NRL schoolboy signings: Where the top teens were going in 2024
NRL signings: From the Cowboys to Rabbitohs, where Queensland’s top schoolboys were going in 2024, including a remarkable Titans recruit who’s comeback from a broken neck.
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NRL clubs have swooped to snap up Queensland schoolboys, with the Gold Coast Titans, Brisbane Broncos most active in the Langer Trophy and Dolphins and Cowboys leading the charge in Dolphins and Payne Cups respectively.
And south of the border, Canterbury and South Sydney were the most active NSW-based clubs, as was The Raiders, when it came to snapping up Queensland schoolboy talent from the Langer Trophy, Payne and Dolphins’ Cup.
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The latest signed was Mabel SHS unsung hero Lachlan Buchbach (five-eight) who recently penned a deal with the Dolphins, while the best unsigned player would be Langer Trophy Justin Hodges Medallist Bailey McConnell (PBC SHS).
McConnell played five-eight while the best forward in the Langer this season was Keebra Park’s Jett Bryce who is signed by the Broncos.
The Dolphins were working in the Bundaberg to Rockhampton catchment, signing six players, but the Cowboys have the No.1 teen from that region - Queensland schoolboys fullback Mutua Brown.
North Queensland also had the best Queensland country forward in their keeping - Kirwan SHS’s Kaiden Lahrs who captained the Maroons’ schoolboys this season and who has made the Australian schoolboys side.
The Broncos picked up arguably the best player from the Bundaberg region in centre Tom Morcom.
Not surprisingly the Cowboys have North Queensland under lock and key, although a handful were signed elsewhere - Kirwan SHS trio Preston Cassidy (Broncos), Elijah Tapau-Taylor (Parramatta) and Cohen Dittman (Roosters), for example.
The list of players signed by NRL clubs from the Langer Trophy includes Marsden SHS five-eight Javon Andrews who two years ago was almost confined to a wheelchair. Yet he recent signed with the Gold Coast Titans.
Andrews, 16, was “millimetres” from never walking again after fracturing his C4 and C5 vertebrae during a football accidentin 2021.
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He was playing club league for Logan Brothers against Souths Acacia at the Magpies ground when he was tackled into the goalpost while attempting to score a try.
At first a dazed and blooded Andrews did not realise the serious nature of his injury and actually walked from the field.
“I broke through the line, stepped the fullback and got tackled into the goalposts,’’ Andrews said.
“I saw blood coming out, so I walked off but once I got to the sideline my neck started feeling worse. At first I thoughtit was just a cut head.
“All the medical people told me to sit down, then the ambulance came.’’
He spent three weeks in hospital, then wore a halo for months after he was released.
Andrews was initially told he would never play again, and last year played touch football to keep fit.
But his desire to play rugby league never wavered and he sought more medical advice, and was eventually cleared to returnthis year.
His comeback match was in a Met East trial earlier this year at Leo Williams Field, Carina.
“I felt confident after the game and I had no doubts. I was confident in myself,’’ Andrews said.
“But I was relieved. I was so happy to be back.
“My parents gave me a hug after the match. And every game since I have got better.’’
So well did Andrews comeback this season, the Titans made their move to sign him last month. “That was very exciting,’’ said Andrews, who said Gold Coast forward David Fifita, Warriors half Shaun Johnson and Wests Tigers great Benji Marshall ranked as hisfavourite players.
WHERE THE 2023 SCHOOLBOYS WERE HEADED:
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN SHS
Name: Ray Puru
NRL club: Titans
Position: Fullback
Name: Sunny Kama
NRL club: Titans
Position: Wing
Name: Sam Stephenson
NRL club: Titans
Position: Centre
Name: Zane Harrison
NRL club: Titans
Position: Halfback
Name: Jac Finigan
NRL club: Titans
Position: Second row
Name: Will Saunders
School: PBC SHS
NRL club: Cronulla
Position: Hooker
Name: Jett Jackson
NRL club: Manly
Position: Prop
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IPSWICH SHS
Name: Anton Naiyep
NRL club: Manly
Position: Wing
Name: David Leota
NRL club: Bulldogs
Position: Prop
Name: Mahonri Tiotala
NRL club: Raiders
Position: Forward
Name: Tyler Peckham Harris
NRL club: Dragons
Position: Utility
Name: Shaye Faa’aoga
NRL club: Bulldogs
Position: Second row
Name: Kane Self
NRL club: Newcastle
Position: Second
Name: Oliva Iaulualo
NRL club: Bulldogs
Position: Second row/prop
Name: Kesia Su’a
NRL club: Raiders
Position: Centre
Name: LJ Nonu
NRL club: Dolphins
Position: Centre
Name: Sam Martin
NRL club: Broncos
Position: Hooker
Name: Cooper Cracknell.
