Best teenage footballers rugby league, rugby union, football, AFL, Rugby Seven under 20
They are rising stars of the football codes - rugby league, union, football, Rugby Sevens and Aussie Rules. Meet 20 youngsters under 20 in the limelight - or about to claim it. LIST
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
They are rising stars of the football codes - rugby league, union, football, and AFL - pursuing greatness in their respective sporting fields.
The athletes, which include children and siblings of professional athletes, are all aged under 20 years of age and have already turned heads on the football field.
Meet 20 youngsters under 20 in the limelight - or about to claim it.
JACK BOWAN, 18, RUGBY XV
Attended Riverview and is in his first year out of school and with the Waratahs Academy and Eastern Suburbs.
The son of former Wallabies fly half Scott Bowan, Jack is part of the NSW Waratahs Gen Blues program.
This young five eight is regarded as a smart and mature player who is known for his no fear approach to contact
IESHA DUCKETT, 18, RUGBY LEAGUE
Iesha Duckett is a local to the eastern suburbs and was born to play for the Roosters.
The ball-playing lock forward is a workhorse through the middle and a true leader.
She has already run on for NSW City and trained with the Indigenous All Stars in 2021 and now has her sights set on the NRLW.
At the end of January it was announced that the Tarsha Gale Roosters co captain had been rewarded with an NRLW development contract for the upcoming season.
KIIAHLA DUFF, 18, RUGBY SEVENS
Known as Lala, this teenager has talent to burn and has spent time in touch football and rugby league.
Just 18, she hails from Sydney’s northern beaches and has a number of relatives already playing elite sevens, including Australian players Faith Nathan and Sariah Paki.
Elusive and explosive with an ability to create space and open up opportunities for her teammates.
LATU FAINU, 16, RUGBY LEAGUE
Highly touted junior five-eighth Latu Fainu recently signed a massive four-year deal with Manly. If the teenage sensation hit the performance targets in his contract he will earn a seven-figure sum over the four years.
The playmaker led the Sea Eagles to an undefeated Harold Matthews premiership last season and was named Player of the Series with four tries, 16 try assists, 10 line-breaks, 14 line break-assists and seven offloads . He is now in the under-19 SG Ball Cup competition.
ZACH FITTLER, 15, RUGBY LEAGUE
The son of NSW Origin coach and NRL great Brad Fittler is making his way for the Sydney Roosters in the Harold Matthews Cup competition.
Already as tall as his dad and weighing 105kg, the 15-year-old, whose rugby league career has been fast-tracked to U17s competition shone in the debut showing speed, power and a polished side step already in his early career. He is one to watch this year and into the future.
ALLY MORPHETT, 18, AFL
Ally Morphett was the first selection for the Giants in the most recent AFLW draft and at 188cm tall she is one of the taller players in women’s AFL.
Originally from Wagga Wagga, Morphett has played most of her footy at the Murray Bushrangers and Belconnen.
She is an athletic ruck who is a NAB AFLW Academy member as well as part of the GWS Giants Academy, the 18-year-old is an exciting prospect.
MARY FOWLER, 18, FOOTBALL
Is being tipped for greatness. Just 18 she already has an Olympic Games to her name and a myriad of internationals for the Matildas.
At last count in February she had played 24 games for her country and scored seven goals.
This young forward also plays for Montpellier and made her senior Australian debut when just 15 while playing for Bankstown City.
Has superb skills and a nose for scoring.
ANGUS ANDERSON, 18 AFL
Sydney Swans Academy captain Angus Anderson is one of the potential future stars of the AFL and is in contention for the AFL Draft this year.
He spent a preseason with VFL side, Southport Sharks on the Gold Coast in 2021 which captured the Swans’ attention.
Anderson has played for the Swans Academy and VFL team and has also been selected for the Allies squad.
His contested game and overall work rate holds him in high regard among his peers and coaches alike and is one to watch for the future.
ELLA KOSTER, 16, RUGBY XV
Hails from Illawarra and was talent spotted at a Sevens talent day on the Central Coast and by another rugby insider at the country championships.
While still young, she has the rugby community excited with many predicting she will be representing the Wallaroos in the not-to-distant future.
Has great physicality for a young player along with game aggression.
A smart catch and pass footballer who is a development player for the Waratahs Super W side as 17 is the minimum age to play.
DARBY LANCASTER, 18, RUGBY XV
An exciting rugby talent in both Sevens and 15s.
This youngster has recently made his Australian sevens debut at the World Cup and could be pressing for Commonwealth Games selection.
He's being shared between the two programs at the Waratahs and staff there believe he is a star of the future.
