Five up-and-coming stars for Intrust Super Cup clubs Burleigh Bears and Tweed Heads Seagulls

WITH the Intrust Super Cup season moving from the home-and-away phase into finals, the Bulletin takes a look at five little-known young guns from the two Gold Coast sides who have produced breakthrough seasons.

WITH the Intrust Super Cup season moving from the home-and-away phase into finals, the Bulletin takes a look at five little-known young guns from the two Gold Coast sides who have produced breakthrough seasons.

Troy Leo

Troy Leo. Picture: SMP Images

Club: Burleigh

Age: 23

Position: Wing

Born: Takapuna, NZ

Junior club: Northcote Tigers

Still relatively raw, the excitement machine has gone from a fringe player to become just about an automatic selection week in, week out. Has scored 14 tries in 17 games this year and would not look out of place with a Titans pre-season deal in his hands.

Kirk Murphy

Kirk Murphy (middle) runs the ball for Tweed Heads against Wynnum Manly. Picture: James Owen

Club: Tweed Heads

Age: 22

Position: Lock

Born: Tweed Heads

Junior club: Tweed Coast Raiders

Exciting prospect made a mark with multiple best-on performances late in the season. Racked up impressive numbers along with the way, including delivering the 40-plus tackles and 100-plus running metres double in consecutive games.

Kai O’Donnell

Kai O’Donnell goes close to scoring against Wynnum Manly. Picture: SMP Images

Club: Burleigh

Age: 19

Position: Lock/hooker

Born: Gold Coast

Junior club: Whitsunday Brahmans

Got his chance mid-season when the Bears were injury-affected and has impressed so much in nine games since that he has made it impossible for coach Jimmy Lenihan to leave him out. What the workhorse lacks in size, he makes up for in effort.

Jack Cook

Jack Cook. Picture: SMP Images

Club: Tweed Heads

Age: 22

Position: Hooker/utility

Born: Auckland, NZ

Junior club: Northcote Tigers

Tough and versatile, Cook had a breakout season where he played 15 games and gradually edged Seagulls stalwart Sam Meskell for the bench hooker role. Also provides halves and back-row coverage.

Kody Parsons

Kody Parsons during Tweed’s Rugby League Gold Coast qualifying final against Runaway Bay last weekend. Picture: Jerad Wiliams

Club: Tweed Heads

Age: 20

Position: Centre

Born: Queanbeyan, NSW

Junior club: Queanbeyan Kangaroos

Former Gold Coast Titans under-20 player, Parsons benefited from an excellent pre-season to work his way up the pecking order and prove he has what it takes at state league level. Will continue to improve as his physical development progresses.