NRL signings: Who has signed Qld’s 45 top schoolboys
Which NRL clubs have signed Qld’s top rep schoolboys? With News Corp’s Langer Trophy, Walters Cup round 5 of live streaming on Wednesday, we reveal the clubs investing in Queensland’s best.
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The Brisbane Broncos, Gold Coast Titans and Sydney Roosters have the three Queensland schoolboys signed, but where are our other representative young guns going in the NRL.
Ahead of another round of Langer Trophy, Walters Cup, Dolphins and Payne Cups’ live streaming by News Corp this week, we reveal the NRL clubs who have many of Queensland’s 15 years and 18 years representatives team players signed.
ASSRL national championship player of the carnival Karl Oloapu (Wavell SHS) is with the Broncos, Queensland’s man of the championships, Keano Kini (PBC SHS) is with the Titans while Rob Toia (Nudgee) is with the Roosters.
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Toia, a centre, did not play at the national championships but was one of Queensland’s best in the under 19 State of Origin fixture last month.
Below is a list of Queensland’s top 45 players from the schoolboy nationals signed by NRL clubs, with the Broncos signing 11 players, the Dolphins nine and the Titans eight.
Of the Sydney clubs, Canterbury has four and South Sydney three.
Karl Oloapu (Wavell SHS)
Signed by the Brisbane Broncos
Oloapu was the player of the championship. A bashful champion, he played out of position at No. 13 but still showed his class.
Keano Kini (PBC SHS)
Gold Coast Titans
Kini was the Queensland player of the championship, a brilliant contributor from fullback with his running game and passing in the front line.
Mason Phillips (Wavell SHS)
Signed by the Canterbury Bulldogs
Phillips was the Queensland white player of the carnival after igniting his team from dummy half. He also had an astute short kicking game in attack.
Mereki Warradoo (Wavell SHS)
Signed by the Dolphins
The Dolphins showed good judgment signing Warradoo before the carnival, with the young fullback an eye-catching performer.
Gabriel Satrick (Ipswich SHS)
Unsigned but contract looming
Dummy half Satrick was named Man of the Match in Queensland’s 18 years grand final win. At the time of publication he was unsigned, but the NRL talent scouts are circling.
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Arama Hau (Keebra Park SHS)
Signed by the Gold Coast Titans
Hau was arguably Queensland’s best 18 years player behind Oloupa and Kini. He was a dynamic edge forward who realised his potential. He is a huge prospect for the Gold Coast.
Michael Roberts (PBC SHS)
Signed by the Dolphins
Roberts had a quiet championship with the ball as play tended to go to the other side of the field, but he defended strongly and ran dummy half runs with gusto. He is a proven competitor.
Chris Faagutu (Marsden SHS)
Signed by the Wests Tigers
Faagutu, a mobile middle forward, was a forward interchange forward who maintained the rage when he came on after the initial exchanges.
Josiah Pahulu (Ipswich SHS)
Signed by the Titans
Pahulu was an outstanding mobile forward for Queensland, strong in defence and quick on his feet carting the ball forward. He also had a late offload in his game.
Liam Le Blanc (Nudgee College)
Signed by South Sydney
Le Blanc was an unsung hero, a get down and dirty front rower who set the highest of standards. Queensland were lucky to have him and Australian selection was richly deserved.
Tre Fotu (Ipswich SHS)
Unsigned but NRL remain interested
Left centre Fotu remained unsigned but rest assured there is now NRL interest for him. He was an unlucky omission from the Australian schoolboys side. He is unsigned, but there is interest from NRL clubs.
Ellyjah Birve (Caloundra SHS)
Signed by the Melbourne Storm
Five-eight Birve lived up to the hype with a five star performance and was easily Queensland’s best White 15 years player alongside Mason Phillips (mentioned above). His running game, his chasing of kicks and courageous defence shone. He also showed great temperament to kick a winning goal under pressure.
Nixon Pasese (Nudgee College)
Signed by the Dolphins
Pasese was a huge influence at prop for the Queensland 15 years Maroons with big, strong carries and mobility for a big man.
Lui Lee (Marsden SHS)
Signed by the Brisbane Broncos
Lee was probably the best centre at the carnival from any of the three Queensland teams. He was a big body with great feet and space who can pass.
