Young sporting achievers of 2025 from greater Brisbane - so far
Here’s some of the very best young sporting achievers of 2025 from greater Brisbane - so far - across 15 sports.
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Queensland athletes have started the year with a bang, excelling on the track, in the pool, and everywhere in between.
This story celebrates some of the highs of athletes from greater Brisbane across diving, water polo, basketball, hockey, mountain biking, motor sport, swimming, netball, track and field, including modern pentathlon, cycling, indoor cricket, outdoor cricket and rugby league.
TRACK AND FIELD
Tate Van Camp, Eloise Nealon and co
Queensland athletes were elite at last month’s 2025 Coles Australian Little Athletics Championships, with Tate Van Camp and the 4x100m relay team of Eloise Nealon, Zarayah Williams, Tilly Ojiako-Pettit and Sienna De Young securing likely Little Athletics National records.
Van Camp muscled his way to a gold medal winning time of 1:54.76 in the U15 800m. It was an elite performance from the proud Arana Little Athletic junior.
Williams and Nealon also blasted to meet records in their respective events.
Williams took off to soar 11.71m and win gold in the U14 triple jump, while Nealon was graceful in winning the 400m in a meet record time of 57.52.
Jake Hambrook-Smith, Zoe St John and co
A fixture in Queensland Little Athletic teams, Hambrook-Smith secured a meet record in the U15 discus (54.34m) and also in the high jump (1.91m).
On the female side of the fence, St John was elite in the 1500m and 800m, winning both events in meet record times of 4:48.27 and 2:18.64 respectively.
Other meet record breakers were:
+ Jessica Heap, U14 Girls Shot Put, 12.70m
+ Tahnee Phillips, U15 High Jump, 1.70m
+ Ellie Eckstein, U13 Girls 800m, in time of 2:13.18
+ Lachlan Moore, U14 Boys 1500m Race Walk, in time of 6:37.87
+ Ashton Samson-Wood, U14 Boys High Jump, in height of 1.87m
Chloe Murray and Jaida Burgoyne
Chloe Murray was also elite in the U13 competition.
She won the 200m in a time of 34.09, then in the long jump, Murray leapt a distance of 3.09m.
The girls were multi-class high performers, with both snaring two meet records apiece.
From the Gold Coast, Jaida Burgoyne won the U14 200m race in time of 30.23, then she displayed her versatility by also winning the long jump multi-class with a distance of 4.28m.
MORE YOUNG GUNS
AUSSIE RULES - MARSH CUP SELECTIONS
Middle Distance Aces
Queensland’s middle distance track and field talent bubbled to the surface during state track and field championships in March.
Saul Ackfield Kennard (University of the Sunshine Coast) was elite in the U16 1500m - and he had to be in order to defeat Noosa’s Zach Heffernan and Darling Downs ace Cedar Johnson.
Kennard won in 4:07.16, just ahead of Heffernan (4:07.91) and Johnson (4:08.48).
Other 1500m winners at the championships were U15 runner Benjamin Schinard (University of Queensland, 4:16.55), U13’s Seth Toghill (University of the Sunshine Coast, 4:37.03), Oscar McKean (U18, University of Queensland, 4:00.70) and Dylan Reid (Ashgrove Rangers, 4:27.69) who won the U14s.
His brother Patrick also ran third in the U13 1500m in a time of 4:37.57
In the girls 800m events, Lola Bryant (Ignition, 2:13.25) was superb in winning the 800 U18s, while Grace Francis from Keppel Coast won the U15s in a blanket finish.
Bryant ran 2:14.77, just ahead of Zoe St John (Gold Coast Victory,
2:15.23) and Amara Clemens (Fairholme Athletics Club, 2:15.27).
The U15s was claimed by Laila Beaver (Tigers Athletics Club, 2:15.31) while Gold Coast running club’s Lucia Yadav won the U14s and Liliana Titley claimed the U13.
Elle Down
Earlier in the year Gold Coast’s Elle Down set a New World Best-On-Record for 1500m by a nine-year-old girl, clocking 4:54.75. Coached by renowned middle distance runner Brian Chapman, the Lindisfarne School student lowered the previous mark of USA’s Megan Crum by almost two seconds.
