All your local footy news from around the Queensland rugby league scene
A young Queensland footy star continues his rise, Maroons greats honoured in Toowoomba Team of the Century and QLD Country team announced - it’s all in our BUSH BEAT.
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RISING STAR KEEPS RISING
Star winger Xavier Coates’ stunning rise in 2019 could be capped off with an Under-20s State of Origin call up which will be announced this weekend.
Queensland Rugby League insiders have told The Courier-Mail Coates is well and truly in the mix to make the Origin team which will be played as a curtain raiser to the Maroons Game 3 decider in Sydney.
The 18-year-old starred in the Queensland Under-18s team win over NSW, scoring a try and earning man-of-the-match honours.
The win was on the back of the Under-18 national championship win with Tweed Heads and a two-try haul in his Intrust Super Cup debut.
Last weekend, he became the youngest Test player since Sione Mata’utia when he played for the Papua New Guinea Kumuls against Samoa at Leichardt Oval.
Also in the mix for an Under-20s call up is promising Titans youngster Tanah Boyd, enforcer Ethan Bullemor and Cowboys prop Tom Gilbert.
The Under-20s team is set to be announced on Sunday night ahead of the Maroons naming on Monday.
MAROONS GREATS NAMED IN CENTENARY TEAM
Queensland legend Johnathan Thurston continues to receive accolades for his rugby league career even during his retirement.
The champion Cowboys halfback was named in the Toowoomba Team of the Century at the weekend alongside other Queensland greats Shane Webcke, Michael Hancock and Steve Price (pictured).
Thurston played in the Toowoomba rugby league competition during his teenage years but was famously passed on by several NRL clubs because of his size.
Webcke, Hancock and Price each grew up around the Western Downs district and began their junior footy in Toowoomba.
The team was officially recognised at the Toowoomba Rugby League Centenary Dinner last weekend at the Rumours International Convention Centre in Toowoomba.
Other notable additions to the side included super coach Wayne Bennett (as co-coach), (former Australian captain) Tom Gorman and Queenslander Duncan Hall — who is considered one of the greatest rugby league players in the 20th century.
OUTBACK STARS
The Queensland Outback side has been announced to take on North Queensland United next month.
The annual intrastate rivalry will be the curtain raiser to the Intrust Super Cup’s Round 18 Country Week clash between the Northern Pride and Ipswich Jets to be played on Thursday Island.
The Outback boys will be looking to defend their title after defeating the North Queensland representative squad in a 40-16 thumping at the Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Back-rower Michael Fletcher has retained his Outback jersey following his man-of-the-match performance last year, while halfback Jake Just will be hoping to replicate his two-try haul.
Last year’s win broke North Queensland’s two-year winning streak of the Skytrans trophy.
The bush team has been a pathway for many successful rugby league players, including Ipswich Jets flyer Michael Purcell (pictured).
RANGERS TARGET NSW
Exciting young prospect Jack Miers will pull on the XXXX Queensland Rangers jersey for the first time following a standout performance at the Queensland Rugby League State Championships.
The State-of-Origin-esque clash between the Rangers and the NSW Pioneers will be played on Sunday June 30 at Davies Park in Brisbane’s West End.
The Rangers squad yesterday entered camp on the Gold Coast as they prepare for the epic encounter.
Miers will be joined by the likes of Ono So’oialo, Brett Kelly, Michael Molo, Jesse Dee, Chippie Korostchuk, Tristan Hope and Taulata Fakalelu who each played in last year’s winning side.
Rangers coach Glen Dreger said he was hoping to back up from last year’s 46-16 win over the Pioneers in 2018.
“They were a really good group last year and when I called them to pass on the good news, they were all extremely excited about the opportunity to represent their state again,” Dreger said.
TOOWOOMBA THRILLER
The Warwick Wattles have taken out the Madsen-Rasmussen mid-season final in a 28-26 thriller over the Toowoomba Valleys last Sunday.
Queensland Rugby League organisers have touted the match as “one of the best local league games this year” as the region celebrates the 100th year of the Toowoomba Rugby League competition.
It was a seesawing affair between the two top-of-the-table sides with scores locked at 26-all with 20 minutes to go.
A penalty conversion in the dying minutes sealed the win for the Wattles to defeat the 2018 premiership-winning Valleys.
THE GR-EIGHT MAGPIES
The surname Hauff is synonymous with the Blackall region — as was evident in the Central West grand final earlier this month.
The Blackall Magpies made it back-to-back grand final wins after downing the Winton Diamantina Devils 18-0 at the Blackall Showgrounds.
But the more intriguing aspect of the game was the fact a stunning eight players from the same family featured in the Magpies outfit.
John, Carl, Kelly, Mitchell, Justin and Andrew Hauff, as well as cousins Matthew and Gavin Weymss, all pulled on a black and white jersey and were watched on by their grandmother Patricia Hauff.
The win now means three generations of the Hauff family have played and won premierships in the Central West for the Blackall Magpies.
VALE TED WEBER
The Queensland Rugby League has paid its respects to Edward ‘Ted’ Christian Weber OAM who passed away aged 86 last week.
Weber was a stalwart of rugby league in the Wide Bay district and was a life member of the QRL.
The former QRL director received an Order of Australia Medal in 2007 for his services to rugby league.
A memorial service was held for him in Maryborough on Wednesday.
STAR OF THE WEEK
Fullback and former Junior Kiwi Logona Vetemotu scored four tries for Hervey Bay in the Bundaberg Rugby League in their 74-12 thrashing against Maryborough Brothers.
What’s On
June 30
XXXX Queensland Rangers v NSW Massey, Davies Park, West End
June 29 — July 5
Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Under 15s Championships, Redcliffe
July 1 — July 5
Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Rugby League Confraternity Carnival, Bundaberg
July 4 to July 7
Queensland Rugby League Junior Carnival, Sunshine Coast
July 6 — July 10
Queensland Police Service Rugby League Vic Jensen Under 11 Carnival, West Arana Hills, Keperra
July 10
Queensland v NSW Under 20 State of Origin, ANZ Stadium, Sydney
July 20 — July 21
‘Get in the Game’ Intrust Super Cup Country Week, Queensland-wide
Jack Wighton cops huge ban as plea fails
Jack Wighton has been found guilty of a shoulder charge at the NRL judiciary and will now spend an extended stint on the sideline.
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