State of Origin U19s: Blues teen stars to watch in NSW v Qld Origin battle at Leichhardt
They are NSW State of Origin’s Gen Next. NSW teens on the path to success and already turning heads. Top guns to watch in the U19 NSW v Queensland match-ups on Thursday.
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NSW Under 19 teams will take on Queensland’s best at Leichhardt Oval on Thursday in a mass showing of the best and brightest rugby league talent in Australia.
Both then men’s and women’s teams boast the best and brightest teenagers in the state and players expected to be making their mark sooner rather than later in the NRL and NRLW if they are not there already.
Squad members Davvy Moale and Trey Mooney have already made the jump as has Chantel Tugaga.
FROM ANXIETY, INJURY TO THE U19 BLUES
We have spoken to the experts, including NSWRL’s Tom Gibbs, for their take on some of the players to watch out for in the game and, if they don't get a run, on a different field in the near future.
The U19’s matches kick off a fantastic run of top rugby league games with the women’s State of Origin on Friday night and the men’s State of Origin on Sunday.
Thursday’s U19 matches will kick-off at 5.45pm and 7:45pm.
In no particular order here are some of the players to watch in the U19s Origin matches or in future games.
PAUL ALAMOTI, CANTERBURY BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
A teenager with talent to burn and hailing with the Canterbury Bulldogs club.
A centre with plenty of skills who has been a mainstay of junior rep sides for Canterbury in recent times.
He is now a member of the Bulldogs squad and seen as an explosive player with a good flick pass.
TREY MOONEY, CANBERRA RAIDERS
Trey Mooney has long been on the radar of the experts as a rising star of the game.
Young lock Mooney is now with the Canberra Raiders and has plenty of experience playing for NSW in both under 16 and under 18 teams in the past.
He is an exciting player to keep an eye on.
CHARLIE THOMPSON, MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Charlie Thompson is a Manly Sea Eagles youngster.
He is an outside back with plenty of speed and a great work ethic according to the coaches.
This talented fullback is on the comeback from a back injury but is a player developing well and with good skills.
RUBY-JEAN KENNARD, PARRAMATTA EELS
Just 18 but already identified as a talent of the future who has been signed by Parramatta for the NRLW.
The young prop is the daughter of former St George NRL player Ben Ellis.
She is also understood to be the first player to rise through the Junior Elite Pathways System at one club after starting her career at 14 with the Toongabbie Tigers.
She was in the Eels’ Tarsha Gale side and played for the Wentworthville Magpies in the Harvey Norman women’s comp.
TYLER MORIARTY, SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Tyler Moriarty is a hooker hailing from the Central Coast Roosters who is quietly making a name for himself.
The youngster has talent to burn and is an example of the success of the Roosters Central Coast pathway.
He has moved to Sydney to pursue his rugby league and is powerful at dummy half.
JACK COLE, PENRITH PANTHERS
A young playmaker from the Penrith Panthers expected to relish his chance to shine.
This teen is another young gun expected to be playing on Thursday under coach Andrew Ryan.
Cole plays for the Panthers Jersey Flegg side and is a half who can kick well and has good leadership qualifies.
BRANDON TUMETH, WESTS TIGERS
A Wests Tigers pathway player who was also a member of the Future Blues camp last year.
Tumeth played his local footy for the Concord Burwood Wolves.
A second rower who has turned heads in junior grade football this season.
ANDIE ROBINSON, CRONULLA SHARKS
Played centre for the Sharks in the Harvey Norman women’s comp and also the Tarsha Gale.
Has come from a rugby background to make an early impression on rugby league.
Off the field this Sutherland gun is studying and in her second year of a Bachelor of Journalism.
She was also a member of the 2021 U19s women’s Origin side which beat Queensland 16-12 on the Sunshine Coast.
JUSTIN MATAMUA, WESTS TIGERS
Another junior from the Wests Tigers club.
Matamua will be on an NRL development contract in 2023 before progressing to the top 30 squad in 2024.
A lock, he was also in the squad for the Future Blues camp last year and there are big wraps on this youngster.
TERRELL KALO KALO, SOUTH SYDNEY
A young fullback with the Rabbitohs who played for the Glenmore Park Brumbies as a junior.
He was also a talented rugby union player while attending Scots College.
Also named in the NSW Future Blues squad last year, he was a standout in the SG Ball Cup in 2022.
A highly rated young player.
JACK BOSTOCK, ILLAWARRA STEELERS
He’s a young gun who got away.
The Illawarra Steelers centre is a player is seen as having a bright future in the sport and will join the Redcliff Dolphins on a development contract as part of a three-year deal starting in 2023.
He was part of the Illawarra south coast Dragons Laurie Daley Cup side in 2021 and the Illawarra Steelers SG ball team.
He’s a centre and has a great sense for scoring tries.
MICHAEL ASOMUA, CANBERRA RAIDERS
A rising star for the Canberra, he was part of an SG Ball grand final win last season and made his debut for the Raiders in the NSW Cup.
That was all while the young winger was doing his HSC.
He has already played a couple of NSW Cup games, indicating he is a leading light for the future.
JADA TAYLOR, SYDNEY ROOSTERS
The five eight for the Sydney Roosters in the Tarsha Gale competition which the club won.
Has turned plenty of heads this seasons with her long range tries and skilful footwork.
An exciting player who can make an impact.
JONAH PEZET, MELBOURNE STORM.
Son of Parramatta halfback Troy Pezet, this talent played the majority of his junior rugby league with the Newcastle Knights but also on the NSW Central Coast.
He then moved to Melbourne to be with Storm in 2020.
A talented halfback to keep an eye on.
REUBEN CHERRINGTON, CRONULLA SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Reuben Cherrington is the younger sister of Kennedy who has played for the Blues in the past.
A hooker, she played in Tarsha Gale this year and impressed - especially as she had to commute from Western Australia.
Was with the Harvey Norman women’s Sharks side this year where she plays with her sister.
ORYN KEELEY, NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Youngster on the comeback from a series of mishaps, including a back and knee injury.
A pathway player for the Newcastle Knights, he cracked a NSW Cup game in 2022 and has the determination to go far in the game.
DAVVY MOALE, SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Moale is already playing prop for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.
Moale, who played his local junior footy with the Coogee Wombats, was also a top rugby union player who opted to pursue his career in rugby league.
He was rewarded for the decision when he made his NRL debut in 2021.
MIA MIDDLETON, NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
A young talent from the Newcastle Knights club.
An outside back who was a standout in their finals run in Tarsha Gale.
One to watch out for now and in the future.
SAMUEL FAINU, MANLY WARRINGAH
A young, big, powerful forward from Manly Warringah who has attracted plenty of attention in recent times.
A former development player for the Sea Eagles, he was part of the undefeated Harold Matts winning side last year and ran out for Manly in the SG Ball in 2022.
His coaches say he has good instincts and a knack of being in the right place at the right time.
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