The 2025 Harvey Norman Under-19 rugby league Team of the Season
Named: The 2025 Harvey Norman U19 Team of the Season. The bumper squad includes players from Cairns to Tweed and everywhere in between. See who made it here.
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Here they are, the best of the best players from the Harvey Norman under-19 representative league season which concluded last Saturday with the Tigers deservedly winning the premiership.
If you ever wonder where the next generation NRLW players come from, ponder no further and write down some of these names.
The class of ‘25 was brimming with elite athletes and power forwards who have representative football written all over them.
So here is News Corp’s Team of the Season.
TEAM OF THE SEASON
1. Fleur Ginn (Easts Tigers)
A recent signing by Parramatta for the 2025 and 2026 NRLW seasons, Ginn gave her best to the Tigers across their 2024 and 2025 campaigns - which yielded second and first place finishes.
Talented, tenacious and skilful, the sporting all-rounder - who excelled in rugby 7s while a member of the Reds Sevens Academy for four years - had a stunning season at the back for Easts.
It would not surprise seeing her thrust into a matchday 17 later this year for the Eeels, so dependable is she on both sides of the ball.
2. Jen Kimber (Mackay Cutters)
An elite outside back who has been brilliant over the past three seasons of under-19s representative footy.
Kimber, a fullback capable of playing centre well, was taken outside of her comfort zone to grow her game when switching from right centre to fullback where she was more involved and it has worked wonders for Mackay.
To squeeze a galaxy of stars into the Team of the Season, we named the Moranbah product on the wing.
3. Brianna Toopi (Burleigh Bears)
A former elite gymnast, Toopi entered 2025 with high expectations - and she delivered in spades.
The 2024 Coombabah SHS school captain started with a four try performance and she never lost stride across the duration of the competition.
She was lethal with the ball and was always going to make the Team of the Season after being a reliable, damaging and diligent left centre.
She had six tries within the first two games and finished with eight across six matches.
4. Phoenix-Raine Hippi (Tweed Seagulls)
A former Australian Schoolgirls representative and part of the Titans’ development squad in 2025, Hippi is an attacking ace who, if given an inch, will take a mile.
Defensively she was particularly strong this season, bedding down that aspect of her game to be impenetrable at times in her third under-19s season.
The softly spoken eldest of six - who hails from Cabbage Tree Island and attended Ballina State High - represented her family, teammates and club with dignity as captain.
5. Bella Thompson (Burleigh Bears)
One of three fullbacks in this promising team, Thompson was a trump card with her athletic ability, speed and sixth sense around the ruck. Her toughness was something else.
The sleek-moving Miami State High product also used her pace to defuse clearing kicks and give her side a quality restart from the defensive end of the field.
Regularly raised the bar with her ability to rebound from big collisions and get back to business slicing through defence and sweeping onto the ball out wide.
6. Savannah Roberts-Hickling (Tweed Seagulls)
Another thrilling Northern Rivers product who went to school alongside Hippi, Hickling had her hand in plenty as Tweed’s terrific halfback.
Hickling’s glorious hands and vision could create chances for her outside players, while her strong running game was also threatening when she backed herself.
The cousin of NRL centre Brian Kelly, Hickling can also play centre with ease and was a natural fit in this side.
7. Ella-Jaye Harrison-Leaunoa (Ipswich Jets)
A Queensland Under 19 emerging squad member, Harrison-Leaunoa looked the class act she is orchestrating Ipswich’s attack this season.
The captain was at times was pushing a wheelbarrow uphill against quality opposition and she still finished the season with gold stars pinned to her jersey.
Her rugged defence was just as good as her constant involvement in attack which saw her shoulder so much responsibility. She is used to stepping up.
In 2023 the Goodna gun played No.7 in the Eagle’s premiership winning Holcim Cup (South East Queensland women’s competition) team.
8. Fanua Rimoni (Norths Devils)
Along with her friend Riana Le’afa-Paki who was one of the competition’s most influential new players, prop Rimoni was a one-woman wrecking machine who made a thud in her first season.
