Townsville Blackhawks 2025 squad breakdown: Cyril Connell Challenge U17s
The next generation of North Queensland NRL stars are getting their first taste of representative action with the Townsville Blackhawks. Read our analysis of all 32 players in the U17 squad.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The inclement weather causing havoc around North Queensland is also hampering preparations for the Townsville Blackhawks junior seasons kicking off in two weeks, with players unsure of when they’ll be able to train next.
The Blackhawks had already cancelled trial matches against the Northern Pride planned across all grades over the weekend in Tully, and they have also been unable to hit the training paddock in Townsville.
Cyril Connell Challenge under-17s coach Nathan Norford said the wet weather had limited the team’s ability to prepare for the season.
“At the moment unfortunately we can’t get onto any fields at all in Townsville,” Norford said.
“It’s hindering our preparation but we’ve got to make the most of what we’ve got and we’ll see how it pans out.”
Despite the obstacles, Norford’s young team is taking shape nicely with some of Kirwan State High School’s current crop of rising talent featuring prominently in the side.
The team also includes regional talent from Ingham, Charters Towers and Bowen, as well as bringing in a handful of players from further afar like the pair of Kiwis who have crossed the Tasman for the opportunity to play.
Read more about all 32 players in the extended squad below.
OUTSIDE BACKS / CENTRES
TRENT MARTIN – centre
Martin was awarded Kirwan’s Aaron Payne Medal in 2024 as the year 9/10 team’s most outstanding player and it’s not hard to see why.
The gamebreaking centre has all the hallmarks of a future star, with strength, speed and skill in spades.
His matchwinning performance as Kirwan defeated St Brendan’s 24-20 in the regional playoff earnt this glowing report on August 23, 2024:
“Trent Martin will have a statue built in his honour outside Kirwan State High School if the Cowboys Challenge centre can maintain his stratospheric trajectory through rugby league after engineering a golden point victory over St Brendan’s.
“Martin scored three tries, including a decisive 60m runaway in golden point, and assisted twice more to stun the Year 10 champions of Central Queensland in the regional playoff in Mackay on Thursday.
“It was the second matchwinning performance in a row from the Cowboys U15-16 Academy playmaker, who scored from long-distance in last week’s Cowboys Challenge grand final to seal a come-from-behind victory and book this date with St Brendan’s.”
ERU GUNN-JAMES – centre/fullback
The younger brother of rising star Blackhawk Tyrone Gunn-James is one of the most potent tryscorers in Townsville. Gunn-James set tongues wagging in 2022 with 57 tries in his under-13s club campaign for Western Lions and they have not stopped since.
Gunn-James represented Queensland White in 2024 and capped off a stunning season with selection in the Cowboys Challenge (Yr 10) team of the tournament.
GAUSA DAU – fullback/outside back
Dau was named the Kirwan Cubs player of the year in 2024, and made the Queensland White team in 2023.
The year 12 student is a talented and athletic fullback that could also pop up in the centres or on a wing for the Blackhawks this season.
KYE CONNELL – wing/centre
A returning member from the 2024 Cyril Connell Challenge squad emboldened by a season in the centres for Ignatius Park College in the Aaron Payne Cup. Connell was selected in the Cowboys under-17s team a season ago and is set to be a key contributor for coach Nathan Norford’s side.
TJ TANOAI – fullback/centre
Tanoai recently moved from New Zealand to Townsville for greater rugby league opportunities while attending Kirwan High.
“He’s only 16 this year but he’s putting a lot of pressure on the older boys to secure a spot,” Norford said.
“We’re looking at him as either a fullback or a centre.”
CLAVARN OTH – wing
A big bodied winger who was a unanimous selection in the Cowboys Challenge team of the season with Kirwan State High School. Oth scored a hat-trick against a Rabbitohs development team in a tour to Sydney as the sting in the tail of Kirwan’s ferocious right edge.
JERRY MILPARI – wing
Played on the wing for Ignatius Park College in the Aaron Payne Cup in 2024.
Milpari is a very athletic player who is dangerous when he gets his hands on the ball. Townsville will look for ways to get him involved as much as possible.