NRL club: Souths
Position: Prop
MARSDEN SHS
Name: Saxon Innes
NRL club: Broncos
Position: Fullback
Name: Kylem Vunipola
NRL club: Broncos
Position: Centre/fullback
Name: Coby Black
NRL club: Broncos
Position: Halfback
Name: Will Semu
NRL club: Storm
Position: Centre
Name: Javon Andrews
NRL club: Titans
Position: Five-eight
Name: Lui Lee
NRL club: Roosters
Position: Centre
Name: Mace Andrew
NRL club: Souths
Position: Prop-second row
Name: Lewis Symonds
Club: Broncos
Position: Lock
Name: Taylon To’a
NRL club: Titans
Position: Second row
Name: Cory Pearse
NRL club: Titans
Position: Hooker
Name: Patrick Kailahi
NRL club: Dolphins
Position: Second row
Name: Cairo Ruri
Club: Roosters
Position: Second row
Name: Braden Teuila
NRL club: South
Position: Second row
Name: Mark Nosa
Club: Souths
Position: Halves
Name: Jacob Tinsley
NRL club: Souths
Position: Hooker
Name: Izayah Petricevich
NRL club: Raiders
Position: Wing
KEEBRA SHS
Name: Mason Barber
NRL club: Cowboys
Position: Fullback
Name: Jett Bryce
NRL club: Broncos
Position: Second row
Name: Joseph Tupusu
NRL club: Broncos
Position: Centre
Name: Ryder Williams
NRL club: Titans
Position: Halfback
Name: Jack Scmidt
NRL club: Titans
Position: Prop
Name: Zac Kumbamong
NRL club: Titans
Position: Prop
Name: Presley Folau
NRL club: Broncos
Position: Second row
Name: Wailer Whaiapu
NRL club: Newcastle Knights
Position: Back row
Name: Taylor Withington
NRL club: Canberra
Position: Prop
Name: Jeremiah Havea
NRL club: Dolphins
Position: Wing
Name: Jesse Soric
NRL club: Warriors
Position: Halfback
Name: Tom Summer
NRL club: Warriors
Position: Prop
Name: Isopo Taunuu
NRL clubs: Bulldogs
Position: Prop
Name: Ryan Hutchinson
NRL club: Bulldogs
Position: Forward
MABEL PARK SHS
Name: Tyrese Tovao
NRL club: Dolphins
Position: Centre-wing
Name: Alex Leapai
NRL club: Titans
Position: Prop
Name: Jaycob Kingston-Francis
NRL club: Raiders
Position: Centre
Name: Lachlan Buchbach
NRL club: Dolphins
Position: Five-eight
WAVELL SHS
Name: Mereki Warradoo
NRL club: Dolphins
Position: Fullback
Name: Keyarn Pene
NRL club: Raiders
Position: Centre
Name: Charlie Dickson
NRL club: Dolphins
Position: Back row
Name: Jakob Horne:
NRL club: Broncos
Position: Second row
Name: Zac Herdegen
NRL club: Knights
Position: Halfback
Name: Ben Uini
NRL club: Roosters
Position: Prop
Name: Kobi Floro
NRL club: Storm
Position: Prop
Name: Robertson Tusi-Tofu
NRL club: Broncos
Position: Winger
Name: Keoki Koraba
NRL club: Storm
Position: Centre
Name: Nazareth Taua
NRL club: South Sydney
Position: Second row
Name: Mason Phillips
NRL club: Canterbury
Position: Hooker
CALOUNDRA SHS
Name: Zac Garton
NRL club: Dolphins
Position: Second row
Name: Tully McLellan
NRL club: Storm
Position: Halfback
Name: Chase Paterson
NRL club: Storm
Position: Prop-second row
Name: Brooklenn Mundraby-Grogan
NRL club: Bulldogs
Position: Centre
Jack Philp:
NRL club: Bulldogs
Position: Utility back
REDCLIFFE SHS
Name: Loka Toia
NRL club: Roosters
Position: Prop
Name: John Fineanganofo
NRL club: Dolphins
Position: Lock Redcliffe
ST MARY’S COLLEGE
Name: Braithen Scott
NRL club: Broncos:
Position: Halfback
Name: Jett Day
NRL club: Bulldogs
Position: Second row
Name: Bodhi Sharpley
NRL club: Titans
Position: Second row
Name: Jake Durie
NRL club: Bulldogs
Position: Halves
Footnote: Queensland schoolboys outside back John-Paul Donevski, who played some matches in the Langer Trophy for Wavell SHS, is also signed by the Dolphins.