MODERN PENTATHLON
Taylah Heit
The 15-year-old Taylah Heit local is aiming for the 2028 LA Olympics as her career gathers momentum.
A multi-sport ace, Heit is training in obstacle sprint racing, fencing, freestyle swimming, laser pistol shooting and cross country running - all skills needed to successfully complete in the modern pentathlon.
Originally she was a runner, but has taken up all of the other sports in the hopes of representing Australia.
Her running prowess was evident recently when she finished second in her first modern pentathlon’s event.
She also finished third in her first YOHKA event. There will be more YOHKA 100m World Series events on the Gold Coast, May 23-25.
MOTOR RACING
Buster Bailey
Bailey is a 15-year-old full of ambition.
Ultimately he aspires to be a V8 Supercar and then a Formula 1 driver, but short term Bailey has his sights set on the second round of Rotax Life in Ipswich and the fourth round of Kartstars in New Zealand.
He is in form. Last month he came second in the Junior Rotax in the Junior Top Guns meet at Warwick and first in his KA3 Heavy class at Coffs Harbour.
Earlier this year the youngster represented Australia in go karting at the RMC Asia Cup in Pattaya, exceeding expectations to finish 12th overall.
Bailey also raced at the Victorian state titles during March and finished seventh.
He was taken out by another driver on the start of heat three which affected his start position for the final, but he managed to make up about six places – from 13th and this was a great result for him.
All this from a rookie who has only been racing for a few years.
MOUNTAIN BIKE DOWNHILL
Byron Best
Best is a young ace who is taking the sport by storm.
Best cannot be dislodged from first place in Oceania Continental Series U17, therefore he has qualified for Downhill World Cup Series, Juniors, which will be held next year during various stages across the next six months.
His success at the Oceania qualifying rounds followed his second placing at the Australian Downhill National Championships
Earlier in the year at the Auscycling National Mountain Bike Downhill Series, Best won the U17 series one competition on a wet and muddy circuit outside of Toowoomba.
A St Peters Lutheran College student, Best’s bravery will see him bounce over tree roots, rocky surfaces, bumps and humps during a remarkable race lasting anywhere between 1.5km and 3km.
HOCKEY
Cody Hale
An Easts midfielder, Hale played for the Queensland U21 which is competing at the Australian championships. Although aged just 17 and eligible for the state U18, he aimed for, and achieved, selection in the U21 maroons. He was a member of the 2024 Australian U18 Futures Squad last year.
Finn Robinson
From Labrador, the Gold Coast midfielder was also a member of the Queensland U21 team.
He originally comes from northern NSW which is a hotbed of sporting talent, and only recently became eligible for the Queensland development program.
Wildcard watch: Joel Hubbard and Harley Woodall were both named in 2024 Australian U18 Futures Squad last year. Hubbard is the younger brother of David who plays for the Brisbane Blaze.
Luke Siebuhr, Jackson Smiddy and Lachlan Ziviani
Toowoomba trio Luke Siebuhr, Jackson Smiddy and Lachlan Ziviani were all high achievers representing their region at the U18 State Championships.
Siebuhr was named Player of the Tournament, striker Smiddy (Past High) was voted the Player of Division 1 Final while Ziviani was the Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
Both Siebuhr and Ziviani were Newtown, Toowoomba juniors, who play for Pine Rivers Saint Andrews
Another country player, Gladstone junior and Bulimba defender Billy Price, was named Player of Division 2 final.
Kara Bradley, Sophie Davis and Lily Richardson
The girls were young high achievers who last weekend represented Queensland at the U21 Australian championships in Bendigo.
They were all named in the 2024 Australian U18 Futures squad alongside Tylah Andrews.
Bradley is a striker from Ascot Arana, Davis is a Wests HC Townsville and Easts Brisbane midfielder while Richardson is a striker from Easts.
Elke Cooper and Aryel Bisseling
Cooper, a striker from Commercial, was named Player of the Tournament following the U18 state championships, while Ascot Arana striker Bisseling was named Player of Division 1 Final.
