Regional rugby league stars: 50+ players to watch in the Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cups in 2024
They’re the regional young guns looking to make their mark in junior rep footy. We’ve taken a look at 50+ players to watch in the Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cup in 2024.
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They’re the regional young guns looking to make their mark in junior rep footy and push their claims for higher honours.
With the Andrew Johns (under-16s) and Laurie Daley Cup (Under-18s) competitions set to kick off this weekend, some of the best young rugby league players from the bush will meet in NSW’s youth country championships.
To celebrate the new season, we’ve taken a look at the players to watch in both competitions.
Jump to: Andrew Johns Cup – Laurie Daley Cup
ANDREW JOHNS CUP
AIDEN GERSH (NORTHERN RIVERS TITANS)
Front-row
One of the most impressive performers over the course of the pre-season and trial games, Gersh has been a leader of the Titans’ pack and will be crucial as the team looks to win the battle of the middle during the season.
BILLY MULHERAN (NORTHERN RIVERS TITANS)
Front-row
Along with front-row partner Gersh, Mulheran – who was recently selected in the NSW under-17 Koori side – has been one of the standouts throughout the pre-season.
The pair have emerged as real leaders within the side, and will be looked upon to helped to lay a platform for the playmakers and control the middle of the field for the Titans.
FINN DAVY (ILLAWARRA SOUTH COAST DRAGONS)
Second-row
“If you had a full team of Finn Davy’s, you’d be happy,” said Dragons coach Nathaniel Morrison in possibly the greatest compliment of all.
A powerful runner and strong defender, Davy has been doing all the right things during pre-season for the Dragons, pushing his teammates to be better during training.
PHOENIX JOHNS (ILLAWARRA SOUTH COAST DRAGONS)
Centre
A monster frame in the backs for the Dragons, you can’t miss Johns on the pitch.
Big, fast and athletic, he comes from a rugby union background, but is no doubt a transferable talent on the league field.
JETT BROOKFIELD (ILLAWARRA SOUTH COAST DRAGONS)
Halfback
He might have one of the smallest frames on the field but has perhaps the greatest ability.
In what are great attributes for a halfback, Brookfield has great controlling and game management skills, with coach Morrison glowing of his pre-season form. “Everything started to click when he was on the park, he straightens us right up.”
KDEN CARTER (NORTH COAST BULLDOGS)
Fullback
An X-factor talent, Carter will skipper the Bulldogs and bring some attacking flair with the ball in hand.
Compared to the likes of Matty Bowen or Kalyn Ponga, he might not be the biggest player on the field but has plenty of speed and great vision.
THOMAS MASTERS (NORTH COAST BULLDOGS)
Front-row
Has shown a lot of promise for the Bulldogs considering it’s only his third year of footy, earning big wraps from his coach Geoff Batten.
“Since he’s come into the program he’s just been skyrocketing every week, so I think at the back-end of the program he should be absolutely flying.”
KOBY TOOMEY (NORTH COAST BULLDOGS)
Front-row
Joining Masters in the front row for the Bulldogs is Toomey, who brings a great mix of physicality and athleticism that his coach hopes will give the pack an edge this season.
“He’s just been ultra-consistent through the trials. He’s a nice, big, mobile body,” said Batten.
OWEN KNOWLES (CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS)
Halfback
Steering the ship for the Roosters is the talented playmaker Knowles, who could well spend some time in the Roosters’ Harold Matts team if he starts the season well.
“He’s a good leader, he’ll guide them around the park,” said Roosters coaching director Steve Deakin.
ALEXANDER STEPHENSON (CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS)
Lock
The type of player you always want in your team, Stephenson is a physical and talented middle forward who always puts his hand up to do the dog work.
“He’s ferocious, does a lot of tackling and isn’t scared to take the carries,” said Deakin.
TULSYN MCCULLOCH (CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS)
Back-row
Another to keep an eye on, McCulloch runs good lines and is a key threat on the edge with the ball in hand.
JACK DEAN-POTAKA (CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS)
Hooker
Predominantly a hooker who can also play in the halves, Dean-Potaka provides plenty of nous around the ruck and plays a key role in getting the team over the advantage line with his service.
AIDEN WUNSCH (MONARO COLTS)
Fullback
Described as “almost uncoachable” by coach Jack Bramley due to his natural ability to beat players, Wunsch brings X-factor galore and can turn a game on its if given half a yard of space.
“One second he’ll be in front of you, next he’s two or three steps past you, a little skip and he’s gone,” said Bramley. “He ran a muck against the 18s as well.”
CODY ROBERTS (MONARO COLTS)
Front-row
A no-nonsense prop who loves big runs, contact and getting stuck into the action.
“He gets upset when I take him off, in a good way,” said Bramley. “He’s one of the hardest working blokes I’ve coached. Every team needs a big red-headed front-rower like him.”