REGINALD WALDEN – wing
Walden is a dangerous winger or fullback who has dominated the local club competition for the past two seasons.
Walden finished equal-fourth in the under-16s RLTD tryscoring charts with 12 tries in 2024.
“He’s put his hand up and he’s working hard, so we’ll see how he geos” Norford said.
MANUA DAU – fullback/five-eighth
Dau was named the best back in Kirwan’s outstanding 2024 Cowboys Challenge team and he’s earmarked for big things.
Dau is the complete package in attack with impressive speed, footwork, passing ability and strength beyond his size.
While the electric playmaker will likely take a back seat this season for the Blackhawks, he is one to keep an eye on in the future.
HARMON BENIONI – fullback
Another member of a promising family of North Queensland outside backs (Davidson, Taakoi and Pitason), Harmon was at his best with using his strength and size to outmuscle opposition defenders. His Aaron Payne Cup try against Ignatius Park College was reminiscent of Latrell Mitchell in the way he fended and bucked off four attempted tackles to score
HALVES / UTILITY BACKS
LINCOLN BAKER – five-eighth
The former Queensland under-15s five-eighth was a full-blown star at fullback for Ignatius Park College in the Aaron Payne Cup. Now Baker will have his chance to reunite with junior representative halves partner Riley Carbone to form one of the Cyril Connell Challenge’s most electric playmaking tandems.
RILEY CARBONE – halfback
If Baker is the lightning strike in this halves duo, Carbone is the ominous green thundercloud brimming with hailstones. Carbone is an uber impressive playmaker capable of inflicting death by a thousand cuts of perfect decision after perfect decision. Those who ignore his running threat because it is overshadowed by the player next to him won’t wait long to discover the gravity of their mistake.
BRAD PILCHOWSKI – five-eighth/lock
One of North Queensland’s brightest halves prospects will begin his 2025 campaign with the Blackhawks before a blockbuster move to Ignatius Park College will give the former Ryan Catholic College five-eighth his first taste of Aaron Payne Cup action.
Pilchowski is a strong half with a sharp running game, and the Blackhawks are looking to test the big-bodied playmaker as a lock or utility to shoehorn him into a team that will likely see Riley Carbone and Lincoln Baker in the halves.
WILFRED STEPHEN – halfback
Played for coach Norford in 2023 as part of the 14-15 years Northern team at the school sport state championships in Townsville.
Scored 11 tries for the Bowen Seagulls under-16s, finishing tied-fifth in the competition alongside Bowen and Blackhawks teammate Manua Dau, and Brothers’ Ryan Rath.
The Ignatius Park College student has been a standout in club-land and coaches are optimistic he can take the next step.
HOOKERS / UTILITY FORWARDS
KAEDYN KETCHELL – hooker
A Cowboys-signed hooker from Tully. While Ketchell is part of the team’s younger cohort he comes to the Blackhawks with big accolades.
Ketchell captained the Goannas – the First Nations U15 representative team – at the National Schoolboys State Championships and was named player of the carnival in 2024.
BYRON PIGGOTT – hooker
Piggott is an Iggy Park hooker from Bowen. His effort around training and during games is undeniable and he has the ability to create linebreaks with his crafty work around the ruck.
MALENKAI PARAIA – hooker
A hooker who will make effort after effort, Paraia is a solid player that’s incredibly reliable in defence.
Paraia is known to work his proverbial backside off to improve his game and will relish the opportunity to hone his craft in the representative arena.
MIDDLE FORWARDS
COOPER JAMES – middle
James was named the best forward in Kirwan’s 2024 Cowboys Challenge team.
The big and strong front rower is known for his barnstorming carries and his surprisingly efficient motor. James continues to make heavy tackles and put his hand up for hit-ups late in games when players of his size often look for a breather.
SIAN MATANE – middle
Matane signed a three-year deal with the Cowboys in 2024 after impressing the NRL club while trialling for Queensland’s under-15s team.
Known for his work ethic and athleticism, Matane moves to Townsville from Far North Queensland, where he represented Peninsula last year.
