Queensland Maroons U19 State of Origin 2025 squads announced: Which players are signed to your NRL club?
Queensland under-19s Origin coaches Darius Boyd and Maia Tua-Davidson have revealed what excites them the most about their side’s 2025 chances as well as broken down their key players match tactics. Discover the state’s emerging stars here.
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The next generation of elite level rugby league talent will be on show this week with the under-19 State of Origin to be played on the Sunshine Coast.
New South Wales claimed both shields on home soil in 2024 with a thrilling 14-10 result in the men’s match while the women cruised to a 46-4 result.
The annual fixtures will be played at the Sunshine Coast Stadium on June 19.
Former Broncos and Dragons champion Darius Boyd will be the head coach of the men’s side while former New Zealand star Maia Tua-Davidson takes the reins of the women’s team.
NSW U19s Men’s squad breakdown
NSW U19’s Women’s squad breakdown
Prior to the mouth-watering contests, see what both Queensland head coaches had to say as well as which NRL clubs hold the bragging rights for their future stars.
QLD U19 MEN
After serving as assistant coach to Ben Teo in 2024, and having plenty of involvement through junior pathways teams since retiring, Boyd was eager to see what his side could produce on Thursday night.
The 2025 Queensland squad has been trimmed from 30 to 20 before a final team will be named on Wednesday.
“Our first emerging camp was a real focus on their opportunity, what it means to play for the jersey and what they can expect over the coming weeks, months and even post game,” he said.
The squad features just three players from the 2024 side but will be boosted playing on home soil.
“We’ve got some thoughts around how we might play but the main focus is how we can use each other’s strengths,” Boyd said.
“These players have been selected because of how they’ve played throughout the year and they deserve their selection so now it’s about highlighting and displaying those strengths.
“We can’t control what New South Wales are doing, we’re focused on ourselves and focused on coming together as a collective.”
The side entered camp on Caloundra late last week where Boyd was joined by assistant coaches Andrew McCullough and Jesse Maclean.
“Our focus has been setting them up in an environment where they can succeed,” he said.
“It’s a short week, some of the boys know each other but others don’t so it’s about coming together as best as possible for a positive outcome on Thursday night.”
Javon Andrews (Tweed Seagulls / Gold Coast Titans)
A five-eighth who has made a miracle recovery from a broken neck, Andrews was “millimetres” from never walking again after fracturing his C4 and C5 vertebrae during a football accident in 2021. He is a thrilling No.6 prospect who kicks goals as good as any.
Cooper Bai (Tweed Seagulls / Gold Coast Titans)
The son of former Storm premiership winning winger Marcus, No.13 Bai hits like a freight train in defence and has a high work rate. He is a Marymount past student who does not look out of place training with the Titans NRL squad.
Coby Black (Souths Logan Magpies / Brisbane Broncos)
Impressive halfback Black is getting better with age, having recovered from a modest Meninga Cup campaign last season to finish strongly playing Queensland Cup for Souths Logan Magpies. The 18-year-old Marsden SHS product produced a man of the match performance in his debut and will back for seconds with the Queensland Under-19s team this year as halfback.
Jai Bowden (Melbourne Storm)
What a weapon. Dummyhalf Bowden has been masterful during his first SG Ball season with the Storm. The Mountain Creek SHS and Queensland schoolboys product has something special about him and will relish playing in his home region.
Jett Bryce (Burleigh Bears / Brisbane Broncos)
Like Black, Bryce was steady in his age group last year, but shone strongly playing first grade against the men later in the season. He is an elite back row prospect from Keebra Park SHS.
Kobi Floro (Melbourne Storm)
An eye-catching rising star that towers over his teammates and opposition players through the middle of the park. The former Wavell SHS and Norths Devils product has been in top form for Melbourne’s SG Ball side this season.
Zac Garton (Redcliffe Dolphins / The Dolphins)
Garton, a Caloundra SHS old boy, will play NRL one day. The Gympie Devils junior was an Australian Schoolboy edge forward and is outstanding with the ball and in defence. Garton was a part of the 2024 Maroons side and will be hoping to turn the tide in his own backyard. Garton will also matchup against his cousin Cooper Clarke who will represent New South Wales and is signed to the Melbourne Storm.
Sam Hyne (Canberra Raiders)
Hyne was a Norths Devil before the Raiders found a liking to the rough and tumble middle forward. Will be a key cog through the middle on Thursday night.
Sunny Kama (Tweed Seagulls / Gold Coast Titans)
Kama is a reliable finisher who excelled at PBC SHS, earning Queensland schoolboys selection last season on the wing. There are few better in the air in this age group than Kama. Just watch.
Prestyn Laine-Sietu (Cronulla Sharks)
The Sharks have snared the signature of Laine-Sietu, a Nudgee College product who has shone in both GPS First XV rugby and club rugby league for Redcliffe. He sure knows how to find the tryline, and hold up his end of the bargain on defence.
Phillip Coates (Burleigh Bears / Brisbane Broncos)
The younger brother of Xavier Coates, Phil is a big bodied edge forward who is just powerful with a capital P. A serious star on the rise, watch this space.
