Insight into the Queensland 16-18 years schoolboys
Meet the x-factor players, big boppers, big improvers and super subs of the Queensland 16-18 years schoolboys squad ahead of the part 2 of the ASSRL National Championships starting Sunday.
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The Queensland schoolboys were primed and ready to be let loose at the ASSRL 16-18 years championship from Sunday in Coffs Harbour.
Enjoy this unique insight into the 20 young men who will be flying the flag of their school communities and proudly representing Queensland at the championships.
X-FACTOR PLAYER
Seth Gundry
The Miami SHS student has been a stand out player in his age group throughout his career. The son of former Burleigh Bears great Ryan, Gundry is a natural fullback but could be used as an interchange ace floating around the ruck.
“He is an instinctive player who reads the game well and will pop up in places,’’ said Maroons’ coach Geoff Eggert.
“He has good footwork and speed and is one of those guys who can break a game open. He tends to bob up around the ball and is someone who reads the game well.’’
South Sydney have Gundry on their books.
Jai Bowden (Caloundra SHS)
An elite hooker , if Bowden is presented with a quick ruck and there is a body on the ground, he’ll take the space in a flash.
He is an absolutely outstanding player who adds great balance to the Queensland starting six forwards.
BIG IMPROVER
Elijah Keung (Mabel Park SHS)
Keung has been the discovery player of the season after making our News Corp Meninga Cup Team of the Season, and then firing on all cylinders for Mabel Park SHS.
Queensland coach Geoff Eggert has marvelled at his development after originally coaching him at both Burleigh Bears and PBC SHS.
“When I saw him playing in the Meninga Cup (for the Tigers) I had to check if it was the same guy,’’ Eggert said.
“He has worked really hard and he is a nice kid.
Phillip Coates (Marymount College)
A man mountain in the centre or on the edge, Coates is a powerful runner, has a presence in defence and is good in the air - not unlike his brother Philip (Storm).
“I like his physical play,’’ said coach Geoff Eggert.
“He has improved a lot this year in terms of his Meninga Cup season (Burleigh Bears) and into the (schoolboy) trials. He has earned his sport and has worked on his game.
Mason Barber (Keebra Park SHS)
With that long, Brett Mullins like stride - Mullins was a former Canberra Raiders champion - Barber can break a game open in the twinkling of an eye, particularly in the second half when forwards tend to tie.
He has played everywhere from No.13, five-eight, centre, wing and fullback in the last three seasons, but will start at No.1. The Cowboys signed him from Tweed Seagulls.
BIG BOPPERS
Kanaan Magele (Ipswich SHS) and Elijah Keung (Mabel Park SHS)
While Cooper Clarke (Caloundra SHS) has been ruled out with injury, Queensland were fortunate to have Kanaan Magele now join Elijah Keung, Zac Kumbamong and Xzavier Timeteo in the front row.
Both Magele and Keung were colossus’ players, in form big men with power and mobility.
Despite being more than 110kg, the Roosters-signed prop Magele is nimble and always making post contact metres - a little like a young Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys).
Keung has a huge motor and must feel like he can run through a brick wall at the moment.
He is at the top of his game and with him and Magele leading the charge, Queensland have front row fire power.
Zac Kumbamong (Keebra Park SHS)
Part of Queensland’s awesome foursome middle rotation, man mountain Kumbamong is another in form prop who had a gala club campaign with the Meninga Cup premiers Tweed Seagulls, and has continued playing strongly for Keebra Park in the Langer Trophy. He gives Queensland thumping authority around the ruck.
Xzavier Timoteo (Ipswich SHS)
Signed by the Roosters, no less, Timoteo has worked his way through the Ipswich SHS system since Year 7. He is not just a bash and crash prop, and is noted for his late footwork at the line. A true blue, rip and tear Ippy boy who loves the contact, and is an off the back fence type of forward leader.
Zac Garton (Caloundra SHS)
Garton is a boy who has turned into a man this season. He played Queensland schoolboys last season, but is that much stronger and wiser in 2024 - to such an extent he recently played well for the Queensland under-19s. “A year of development makes a big difference physically and you can see the difference in him,’’ coach Geoff Eggert said.
