Next Gen Rugby Sevens series key players to watch from NSW, Queensland, Rising Star teams
One is a “warrior’’, another has “electric footwork’’ and a third plays rugby league. Players the coaches are excited to watch in the Next Gen Rugby Sevens series kicking off on Sunday.
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There’s one who is fast and courageous.
Another is big and strong.
A third is a “complete warrior’’ and another “has electric footwork’’.
As some of the youngest and brightest talent in Rugby Sevens prepares for the 2023 AON Next Gen women’s series and a men’s event running alongside it we asked the NSW women’s and men’s, Rising Star and Queensland coaches who they are looking forward to watching in the series - and why.
NSW has a trio of players coach Nathan McMahon is keen to watch and see develop throughout the series which is being used to showcase our best up-and-coming Rugby Sevens players.
The five leg series kicks off in Queensland on Sunday,
A player McMahon said should turn heads originally hails from South Australia, but has moved to NSW to further her Rugby Sevens career.
Another is the youngest in the NSW side to play against Queensland and a Rising Stars team in the tournament.
The third is a young gun who has just been given an opportunity to play in an Australian A side and has strong family connections to the game.
“We are extremely young. Our average age will be about 19,’’ he said.
“We have three 17-year-old’s in Piper Simons, Milla Elaro and Anaia Cruickshank
“Our 18-year-olds are Edie Burke, Betsy Koula and Ruby Nicholas and our 19-etae-old’s are Emma Vandervelde, Kiahla Duff and Bridget Clarke - that’s nine teenagers in our 12.’’
Duff, who has cousins in the senior Australian side, is one McMahon is keen to see perform.
“She’s coming back from a successful campaign for Australia A at the Coral Coast Sevens,’’ he said.
“She’s a great ballplayer, she has great ability to play eyes-up football. She is someone to watch.
“Piper has an incredible competitive nature. She hates to lose and has a great mental attitude. She’s a complete warrior. She has a bulldog mentality will fight and scrap for everything.
“Alice Gregory made the move from South Australia two years ago and she’s right in the mix for the national program. She a winger and fast with a great ability to beat one-on-one and very courageous.
Queensland coach Ray Taylor has an experienced line-up to work with who are out to defend the crown they won a year ago.
“We are just looking to defend. We won it last year and it’s quite difficult to go back to back. “We want to continue those winning ways. We will have to be more creative and try new things.’’
He identified three players to watch in the series in Sid Taylor from the University of Queensland, Amahli Hala and former Australian sprint star Kaitlin Shave
“Sid is bordering on a full-time (national) squad position and she will want to go out there and put her hand up for further honours,’’ he said.
“She’s a powerful runner, small and fast and very gritty.
“Amahli Hala played for Australia youth at the world schools and was Player of the Tournament.
“She is very fast, elusive and a great finisher, only 16 turning 17 and from Bond Uni on the Gold Coast.
“Kaitlin is a great finisher a try scorer and line breaker. She wants to prove herself and is probably the second faster in the country.
“She is only 19 and from the Uni of Queensland.’’
Rising Stars coach James Erwin is in charge of a mixed band of players from across the country including Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, the ACT, NSW and Queensland.
Erwin has identified the players from his round one squad to keep an eye on in Tamika Jones (Western Force), Faitala Moleka (Sydney Uni) and Jess Gentle.
“Tamika played for the University of Western Australia in the 2022 Uni7s Series and is currently in the Western Force Super W Squad. She is also a Wallaroo,’’ he said
“She is a dominant ball carrier and very effective. A real up-and-comer, very athletic and dynamic.
“Faitala played for the University of Sydney in the 2022 Uni7s Series and is currently in the Brumbies Super W Squad.
“She's an exciting playmaker with great footwork and evasion and a player that will thrive from being challenged by the best defenders in the country. She’s got electric footwork and is a playmaker.
“Jess played for the University of Newcastle in the 2022 Uni7s Series and has been in the Newcastle Knights NRLW squad.
“She is an exceptional edge player with great speed and has the ability to blow a game wide open.
NSW men’s coach Harry Berryman also has a young squad to work with in the series being played between the Blues and Queensland at the same venue on Sunday.
Berryman said 10 of the 12 players will make their senior debut in the series with two development players in Leo Bassingthwaite and Tyrese Lokeni.
“We have gone with youth but we hear Queensland are the red hot team,’’ he said.
“I’m just hoping to see them get out there and have some fun, work as a team and to do their best.’’
Berryman said three of his players to watch hail from the famous Western Sydney Two Blues club in Sydney’s west.
“Rilloy Sueseu is a youngster who is pretty smart,’’ Berryman said.
“He has good feet and good knowledge of the game and is on the improve.
“John Doh is a centre, he’s very fast, has good feet, twinkle toes feet. he’s big and powerful.
“Tyrese Lokeni has come through the system and is still at school.
“He’s the biggest guy, a big forward who works very hard.
“And Damien Fleming from West Harbour. He’s a big rangy forward. For a big fella he can move and he’s on of the older guys.’’
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