Hospital Cup young guns: Who are the best U23 players at each club?
Hospital Cup young guns: Who are the emerging players under the age of 23 in club rugby? Over 40 profiled here as the future of the Norths’ nest looks in safe hands. FULL LIST
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The StoreLocal Hospital Cup is rife with young guns playing beyond their years. With a bumper season ahead of us, we uncover some of the finest youngsters in the competition, 22 years old or younger.
AIC FIRST XV RUGBY PLAYERS TO WATCH
Players in this story were born in 2001 or later and have played first grade already this season.
HOSPITAL CUP YOUNG GUNS
Daniel Maiava (Wests)
A product of The Grange P-12 College and Wyndham City Rhinos, Daniel Maiava is renowned for his damaging runs, big hits and soft passing. The powerful Lock and backrow was selected as Queensland’s GPS Rugby Best Forward of the Year for 2021. Maiva has played three games with the Rebels after graduating from the Academy Program.
James Martens (Wests)
Martens has been a bolt from the blue since being glimpsed by the wider rugby community when he was named in the BBC First XV side two-thirds of the way through last season’s GPS competition. The son of three-time Springbok Hentie Martens, James was a revelation then and has maintained momentum in club land, including scoring two tries for Wests in Premier Rugby last Saturday in absence of Louis Werchon.
Mason Gordon (Wests)
It is BBC old boy reunion when halfback Martens (2023), mentioned above, teams with Gordon (2020) in the halves at the Bulldogs. The conductor of BBC’s 2020 First XV premiership win, Gordon has all the tricks in the book for a No. 10. Most importantly he knows what to choose and when from his box of tricks.
Glen and David Vaihu (Wests)
What a treat it is for the Bulldogs faithful to have the floor show these two boys can produce on a rugby field. The light stepping winger Glen is an instinctive player while outside centre David, to be perfectly honest, is almost as good as any No. 13 in the nation. The pies would seem hotter and the beers cooler when the Terrace old boy brothers get cracking. It is a real family affair at the Kennel, with their brother Sau in the back row.
Lebron Naea (Wests)
Fast, strong, and promising.
The Melbourne Rebels Academy ace is not far from breaking through, and he has been going along nicely under coach Elwee Prinsloo at the Kennel this season.
Was a first class Colts 1 player at the club before stepping up into the top team.
Baguio Johnson-Tiumalu
The powerful Wests forward has not featured heavily for the Bulldogs so far, but is a player of the future.
The mobile big man impressed Reds coach Les Kiss in the Super Rugby preseason, and had even travelled with the team on away games this season.
The Forest Lake Wasps junior and Reds Academy brute out of St Peters is young, agile and only getting better.
Louis Werchon (Wests)
The Reds representative is a sublime No. 9 who, like all the good ones, seems to have time on his hands - even when he has eight opposition forwards tripping over themselves to get to him through a lineout. He is well organised, can run a match with his kicking game and knows when to back his running game.
George Blake (Bond University)
A part of The Southport School’s vast factory which churns out elite sporting talent, the Reds prop or hooker has earned top billing on the back of his work ethic. He has worked extremely hard at his craft, having had to compete against larger players in his position. He tends to use his power, strength and speed to his advantage. At TSS he was a leader, popular among the TSS community for his humility, good humour and positive outlook.
Zebediah Misios (Bond University)
A promising all-rounder from Coffs Harbour, Misios is Colts 1 eligible but has played out of skin in two games for the club’s first grade side.
There is no one thing about Misios’ game that stands out. He is genuinely an all-rounder, a country boy who impacts the game with his lineout work, ball carrying, and of course his defence.
Can play flanker or No. 8, and at this stage a return to Colts 1 looks unlikely.
Fergus Gillan (Bond University)
Gillan is exactly the type of lock who will get better and better, the more he gathers experience playing among the men. An inspiring leader with aggressive and great hands at school level with TSS, Gillan is a 1.98m power forward with athletic ability. Watch him progress under master coach Mick Heenan at Bond.
Dylan Loader (Bond University)
A towering lock, Loader would be well over 200cm and is getting better with every experience.
The Southern Cross Marlins junior has represented the Reds under-19s and is a swift mover across the paddock.
Ieuan Cornelius (Bond University)
The Helensavle Hogs junior is a specimen, a strong, robust winger who makes metres in contact.
Still Colts 1 eligible, Cornelius played first grade at the weekend but will to-and-fro between the two teams.
He is a good prospect, not as quick as first grade flyer Hamish Roberts but he is strong, and will not go backwards in contact.
Lukas Ripley (Bond University)
22-year-old Ripley has flare and the Bullsharks are hoping for his best this season at outside centre.
Contracted by the Rebels, the BBC old boy plays Hospital Cup when he is not in the matchday 23, just like the Vaihu brothers, Ethan Dobbins, and Daniel Maiava.
