NRL 2022: Eight Queensland Cup players ready to rise to NRL level

A tryscoring backrower contracted to Canterbury, a reborn strike centre on the Broncos’ books and the son of a Bulldogs great.

Delouise Hoeter has been terrific for Wynnum Manly.

Here are eight players from the Queensland Intrust Super Cup competition who caught our eye and look set to follow in the footsteps of Wynnum Manly fullback Selwyn Cobbo by making an impression at NRL level.

A tryscoring backrower contracted to Canterbury, a reborn strike centre and a couple of star halves on the Broncos’ books, the son of a Bulldogs and Warriors legend in North Queensland’s system, a halfback knocking on the door at Gold Coast, a strapping centre who Melbourne are bringing through via the Sunshine Coast Falcons and a powerhouse prop who proved himself on grand final day for the champion Devils.

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Jack Howarth (centre) - Sunshine Coast Falcons

Contracted to Melbourne Storm

Melbourne have turned the Falcons into one of the league’s greatest production lines and Jack Howarth is set to be the next cab off the rank. Howarth spent most of the year in the centres but will eventually shift to the backrow and fits the classic Storm model for the position — he runs great lines, possess excellent mobility and has a good turn of speed for a man his size. Still just 18, the sky is the limit for Howarth.

Delouise Hoeter (centre) - Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Contracted to Brisbane Broncos

Tigers fans might remember Hoeter from his brief stint in first grade with the club back in 2015, where he played seven games before being released at season’s end. Since then, Hoeter has become one of the most consistent outside backs in the Queensland Cup and proved a big game specialist when he scored a hattrick in Wynnum-Manly’s preliminary final victory over Tweed Heads. The 27-year-old will join the Broncos over the summer on a train-and-trial deal.

Delouise Hoeter has been terrific for Wynnum Manly.

Shallin Fuller (halfback) - Burleigh Bears

Contracted to Gold Coast Titans

The Titans have made excellent use of the Queensland Cup in recent years and in exciting halfback Fuller they may have found another future NRL star. Still just 21, Fuller managed eight appearances in his first year in the seniors but was a constant threat in attack, scoring five tries and accumulating 13 try assists and 12 line break assists. A junior teammate of Jayden Campbell’s, the duo could soon be replicating their partnership at the highest level.

Ezra Mam (halfback/five-eighth) - Souths Logan Magpies

Contracted to Brisbane Broncos

With a superb turn of pace and the ability to step off both feet, Mam lit up the competition from the moment he debuted for Souths Logan, scoring 10 tries in nine games to claim the Queensland Cup rookie of the year award. Contracted to Brisbane, Mam is one of a number of young halves at the club who will benefit enormously from the presence of incoming halfback Adam Reynolds.

Josh James (halfback) - Souths Logan Magpies

Contracted to Brisbane Broncos

The Queensland under-18s team of 2019 reads like a who’s who of the NRL’s best young talent — from that team, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tesi Niu, Xavier Coates, Sam Walker, Reece Hoffman, Jake Simpkin, Reece Walsh and Trent Loiero have all gone on to first grade. But the captain of the side, five-eighth Josh James, is still sliding under the radar. Another Broncos half, James only played a couple of matches with Souths Logan in 2021 but impressed with his passing and kicking skills and is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Joshua Stuckey continues to make a big impression. Picture: Brendan Radke

Joshua Stuckey (backrow) - Northern Pride

Contracted to Canterbury Bulldogs

A Queanbeyan product, Stuckey travelled to Cairns to ply his trade in the backrow for the Northern Pride and has been richly rewarded. The 23-year-old was named in the Intrust Super Cup team of the year, scoring nine tries in 15 games, and will link up with Canterbury in 2022. Aggressive and skillful, cracking the NRL is not beyond him in the next few years.

Riley Price (backrow) - Townsville Blackhawks

Contracted to North Queensland Cowboys

The son of Bulldogs and Warriors legend Steve, Riley Price joined North Queensland in 2019 and made his Intrust Super Cup debut for Townsville Blackhawks this year. A talented backrower, Price will stay on a development deal for 2022 before his elevation to the fulltime squad the following year, but judging on his Cup form his future with the Cowboys is very bright.

Ben Nakubuwai (prop) - Norths Devils

Contracted to the Brisbane Broncos

“Big Ben” proved a handful in Norths’ 16-10 grand final win over Wynnum Manly. The towering Fijian played 26 minutes off the bench but made the most of his time on the field, averaging 12.3 metres per hit up and made 17 tackles for no misses.

The 25-year-old has played two NRL games for the Titans back in 2017, as well as two seasons with the Salford Devils but having spent the 2021 preseason with the Broncos on a train-and-trial contract, he would be a welcomed addition to the Red Hill engine room next year.