Queensland U15, U16, U19 and Challenger Series Players to Watch
We’ve identified 33 Queensland rugby rookie players to watch at Sunday’s under-16 and under-19 National Championship.
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Sunday is a big day for Queensland Rugby with talent on show from the under 15s right through to Queensland Reds contenders at Sunnybank Rugby Club.
The National U16 and U19 Championships will start the five-week regular season where five clubs will face off against each other for the first time since 2019.
The top two sides will face off in the final on November 13. One of two Challenger Series clashes between the Queensland Reds Development XV and Queensland President’s XV will unfold after the U16 and U19 fixtures as well as a one-off U15 clash.
So, Who are the Players to Watch? See the players and match schedule below.
33 PLAYERS TO WATCH
Queensland Reds U15 v New South Wales Waratahs U15
James Grey #23 (Ipswich Grammar)
The Ipswich Grammar speedster is set to come off the bench and when he does you will know who he is. He has blinding speed and if he has space watch him pin the ears back.
Berakah Tuifaasisina #3 (Ipswich State High)
Tuifaasisina will be one to watch, take it from Ipswich State High School head of rugby league Josh Bretherton who has high praise for the running game of the young prop.
“He’s a very powerful ball runner. He has a really solid frame. Particularly in union, he will be someone who could do a fair amount of damage with ball in hand,” Bretherton said.
Nicholas Conway #14 and Samuel McGahan (Nudgee College)
Conway proved that he can make some magic happen with little to no room in the Emerging Reds Cup when he scored an incredible solo try with a chip and chase. He will be on the wing so expect to see some relentless kick-chase pressure among other strongpoints in the youngster’s game. McGahan will be the one to put NSW on the back foot with his brilliant kicking in general play. At the Emerging Reds Cup the flyhalf made sure his side was playing down the right end of the field and that was one of the reasons Brisbane White finished atop the table.
Brock Coombes #15 (Immanuel Lutheran College)
Coombes is someone you want returning the ball from the back. He’s fearless, speedy and fierce in contact. He’ll want to get his hands on the ball and truck it up.
Queensland Reds U16 v New South Wales Waratahs U16
Blaze Moana #1, Tom Goldie #9 (The Southport School)
Prop Moana and halfback Goldie are First XV regulars in the GPS competition. If the boys in maroon get a lineout in close watch for Moana at the back of the rolling maul. He’s a bit like Folau Fainga’a in the way he racks up tries on the back of a strong lineout. Goldie will be on his hip directing the troops, applying pressure, delivering superb service and lifting his team.
Tom Howard #15 and Jasper Barry #8 (Marist College Ashgrove)
Howard’s first defender stands no chance with his lethal step while Barry’s powerful running will prove a handful to contain.
Watch for blonde-haired Howard returning the ball from the back with flair and watch for some barnstorming carries up the middle from Barry to give his team some good go forward.
Tauave Leofa #10 (Brisbane State High)
Leofa has patience and maturity beyond his years. The crafty flyhalf can stamp his mark with his kicking. He squares up the offence, facilitates his backs expertly and is a great communicator.
Zac Nichol #12 and Chase Oates #13
This powerhouse centre pairing is bolstered by the boot of Toowoomba Grammar’s Chase Oates. While Oates has the surprise element of extreme speed which sees him brush past defenders, it’s his masterful kicking game paired with his goal kicking accuracy that sets him apart from the rest. He spots space and takes advantage of it and that’s why he’s one of the better chances of kicking a 50-22 on the day. Zac Nicol of Sunshine Coast Grammar will be a wrecking ball on his inside, with crash balls and great lines to dent that opposition defensive line.
Princeton Ioane #3 (Nudgee College)
Ioane was out of action during the Emerging Reds Cup but luckily for us we get to see him in action on Sunday. He’ll be eager to prove why he gained selection and that’ll be apparent with his damaging ball-running, scrum dominance, energy and busyness around the paddock.
Tom Robinson #4 (Gregory Terrace)
Robinson has had one hell of a season and he keeps delivering. This is only the beginning for the 16-year-old son of former Wallaby Brett Robinson, as he looks to bring his form from the GPS First XV competition straight into the Under 16 National Championships.
A well oiled machine ready to make yet another statement.
Queensland Reds U19 v New South Wales Waratahs U19
Hunter Lim #23, Harry Grant #22, Tanna Wilson #19, Tim Ryan #13 (Brothers)
Ryan will be the only starter from Brothers, while Lim, Grant and Wilson will provide reinforcements from the bench.
We spoke with Brothers Colts 1 coach Greg Beaver and this is how he believes his troopers will impact the game: “Tim Ryan will continue on from what he’s been doing all year in Colts, being Illusive and hard to handle in attack. He will grab his opportunity.
