30 UNDER 21: StoreLocal Hospital Cup rugby’s best emerging talent named ahead of round 4
Young talent time: Who were the top rugby rookies aged 21 or below contesting the StoreLocal Hospital Cup first grade competition? The best of the best named here from all nine clubs.
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It’s young talent time in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup with more young players than ever leaving their mark on matches.
One of those players is Souths lock Jake Kurbatoff, a towering young forward whose fledgling first grade career has been nothing short of impressive.
Since captaining St Laurence’s College to an AIC First XV rugby premiership in 2022, Kurbatoff made the Colts 1 finals with Souths (2023), was named the Under-20s Player of the Year and has been a first grade staple.
The roll call of players of the future to claim the award (formerly Colt of the Year) is well established with World Cup-winners Ben Tune, David Wilson, Toutai Kefu and Tim Horan among the previous winners, as well as Harry Wilson, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Josh Flook.
Kurbatoff was fast-tracked into first grade for the 2024 season where he played a steady hand in Souths returning to the top four. This season the mobile big man, who uses his athleticism across the ground to his advantage, is just one of many youngsters making a difference for their club.
Kurbatoff’s right hand man in the pack this season has been Sam Hanna, a nimble blindside flanker who featured in Souths’ successful pursuit of a Colts 1 premiership in 2024 around regular first grade appearances.
Some of the others are highlighted here ahead of a round which will see Wests host Souths, GPS clash with Sunnybank at Yoku Road, Bond University play away against The Students, and Norths host Brothers on Hugh Courtney Oval.
STORELOCAL HOSPITAL CUP’S TOP 30 UNDER 21 AT THIS STAGE OF THE SEASON
SOUTHS
TREVOR KING
A genuine Reds prospect later this decade, tighthead prop King has been a colossus in close quarter battle for whatever team he has played for — whether it be for Souths against older opposition in the Hospital Cup or school rivals at Downlands College.
The Fijian powerhouse mixes brute strength with finesse and finds a way to break the barn door down often with his power game.
JAKE KURBATOFF
Kurbatoff’s rapid rise through the Souths ranks has flown under the radar and warrants plenty of praise.
After spearheading St Laurence’s College to back-to-back outright AIC premierships (2022) as captain, Kurbatoff was a one-and-done Colts 1 lock who showed signs early he was first-grade material.
After snaring the Queensland Rugby Under-20s Player of the Year award (2023), Kurnatoff played above his age, not size, to be a key cog in Souths’ tight five over the past 18 months.
XAVIER RUBENS
Closer to a Reds debut than you’d think, Rubens is a thoroughbred outside centre capable of influencing the Australian Under-20s World Rugby Championship campaign in Italy this winter.
Doesn’t say much but his actions scoring tries and running telling lines speak for itself.
Fun fact about Rubens: He was an elite rower, rugby player and track and field sprinter at BBC.
DENZIL PERKINS
If speedy Gonzales was a rugby player it would Perkins.
Pace personified, the former Ipswich Grammar track speedster has lost little of his pace in clubland. Despite his big build indicating otherwise, Perkins is only 20 with his best rugby ahead.
Will be a key finisher for Souths this season, while possessing the instincts and sharp feet to bob up and wreak havoc in broken play.
SUNNYBANK
NETANI LESIMAIKIMATUKU
No mug off the streets can walk into a No.10 jersey and hold their own in the Hospital Cup. Lesimaaikimatuku has done that after one season of Colts.
The Redbank Plains playmaker is revered for his attacking strike and versatility across backline positions.
Lesimaikimatuku is one of the many magnificent rookie flyhalves emerging through the Queensland Rugby system at the time of writing. Just a few include: Finn Mackay (Souths), Lesimaikimatuku, Fletcher Austin (Churchie), Damon Humphrys (Padua), Ili Baravilala (Fijian Under-20s), Maddox Maclean (flyhalf, centre or fullback), Angus Underwood (Easts), Spencer Alcock (GPS), Ryan Shaw (Wests), Darcy Rowan (Souths utility) and Callum Simpson (Bond Uni).
DAN MALUM
The new godfather of intercept tries.