Amali Paganoni and Madeleine Searle
The girls represented the Mackay representative team with distinction at the U18 state championships.
Souths United striker Paganoni was awarded the Player of Division 2, while Norths Mackay goalkeeper Searle was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament – Madeleine Searle (Mackay)
STATE U18 TEAMS
The Queensland U18 male and female teams have been selected to compete at the national championships In July.
Men’s U18 Maroon Team: Luke Bartolo (Townsville), Declan Bobart (Gladstone),
Quinlan Carey (Brisbane), Jordan Donald (Brisbane), Daniel Evans (Gold Coast), Cody Hale (Brisbane), Luke Helmstedt (Maryborough), Patrick Holmes (Brisbane), Joel Hubbard (Brisbane), Finn O’Neill (Townsville), Finnigan Robinson (Gold Coast, East Ballina), Hayden Scholes (Brisbane), Luke Siebuhr (Toowoomba), Jackson Smiddy (Toowoomba), Owen Taylor (Fraser Coast), Riley Wondergem (Brisbane, Grafton), Harley Woodall (Fraser Coast), Lachlan Ziviani (Toowoomba).
Men’s U18 Gold Team: Kai Bakes (Sunshine Coast), Samuel Bourke (Warwick), Lachlan Bradley (Brisbane), Cody Fitzpatrick (Gympie), Brock Hess (Toowoomba), Trey Jelacic (Gold Coast), Adrian Leighton (Cairns), Hayden Macready (Toowoomba), Lachlan McDermott-Parkes (Ipswich), Aston Merrell (Gold Coast), Tayt Nichols (Brisbane), Billy Price (Rockhampton), Tristan Prinsloo (Gold Coast), Thomas Quine (Brisbane), Joshua Standage (Cairns), Flynn Steindl (Mackay), Cohen Usher (Brisbane) (Spring Hill), Alex Zumbansen (Ipswich).
Women’s U18 Maroon Team: Tylah Andrews (Gold Coast), Tayla Bartholomeusz (Brisbane), Aryel Bisseling (Brisbane), Kara Bradley (Brisbane), Josie Burgess (Brisbane), Elke Cooper (Brisbane), Kyra Crick (Maryborough), Sophie Davis (Townsville), Samantha Dyson (Brisbane), Eliza Fahy (Tweed), Caitlyn Halliday (Tweed), Aurora Kovacevich (Gold Coast), Amali Paganoni (Mackay), Lara Pyle (Brisbane), Lily Richardson (Brisbane), Madeleine Searle (Mackay), Stella Suey (Toowoomba), Madison Tolson (Sunshine Coast)
Women’s U21 Gold Team: Erin Arri (Cairns), Sally Blackney (Cairns), Chloe D’Hage (Brisbane) Hayley Davis (Townsville), Niamh De Jong (Brisbane), Addison Free (Brisbane), Ella Hagenbach (Allora), Mackenzie Hale (Brisbane), Eleanor Holmes (Brisbane), Tia Jackson (Brisbane), Eulain Jansen van Rensburg (Brisbane), Scarlett Long (Ipswich), Heidi Myburgh (Gold Coast), Rihanna Newman (Maryborough), Jazlyn Pedrina (Brisbane), Amelia Smith (Gold Coast), Lacey Walters (Cairns), Madyson Windell (Sunshine Coast).
BASKETBALL
Queenslanders Monique Bobongie, Prasayus Notoa and Emma Petrie were all named in the
Australian U19 Gems squad training for FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup.
One of the nation’s brightest guard prospects, Bobongie is someone who has been groomed for higher honours for several years. She has had a taste of NBL (1) with Mackay.
Petrie is a skilled forward of great pedigree - her dad Anthony was an NBL menace and who now coaches the next generation on the Gold Coast.
Notoa is an outstanding prospect from Logan who is one of BSHS’s leading sports women, someone who can play any position on the court and be elite.
NETBALL
Queensland Firebirds training partners Sasha-May Flegler (Bond University Bull Sharks) and Kirra Tappenden (Sunshine Coast Thunder) represented the Queensland U19 team which competed at the national championships last month.