The magnificent middle forward from beautiful Wainuiomata, New Zealand, would crash forward without fear of self preservation - and then rise to play the ball quickly.
She was responsible for much of Norths momentum and matched motors with any and everyone.
9. Nadia Windleborn (Burleigh Bears)
The dynamic Burleigh hooker won the hotly contested No.9 jersey from a long list of contenders. A Queensland Under 19 emerging squad member, Robina Raptors junior Windleborn was a threat off the back of momentum, while also bringing her forwards onto the ball and servicing her halves crisply.
Her agility, energy and enormous work rate also allowed her to attack with her defence and tidy things up nicely for Burleigh.
Played till the wheels fell off.
10. Lishainah Ulugia (Easts Tigers)
A proud Ipswich SHS product, Ulugia was the leader of the pack on grand final day where she cut an inspiring figure in the biggest match of the season. The Tigers ended up winning 30-6 against the Clydesdales.
The Bundamba bulldozer’s power game was too hot to handle for opposing teams this season, with the Tigers running off the back of her forward dominance and ability to get a pass away or a quick play the ball.
A forward with the soft hands and skills of a spine player, goalkicking gun Ulugia was elite at lock or as a middle.
11. Lisa Waireg (Northern Pride)
A wonderful second rower, originally from the fertile breeding grounds of Innisfail but now in Yarrabah, who was absolutely outstanding for the Pride.
Waireg’s strength and footwork troubled all defences, while also able to promote the ball in contact. She thoroughly deserved top billing in the side.
When it came to Saturday, her teammates and coaching staff knew what to expect. Waireg was ready and raring to make a massive difference.
12. Deleni Paitai (Redcliffe Dolphins)
Just ruthless.
Redcliffe’s rampaging edge forward, Paitai repeated the dose in 2025 after a stellar calendar year saw her gain selection in the City Under-17s and Queensland Schoolgirls team.
She was an attack weapon and equally potent in defence where she stalked her prey before bringing them to ground at an efficient clip.
The Marsden State High old girl was no stranger to the scoreboard having scored in all but one of five matches played by the Dolphins.
13. Eliza Morcom (Western Clydesdales)
Morcom was magic in 2025.
A leader, a defensive terrier and a hard-to-contain runner of the ball, Morcom was multiple players bundled into one and her efforts were reflected in the Clydesdales’ progression towards a grand final.
Any team which played the Darling Downs side would have noticed something Morcom did, whether it was releasing an offload, attracting multiple defenders, regrouping her team’s focus when panic struck or the several other ways she managed to leave her print on a match.
14. Mia Byrnes (Clydesdales)
A member of the 2024 U17 Team of the Season, Byrnes was another automatic inclusion after that dynamic attacking spark set her apart from other hookers.
The Glennie School student had to be good to make the side considering the talented No.9s who flooded the competition this season. She wasn’t just good. She was grand.
With fast feet and great vision, Byrnes kept defenders on their toes and had a toughness that exceeded her slight stature.
15. Orianna Clark (Tigers)
Clark’s performance in the semi-final which secured the Tigers’ grand final berth and eventual premiership was one of the best efforts of the season and highlighted why she is in the Queensland Under 19 emerging squad.
From the mighty Ipswich State High program, Clarke flexed her muscle, power, mobility and ability to pass to be a driving force in her team’s success this season.
Clark played on the edge and was a no-fuss, run it straight and hard type of forward.
16. Hayley Bush (Wynnum Manly)
If Bush doesn’t make the Queensland Under 19 side, there should be an inquiry.
In a developing side, her leadership was immense and involvement paramount.
The Redlands lock was never beaten, producing effort plays galore while
always having the skill to pull off something special like she did against Burleigh Bears.
17. Selina Cowley (Mackay Cutters)
She was named at No.17, but was actually among the first dozen chosen in the side.
Cowley was so good this season, she could change the flow of a match when she came on as an interchange forward.
A superb product of the Souths Junior Sharkies Club in Mackay, Cowley sprung off the bench to bring life into the Cutters and was unrelenting moving forward in contact.
