Guide to every North Queensland team heading to the Confraternity Carnival
Schools have made their final squad adjustments and preparations ahead of next week’s Confro. Learn more about every team from Townsville, Charters Towers, Ingham, Burdekin and Mount Isa.
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St Patrick’s College, Townsville, is hoping a trio of Townsville Blackhawks representatives can lift the school to Confraternity carnival success in its inaugural campaign.
The historic rugby league carnival kicks off on Monday, June 30, in Rockhampton and St Pat’s is one of 13 schools from the Townsville region who will fly the flag for North Queensland.
They are also one of just two girls’ sides from Townsville, with 2024 division 2 champions St Margaret Mary’s College stepping up into the top division this year.
St Patrick’s team manager Sam Lowry said the inclusion of Blackhawks halfback Wendy Bire, five-eighth Hollie Parkes and outside back Larvo Nona would put the side in good stead for the carnival.
“It’s our first ever time in the competition. Everyone’s really excited, it’s going to be a good trip,” Lowry said.
“We’re going down with the clear goal of making it a really good experience for the girls and building on it for future years. We have lots of rugby league players at the school, so we wanted to provide them a pathway to get recognised. We know there are scouts for NRL and NRLW teams at these carnivals.
“Hollie Parkes will be playing five-eighth for us. We’re hoping with Wendy Bire as organiser, Hollie can just play what she sees.”
The inaugural squad includes a diverse range of backgrounds with many of the players being boarding students representing their communities in Papua New Guinea, Mount Isa, the Torres Strait Islands and other rural and remote locations.
The side is sponsored by a fellow Mercy organisation Mater Hospital Townsville, supporting the trip down, while the original First Nations artwork on the jerseys was designed by renowned Indigenous artist Chern’ee Sutton, a contemporary artist from the Kalkadoon people.
St Patrick’s College principal Kath Little said it was a momentous occasion for the college.
“To have our first-ever Confraternity team not only accepted into the Carnival but also supported by Mater and adorned in meaningful artwork by Chern’ee Sutton is incredibly special,” Little said.
“It’s about so much more than rugby; it’s about representation and opportunity. Participation in sports traditionally seen as belonging to men, sends a message to every girl that anything is possible and that the future is limitless.”
St Pat’s kick off their carnival against St Ursula’s at 9.30am on Monday before playing Emmaus College, Jimboomba, later that afternoon.
Read more about every school from the Townsville region below.
DIV 1
IGNATIUS PARK COLLEGE
Coach: Will Jack
Captains: Sitiveni Afu and Chase Sheppard
2024 finish: Shield Champions
Confro titles: Shield (2024, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2008); Trophy (2001, 1993)
Coach’s comment:
“It’s been pretty good prep this week. We had a good hit out against the Cowboys Young Guns on Tuesday night,” Jack said.
“The boys were really good there. So it’s a good response after probably a little bit of a disappointing effort last Thursday against St Patrick’s.
“Whether we’re reigning champions or not, when you go down to the Confraternity Shield as Iggy Park, everyone loves to get you.
“I think they all sort of feel like they’re playing a grand final when they verse Iggy, so it’s good. It’s a blessing and a curse, I guess, but it’s an honour.”
2025 draw:
Game 1 v St Brendan’s College: Monday June 30, 12pm on field 4
Game 2 v Aquinas College: Monday June 30, 3.20pm on field 6
Game 3 v Marist College, Ashgrove: Tuesday July 1, 11.50am on field 1
2025 squad:
1. Marley Hinsbey
2. Brodie Pritchard
3. Kye Connell
4. Solomon Terare
5. Jerry Mipari
6. Nayte Essery
7. Chase Sheppard
8. Tama Reupena
9. Byron Piggott
10. Veni Afu
11. Noah Solomon
12. Ryder Soper
13. Cooper Fletcher
14. Cooper Reinders
15. Mitchell Hardy
16. Ollie Ngyuen
17. Ryan Fletcher
18. Daniel Spicer
19. Hayden Griffen
20. Wil Lerch
21. Lincoln Baker
DIV 2
ALL SOULS ST GABRIEL’S SCHOOL
Coach: Adrian Guldbransen with Cam Shearman and Greg Musk as trainers. Jo Butler is team manager.
Captains: Landon Hughes
2024 finish: 6th in division 2
Confro titles: Plate (2011), Bowl (2015)
Coach’s comment:
“We want to get a couple of wins in the pool games, finish in the top eight and after that you need to play your best footy on Tuesday afternoon,” Guldbransen said.
“We were a bit ordinary in that game last year and it hurt us. So the goal is to finish inside the top eight and it’s carnival footy so anything can happen from there.