Joining them in the side were fellow high achievers Ellie Brice (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Holly Comyns (Carina Leagues Club Tigers), Tia Crombie (Gold Coast), Jada Delaney (Sunshine Coast Thunder), Gemma Hutchings (ACU Brisbane North Cougars) and Tia Molo ACU (Brisbane North Cougars) who were members of the U17 gold medal winning team in 2023, and last season’s U19 silver medal winning side.
The squad also included Queensland Firebirds Futures Academy players Marley Burns (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Rio Burns (ACU Brisbane North Cougars) and Charlotte Jonsen (North Queensland), while Darling Down Panthers product Amy Williams made her debut.
Ciarn MacBride
The Far North Flames product is an outstanding cross-code prospect who recently starred for the Pride U17 rugby league side - and then represented the Queensland U17 netball side.
Joining her in the state U17s were Simone Botha (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Matilda Canning (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Samaya Cook (Sunshine Coast Thunder), Chelsea Edwards (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Isabelle Houghton (Bond University Bull Sharks),
Amelia Nemcansky (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Willow Peterson (TAE Aerospace Ipswich Jets), Ruby Stanford (TAE Aerospace Ipswich Jets), Embah Tait (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Tereneah Tapuai (ACU Brisbane North Cougars) and Bridie Stewart (Bond University Bull Sharks).
In addition, Ava Barrett (Gold Coast Titans), Harlow Faaee (Gold Coast Titans), Harmony Topeto (Gold Coast Titans), Matilda-May Towner (Sunshine Coast Thunder), Ariana Ransfield (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Chelsea O’Neill (Townsville City Netball Association were the squad’s training partners.
DIVING
Aside from World Aquatics Junior Diving Championships gold medallist Maggie Grey from
Faith Lutheran College, Redlands, other young Queensland divers have been excelling this year.
Brisbane talents Archie Forsyth and Emily Francis both represented Australia with pride at the Dresden Junior Diving Meet in Germany.
A Cleveland District SHS student, Forsyth finished fifth in the Boys B Springboard and sixth in the Boys B platform final.
Forsyth, who is coached by Arlow Vyninka at Chandler, was also world junior finalists last December.
Mt St Michael’s student Francis was sixth in the Girls A 1m Springboard final and also the 3M final.
The event gave her more valuable international experience after representing Australia at the world juniors last December.
Springfield Anglican College’s Piper Howard was another to gain international exposure.
Competing in her first major international competition, Howard showed few nerves as she marched through in the Girls B platform event, generating a 20 point personal best performance.
WATER POLO
ALL HALLOWS’ SCHOOL
All Hallows’ School have dominated selection in the U14 female state development squad after the squad produced elite performances at the Australian youth water polo championships last month.
All Hallows won its U14 final against the Sydney Lions, 11-6, while the AHS U12s also won its final, 3-2 against the Lions.
In the U14 final, All Hallows established a four goal first quarter performance to establish a winning margin early.
AHS player Claudia McMahon said she is just so proud of how the team performed.
“It was a tough game, but I think all the girls knew what we had to do and we got the job done in the end,” she told Water Polo Australia.
“We had a lot of superstitions before the game,” Claudia joked.
“But we just did what we normally do … we played our game and it worked.”
As a result, 12 All Hallows’ players were named in the Queensland development squad.
The All Hallows’ players are Bella Caligaris, Ava Farley, Molly Gleeson, Lucy Hawkins, Alessia Kovacevic, Alexis Wiscicki, Isabella Robertson, Juliet Mackintosh, Claudia McCahon and Evie Morland, Olivia Kennedy and Mai Royal were named in the state squad.