Kilarney Lavender (Burleigh Bears / The Dolphins)
Lavender is a wildcard talent, a big outside back with enormous upside. He attends TSS and was awarded player of the final in Burleigh’s Mal Meninga Cup premiership win. He is still in school and only 12 months ago made a startling return to footy after sustaining an ACL injury.
David Leota (Canterbury Bulldogs)
An athletic and skilful middle forward that brings a massive engine. The Bulldogs have snagged a workhorse and Leota will be out to impress on Thursday night.
Jac Finigan (Redcliffe Dolphins / The Dolphins)
A late signing by the Dolphins last year, Finigan is a two-time Langer Trophy premiership winning second rower from PBC SHS. He is an outstanding defender who hits and sticks.
Amaziah Murgha (Melbourne Storm)
Was one of the most damaging outside backs of the 2024 GPS rugby competition and lost nothing in comparison to his rivals in the SG Ball division. The slippery Yarrabah product has fast feet and razor sharp instincts and he will be a key attacking weapon on Thursday night.
Ray Puru (Tweed Seagulls / Gold Coast Titans)
Puru has a flash of x-factor about him. A Tweed Seagulls junior from PBC SHS, Puru can score a try with his own individual spark running down the middle, or from a clever pass and a fine finish. Blink and you may miss him.
Bodhi Sharpley (Tweed Seagulls / Gold Coast Titans)
One of the best big men in his age group is this edge forward from St Mary’s College. He is tall, mobile and hardworking.
Oliva Smith (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Smith played two years of Langer Trophy footy while at Ipswich SHS in 2022 and 2023. He’s been developing his craft as a skilled forward in the Bulldogs system for more than three years. He has big game experience and a great skill set for a big man.
Sam Stephenson (Tweed Seagulls / Gold Coast Titans)
A 2024 Australian schoolboy, Stephenson comes from the championship winning PBC SHS side and will play centre. He started at centre last year as a schoolboy. Stephenson has scored four tries in four appearances for the Seagulls QCup side this season along with seven tackle breaks, eight line breaks and 140 average running metres.
Hayden Watson (Burleigh Bears / Melbourne Storm)
Watson has been one of Queensland’s best young schoolboys in 2025 after making the side in 2024. The rising star has switched gears from hooker to halfback where he giving Marsden an edge as their skipper and primary playmaker. Was outstanding at the recent national state championships in Gladstone.
QLD U19 WOMEN
Former New Zealand Kiwi Fern Maia Tua-Davidson will take charge of the women’s side after serving as the team’s assistant coach for the past two years.
Tua-Davidson, who was named the 2024 BMD coach of the year thanks to her efforts with Souths Logan, is joined by assistant coaches Mitch Sargent and Matt Sanders.
“The girls are chomping at the bit to get out on the field,” she said.
“It’s been a big start to the year for a lot of them but also very different for each player.
“Some are coming out of top 24 NRLW pre-seasons, some are development players, some were playing under-19 representative footy and so on so there’s so many variations that make up our side.
“The timing feels really good as they’re all fit, strong and ready to go.”
The emerging squad of 30 was trimmed to 24 in April before a final 20-player squad was named earlier this month.
Four players who were part of last year’s contest have received back-to-back call ups with a further 10 bottom age players eligible for selection next season.
“We’re thrilled to be able to play at home, we have a pretty mobile and expressive group,” she said.
“There’s some good skill and flair so hopefully we can build on the plan that we’ve created as a group to showcase all parts that the girls have to offer.
“They’re a fantastic group of athletes with a big skill range so it’ll be an exciting brand of footy.”
Tua Davidson also said it was an exciting step forward for her coaching journey.
“It’s really exciting for me, I feel really honoured to have the opportunity as this is the pinnacle for these girls,” she said.
“I’ve been involved in this age group for a fair while now so it’s cool to see them take this next step alongside myself in some way.”
Reegan Hicks (Redcliffe Dolphins / Brisbane Broncos)
The former Beerwah Bulldogs and Stanley River Wolves junior will play for the NRLW Broncos this winter. Impressively, it will be her first season out of school having only graduated in 2024. The Australian Christian College product, who starred for Queensland Maroons and Australian Schoolgirls in 2024 just has it.
Mariah Brown (Wynnum Manly Seagulls / Newcastle Knights)
With a lion’s heart and sheer defensive intensity, Brown influenced the Queensland Schoolgirls’ grand final heave against the NSW Combined High School at last year’s National Championships in Coffs Harbour. They won and she was arguably the best on ground. A highfields product from the Darling Downs region, Brown has the skillet to play anywhere in the backline.
Fleur Ginn (Brisbane Tigers / Parramatta Eels)
Rugby and or rugby 7s would be lucky to keep Ginn in the code although the Stretton State College sporting wonder is a rugby league girl through and through. A fine performer on the 7s stage for various teams such as Wests and Australia (Youth Commonwealth Games), Ginn first caught the eye as a Year 10 student in the 2022 Queensland Schoolgirls squad. She has gotten better and better, with the timing of her runs, brutality and sheer speed standout aspects of her game.