“We’ve got tough opposition this year in St Edmund’s, who have just dropped down from div 1, and Xavier College who have made the last two NRL Schoolboy Trophy state finals. So we will have to be at our best”
2025 draw:
Game 1 v St Edmund’s College: Monday June 30, 10.20am on field 7
Game 2 v Xavier Catholic College: Monday June 30, 2.30pm on field 5
Game 3 v St James College: Tuesday July 1, 11am on field 3
2025 squad:
1. Greg Miller
2. Shawn Gibson
3. Landon Hughes
4. Tristan Hopkins
5. Darcy Cameron
6. Steven Pepper
7. Hayden Macor
8. Xavier Lord
9. Sam Cowan
10. Billy Elliott
11. Willis Froloff
12. Tyla Osbourne
13. Jo Newham
14. Archie Hay
15. Cayden Bell
16. Trent Folker
17. Mathew Robins
18. Clayne Musk
19. Ian Lamont
20. Travis Hughes
21. Beau Butler
BLACKHEATH AND THORNBURGH COLLEGE
Coach: Will Urquhart
Captains: Chase Tansey
2024 finish: 13th in division 2
Confro titles: Trophy (1996); Plate (2012); Bowl (2010)
Coach’s comment:
“We want to be competitive and see if we can improve each game and improve as the carnival goes on,” Urquhart said.
“We’ve had a fair bit of time for preparation and have been putting plenty of hours into training, so we’re really keen to get out and put our best foot forward.
“We don’t really know our opposition, we’ll just aim to do what we need to well and then the results will take care of themselves.”
“Our five-eighth Chase Tansey will be key, as will Rylie Cashion and Ryan Gillatt – those guys will be three of our big threats.”
2025 draw:
Game 1 v St Columban’s College: Monday June 30, 11.10am on field 4
Game 2 v St Teresa’s College, Abergowrie: Monday June 30, 3.20pm on field 3
Game 3 v Holy Spirit College: Tuesday, July, 11am on field 4
2025 squad:
1. Elia Doolah
2. Ryan Gillatt
3. Blake Keough
4. Rylie Cashion
5. Brock Critchley
6. Chase Tansey
7. Travis Turakava
8. Cooper Laidlow
9. Charlie Murphy
10. Scottie Wagania
11. Jayden Pacey
12. Ezra Sam
13. Karhys Kennedy
14. Archie Saal
15. Lachlan Opa
16. Koby Johnson
17. Jake Egan
18. Tio Chong
19. Connor Hindom
20. Ross Sutherland
COLUMBA CATHOLIC COLLEGE
Coach: Rohan Dixon
Captains: Tom Scholes with Tom Kirkwood as vice-captain
2024 finish: 4th in division 2
Confro titles: Plate (2023, 2013), Bowl (2012, 2018)
Coach’s comment:
“We’ve been lucky to get everyone back on deck, so there’s no impact by injuries for us,” Dixon said.
“Our goal is to try and make the top eight and from there anything can happen. A bit of luck has to go your way, as it did for us in 2023.
“Our first game is against St Laurence’s and we played them in the 2023 final, so it’s a bit of a revenge game for us. They’re a big school that is always in the running.
“Confro isn’t just a physical test, but a test of your resilience and you also need some luck with injuries and such.”
2025 draw:
Game 1 v St Laurence’s: Monday June 30, 11.10am on field 5
Game 2 v Clairvaux Mackillop: Monday June 30, 3.20pm on field 2
Game 3 v St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba: Tuesday July 1, 11am on field 6
2025 squad (listed alphabetically):
Callum Bartschat
Adam Brockbank
Nicholas Brown
Zach Campbell
Will Cursio
Jack Davis
Shaun Gould
Duncan Hewlett
Tom Kirkwood (V/C)
Jesse Lavery
Travis Mitchell
Cooper Nibbs
Harry Pickering
Eligh Ruyg
Tom Scholes ©
Billy Shun
Seth Struckel
Cooper Thomas
Blake Wallace
ST TERESA’S COLLEGE, ABERGOWRIE
Coach: Jason Woods
Captains: Marsat Newman and Evandah Bann
2024 finish: 8th in division 2
Confro titles: Shield (1999); Trophy (1990, 1989)
Coach’s comment:
“If we make the semi-finals we’ll be really happy,” Woods said.
“We want to have a good carnival and make some really good memories for the boys and build on those friendships and combinations formed during the club season.
“Our other main goal is remaining in division 2 for next year.
“We do talk about the history of the school in this competition and playing for school pride. The boys all know that they’re representing the school, their friends and their communities – so they’ll be ready to play.”
