Top 25 future Maroons: The young guns of Queensland set to make a run to the Origin arena

A Cooper Cronk clone destined for the Broncos, another Palm Beach Currumbin young gun, and ‘one of the best trainers’ a Cowboy has ever seen. It’s part four of our QLD rookies series.

Corey Allan is seen during a Brisbane Broncos training session at Clive Berghofer Field in Brisbane, Wednesday, March 7, 2018. The Broncos play the St George-Illawarra Dragons in the opening match of the 2018 NRL season on Thursday night in Sydney. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING

• PART ONE
• PART TWO
• PART THREE

There’s always plenty of hype around players in the NRL who are about to make their mark on State of Origin.

But which young guns are showing their potential at the lower levels? Who are the teenagers impressing recruiters and scouts with their athleticism and dedication to making a career in the NRL?

While the pool of emerging talent in Queensland is deep, we’ve cut it back to 25 young guns that we’re excited about.

We will reveal five a day, every day this week. So make sure to check back in tomorrow. Here’s Part Four.

Corey Paix offloads during training last week at Red Hill. Picture: Peter Wallis

Cory Paix (Brisbane Broncos)

PAIX has drawn numerous comparisons to Queensland and Australian great Cooper Cronk, as well as Melbourne’s grand final halfback Brodie Croft given how he looks and how he carries himself on the field. The Toowoomba junior was the Norths Devils under-18s captain in 2018 and is expected to get some Intrust Super Cup game time in 2019. He is also versatile, having played hooker for the Queensland under-18s team this year.

Palm Beach Currumbin’s Tom Dearden. Picture: Jerad Williams

Tom Dearden (Brisbane Broncos)

ORIGINALLY from Mackay, the fair-haired halfback excelled for Palm Beach Currumbin in the Tweed Heads Seagulls system this year. A year below Paix and Tanah Boyd in the Broncos system, the 177cm Dearden gives Brisbane extra playmaking depth in their future and was given the nod for a halves role with the Queensland under-18s this year. Dearden, who turns 18 in March, represented Queensland schoolboys this year and also toured England with the Australian schoolboys.

Thomas Gilbert shows off his skills at Cowboys training last week. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Thomas Gilbert (North Queensland Cowboys)

COWBOYS recruitment manager Clint Zammit says Gilbert is one of the best trainers he has ever seen. The Springsure product and former Brisbane Grammar School student is a backrower and also used to be in the Broncos development system before signing with the Cowboys.

“He has one of the best attitudes I’ve ever seen,” Zammit said.

“He’s a tough trainer, anal about everything he does. He’s trained with the NRL squad and trained well. He’ll need a good year in the QCup and in the following year he could debut.

“He’ll play NRL. He has too good an attitude not to.”

Patrick Carrigan looks to burst through the Blues defence during the under-20s match at Suncorp Stadium last year. Picture: Peter Wallis

Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos)

A TOUGH, hard-working forward, Carrigan captained the Queensland under-20s to their first ever victory over NSW in 2018. He was one of the standouts for Wynnum Manly in his first season of Intrust Super Cup this year, making 21 appearances, and also played for the Australian under-20s. Carrigan is off-contract with the Broncos and understood to be in demand. This could be the year he makes his NRL debut after earning a promotion to Brisbane’s top 30 squad.

Corey Allan during a Brisbane Broncos training session at Clive Berghofer Field in March. Picture: Darren England

Corey Allan (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

THE 20-year-old Logan Brothers junior has come through Brisbane’s development system and spent 2018 testing himself against bigger players in the Intrust Super Cup. He has now been signed by South Sydney, in a major boost for the young fullback. He has represented the Junior Kangaroos as well as the Queensland under-18s and under-20s. He has already been touted for an NRL debut in 2019.