Queensland league rookies playing in the SG Ball; Harold Matthews
It’s a Queensland league invasion: Here are 60 mini Maroons playing in the prestigious SG Ball and Harold Matthews NSWRL representative competitions so far this season.
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Where is Queensland? Queensland’s everywhere.
So goes the song written by comedian Denis Carnahan mocking how Queensland fills its State of Origin side with players who have origins other than Queensland.
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But Queenslanders certainly were everywhere in the NSWRL representative competitions, the SG Ball and Harold Matthews Cups in 2024.
Sixty mini Maroons have played for NSW-based clubs across the opening three rounds of the competition.
Who are they? Read on and enjoy.
Footnote: This story is not about all the Queensland boys currently in NSWRL rep squads. It concentrates on youngster who have actually played in the opening three rounds.
St George Illawarra
Tyler Peckham-Harris
Peckham-Harris is a mighty mite from Ipswich SHS who helped his school win the 2022 NRL Schoolboy grand final undefeated.
He plays fullback, although he also had a successful stint at dummy half in the Langer Trophy last season for Alfie Langer’s old side, the Ipswich Jets. The dynamic runner made our 2022 and 2023 Langer Trophy Teams of the Year.
Ryan Hutchinson
Ryan Hutchinson is from the esteemed Keebra Park SHS finishing school who has a chance at the Dragons to impress as a prop.
He comes from a blue collar league background and can take a knock – and deliver one as well.
Brandon Tikinau
Originally a Forest Lake SHS product, halfback Brandon Tikinau moved to Ipswich SHS to play Langer Trophy. He is a tough little roosters with natural football flair. It is little wonder he impressed Dragons talent scouts.
Isaiah Fagalilo
From that never-ending Keebra Park SHS talent pool, hooker Isaiah Fagalilo was one of the best in schoolboy football last season and thoroughly deserved his chance in the big smoke of Sydney at the famous St George club.
Manly
Alton Naiyep
A more rugged competitor you’d not see on a walk from Manly to Penrith and back again.
A Queensland schoolboys winger last season, the Ipswich SHS champion is dynamic carrying the ball, either in attack or from dummy half runs.
Jett Jackson
As honest as the day is long, tall prop forward Jackson has been to the forefront of Palm Beach Currumbin SHS’s success in recent seasons, including last year when he helped the Reds march onward and upwards. He is a great toiler who you build success around.
Will Lane
Iona College old boy Lane is a middle forward tradesman, a glue player every side needs. He leaves nothing in the dressing shed when he takes the field, which is no surprise given his father Mark was a rip-roaring Souths Logan forward from Warwick. Lane is a real effort man who would have cherished a hard off season with Manly.
South Sydney
Jason Hallie
In 2023 Hallie was one half of an imposing prop forward combination in FNQ, the Northern Pride – his front row partner was Fijian Gabriel Tunimakubu. Although Pride struggled for wins, Hallie often one his personal battles in the middle. He is a big lump of a lad.
Mikael Ibrahim
Mikael Ibrahim is a never-say-die No. 13. A Brisbane Tigers junior, he hails from Cooper Cronk’s old school of St Laurence’s College where he was a First XV rugby premiership superstar. Ibrahim is a bloke who will give his all, something who will thrive the further up the food chain he goes.
Penrith
William Herbert
A Queensland country kid, Herbert has been one of the best junior prospects in the state for a few years. He plays centre and is a former Nudgee College First XV representative.
Poutoa Hotere-Papalii
A Wavell SHS product, the Panthers identified centre Hotere-Papalii early when he was an exciting schoolboy who shone in his age group competitions last season. Now let’s see how he progresses in the helter-skelter of the NSWRL rep system. He will love the challenge.
Isaiah Scanlan
A tough as teak prop who does all the little things right, Scanlan is a tradesman who was the cornerstone of Palm Beach Currumbin SHS’s 2023 Langer Trophy campaign when the side went to the Langer, Phil Hall state championship and NRL schoolboy grand finals. He is someone who gets the job done.
Canberra
Keahn Skipps
Skipps is a Burleigh Bears junior who is a young gun goal kicking halves talent. He is a jack-in-the-box and it is no mystery why the Raiders were investing in this young gun who has been previously identified in future Maroons squads.
Taylor Withington
Withington is a hard working middle forward who learned his craft coming through the Keebra Park SHS system where only the strong survive. And he has survived, so that is saying something.
Maika Poese
A fullback or winger from St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace where has he played GPS First XV, Poese is a clever signing by the Raiders and well worth the punt. He has that something special about him.
Bailey Nash
It is great to see this tradesman centre recognised. Nash is a clever signing from the Toowoomba district, an ultra reliable centre who gets the job done – and then some.
Samuel Hyne
A Nudgee First XV premiership winner where he played No. 8, Hyne is a rugged prop learning his craft in the Raiders system. He is not on his own in the Raiders system, – they have a heap of Queensland kids.
