Connelly Lemuelu: Keebra Park superteam celebrates sixth NRL debut

Nearly half of Keebra Park’s legendary 2016 team have made it to the NRL. Now a new talent is set to join Payne Haas, David Fifita, Moeaki Fotuaika, Tom Mikaele and Tanah Boyd in first grade.

If even one player from a high school rugby league team can climb into an NRL side it’s usually cause for celebration.

At Keebra Park, Saturday night will see a sixth player from the 2016 Senior A team make his NRL debut, when 21-year-old Connelly Lemuelu starts on the Cowboys’ wing against the Tigers.

Lemuelu watched on from the sidelines as former teammates Payne Haas, Dave Fifita, Moeaki Fotuaika, Tanah Boyd and Tom Mikaele got their opportunities first.

Connelly Lemuelu (#1 jersey) in the team huddle for the 2016 Australian Schools final. Picture: Supplied

Now the 190 centimetre, 106 kilogram backline utility has earned his shot as well.

His former coach Glen Campbell recalls the Auckland-born prospect batting away interest from rugby union to move to the Gold Coast and attend the famous nursery from 2015.

“He was a class footballer – big bloke, I thought he’d be a centre but he played fullback for us because he had the skills that he could have played five-eighth,” Campbell said.

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Connelly Lemuelu. North Queensland Cowboys training at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

“He was heavily targeted by union but took the chance to try his hand at Keebra.

“He’ll do the job on the wing but his ball skills and ability to read the game is exceptional.

“He’ll take that opportunity with both hands and he won’t let anyone down.”

Lemuelu will become the sixth NRL player to emerge from Keebra’s 2016 national finalists side to but Campbell expects at least one more player will emerge in time.

Gold Coast Titans outside back Ioane Seiuli was only in Grade 11 that season but returned in 2017 to avenge the school’s heartbreaking national final defeat to Westfield Sports High.

“He’s in the Titans now so he could definitely be possible,” Campbell said.

“He’s a rangy centre and once he grows up a little he could make it as well.”

Even if Seiuli becomes NRL player No.7, the legendary 2009 Keebra team with Isaac Liu, Ben Murdoch-Masila and Agnatius Passi will reign supreme in the school’s annals.

Eight players in total from that side went on to NRL debuts.