The best of Ripley is right around the corner.
Oliver Barrett (Bond University)
Barrett is the type of bloke who, in the olden days, the boss would have given the weekly takings to so he could walk them to the bank on a Friday afternoon and deposit them. He’s dependable, and strong. Barrett won the Nudgee squat record for the First XV last year, lifting 237 kgs. He is very good in the set piece, lineout and scrum.
Harry Bell (Bond University)
A tough prop out of rugby stronghold St Joseph’s, Bell was a John Eales Scholarship recipient last season.
Still developing his game, the Reds Academy member is a powerful front-rower who will likely bounce between Colts 1 and first grade this year.
Dre Pakeho (Brothers)
Pakeho is the complete centre really and it is no surprise he has fitted into first grade when he was still eligible for a second season in colts. He’s a great defender, an explosive individual runner but someone who also has a good pass game both before the line and in contact.
Finn Prass (Brothers)
Sunshine Coast Grammar product Finn Prass played just one year of Colts 1 (2023) at Brothers before being elevated into the Hospital Cup side where he is a more than capable fullback or flyhalf.
The Western Force Academy ace has a booming kick which will trouble opposition fullbacks for years to come.
Will Cartwright (Brothers)
After a titanic Colts 1 campaign last season, there was no way Brothers coach Ben McCormack could keep this livewire scrumhalf out of his Hospital Cup side.
Cartwright has been providing a boost of energy off the bench, beating talented Brothers halfbacks Oscar Varricchio and Will Johnstone to the No. 21 jersey behind club stalwart Isaac Tarabay.
Cartwright, Varricchio and Johnstone all attended rugby stronghold Nudgee.
Tim Ryan (Brothers)
The elusive Brothers winger made his Queensland debut at the age of 20 in round four of the season and in limited game time this season, he has done a great job.
The 20-year-old St Patrick’s, Shorncliffe old boy, the same school as Ryan Smith, is the long term successor of Suliasi Vunivalu.
Gets his start this weekend in the biggest clash of the season against the Blues.
Jake Kurbatoff (Souths)
The 19-year-old lock moved up into the club’s first grade side after powering the Colts 1 side to a minor premiership as the Under-20s Player of the Year.
He has come back bigger and stronger and looks right at home against the best Queensland has to offer in the Hospital Cup.
He has a bright future at the Magpies.
Taj Annan (Souths)
The utility back from Newcastle was a terrific rugby player, and cricket captain, at BBC where he finished in 2021. After helping Easts to a shared premiership in his first year of Colts 1 (2022), Annan has returned from an off-season injury and is back to full fitness with the Magpies.
Capable of playing at flyhalf, in the centres, or even fullback, Annan became even more Super Rugby ready over the summer, putting on nearly 10 kilograms and growing a couple of centimetres.
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Souths)
The exciting Reds playmaker is one of the state’s most promising flyhalfs coming through.
A Gunnedah Red Devils junior, McLaughlin-Phillips was a winger in BBC’s historic GPS rugby premiership in 2020 but came into his own as a No. 10 in the 2022 Colts 1 season for Souths. A strong campaign that year culminated in Reds under-19s selection and a Australian Under-18s call up, followed by Junior Wallaby the next winter.
He has performed admirably so far this season for the Reds, who have tremendous depth in the flyhalf and centre positions.
Ethan McFarland (University)
The damaging midfielder has been with the Red Heavies for over four years now, after finishing up his schooling at The Gap State High.
The schoolboy representative centre was freakish at Colts level and has stepped up into a starting role under coach Elton Berrange this season.
Will get better as the season progresses.
Mac Grealy (University)
He won’t play for the Red Heavies this weekend but everyone knows what this pacy winger is about.
He has made the No.11 jersey his own this season at the Reds.
Bas Ward (GPS)
22-year-old playmaker Ward can often be seen perfecting his craft on the Des Connor Fields in Ashgrove, in preparation for battle on Saturday. A crafty No. 10 with natural vision carrying the ball, he is also a goalkicker who has his best footy ahead of him. He is a former GPS colts 1 premiership winner whose uncles were former Wallabies and GPS stalwarts, Anthony and Daniel Herbert.
Floyd Aubrey (GPS)
Reds contracted outside back Floyd Aubrey was well and truly hitting his straps this season, spearheading GPS to a positive two-from-three start.
His instinctual attack has been to the fore, and with more matches under his belt GPS supporters can definitely expect more highlights from the Murgon product who honed his skills down the road from GPS at Marist Ashgrove.
Could make his Super Rugby Pacific debut off the bench this weekend with Les Kiss giving Mac Grealy a rest.
Campbell Moller (GPS)
The thickly set Moller has come through the GPS junior ranks and now finds himself the starting outside centre in Premier Rugby. He is no Flash Dan, but knows his trade and gets the job done and would be great to play either side of. He wouldn’t let you down.
