Revealed: AIC First XIII rugby league Players to Watch in season 2023

Revealed: The AIC rugby league Players to Watch includes the best player not named in the Queensland schoolboy along with Broncos, Titans and Bulldogs-signed talent. SEE THE LIST.

Keep an eye on Jack Tuite (St Laurence's), Tom Howard (Marist Ashgrove), Will Lane (Iona) and Cameron Bukowski (Villa) this season.

Padua College hooker Mitch Rogers, Broncos-signed Cameron Bukowski and Canterbury affiliated Jackson Connor will lead the charge in the AIC First XIII league competition starting on Saturday.

St Laurence’s College will host round 1 featuring Laurie’s against Iona College, Padua playing St Patrick’s College and Ashgrove taking on Villanova College.

Mitch Rogers of Padua. Picture, John Gass

Rogers, signed by Canterbury, was the best player in Queensland not to make the schoolboys side which played at the recent national championships.

Rogers also played inside centre during Padua’s First XV rugby season.

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He is yet another elite product from Padua College, a school which has internationals Lindsay Collins, Paul Vautin, David Shillington and Paul McCabe as old boys, while David Stagg and Dane Carlaw played State of Origin. Shane Perry was also a premiership winner with the Broncos in 2006.

The Players to Watch include two players who made the recent Confraternity Carnival Team of the Tournament – Rogers and Marist College Ashgrove’s Leon Karena.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

MARIST COLLEGE ASHGROVE

Leon Karena

Leon Karena (middle) was Ashgrove's best player at the recent Confraternity league carnival. Picture: Marist College Ashgrove Facebook. On the right is Ashgrove legend Peter Anderson.

Mr. Reliable in the front row, Karena is a strong ball runner who will lead with his actions.

An unknown in our books – but making the Confraternity Carnival Boys’ Merit Team is not easy so this kid must be good.

Thomas Howard

Marist College Ashgrove player Tom Howard AIC First XV rugby union between Villanova College and Marist College Ashgrove Saturday April 29, 2023. Picture, John Gass

Howard will relish playing more footy this winter. The highly skilled Howard has the ability to beat a defender with every carry and under the high ball there are no question marks.

He’s a rugby boy through and through but we expect him to flourish in this code as well. He is the son of champion old boy Pat Howard, a Wallaby and ex-head of Australian cricket.

Jude Knapp

Marist College Ashgrove player Jude Knapp . Picture, John Gass

The Ashgrove halfback who we named at fullback in our News Corp AIC rugby Team of the Season.

Knapp has transitioned his skill set across nicely, with his kicking game, passing game and quality running game sure to provide a boost for his team.

He has the speed to mop up cover tackles and make defensive lines pay for lapses in concentration. He is from a famous old boy family, including his late dad Marcus.

ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE

Jimmy Boland

James Boland has been in St Patrick's First XV and First XIII for the last two years.

Year 12 Jimmy Boland will again be a key player for St Patrick’s this season.

Whether it’s on the wing or in the centres, Boland can and will deal damage. The team will look for Boland when they need some strong carries out of their own half.

Sam Condon

The Year 12 who was at the peak of his powers in the rugby competition. And we expect him to be just as important to his team’s success this term.

The blonde-haired Year 12 student will be a halves specialist capable of setting up his teammates, but what makes Condon stand out is his defence.

Taj Leis and Noah James

Leis is a tough kid who can play hooker and halfback, and like all good hookers he can tackle.

He will use his speed to take opportunities on the edge. James, who made our News Corp AIC rugby Team of the Season, will play left centre and has pace to burn.

ST LAURENCE’S COLLEGE

Finn Mackay

Mackay is a sure handed five-eight in both codes and his running game mixed with his big boot will play a big part in St Laurence’s success.

Jack Tuite

AIC First XV rugby between St Laurence's College and St Edmund's College Saturday May 27, 2023. Picture, John Gass

The strongly built Tuite will use his big frame to bust up defences and get his team on the front foot.

Hudson Burgess

Look for the aggressive Burgess to rumble his side out to their danger zone with his unforgiving ball returns.

Brody McLaren

Padua Vs St Laurence. AIC First XV rugby grand final. Saturday June 10, 2023. Picture, John Gass

McLaren will move from outside centre in rugby to halfback where the ground general will steer his troops around the paddock.