Other Queenslanders named in the Queensland U14 squad were: Bentley, Fiona (Mermaids), Carr, Eve (Stuartholme), Carter, Abigail (BGGS), Chambers, Harriet (Mermaids), Chen, Nadya (Mermaids), Chenoweth, Greer (River City), Cook, Emily (Polo Bears), Corbin, Lucy (BGGS),
Craig, Chloe (BGGS), Crouch, Tallow (Mermaids), Fludder, Anja (BGGS), Franz, Gabriella (Loreto), Garrett, Addison (River City), Gaunt, Lily (BGGS), Greenwood, Lily (Mermaids), Guest, Phoebe (Mermaids), Guthrie, Olivia (St Andrews), Hansen, Sienna (Loreto), Hiscock, April (Mermaids), Hocking, Georgina (BGGS), Holcombe, Coco (St Andrew’s), Hyland, Audrey (St Rita’s), Jones, Kirralee (UQWPC), Lafferty, McAllister (Mermaids), Langler, Heidi (Gold Coast), Larsen, Lauren (Mermaids), Lovell, Elise (Loreto), Lucas, Ella (River City), Madeo, Audrey (BGGS), McCabe, Alianah (Stuartholme), McCullen, Sophie (BGGS), McEwan, Harper (St Andrews), McMahon, Claudia (River City), Moten, Sophie (Mermaids), Newbold, Arabella (River City), Nunan, Molly (Stuartholme), O’Brien, Ava (Stuartholme), Rogers, Isobel (Stuartholme), Rose, Purcell (Mermaids), Silver, Zoe (UQWPC), Sparling, Lucy (St Andrew’s), Starr, Maisie (St Andrews), Steer, Phillipa (BGGS), Stuart, Alice (Mermaids), Wild, Mary (BGGS), Wills, Alexandra, Pejcinovic, Archie,
MANTRAS MAN UP
The Mantras’ U14 boys were rewarded with 15 players in the Queensland U14 development squad after its brave effort in the national youth championships recently.
The Sydney Uni side won the U14 boys grand final 8-7, breaking the hearts but not the spirits of the Mantras’ squad.
As a result of the Mantras outstanding effort, Jasper Anderson, Jack Barrett, Nate Brown, Williams Davenport, Eli Bruggemann, Miles Easterbrook, Roy Green, Max Hansen, Cooper Hunt-Sharp, Sam Hynd, Angus and Nathaniel Kolomeitz, Ernest Reeve, Edward Smyth and Jake Watt were all named in the state U14 squad.
Other members of the U14 male development squad were: Anderson, Noah (Polo Bears), Backhouse, Oliver (Polo Bears), Baxter, Ty (UQWPC), Bebendorf, Izaac (Gold Coast), Bertinato, Max (UQWPC), Blatchford, Reggie (Gold Coast), Bridgeman, Fletcher (Warriors),
Bromley, Nainoa (St Andrew’s), Brunello, Eli (River City), Collard, Hayden (Polo Bears), Cox, Hugo (St Andrew’s), Debono-Gross, Ethan (River City), Deegan, Nicholas (UQWPC),
Durbridge, Aiden (Gold Coast), Dzidic, Kenan (River City), Funch, Max (UQWPC), Gilbert, Hugh, Sutton (UQ), Ivanov, Victor (River City), Jenner, Lachlan (St Andrew’s),
Juniper, Henry (UQWPC), Karger, Xavier (Gold Coast), Kernot, Rory (Warriors), Kikiras, Zachary (Warriors), Lambert, Joshua (UQWPC), Lambert, Tom (Warriors), Lamont, Xavier (UQWPC), Leighfield, Mason (River City), Lynch, Hudson (River City), McCready, Luke (St Andrew’s), Pilgrim-Cowan, Elliot (UQWPC), Romano, Seb (River City), Sefton, Archie (UQWPC), Simpson, Charlie (Polo Bears), Taoso, Tamanaeli-Israel (UQWPC), Taylor, Dominic (River City), Taylor, Jaiden (Warriors), Thomson, Oliver (Gold Coast), Varga, Vilmos (River City), Victorsen, Henry (UQWPC), Vukelic, Boris (River City).
SEAN BRIGHT
Bright was the only Queenslander from the Thunder named in the Australian U20 water polo team bound for the world championships later this year.
The Marist College Ashgrove old boy has been a high achiever throughout his career, including last year when he earned an U18 national cap.
CYCLING
Sienna Monteith, April Pattie, Isabella Potts, Felix Crossman and co.
