NRL: Top Gold Coast talents Zane Harrison, Sam Stephenson elevated to the Titans’ NRL squad
Two of the Gold Coast’s most promising rugby league talents have been rewarded for their exceptional seasons with full-time NRL deals at the Titans. Details.
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Two of the Gold Coast’s most promising rugby league talents have been rewarded for their exceptional seasons with full-time NRL deals at the Titans.
It was confirmed today that Palm Beach Currumbin SHS duo Zane Harrison and Sam Stephenson had been elevated to the Gold Coast’s NRL squad as full-time development players from 2025.
The news comes less than a week after the pair clinched a famous NRL national schoolboys title with PBC in one of the most thrilling national finals ever played.
Harrison starred in the two-point win over Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown, and his centimetre-perfect bomb with less than two minutes on the clock set up the matchwinning try.
PBC coach Tim Maccan had lofty praise for the talented half after the game.
“He’s the best player in the competition in my eyes, and he’s the number one halfback for his age in Australia in my opinion,” Maccan said
“He’s the type of player where you just give him the keys and he drives it for you. I love him. He’s been my halfback for the last three years and he’s been unbelievable.”
Harrison cleaned up in the schoolboys space this year after he was awarded the Peter Sterling Medal for the best player in the NRL National Schoolboys Cup, the Justin Hodges Medal for the best Langer Trophy player, player of the match in the national final, and player of the match in the Langer Trophy final.
He’s a well-rounded half who can lead his side’s attack and his kicking game is particularly elite. He also thrives in big moments, as evidenced by his plethora of player of the match awards in big finals.
In May, both Harrison and Stephenson won the Mal Meninga Cup with the Tweed Seagulls, and Harrison was crowned player of the match in that final too.
Stephenson is the son of former NRL player Paul Stephenson, a powerful centre who hits and sticks.
He has speed to burn as well.
He cracked the Queensland under-19s and Australian schoolboys side this year, and will represent the latter against France and Papua New Guinea next month.
The pair will begin training with Gold Coast’s NRL squad from November, and Titans general manager of football Anthony Laffranchi said the duo’s progression to the NRL squad was a testament to the Titans’ pathway program.
“Both Sam and Zane are impressive young talents and it’s great to see them progress from our Future Titans program to the NRL squad,” Laffranchi said.
“They both got a taste of a NRL pre-season last year as pathways products and didn’t disappoint – the pair having their train-and-trial deals extended into the new year, before going on to have exemplary seasons at both club and schoolboy level.
“We’re really looking forward to welcoming the duo to our squad when we begin pre-season preparations in November.”
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