South Sydney Rabbitohs, Dolphins movers in Queensland schoolboy recruitment push

Which NRL club are surprise bolters in the Queensland junior recruitment market? Revealed here, along with some of the Dolphins, Titans and Broncos’ best teen signings.

PBC SHS’s Keano Kini is signed by the Titans Picture: Liam Kidston

The South Sydney Rabbitohs were ramping up its Queensland recruitment, including signing an array of schoolboys named last night in Queensland teams.

The Queensland School Sport Rugby League organisation has released its 16-18 Years Queensland side to play New South Wales in July, and also its 14-15 years state sides.

It followed a rain disrupted state carnival on the Gold Coast over the weekend, a competition which faced a complete washout until it was rescued by the CBUS Super Stadium. (see more below).

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The Rabbitohs have swooped to sign four Queensland schoolboys, while the Dolphins were also impressive movers among the next generation player list, along with the Broncos and Gold Coast Titans.

Marsden SHS winger Haizyn Mellars and powerful Nudgee College forward Liam Le Blanc have been signed by Souths from the 16-18 years side, while the exciting Mace Andrew (Marsden SHS), Ipswich SHS’s Cooper Cracknell have been recruited by the Rabbitohs from the 14-15 years state team.

The tall Mellars is a highly acclaimed athlete, while Andrews is a ball playing backrower who plays a little like Josh Schuster from Manly.

But South Sydney signings were bobbing up outside of these representative teams, with the likes of Jacob Tinsley, Braden Teuila (Marsden SHS) and Nick Torrens (Ipswich SHS) some of several other examples.

Jacob Tinsley is a Rabbit. Picture, John Gass

NRL newcomers the Dolphins continue to make-up ground at a rate of knots, with Queensland representative schoolboy talent like Michael Roberts (PBC SHS), Charlie Dickson (Wavell SHS), Jairus Halahala (Sunshine Coast), Nixon Pasese (Nudgee College), Brian Pouniu (Sunshine Coast), Benson Tau (Marsden SHS), Mereki Warradoo (Redcliffe SHS), Carter Welfare (Nudgee College) and Nate Berrigan (Sunshine Coast, the son of former NRL player Barry, signed.

The Broncos have also signed the young brother of 2020 State of Origin series Brenko Lee, Lui Lee and a host of Queensland schoolboy talent like Jared Horne, Marley McLaren, Coby Black, Braithen Scott, Pale Feaunati, Te Iri Mokaraka and of course under 18 young guns Karl Oloapu and Tyreece Tait, among others.

Keebra Park SHS's Hau is a great young talent.

The Gold Coast Titans have also been sticking with its charter of welcoming local talent, with Keano Kini (PBC SHS), Ipswich SHS prop Josiah Pahulu and Keebra Park SHS’s Arama Hau the top of the pops.

Broncos signing Tyreece Tait. Picture, John Gass

Both Pahulu and Hau will be the respective captains of their Langer Trophy school teams, with Pahulu a mobile prop with skills, and Hau a multiskilled No.13 or edge back rower.

Kini is a ball playing fullback who last season was the joint Langer Trophy player of the year.

Another player of great interest is powerful north Queensland centre Elekana Suavai who is yet another young gun emerging on the Cowboys’ radar.

Suavai was the most potent attacking player in the Meninga Cup, both scoring tries and creating opportunities for his team mates.

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The Bulldogs were also smokeys when it comes to Queensland talent, including signing Damascus Neemia (Wavell SHS) and Duquan Talaepa (Marsden SHS).

Action from the state championships - which was rescued by CBUS Super Stadium.

Meanwhile, QRSSL president Andrew Peach has given a heartfelt thanks to Gold Coast’s CBUS Super Stadium for rescuing part of the state championships.

The four day tournament was washed out of its original venue, Burleigh Bears, but CBUS Super Stadium was able to at least host one full day of competition to give the hundreds of players from around the state a match.

“Thank you to South Coast School Sport for hosting the carnival in extremely difficult conditions and to CBUS Super Stadium who stepped in to host the final,’’ Peach said.

“Two days of torrential rain had hit the south east.’’

Peach said venue manager Kristian Blundell provided “unrivalled support and his staff team helped to ensure the very highest quality experience for our players when all venues were closed for use’’.

Action from the state championships - which was rescued by CBUS Super Stadium.

“We can’t thank the CBUS Super Stadium staff enough for their efforts.

“The chance for players from across the state to be able to play at an NRL venue, and under mighty was an experience that they’ll always remember.’’

QUEENSLAND TEAMS

16-18 years squad:

Fullback: Keanu Kini (South Coast), Tory Bath (Met North), Jeremy Trappett (Met East).

Wingers: Haizyn Mellars (Met East), Tyreece Tait (Met North).

Centres: Michael Roberts (South Coast), Tre Fotu (Met West), Elekana Suavai (Northern).

Halves: Jye Gray (South Coast), Karl Oloapu (Met North), Josh Lynn (South Coast), Coby Black (Met East).

No.13/second rowers: Arama Hau (South Coast), Chris Faagutu (Met East), Seth Nikotemo (South Coast)

Hooker: Gabriel Satrick (Met West)

Props: Josiah Pahulu (Met West), Immanuel Kalekale (South Coast), Liam Le Blanc (Met North), Damascus Neemai (Met North).

Wavell State High School senior player Damascus Neemia

The 14-15 years Maroons squad:

Mace Andrew (Met East), Max Blanch (Met East), Charlie Dickson (Met North), Cohenn Dittman (Northern), Seth Gundry (Sunshine Coast), Jairus Halahala (Sunshine Coast), Jared Horne (Met North), Lui Lee (Met East), Nelson Makaafi (South Coast), Azariah Toki-Mautairi (Met North), Marley McLaren (South Coast), Nixon Pasese (Met North), Brian Pouniu (Sunshine Coast), Braithen Scott (Darling Downs), Kaleb Smith (South Coast), Benson Tau (Met East), Diesel Taylor (Northern), Joseph Tupuse (South Coast), Mereki Warradoo (Met North), Carter Welfare (Met North).

The 14-15 years White squad:

Capricornia - Zac Bateman, Sunshine Coast - Nate Berrigan, Sunshine Coast - Ellyjah Birve,

Sunshine Coast - Jake Carsburg, Met West - Cooper Cracknell, South Coast - Isaac Cullen, Met North - Pale Feaunati, South Coast - Dallas Ingram, Capricornia - Cohen Jackson,

Met North - Keoki Koraba, Peninsula - Elsiyah Laumatia, Met North - Cooper McInnerney, South Coast - Te Iri Mokaraka, Met West - Tom Parker, Met North - Mason Phillips, Northern - Eneliko Savelia, Met West - Clinton Smith, Met East - Duquan Talaepa, Met West - Xzavier Timoteo, Capricornia - Ryan Van Zanden

Originally published as South Sydney Rabbitohs, Dolphins movers in Queensland schoolboy recruitment push