18.Keira Rangi (Souths Logan Magpies)
Queensland Under 19 emerging squad member Kiera Rangi had a stellar season, defending and attacking her backside off to be another playmaker at times for Souths.
The highly-skilled No.13 swapped the red and white of Redcliffe for the black and white of Souths Logan and thrived as a prototypical lock.
19. Takoda Thompson (Sunshine Coast Falcons)
The rising Kawana Dolphins junior - who has led the Falcons’ charge for three seasons - was a constant pick in team of the weeks after her stellar efforts on an edge for the Sunshine Coast.
The tall, lean second rower was a damaging customer with her choice of running lines. Thompson, who was fortified by headgear, had speed to burn which made her a real attacking force for the Coast side.
On the defensive end the emerging under-19 Queensland talent loved getting up in opposition’s faces with her quick feet and solid low tackling style.
20. Caydence Fouracre (Capras)
The brilliant fullback and Queensland Under 19 emerging squad member was once the first Australian female to ride in a Professional Bull Riders event, and now she is excelling on the rugby league field.
A Rockhampton SHS product, Fouracre fancied her chances returning the ball and rightly so. Her footwork is electric and there were few first defenders that enjoyed any luck bringing her to ground.
A livewire with twinkletoes, Fouracre was the Capras most potent attack player this season.
21. Libby Dunn (Clydesdales)
This team wouldn’t be complete without outstanding Clydesdales prop Libby Dunn.
As her team’s biggest forward, Dunn took on the big Tigers pack in the grand final in an attempt to inspire her side.
She copped plenty for her troubles, but was brave to the core and never relented. It was a similar story across the season for the prime-moving prop who worked herself to a standstill trying to wrestle momentum back.
From good old Gatton, the former Hawk forward from Cahill Park has been tremendous for several seasons.
22. Lorren Leli (Easts Tigers)
Along with Cowley, Leli was arguably the best interchange forward in the competition.
Leli moved mountains when she came on for Easts, maintaining the rage of her starting pack while also displaying subtle footwork at the line which made her more dangerous.
THE ON THE CUSP PLAYERS
Porche John (Tigers)
A sledgehammer who hits like a Mack truck in defence, John dealt a clobbering shoulder to her opposites regularly this season.
Powerful and unforgiving, the Marsden State High middle forward prospect enhanced her reputation in the middle for the competition heavyweights.
Caitlin Tanner (Mackay Cutters)
A crafty type from Townsville, Tanner took charge of Mackay’s attack and succeeded with flying colours.
An expert short and long kicker, Tanner continued to develop her game ahead of another season plying her trade in the Cowboys NRLW system.
She was at her brilliant best when backing herself and taking the game on, whether it was running straight and hard from the halves or seeking more of the ball to then dictate where the Cutters would attack.
India Seeto (Easts Tigers)
The mastermind behind Easts’ backline success.
Seeto at times sat back and watched her forwards fire but most of the time she was at the epicentre, firing passes left and right to create for teammates.
Her raw talent is startling and it was to the fore after a near miss (runners up to Mackay) in 2024.
Eta Sikahele (Burleigh Bears)
A big, strong middle who dealt in absolutes taking the ball forward.
The humble prop, who will train alongside her idols as part of the Titans’ NRLW squad this season, was a leader in every sense for Burleigh.
Mobile and authoritative in the middle, Sikahele looks likely to further her development by playing in the BMD premiership again.
Ella Cronin-Flanagan (Cutters)
A fabulous tight forward, Cronin-Flanagan was a “follow me troops’’ performer who led from the front.
The representative Mackay Brothers brute just laps up the middle forward confrontations and seemingly gets better with more experience.
She is a member of the Queensland Under 19 emerging squad, a just recognition of her efforts over the past three years in Cutters colours.
Layla Geck (Pride)
A strong defender at hooker, Geck was also the conductor of the orchestra, a skilful No.9 who lost nothing in comparison to the other No.9s in the competition.
Geck, arguably her team’s best in 2024, was the real deal again in 2025 having defenders in two minds at times.
Zali Bettridge (Burleigh Bears)
Bettridge was a whisker off snaring the No.7 jersey in this team.