2025 draw:
Game 1 v Holy Spirit College: Monday June 30, 11.10am on field 6
Game 2 v Blackheath and Thornburgh College: Monday June 30, 3.20pm on field 3
Game 3 v St Columban’s College: Tuesday July 1, 11am on field 5
2025 squad:
1. PEARSON Fredrick
2. ANTHONY Darcy
3. MARAMA Nemiah
4. BANN Evandah
5. BARTLEM Rawiri
6. MOSES-TABUAI Leonard
7. DAU Jared
8. NELIMAN Laru
9. CHARLES Mikey
10. ASAI Patterson
11. NEWMAN Marsat
12. MISICK-TOMSANA Jeremiah
13. LEWIN-PEARSON Sario
14. ESELI Antonio
15. GEORGE Israel
16. GAIDAN Haley
17. NEWMAN Dennis
18. FOOTE Brodie
19. SIBLEY Xandra
20. ESROM Laurance
21. GESA Bailey
Extended Squad
WAIA Mike
DIV 3
GILROY SANTA MARIA COLLEGE
Coach: Matt Spina
2024 finish: 13th in division 3
Confro titles: N/A
2025 draw:
Game 1 v Faith Lutheran: Monday June 30, 9.30am on field 7
Game 2 v McAuley College: Monday June 30, 2.30pm on field 3
Game 3 v OL Southern Cross: Tuesday July 1, 10.10am on field 3
GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC COLLEGE, MOUNT ISA
Coach: Col Ryder with Jericho Young and Jake Priestly as trainers. Carly Cooper is team manager
Captains: Rehan Bell
2024 finish: 4th in division 3
Confro titles: N/A
Coach’s comment:
“Again, our focus is just on playing ‘Good Shepherd footy’. We’re not too concerned about results, we just want to see the boys go out there and play to their potential,” team trainer Jericho Young said.
“played Unity game 3 last year. Good side, big bodies, good coach.
“Focus on getting our things right and hopefully the results follow.
2025 draw:
Game 1 v Unity College: Monday June 30, 10.20am on field 1
Game 2 v Southern Cross Catholic College: Monday June 30, 1.40pm on field 1
Game 3 v Chisholm Catholic College: Tuesday July 1, 10.10am on field 2
2025 squad:
1. Will Oliver
2. Jaxon Pattrick
3. Dekeil Gilbert
4. Macklin Kretschmann
5. Jackson Podosky
6. Rehan Bell (C)
7. Sam Pou-Pomare
8. Tyrone Hauga
9. Cooper Fahey
10. Paul Vatuvei
11. Brendan Wade
12. Alex Worth
13. Tevita Kaumavae-Ramirez (VC)
14. Philip Booth
15. Riley Twentyman
16. Preston Connelly
17. Riley Eggmolesse
18. Tyler Te Wani
19. Kaden Hockey
20. Tyson Hatfield
RYAN CATHOLIC COLLEGE
Coach: Annan Whittington
Captains: Riley McIntyre (injured) with Aston Smith and Campbell St George as vice-captains
2024 finish: Division 3 runners-up
Confro titles: Cup (2017)
Coach’s comment:
“We’ve lost our captain Riley McIntyre, he’s just had surgery on his collarbone after that Blackhawks Trophy final but he will come down and be a key leader off the field for us,” Whittington said.
“We’re training well and the excitement is there for what is the best week of the year for our rugby league team.
“We’re in a difficult pool again this year. Chanel from Gladstone consistently finish in the top four of the division and St John’s from Roma will be a hard opponent as well.
“This is probably the top end of a three year cycle. We blooded some year 10 boys early a couple of years ago with the future in mind and they’re in year 12 now, so we have a lot of experience in our side.”
2025 draw:
Game 1 v Chanel College: Monday June 30, 10.20am on field 3
Game 2 v St John’s, Roma: Monday June 30, 1.40pm on field 3
Game 3 v St Mary’s, Cairns: Tuesday July 1, 8.30am on field 7
2025 squad:
1. Mitchell Maher
2. Declan Wright
3. Ryan Rath
4. Taj Croft
5. Cooper Treveton
6. Riley McIntyre (c)
7. Cornell Moncrieff
8. Campbell St George (vc)
9. Aiden Stedman
10. Maddyx Mancuso
11. Jova Koroibulu
12. Jai Trembath
13. Aston Smith (vc)
14. Riley Morris
15. Harper Hobbs
16. Jonathon Case
17. Conor Brazil
18. Shontal Huirama
19. Mitch Boevink
21. Jake Dennis
22. Connor Jackson
SOUTHERN CROSS CATHOLIC COLLEGE
Coach: Matt Roberts
2024 finish: Division 3 Challenge final runners-up (10th)
Confro titles: Cup (2010, 2008)
2025 draw:
Game 1 v Chisholm Catholic College: Monday June 30, 10.20am on field 2
Game 2 v Good Shepherd Catholic College: Monday June 30, 1.40pm on field 1
Game 3 v Unity College: Tuesday July 1, 10.10am on field 6
DIV 4
BURDEKIN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
Coach: Luke Marano
Captains: Leylan Lampton
2024 finish: N/A
Confro titles: N/A
Coach’s comment:
“The goal is to put on some strong performances and really build upon what we had going in Blackhawks Trophy competition,” Marano said.