Lancaster is also a handy sprinter over the 100m and 200m and ran a 11.04 and 22.08 at the NSW All Schools in December for The Scots College.
JUSTIN MATAMUA, RUGBY LEAGUE
A powerful lock-forward with the ability to fend off defenders almost effortlessly, Matamua is a crucial player for the Western Suburbs Magpies SG Ball team..
He has been selected as part of a Future Blues squad in December following a man of the match performance for the NSW City under-18s team.
Wests Tigers director of football Tim Sheens described him as “a talented young forward” and expectations are high, with the West Tigers saying Matamua will be an NRL Development Player in 2023 before progressing to the Top 30 squad in 2024.
JERMAINE MCEWEN, RUGBY LEAGUE
Yet another young rising star that the Penrith Panthers juniors have produced, Jermaine McEwen already looks to have all the tools to make it in Rugby League.
The talented teenager, who is currently playing in the Panthers Harold Matthews Cup team, is a mobile lock forward and strong ball runner, with experience playing in the outside backs as well.
Last year McEwen was selected to join Penrith’s Junior Elite Training Scheme, which has previously included players such as Nathan Cleary.
JESSIKA NASH, 18, FOOTBALL
Playing for Sydney FC in the W-League Nash was a call-up into the Matildas football squad last year when just 17 for the home series between Australia and the USA.
She is a star of the future who who honed her talent playing with the Doonside Hawks and Blacktown Spartans in western Sydney.
The former captain of the Young Matildas, Nash made her W-League debut in 2020 and is considered a rising star of the sport.
CHARLIE NORTON, 16, RUGBY XV
A rising talent from Kempsey who is a backrower.
Charlie Norton is a diehard footballer who lives and breathes the sport and has been identified as a major talent of the future.
Cluey and switched on, she is also showing impressive leadership qualities.
Like Koster, Norton is already part of the NSW rugby pathway.
JORDYN PRESTON, 18, RUGBY LEAGUE
She has been described by her coach as a player with “no fear” and “deceptive strength” and Preston is exactly that. The Illawarra Steeler prodigy is a classy outside back who knows how to find the line.
The Shellharbour junior and Blues under-19s representative is an explosive centre that shone in the Tarsha Gale competition last season.
She has an NRLW development deal with the Dragons and the young back looks set to have a big future.
ADRIAN SEGECIC, 17, FOOTBALL
A young player on the move.
The attacking midfielder from Sydney has been turning heads in Australia and overseas in recent times.
He has played for the Joeys and been involved in the Croatian 16s national squad.
He also made his A-League debut off the bench for Sydney FC on Boxing Day.
Segecic is highly rated and has already attracted overseas interest.
JESSICA SOUTHWELL, 16, RUGBY SEVENS
A much talked about Hunter youngster who is expected to make a real mark in Rugby Sevens in the future.
Rated one of the most exciting talents in the Sevens format of the game played at the Olympic level, she wore Newcastle’s jersey in the AON series last year and is with the Waratahs NSW Academy program.
She is described as a “kicking, eyes-up football’’ who has plenty of weapons in her arsenal and her sister Hannah is a top NRLW player.
JOEY WALSH, RUGBY SEVENS, 15
Only young but already on the radar as a potential talent for the future in the Sevens game.
Walsh is part of the NSW Sevens program and with the Manly Marlins on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Very good with the ball in hand and has a touch football background so understands space well.
Has a smart kicking and restart game.
JOSH FAHEY, 18, AFL
With pick 42 in the 2021 NAB AFL Draft, the Giants picked up Canberra Academy product Josh Fahey who impressed in 2021.
The GWS Academy member won the MCC Presidents medal against Geelong VFL in April as the best player for the Under 19 side.
Fahey is a strong and aggressive player who is known for his speed and defensive work rate and is expected to improve as he continues to get minutes under his belt.
PATRICK YAZBEK, FOOTBALL, 19
A centre midfielder from Liverpool in Sydney and already playing in the A-League with champion club Sydney FC after graduating from their Academy program.
Yazbek has already attracted the attention of Australian youth selectors and was a member of the Olyroos team squad which played the U23 Asian Cup qualifier.
Has been involved in football since the age of three.
Join the conversation
The hidden AFL gems from the South Coast leagues of NSW
They’re the hidden country footy gems from the South Coast regions of NSW. Here’s 30+ of the best from the three major competitions.
Read more
‘Physical, combative’: What selectors looking for at Waratahs U15 trials
A desire to be “physical and combative’ are just two traits NSW Waratahs selectors are keen to see as 125 of NSW’s best junior talent hunt for spots in their U15’s squad this weekend.
Read more