Bumper live stream looms of the ASSRL championships — here were the Queensland Maroons
The brother of a NSW Blues player will spearhead the Queensland schoolboys at the ARSSL championships. Enjoy our deep dive into his style of play — along with an insight into his 14-15 years Maroons’ teammates.
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His brother terrorised Queensland in last season’s State of Origin No.3, but Baxter Best, brother of Bradman, will be bleeding Maroon at the ARSSL championships which starts on Saturday.
The tournament, along with the 15-16 Years schoolgirls championships which is played at the same time, will be live streamed by News Corp.
The live stream rugby league bonanza will then continue on July 6 when News Corp also cover the 16-18 years schoolgirls and 16-18 years schoolboys via Kommunity TV from Coffs Harbour.
MEET THE QLD SCHOOLGIRLS (15-16 YEARS)
Signed by the Broncos, Best joined Ipswich SHS for the start of Year 8 last year when his Ipswich-raised father, along with the family, relocated from New South Wales.
After watching his brother Bradman, the Knights centre, star for the Blues in Origin No.3 last year, Baxter went on to produce a man of the match performance playing fullback in Ipswich SHS’s Renouf Shield premiership winning side.
Courted by three NRL clubs but currently signed by the Brisbane Broncos, Best will play centre for Queensland’s Maroons’ boys.
“He looks like an aggressive ball runner and defensively strong,’’ said Maroons coach Chris Little. “He runs aggressively and can find space.’’
The Queensland side also has another rookie with another surname familiar to NRL devotees - the father of Wavell SHS’s Charlie Webb’s is Brent Webb, who played 103 matches for the Warriors before playing almost 200 Super League matches in England.
Today we highlight the Queensland Maroons 14-15 years, and tomorrow will feature the Queensland White side.
Queensland Maroons
2. Boston Nau (Wavell SHS)
A fullback, centre or five-eight, the multi-skilled Nau will play wing.
Nau was one of the players of the day when Wavell hosted Marsden SHS for its annual Homecoming Day.
He is originally a New Zealand boy.
20. James Peni (Redcliffe SHS)
A big body who carries the ball strongly from the back of his side, Peni is one of many youngsters from the Burpengary, Caboolture and Woodford regions benefiting from the rugby league development program at Redcliffe SHS.
He earned a place in the state side after a busy, all effort performance for Sunshine Coast at the trials.
3. Leo Briggs (Ipswich Grammar)
From that extraordinary North Queensland rugby league breeding ground of Innisfail, FNQ, which continually churns out high class three-quarters, young Briggs won selection from Ipswich Grammar School.
He is classy to the core, a fleet-a-foot outside back who will start in the centres. He was a grand final centre for Souths Acacia Ridge under 14s last season.
4. Baxter Best (Ipswich SHS)
A centre who can also play fullback, Best was a hard running outside back with lots of ability, but also a desire to work hard. The well mannered, Broncos-contracted Year 9 student is the brother of NSW representative Bradman Best, but relocated from New South Wales to Ipswich where his father originally hails from.
5. Christopher Vaimili-Toalepai (Marsden SHS)
An under 14 premiership player with Logan Brothers last year, this goal kicking fullback, winger or centre is both elusive and quick, but extremely reliable.
State selectors saw the full package at the state championships and he was a popular selection.
6. Hayden Madders (Wavell SHS)
Madders is a well known name in the Wavell SHS community, and young Hayden is another from the same family. With his strong touch football background, it is no surprise to learn Hayden is fast on his feet with a great passing game. He can double as a hooker where he plays for Wavell, but five-eight is his preferred position. Madders has a ready made combination with his halfback Charlie Webb from Wavell SHS.
7. Charlie Webb (Wavell SHS)
Webb is back at the championships after tasting the tournament last year as a 14-year-old bench player. He will steer the ship as Queensland’s starting halfback. “He has grown in confidence and stature (since last year) and understands his game and what is expected inside and outside of him,’’ explained Queensland coach Chris Little. “He is an on ball half back who will get us around the ground.’’
8. Lorenzo Peseta (Redcliffe SHS)
What an asset he will be to the Maroons where his big hearted, go-all day style of play will be welcomed like a down pour in outback Queensland. Peseta is a big body, a young man who loves contact.
9. Peter Uilivai-Pita (Ipswich SHS)
Quick between the ears, Uilivai-Pita is a utility forward who will start the championships at hooker. He is a high energy, passionate hard working footballer - just the type of player Queensland will be looking for.
10. SJ Pulepule (Marsden SHS)
A big boy, Pulepule will get Queensland forward with his bruising, bustling charges through the ruck. He is not just a tough carry prop, but also a middle forward with quick leg speed who has a big, big motor.
11. Sangwani Chinula (St Patrick’s College)
An edge back rower, Chinula stood out like the Pine Islet lighthouse which helps keen seafarers safer around the Northumberland Islands off Mackay. From St Patrick’s College, he had a terrific attitude in a battling side at the state championship where he would do the work of two players.
12. Ashton Taylor (St Joseph’s College Nudgee)
Watch for the Ashton Taylor-Charlie Webb, second row-halfback combination to worry opposition teams at the championship. Edge forward Taylor runs a great inside shoulder line while also possessing a deft late pass before contact.
13. Maquis Sando (Marsden SHS)
Sando is another tough ombre who loves being involved in the action. A recent selection in the under 15s Māori team, he is a mobile No.13 who rose to the occasion at the championships when the start selectors were studying the form guide. He is from the Logan Brothers and Marsden SHS nursery.
14. Murphy Phillips (Miami SHS)
Already contracted to the Titans Futures’ squad, Phillip was a confident halfback who was prepared to back his ability. The manner in which the Burleigh Bears junior took charge of the South Coast team at the state championship greatly impressed onlookers. A player with a touch football background, he has flair and a good long kicking game.
15. Billy Spicer (St Joseph’s College Nudgee)
Queensland is littered with hard edge forwards who’d run through a brick wall, and Billy Spicer is another of that type. A country boy from the western Darling Downs, Spicer would run over anyone who stood in front of him while also thirsting for work in defence.
16. Cordell Kirk (Ipswich SHS)
The brother of Langer Trophy player Reeco, the front rower has been signed by the Rabbitohs who were no doubt impressed by his powerful carries. He will be a great kid to come off the bench and help the Queensland forwards maintain the rage when the starting middle men - Pulepule and Peseta - were rested.
1. Billo Wotton (Wavell SHS)
Originally from tropical Palm Island off Townsville, the Broncos’ contracted centre is electric and fast on his feet. He played for Northern last year as a baby, aged just 14, but relocated to Wavell SHS this year where he is billeted by a family from the Wavell SHS community.
17. Chilli Tonelli-Smith (St Joseph’s College)
Another Dolphins’ signed rookie, Tonelli-Smith is a crafty hooker who will be able to create momentum for his forwards.
18. Karter Iva (Brisbane SHS)
Iva played so strongly at the championships, he would easily have made the starting side. But no dramas, because it is a team tournament the Dolphins-signed prop will get ample playing time. A dogged defender, watch for Iva’s late foot work at the line and ability to play the ball quickly.
19. Diezel Guilonta (Marsden SHS)
Queensland’s edge forward depth is evident with Guilonta holding down an interchange berth. He is a great team man, a selfless kid who, when he makes it onto the field, will be aggressive and tough. He is also a good communicator within a squad.
Originally published as Bumper live stream looms of the ASSRL championships — here were the Queensland Maroons
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