Townsville Blackhawks 2025 squad breakdown: Mal Meninga Cup U19s
Blackhawks Mal Meninga Cup head coach Annan Whittington is heralding the new age of the U19s side with more players than ever coming from outside of North Queensland’s traditional rugby league nurseries. Read our breakdown of all 38 players in the 2025 extended squad.
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Incoming Townsville Blackhawks Mal Meninga Cup head coach Annan Whittington is heralding the new age of the under-19s boys side with more players than ever coming from outside of North Queensland’s traditional rugby league nurseries.
This year’s squad is one of the most diverse groups ever to pull on the green and black jersey, with a plethora of regional talent joining the squad from Charters Towers, Herbert River, Burdekin, Mount Isa and even further afield.
Whittington said intensity at training had reached fever pitch as North Queensland’s aspiring NRL stars fight for their chance to play on the big stage.
Townsville’s extended Mal Meninga Cup squad still has 38 players vying for positions in an upcoming trial match against the Northern Pride and opposed sessions with the Cowboys Young Guns and Blackhawks Queensland Cup side.
However Whittington said the dream wouldn’t be over for the six players cut from the playing side when the squad is reduced to 32 in a fortnight’s time.
“Within the next week or two we’ll name our 32 but I think we’re going to still run with some development players, where they will continue to train once or twice a week with an eye to next year if they’re still 18,” Whittington said.
“It also really helps the squad with training quality too if you’ve got enough players to have opposed sessions in-house.”
Head online to read what Whittington had to say about all 38 of his players in our full squad breakdown.
OUTSIDE BACKS / CENTRES
BRUCE BAUDU – wing
Originally form Yam Island in the Torres Strait, Baudu is a small but powerful winger who was a standout for Ignatius Park College in 2024.
Whittington said the way he can get teams off to a strong start to sets would be an asset.
“Good backfield carries. We watched him at Ignatius Park and he had a really strong Confraternity Carnival and Aaron Payne Cup,” Whittington said.
HEATH BETHEL – wing/centre/backrow
One of two Bethel twins in the team, Heath was one of the best backs in the 2024 Aaron Payen Cup. Typically used on the wing, Whittington has been testing the big country boy out in the backrow.
“Heath’s usually a centre or winger but we’ve trialled him a little bit in the backrow as well, just because of his big athletic frame,” Whittington said.
“So we’re still to decide where he’ll land and the trial match will probably clear that up a little bit, but he’ll be in the squad somewhere.”
KEES ANDERSON – centre/edge
A Cowboys-contracted Kiwi from Northland, Anderson has been training with the Cowboys Young Guns this pre-season but he will join the Blackhawks squad imminently.
“Watching him playing his footy for Brothers last year, he’s quite a tall, athletic young lad,” Whittington said.
“He looks quite versatile too, so he’ll fall on the edge somewhere for us.”
TOM KIRKWOOD – centre/edge
Kirkwood had a big year with Columba Catholic College in 2024, typically deployed as a backrower, although he started at centre in the grand final of the Queensland Schoolboys Trophy against Hervey Bay’s Xavier Catholic College.
“Tom came out of that successful Columba side that has made two state finals in a row for the Schoolboys Trophy,” Whittington said.
“He plays footy for the Charters Towers Miners as well. He’s still an 18-year-old, but we’ve ran him through our pre-season in the centres and backrow. Tough young kid, so he’ll get some time somewhere.”
DARIUS CARTER – wing
Carter had a standout season with the Souths Bulls in 2024, lighting up fields across Townsville to finish as the leading tryscorer in the under-20s competition.
“He’ll be 19 this year. He was picked in the squad off the back of his RLTD form. I think he scored 16 tries the under-20s, so he’s quite an attacking weapon,” Whittington said.
“He’s been really, really good. One of our better trainers throughout the pre-season.”
COREY MUSK – fullback/wing/centre
Another Charters Towers product, Musk is a big-bodied fullback who is terrific in defence.
