Confraternity 2025 Report Card: McAuley College Beaudesert lift for Alex Wilson

Twelve months after being crowned McAuley College’s best player at the Confraternity Carnival, Alex Wilson returned to the sidelines in a wheelchair - inspiring his teammates on an unforgettable grand final run.

Injured McAuley College student Alex Wilson with the team at the 2025 Confraternity Carnival. Picture: Supplied

Inspired by tragedy, tiny McAuley College from Beaudesert swept to the grand final of the Confraternity Carnival in honour of Alex Wilson.

The popular Year 12 student was McAuley’s player of the carnival in 2024.

12 months later, Wilson was again the fuel driving McAuley but for very different reasons.

A spinal injury sustained in a tragic farming accident two days before Christmas has cost the 17-year-old prop the use of his legs.

Doctors fear Wilson will never walk again.

After watching the opening day of the carnival via livestream, Wilson and his mother made the snap decision to journey to Rockhampton to cheer on his teammates.

Coach David Harris said Wilson’s arrival was the turning point that lifted McAuley to its greatest ever finish at Confraternity, reaching the Division III grand final.

“It went exceptionally well,” Harris reflected.

“Alex was one of our key players and was actually our player of the carnival in 2024.

“Then Alex had a significant farm accident and has been in a wheelchair since Christmas.

“It’s quite horrific for him but when you meet him he’s the kind of guy where the cup is always half-full and looks at the bright side of life.

“He got out of six months in hospital and soon after (two weeks later) he was in a car travelling up with his mum to Rockhampton to cheer on the boys.

“I believe that was a bit of a motivating factor for them to turn up and give their best throughout the carnival.”

Injured McAuley College student Alex Wilson with Wally Lewis at the 2025 Confraternity Carnival. Picture: Supplied

Wilson’s No.10 jersey was retired by McAuley at this year’s carnival and sat on a chair on the sidelines to remind players who they were playing for.

It was the sight of that blue-and-orange jersey on the livestream that triggered the Wilsons’ eight hour pilgrimage to Rockhampton to join his teammates.

McAuley’s student population is 360 and only 17 players were available to play.

Just six of that number regularly play rugby league.

Despite those odds McAuley won five straight matches, including a 12-0 comeback at St John’s College, Nambour, to make their first grand final.

“We had a very successful campaign, really built on the back of the boys’ commitment,’ Harris added.

“If you said to us at the beginning of the carnival you’re going to win five games we would have been definitely happy with that.

“Alex is back at school now, which is fantastic. And through the six months in the lead-up I would give him a call in the lead-up and ask him what he thought about team selections and things like that. So he’s been involved as we’ve journeyed towards Confro.

“He’s already looking at what other challenges in sport and other areas that are available to him.

“He’s not looking backwards, that’s for sure.”

Wilson enjoyed an audience with the King, Wally Lewis, who was moved by the youngster’s dedication to his teammates and story.

GRADES

Attack: A-

“Most of the boys played to their potential throughout the carnival,” Harris said.

“They played their best footy which is why we did so well.

“The attack out wide, particularly by Darby Lynam, just cut up the opposition time and time again.”

Defence: A

“Defence is what they built their success on,” Harris said.

“They kept three teams to zero. One game they were 12-0 down at halftime and turned it around and won that by keeping St John’s to zero in the second half.

“They got off the line very quick and operated as one team.

“They’ve not very aggressive but they are very determined in their defence.

“Defence win games and we’ve certainly had some players who stand out in that area, but all of them laid their body on the line when it came to defence.”

Overall: B+

RESULTS

34th overall, second in Division III

Grand Final: 16-0 loss to Ryan, Townsville

Semi-Final: 28-10 win over Southern Cross, Townsville

Quarter-Final: 20-10 win over St John’s Nambour

Pool 3D Rd 3: 4-0 win over Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Dalby

Pool 3D Rd 2: 24-10 win over Gilroy Santa Maria, Ingham

Pool 3D Rd 1: 20-0 win over Faith Lutheran, Plainland

Tryscorers: Robert McClure (5), Trey Basham (2), Coltyn Spens-Black (2), Jackson Hardgrave (2), Blake Harris-Dean, Not Available, Darby Lynam, Jaxon Hohl, Sebastian Potts

Leading pointscorers: Jaxon Hohl (28)

STANDOUT PERFORMERS

JAXON HOHL

The team’s on-field captain was excellent every game from five-eighth and the college’s leading pointscorer, kicking 12 goals and scoring a try.

ROBERT McCLURE

McAuley’s college captain and halfback was awarded the team’s spirit of the carnival award for his fair play.

DARBY LYNAM

The backrower was tremendously hard to stop out wide and was arguably the team’s most dangerous attacking force.

SEB POTTS

The hooker was McAuley’s chief organiser in attack and defence.

COLTYN SPENS-BLACK

Spens-Black leads by example and would have been involved in every second tackle throughout the tournament.

CLANCY HARDY

Although Hardy didn’t score a try he was close to McAuley’s best in every game and narrowly missed out on Jaxon Hohl as player of the tournament.

Originally published as Confraternity 2025 Report Card: McAuley College Beaudesert lift for Alex Wilson