DOLPHINS CUP
EMMAUS COLLEGE
Name: Seth Carpenter
School: Emmaus College
NRL club: Dolphins
Position: Fullback
THE CATHEDRAL COLLEGE
Name: Mutua Brown
School: The Cathedral College
NRL club: North Queensland Cowboys
Position: Fullback
Name: Jack Biles
School: The Cathedral College
NRL club: Dolphins
Position: Backrower
Name: Eli McKay
School: The Cathedral College
NRL club: Dolphins
Position: Centre
Name: Zac Bateman
School: The Cathedral College
NRL club: North Queensland Cowboys
Position: Backrower
ST BRENDAN’S COLLEGE
Name: Carter Ford
School: St Brendan’s College
NRL club: Dolphins
Position: Middle forward
Name: Braelan Marsh
School: St Brendan’s College
NRL club: Dolphins
Position: Dummy half
Name: Connor Hinds
School: St Brendan’s College
NRL club: Dolphins
Position: Second row
Name: Tyler Melrose
School: St Brendan’s College
NRL club: North Queensland Cowboys
Position: Halfback
SHALOM COLLEGE
Name: Tom Morcom
School: Shalom College
NRL club: Brisbane Broncos
Position: Centre
PAYNE CUP
KIRWAN STATE HIGH SCHOOL
Name: Kaiden Lahrs
School: Kirwan SHS
NRL club: Cowboys
Position: Middle forward
Name: Kanye Pua’avase
School: Kirwan SHS
NRL club: Cowboys
Position: Middle forward
Name: Tavita Penaia
School: Kirwan SHS
NRL club: Cowboys
Position: Middle forward
Name: Eneliko Savelio
School: Kirwan SHS
NRL club: Cowboys
Position: Edge
Name: Braith Dowson
School: Kirwan SHS
NRL club: Cowboys
Position: Hooker
Name: Eparama Kikau
School: Kirwan SHS
NRL club: Cowboys
Position: Centre
Name: Aisake Manna
School: Kirwan SHS
NRL club: Cowboys
Position: Winger
Name: Cohen Dittmann
School: Kirwan SHS
NRL club: Roosters
Position: Centre / fullback
Name: Marley Helion
School: Kirwan SHS
NRL club: Cowboys
Position: Utility forward
Name: Preston Cassidy
School: Kirwan SHS
NRL club: Broncos
Position: Halfback
Name: Elijah Tapau-Taylor
School: Kirwan SHS
NRL club: Parramatta
Position: Edge
IGNATIUS PARK COLLEGE
Name: Jonah Raidaveta
School: Ignatius Park College
NRL club: Cowboys
Position: Edge
Name: Wyatt Lourigan
School: Ignatius Park College
NRL club: Cowboys
Position: Middle forward
Name: Sitiveni Afu
School: Ignatius Park College
NRL club: Cowboys
Position: Middle / edge
ST PATRICK’S MACKAY
Name: Jaxon Purdue
School: St Patrick’s Mackay
NRL club: Cowboys
Position: Halves
Name: Xavier Kerrisk
School: St Patrick’s Mackay
NRL club: Cowboys
Position: Hooker
Name: Bailey Anderson
School: St Patrick’s College
NRL club: Melbourne Storm
Position: Winger
Name: Cohen Jackson
School: St Patrick’s College
NRL club: Brisbane Broncos
Position: Front-row
Name: Kayne Smith
School: St Patrick’s College
NRL club: North Queensland Cowboys
Position: Lock
Name: Jake Bryan
School: St Patrick’s College
NRL club: Newcastle Knights
Position: Second-row
Name: Will Shears
School: St Patrick’s College
NRL club: North Queensland Cowboys
Position: Centre/fullback
FOOTNOTE: The list was correct at the time of publication but it is known handful of the schoolboys named were likely to swap clubs before December.
Originally published as NRL schoolboy signings: Where the top teens were going in 2024
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