Thomas Lunney
From the rich rugby league region of Redcliffe, back rower Thomas Lunney has earned a chance with the Canberra Raiders.
Izayah Petricevich
The tall, athletic Petricevich has great potential in the air with his catches where he can take advantage of his long reach. He is also naturally quick. Petricevich hails from the northern Gold Coast and finished his schooling at Marsden SHS.
Keisaia Su’a
Su’a was a revelation at centre in Queensland’s premier schoolboy competition the Langer Trophy last year after joining Ipswich SHS for his senior year.
Ipswich SHS made it to the grand final and Su’a was one of their most consistent throughout the season with his rugby union background coming to the fore.
Mahonri Tiotala
Another uncompromising forward from Ipswich SHS, Tiotala is a tough and tumble middle forward who loves contact. The Raiders get a lot right when it comes to recruiting Queensland juniors.
Parramatta
Jai Camilleri
While he didn’t make our 2023 Langer Trophy Team of the Season, Camilleri was good enough to be selected. The Wavell SHS product is dynamic from the ruck and also his forwards and halves quickly.
Devonte Vaivela
A centre with a skilled sidestep, Devonte Vaivela has first bite of the cherry with the Eels after gaining valuable Langer Trophy experience at Marsden SHS last year.
Beau Lucien
Big Beau has been plucked out of the pack by the Parra talent scouts and placed right in the thick of things this season in the SG Ball. He hailed from Wavell SHS, a school which has a long, long list of students who have progressed to the highest level, starting in the 1970s when Queensland vice-captain David Wright played for Australia.
Izaiah Mafi
Mafi has been plucked from the overflowing rugby league talent pool of Ipswich SHS where he has earned a chance in Old Sydney Town as a halfback after impressing in the Langer Trophy.
Cronulla
Adrian Sandy
Sandy is a quick stepping, exciting fullback who helped the Redcliffe Dolphins win the 2023 Meninga Cup premiership.
It is no surprise a Sydney club is giving him a chance as he is one of those kids who has got something you want to take a punt on.
Will Saunders
Saunders was a revelation in the Langer Trophy last season with his brilliant dummy half play having a huge role in Palm Beach Currumbin’s two Cup wins last year – and the team’s ultimate journey or the way to the NRL Schoolboys grand final. He deserves his chance in the big league.
Melbourne Storm
Dylan Gallagher
From the famous Logan City region, the Logan Brothers junior and Marsden SHS product is a promising outside back utility. He is not only a good footballer, but also renowned for his team play and the manner in which he encourages his teammates.
Will Semu
Semu was rewarded during a revitalised season last year by earning a contract with the Storm. He had an outstanding Meninga Cup campaign at Marsden SHS and played for the Queensland schoolboys as a centre or edge forward. We think he can go all the way.
Delacruz Ripley
The Brisbane Boys College First XV outside back Ripley is a young gun has been identified by the Melbourne Storm for his size, strength and speed who have him playing centre in its SG Ball side.
Tulloch McLellan
A Mr Natural halfback, McLellan has long been on the Storm’s Raider. An excellent prospect from Caloundra SHS, a creative No. 7 who has also benefited from a stint at fullback where he opened up his field of vision on a field. The Caloundra SHS ace is a terrific natural talent who works hard.
Harrison Hill
Hill is an astute signing from the Norths Devils. A hooker, he lost nothing in comparison to the best dummy halves in last season’s junior and Langer football. He hails from the Wavell SHS stable where he shared rake duties with Jai Camilleri (mentioned earlier, Parramatta), forming one of the best one-two dummy half combinations in the state.
Jett Elich
Here’s a player for the little black books, an edge forward who is an astute signing from the Sunshine Coast. He was one of the Falcons’ very best last season and we have circled his name as a boy who could go all the way.
Chase Paterson
You can’t miss Paterson on the field, such is his energy and skill. Gee he has skill. He is a kid capable of playing middle, No. 13 or edge. That is how talented he is. Paterson is another Sunshine Coast boy from Caloundra SHS.
Jacob Tinsley
Tinsley is a safe as a bank dummy half in the Andrew McCullough mould who has come through the Marsden SHS and Logan Brothers junior systems. If you graduate from those systems, you must be a good player. And he is.
Balmain
Xavier Tauaifaiga
A hardworking, tough utility backrower, hooker or centre, the powerful Tweed Seagulls product is playing No. 4 for the Tiger cubs.
Roosters
Tyreece Tait
Tait is a wildcard among the pack of players currently in the SG Ball competition. He was the 2022 Queensland schoolboys winger from Wavell SHS who fell off his perch last year. But the Roosters recognised his extreme pace and no one would surprised if he went all the way into the NRL, such is his raw talent.
Reece Foley
The boom boy from Townsville was recently named in the Queensland under-19s Emerging Origin squad – and it is little wonder. He is a thrilling natural talent who plays in the halves.
