Watch out for these league rookies when the club and school season swings around
Here are 80 junior league hot shots, schoolboy footy players we can’t wait to see play again in 2023.
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The rugby league season is looming fast and lacing up the boots will be a host of schoolboy young guns itching for action.
Last year the likes of Australian schoolboys Karl Oloapu (Wavell SHS, Norths), Keano Kini (PBC SHS, Tweed), Michael Roberts (PBC SHS), Gabriel Satrick (Ipswich SHS), Josiah Pahulu (Ipswich SHS) and Jye Gray (Souths Logan) lit up SEQ footy grounds in 2022 - so who will capture the limelight from the class of 2023?
Ahead of our coverage of the Meninga Cup, Connell Challenge club competitions, the www.couriermail.com.au brings you a pre-season appetiser highlighting some of the young talent we glimpsed across south east Queensland in 2022, a group of kids we can’t wait to see play this season.
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Coby Black: The talented Queensland schoolboys half will be oh so much better this season after his first season of senior school footy in 2022.
He had a big year, coming off the bench for the winning Queensland schoolboys side and rising with the tide as Marsden SHS recovered from a slow start to challenge. Black is a kid with a lot of skills. He just has to choose when to pull the trigger on them.
Alex Leapai: The big front rower from Mabel Park SHS will be a colossus in 2023, particularly coming off training and playing in the Roosters junior system.
Lewis Symonds: Symonds is a brute of an athlete. Signed by the Broncos, he is a gold medal winning state track and field thrower, a title winning junior weightlifter and a glorious edge forward prospect who has moved to Marsden SHS from the Gold Coast.
Zane Harrison: From PBC SHS, Harrison has been mentored by the best - Tom Weaver (Titans) and Joshua Lynn (Parramatta) - and 2023 will be his turn to run the side after learning his craft on the run in 2022.
Charlie Dickson: The hard working No. 13 joined fellow Dolphins signings such as Jairus Halahala (Redcliffe SHS) and Brian Pouniu (St Eugene College) in the Queensland under 15 Maroons side last season. We loved his work rate, but Dickson showed signs of developing his offloading in tackles, while Pouniu was a thumping edge runner.
Mason Phillips: A Walters Cup teammate of Warradoo at Wavell last season, dummy half Phillips lit up the ASSRL national carnival last year playing for the Queensland under 15 White side. We can’t wait to lay our eyes on him this season.
Mereki Warradoo: What an exciting prospect both Wavell SHS - and the Dolphins - have in Warradoo. The smooth moving fullback was Man of the Series for the Queensland under 15 Maroons side last year and will be one to watch this season.
Kane Self: The 2021 Queensland under 15 representative from Ipswich SHS is so highly thought of by NRL club Newcastle, the Knights flew him to Sydney for some of their Harold Matthews matches last season. The Year 12 student will be a middle forward now 2022 heroes like Josiah Pahulu and Jack Laing have left school.
Nate Berrigan: Work-a-holic Nate Berrigan (Redcliffe SHS) will be a match hardened glue player for the Peninsula boys this season who is sure to benefit from an off-season with the Dolphins junior development squad.
Ellyjah Birve: What a wonderful young player this kid is. Along with Caloundra SHS teammate Jaxon Benvenuti, Birve spearheaded Caloundra SHS to its Studdy’s Cup premiership last season. This after shining with the Falcons Connell Challenge side and starring for the Queensland White under 15 rep team at the nationals last season. His deeds included a matchwinning conversion and it is little wonder the Melbourne Storm were monitoring him, along with fellow Caloundra locals Tully Mclellan and Chase Paterson.
Braithen Scott: The headgear wearing playmaker from St Mary’s College impressed at every turn in 2022, including when representing the Queensland under 15s.
Mark Nosa: A big bodied Marsden SHS five-eight who is Smart with a capital S. He throws a great ball into gaps, and can challenge himself when he carries the ball.
