NRL 2020: Emerging Origin squad for the Queensland Maroons, part two

Two Kirwan SHS guns who led their school to victory, a speedy fullback training with the Broncos, and two locals poached by the Raiders. It’s part two of our series profiling our emerging Maroons.

Kirwan State High School proved themselves as the best rugby league school in the country last year when they won the Schoolboys Cup.

And their success is reflected in the amount of players they have gunning for a spot in Queensland’s emerging Origin squad.

A group of 34 players battled it out over summer for a chance to join the U18 team, and we are profiling these players throughout the next week.

Check out part one here with young guns like Jack Howarth and Selwyn Cobbo, and read part two below as Kirwan flexes its muscle.

Reece Walsh (right) with Gold Coast Titans teenage recruit Toby Sexton. Picture: Jerad Williams

Reece Walsh – Tweed Seagulls

THE 2018 Queensland under-16 captain rose to prominence through junior club Nerang Roosters before making a name himself through the Queensland Murri.

The Keebra Park fullback trains with the Broncos under-18s emerging squad and can even play in the halves.

His scintillating form for Tweed in last year’s Mal Meninga Cup caused a stir, with his devastating change of pace. He is no stranger to the Queensland under-18s squad, having starred in last year’s win over New South Wales, coming off the bench.

Ragarive Wavik leads his Kirwan SHS teammates through a guard of honour after the school made the national final. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Ragarive Wavik – Brothers Townsville Junior Rugby League Club

SIGNED with the North Queensland Cowboys, Ragarive is yet another outside back coming through the Queensland ranks.

The Kirwan State High School product has already represented Queensland in the under-15s and the QLD Country under-16s and also starred in last year’s NRL National Schoolboy Cup win over Westfields Sports High.

A flash-footed halfback/ fullback, Wavik is proving to be a quality Cowboys prospect.

Xavier Savage (centre) with his Trinity Bay SHS teammates in 2017. Picture: Anna Rogers

Xavier Savage – Easts Tigers

SPEEDY Savage is an electrifying young winger with blistering speed.

The Palm Beach Currumbin product would give NRL speedster Josh Addo-Carr a run for his money, after taking out the 100m Queensland junior athletics championship in 10.95 seconds in 2018.

The Raiders managed to poach the 17-year-old from the Titans last year and sign him on a two-and-a-half year contract.

Wavell State High School representative forward Jayden Clarkson.

Jayden Clarkson – Redlands Rugby League Club

THE Wavell State High School product comes out of the same nursery as the likes of Greg Inglis and Darryl Brohman and is on the same path to the NRL.

“JJ” has inked a three-year deal with the Canberra Raiders after a backlog of forwards talent at the Broncos held him back from an NRL debut.

The “workhorse” has been likened to Broncos frontrower Matt Lodge for his work ethic and hard running.

Kirwan star Jeremia Nanai holds the NRL Schoolboys Cup after his team won the national final. Picture: Shae Beplate

Jeremia Nanai – Western Lions

HE’S a try-scoring, steamrolling second-rower and a threat in any side.

The Kirwan State High School product caught the attention of plenty during last year’s under 16 Queensland Country v City clash where he scored a second-half hat-trick to give his side the win.

He also finished the match with three linebreaks, 13 tackle busts and 137 running metres. The Cowboys development player is hoping to follow in the large footsteps of Jason Taumalolo, a fellow Kirwan alumni student.