“People will be surprised by Hunter Lim’s ball playing ability and game control. He just killed it this season coming from colts 2 to 1 and being a standout.
“Harry Grant is starting to become a triple threat, with his kick, pass, run options. His option taking and game control has developed nicely through the year which was great to see. Everyone talks about the good players, but if anyone watches the games he is the one making the impact.
“Tanna Wilson: is a really good tight head lock who’s electric with his carries, will get through tons of work and move bodies. He has great pace, turn of foot and acceleration through contact.”
John Bryant #8 and Nick Baker #7
These two could deal some serious damage to their rivals on Sunday. Two years ago the big boppas were going head to head in the AIC First XV rugby competition and Bryant’s man child presence was monumental for St Laurence’s College as was Bakers for Marist College Ashgrove. Watch how they work together to blow away their rivals.
Taj Annan #12 and Jarrod Homan #11 (Easts)
Although we were familiar with Annan at flyhalf and Homan at inside centre during the club rugby season, there’s no doubt the pair of them will put on a show.
Annan can play as a second flyhalf in the No.12 jersey and he will straighten up the attack and create chances out wide. That’s where Homan comes in, steaming though so that he can get that step, fend and offload going.
Annan and Homan were deadly in the Colts 1 finals series and their telepathic connection will be needed if Queensland want to topple their New South Wales counterparts.
Harry McLaughlin-Philips #10 (Souths)
Club rugby’s Under 20s Player of the Year will don the 10 jersey. His vision, speed and ability to make decisions quickly mixed with his toughnessand strength through contact will be a good test for his opposite number Joey Fowler.
McLaughlin-Phillips is in some solid form, coming off a 59-5 win with the Australian U18 and Schools team last week so keep an eye on one of the Reds most promising youngsters on Sunday.
So is Fowler, the flyhalf young guns teammates one week and opponents the next. Could this be the start of a great Qld v NSW rivalry at No.10?
Queensland Reds development XV
Taine Roiri #19 (Easts)
Riori was a revelation for the Tigers this year, going strength to strength in that Colts 1 competition they came out of the woodworks to win.
He’s a big poppa, aggressive, physical, brick wall defender, dynamic ball runner and lineout rock.
Plenty of upside, he just has to develop his knack for good decisions in the forward play.
Floyd Aubrey #14 (GPS) and Mac Grealy #15 (UQ)
It’s step city when these two have just a little wriggle room. They connect well on the edges and have the tools to wreak havoc. The last time Aubrey kitted up was in an agonising loss to Brothers in the Hospital Cup preliminary final and Grealy in the Grand Final against Wests. Expect an array of goose steps.
Tom Lynagh #22 (UQ)
Lynagh had been making inroads in the Colts 1 competition, helping the Red Heavies on their way to a shared premiership with Easts before stepping into this Challenger Series.
He has lovely hands. This match will be a step up in physicality which is a test he needs to keep developing.
He has some weapons with him in the backline so strap in for a few exhilarating backs moves.
Kalani Thomas #9 (UQ) and Spencer Jeans #21 (Bond Uni)
Thomas has been in some sharp form, running the ball more than ever. It will double trouble with his Queensland Reds teammate Spencer Jeans in the mix spicing things up. We haven’t seen Jeans in action for a little while now so expect some firepower from the red-headed scrumhalf.
Queensland President’s XV
Meli Dreu #15 (Easts)
You won’t miss the 21-year-old fullback with the peroxide blond hair, the result of boredom during a washed-out round early in the season. He was a striking improver for Easts this year with his running game from fullback and his eagerness to cover ground to support other runners.
Nailed a conversion on full-time to beat Brothers as his sweetest moment of 2022 so far.
Louis Werchon #21 (Brothers)
A halfback dynamo. Or fullback. Or wing.
The blonde-haired Werchon can play almost anywhere in the backline which is why his value on the Brothers Premier Grade interchange bench is invaluable. Put him anywhere and his toughness, surprising strength, zip and passing precision will shine through.
He is coming off a superb role in the Brothers reserve grade premiership where he potted the winning field goal on full time against Souths in the Grand Final.
Kye Oates #11 (UQ)
Oates is the older brother of up-and-comer Chase and has proved over previous years playing for UQ in the Premier Grade competition the quality centre that he is.
The Toowoomba Grammar Old Boy has a burst of speed, plenty of mongrel and a rugby league background which you can see in his power through contact and off the mark acceleration.
MATCH SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY AT SUNNYBANK
11:30: Queensland Reds U15s v New South Wales Waratahs U15s
1:00: Queensland Reds U16s v New South Wales Waratahs U16s
2:30: Queensland Reds U19s v New South Wales Waratahs U19s
4:00: Queensland Reds development XV v Queensland President’s XV
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