Lui Lee: Brisbane Broncos affiliated, the brother of Brenko was outstanding for the Queensland 15s where his combination with Benson Tau threatened to bring down opponents. The Marsden SHS student has a killer step, size and strength.
LJ Nonu: The Ipswich SHS student Nonu observed patiently behind Queensland schoolboys centre Tre Fotu in 2022, watching his schoolmates historic march through an unbeaten season. Now the left centre will have his turn to impact the Langer Trophy in 2023.
Wailer Whaiapu: The Keebra Park SHS was blooded in the Langer Trophy in 2021 as a year 10 student on the back of his stoic defence and work rate, but the youngster added ball carrying impact to his game last season and will be a forward leader this year.
Benson Tau: An astute junior signing by the Dolphins from Marsden SHS, Tau is a tall, athletic winger with pace and plenty of it.
Ayden Byrnes and Baylen Donald: Byrnes will hit the opens for the first time where his lightning speed out of dummy half will be a threat while Donald will be pushing hard for a Langer berth. Both boys claimed cherished Palm Beach Currumbin SHS Rugby League REDS Awards (Byrnes Year 10, Donald Year 11) at the end of last season.
Ryder Williams: Another Keebra Park SHS young gun, Williams will be inching to test himself in open competition next year after a dominant Walters Cup season. The Gold Coast Titans contracted halfback spent time training with Keebra’s Langer Trophy side towards the end of the year and was named in their extended 20 man senior squad in the finals series.
Marley McLaren: Signed by the Broncos, jack-in-the-box McLaren is a halfback young gun from PBC SHS who was eye-catching for the Queensland under 15 schoolboys last season.
Anthony Soloman: The long striding Soloman from Marsden SHS is an exciting, athletic No. 13 prospect.
Jakeem Thompson: The young PBC SHS half ignited grand final day last year with three early tries in the 2022 Walters Cup decider.
Saxon Innes: Watch for this South Sydney signed, Marsden SHS winger to bob up in his first season of Langer Trophy. Innes is a speed merchant from way back.
Creedance Donovan: The PBC SHS fullback had been stuck behind champion No. 1 Kini Keano for two season, but watch for him take flight in 2023 when the Langer Trophy season swings around.
Dahnte Te Whiu Hopa: The towering 2022 Walters Cup forward will hit the opens with Marsden SHS this season. The brother of talented older brother Tealon, he will look to take his game up a gear this year.
Jake Carsburg amd Tom Parker: Carsburg (Grace Lutheran College) and his Queensland White under 15 teammate Tom Parker (Forest Lake SHS) came outside the big league schools to win representative berths. Parker looked a classy runner while centre Carsburg was a schoolboy version of former Broncos champion Mick DeVere.
Tane Cook: Last season’s Mabel Park SHS Walters Cup fullback or hooker, the kid looks the real deal.
Keahn Skipps: Another Gold Coast (Burleigh Bears) halves’ young gun who, after making the City under 17s late last season, was off to Canberra where he has spent the off-season training - and making - the final SG Ball squad.
Mace Andrew: This rising forward utility has the size and strength to play middle, or the agility and mobility to go wide. Signed by South Sydney, he was a Queensland 15s rep last season.
Fa’apale Feaunati: Here is one for the little black books. Tall and athletic, the middle forward from St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace has already been snapped up by the Broncos. He was a Qld 15s rep last season.
Duquan Talaepa: Also from Mabel Park SHS, the left edge forward leader represented the Queensland 15s in 2022 and will hit the opens full of enthusiasm.
Jack McCosker: The Stretton State College’s captain, the left edge second rower was a huge threat in attacking sweeps while also blocking St Mary’s thrusts when they had the ball.
Bailey McConnell: McConnell came off the bench as a replacement dummy half in the Langer Trophy last season for PBC SHS and will be wiser and more experienced in season 2023.