“He had an injury-affected 2024, but seeing how he played footy at Confro and then how he finished the year at the Charters Towers Miners, he’ll be a consideration for fullback or anywhere in the outside backs,” Whittington said.
“He’s got a pretty good build on him for that.”
EVANDAH BANN – wing
Bann is an accomplished sprinter and surf life saver, winning a silver medal at nationals in 2024 with the Forrest Beach SLSC under-17s. He brings genuine pace to the Blackhawks squad.
“Evandah comes out of St Teresa’s, Abergowrie. He’s actually a state-level athletics track runner,” Whittington said.
“He’s one that we’ve sort of taken a little bit of a punt on, just from his sheer speed, but he also doesn’t shirk the contact.
“In his games that he played for the ’Gowrie Warriors in the RLTD club competition, he was one of their better players.
“So he’s an interesting one that we want to keep working with and helping to develop.”
MESHACK DAVID – outside back/five-eighth
Another player joining the group from St Teresa’s, David was brought into the Cowboys setup this year for a Young Guns pre-season. A versatile and talented footballer who starred at five-eighth during the 2024 Confraternity Carnival.
“We haven’t seen Meshak just yet because he actually did a Cowboys Young Guns pre-season, but he’ll return to us this week.
“Watching his club footy last year and school footy, he could pop up anywhere, probably from one to six.”
SEAN WEIR – Centre/fullback/five-eighth
A former Australian Schoolboys rugby union player, Weir has the ability to shine in whichever position he plays. A tough defender with good vision and great footy IQ.
“We’ve got quite a few utility backs, which is really good because they can all slot in and fill the puzzle pieces,” Whittington said.
“But at the moment, Sean would be mounting a pretty solid case for the right centre spot, but the ability to play fullback and five-eighth is also known to us, so he’ll probably shuffle into a couple of spots in the trial match.”
HALVES / UTILITY BACKS
KARLOS IRAIA – five-eighth/fullback
A Kiwi speedster coming out of Rotorua who can break the line at will. Iraia can play halfback or fullback and comes to the squad with some high-level rugby union experience.
“He’s landed into our squad through the Rabbitohs pathways agreement. Being from a small area, they wanted to push him into the Townsville side first before the Rabbitohs look at him for their under-21s season,” Whittington said.
“He’s a talented fullback or five-eighth, he made the New Zealand club representative side last year that plays against the New Zealand Schoolboys, so he’s a talented footballer.”
RILEY MCINTYRE – halfback/outside back
Heading into year 12 at Ryan Catholic College, McIntyre will once again be a leader for his school on and off the field. The talented halfback has great vision and an excellent kicking game – when he fills out his big frame he has the potential to go far in the sport.
“He was one of the best backs on the ground in the under-18s grand final last year for Brothers,” Whittington said.
“He’s the ultimate professional, he trains really hard and he’ll push for a fullback or outside back role.”
RILEY WHITFELD – centre/utility back
The younger brother of Cowboys NRLW star Jakiya, Whitfeld has shown great promise after reaching out to the Blackhawks for an opportunity. Whitfeld was a standout rugby union player in 2024, starting at halfback in St Stanislaus’ College’s First XV.
“He’s one of the only young fellas we’ve brought in from outside the region, the rest are all pretty well homegrown,” Whittington said.
“He’s out of Bathurst, a high-level rugby union player and he’s probably been in our top five trainers for the whole pre-season.
“Very professional young man, so I can’t fault him.”
JYE OLSEN – five-eighth
Olsen made his senior A-grade debut for the Burdekin Roosters in 2024 and quickly became a favourite for coach Steve Lansley. Olsen’s kicking game is one of his greatest strengths but he’s also incredibly tough for his age.
“We put a big onus on if an 18 or 19-year-old had played local A-grade, that was sort of a good guage for us, and he played A-grade for the Burdekin Roosters all last year at five-eighth,” Whittington said.
“He comes from a well-renowned footy family from North Queensland. He’s another one that would probably be in our top five trainers.