To a lesser degree, towering centre Sam Stephenson was not getting any smaller and will be a presence on the centre for Queensland. Like Garton, he played schoolboys last year, but also played for the Queensland State of Origin under-19s last month.
SUPER SUB
Hayden Watson (Marsden SHS)
The baby of the side, Watson comes from a touch football representative background and has those quick on his feet, slick hand traits from that sport. He will be launched into the fray as a back up to starting No.9 Jai Bowden. He is also a cover for the halves.
WILDCARD WATCH
Elijah McKay (The Cathedral College)
A big, raw-boned boy who played the house down for the Capras during a rousing club season. His runs from the ruck at the defensive end mimic a forward, and when given any attacking ball he can take his chance and send his winger away. Did we mention he can tackle. Whack. Look out when he lines up an opponent.
“I like that he carries the ball hard out of his end, leaves bodies behind. Defensively he is also willing to get in front of people and has a high work rate,’’ coach Geoff Eggert praised.
Jared Horne (Wavell SHS)
Brisbane Broncos-signed, second rower Horne is still only 17 and is getting better with more matches against mature opponents.
Coach Geoff Eggert likes the quality of his play. “You can tell he is an effort player, a competitor who has a good skill level. Potentially he could be very good and can handle himself.’’
Charlie Dickson (Wavell SHS)
Like all members of the Queensland side, Dickson is in tremendous form. He will be young for this age group, but continues to meet every challenge the further up the rung of the ladder he climbs. A No.13, he is never killed off close to the line and has that second and third effort wriggle in him. He also varies the angle of his runs toward either side of the ruck.
The Dolphins have him signed, under lock and key in a long term contact.
MEET THE NEW FACES
Jac Finigan, Sunny Kama (both PBC SHS) and Saifiti Junior Saifiti (Ipswich) were not first choice selections, but will be the next man up in the Maroons side.
Jac Finigan (PBC SHS)
Gets a start following the withdrawal of Marymount’s Cooper Bai, but Finigan would have been closely considered for the original top 20. He is a slightly different style of player to Bai in that he is an edge forward who can play middle rather than a middle forward who can play edge. He’s a next man up selection who comes out of the winning PBC SHS program. He’s a winner.
Sunny Kama (PBC SHS) -i n for Lee
A replacement for Lui Lee, Kama has been a schoolboy prodigy whose destiny led him toward this moment. He is a reliable centre who makes good decisions in defence. “He is consistent and you know what he is going to get. He does his role and what you ask of him and is a good teammate - people like playing with him,’’ coach Geoff Eggert praised.
Junior Saifiti Junior Saifiti (Ipswich SHS)
A replacement for Prestyn Laine, Saifiti Junior Saifiti is the 2024 version of last season’s Queensland schoolboy Anton Naiyep in terms of his crashing ruck runs out of defence. My goodness he runs hard. But he was also an x-factor finisher who can swing a match. “He is tough, hard to handle, hard tackle,’’ summer up coach Geoff Eggert.
THE TEAM
1. Mason Barber (Keebra Park SHS), 2. Sunny Kama (Palm Beach Currumbin SHS), 3. Sam Stephenson (Palm Beach Currumbin SHS), 4. Phillip Coates (Marymount College), 5. Junior Saifiti (Ipswich SHS), 6. Zac Herdegen (Wavell SHS), 7. Zane Harrison (Palm Beach Currumbin SHS), 8. Kanaan Magele (Ipswich SHS), 9. Jai Bowden (Mountain Creek SHS), 10. Elijah Keung (Mabel Park SHS), 11. Zac Garton (Caloundra SHS), 12. Jared Horne (Wavell SHS), 13. Jac Finigan (PBC PBC SHS), 14. Hayden Watson (Marsden SHS), 15.
Xzavier Timoteo (Ipswich SHS), 16. Zac Kumbamong (Keebra Park SHS), 17. Charlie Dickson (Wavell SHS), 18. Maddox Goodwin (Wavell SHS), 19. Elijah McKay (The Cathedral College), 20. Seth Gundry (Miami SHS)
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