Ella-Jaye Harrison-Leaunoa (Ipswich Jets)
Harrison-Leaunoa flies slightly under the radar and yet is one of the top playmakers going around in her age group. The gutsy pivot or centre, if required, is a great communicator who possesses a running and passing game that often brings the best out of teammates. She was influential in Ipswich SHS’s Schoolgirls Cup premiership last year.
Phoenix Raine-Hippi (Tweed Seagulls / Gold Coast Titans)
Was named a starter in both 2023 and 2024 News Corp Harvey Norman under-19 team of the seasons after two exceptional campaigns as a defensive centre. She can also find the line with ease and always keeps the opposition on their toes. Raine-Hippi made a name for herself at Ballina SHS but her sister Affrica is forging her own path as a tireless lock at Keebra Park SHS. Raine-Hippi was a key pillar in the 2024 Australian schoolgirls side.
Jennifer Kimber (Mackay Cutters / North Queensland Cowboys)
An elite centre prospect, Kimber stole the show in the Harvey under-19s grand final win last season for Cutters. Is a key threat on both sides of the ball.
Amanii Misa (Souths Logan Magpies / Brisbane Broncos)
This time last year Misa was gearing up for the inaugural Harvey Norman Under-17s competition for Souths Logan. Fast forward a year and Mabel Park SHS’s Girls Player of the Year is signed by the Broncos and a genuine NRLW prospect. She is versatile, capable of playing in the halves, at lock and even as a middle forward.
Deleni Paitai (Redcliffe Dolphins)
A second rower from the Pine Central Holy Spirit Hornets catchment, Paitai is a high class edge player who would be at home in various positions. A Queensland schoolgirls star last season, Deleni runs consistently effective lines to get her team onto the front foot.
Lila Parr (Sunshine Coast Falcons)
Coming from a touch football background, Parr has shown tremendous hands and quick feet - but importantly is tenacious in defence. The Sunshine Coast Falcon is still relatively new to league but has made up for lost time over the past 24 months.
Keira Rangi (Souths Logan Magpies)
A second rower or No.13 who created history when she made the Queensland Under-12 boys league side - the only female to do so - because there was no representative teams for girls at the time. That was some time ago and now Rangi, a Wavell SHS product, has plenty of strings to her bow.
Shalom Sauaso (Ipswich Jets / Brisbane Broncos)
Named by many as the best schoolgirl rugby union and league player of this decade? The Ipswich State High product is a serious sporting wonder. A trailblazer who, this year, will do what none have done before when she plays for the Queensland Reds while being a Broncos contracted 17-year-old waiting for her 18th birthday to play for Brisbane a few short months later.
Mackenzie Stephens (Canterbury Bulldogs)
An Atherton Roosters junior, Stephens grew up playing family footy against her brothers and then advanced her career playing against the women in FNQ. A prop or No.13, she had been on the up for quiet some time having made the 2023 under-17 Country side.
Caitlin Tanner (Mackay Cutters / North Queensland Cowboys)
Tanner was a revelation in 2024. She was a Ms Reliable in the halves for Wynnum-Manly’s under-19s and quickly the Cowboys took note.
Pauline To’o (Ipswich Jets)
To’o is another proud Ipswich SHS alumni who had her hand in helping the school take out the Schoolgirls Cup title. A dangerous outside back, To’o has been a loyal servant to the Ipswich Jets club.
Mercedez Taulelei-Siala (Ipswich Jets / Newcastle Knights)
She was a starter for last year’s team and in 2025 the centre position is hers to lose. The Marist Ryze product, who represented the Queensland Reds Super W, has a nose for the tryline.
Takoda Thompson (Sunshine Coast Falcons / Gold Coast Titans)
A gem from the Sunshine Coast, Thompson rose to every occasion during the Harvey Norman under-19s competition in 2024 and 2025. Her actions do all the talking, signing a top 24 NRLW contract with the Titans last month.
Brianna Toopi (Burleigh Bears)
Toopi was the discovery player of the year in the Harvey Norman under-19s competition. Her deeds that left centre for Burleigh saw her regularly score tries and reward the work of fullback Bella Thompson and Zali Bettridge. Toopi was one of the most revered centres in the competition with her power and leg drive and she will look right at home in this arena.
Nadia Windleborn (Burleigh Bears)
Burleigh has a young veteran in Windleborn and her selection here was expected. She was one of the best dummy halves in the under-19s competition last year. She is just smart, a good leader and always looming in support like all good hookers.
Harlem Walker (Souths Logan Magpies)
A Souths Logan Magpies young gun, Walker made the Queensland City Under-17s last year after starring for the Dolphins under-19s. The likes of Rangi, Olomalii, the Paitai’s and Hicks were all a part of that Redcliffe squad bristling with starpower.
Kiara Wright (Tweed Seagulls)
A pure second row battering ramp that consistently does the right things for whatever her team needs. For Tweed earlier this season Wright was the perfect hard working backrower who could find a gap or put her teammates into space with her subtle ball skills.
Originally published as Queensland Maroons U19 State of Origin 2025 squads announced: Which players are signed to your NRL club?
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