We name your ultimate QLD schoolboys team of the season

The votes are in and now we can reveal the ultimate Queensland schoolboys team of the season as decided by you. Find out who made the starting side here. Did readers get it right?

The future of rugby league in Queensland is in safe hands.

This year the Sunshine State’s best and brightest schoolboy rugby league stars proved themselves against elite opposition.

With the 2023 season wrapped we asked our readers to vote for their favourite schoolboy league stars and now we can reveal the ultimate side.

The Cathedral College fullback Mutua Brown.

1. Mutua Brown (TCC)

One of the most exciting prospects in the game, Brown was instrumental in TCC making the Dolphins Cup grand final. The Australian Schoolboys representative finished the competition with a bag of tries.

2. Mataio Tapau-Bon (St Brendan’s)

Tapau-Bon was a standout for St Brendan’s. His ability to finish off backline movements and shut down opposition attacks was second to none.

3. Will Shears (St Patrick’s)

Shears captained the Mackay Cutters’ Under 18 team this year. He can play multiple positions and is already contracted to North Queensland Cowboys.

4. Sam Durkin (Emmaus)

Durkin was one of Emmaus’s best week in, week out. His carries out of yardage and his try-scoring strike rate was outstanding.

5. Bailey Anderson (St Patrick’s)

The Melbourne Storm contracted winger is a strong finisher who expertly positions himself to make the most of the opportunities his team creates. Anderson finished this year’s Aaron Payne Cup as the leading tryscorer.

6. Clancy Hohn (Emmaus)

Hohn was Emmaus’ best all year. His ability to create for players around him has been a real highlight. His defence is also unheralded, which is a real feather in his cap.

St Pat's Jaxon Purdue during the Phil Hall Cup final between Palm Beach Currumbin and St Patrick's College. Picture: Matthew Elkerton

7. Jaxon Purdue (St Patrick’s)

The co-captain and North Queensland Cowboys contracted star lead by example this year, took control of his fair share of games and finished the Aaron Payne Cup tied as the leading try scorer.

8. Baylee Meilland (Emmaus)

Meilland has had an enormous 2023. Capras under-18 and Capricornia open schoolboys 18s player, he is an all-round leader of the forward pack.

9 Xavier Kerrisk (St Patrick’s)

The Mackay Cutters star and North Queensland Cowboys contracted star troubled plenty of defences with his running out of dummy half this season.s

10 Alex Leapai (Mabel Park SHS)

The No. 1 prop in the competition, Leapai was Mabel Park’s front row battleship, their spiritual leader. The Gold Coast Titans have a good one here.

11 Elijah Tapau Taylor (Kirwan)

The towering backrower will head south at the end of the year to link with the Parramatta Eels. Single-handedly turned the Aaron Payne Cup semi-final in his team’s favour with a second half try scoring double earlier this year.

12 Jack Biles (TCC)

Biles’s game has gone to another level under the guidance of mentor Tony Martin. His ability to beat the first defender and his competitiveness have been a real marker of his importance to TCC’s game plan in 2023.

13. John Fineanganofo (Redcliffe SHS)

Redcliffe SHS’s Australian schoolboys representative played injured from round 4, but still makes our squad with ease. Clever ballplayer who could also play tough in the middle or run on the fringe of the ruck.

OUR BENCH

Braelen Marsh (hooker, St Brendans)

Tyler Shandiman (forward, St Patricks)

Carter Ford (forward, St Brendans)

Bailey McConnell (five-eighth, PBC SHS)

Originally published as We name your ultimate QLD schoolboys team of the season