Scott links with Gulls; forwards Young, Donovan, Day and Jackson impress during build-up

Meninga Cup preview: A Broncos’ junior halfback ace from Johnathan Thurston’s old school and a host of juniors will spearhead Wynnum Manly’s campaign. Preview, full squad here.

Braithen Scott playing for Queensland country last season - he is with Wynnum Manly in 2025. Photo: Erick Lucero/QRL

Elite Toowoomba halfback Braithen Scott, tough Mackay forward Cohen Jackson and Beaudesert junior Cooper Young were big country recruits as Wynnum-Manly chased a finals berth in the Meninga Cup this season.

Signed by the Brisbane Broncos, Scott hails from St Mary’s College, Toowoomba, the old school of champion Queensland and Australian halfback Johnathan Thurston.

Scott has played Connell Cup and Meninga Cup for his local side, Toowoomba Clydesdales, but has made the move to the big smoke as he looks to continue his development closer to Red Hill.

JUNIOR REP PREVIEWS

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Jackson is a true blue forward, a fantastic recruit for Wynnum who has already shone in the off-season with his toughness and effort on effort performances.

Cooper Young, a prop, hails from Greg Veivers country, beautiful Beaudesert, which is a rich breeding ground for sport.

local junior Levi Hawea playing for Iona College last year. Picture, John Gass

He played U17 representative football and shone in schoolboy football last season for Marsden SHS. Young, who has been identified by the Wests Tigers, stands out in pre-season training because of his extra effort performances.

Scott, Young and Jackson were three Queensland country kids who will add immensely to the Seagulls’ campaign.

But so will local junior Levi Hawea. One of the first players chosen in the News Corp AIC schoolboy league Team of the Season last year, Hawea is a real general who will lead the team around the park.

Cooper Day as an U17 player at Wynnum - he will lead the way in the Meninga Cup this season. Picture: Jerad Williams

No.13 Cooper Day, the type of player that leads by example, is also back after playing strongly for the Seagulls last season.

A wildcard player for Wynnum this season will be middle forward Oscar Donovan.

Physical and aggressive, Donovan is a powerhouse mobile forward who was one of the most dominant players in the GPS First XV rugby competition last season playing for Brisbane Boys College. Watch this space, Donovan can play.

Wynnum will also have good juniors like Jaycob Kingston-Francis, Caden Frame, Campbell Rolfe, Fononga Tuitahi, Tyler Pereira, Levi Hawea and co. along with Nate Wallin from Villanova College.

Wynnum Manly player Jaren Horne is a good back rower signed by the Broncos. Picture, John Gass

Watch for another Broncos’ signing, No.13 Jared Horne, to advance his game this season, while Brodie Hilt is a terrific little hooker from the Darling Downs.

The squad: Braithan Scott, Cohen Jackson, Jared Horne, Bailey Turner, Brodie Hilt, Braddick Taylor, Bailey Downs, Caden Frame, Caleb Creswell, Campbell Rolfe, Charlie Bird, Cooper Day, Cooper Young, Dominic Punivalu, Fononga Tuitahi, Harley Yates, Harrison Bath, Isaak Mezzen, Jaycob Kingston-Francis, Kaharau Reti, Levi Hawea, Marino Rimene, Matthew Schultz, Nate Wallin, Noah Hetu-Davis, Oliver Patterson, Oscar Donovan, Preston Cassidy, Quintin Coulter, Reece Gorman, Riley Baker, Roman Dunne, Tamai Baker, Tom Morcom, Tyler Pereira, Yuri Harris-Rowland.