Gold Coast Titans’ Tom Weaver among North Coast players in NRL
From Coffs to Tweed, here are 16 homegrown footy stars set to light up the NRL in 2022, including a few who pundits might be calling “the next big thing”. See the full list.
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Rising star Thomas Weaver was playing first grade rugby league for the Cudgen Hornet before he had even finished school.
Now the 19-year old halfback is on the roster of the Gold Coast Titans and has grand final winner Kevin Proctor taking him under his wing.
Weaver is considered a rising star and one of many North Coast youngsters to be picked out as having a future in the NRL.
He captained the Tweed Seagulls to a grand final win in the Mal Meninga Cup last year and was named the “Player to Bank on” after his man-of-the-match performance.
Many players have had that label attached to them but the Cudgen junior prefers to shake off any assumptions that he is a shoo-in for stardom.
“Things can get to your head,” he said.
“I play it down a bit.
“I still have a lot to prove and I’m just happy to be here at Gold Coast.”
Across the NRL there are talented rugby teens from the NSW North Coast who are being recognised and signed by clubs.
This year, six youngsters from the North Coast are set to break the mould in the nation’s premier competition.
Here is the full list of every player from the North Coast who will be lighting up the NRL in 2022.
RISING STARS
SHALLIN FULLER – GOLD COAST TITANS
Junior Club: Kyogle Turkeys
If you spend a few minutes watching Shallin Fuller’s highlights on YouTube you’ll understand why his nickname is “Shallsmoke”.
Every defence in the NRL must beware, when a grubber is kicked on the last tackle, chances are Fuller is already behind you with the ball on the tryline.
REECE ROBSON – NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Junior Club: Bilambil Jets
Reece Robson was on the up last season until a torn hamstring halted his meteoric rise.
The hooker was scoring tries and looking comfortable for the Cowboys before his injury and is intent on making the number nine spot his own this season.
NICK MEANEY – MELBOURNE STORM
Junior Club: Ballina Seagulls
It’s out of the fry pan and into the fire for Nick Meaney.
He’s leaving the wooden-spooners the Bulldogs for the pressure cooker of title hungry Melbourne Storm.
It goes to show how much faith Storm coach Craig Bellamy has in Meaney to bring the 24-year old on in their chase for more glory.
LUKE METCALF – CRONULLA SHARKS
Junior Club: Orara Valley Tomahawks
The 22-year old Coffs Harbour junior is relatively new to NRL but made a big splash in his first five matches in 2021.
This season is about breaking into the starting line-up for Cronulla so he can walk into the team sheet of the New Zealand Warriors who he will be joining in 2023.
DAINE LAURIE – WESTS TIGERS
Junior Club: Grafton Ghosts & Lower Clarence Magpies
A look at Daine Laurie’s family tree is a part of the reason expectations are high for his footy career.
He is the nephew of his namesake, former NRL player Daine Raymond Laurie and a relative of Souths superstar Cody Walker.
After recovering from a broken fibula, it’s Laurie’s time to shine for the Wests Tigers this year.
BIG GAME PLAYERS
CODY WALKER – SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Junior Club: Casino RSM Cougars
Cody Walker cemented himself as a big game player for the Souths when he dived over for a try in last year’s grand final. While the result didn’t go his way, Walker and the Rabbits are looking to plug the gaps left by departing players Adam Reynolds and Dane Gagai to make another title charge.
RYAN JAMES – BRISBANE BRONCOS
Junior Club: Bilambil Jets
It was only a matter of time before Ryan James returned to his spiritual rugby home of Queensland.
The Tweed Heads man has joined the Broncos to strengthen their resurgence.
There’s only one problem; the prop has to compete for a spot against the Broncos 2021 player of the year, Payne Haas.
JARED WALLACE – GOLD COAST TITANS
Junior Club: Sawtell Panthers
In his tenth year of NRL football Jared Wallace is keen to make amends for last season’s elimination final loss to the Roosters.
He’ll have more on his plate this time around with 200-gamer and former Sydney Rooster Isaac Liu jetting into the Gold Coast to compete with Wallace for the prop spot.
BRIAN KELLY – GOLD COAST TITANS
Junior Club: Ballina Seagulls
The 2020 Paul Broughton medal winner still has more to give for the Titans.
The Lismore-born centre scored 12 tries in 22 appearances last season and wants to ensure he is the first name on the starting line-up come round one against the Parramatta Eels.
KARL LAWTON – MANLY SEA EAGLES
Junior Club: Bilambil Jets & Tweed Coast Raiders
Karl Lawton got a taste of finals football for Manly last season when they went down 36-16 to the Rabbitohs. Manly have a lot of holes to fill in their roster and need the former Bilambil Jet to step up in the last year of his contract.
DAVID MEAD – BRISBANE BRONCOS
Junior Club: Marist Brothers Rams Lismore
Some might say that David Mead is in the twilight of his career.
Born in Port Moresby and educated in Lismore, Mead has never shied away from a challenge. At 33 years of age, he has it all to gain and even more to give for a team that wants to push into the top eight.
DARK HORSES
AARON BOOTH – GOLD COAST TITANS
Junior club: Mullumbimby Giants
Aaron Booth’s NRL prospects looked bright when he was playing for the North Sydney Bears and the Mackay Cutters in 2017.
But an ACL tear had him sitting on the sidelines for more than a year.
He didn’t get a taste of NRL football until 2020 with the Melbourne Storm.
Now the Titans have handed him a golden opportunity to push into the starting place of an NRL side.
LACHIE MILLER – CRONULLA SHARKS
Junior Club: Coffs Harbour Comets
If you haven’t heard of Lachie Miller, you’re not the only one.
The 27-year old has swapped union for league after some incredible performances for Australia in Rugby Sevens at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
His NRL debut will be a feather in the cap for one of Coffs Harbour’s most talented athletes.
ALBERT KELLY – BRISBANE BRONCOS
Junior Club: Tweed Seagulls
Originally from Macksville, Albert Kelly has clocked up the most frequent flyer miles out of anyone on this list.
Having spent six years playing rugby in the United Kingdom, Kelly returned home for the 2021 season.
Provided he remains in the spotlight for great performances he can be a handy asset for the Broncos.
JACK GOSIEWSKI – ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Junior Club: Mullumbimby Giants
The Murwillumbah-born second rower spent three years at the Manly Sea Eagles before joining the Dragons.
The 27-year old needs to use his size and strength to shore up the Dragons defence if they are to make the NRL finals for the first time since 2018.
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