Azariah Toki-Mautairi: The livewire halfback made an instant impression when he arrived from Auckland last year, making the Queensland Maroons under 15s side and then starring for Wavell SHS.
Kingston Seve: The Keebra Park SHS Year 8 fullback was an elite player in his age group last season and will look to maintain momentum when he plays in the Hancock Cup this season. Not far behind him was centre Israel Lotaki.
Rarne Neemia: He was Man of the Match when Wavell SHS clinched its first junior premiership (Broncos Old Boys Trophy) since 2014. The younger brother of Queensland 18s forward Damarcus, Rarne will be full of confidence entering 2023. Another we noticed from Wavell in that age group was long striding centre Cruz Molo.
Will Hamblin: With the likes of Seve, Joshua Donovan and Will Hamblin excelling, Keebra Park SHS will be well covered for fullbacks this season after all impressed us in 2022.
Jett Jackson: Jackson was a teammate of Cameron Bukowski in the City 17s after coming off a grand season with PBC SHS. He will saddle up for Tweeds Seagulls in the Meninga Cup.
Tayshon Foley: The Ipswich SHS utility was injured last season but watch for him to push hard for the Langer starting side. And while on Ipswich, keep an eye on Ipswich SHS’s Walters Cup pair Cooper Cracknell and Xzavier Timoteo who we glimpsed coming off the bench at the ASSRL championships.
Michael Waqa and Ben Uini: The young front row Bulls from Wavell SHS will be bigger, stronger and wiser for their second stint in Langer next season after learning the ropes on the run playing the toughest position on the field during last season.
Sunny Kama: The PBC SHS product is a powerful running outside back who isn’t afraid of doing the tough stuff coming out of trouble. He can leave defenders in his wake with carries from his own end.
Mark Tuialii: The tall outside back benefited from exposure in the Canberra Raiders SG Ball squad and will be a leading light for Wavell SHS. Tuialii also has superb aerial skills.
Joseph Tupuse: Queensland’s under 15 Maroons side had two crack centres in Lui Lee (mentioned earlier) and this blockbuster, Tupuse, from Keebra Park SHS. His presence gives Keebra Park thumping centre depth in 2023.
Keoki Koraba and Kobi Floro: As usual Wavell SHS will have vast junior resources and leading the charge will be this dynamic duo, with Koraba coming off representing the Queensland under 15 White side in 2022. Also keep an eye on edge forward Jared Horne.
Carter Welfare: Another Dolphins’ signing who won a place in Queensland’s top tier Qld 15s side last season. The young halfback is a Nudgee College border from Emu Park in coastal central Queensland. Another young half we are looking forward to seeing progress is Zac Herdgen (Redcliffe SHS),
Tyrese Tovao: Signed by the Dolphins, the Mabel Park SHS student is a blockbusting centre with genuine wheels.
Dominic Ierome, Riley Baker and captain Dean Taaua: Mabel Park SHS were building their program from the ground up and three of their best during last season’s Hancock Cup campaign were Dominic Ierome, Riley Baker and captain Dean Taaua. Watch for this trio to contribute in the Walters this season.
Joshua Donovan: A nicely developing fullback from Keebra Park SHS’s 2022 Walters Cup side who grew in confidence in his first year at the school. His uncle is Tigers’ NRL fullback Dane Lawrie.
Darius Brive: The Struddys Cup competition unearthed some real gems, including Darius Brive (Caloundra SHS), Kade Kraut (Caloundra SHS), Hunter Tate-Roche (St Mary’s) and Safin Elara (St Mary’s) who will all move into the Year 8 division this season.
Also watch for Lexin Hill (Stretton State College), Zac Lotaki ((Stretton), Onyx Poimafiti (Stretton) - all year 8 students last season - who will lead the charge in Year 9 competition.
Kahi Millerd: The Keebra Park SHS student is a big winger, tall and thickly set with a long stride on him. He is a real handful.