The crafty playmaker was one of the competition’s biggest improvers this season, which is saying something given the early-season quality of play displayed by the passionate Keebra Park SHS old girl.
She had an uncanny ability of putting her edge players through holes by delaying passes.
Has all the skill in the world.
Charlotte Wells (Wynnum Manly Seagulls)
An elite young athlete, Wells was desperately close to stealing a position in the top side.
She could play a number of positions, with her speed making her an elite finisher and also enabling her to cover in the defensive line.
Jakaia Collett (Townsville Blackhawks)
Queensland Country representative (2024) Collett was a chief enforcer on defence who aggressively advanced to make strong contact with the opposition.
Originally from St Margaret Mary’s College before attending league finishing school at Kirwan SHS, Collett continued her rise toward higher honours with the Cowboys with a rock-solid campaign on the edge.
Judy Crosby (Sunshine Coast Falcons)
The Caboolture Snakes junior slotted in at centre, fullback and even second row this season for the Falcons and was a key focus point for her side’s attack.
Crosby’s carries out of her own end were huge for her side every week and she continued to grow her skills every round.
Adele Jensen (Townsville Blackhawks)
The talented Jensen was a middle forward workhorse who had plenty of petrol in the tank.
She hails from rugby league heartland, the Ingham district, and is a born leader who last year captained her district at the 17-18 Years schoolgirl championships.
Easther Mikaele (Townsville Blackhawks)
Mikaele was a middle forward marvel whose big motor churned through driving rain one week, and sauna like conditions the next. The younger sister of Cowboys prop Tom, Mikaele is also contracted to the Cowboys.
Lila Parr (Sunshine Coast Falcons)
Parr, an established representative player, made a return from injury at the beginning of the season to slot in at halfback and steer her side around the park.
With a strong touch football background, her extremely impressive link up play with Takoda Thompson and her outside backs was key, creating plenty of attacking spark every week.
Parr has been selected in the Queensland under-19 emerging origin squad and will look to continue her solid form.
Memory Paitai (Redcliffe Dolphins)
The Queensland U19 Emerging State of Origin squad member was another who was a particularly consistent player across the season for Redcliffe and deserves special recognition here for her efforts.
Grace King (Burleigh Bears)
Along with fellow starting prop Eta Sikahele, King took responsibility upon herself for leading a young forward pack each week.
Special mentions:
Sari Ericson (Pride)
Tianah Teo (Dolphins)
Isabel Kennedy (Pride)
Danielle-Elizabeth Tutakangahau (Souths Logan)
Ariana Henderson (Wynnum Manly)
Saskia Croyston (Tweed)
Kaliyah Browning (Tweed)
Chelsea Middleton (Clydesdales)
Natalia Hickling (Tweed)
Angel Austin (Clydesdales)
DISCOVERY PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Riana Le’afa-Paki (Norths Devils)
Riana Le’afa-Paki was that good, she was strongly considered for the Team of the Season.
From Wainuiomata, near Wellington on New Zealand’s North Island, Le’afa-Paki was highly skilled as a hooker.
COMEBACK OF THE SEASON
Sienna Ibrahim (Tigers)
Back from an ACL injury, this high achieving, multi-sport talent is having the time of her life again after missing 2024.
Did you notice last weekend that the young Tigers centre did not have tape around her right knee?
This is a sign of additional progress for the hard working ace who owes her recovery to hard work, dedication and an iron will.
CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS
Azariah Mataio (Pride)
Playing on heavy fields in driving rain, prop Mataio led her side superbly.
Off the field her leadership was also immense, keeping spirits high as the squad battled the elements to try and play during a wet season for the ages.
NAMESAKE WONDERS
Chloe Maxwell (Easts Tigers) and Grace Maxwell (Tweed Seagulls)
The Tigers Maxwell played second row and the Tweed’s Maxwell played No.13 and both were tremendous players this season.
Tweed’s Maxwell, who hails from Coomera in New South Wales, rose to the occasion in his first season in the elite competition with her relentless work rate.
