Rugby League Central Coast: The rookies and junior rep stars who made a splash in first grade
From hardworking forwards to flashy outside backs, find out which rookies and junior rep stars have made an impact in the RLCC first grade competition in 2024.
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In a season full of washouts and its fair share of off-field drama, one of the positives of 2024 has been the number of young players standing up and leaving their mark on the competition.
From hardworking forwards to flashy outside backs, a string of young guns have enjoyed breakthrough seasons across the Rugby League Central Coast competition.
As the finals approach, we’ve taken a look at some of the rookies and junior rep stars who’ve made an impression in the top grade.
BERKELEY VALE PANTHERS
Riley Watson-Miletic
The back-rower was a regular for Manly’s SG Ball (under-19s) side during the junior rep season before heading back to Berkeley Vale for the local Central Coast competition.
And while it has been another tough old season for the Panthers, Watson-Miletic has been a regular in the back row throughout 2024.
Josh Farmilo
A key player in last year’s Central Coast Roosters’ Laurie Daley Cup (under-18s) side, the young halfback got his first taste of A-grade footy this year, debuting against Dora Creek back in round eight.
And although the task has at times been tough for the rookie playmaker in a struggling team, Farmilo has gone on to make five appearances in the top grade this season.
ERINA EAGLES
Riley Burke
He’s not a rookie, but Burke has returned to Erina in 2024 after playing SG Ball for Manly in the junior rep season.
After bursting onto the scene last year with 21 tries in first grade as a 17-year-old, Burke has continued his strong form for the red-hot Eagles. And while he hasn’t quite hit the same tryscoring heights, he has impressed in a hybrid role that has seen him switch between wing and fullback.
“He’s been unreal,” said coach Dane Allen. “Sometimes he seems a bit lackadaisical about how he approaches things but that’s just him as a person.
“He’s a very laid back young man and doesn’t exude too much confidence when it comes to his personality but when he’s on that footy field he’s just freakishly talented and I love seeing him play and taking his chances.”
Daniel Peters
After having made three first grade performances last year, the front-rower is another who isn’t strictly a rookie but has emerged as a key member of Erina’s pack.
While club officials quite openly say that he was only playing reserve grade last season due to the points system, Peters has well and truly proved that with his performances in 2024, combining well with fellow middles Joel Frazer and Oliver Clements to lead the young Eagles side to the minor premiership.
Devonte Vaotu’ua
Still just 17, the young front-rower is one of the most talented up-and-coming footballers on the Coast, having played for the Melbourne Storm’s SG Ball team as an underage player in the junior rep season before turning out for the Eagles.
After some impressive performances in the lower grades, Vaotu’ua made his debut in round 11 against heavyweights The Entrance, where an injury meant that he had to play 50 minutes in the middle during the team’s come-from-behind 28-22 win.
He has since gone on to play five games in the top grade, and in a sign of just how in-demand he is, Vaotu’ua recently signed a three-year deal to link up with South Sydney’s junior rep teams.
“He’s certainly a talent, we’re fostering that, playing to his strengths and it’s good for him to be in a side where he doesn’t have to be anything he’s not,” said coach Dane Allen. “He just gets out there, rolls the sleeves up and rips in. It suits his game perfectly.”
Sebastian Plaister
Alongside the likes of Tim Fitzpatrick and Josh Attard, Plaister is another one of a string of Eagles debutants to impress in 2024.
After making his debut in the rescheduled round four clash against Berkeley Vale, the Plaister has been a regular in the middle, lining up either at hooker or with the 13 on his back.
KINCUMBER COLTS
Zack Visconti
A regular for the Sydney Roosters’ SG Ball and Jersey Flegg (under-21s) team throughout the early part of the representative season, Visconti has also been a fixture for Kincumber, barely missing a game for the under-19s even when he’s just there as a spectator.
The forward has been rewarded with a string of appearances in first grade, supporting the Colts’ big boys Ben Thomas, Damon Brady and Brae Verheyen in the pack.
Joel Shereb
An off-season recruit from Erina’s under-19s team last year, the young halfback has enjoyed plenty of time in the top grade since making the switch, playing nine of the team’s 13 games so far in 2024.
And while results have at times been difficult to come by for the side, Shereb has shown plenty of reason for optimism while learning from former NRL player Ben Marschke.
Sean Bullen
One of the standouts for the Central Coast Roosters in this year’s Laurie Daley Cup, the young fullback has been excellent for Kincumber’s under-19s side as a strong voice and good defensive organiser, and was rewarded with an opportunity in the top grade.