He can tackle like the best of them too.

Ned Bradley

Bradley has only just picked up the sport but his thirst for contact will see him fit right in.

A work horse lock.

IONA COLLEGE

William Lane (Iona)

AIC First XV rugby: Villanova College v Iona College Saturday June 3, 2023. Picture, John Gass

Lane is a rugged No. 13 who had a big First XV season after playing strongly for Wynnum Manly in the Meninga Cup earlier in the year. He will be one of Iona’s best players on the field and will be able to play multiple positions for his side.

Campbell Rolfe

The goal kicking ballplayer who will be a force with Lane by his side.

Rolfe has enormous potential and after a broken finger hindered his footy last year, he has a much improved running, passing and defensive game.

Josh Cash

A dummy half whose sharp running game will undo rival defences.

Loves the physical side of the game and you won’t catch Cash missing a tackle.

VILLANOVA COLLEGE

Cameron Bukowski

AIC First XV rugby: Villanova College v Iona College Saturday June 3, 2023. Picture, John Gass

The Queensland Schoolboy select who we rate very highly. Broncos signed, dummy half Bukowski will provide the Villa side more than just quick ball but more importantly invaluable experience.

Jackson Connor

The Souths-Logan Meninga Cup backrower who will feel at home in his proffered code of rugby league.

Bulldogs contracted, Connor was one of the better centres in the AIC rugby competition and will be full of confidence in this promising Villa side.

Ben Addley

AIC First XV rugby: Villanova College v Iona College Saturday June 3, 2023. Picture, John Gass

Here’s a good one. The star flanker of last term, Addley was unable to play in last year’s competition due to injury but has made the biggest impression on his coaches thus far.

An absolute work horse, it’s not out of the realm of possibility to see Addley in the Meninga Cup competition next year after an exciting Confraternity Carnival showing which included three Man of the Match performances.

Watch this space.

PADUA COLLEGE

Mitch Rogers (Padua)

AIC First XV rugby between Padua College and St Edmund's College Saturday May 13, 2023. Picture, John Gass

He made the Confraternity team of the carnival two years in a row, should have been a Queensland Schoolboys representative.

He was man of the match on grand final day for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Meninga Cup decider during May and is a fabulous talent who leaves dummy half to engage the tight defenders, bringing his props onto the ball.

He also has the hands of a half and the pace of a fullback.

Jayden Solien (Padua)

A five-eight, Solien has a really strong running game. In year 11, he played some games in the Firsts last year and that experience will stick by him this season.

Ryan Johnson (Padua)

Another Year 11 student, prop Johnson is coming back from injury so may start off the bench first few weeks. Strong and aggressive, he has been signed by the Titans.

ST EDMUND’S COLLEGE

Tafito Falaniko Ah-Ki

St Edmund's College player Tafito Falaniko Ah-ki AIC First Picture, John Gass

Are we looking at St Edmund’s Sportsman of the Year? He played Firsts Aussie Rules, Firsts rugby and now firsts league.

Ah-Ki plays winning footy by stripping the ball, diving on loose ball and going for that all or nothing play which can turn a game.

Jamison Wilson (St Edmund’s College)

Jamison Wilson (#13) – was voted by his peers as being our best player through the Confraternity carnival just gone. A hard running lock with great footwork & leg speed. An aggressive defender who plays big minutes for us through the middle.

St Edmund's College player Jack Chandler, left. Picture, John Gass

Jack Chandler (Et Edmund’s)

Jack Chandler played opener flanker in the First XV and will revert to hooker and co-captain. “In my opinion is in the top tier of AIC No. 9’s alongside Mitch Rogers and Cameron Bukowski but doesn’t get mentioned in rugby league as much as he should,’’ said a member of the Eddie’s coaching staff. He played hooker for Ipswich Jets in its Mal Meninga Cup semi-final this year. His craft and deception around the ruck make him a consistent attacking threat. Chandler is also a reliable defender with a big engine and a high rugby league IQ.

Ben Puller (St Edmund’s)

Five-eighth Puller is another co-captain. A dynamic No. 6 with a strong running game, his communication and kicking game will see him control position and possession to put Eddies in positions to build pressure on other sides.