“He’ll be pushing pretty close to being in our best squad.”
HAYDE MUNRO – halfback
Another Burdekin boy that played A-grade last year at halfback. Munro returns to the Mal meninga Cup squad after starring in 2024.
“Him and Jye (Olsen) have got that chemistry,” Whittington said.
“He’s also coming back for his second year of Blackhawks and he’s really trained well.”
RYAN VAN ZANDEN – halfback/centre/lock
Van Zanden had a great year for the Kirwan Bears and his dedication to training so him put on some good size over the year. That could lead to the talented playmaker spending some time in the middle of the park as a ballplaying lock this year.
“He’s another half that we’ve got pushing for that No.7 role,” Whittington said.
“Ryan also adds utility value, he’s covered some time in the pre-season in the centres and even at lock forward and backrow, proving his versatility.
“He’s going to be a good thing for the squad balance.”
KYNAN PURDY – halfback/fullback
Purdy only needs half a gap and he will bust through defensive lines with his sharp running ability. The Ignatius Park standout also shows great toughness putting his body on the line in defence.
“Kynan was always a running half for Iggy, watching him last year, and he’s done some reps at fullback for us in the pre-season as well and he looks equally at home there or as a running five-eighth,” Whittington said.
“He was a 2024 squad member for the ‘Hawks as well. He’s a really nice young man, super professional in his approach and his preparation, and it’s rubbing off on the other squad members,”
HOOKERS / UTILITY FORWARDS
ETHAN RAINS – hooker
Rains is a tough hooker who never shies away from contact, regularly cutting down players twice his size. He returns for another season of mal meninga Cup after playing for Townsville in 2024.
“I think the whole club and the whole squad loves ‘Rainsy’,” Whittington said.
“He punches above his weight and he’s had a great pre-season. He doesn’t say much but he leads by example with his actions on the training park, so we’ll see how that converts into his form.”
TERRENCE MOSBY – hooker/lock
A powerful utility forward who makes the trip south to Townsville to join the Blackhawks.
“Terrence has come down from the Torres Strait, a little bit of time in Cairns as well, but mostly from the Torres Strait,” Whittington said.
“He came down here pretty highly recommended to trial with us as a hooker or a lock.
“He’s got that explosive ability over 10-15 meters, which could be a handy utility or starting nine for us, or he could equally find himself at lock-forward, he’s got that sort of middle-range build that suits that utility role.”
JAY WHALEY – hooker
Whaley was thrust into a role as Kirwan’s starting No.9 in 2024 after injuries within the squad and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands, regularly polling as one of his team’s best. A tough player who rarely misses a tackle while providing good service from dummy half.
“I remember Jay as a young half or hooker previous to his Kirwan exploits and he was always a super competitive young man,” Whittington said.
“He’s definitely shown that in his Kirwan High footy and now in our pre-season.
“He’s been great to have around the squad and he’ll push to be in our final 32-man squad.”
KYHNAAN KENNEDY – hooker
Kennedy is a fiery hooker who is one of the loudest voices on the park – but he has the talent to back up any talk.
He’s great at identifying space for scooting runs from dummy half, though he’s been dealing with injury setback for the past three months.
“He re-injured himself before pre-season started, so he won’t be back until the early rounds of the competition, but he hasn’t missed a training session,” Whittington said.
“He hasn’t used it as an excuse. He’s done a lot of conditioning and extras in his own time and in our sessions, so when he finally gets onto the actual park with us, we’ll get a better guage then, but we all know what Kyhnaan can do off his Iggy Park and South Bulls seasons.”
LANDON MEARS – hooker/lock
Mears was outstanding at Ryan Catholic College this year as the school narrowly missed out on claiming the NQISSRL Blackhawks Trophy, losing to Columba in the final.
“Landon was best and fairest for Brothers under-18s last year, he played a lot of hooker while at school at Ryan but played predominantly at lock for Brothers,” Whittington said.