Peter Uini
Uini is another from the Wavell SHS catchment who the Roosters think highly of. He is a tough prop learning his trade and has been all eyes and ears during the off season learning from the club’s senior players.
Delasalle Va’a
A St Mary’s College, Toowoomba, front rower who was recently named in the Maroons under-19 Emerging Origin squad. Originally from Dalby, Va’a has followed his older brother Xavier, also a prop, to the Roosters. Both boys were very good prospects.
Aholoka Toia
One of our favourite Langer and Meninga Cup players who we admired for his effort, Toia was Queensland best middle forward at last year’s national carnival. His brother is Rob Toia, a brilliant centre prospect also at the Roosters. A North Lakes junior, Toia hails from Redcliffe SHS.
Canterbury
David Leota
Leota has emerged from the Springfield Panthers to be a bruising front rower who helped the Bulldogs win last season’s Harold Matthews premiership. Canterbury swooped when he emerged as the best Connell Cup forward in 2022 playing for the Ipswich Jets. He played both First XV rugby with Ipswich Grammar School and First XIII league at Ipswich SHS.
Bud Smith
The son of a Bulldogs gun – his dad Jason was a Queensland and Australian representative – Smith has natural toughness and skill. The young forward comes from the demanding Toowoomba rugby league competition.
Shaye Faa’aoga
The rugby league made Ipswich region is a happy hunting ground for Canterbury talent scouts who now have second rower Shaye Faa’aoga on their books.
Mitch Rogers
Dummy half Rogers was easily one of the best schoolboy players last season – despite not making the state side. The Padua College old boy was man of the match in Redcliffe’s Meninga Cup premiership side. We think he can make it.
Newcastle
Wailer Whaiapu
Wailer Whaiapu is a natural leader, an outstanding No. 13 with a high work rate who, over three seasons in the Langer Trophy, developed his ball skills and running game. But defence was his foundation.
Warriors
Tom Summer
Well done to the Warriors for giving this kid a go. From Tweed Seagulls, Summer was the Players Player of the Season at Seagulls in its under-16s (2022) and powered on just as impressively in the Meninga Cup last season. He is a middle forward with skill, work ethic and leadership attributes.
Illawarra
Lyhkan King-Togia
A highly rated half or hooker or No.13, the skilled, quick stepping King-Togia is a Dalby SHS product whose ability is unquestioned. He has natural ball skills is a highly rated player in his age group.
Harold Matthews Cup
Roosters
Cohen Dittmann
The former Queensland under 15 fullback from FNQ with that bit of x-factor about him, he played round 1 as a centre. He will return to play in Queensland’s Meninga Cup after spending the off-season in the south.
Lui Lee
The brother of former Queensland State of Origin series winning centre Brenko, Marsden SHS student Lee has a big body and terrific step. He’d be a nightmare to play against in his age group, and should benefit from being in the professional system of the Roosters where he is among the best of the best in club land.
Footnote: Two other Queensland-signed Roosters played in the club’s secondary under 17 side.
Sangstar Figota
A fullback of considerable promise at Wavell SHS, Figota has been playing in the centres to start the season with the Roosters.
Payton Gifford
Lock Gifford is a very talented and smart half who will expertly lead the side around the park. He is young, and one for the little black book for sure.
Canterbury
Mason Phillips
The Wavell SHS No. 9 was snapped up early by the Bulldogs and has started the season as Canterbury’s first choice dummy half. He has played for the under 15 Queensland schoolboys.
Azariah Toki-Mautairi
The canny Bulldogs’ scouts have done well to snap up this utility player who can play No. 13 or No.6. Quick on his feet and a tough rooster, Toki-Mautairi is also a leader. He has represented the under 15 Queensland schoolboys from Wavell SHS.
Tawa-Dean Simpkins
Parramatta
Ocean Vaivela
An Ipswich SHS prop, Vaivela represented the Queensland under 15 last season. He is an astute signing given the talent pool in Ipswich.
Ezra Leota
A dummy half, Leota is an explosive player who is a little like his idol, premiership winning NRL star Api Koroisau. He is also very strong in defence and is always pinching those extra metres around the ruck. He is a great player to be around and leads by example for his forwards.
Tigers
Rake Taj Handsaker
A Maroochydore junior, Handsaker is an inspiring leader from the Sunshine Coast who earned high praise from the Falcons camp during his time there. The Tigers early to snare him.
Bulldogs
Xzavier Timoteo
Another Ipswich SHS student, Timoteo is a powerful youngster who runs harder than anyone.
He is a beast on defence but his ball-carrying is his point of difference. He could make it to the NRL.
Sharks
Ezekiel Ivey
A talented Tully Tiger who made several appearances in the FNQRL A-grade competition, Ivey moved south at the end of 2023 to take his game to another level.
Ivey, who is now at esteemed sports nursery Endeavour Sports High, is a big-bodied mobile forward who has come off the bench for the Sharks in the Harold Matthews Cup.
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