Young guns! Top 20 future stars to watch in 2023 Illawarra Rugby League U18s season
The 2023 Illawarra Rugby League season kicks off in late April and is bursting with emerging U18 footy talents looking to make a name for themselves. Check out our list of 20 of Illawarra’s bright young footy stars.
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Footy is back, with the Illawarra Rugby League season kicks off for 2023 at the back end of April.
This year the U18s competition is to be contested between just five teams: Berkeley, Collegians, Corrimal, Thirroul and Western Suburbs.
The 15 round plus finals season is set to be closely contested, with each team brimmed with talented juniors looking to make names for themselves and catch the eye of rep footy selectors.
We’ve compiled a list of 20 talented young guns to keep an eye on for the 2023 season.
Viliami Amone (Western Suburbs)
Younger brother to current Dragons half Junior Amone, Viliami is a promising front rower entering his second year of U18s with the Devils.
A solid middle forward who has improved his game training in the off-season with the Illawarra Steelers SG Ball Cup side and playing in the victorious Illawarra South Coast Dragons Laurie Daley Cup side.
Clay Baldock (Western Suburbs)
A crafty half who was instrumental to the victorious Dragons side in the Laurie Daley Cup.
A five-eighth with utility value, skilful with the ball and strong in his runs, with excellent goal kicking ability as well.
Harry Wililo (Western Suburbs)
A damaging winger with a big frame and frightening pace, constantly improving his game with age.
Scored six tries for the Illawarra Steelers in their Harold Matthews Cup campaign this season.
Kade Reed (Western Suburbs)
Halfback for the Illawarra Steelers Harold Matthews Cup side.
A good footy head in his directional play and steering of the ship, as well as possessing a strong running and kicking game.
Daniel Meafou (Western Suburbs)
A standout middle forward for the Illawarra Steelers in the Harold Matthews Cup campaign.
An all rounder who brings great threat in attack and security in defence.
Alec Rochaix (Thirroul)
Player of the year for the Butchers in the 2022 season.
A skilful lock forward with experience representing Australia in OzTag and high levels of touch footy as well.
Aaymon Fitzgibbon (Thirroul)
Son of former Sydney Roosters workhorse and current Cronulla Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon, Aaymon is a big framed five-eighth.
Returning from the Illawarra Steelers Harold Matthews Cup side, he has an excellent passing and kicking game and is coming along as a player nicely.
Ramses Munro (Thirroul)
Another Illawarra Steelers returning to the club, Munro is an aggressive front rower.
Described by his coach as a player who “rips and tears”, Munro is a hard runner and a confident defender.
Tye Bursill (Thirroul)
Gearing up for his finals week one matchup for the Cronulla Sharks in the Harold Matthews Cup.
Bursill is a skilful hooker who is a good runner out of dummy half, a real metre eater.
Samson McAllister-Wood (Berkeley)
Title winning winger with the Illawarra South Coast Dragons.
A rapid runner and a strong finisher, crossing four times for the Dragons this season.
Palu Tausala (Berkeley)
One of the breakout stars of the Laurie Daley Cup season with the Illawarra South Coast Dragons.
A massive frame and a highly damaging ball runner, Tausala is incredibly hard to stop when he gets the gears going.
Zachariah Taufa (Berkeley)
Part of the Illawarra Steelers Harold Matthews squad, as well as the Emerging Blues squad in 2022.
Another big framed front rower and a highly damaging runner of the footy.
Toby Rumble (Collegians)
The next up and comer of the Rumble clan, with brother Benjamin currently playing Jersey Flegg for the Dragons.
Toby is a lethal winger coming into his third season with the Collegians off the back of a terrific stint in the victorious Laurie Daley Cup side, scoring seven tries across the season including one in the grand final.
Tom Kirk (Collegians)
Fullback for the Illawarra Steelers in the Harold Matthews Cup, Kirk has a lot of untapped potential that Collegians are excited to invest in.
Tall and well built, lots of speed and a great eye for the game.
Zach Mangelsdorf (Collegians)
A front rower who has always been on the cusp of rep footy and is still working to crack in.
Has worked hard over the off-season and trialled well, so big things are expected in Collegians colours.
Beau Devlin (Collegians)
Predominantly an edge forward but can operate through the middle as well, Devlin has experience playing for the Steelers in the Harold Matthews Cup.
Good speed and footwork at the line, Devlin has a good motor and is capable of playing big minutes for a forward.
Letham Manago (Corrimal)
Biggest in the team, Manago is a forward who runs like a winger.
Out with a shoulder injury for the moment so might return to the centres to start the season, but will eventually find his way to the forward pack with his big frame, good turn of speed and mature head.
Taylor Duggan (Corrimal)
A halfback with a good footy IQ and vision for the game.
He’s calm and capable of steering the ship and making those pressure passes when his team is under the pump.
Carter Hines (Corrimal)
In his second year of U18s footy having been voted Players Player last season.
A second rower / dummy half, he’s a big strong player who is always up there near the top of the tackle count, knowing when to inject himself in the action and reading the game with great intelligence.
Braith Plecas (Corrimal)
A hard working utility forward who will most likely end up in the lock position.
Always leads the hit ups and tackle count, involving himself as much as possible and showing great skill for a big player.
Anyone we missed that you think we need to watch this season? Email kevin.merrigan@news.com.au
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