“We want to improve on where we left off, because the boys were showing some real promise. It was good practise and great for team building.
“We’re pretty well just focused on what we can do ourselves.”
2025 draw:
Game 1 v Trinity College: Monday June 30, 8.40am on field 2
Game 2 v Siena Catholic College: Monday June 30, 12.50pm on field 5
Game 3 v Emmaus College, Jimboomba: Tuesday July 1, 8.30am on field 5
ST ANTHONY’S COLLEGE
Captains: Landon Aylward
2024 finish: 18th in division 3
Confro titles: Challenge (2022, 2018)
2025 draw:
Game 1 v Good Samaritan Catholic College: Monday June 30, 8.40am on field 3
Game 2 v St Augustine’s College, Augustine Heights: Monday June 30, 12.50pm on field 2
Game 3 v Good Counsel: Tuesday July 1, 9.20am on field 3
GIRLS
ST MARGARET MARY’S COLLEGE GIRLS
Coach: Chris Lane and Mitch Bebb
Captains: Olivia Fletcher and Evoltia Tuala
2024 finish: Girls’ division 2 champions
Confro titles: Trophy (2024)
Coach’s comment:
“It’s a huge challenge for us this year. We’re being rewarded for all of the effort and skill and hard work over the last few years which has allowed us the big challenge of playing in div 1,” Bebb said.
“We play St Pat’s in game 1 and we had a really good game against them last week. We had some great attacking opportunities in the first half, and we were starting to really threaten when the game was cut short.
“It was a great hit out for us, so we might just pull off a few upsets at Confro.
“If you’re on, you’re on, and you can go all the way. There’s an easy recipe for success at carnival footy and that’s winning all of your games.”
2025 draw:
Game 1 v St Patrick’s College, Mackay: Monday June 30, 9.30am on field 5
Game 2 v Shalom Catholic College: Monday June 30, 2.30pm on field 1
Game 3 v Emmaus College, Rockhampton: Tuesday July 1, 9.20am on field 6
2025 squad:
Chantel Wilson
Chiquita Chris
Chloe Lane
Dakota Namok
Ellie Thompson
Evoltia Tuala (C)
Harlem Hennaway
Kirsty Tuttle
Maria Namok
Narly Doolah
Olivia Fletcher (C)
Phyllis Clarke
Sadie Desatge
Sarah Dawson
Taylar Viero
Tia Campbell
TBC
TBC
ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE, TOWNSVILLE
Coach: Mark Graham
Captains: Wendy Bire and Hollie Parkes
2024 finish: N/A
Confro titles: N/A
Coach’s comment:
“It’s our first ever time in the competition. Everyone’s really excited, it’s going to be a good trip,” team manager Sam Lowry said.
“We’re going down with the clear goal of making it a really good experience for the girls and building on it for future years.
“We have lots of rugby league players at the school, so we wanted to provide them a pathway to get recognised. We know there are scouts for NRL and NRLW teams at these carnivals so we wanted to give our students the opportunity to play in front of them.
“Hollie Parkes will be playing five-eighth for us. We’re hoping with Wendy Bire as organiser, Hollie can just play what she sees – she’s a bit of a Jack Wighton type of player.”
2025 draw:
Game 1 v St Ursula’s College: Monday June 30, 9.30am on field 6
Game 2 v Emmaus College, Jimboomba: Monday June 30, 12.50pm on field 7
Game 3 v Holy Spirit College: Tuesday July 1, 8.30am on field 1
2025 squad:
Baragud Azalia
Wendy Bire
Taiijh Bowen
Kylie Foster
Emily Holmkvist
Krystal Kalipa
Tara Marlborough
Larvo Nona
Nancy Nona
Hollie Parkes
Hazel Paske
Cordelle Pluto
Mairesha Ronsen
Brooklyne Stegman
Jedda Waianga
Butu Wosomo
Delailah Wosomo
Kadawa Wosomo
Originally published as Guide to every North Queensland team heading to the Confraternity Carnival
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