This awesome foursome will join Grace Hunter (Hamilton Wheelers) on the AusCycling track development camp and the track development squad aim to expose the emerging athletes to international competition and elite training environments.
The first of the four camps will see 24 U17 athletes travel to Malaysia to compete at the
Yayasan Sime Darby Track Series.
Queenslanders selected in the national road development camp were Alexander Hewes (Gold Coast CC), former school triathlete Fletcher Medway (Hamilton Wheelers), Ipswich junior Amelie Sanders (Gold Coast CC), Tully Schweitzer (Hamilton Wheelers CC) and Stafford State School past student Neve Parslow (Hamilton Wheelers).
SWIMMING
Queenslanders dominated selection in the Australian Junior Dolphins team bound for the World Junior Championships in Romania during August.
Joshua Conias (Somerville House), Oliver Linde (Nudgee College), Charlie Lutton (Brisbane Grammar), Zoe Ammundsen (Nudgee College), Mikayla Bird (Bond), Olivia Hine (Somerville House), Hayley Mackinder (Griffith Uni), Alice Monaghan (Griffith Uni), Julia Remington (All Saints), Amelie Smith (Rocky City) and Ainsley Trotter (Bond) all made the Junior Dolphins.
While the junior Dolphins were training for the championships, Queensland’s next generation aces also shone at the All Ages nationals in April.
They included:
+ Thomas Booth (Southside Aquatics) who won the 18 years 50m butterfly;
+ Lilla Ribot-de-Bresac (Newmarket Racers) who became the national champion in the girls 15yrs 200m and 100m breaststroke events;
+ Jack Morrow (St Andrew’s SC), the 17 years 50m backstroke champion who won the100m and 200m events;
+ Maya Zunker (Griffith University), another 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle star in the U15 age group;
+ Sienna Gibson, the Moreton Bay Swimming ace who won the 15yrs 200m butterfly;
+ 13 years trio Makyra Melo (Somerset SC), Roxanne Albertyn (Miami SC) and May Harris (Miami) who were all sensational in winning the 400m IM and Girls 13yrs 200m.
+ Gloria Finselbach who was Newmarket Racers second national champion of the meet.
Para athletes, gold medallists
Grace Brimelow, Kael Thompson, Callum Simpson, Lilly-Anne Gould, Montana Atkinson
Callum Simpson, Tobi Rinaldi, Thomas Stegeman, Victoria Belando Nicholson.
CRICKET
Abbie Trevethan (Wests)
One of the Paul Pink Shield female Tav’s players of the season, the Queensland U16 vice-captain batted her club side into the grand final with a blistering 70 not out.
Ayaka Stafford (Wests)
The leg spinner pinned opponents to the canvas across all forms of cricket this season, including in the Paul Pink Shield.
Outstanding for Queensland, she often opened the bowling with no protection due to field restrictions. Her fielding was also brilliant.
Rebecca Storrs (Wests)
The Queensland representative had a bumped Paul Pink season, with scores of 98 not out and 101 (97 balls).
Lauren Patterson (Gold Coast)
Queensland representative Patterson makes the side on the strength of consistency. She peeled off scores of 56, 42, 30, 39 and 33 in the Paul Pink Shield.
Chelsea Sonter (Wests)
The Team of the Season’s keeper and captain, Sonter top scored in the grand final with 36 not out after earlier in the season making 102 not out, 65, 26 not out during the club season. She scored 229 for once out, a remarkable performance by the Queensland U19 and U17 female representative.
Blake Armstrong (University)
Twice the left handed Armstrong had a profound impact on the Queensland innings at the U17 nationals, including his 102 not out in the semi-final against NSW Country.
His left arm spin was also handy for Queensland and also for BBC in the GPS First XI competition.
Murraya Buckley (Sunshine Coast)
With 220 runs this season for once out, Buckley was outstanding playing in the Paul Pink Shield. A fine sportswoman adept at netball and touch football, the Gympie product scored a century against University.
Steve Hogan (Sandgate-Redcliffe)
Queensland’s U17 captain, St Patrick’s College student Hogan produced a consistently high standard of batting during the national championships.