The Tigers’ Maxwell played a quiet achieving role in her team’s well oiled Tigers machine,
She has done a lot of work off the ball which most people don’t see, but which was appreciated by her teammates.
UNSUNG HEROES
Gold Medallist
Namoe Gesa (Tigers)
The Tigers have power forwards and thrust in the backs, and a big contributor on both sides of the ball was centre Gesa.
Particularly impressive is her defence and you get the gist if she was in a different team she would have a huge role.
Silver medallist
Keeley Marsden (Capras)
Along with reliable prop Stevie-Lee Dixson, Marsden was the foundation of the Capras pack this season.
From beautiful Yeppoon, the No.13 played every match and was consistent from start to finish in a difficult season, doing the hard yards while trying to mix up her game with unloads.
Bronze medallists
Kiara Wright (Tweed Seagulls) and Ebony Temple (Mackay Cutters)
Wright was a defensive menace who beautifully complemented a team with attacking flair.
She played second row and blockaded her side of the field.
Temple, a St Patrick’s product who was once an outstanding junior hockey player, showed she could lock down an edge or bed down the middle with distinction during another consistent campaign.
Other unsung heroes were: Kayleen Takai (Tigers), Alisha Nicholson (Capras), Mackenzie Croyston (Tweed), Stevie-Lee Dixson (Capras), Sarah McGuire (Falcons), Tupoutua King (Tigers), Dominika Baleinagasau (Tigers), Chelsea Middleton (Clydesdales), Kaliyah Browning (Tweed), Tayla Horrobin (Clydesdales), Rosa-Millan Lefono (Tigers), Sienna Smith (Tweed), Reagan McMillan and Lucy Davis (both Clydesdales) and Kameryn Bray (Tigers).
MOST CONSISTENT CUSTOMERS
Gold medal: Liliele Vaitolo (Easts Tigers)
The Tigers did not take this dummying dynamo for granted.
Her work around the ruck was stellar and all season she had flamed the fire around her with elite service, well-timed runs, and hit-and-stick defence.
Silver medal: Lili Douglas (Wynnum Manly Seagulls)
Douglas was a work-a-holic, a middle forward powerhouse with a big motor who had the respect of her peers in an instant.
Bronze medal: Olivia Fletcher (Townsville Blackhawks)
Another No.9 with high-octane energy, Fletcher’s work around the ruck with the ball and in defence was exceptional in the conditions.
Fletcher, from the sugarcane town of Marian, can throw a pinpoint pass in her sleep so often has she delivered the ball off the ground to teammates during her career.
WILDCARD WATCH
Tia Molo (Redcliffe Dolphins)
She comes from a notable rugby league family and now it is Tia’s turn to impress. She has already impressed as a netballer with the Brisbane North Cougars.
The strong, athletic centre was a quick learner who, with more coaching and more exposure to top flight league, is sure to improve even more.
Also keep an eye out for Northern Pride’s Jaeda Morato and Townsville’s Ashlyn Hoey whose point of difference was their speed.
BEST SPORTING ALLROUNDER
Aaliyah Frescon-Sheppard (Easts Tigers)
An athletic, strongly built winger from Canterbury College, Frescon-Sheppard’s contribution to the team from both ends of the field was significant.
She is a wonderful crosscode sporting talent who was named in the Queensland U19 netball merit team out of netball powerhouse Canterbury College and was also honoured with a place in the Lloyd McDermott’s National Indigenous U18s Rugby Development Team.
BEST POSITIONAL SWITCH
Maia Ngauamo (Burleigh Bears)
An outside back transplanted into the forwards, Ngauamo got through a mountain of work in her new position and continued to improve with more experience.
Cathy Sakaio (Norths Devils)
Sakaio switched centre to the back row because of her physical presence as well as her natural line running.
She went sniffing for work and could impact in an instant with her jarring defence.
BEST PERFORMANCE ON HER BIRTHDAY AWARD
Lakeisha Ulutui (Pride)
In her team’s 24-22 win over Blackhawks, Ulutui’s intensity in the closing minutes showed how much the centre wanted to win.
BEST DEFENDER
Emily Jackwitz (Ipswich Jets)
Simply the best in the business when it comes to defending.