The young PNG Kumuls prospect is considered one of his country’s best front rowers around the under-17 age group and has big wraps for a young player.
MALAKAI MARTIN – lock/edge
The Cowboys Challenge team of the season lock defied his smaller stature to forge a reputation as the finest player at his position in the competition, as a year 9 player.
The Bunnies rightfully snapped up the nephew of Papua New Guinea international captain Rhyse Martin and the Blackhawks are excited to unleash him on the Cyril Connell Challenge in 2025.
KRIS SAGATO – middle
A Rabbitohs-signed middle forward hailing from New Zealand who has hopped across the Tasman into a new code. Sagato grew up idolising All Blacks steamroller Jonah Lomu and has brought that same linebusting energy to the middle forward rotation at the Blackhawks. Blackhawks pathways manager Jaelen Feeney, a former NRL player, summed it up best: “This kid is a beast.”
KEYARN ZARO – middle
A big front rower who is part of the Cowboys development program.
Although Zaro is one of the team’s younger players turning 16 this year, he has been making some positive choices and is putting pressure on the older boys in the team for a place in the middle forward rotation.
Zaro is one to watch out for in the coming years.
ASHTON SMITH – lock/middle
Smith is a tough lock or middle forward who had a strong local club season.
This will be Smith’s first Blackhawks opportunity and caches are looking forward to see what he can produce at a representative level.
MATTHEW BELYEA – lock/middle
Belyea is a hard worker from Bowen who has been a regular part of Northern representative teams.
The Kirwan forward is a great team player with a positive attitude and he rarely misses a tackle.
SHAUN DEVIETTI – middle
A tough forward from the Ingham region with a huge engine.
Devietti was one of Gilroy Santa Maria College’s best First XIII players in the NQISSRL Blackhawks Trophy in 2024. His crunching defence combined with his ability to score tries makes him a threat in attack and defence.
GEORGE HERROD – middle
A tough front rower from Hughenden who is developing nicely as he continues to grow his understanding of rugby league. Herrod has looked good at training as he works to force his way into the selection picture.
EDGE FORWARDS
EZEKIEL SAYLOR-PAU – edge
Sailor-Pau has been one of the leading backrowers in his age group for a number of years now.
Known for his leadership skills and toughness on the field, Sailor-Pau will have to fend off a number of Blackhawks challengers coming for his crown, and the best way to do that will be with his actions on the field.
TIAKANA ‘EZE’ RUAPORO – edge/middle
Ruaporo is a powerful forward who has recently moved across from New Zealand to join the Cowboys Academy and go to Kirwan High.
He’s looking for an opportunity to put his skills on display and this Cyril Connell Challenge season could be exactly that.
CHASE TANSEY – edge
A backrower from Charters Towers who has previously featured in Northern schoolboys rep sides.
The Blackheath and Thornburgh edge forward has plenty of talent and looked right at place during his season of First XIII rugby league in 2024.
NOAH SOLOMON – edge
Solomon has been outstanding at Blackhawks training, earning high praise from coaches.
The backrower hasn’t played at this level yet but he’s putting his best foot forward to get a crack this season.
OLIVER NGUYEN – edge/lock
Nguyen has the ability to play in the second row or at lock. This is also the tough and versatile forward’s first opportunity at this level and he will be looking to make the most of it.
BEAU BAWDEN – edge
The son of former Queensland Maroons player Russell ‘Rusty’ Bawden is a chip off the old block.
Though he’s yet to play at this level, Bawden’s effort is undeniable and coaches are looking forward to seeing how he handles the step up in physicality.
His effort is second to none in the squad.
More Coverage
Originally published as Townsville Blackhawks 2025 squad breakdown: Cyril Connell Challenge U17s
TRL TRACKER: Former NRL playmaker signed in shock move
TRL TRACKER: A TRL club has made one of the biggest moves this off-season with the acquisition of an elite playmaker. Details here.
Grandfather, grandson play same senior grade rugby game
History was made as a grandfather and grandson played in the same Top End grade rugby match. See the photos and watch the vision here.