Who are the Australian Under-18 Schoolboys? Read an insight on the rugby league young guns here
Who are the Australian Schoolboys? Read an insight into the exciting 18-man squad of NRL futures that you might be hearing a lot more of in the future. FULL LIST
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The future of the NRL was in safe hands following the announcement of the Australian Schoolboys Under-18s team at the conclusion of the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Championships staged at Coffs Harbour last week.
New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges took out the national title for the second year in a row and as such are well represented in the squad of 18 with seven elite schoolboy players picked.
2019 Australian Schoolboy selections like Reece Walsh (Broncos), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Toby
Sexton (Bulldogs), Sam Walker (Roosters), Brendan Piakura (Broncos) and Jack Howarth (Storm) have all progressed into the NRL.
So where are the next batch of NRL players coming from? Find out below with an insight on the 2024 Australian Schoolboys.
THE TEAM
1 - Jack Attard (NSWCCC)
Lightning.
The Penrith Panthers have signed this goalkicking fullback from St Dominic’s College, Kingswood for 2025 and 2026.
Having grown up in Panther country, Attard always loved watching Penrith on his television and next year will play another year of SG Ball Cup in 2025 after a strong campaign earlier this year.
He rarely makes mistakes, has speed and is a high IQ player.
2 - Luke Tuialii (ACT)
Imagine a fearless, straight line running left centre who can play on the wing and at fullback.
An Erindale College, Wanniassa senior, Tuialii is a player who will likely progress through the Canberra Raiders system to the top level.
3 - Nikora Williams (NSWCHS)
A Cronulla Sharks SG Ball Cup and Jersey Flegg young gun still in Year 12 at Endeavour Sports High School, Caringbah.
Williams is your typical centre - but he kicks goals and kicks them well.
A sniper off the tee, Williams made the Australian Schoolboys team last year as a Year 11 student.
Williams, who showed his leadership at the ASSRL championships at Coffs Harbour last week, is also a high IQ player who loves an offload.
4 - Sam Stephenson (QRSS)
Indeed the Gold Coast Titans have Sam Stephenson locked away as their next generation centre.
A Year 12 at sporting powerhouse Palm Beach Currumbin State High School on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Barber made Queensland’s schoolboys team last year as a Year 11 student and went one up this year to make the Australian side.
He accelerates into contact, is an athlete and earlier this year trained with the Titans NRL squad in the summer - despite being just 17 years of age.
5 - Mason Barber (QRSS)
Responsible for the most scintillating solo try of the ASSRL championships at Coffs Harbour, Mason Barber is the type of kid who can dodge water spurting out of the shower head - that is how sharp his footwork is.
A North Queensland Cowboys contracted senior in Year 12 at Keebra Park State High School, Barber came through hearing of blokes like Reece Walsh and Jahream Bula who set a high standard in Keebra’s No.1 jersey.
Barber has upheld this rich tradition by making the Australian Schoolboys team, and also spearheading his school team to a 4-0 start in Queensland’s Langer Trophy competition.
6 - Mitchell Woods (NSWCIS)
The highly touted St Patrick’s College, Strathfield playmaker was always going to make this side.
The New South Wales Combined independent Schools selection is the top five-eighth in the nation in this age group, having signed with the Bankstown Bulldogs through 2027.
The captain of the club’s premiership winning Harold Matthews side last year, Woods can slot goals, create with his deadly kicking game and back himself to slice through a gap.
7 - Toby Rodwell (NSWCIS)
Mitch Woods’ halfback at the ASSRL championships, Newington College, Stanmore senior Toby Rodwell was also making a name for himself as one of the top schoolboy pivots in the country.
The best back in the Sydney Roosters SG Ball Cup team earlier this year, Rodwell kept that same energy in a classy showing at Coffs Harbour last week in the national championships.
The headgear wearing halfback knows where the ball needs to go and getting it there is no problem - he has the best spiral pass going around and Shore School sensation Rex Bassingthwaighte, Rodwell’s winger at the ASSRL championships, could vouch.
8 - Alex Challenor (NSWCCC)
A powerful prop, Alex Challenor did everything right in a rampaging New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges side which snared the national title for the second successive year last week.
Challenor is a leader, a player who leads with both his words and actions and the Cronulla Sharks would be wise to lock down this uncompromising utility forward from St Aloysius College, Cronulla.