JOAZ AYAMISEBA (MONARO COLTS)
Utility
A really versatile threat, Ayamiseba almost seems to perfectly fit the mould of a genuine number 14, which while being a strength can also work against him at times.
He forced his selection in the squad through the quality he showed in pre-season and will make an impact wherever he’s thrust into the action.
KANE CROWE (RIVERINA BULLS)
Front-row
An energetic middle, hard worker and good leader with excellent communication on the park, Crowe has earned high praise from his coach Ben Mott, who stated that the prop “holds us together and keeps us moving forward”.
JUDE CATTLE (RIVERINA BULLS)
Front-row
Gained great experience from training in the Raiders’ pathways squads and has been showing really good signs throughout the pre-season.
Will make a fierce middle combo alongside Crowe.
VILIAME SIALE (RIVERINA BULLS)
Outside back
The outside back is a “smokey” pick as one to watch according to coach Mott.
With plenty of speed, strength and footwork, he’s set to be a real handful for defenders.
ELIJAH SEFO (MACARTHUR WESTS TIGERS)
Outside back
The powerful outside has been the best trainer at the club so far this pre-season.
A strong ball carrier, he provides vital yardage coming out of his own end.
JAKE GAFFNEY (MACARTHUR WESTS TIGERS)
Second-row/front-row
A classy and versatile forward with good ball skills for a big fella, Gaffney is not only a talented footballer but will be looked upon as a key leader for the young Tigers.
BROCK ACHURCH (MACARTHUR WESTS TIGERS)
Halfback/hooker
The versatile spine player has come back from a season with the Western Suburbs Magpies in the Harold Matts competition as a real leader for the group.
Not only is he skilful but Achurch has plenty of fire in the belly to impress this season.
CHARLIE SMITH (NORTHERN TIGERS)
Front-row/lock
The Scone Thoroughbred has a lot of utility value across the forward pack, with the ability to play up front as well as in the number 13 jersey.
Smith has worked really well throughout the pre-season, with his big motor and potential to play bulk minutes set to be a real asset for the Northern Tigers.
LACHLAN QUIGLEY (NORTHERN TIGERS)
Forward
Another Scone junior, Quigley might not be the biggest forward but he gets through a mountain of work to be a key player in the forward pack.
HAMISH ADAMTHWAITE (NORTHERN TIGERS)
Halves
The key playmaker of the side from Singleton, Adamthwaite is a confident footballer who has met every challenge put in front of him so far. He’ll play an important role in organising the side with the ball in hand.
LAURIE DALEY CUP
ANTHONY HICKLING (NORTHERN RIVERS TITANS)
Front row
Super impressive throughout the pre-season, the prop from the Lower Clarence Magpies has already been identified as a leader of the side and will be expected to drive the pack forward throughout the season.
KALEB SMITH (NORTHERN RIVERS TITANS)
Hooker
A really talented dummy-half from Murwillumbah, Smith has shown skill and maturity beyond his years as he goes into the season as one of the Titans’ bottom age players.
JIMMY MCCOMBIE (NORTHERN RIVERS TITANS)
Halfback
Another playing up a year, the skilful halfback from Byron Bay oozes class and will play a key role in steering his side round the park in 2024.
CHARLIE STRONG (NORTHERN RIVERS TITANS)
Second row
Somewhat of a late bloomer in junior league circles, the backrower from Ballina will make his debut in any kind of representative football for the Titans this year and is tipped to play a big role for the side after blitzing the trials and standing out in the pre-season matches.
TOBY BATTEN (NORTH COAST BULLDOGS)
Halfback
The NSW Country representative from the Nambucca Heads Roosters is a really clever playmaker with a good kicking game who the Bulldogs will look to in order to guide the team around the park.
Despite still being a year young, Batten has looms as one of his team’s key players who benefited from spending a chunk of the pre-season with Canterbury’s Harold Matts team.
RIELLY LAVERTY (NORTH COAST BULLDOGS)
Five-eighth
The other half of the Bulldogs’ supremely talented playmaking pairing, Macksville boy Laverty is a former NSW Schoolboys representative who alongside Batten spent part of the pre-season in Sydney with Canterbury.
While also playing a year up, he is an incredibly mature player whose performances will be key to the team’s success.
JETT GILBERT (NORTH COAST BULLDOGS)
Middle forward
Not only the leader of the pack but, as skipper, the leader of the team, Gilbert is a tough middle forward with a great attitude who leads by example.
COOPER BLACK (WESTERN RAMS)
Five-eighth/fullback
A strong defender and good runner of the ball, Black turned out for Western Suburbs in last year’s Harold Matts competition and looms as an important player for the Rams who can play at six while also slotting in at fullback.
BEAU HARTLEY (WESTERN RAMS)
Front-row
A big, strong prop who will lead the Rams’ pack and look to win the battle of the middle for his team.
