Rugby League Gold Coast’s 36 breakout stars of the new season
The cream is already rising to the crop on the Gold Coast’s rugby league scene, with ex-NRL, ex-Queensland Cup and a host more future stars establishing their excellence. Read our take on each club’s breakout players.
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The cream is already rising to the crop on the Gold Coast’s rugby league scene, with ex-NRL, ex-Queensland Cup and a host more future stars establishing their excellence.
Read on for our take on each club’s breakout players of the 2025 season so far.
JAYDEN WRIGHT
Currumbin
A young front rower aligned to Tweed who is fighting to make his way to the NRL, Wright’s growing maturity as a footballer is taking him closer to that goal. Where the powerful middle made his mark as a raging bull character, inflicting as much pain with as much aggression as he could muster at every turn, the influence of Joel Thompson, Jarrod Gill and Kevin Proctor is helping Wright sustain his bruising style of play for longer. Against Southport in Round 1 Wright churned out big minutes while maintaining his speed through the ruck and strong footwork. Currumbin are resigned that in this kind of form, Wright won’t remain in A Grade for long.
JUWAAN COMPAIN
Currumbin
The former Titans development centre is still regaining his match fitness and has become one of A Grade’s most dangerous middle forwards. Few can match the PBC product’s blend of footy smarts, skill and size. Against Southport in Round 1 Compain took three hit-ups to inspire Currumbin to score in back-to-back sets. As he becomes fitter Compain could return to the wider expanses he dominated as a younger player.
JAMES BUSBY
Currumbin
Busby’s tryscoring streak came to an end in Round 2 but the fullback has already improved on his regular season try-scoring tally from last year. It took Busby until the finals for his first four-pointers of the year and matched that total in one game, against Southport, to open the new season. Coaches are impressed that Busby has learned to embrace constructive criticism of his game without fearing for his place in the team. With that mental barrier conquered, Busby is ready to turbocharge his development and become the leader the Eagles always believed he could be.
BAYLEN DONALD
Currumbin
The young backrower had his finest performance of the season with a man of the match effort against the Tugun Seahawks in the grand final rematch.
JAKEEM THOMPSON
Currumbin
Currumbin’s young halfback was another to improve on his Round 1 effort against Tugun, going head to head with Tugun’s key playmaker Tyrone Peachey. For a 20-year-old to duel Peachey, who played NRL last year, is a promising sign for his future and Currumbin’s premiership ambitions.
KAYLIN ROPATA
Currumbin
Rapata played his way into a contract with the Ipswich Jets last season and has returned to the club as he waits for his chance for more Queensland Cup minutes. Against Tugun Rapata featured in the second row and was Currumbin’s finest forward, outside of his backrow mate Baylan Donald.
NUKI WIKI and JADE WAIHI
Southport
The Kiwi props each played 70 minutes out of 80 against in Round 1 against Currumbin. The pair led from the front with their hit-ups and defensive efforts, which is what coach Todd Tasker wanted to see from them. They’ve only been over from New Zealand for about six weeks but have impressed with their quiet humility. In a young team they are relative battle-hardened in their late 20s.
MYLES ROSE
Southport
The newly-crowned Tiger King has led from the front with his defence and attack since assuming the captaincy. He played 80 minutes, which for a second rower with no trial matches under his belt, indicates the fitness he possesses. The Tigers needed his defensive contributions and Rose never let them down.
SCOTT MULLIGAN
Southport
The former club president dusted off the boots five minutes before kickoff and punched out 40 solid minutes at 40 years of age against Currumbin. His experience was vital and his performance would have impressed the hell out of his youngest teammates.
RILEY GADSBY
Southport
The ex-Currumbin lock only joined Southport the week of Round 1 but has brought a good defensive attitude. Gets in, does his work. Defensively sound, doesn’t miss too many tackles. Lives in Moreton Bay so travels down to play for the Tigers. Was man of the match for Southport in a big loss to Burleigh, playing 80 minutes.
BRIAN TSAI
Southport
Showed up and defended his backside off and delivered plenty of spark at the ruck. A memorable trysaving tackle was the highlight moment of the match against Burleigh in Round 2. Played about 60 mins acorss two stints.
TOM LLOYD
Southport
Toowoomba product was rock solid in 65 minutes against Burleigh before succumbing to an elbow injury.
KYLE WASSON
Helensvale
Ex-Burleigh right-edge backrower played 80 against his old club. The workhorse did everything right, didn’t miss a tackle. Spelled Eni Folau at lock. Worked well and he’s only 23, so got a lot in him. Has a potential Queensland Cup future. Stood up in the middle against Runaway Bay, filling in a void.
CAMERON NEWELL
Helensvale
Newell had played big minutes and run and tackled well. Communicated well with young fellas. For a big bloke who doesn’t look particularly fit, he’s got big minutes him and will only improve. He’s got a bit of pudding - not a Sam Burgess type - but the Hornets can depend on him for 40 minutes a game and expect that figure to rise.
CALEB ISAIA
Helensvale
This day and age centres are more like second-rowers anywya. Did a lot of carrying out fo danger, defence was solid. Good ball skilsl and reads defences well. He’ll get better playing alongside the boys.
BRAYDEN YOUNG
Helensvale
He was just tough and looked after the middle.