He hit 92 not out against Western Australia, 72 in the grand final, 64 run out in the semi-final, 67 against Victorian Metro, 60 against ACT and 27 against Victorian Country.
Lakshdeep Singh (Sandgate-Redcliffe)
A leg spinner from The Lakes College who made his Premier grade debut before Christmas, Singh looked mature beyond his years playing for the Gators and also for Queensland at the U17 nationals when he recorded returns of 2-29, 3-56, 1-42, 1-35 and 3-35.
Theo Tsingos (Norths)
Another St Pat’s student, Tsingos played first grade at the age of just 15 for Northern Suburbs. He also played for the Queensland U17s.
INDOOR CRICKET
Queenslanders were preparing to represent the state at the national championships to be held in Perth during July.
One of the U16 boys teams has a smattering of exciting players from the AIC First XI competition, including Finn Haller (Iona), Adam Hogan (St Patrick’s) and Joshua Pope (Ashgrove).
Other members of the side were Henry Bader, Lachlan Warner, Ben Stevens, Atticus Hobbins, Koby Williams, Riley Fryer, Eli Miles and Michael Causer.
Members of the second side representing at the nationals were Lane Chapman, Josh Parkin, Josh Kelley, Will Qureshi, Brodie Weatherley, Harvey Mortimer, Dean Naude, Mitchell Ross, Riley Price, Taiden Steinhardt and Jett Ashworth.
The girls U16s side was Jasmine Comerford, Aurelia Burgess, Catey Brookes, Jayani Maharaj, Lily Markou, Schanel Geldenhuys, Sabine Booth, Leah Henley, Kirra Greatorix, Maddison Domrow and Summa Hines.
RUGBY LEAGUE
Leilani Taofinuu (TIGERS)
Taofinuu was enormous as a second rower and centre for the Harvey Norman U17 premiership winning side. A The Gold Coast Titans signing, Taofinuu is a powerful runner from the ruck or sweeping onto the ball out wide.
Torah Luadaka (TWEED)
If there was a player of the season award, Luadaka would have been close to the best player in the U17 Harvey Norman competition.
Caratanidis Ta’Akimoeaka-Pulu (TIGERS)
Prop Ta’Akimoeaka-Pulu was the unmatched middle of the U17 Harvey Norman competition, a power forward second to none. No defence could contain her across the course of a match.
Enah Desic (TIGERS)
An elite No.9. who never fails to impress, Desic’s monumental and a big reason why the Tigers won the premiership. She was amazing this season.
Olivia Filikitonga (BEARS)
A Mt Albert discovery player from Auckland, New Zealand, Filikitonga was outstanding for the Burleigh Bears.
Highly skilled and ferocious, Filikitonga’s power game matched it with competition’s very best, giving the Bears the momentum to sweep wide.
Affricia-Jade Hippi (TWEED)
The lightweight No. 13 has been one of the finds of this season.
Think Reuben Cotter (Cowboys) or Tyrone Peachey (ex-NSW) and you get an idea of the type of impact this kid has around the ruck.
Okalani Compton (MAGPIES)
Okalani Compton was elite in the U17 Harvey Norman competition, one of the best players in the competition.
Mele Misa (MAGPIES)
The time honoured Mele Misa continued to astound with her endurance, power running and hurtful defence.
So good was she, Misa would play most of the under-17 fixtures - then back up and play in the under-19s an hour or so later. She is a Broncos Academy forward.
Barry Taukolo (Wynnum Manly)
The young fullback was another at the peak of his powers across the U17 Connell Cup competition.
Kingston Seve (Bears)
Athletic centre Kingston Seve was a power runner, either from dummy half or one pass off the ruck where he was largely unstoppable. The Dolphins academy prospect came up trumps when it mattered.
Dean Tauaa (Wynnum Manly)
Signed by the Broncos, Tauaa was as good as it gets in the U17 Connell Cup competition. He played centre and was one of the first chosen in the Team of the Season.
Harvey Smith (Bears)
Harvey Smith, a class act with a classier passing game, his kicking was elite and he swarmed in defence. He was a great general who could kick goals.
Originally published as Young sporting achievers of 2025 from greater Brisbane - so far
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