The gutsy outside back can still score tries, don’t worry, but her crunching tackle technique is arguably the best by a centre, wing or fullback in the competition.
It is no surprise she was named in the Queensland Country Under-17 squad.
INTERCHANGE ENERGISERS
Mikalah Teale and Kaylee Booth (Tweed Seagulls)
Booth and Teale were forward energisers for Tweed. Coming off the bench, they took no time at all to make a telling impact and lift the side.
After a terrific early stint from the likes of Saskia Croyston and Kaliyah Browning, Teale and Booth ensured Tweed were on the front foot when in possession of the ball.
Teale is a fine utility forward from the Colts Murwillumbah club while Booth, a Palm Beach SHS student, is a Group 18 workhorse who could cover an array of positions.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Gold medallists
Jordana Woods and Skye Barba (Pride)
Playing in atrocious conditions, fierce fullback Woods faced a sink or swim season - and she opted to swim.
Sometimes literally she needed to swim through the field, so wet was it.
Halfback Barba continued her development as a game manager - which was just as well given the importance of field position in the monsoon conditions.
Silver medal
Hollie Parkes (Blackhawks)
Hollie Parkes sat on one side of the field in the centres and went from an improved player to one of her team’s very best toward the end of the season.
Bronze medal
Lorianna Eseli (Blackhawks)
Like Parkes, Eseli played centre and like Parkes, Eseli was an out-of-town girl who had to make special arrangements to make it to training.
Both Parkes and Eseli, a St Patrick’s College (Townsville) student with a rugby background, visibly improved from round 1 to round 6.
Eseli was selected in the merit team at last year’s Confraternity Carnival after being a string-in for St Ursula’s.
BIG HEART AWARD
Nivea Te Hokowhitu-Wynne (Burleigh Bears)
A trusty utility, Okowhitu-Wynne missed the opening rounds and then was swung into hooker for round 3.Her performance against the Tigers in a 22-all draw was excellent at five-eight shortly after that.
Hokowhitu-Wynne never stopped trying and was a key contributor to the Burleigh Bears this season.
BEST NEW FACES
Joshalynn Walker (Tweed Seagulls)
A run, rabbits, run type from Grafton, New South Wales, Walker is a natural speed merchant who loves to run the football.
She was a crowd pleasing outside back.
Isabelle Lowe (Burleigh Bears)
After converting over from Australian football, Lowe adapted into a middle forward role where her fitness came to the fore.
Importantly she had a desire to want to learn more about the game and it showed when she roared off the bench in Burleigh’s emphatic 22-all comeback effort against eventual premiers Easts earlier this season.
Dianne and Jennifer Ladewig (Sunshine Coast Falcons)
Twin sisters Dianne (winger) and Jennifer (centre) made the switch to league from rugby 7s this season and quickly stamped their feet as the Sunshine Coast’s finest attacking threats.
Whether it was at fullback, centre or on the wing, the Ladewig surname was able to find the scoresheet in all six games this season as the pair finished with 10 tries between them.
Rylee Aspinall (Wynnum Manly Seagulls)
Surrounded by Hayley Bush, Lili Douglas and Ariana Henderson, Rylee Aspinall was swept up in their expertise and went along for the ride with them.
An edge forward battleship, Aspinall was one of the finds of the season, a sparkling gem for the Seagulls in a tough campaign.
DEDICATION AWARD
Deena Budby (Sunshine Coast Falcons)
Only one person in contention here. Deena Budby.
She drives from Hervey Bay to Kawana three days a week to train and play. That is a huge effort.
RAW TALENT AWARD
Gold medallist: Aaliyah Murray (Clydesdales)
A stylish halve, Murray has one of those traits only natural ball playing footballers have - and that is time.
The reliable Dalby Devil always seemed to have just a split second more time than other players around her, and was been a true enhancement to the Clydesdales.
Silver medallist: Lyndell Malone (Capras)
Bronze medallist: Mele Tupou (Cutters)
Originally published as The 2025 Harvey Norman Under-19 rugby league Team of the Season
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