“He’s another like Terrence (Mosby) who falls into that utility value role where he can cover a couple of spots.”
COOPER REINDERS – hooker
One of the younger players in the group, Reinders doesn’t let his age stop him making an impact. The tough hooker might not feature much in 2025, but watch out for him in the years to come.
“Cooper is from Iggy Park, he’s another player from that under-18s Brothers team that won the premiership last year,” Whittington said.
“He’s a competitive little fella, there are probably a couple of other boys in the box seat to start at hooker but Cooper is definitely one that’ll push for a spot in our final squad, if not feature as a development player pushing for next year.”
MICKEY LUKE – hooker
Luke is a talented hooker coming out of Charter Towers. He captained All Souls St Gabriel’s School and led from the front with his fearless defence and darting runs.
“Same thing as Cooper, he’s a competitive young man who played really well for All Souls at the Confraternity Carnival,” Whittington said.
“Then I was impressed with how he finished the year with the Charters Towers Miners.”
MIDDLE FORWARDS
LORANZO FONO – middle
One of the most experienced players in the squad, Fono is returning for his third season of Mal Meninga Cup with the Blackhawks.
“He’s into his second year of ‘Hawks 19s and I think he played in the 18s side the year before that too so it’s his third year of Mal Meninga Cup,” Whittington said.
“He brings that experience for us, he’s a really level-headed young man too. He helps out the other middle forwards and he’s had a good pre-season.”
ANTHONY VAIGAFA – middle
Vaigafa is powerful with the ball in hand and immovable in defence. He was one of Kirwan’s best middle forwards in 2024 and will be gunning for a starting role with the Blackhawks.
“Another Kirwan lad and part of that Brothers 18s side,” Whittington said.
“Quite a big body and he’s got explosive speed, so he’ll definitely be pushing for a spot in our side as well. He’s had a good pre-season.”
KYLE BADER – lock/middle
Bader was one of the surprise stars for Kirwan last year. The fearsome middle forward refused to take a back step and he is known as a great competitor.
“He’d be well and truly pushing for a starting spot with us. Just watching his Kirwan High games back and even the games he got for the Blackhawks, he just competes on every play,” Whittington said.
“He’s really set the standard across the whole squad to be honest and he’d be in that top three or four trainers for the whole pre-season.
“A really positive young man with his actions and his chat on the training park.”
JAYDEN RYAN – middle
Ryan had a great Aaron Payne Cup season for Ignatius Park College and will look to keep developing his game in 2025.
“Jayden played for Iggy as a lock-forward or coming on as an interchange middle,” Whittington said.
“He’s a tough young man. Doesn’t take a backward step, probably a smaller lock or middle, but quite mobile and he’s got a really good offload on him and a really good front-on defender.”
SITIVENI AFU – middle
Afu is another player who has been completing a pre-season with the Cowboys Young Guns and he is currently one of the brightest rugby league prospects in North Queensland.
Afu captained Ignatius Park College in 2024 as a year 11 student and he led from the front as a regular standout playing big minutes and stepping up in the big moments.
“I’ve known Sitiveni for a long time through my time at the Cowboys and that sort of thing,” Whittington said.
“He’s always been one of the best young men coming through the grades, so I’m looking forward to working with him when he comes back (from Cowboys Young Guns).
“From all reports, he’s training really well over there, and he’s a leader within their Young Guns group. So I’d say nothing will change when he transitions over to us.”
QUENTIN OFAHULU – middle
Ofahulu steps up into the Mal Meninga Cup this year after playing for Townsville in the Cyril Connell Cup in 2024. He’s a big middle forward who can skittle defenders with his powerful runs.
“Another Kirwan lad who played in that Brothers 18s team – him and Anthony (Vaigafa) were the starting front rowers for them and they’re quite similar,” Whittington said.
“Big build, quite explosive, so when we get the balance of our squad right he’ll feature somewhere there throughout the season.”
COOPER FLETCHER – middle
A natural leader and a workhorse on the field. Fletcher does all the hard work that often goes unnoticed by people except for coaches and teammates who must love having him in their side.