With six appearances in firsts, mainly playing on the wing, Bullen has been impressive in his debut season, even coming up with a moment for the highlights reel with an excellent leap and bat back to set up his teammate Tyson Potger in the rescheduled round four clash with The Entrance.
TERRIGAL SHARKS
Brooklyn Rosemeyer
Arguably given the toughest job of any rookie in 2024, the halfback was handed the task of guiding Terrigal round the park in 2024.
And while results haven’t been amazing for the eighth-placed Sharks, Rosemeyer’s emergence has been a real bright spot in an otherwise difficult season.
“Brooklyn’s been unreal, he’s a 17-year-old halfback steering the ship for first grade,” said captain-coach Dylan McKeown.
“Obviously he’s had a lot of learning curves throughout the way but he’s just gone from strength to strength and is really getting that confidence throughout the back end of the year.”
Jarrod Dann
The 18-year-old has been a constant in the Sharks’ line-up in 2024, either starting at hooker or coming off the bench in the number 14 role in what was been a breakthrough season.
“He’s only a young, light kid but he doesn’t take a backward step,” said captain-coach Dylan McKeown. “He’s the first one into contact, first one going after it and he’s a pleasure to play with. With a bit of time, size and weight he’ll definitely be a long-term first grade player.”
Jake Herring
Another of the host of young Sharks to burst onto the scene this season, Herring has played a bit of fullback and in the halves in A-grade, which followed his excellent junior rep season that saw him receive a coach’s award for his efforts in the Central Coast Roosters’ Laurie Daley Cup side.
“He’s got a lot of potential. He’s a very versatile player and can play everywhere,” said captain-coach Dylan McKeown.
“He’s got the talent, and like a lot of our young guys I think in two or three years after this experience they’ll all be pushing for Flegg spots.”
THE ENTRANCE TIGERS
Cade Mellon
A member of the Sydney Roosters’ Jersey Flegg side at the beginning of the rep season, Mellon has made a good impression since returning to local footy.
Playing either in the back-row or at centre, he has more or less bypassed the RLCC and has been a regular fixture in the Tigers’ Denton Cup side as it makes a charge towards the finals in the Newcastle competition.
Haydan Ritchie
Hardly a new face on the scene, Ritchie is one of the brightest young prospects on the Coast, who was named Denton Cup rookie of the year for his exploits for The Entrance in the Newcastle competition in 2023.
But after kicking off the rep season playing for the Sydney Roosters in Jersey Flegg, the young half has returned to the Tigers’ local first grade side, where he has been one of the team’s best.
A handful with the ball in hand, Ritchie has combined well with halfback Nick Newman to cross for eight tries himself and turn the Tigers into one of the most scintillating attacking sides on the Coast.
TOUKLEY HAWKS
Zac Sun
Another one who, while not strictly a rookie, has really made an impression with a breakout season in 2024.
While predominantly a five-eighth or fullback, Sun has filled a gap on the wing for the Hawks in the current campaign, famously scoring four tries in the side’s big win over The Entrance in round 14.
“He’s very handy on his feet, he’s got good footwork and he’s fast,” said captain-coach Jake Fitzpatrick. “He backs himself, does a job and he’ll be great for us in the coming years.”
WYONG ROOS
Zac Gillett – Wyong Roos
After breaking into the first grade team last season, the hooker has gone from strength to strength, impressing for the Sydney Roosters’ SG Ball side before returning to star for Wyong in the local first grade competition.
“He’s been one of our best, hands down. Last year he was very unlucky to have an ex-NRL hooker (Terence Seuseu) in front of him – that was the only thing stopping him,” said captain-coach Todd Lewis.
“He’s too tough for his own good. But for a young kid, you wouldn’t think he’s that age because he’s been inspiring the boys with his efforts every single week – he’s someone that you want to have in your team.”
Chaice Bayley – Wyong Roos
After a standout season for the Central Coast Roosters in the Laurie Daley Cup, the young five-eighth has continued his development by stepping up into the local first grade team.
And while it has at times been somewhat of a baptism of fire, the playmaker has shown plenty of improvement over the course of the season.
“Chaice has definitely learnt a lot since he started,” said captain-coach Todd Lewis.
“With two 19-year-old kids in the spine at six and nine, they’ve definitely learnt a lot about game management and things like that.”
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