Kaleb Smith: The 2022 Walters Cup middle forward surged into the Queensland under 15 Maroons side, while we also like the work of his PBC SHS teammate, edge forward Luke Jones
Emmanuel Asomau: The broad shouldered, granite like Marsden SHS prop influenced Walters Cup matches all season with powder keg charges.
Callum Bowles: The PBC SHS fullback Callum Bowles is another promising coast kid, a lad who is powerful and who has a long reach.
Jasper Barry: An edge forward full of promise from Marist College Ashgrove, Barry is in the Meninga Cup Norths squad member who will be entering Year 11 at school.
Cameron Bukowski: The Villanova student signed by the Broncos will play in the Meninga Cup with Wynnum-Manly. A dummy half, he had a head knock and an injury which disrupted his 2022, although he did get some runs on the board late in the season when he represented the city under 17 side.
Max Blanch: The versatile Blanch can play dummy half or in the outside backs and we saw him do both making rugby league and rugby union representative teams last season. The Brisbane Tigers Connell Challenge player is a nice prospect from Churchie.
Dallas Ingram and Te Iri Rudolph-Mokaraka: The Southport School’s sporting production line includes these two outstanding prospects whom we saw playing for the Queensland under 15s last season. Ingram is a renowned playmaker while the mobile Rudolph-Mokaraka shines on the edge.
Prestyn Laine-Sietu: Laine-Sietu spent much of last season dominating his age group in rugby union (Nudgee College) but he is also a league back row powerhouse.
Cooper McInnerney: The representative winger is yet another Nudgee College student who grabbed his chance to win a place in the Qld 15s White team last season.
Nixon Pasese: One of four Nudgee College students to win places in Queensland under 15 squads last season, the Dolphins signed Pasese is a powerful middle forward, mobile, who gets forward and plays the ball quickly.
Izayah Petricevich: The south Gold Coast winger will have plenty to offer when the 2023 season swings around.
Javon Andrew: The gifted ballplayer from Marsden SHS will look for a big season this year after representing Queensland in his age group two years ago.
Taoso Taoso: The athletic Brisbane State High School student caught the eye playing for the Norths under 14s last season where he looked an exciting edge prospect as either a second rower or centre. And while on BSHS athletes, Bailey Trew, the tall, exciting outside back, will be a target in the air and threw the hands when he plays for Souths Logan.
Daniel Rakena (Keebra Park): Rakena was a real jack-in-the-box last season for Keebra Park SHS, roving on both sides of the ruck, running, passing long or passing short. He was almost impossible to tame on grand final day last year. At the other end of the weight scale, look for big Keebra Park prop Isopo Taunuu who impressed during last year’s school finals.
Bobby Smith (PBC SHS): Who needs trick plays and switches in attack when you have a prop like Smith who is prepared to run straight and hard. We loved his straight, hard running last season.
Waaka Hepi (Keebra Park SHS): The headgear wearing Hepi was a big man with a big motor during last season who lapped up heavy duty runs in the centre third of the field.
Creedance Thompson (PBC SHS): The PBC SHS winger is a roving winger who adds a dimension to PBC SHS’s quick feet around the ruck.
Hunter Tate-Roache and Temanu Taahi: Both boys from St Mary’s College were damaging ball runners who benefited from Cayleb O’Neil’s brave distribution at the line.
Tate-Roache and Taahi’s impact was helped by unsung props Safin Elara and Noah Davies and if those five boys were back again this year, St Mary’s have a strong foundation.
Adaquix Luke: Here’s a son of a gun - Adaquix’s father is New Zealand Test and South Sydney champion Isaac. But the young bloke is making his own way in league and unlike his father, is a light weight fleet-a-foot fullback from Marsden SHS.
Chaev Kolone: We will see Kolone for the first time this season at Wyumm-Manly next month after he impressed in the Mabel Park SHS Walters Cup side. A huge man who gave plenty of check last season.
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