AJAY ISBESTER-BOSS (WESTERN RAMS)
Utility
A super competitive player with the ability to play lock, hooker, in the centres and even the halves, the young utility is a coach’s dream.
After playing in the competition as a bottom age player last year, he’s really developed into a leader and will be key for the Rams in 2024.
JOSIAH CLIFFORD (ILLAWARRA SOUTH COAST DRAGONS)
Fullback
After having much of last year disrupted by a knee injury, the exciting fullback has shown more than a few glimpses of his quality throughout the pre-season and is raring to go now that he is fully fit.
LETHAM MANAGO (ILLAWARRA SOUTH COAST DRAGONS)
Front-rower
A powerful middle forward with a motor capable of playing big minutes, Manago is one of the Dragons’ most promising bottom age players in the squad. While excellent in making metres, his defence in and around the ruck is also top notch.
DREAU CLARK (ILLAWARRA SOUTH COAST DRAGONS)
Second-row/utility
A five-eighth at club level, Clark is likely to play in the back row for the Dragons, with his terrific ball playing to come in handy on the edge.
A big body with good ball skills and a sound kicking game, he is coming off an excellent season for the Warilla-Lake South Gorillas that saw him pick up Group 7’s under-18s player-of-the-year award.
BROOKLYN ROSEMEYER (CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS)
Halfback
The talented playmaker is a good game manager who will be a real leader of the side as he takes control of steering the team around the park.
JOSIAH FESOLAI (CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS)
Lock
One of three Fesolai brothers in the Roosters’ system, Josiah is a good metre-eater with handy ball skills who has come on in leaps and bounds after spending part of the pre-season with the club’s SG Ball squad.
JOEY ELTON (MONARO COLTS)
Second-rower
A tough defender with a high workrate and the ability to hit a hole on the edge, Elton will be one the Colts look to in 2024.
DYLAN WATKINS (MONARO COLTS)
Lock
In a similar vein to his backrower partner Elton, Watkins is an energetic footballer good in both attack and defence.
Lining up at lock, it’ll be his role to ensure that the Colts’ middle remains tight without the ball.
LACHLAN FIELD (RIVERINA BULLS)
Fullback
A really mature young footballer, Field is an excellent communicator at the back who excels in setting the team up defensively.
As someone who reads the game really well, he also knows when to inject himself into attacking plays.
CALLUM ROSSITER (RIVERINA BULLS)
Five-eighth
Coming off a really strong pre-season, the Tumut Blues junior will likely line up at number six for the Bulls as he looks to build on the experience gained while playing for the Raiders during last year’s Harold Matthews Cup season.
ISAIAH NAUER (RIVERINA BULLS)
Lock
A really gutsy player with tremendous leg speed, the Yenda Blueheelers junior is set to line up as a middle forward, where he’ll hope to lay the platform for his playmakers with some post-contact metres.
JORDAN HAMLIN (NORTHERN TIGERS)
Halfback
Having bulked up over the past year, the skipper is in good shape as he looks to guide the Tigers around the park with his game management and kicking game.
COOPER MELDRUM (NORTHERN TIGERS)
Utility
After breaking his ankle early on in the season last year, the Singleton Greyhounds utility – who can play wing, centre and even in the back row – is raring to go and ready to make up for lost time in 2024.
BRAYDON ALLEN (NORTHERN TIGERS)
Utility
A really versatile player who can line up at five-eighth, lock or in the second row, Allen is a talented footballer who gives the Tigers plenty of options with the ball in hand.
KURTIS DUPOND (MACARTHUR WESTS TIGERS)
Centre
Returning to rugby league after sitting out last year due to health issues, Dupond is a really mature footballer for his age and will be a key threat on the edges for Macarthur.
CYRUS TOLEAFOA (MACARTHUR WESTS TIGERS)
Front-rower
Big, strong and powerful, the former Parramatta prop has been really impressive over the pre-season after returning to the game following some time away. Back playing with his mates, he’ll be one to keep an eye on in the Tigers’ engine room.
NOAH SEFO (NEWCASTLE-MAITLAND REGION KNIGHTS)
Lock
A hard worker who is strong defensively and has good ball skills, Sefo holds the key for the Knights in the middle in terms of making yardage and shifting the ball to the edges.
AMAZON PUA’AVASE (MACARTHUR WESTS TIGERS)
Utility
A player with the ability to line up in the halves or at lock, Pua’avase has a great attitude and looms as a real leader for Macarthur this season.
DEMIAH AINUU (NEWCASTLE-MAITLAND REGION KNIGHTS)
Centre
A talented outside back with a nose for the tryline, Ainuu was impressive for the Knights Harold Matts team in its charge to last year’s grand final and has taken his game to the next level during the pre-season.
Originally published as Regional rugby league stars: 50+ players to watch in the Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cups in 2024
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