“His leadership credentials and even his actions on the training park are at a really high standard,” Whittington said.
“He’s a senior leader at Ignatius Park this year and he’s been a tough young man and quite talented. I first worked with him when he was 15 or 16 in the Cows academy so it’s good to work with him again.”
MITCH HARDY – middle
Hardy is a tough middle forward who has been dealing with an injury for the past few months. A hard worker and dedicated trainer.
“He’s been injured throughout the whole pre-season, but he’s another one who hasn’t missed a session as he’s trying to get his shoulder right,” Whittington said.
“He’s currently on the dev list with us, but he’d be pushing for the last few spots of the squad.”
EDGE FORWARDS
ZANE BETHEL – edge
The other Bethel twin, Zane is a big-bodied backrower who regularly bends defensive lines with his hard carries. Bethel also has a good offload in his arsenal and is a committed defender.
“Zane had another outstanding year for Kirwan High and his representative honours with NQ and that sort of thing,” Whittington said.
“He had a good season of Cyril Connell (under-17s) last year as well. He’s got a nice big body and he’s quite a mobile young fella, and he’s trained really well.”
ENELIKO SAVELIO – middle/edge
Savelio is another player still training with the Cowboys until he joins the Blackhawks ahead of their first trial match.
A well-rounded player with big wraps, Savelio has the size to play in the middle and the skill to be dangerous on an edge.
“He’s another Cowboys Young Gun so we haven’t seen him yet, but speaking to his coaches I think he’d be pushing for a spot in the middle somewhere for us,” Whittington said.
CAMPBELL ST GEORGE – edge/middle
A standout for Ryan Catholic College and Brothers in club-land, St George loves nothing more than putting on a huge hit to fire up his teammates.
“Campbell is a tough young man, probably an edge backrower as his first preference and then he might play a little bit through the middle,” Whittington said.
“His front-on defence is really, really good. His contact will be something to watch.”
JAIA POPPI – edge
Joining the Blackhawks from the Ingham region, Poppi is a tough backrower with a great range of skills.
“Jaia is one of our Herbert River boys and he played with Gilroy Santa Maria at Confro,” Whittington said.
“He’s never really had an opportunity at this level but you can tell he’s definitely up to the standard.
“He’ll definitely be pushing for a spot in the side or for a spot in A-grade at the Herbert River Crushers.
“He’s a really fit young man and puts a lot of attential to detail into his prep and training with us so far.”
KYMANI GEORGE – edge/middle/centre
George brings good versatility to the squad with the ability to cover multiple positions, though he typically plays at centre or backrower for the Western Lions.
“He’s also been pushing at training a little bit through the middle. He’s got quite a big body,” Whittington said.
“But it’s good that he can cover those sort of positions. He’s equally at home on an edge or in the middle.
“He’s had a good pre-season. He was challenged a bit early on by coaching staff, but he’s definitely responded and trained well.”
MAX CAMPBELL – edge
A destructive runner of the ball who regularly makes linebreaks, starring for Columba Catholic College as the school claimed back-to-back NQISSRL Blackhawks Trophies in 2024.
Campbell is a good leader and is incredibly tough to tackle.
“Maxy has been good, he’s an edge forward from Charters Towers and Cloncurry,” Whittington said.
“Everyone knows who Max is, we’ll all get a good look at him over the next few weeks and see if he pushes for a starting spot or not.”
RYDER SOPER – edge
A Mount Isa talent who came to Townsville to complete his schooling at Ignatius park College. Soper is a hardworking player with good strength.
“Ryder had a really good year for Ignatius Park and the Brothers under-18s as well,” Whittington said.
“He’s been back home in Mount Isa for a little bit, so he’s missed a couple of weeks of training, but his pre-Christmas training and form was really good.
“He’s quite a tough young man, moves really well on the edge, so he’ll be another one of our dev players who might be pushing for the last spot in the squad or looking towards 2026.”
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