CAMPBELL PIRIHI
Helensvale
Scored tries, kicked goals, ran well off the platform set by Brayden Young and Kyle Wasson. Could tell he was hungry for redemption after his sin-binning in Round 1 attracted controversy.
RYAN JONES
Burleigh
Was behind one of the finest tries of the season with a superb slipped offload inside for Blake Scott to score against Helensvale. It was the cherry on top of a performance filled with heavy carries, dragging two or three defenders at a time. His contact hitting-and-sticking plus his communication also impressed coaches.
BAILEY MCCONNELL
Burleigh
The 19-year-old Palm Beach Currumbin graduate has Queensland Cup or even the NRL written all over his future. Against Helensvale in Round 1 McConnell showed he was an attacking threat with balance through contact and leg drive yielding a try and almost another. Defensively, he has a strong shoulder - he is deceptively strong, full stop. With improvement as a communicator and a game manager McConnell will be the complete package, because his running game is already up there with the best in A Grade.
JORDON SCOTT
Burleigh
In 60 solid minutes against Helensvale Scott was one of Burleigh’s rock solid defenders.
Helensvale only got on the scoreboard when Scott left the field and he went to another level again in a resounding win over Southport - the club he departed this off-season. Two of his three tries were from trademark show-and-go’s near the tryline which the Tigers were unable to answer.
MATT EGAN
Burleigh
Egan’s wayward goalkicking was put under the microscope by coach Matt Foster after Round 1 and responded in incredible fashion.
Against Southport Egan nailed 15 goals from 15 attempts, including a handful from the right sideline - the hardest spot on the field for a right-footed kicker to convert.
JAKE GLEESON
Burleigh
The backrower ran good honest lines against Southport and set up a couple of tries in the last 15 minutes of the game after moving into the halves.
DAN SHANNON
Runaway Bay
The front rower was rock solid in Runaway Bay’s losing effort against the Tugun Seahawks in Round 1. As a fresh recruit Shannon covered himself in glory on club debut. He led from the front row and played all 60 minutes of the shortened match.
BAILEY BARTLEY
Runaway Bay
Bartley ran the perfect support line to score on his own club debut and was generally tidy.
Q MURRAY
Runaway Bay
His experience has been a well for Runaway Bay’s younger brigade. Murray defused some difficult high balls and made good yardage with each carry out of trouble. He was tested by Tyrone Peachey in Round 1’s defeat to Tugun and more often than not came up trumps. In Round 2’s incredible comeback over Helensvale he moved to five-eighth, replacing Casey Harding, and was man of the match. He was instrumental, with good hands and vision. He made big inroads, was great defensively and made a few breaks - including the matchwinner from 60m out. At 25 he’s already a senior player at Bay.
MATT CANNING
Runaway Bay
Simply outstanding off the bench against Helensvale, Canning was pipped only by Murray as man of the match against Helensvale. Canning set up three tries, dropping people underneath or double cut-outs, and his kicking game on fourth tackle helped flip the field position battle towards the ‘Gulls.
ZACH MCCORMACK
Runaway Bay
Scored a fine try against Helensvale and set up another as Runaway Bay stormed back from certain defeat to stun the Hornets.
KYLE WILLIAMS
Tugun
The Seahawks’ best-on-ground player against Runaway Bay in Round 1 is showing why he’s one of the most elusive fullbacks in the competition. Quick, good on his feet - which is fortunate because he isn’t the biggest around - but his confidence attacking the ball is clear. Williams scored a Billy Slater-esque try after taking an inside ball through a pocket of lazy defenders and set up another to put the cherry on top. Every time he’s around the ball alarm bells are ringing for defenders because he’s so quick and difficult to grab hold of.
Tyrone Peachey
Tugun
The most pleasing thing about Peachey’s Rugby League Gold Coast A Grade debut wasn’t the flashy, big plays, but it was in defence. His physical presence has been the biggest surprise package of the Tugun five-eighth though it makes complete sense. It was less than five years ago that the Titans went on a winning streak with Peachey playing at lock so there’s no shortage of ability.
Mitch Rein
Tugun
Didn’t play a full match in Round 1 but he’s still extremely sharp, as evidenced with a show-and-go try scything through inattentive defenders. Defensively, Rein has been outstanding also. In a shortened period of time the former Titan, Dragon and Eel got through a ton of work while his service from dummyhalf is the best coach Will Johnstone has ever seen. He was just as good in Round 2’s win over Currumbin.
Jaman Rio
Tugun
Rio was instructed not to forget to challenge the line with the ball in hand in the second half of the win over Runaway Bay and it brought out the best in the former Southport Tiger and Townsville Blackhawks. With Peachey by his side, Tugun may have landed the most dangerous 1-2 halves punch in the competition.
Michael Schipp
Tugun
Schipp was the unanimous man of the match in Round 2’s thrilling victory over Currumbin with outstanding physical defence. The backrower was merciless in inflicting pain in the grand final rematch.
Junior Filimaua
Tugun
Filimaua was super impressive coming off the bench against Currumbin. A real high-impact edge backrower who hits the ball with speed. Coming out of the Tweed system, Filimaua accelerates into contact with or without the ball. His fearlessness is his main trait. Damaging physicaly, got stuck in to rivals. He continued to deliver no matter how fatigued he got.
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