Keebra Park coach Glen Campbell names Kingi Akauola the school’s best talent never to make it

“You go back to the 2006 clips and you’ll see how he took care of (defending) Israel Folau for us when he played for Marsden. He was the biggest one.”

Kingi Akauola runs the ball for the Titans under-20s team. His career took him to Wests Tigers, Tweed Seagulls, Southport Tigers and Runaway Bay Seagulls.

Keebra Park head coach Glen Campbell has seen just about it all in 17 years at Queensland’s most famous rugby league nursery.

Some of the NRL’s biggest stars first walked through the school’s gates as nothing more than kids with a dream and a talent.

Usually it’s pretty clear which of those are destined for the biggest stages.

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“It took me a full year to find out Dave Fifita was going to make it,” Campbell said.

“Then again he was only 13 at the time.”

But for every Fifita, Payne Haas or Ben Te’o to pull on the Keebra jersey is another who despite all the talent in the world never got their chance.

Campbell didn’t hesitate when asked who was the greatest Keebra Park talent that never made it.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2006: Back L-R Ben Tobler, Nathan Sullivan, Leo Vaiga, Sioeli Makaui, Tui Vea (front L-R) Kingi Akauola, Brad DePaul, Ken Edwards, Bodie Clarke from Keebra Park High School are off to the Arrive Alive Cup National finals. PicLisa/Clarke

“The biggest one was Kingi Akauola,” the coach said.

“Kingi was a centre that could find the tryline and was physical.

“You go back to the 2006 clips and you’ll see how he took care of (defending) Israel Folau for us when he played for Marsden.

“He was a standout but there are plenty of them, unusual kids who’ve come through and whether it’s fate or not they never got their shot.

“He went to Wests (Tigers) but they couldn’t manage him and now he’s playing for Runaway Bay.”

Kingi Akauola runs the ball for the Titans under-20s team. His career took him to Wests Tigers, Tweed Seagulls, Southport Tigers and Runaway Bay Seagulls.

Others simply needed more time.

“Sam Moa was one of Keebra’s most dominant props but it took him a few years to get his shot with the Roosters,” Campbell said.

“Kenny Edwards was a late bloomer.

“Liam Hanson is a hooker floating around that should have made it but his size held him back, which I disagreed with.”

The Bulletin’s full interview with Keebra Park coach Glen Campbell will appear in Saturday’s Gold Coast Bulletin.