Three of Kirwan State High’s best rugby league players start the next chapter in their lives this week, opening the door for the other 12 NRL-contracted talents to step up.
Jeremiah Matautia, Vinjenzo ‘VJ’ Winterstein and Elekana Suavai all turn their focus from schoolboys footy to training with the Cowboys, as they push for contract extensions and playing time.
A remarkable 15 players at the rugby league nursery signed NRL contracts this season, after the first team Bears enjoyed a strong 2022 season, falling just short of an Aaron Payne Cup grand final appearance.
Kirwan turned around a 10-point half time deficit to force golden point in a semi-final clash with rivals Ignatius Park, but a penalty goal in extra time put the final dagger in their campaign.
The Bears player that sparked that second-half comeback was big Matautia, who stands a head taller than most of his teammates.
Matautia joined the school team this year after he made the trip across the Tasman from Auckland. The 18-year-old prop is a devastating carrier of the ball who feeds off the noise of the crowd, and this year he finally got to achieve a childhood desire.
“My highlight was playing with my little cousin (Kanye Pua’avase) because I haven’t played with him my whole life, and then moving over and playing with him meant a lot to me,” Matautia said. “We both lived in Auckland for a bit, and then he moved over quite a while ago.
“I love the crowd here, I enjoy the atmosphere and playing in front of family and friends.
“There’s more talk from the ground compared to Auckland, the rivalries are bigger than back home.”
Matautia’s goal for 2023 is cracking the Blackhawks U21 side, and trying to make his first grade debut in the Queensland Cup.
Another of Kirwan’s leaving stars is fullback Winterstein, who plans to start his carpentry apprenticeship next year.
Winterstein, who models his game on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, said playing for the Cowboys U19 development team against the Gold Coast Titans in August taught him valuable lessons in football.
“It was a good experience to see the NRL players at the next level and what they do to prepare,” Winterstein said.
Kirwan’s third key departure is Suavai, a workhorse second rower / centre who featured for Queensland Schoolboys at Redcliffe in July.
Suavai can’t wait to get stuck into the Cowboys Young Guns program, and has his sights set on a spot in the Blackhawks U21 team. The 18-year-old, who moved from Cairns this year, said the culture at Kirwan was like nothing he’d experienced before.
“The brotherhood and the chemistry between the boys, it’s awesome here,” Suavai said. “I love it, there are more opportunities here than back home.”
KIRWAN STATE HIGH SCHOOL’S NRL CLUB-CONTRACTED PLAYERS
Vinjenzo ‘VJ’ Winterstein
Age: Fullback
Position: 18
NRL team: Cowboys
Rep honours: Queensland U17
Notable fact: VJ is the younger brother of premiership-winning Cowboy Antonio Winterstein.
Jeremiah Matautia
Age: Prop
Position: 18
NRL team: Cowboys
Rep honours: NZ U16, Blackhawks Mal Meninga Cup;
Notable fact: Matautia is the cousin of Cowboys Young Gun Miah Pua’avase.
Elekana Suavai
Age: Second Row
Position: 18
NRL team: Cowboys
Rep honours: Queensland Schoolboys
Notable fact: Suavai moved to Townsville from Cairns, where he played for the Kangaroos Cairns club.
Zane Bethel
Age: Second Row
Position: 15
NRL team: Raiders
Rep honours:
Notable fact: Signed with the Raiders alongside twin Heath
Heath Bethel
Age: Centre
Position: 15
NRL team: Raiders
Rep honours:
Notable fact: Signed with the Raiders alongside twin Zane
Eneliko Savelio
Age: Second Row
Position: 15
NRL team: Cowboys
Rep honours: Queensland U15 Rugby League Championships
Notable fact:
Tavita Penaia
Age: Prop
Position: 16
NRL team: Cowboys
Rep honours: Central Queensland Capras – Cryil Connell Challenge
Notable fact: Penaia captained the Central Queensland Capras in 2022 in the Cyril Connell Challenge.
Cohen Dittmann
Age: Fullback
Position: 15
NRL team: Cowboys
Rep honours: Queensland U15 Schoolboys; Blackhawks Cyril Connell Challenge, Cowboys U16
Notable fact: Dittman’s family raise bucking bulls for PBR Australia.
Elijah-Shane Tapau-Taylor
Age: Second Row
Position: 16
NRL team: Cowboys
Rep honours: Townsville Blackhawks U16
Notable fact: Tapau-Taylor’s favourite footy player is his dad, Roy Baira.
Kaiden Lahrs
Age: Prop
Position: 16
NRL team: Broncos
Rep honours: Queensland 14-15 year team; Blackhawks – Cyril Connell Challenge
Notable fact: Son of 120-game Bronco, Raider, Storm and NSW Origin prop Tom Learoyd-Lahrs.
Kanye Puciavase
Age: Second Row
Position: 16
NRL team: Cowboys
Rep honours:
Notable fact: Puciavase is Jeremiah Matautia’s cousin.
Dane Ransom
Age: Prop
Position: 15
NRL team: Cowboys
Rep honours:
Notable fact: Won player of the final for Western Lions in the Tassell Trophy Challenge
Ryan Van Zanden
Age: Five-eighth
Position: 15
NRL team: Raiders
Rep honours:
Notable fact:
Preston Cassidy
Age: Five-eighth
Position: 16
NRL team: Broncos
Rep honours:
Notable fact: Cassidy signed with the Broncos aged 13.
Ben Roebuck
Age: Fullback
Position: 16
NRL team: Cowboys
Rep honours: Northern Pride U16, Cowboys U16
Notable fact:
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