, impressing with his high work rate, mobility and hands like a slips fieldsman in cricket. He is a top notch prospect at this age.
Other Queensland boys in the Bulldogs’s Marold Matthews squad were Tawa Dean-Simpkins (Mabel Park SHS) and James Peni (Redcliffe SHS). Toowoomba Valley juniors Harry Green, Lucas Burrow and Lucas Burrow all played Harold Matthews trials for the Bulldogs earlier this year.
Charlie Webb (Roosters)
Always hungry for an elite halves rookie, the Roosters swooped early to sign this Queensland 14-15 years schoolboy representative who played Walters Cup for Wavell SHS this season. He is regarded as one of the top players in his age group. Webb’s dad is ex-Warriors fullback Brent.
Payton Gifford (Roosters)
The Roosters’ recruitment ace got a two for the price of one halves’ bargain when he visited Wavell SHS. Not only does the club have Charlie Webb, mentioned above, in their Harold Matthews’ books, but also Gifford. Gifford is a half who represented Queensland White in the 14-15 years. He has been named at No.14 this weekend.
Marquis Sando (Roosters)
A battle hardened No.13 who grew up playing it tough in the junior fields around Logan City, this Marsden SHS product hits hard in defence. The Roosters like what they see - he is playing lock this weekend after starting in round 1.
Footnote: Jackson Rodwell (Roosters) attends Brisbane Boys College student, but is an Orange product near the Blue Mountains.
LISA FIAOLA CUP
Evelyn Roberts (Bulldogs), already a premiership winner at the club, she will be captain and five-eight this season.
Maddison-Renae Seumanutafa (Knights) is from that remarkable rugby league catchment of Logan City.
TARSHA GALE CUP
Tiresa Elika (Wests Tigers) is a tremendous lock prospect from the powerhouse Ipswich SHS program.
Mhia Mackey-Taylor (Sydney Roosters) is a Keebra Park SHS second rower who is in the club’s indigenous academy.
Chloe Pallisier (Panthers) was one of the best players in the Harvey Norman female program in Queensland last year when she played five-eight for the Clydesdales.
Gabriella Savage (Canberra)
The sister of NRL player Xavier, the North Queensland local played Australian schoolgirls as a winger.
Jaida Faleono (Canberra)
Another Keebra Park SHS talent, the young prop has been scooped up by the Raiders.
Armarni-Lea Auvae (Parramatta) hails from Mabel Park SHS where she excelled as a representative prop.
Leilani Ahsam (Newcastle) is another Queensland prop from the Gold Coast.
Mariah Brown and Mercedes Tauleilei-Siala (Newcastle) will play in the Cup this season for sure. Brown is an outstanding centre with the skills of a half, while Tauleilei-Siala is a born finisher.
JUNIOR REP PREVIEWS
HARVEY NORMAN U19s
HARVEY NORMAN U17s
MENINGA CUP
CONNELL CUP
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