9 - Lachlan Coinakis (NSWCCC)
Here’s a bloke that will get the very best out of his dynamic forwards and electric backs when the Australian Schoolboys begin their tour later this season.
The Patrician Brothers Blacktown product had a belter of a tournament at Redcliffe’ Kayo Stadium last year where the ASSRL championships were staged and maintained the rage at Coffs Harbour in his senior year to snare the No.9 jumper in this bumper squad.
A Parramatta Eels junior representative, Coinakis is a no-frills hooker whose service, running game and defensive capability exceeded all his peers at the national championships.
10 - Cody Hopwood (NSWCCC)
Signed by the Newcastle Knights, Cody Hopwood was a blue collar worker with the respect of his peers, coaching staff and even rivals on the field.
He is a great player, a tall, rugged modern day prop forward who does his job to perfection.
The 18-year-old All Saints College, Maitland enforcer has the offload game down pat and knows what needs to happen to win.
11 - Jacob Halangahu (NSWCCC)
To put it simply, Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown senior Jacob Halangahu is a name that could very well be on your television screens in the near future.
Signed by the NRL Dragons and always getting better, Halangahu is not tall, but he is compact, athletic, agile and has that will to win which will hold him in good stead once he graduates school later this year.
In the last 12 months Halangahu has won the ASSRL championships twice with New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges, the SG Ball Cup, the Under-19s State of Origin and if he keeps moving his legs in contact the way he did at Coffs Harbour, there will be plenty more winning to come for this exciting 17-year-old.
12 - Zac Garton (QRSS)
Queensland’s most damaging and most consistent player at the ASSRL championships, Caloundra State High School 18-year-old Garton is signed by the NRL Dolphins and has a way of crossing the stripe.
Just ruthless in this age group, there would have been no doubt in selectors minds to pick this rip-and-tear left edge forward who sounds, looks and plays like a man among boys.
13 - Thomas Dellow (NSWCHS)
New South Wales Combined High Schools’ best player of the tournament, Dellow rose above to ensure his side again made it into the grand final.
The Endeavour Sports High School, Caringbah No.13 is a bloke who gets through a ton of work and will be the first to raise his hand for more when the clock is dwindling down.
He is a workhorse who collected the Players’ Player, Player of the Year and Coaches Awards in recognition of his outstanding Harold Matthews campaign with the Sharks earlier this season.
14 - Jared Haywood (NSWCCC)
The perfect player for the No.14 jersey.
A dummy half with boundless energy, good decision making skills, a sound defensive game and great vision, Haywood played a crucial role for his championship Combined Catholic Colleges side last week.
Another quality youngster from Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown, Haywood will challenge ruck defences and if he spots tired bodies he alarm bells will starting ringing in the opposition defensive line.
15 - Simione Laiafi (NSWCHS)
From the land of giants this barnstorming middle forward influenced games for the Combined High Schools at the ASSRL championships.
A Bass High School, Bass Hill senior signed by Manly, Laiafi grew up in Bankstown where he idolised NRL prop Jason Taumalolo.
The Tongan Terror has a bit of Taumalolo about him and it would not surprise to see Haumole Olakau’atu and Laiafi terrorising opposition packs later this decade for Manly.
16 - Ryda Talagi (NSWCHS)
Talk about upsize.
This kid, or young man we should say, is a giant with the mobility of an outside back.
The imposing Westfields Sports High School, Fairfield West senior is the type of player you hope doesn’t return the ball from the back fence because if he does, your shoulders will be sore.
The thunderous forward only turned 17 earlier this year and has the body made for the biggest stage, so watch this space.
17 - Tyson Sangalang (NSWCCC)
Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown brute Tyson Sangalang is a tireless lock forward who could play prop or second row and do it well.
One of the best defenders at the ASSRL championships, Sangalang’s biggest asset is his defensive game and ability to make big tackles, while also offering plenty with the ball in hand.
The Rouse Hill young gun is in the Eels system, having represented the club’s SG Ball Cup team earlier this year.
18 - Lincoln Fletcher (NSWCHS)
Lincoln Fletcher was that player who performed too well to miss out at the ASSRL championships.
The Hills Sports High School, Seven Hills senior has a thirst for contact and making tackles unlike many others at this level and despite not being the biggest bloke on the field, he makes up for what he lacks in size with a high workrate, great tackle technique and a willingness to put his body on the line.
The dynamic edge forward represented the Parramatta Eels in the Harold Matthews Cup earlier this year.
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