Ben Byrne (GPS)
22-year-old No. 8 of flanker Byrne returned to GPS this season after a brief stint playing rugby overseas and has been a key cog in his team’s forward pack.
His older brother Daniel, who has well over 100 senior caps at the club, is his lock partner, while Baker was his Colts 1 premiership winning backrower from 2021.
Nick Baker (GPS)
GPS junior Baker, a backrower, is off to a fine start this season after his 2022 and 2023 campaigns were hindered by injury.
A Junior Wallaby selection (2022), Baker is turning 21 this year and is already one of the more experienced campaigners at Yoku road.
Baker prides himself on working hard, hitting hard, and supporting the play - and has representative rugby in his sights.
Brody McLaren (Sunnybank)
The utility back graduated from St Laurence’s College last year and made his Hospital Cup debut in round three where he displayed virtually no nerves.
He steered the Dragons around the paddock well and has a strong running game to go along with his passing game.
Oscar McCarthy (Sunnybank)
A youngster who has landed at the ‘Bank this season, McCarthy is a ready made Hospital Cup halfback who has impressed his peers this season.
Oliver Harris (Norths)
An Emerging front rower out of Villanova, Harris has come to life in the Eagles pack to begin the season and with more experience, he could prove a significant player for Norths.
He has come back this season a bigger, stronger, hungrier forward giant.
Leo Langbridge (Norths)
A Queensland Country under-19s representative, Langbridge is a Noosa boy establishing himself in Queensland’s top competition as a fit, hard working forward who does a bit of everything on the field.
The 21-year-old set up a wonderful Norths try at the weekend.
Connor O’Regan (Norths)
21-year-old O’Regan, a St Patrick’s old boy, is enjoying his fourth year of first grade despite his young age.
He played three games of Colts 1 in 2021, his second year out of school, and then was elevated into the club’s first grade side that season.
He has not looked back.
Jackson Connelly (Norths)
A 21-year-old out of Brisbane State High, representative winger Connelly is a player of considerable promise.
He is as honest as the day is long, and uses his physicality to his advantage when towering kicks come his way.
Opponents should not expect a free passage to the line when Connelly is in sight.
Mackenzie Fox (Norths)
A 20-year-old winger out of Padua, Norths junior Fox has come into his own this year.
Indeed this Norths backline is young, fast and exciting.
Will McCulloch (Norths)
The Australian Under-20s squad member is a player of high potential and Norths have been unlocking his best at fullback this season.
The Padua old boy scored a try last weekend in a 20-all draw with Sunnybank and could be one of Australia’s strike weapons when the Under-20 Rugby Championships unfold at the Sunshine Coast Stadium early next month.
Hamish Muir (Norths)
Still just 21 years of age, Villanova product Muir has been a strong contributor to Norths’ success over recent years.
An electric Colts player, Muir has proved just as dangerous against men with his footwork a staple of his game.
Slippery.
Josh Mongard (Norths)
Norths’ top forward, 21-year-old State High old boy and hooker Mongard has been first class to begin the season.
The club’s Colt of the Year in 2021, Mongard had spent time in the Force Academy, after representing the Reds Under-19s (2021).
A big, physical player who takes to the dirty work.
Massimo De Lutiis (Easts)
An elite prop who came out of the high class The Southport School. Tremendously mobile front rower, strong as an ox who lifts weight for fun. Indeed earlier his year he broke the official in-house Reds bench press record of 202.5kg previously set by Taniela Tupou. He has now broken into the Reds as a second half tight forward replacement.
Xavier Boyle (Easts)
The towering lock out of Gregory Terrace was somewhat of a junior prodigy, making his First XV debut as a Year 10 student. After his time at Terrace, Boyle was a loyal servant in the Easts Colts 1 pack.
Now he is plucking lineouts in first grade, his first season as a regular starter.
George Stoddart (Easts)
He comes from Tiger Town royalty, with his dad Tim and brother Ben having played before him at Bottomley Park. A former Churchie captain, the back rower is as reliable as a Japanese bullet train and an enhancement to any side. He puts his head in places his mother would be mortified to know.
Henry Wilson (Easts)
Hard on the ball, Wilson reminds us a little of David Pocock or Michael Hooper.
He loves to win the ball at the breakdown, and is a player who could lead Easts into the future.
A Colts 1 premiership winner at Tigerland, Wilson fended off fierce internal competition for the No. 7 jumper but has made it his own in a short amount of time this season.
Meli Dreu (Easts)
Dreu had been one of the best colts 1 players for several years where he was an impact player with his runs and ability to send an opponent on his way. He is a strong tackler and a terrific runner from fullback, although he can play centre with ease. It is no surprise he has played seven-a-side for Queensland, and he has been a trusted performer for the club’s Hospital Cup side over the last three seasons.
Originally published as Hospital Cup young guns: Who are the best U23 players at each club?
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