Queensland Reds sign Nudgee College schoolboys Bennett Armistead and Levi Slater on multi-year Deals
The Queensland Reds have signed two schoolboy standouts from Nudgee College as the school braces for a GPS First XV rugby campaign that will see them gunning for a fourth straight premiership. More here.
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Two of Nudgee College’s trump cards for the GPS First XV rugby season have been given a boost ahead of the first round of battle on Saturday, July 19.
Dynamic duo Bennett Armistead, a towering lock, and Levi Slater, a mobile prop, have been signed to elite development squad contracts by the Queensland Reds.
It follows the February announcement that top forward prospects Will Ross and Kingsley Uys had been secured on multi-year deals.
It shows the Reds intent on locking down next-generation talent who will continue their development and polish their skills and habits at the pristine Ballymore facilities.
A three-year deal will enable Armistead, 17, to hone his craft as a lock.
If the 201cm Armistead was to walk into Wallabies training today, he would nearly be at eye-level with 206cm lock Nick Frost and 203cm giant Will Skelton.
He is still growing.
“It’s very exciting. It means a lot to get an opportunity to hopefully pursue a professional career at a club I love being at,” Armistead said.
Just a few short years ago Armistead was in the 13Ds but will start his second year in the First XV on Saturday week when Brisbane State High host Nudgee College in a mouth-watering grand-final rematch that will christen the new season.
Slater, 17, has a powerful prop’s frame at 110kg and has been signed for two years after coming to life in Nudgee College’s unbeaten run to its 45th First XV title last year.
Slater’s determination to make his mark in the Sunshine State was evident from the age of 15 when he left his Adelaide home to become a boarder at the college.
“My family sat down with me when I was 15 and we decided if I really wanted to have a crack at rugby I’d have to move to Brisbane or Sydney. I’m glad I ended up in Queensland,” he said.
“It’s been a lot of hard work to get this far and there’s more hard work ahead.”
Slater also praised “the feedback and advice” he has already received from Reds assistant coach Zane Hilton, a Nudgee College old boy.
“I’m originally from Adelaide so, of course, I played some Aussie rules as well as rugby down there as a kid. I can drop punt better than Bennett that’s for sure but I don’t think any of my forwards’ coaches want to see that in a game,” Slater said with a laugh.
Hilton has also been hands-on in the development of Slater’s former front-row partner and premiership skipper, 2024 old boy John Grenfell.
After a false start due to a hamstring injury, Reds Academy hooker Grenfell made a strong Colts 1 debut for University last Saturday.
It’s worth noting Nudgee College will not be taking its foot off the gas in 2025 after a streak of premierships earlier this decade.
After BBC won in 2020, Nudgee looked prime to take out the 2021 title before Covid cancelled the season after four games.
In 2022, TSS, Churchie and Nudgee College were joint premiers before the latter won the 2023 and 2024 competitions outright.
In the team vying for a fourth straight premiership this year, there are countless players on a path toward higher honours.
Along with Armistead and Slater (Reds), inside centre Bond Bradley, outside back Barry Taukolo (both Broncos), winger Eli Rauluni and outside centre Ethan Grimshaw (both Dolphins) are sure to spearhead the college’s premiership pursuit.
Originally published as Queensland Reds sign Nudgee College schoolboys Bennett Armistead and Levi Slater on multi-year Deals
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