Revealed: Queensland’s best talents to fly flag at ASSRL Nationals in Redcliffe
Queensland are the reigning national schoolboys champions, and these stars of the future are determined to make sure we keep that trophy and also take home the girls. We reveal some of the Maroons leading players at the ASSRL Nationals.
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The ASSRL national schoolboy and schoolgirl championships loom on the horizon, with News Corp live streaming all the action from Saturday.
Every match of the ASSRL Nationals will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV across all News Corp Australia mastheads from July 1.
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The national championships, which will be staged at Kayo Stadium for the second straight year, will include school girls players for the first time in 2023.
Queensland are the reigning champions in the Under-18s tournament, and our girls are already being tipped to do great things on home soil.
But who will be steering the Maroon army to glory?
Queensland school’s rugby league expert Andrew Dawson has run his eye across the Sunshine State’s squads and picked out a handful of players you need to keep an eye on all week.
QUEENSLAND BOYS
Coby Black (Marsden SHS)
A highly skilled halfback, the Broncos signing was a member of last year’s squad when he came off the bench for the Queensland schoolboys. But the 2023 Maroons will be his team, and they could not be in better hands with his fingers on the trigger.
Mutua Brown (The Cathedral College, Rockhampton)
Blink and you might miss him. The best player in his age group in the Capricornia, Brown is a thrilling fullback with that splash of x-factor. But the Cowboys-signed fullback also uses his pace off the football in defence and a big carnival looms for the youngster.
Prestyn Laine-Sietu (Nudgee College)
This is not Laine-Sietu’s first rodeo. In 2021 he was state carnival player of the series in the under 15 age group when he played lock. Now a centre, he was a member of the Redcliffe Dolphins Meninga Cup premiership winning side and is Class with a Capital C.
Kaiden Lahrs (Kirwan SHS)
Lahrs will be Queensland’s front row battleship, a booming, mobile middle forward who will love mixing it with the best NSW can throw at him. He is rising to each challenge and we expect him to go the distance at the nationals.
John-Paul Donevski (Wavell State High School)
Donevski will be at his new home ground when he plays for Queensland after being on the other side of the fence in 2022 as a NSW schoolboy star. Signed by the Dolphins and now settled on the Peninsula, Donevski is a fleet-a-foot back who can swing a match.
Sam Stephenson (Palm Beach Currumbin SHS)
The tall, rangy Stephenson is part of a crack Queensland outside back division which also features Alton Naiyep, Prestyn Laine-Sietu, John-Paul Donevski, Will Semu and Dom Sandow. Signed by the Titans, Stephenson is a youngster who has risen to every challenge and he will relish the step up in class.
John Fineanganofo (Redcliffe State High School)
With his English style ball playing skills, Fineanganofo will offer Queensland a point of difference in attack. The Dolphins NRL Academy member is at the peak of his powers, having been one of the top handful of players in the Meninga Cup under 18s.
QUEENSLAND GIRLS
Ebony Raftstrand-Smith (Keebra Park SHS)
Canterbury-signed Raftstrand-Smith has had tongues wagging in the schoolgirl league space for years and will be looking to deliver another mortal blow to southern rivals at the championships after starring in Queensland’s historic win over NSW schoolgirls at Suncorp Stadium last year.
Malaela Sua (Mabel Park SHS)
Gold Coast Titans contracted, the Mabel Park SHS student has a trailblazer for her peers. She is perfect No. 13 with her ball carrying, mobility and great hands, and uses her physic to impact the opposition in defence. Sau would also easily play on the edge.
Reegan Hicks (Australian Christian College)
Hicks is a powerhouse forward who shone during the Harvey Norman under 19s playing for Redcliffe Dolphins. She will bring experience to Queensland middle forward brigade.
Relna Wuruki-Hosea (Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School, Ipswich)
Hosea isa young veteran who was a part of Queensland’s successful 2022 campaign against the NSW schoolgirls. A North Queensland talent, Hosea will rip in where angles fear to tread ad lead her side from the front.
Tavarna Papalii
Was Papalii ever going to play any other sport other than rugby league? After all the Keebra Park SHS student grew up cheering for South Sydney along with the rest of her league mad family.
Now an astute signing by the Sydney Roosters, Papalii has won back-to-back maroon jerseys and will look to build on a sensational 2023 after being named Player of the Match for the Roosters in the Gale Cup grand final.
India Seeto Marsden SHS
Seeto comes from Tonie Carroll country (Beenleigh) and will be a leading light for the Queensland girls. Coming off a powerlifting background, Seeto is a dynamo who can play five-eight or No. 13 with ease. She is a natural leader.
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