Braithen Scott (St Mary’s College)
Signed by the Brisbane Broncos
Scott was absolutely outstanding at halfback. He was never the best player on the field, but he was always one of the top 3-5 players. He is an excellent prospect.
Josh Lynn (PBC SHS)
Signed by the Gold Coast Titans
Lynn was the glue of the Queensland 18s, a Cooper Cronk type. He is following in the footsteps of past students Toby Sexton and Tom Weaver as Queensland 18 years halfback representatives.
Jye Gray (The Southport School)
Signed by South Sydney
Five-eight Gray captained Queensland’s 18s by example, bravely backing his running game. Time and again he ran, and time and again the defence nailed him. But when it mattered most to grand final day, Gray ran and this time slipped past the defence to score.
Benson Tau (Marsden SHS)
Signed by the Dolphins
Benefiting from Lee’s form, Tau made the most impact of any Queensland winger at the championships. Tall and athletic, he has all the attributes.
Nate Berrigan (Redcliffe SHS)
Signed by the Dolphins
A rugged competitor who got down and dirty at the championships. Did the hard yards with enthusiasm and must have inspired his teammates.
Fa’apale Feaunati (Gregory Terrace)
Signed by the Broncos
The tall, athletic prop was outstanding for the Queensland 15s, with a long stride and nice hands. He is a good investment by the Broncos.
Mace Andrews (Marsden SHS)
Signed by South Sydney
A wonderful raw talent, and it is little wonder the Rabbitohs are investing time in this big, mobile prop.
Coby Black (Marsden SHS)
Signed by the Broncos
Importantly Black, aged just 16, rose to the occasion on the big stage when he came on for the Queensland 18s as an extra ball-playing attack player. Most people can now see what the fuss is about.
Nelson Makaafi (PBC SHS)
Signed by the Gold Coast Titans)
The edge forward was a powerhouse for the Queensland Maroons who is a prospect for the future.
Charlie Dickson (Wavell SHS)
Signed by the Dolphins
Dickson was a working man’s dream, toiling in the middle both with and without the football. He is an excellent prospect for the Dolphins.
Brian Pouniu (St Eugene College)
Signed by the Dolphins
The Redcliffe Dolphins junior is an outstanding edge forward prospect, one of the most promising in his age group
Zac Bateman (The Cathedral College)
Signed by the Cowboys
No. 13 Bateman backed up his excellent Queensland championship forward with another blue collar effort for Queensland White at the championships.
Marley McLaren (PBC SHS)
Signed by the Brisbane Broncos
A running half, McLaren is an obvious talent who will benefit greatly from playing in the big league against the best of the best.
Elekana Suavai (Kirwan SHS)
Signed by the Cowboys
Suavai seemed to grow as the tournament progressed. A big body, his agility and power game added to Queensland’s attack, but also to its hitting power against some young giants from south of the border.
Jeremy Trappett (Iona College)
Signed by Newcastle Knights
Trappett is a specialist fullback trapped behind Keano Kini, but he never let Queensland down playing as an interchange centre. Wynnum Manly supporters and the Iona College community rate him very highly, as did the state selectors.
Cohen Jackson (Mercy College)
Signed by the Brisbane Broncos
Jackson had the honour of signing a Broncos deal in the days leading up to the championship. A busy middle forward with a great attitude who will grow into his body.
Jared Horne (Wavell SHS)
Signed by the Broncos
Edge forward Horne showed why the Broncos think highly of him.
Jairus Halahala (Redcliffe SHS)
Signed by the Dolphins
Halahala showed in patches why the Dolphins are investing in him. He is a great build, another big, mobile middle with impact.
Duquan Talaepa (Mabel Park SHS)
Signed by the Canterbury Bulldogs
The right edge and mobile middle saved his best to last at the championship and is an obvious prospect.
Carter Welfare (Nudgee College)
Signed by the Dolphins
From the Rockhampton rich rugby league region, the youngster is yet another exciting play making junior who has been identified by the Dolphins
Haizyn Mellars (Marsden SHS)
Signed by South Sydney
Like his wing partner Tait, we did not see Mellars stride out but rest assured he is a great talent with elite athletic, jump and catch skills. He scored a 95m try in his last Langer Trophy match and has pace to burn.
