Maroons Super Six NRL rookies from the Raiders, Titans, Dragons, Roosters on the move in 2021

They may not be NRL household names just yet, but keep an eye out for these Super Six Queensland league rookies in season 2021.

They may not be NRL household names just yet, but keep an eye out for these Super Six Queensland league rookies in season 2021.

The 193cm tall Darius Farmer (Titans), hard working prop Eddie Blacker (Dragons), schoolboy prodigy Sam Walker (Roosters), halfback Toby Sexton (Titans), the enterprising Adam Cook (Canberra) and his Raiders team mate Jarrett Subloo (St Joseph’s Nudgee College via Innisfail) have positioned themselves for a tilt at the big league this season.

Last year a host of Queensland rookies were ushered into the NRL including Cowboys’ speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Kirwan SHS), former Redbank Plains and Ipswich SHS student Treymain Spry (Titans), Wests Tigers winger Reece Hoffman (Alexandra Hills SHS), Helensvale Hornets junior Emry Pere (North Queensland) and North Queensland’s Tom Gilbert (Wavell SHS, St Patrick’s College).

RELATED LINKS

THE TOP 30 LEAGUE/UNION SCHOOLBOYS OF 2020

LANGER CUP PLAYER OF THE YEAR DEBUTS FOR NRL FEEDER CLUB

But who are some Queensland youngsters on the rise in 2021?

Titans Darius Farmer at training

DARIUS FARMER

A Brothers St Brendan’s junior, Farmer will be pushing for an NRL debut in 2021. A past student of St Thomas More College Sunnybank, the hulking back rower tasted life in the fast lane when he was promoted into the Gold Coast’s pre-season Nines’ squad before playing for the Burleigh Bears. He has come through the powerful catholic schools rugby league system and as long ago as 2015 was nominated as Player with the Most Potential at the Queensland independent Secondary Schools rugby league carnival. In 2019 Farmer overcame a cancer scare and the 193cm tall forward is closing in on an NRL debut in 2021.

Hard work is Eddie Blacker’s middle name.

EDDIE BLACKER

Blacker made his NRL late last season for the St George Illawarra Dragons, but it was amid the carnage of another disastrous season for the Dragons so many may have missed it. Blacker has been chipping away, chipping away, learning his craft as a front rower and one senses, with Anthony Griffin in charge, Blacker’s work ethic will have him closer than ever to a top grade position. Originally from the Bary Park region of Queensland, his schoolboy football was polished at the renowned Wavell SHS, leading to his Queensland schoolboys selection. “He had a really big impact at Wavell,’’ said ex-Wavell coach Jim Francis. “He was always dedicated to training and working hard. He was naturally blessed with size and strength, but his work ethic and persistence has made sure he kicked on. He is a really good kid.’’

Sam Walker during Roosters training Source: Roosters Digital

SAM WALKER

Like an old steam train, people know Sam Walker is coming even before they see him. The safest bet around the NRL in 2021 is that Sam Walker will make his top grade debut for the Roosters. He may not stay there all season, he may share the role with another young Queensland playmaker, Lachlan Lam, but Walker will make his debut. He is from the famed Darling Downs rugby league family.

Toby Sexton training at the Gold Coast Titans. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

TOBY SEXTON

Sexton comes out of the elite junior sporting factory of Palm Beach Currumbin SHS and 2021 is his first season in the Gold Coast Titans top 30. A halfback, he can take the line on himself and is a lovely organiser. He has also worked hard on his kicking game over the summer and is part of a new generation of Gold Coast players who have been ushered in by coach Justin Holbrook.

Adam Cook at Raiders training.

ADAM COOK

An Ignatius Park College past student, the Brothers Townsville junior glimpsed first grade in round 20 of last season playing for the Canberra Raiders when coach Ricky Stuart chose to rest some of his top line players. A fullback-halve, Cook was a schoolboy prodigy who shone during Iggy Park’s Payne Cup and Confraternity Shield campaigns of 2016 and 2017.

Innisfail junior Jarrett Subloo at a Canberra Raiders training session. Picture: Jonny Krofter.

JARRETT SUBLOO

Like Cook, rookie halve Subloo snuck in an NRL at the last hurdle of the 2020 season when Canberra coach Ricky Stuart swung the changes to give his big guns a rest ahead of the semi-finals. Although he boarded at the famous rugby union nursery of St Joseph’s Nudgee College, Subloo is yet another promising rugby league prospect from Innisfail. Rain drenched Innisfail is a country town with an all-star cast of past and present players who have shone in rugby league either representing Australia, Queensland or down into the NRL. Now you can add Subloo’s name to that list.

Originally published as Maroons Super Six NRL rookies from the Raiders, Titans, Dragons, Roosters on the move in 2021