Malum caused headaches with his antics on the wing for Sunnybank’s Colts 1 side last year to come out of the woodwork and win the No.14 jersey in the Reds’ under-19s outfit.
He was stellar in that campaign and has bounced back from a shoulder niggle sustained in the Reds versus Waratahs academy bout to find a spot on the wing for Rob Roiri’s first grade side.
DRE-DYN LABAN
Laban has been one of the more entertaining customers of colts rugby in recent years.
Now in first grade, the crafty fullback is learning how to make an impact against bigger bodies.
He has the skill, flair and courage to cook up a storm with Sunnybank.
WESTS
JACK SPENCER
Loosehead prop Spencer possesses a superb skillset for someone at his position.
His high work rate in the classroom — He studies business and law at University — transfers over to the rugby field where the front-rower toils away in the scrum and as a link man.
Has a good rugby brain to match his soft hands.
WILL NASON
In Wests’ turbulent 1-2 start to the season, newcomer Nason has not looked out of place.
Nason, a viable flyhalf or fullback option, is the youngest in an experienced Bulldogs squad which features Moses Sorovi, Angelo Smith, Keynan Tauakipulu, Ben Navosailagi, Louis Werchon and others who have tasted professional rugby.
He is safe as houses.
BOND UNIVERSITY
FERGUS GILLAN
Athletic, mobile and tough. Need more be said?
Gillan has the hands, height and hopes to be a next-generation Reds lock.
Queensland coach Les Kiss is currently utilising another product of The Southport School and Bond University: Angus Blyth.
Gillan (199cm) doesn’t quite see eye-to-eye with the towering Blyth (204cm) but he hits and sticks like him.
CHARLES MCCAULEY
A tremendous forward leader — he led Bond to the Colts 1 semi-finals as captain in 2024 — McCauley has what it takes to not only feature, but make an impact for Mick Heenan’s Bull Sharks.
A supreme operator in rolling mauls and lineout play, McCauley was coached by Phil Mooney at Brisbane Grammar, 20-Test All Black Rico Gear in Colts and now master coach Heenan in the grades.
He is the type of bloke you can expect smart decisions from.
KOBE WALTERS
A former Blues Academy giant from Auckland, Walters has willed his way into Heenan’s first grade side in speedy fashion.
Towering and tenacious, the Northland young gun from rugby heartland can cover all three backrow positions.
Started the season strongly with a high-class showing in the wet against Wests.
ROCCO GOLLINGS
Gollings has had chins wagging for some time since he lit up the pitch for Nudgee College’s 2022 First XV outfit.
A formidable force on the rugby sevens circuit, Gollings bypassed his third season of colts to add variety to the Bull Sharks’ first grade backline.
Has wheels and a willingness to get involved from the wing.
EASTS
NICK BLOOMFIELD
If there was one player mentioned in this story to ask about the dark arts of scrummaging, Bloomfield is your man.
Tighthead Bloomfield spends more time packing down the scrum than he does on his phone and to the delight of coach Simon Craig, it is mounting scrum pressure and paving the way for a strong set-piece foundation at Tigerland.
Has only gotten better over the past three, going on four, seasons of club rugby.
JARROD HOMAN
Once a Junior Wallaby squad selection, Homan had his 2023 and 2024 campaigns stripped form underneath him but has returned with vigour to begin the 2025 season.
A sleek-mover from Maitland, Homan was a part of Easts’ Colts 1 side which shared the 2022 premiership with University and after a long lay off, he is nearing his potential at outside centre.
GUS GODWIN
You’d be excused for thinking Easts winger Gus Godwin was five years into his first grade career.
The tall, long-striding bayside back is just 21 and in his second season of Hospital Cup footy. As a schoolboy at Villanova College, Godwin delivered the goods across four sports — Firsts Australian rules football, cricket, rugby and rugby league.
He is doing a top job on the wing for the Tigers.
MAX CRAIG
A project player at the Reds, Craig has started 2025 with a bang to instil faith in Queensland selectors who signed the former Junior Wallaby to the top squad.
A 21-year-old hooker, Craig has Easts running through his blood and had arguably the best first grade performance of his fledgling career last Saturday when he helped the Tigers topple Bond University, down the coast, 22-20.
NORTHS
ALEX FLANAGAN SMITH
Fullback Smith, 21, is playing his best footy yet.