Tyreece Tait (Wavell SHS)
Signed by the Broncos
We didn’t see the best of long striding, explosive Tait weho is a natural in a foot race to the corner. Certainly the wet weather did not help in the national championaship pool games – but he is a rip-roaring wing talent worth investing in.
Demascus Neemia (Wavell SHS)
Signed by the Canterbury Bulldogs
Neemia was a tough as teak middle forward who got the job done against the big-boppers from down south.
Te Iri Rudolph-Mokaraka (The Southport School)
Signed by the Broncos
The big fella is a dynamic forward and there is no doubt why Brisbane believe he is worth a punt.
Seth Nikotemo (Keebra Park SHS)
Signed by the Gold Coast Titans
Nikotemo was an unsung edge forward hero in the championship winning Queensland 18s.
Cooper Cracknell (Ipswich SHS)
Signed by South Sydney
A big, mobile middle forward with a high work ethic is from the rugby league heartland of Ipswich.
Joseph Tupuse (Keebra Park SHS)
Signed by the Broncos
Tupuse was a centre wrecking ball who showed great promise.
Immanuel KaleKale (Keebra Park)
Signed by the Gold Coast Titans
One of the form Langer Trophy props, Kalekale gave Queensland grunt as an interchange forward when opponents were looking to take Queenland’s 18s on down the middle.
Best unsigned talents
Aside from Satrick and Fotu from the 18s, at the time of publication Azariah Toki-Mautairi (Wavell SHS). Tory Bath (Nudgee College) and Jake Carsburg (Grace Lutheran College) were unsigned, although there was known to be interest in Carsburg.
Toki-Mautairi is a halves or fullback young gun while centre Carsburg got better as the championship went on.
Bath had a fabulous championship being used as an extra attacking weapon.
Bath, a Norths junior and Nudgee First XV player, has great hands, quick feet and acceleration.
Keoki Koraba (Wavell SHS) was also a blockbusting centre with obvious ability.
The status of impressive Queensland 15 years White interchange forward Elsiyah Laumatia (Bowen SHS) is unknown, but he has plenty of raw talent.
There are many other outstanding Queensland schoolboys like the following who have NRL contracts but who did not make Queensland teams.
Among them are country boys like Kaiden Lahrs (Kirwan SHS, Broncos), Corey Nassif (Canterbury, Stretton State College), Dallas Ingram (TSS, Titans), Jamal Shibasaki (Ignatius Park College, Broncos), Mutua Brown (Cowboys), Kurt Fisher (Cowboys), Matthew Hill (St Brendan’s College, Storm), Teke Mene (Ignatius Park College, Cowboys), Tekelu Meme (Ignatius Park College, Cowboys), Henry Teatau (Ignatius Park College, Townsville), Tevita Penaia (St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon), Jaxon Purdue (Cowboys, St Pat’s), Xavier Kerrisk (St Patrick’s College, Cowboys) and Lykhan King-Togia, (Broncos), to name a few.
The likes of Logan trio Alex Leapai (Mabel Park, Roosters), Israel Leota (IGS, Broncos) and Beni Allan (JPC, Broncos), and Coombabah SHS’s Lewis Symonds (Broncos) along with a host of Ipswich SHS players headed by Rene Bagon (Manly) are also just some of the elite schoolboys signed with NRL clubs.
LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE
Wednesday, ROUND 5
Pizzey Park
3pm: Langer reserves: PBC SHS v Mabel Park SHS
4pm: Walters Cup: PBC SHS v Mabel Park SHS
5pm: Langer Trophy: PBC SHS v Mabel Park SHS
North Ipswich Reserve
3.30pm: Langer reserves: Ipswich SHS v Wavell SHS
4.30pm: Walters Cup: Ipswich SHS v Wavell SHS
5.30pm: Langer Trophy: Ipswich SHS v Wavell SHS
Marsden SHS
3pm: Walters Cup: Marsden SHS v Forest Lake
4pm: Langer Trophy: Marsden SHS v Coombabah
Dolphin Oval
1.30pm: Langer Reserves: Redcliffe SHS v Keebra Park SHS
2.30pm: Walters Cup: Caloundra SHS v Keebra Park SHS
3.30pm: Langer Trophy: Redcliffe SHS v Keebra Park SHS
Originally published as NRL signings: Who has signed Qld’s 45 top schoolboys
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