Luckily for Norths, he is just scratching the surface.
A slippery customer with great instincts, Smith was responsible for pouring on 31 points (three tries) in Norths’ 71-19 win over University in round 2 and his performances this season will go along way in getting the Eagles closer to the finals picture.
RYAN HEATON
Talk about stepping up.
Heaton is the youngest player in Norths’ starting 15 and in three games thus far, he’s outdone himself.
Nothing overly spectacular, but reliable, well thought-out decision making from Heaton in the infancy of the Hospital Cup season has him in the frame for a Reds under-19s call up later this year.
UNIVERSITY
SLATER GALLOWAY
A loosehead prop with untapped potential, Galloway is not the finished product but if he can get close University will be in great hands.
Galloway, 19, took a detour to Wests from Souths before landing on his feet at University and coach Elton Berrange has big plans for the representative front-rower who played for the Brumbies Under-19s late last year. He was originally from Blackwater in Queensland’s Central Highlands region.
Skilful for a big man and was responsible for one of the top highlights in 2024.
PATRICK SOWERBY
Diligent on the field and in the classroom — he is as smart as they get — Sowerby sat and watched from the sidelines injured last season before making his return in round 1 this season.
A tireless flanker or No.8, Sowerby was previously an Australian Under-20s squad member who does his job to perfection.
Can be seen sporting white and maroon headgear and putting his body on the line.
SAMU TUISAU
A flair-filled winger, Tuisau took rugby observers by surprise when he scored a hattrick in his first grade debut last season.
A Fijian flyer who was born and raised in Sydney where he attended Seda College in Redfern, Tuisau takes a run or two to warm up but once his mind and body is in the contest he is capable of creating plenty.
GPS
JAMES MARTENS
Martens has been magic since the winter of 2023 when he was a late inclusion in Brisbane Boys’ College’s First XV team.
Originally from Canberra, the fast-paced scrumhalf was a boundary-belting batsmen in GPS First XI cricket and in rugby can make players around him better.
A nippy neusance who roared off the Australian Under-20s bench scoring two tries in their 54-36 defeat of Japan’s under-23s, Martens seems destined for higher honours.
JOE DOLJANIN
Strong, skilful and scary at his best for GPS.
The Gallopers have a good one in Darling Downs product Doljanin, an outside centre who carved up on a muddy University pitch in round 1 last month.
A good campaign could open plenty of doors for Doljanin. Perhaps a call-up in Queensland Rugby’s annual Challenger Series played between the Queensland Reds Development XV and a Challenger XV made up of club rugby’s best players.
NICK BAKER
Still 21 for one more week, Baker has shown maturity and talent beyond his years for more than a decade.
He was a brute forward and man among boys coming through the ranks at Marist College Ashgrove before playing two seasons of First XV rugby in 2019 and 2020.
After Queensland Under-19s and Junior Wallabies stints in the spring of 2022, Baker was handed captaincy duties of the Junior Wallabies (2023).
In 2024 an invigorated Baker was Matt Gicquel’s backrow partner in crime, the friendly giant having undergone several operations on his ankle and foot during the years leading up to that stellar club campaign.
Footnote: In the Junior Wallabies side Baker captained, Queenslanders Bloomfield, Daniel Maiava, McLaughlin-Phillips, David Vaihu, Mason Gordon, Harrison Usher, Craig and King all featured.
BROTHERS
BEN DANIELS
The sleeping giant of Brothers, Daniels was put on ice in 2023 and a portion of 2024 but is fit and firing to begin the Filth’s premiership pursuit.
A country kid who boarded at Churchie, Daniels does the little things right and has a big motor to match his athleticism.
Has upside and a big campaign will do his prospects a world of good.
VAIUTA LATU
Latu, a big bopper with the silky hands of an inside back, has been on a steep upward trajectory since he left the gates of St Peters at the end of 2023.
A beast for Greg Beaver’s Colts 1 side last year, Latu looked a class above and backed up his brilliant club campaign with an equally impressive under-19s season with the Reds.
Best is yet to come.
Originally published as 30 UNDER 21: StoreLocal Hospital Cup rugby’s best emerging talent named ahead of round 4
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