That was the bold declaration from Blackhawks under-18s coach Roy Baira, upon selecting his squad to take on this year’s Mal Meninga Cup.

From the 140 hopefuls who were vying for places in the side, the first-year mentor whittled them down to just 26 talented prospects eager to make their mark.

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But the Baira philosophy which steered Brothers to an undefeated campaign in the 2021 Townsville and District Rugby League will remain in this younger group — they must perform each and every training session or perish and make way for others on the fringe.

“I have other players I would like to still keep an eye on. Those lads may come in as an option if any of my players aren’t up to scratch in the next few weeks, or if they’re no shows at training and ill-disciplined they’ll be out,” Baira said.

“Within my squad they’re not all locked in. I’ll pick the players who are competing the most through the six weeks (of pre-season) and they’ll be playing.

“I just look for players who compete, players who follow our systems within our game plan and players that can concentrate under fatigue.

“I’ve got six weeks to our first game, so it’s really now up to them to train well and whoever trains well will be selected. Everyone is on an even playing field for every position.”

Part of Baira’s selection policy came down to adaptability, with a host of players capable of filling numerous positions on the field.

The likes of Ignatius Park product Sean Bourke are able to compete in both the backrow and in the halves, however other likely starters such as Damon Marshall will be immovable from the middle.

There was no time for the prospects to settle into their rhythm at Saturday’s trials, with Baira immediately separating them into teams to compete against each other.

From there he determined who thrived under pressure, who worked well together, and who would suit the style of play he wanted to incorporate.

The concept, Baira said, created immediate competition and he wanted that to carry over into Tuesday’s first official training session before a trial match against Tully in four weeks time.

“That’s the way I’ve selected it, I want my team to compete. If they’re competing at training to beat their other players, when they play they’ll compete as well and it will be naturally instilled,” he said.

Fullback/Wing

Brodie Dineen, Elijah Joe, Tremaine Body, Jerramaine Nean, Tekelu Mene

As the outside backs ran rampant at Jack Manski Oval, Elijah Joe immediately caught Baira’s eye.

Baira said the likes of Tremaine Body and Brodie Dineen were safe in the throes of each contest, but in Joe he sees a key ingredient for his side to play an expansive brand of football.

While he typically plies his trade in the halves, Joe’s pass selection, vocal nature on the field and decisive running game has thrust him into calculations at fullback.

“I liked how he thought, keeping teams under pressure and he’s got a lot of talk as well,” Baira said.

“He was full of energy and he’s still got the option to compete within the halves.

“He did it pretty consistently through the trials, I’ve seen him play twice and in both games he did it consistently through it. He didn’t change, he was making the right decision with his kicking and running the ball.”

Centres

Max Hayley, Elekana Suavai, Joseph Currie, Jamal Shibasaki

Joseph Currie comes to the Blackhawks with a wealth of potential, having been identified by the North Queensland Cowboys as a future star in the making.

However it is Baira’s nephew, Elekana Suavai, who the coach believes may have the highest ceiling.

The Cairns product has made the move to Townsville blessed with formidable size and a dangerous fend, and it was when he went toe-to-toe with Max Hayley that Baira saw the prospect of a high scoring season.

Two big bodies running hard at each other made for great viewing from the sidelines, while Jamal Shibasaki — typically a lock forward — has also made the switch to the outside backs.

“Elekana has moved down from Cairns through the Cowboys. He was quiet very early, him and Max, but it was a big challenge when the two big centres went at each other,” Baira said.

“Max won early, then as it went on Elekana found his own and his feet and he used his size a lot better. I haven’t seen (Shibasaki) for a bit, he’s coming off an ankle operation at the back end of last year. He’s back into full strength running now, and I think he’ll be excited.

“The range of centres we have with Max and Elekana, he’ll have to lift and I think he’ll do well and learn a lot.”

Halves

Reece Foley, Zac Lamont, Elijah Joe, Sean Bourke

With Joe a likely option in the number one jumper, and Bourke developing into an impressive edge forward, Reece Foley and Zac Lamont are set to forge a new halves pairing for the Blackhawks’ youngsters.

Foley came into his own for Ignatius Park in last year’s Aaron Payne Cup, beginning the campaign as a quietly spoken five-eighth who has quickly found his voice on the field.

Lamont has moved to the region from Brisbane, and Baira believes the pair, while similar in some ways, will control each side of the field and demonstrate explosive running games.

“At the trials Reece was really talkative, Zac was the same — he started slow but got into it,” Baira said.

“He was a bit more talkative and direct running the ball, and he made better decisions on the edge with his kicking.”

Props

Damon Marshall, Jerrimiah Matutia, Will Sullivan, Henry Teutau, Ma’taeo Benioni

Damon Marshall will return to the Blackhawks fold as a leader of the pack, having impressed in last year’s side which reached the grand final.

Forced to overcome a serious back injury which threatened his career, the Ignatius Park star has come back with a vengeance and is set to stamp his mark on one of the starting jerseys.

While both Henry Teutau and Will Sullivan bring a no nonsense, no frills approach to the game, Baira has warned rivals of the influence Jerrimiah Matutia could have.

“He’s six foot at least and he’d be about 106-107kg. He has a bit of size about him, but I think he still has to get used to the conditions up here,” Baira said of the Kiwi product who the Cowboys have identified.

“Over the next couple of weeks he’ll become accustom to that and within this team he’ll find a spot. But what he did do well was he just played, he didn’t stand back he just played the way he normally plays and had some good runs.”

Hookers

Lachlan Lerch, Tajshon Santo-Messa, Hoani Harris

The number nine jersey is where Baira believes he will have his greatest selection headache.

Lachlan Lerch quickly became a favourite a Baira’s for his competitive nature. In one play on Saturday, as a rival made a line break in the dying stages of a game, Lerch made a desperate covering tackle to save a try.

It was the sort of play which the coach said he wanted to base his team around — determined efforts regardless of how tired a player may be.

However Lerch is no lock for the hooker role.

Hoani Harris has moved from St Brendan’s College in Yeppoon to Kirwan High, equipped with a brilliant long pass and a ferocity in defence which defies his stature.

Meanwhile, Tajshon Santo-Messa’s size could make him an option at lock as well, according to Baira. However in the same way that Baira’s son, Tyreice Baira-Gela, used his frame at dummy-half in last year’s side, his former Bears’ teammate could replicate those feats.

Second Row

Sean Bourke, Junior Daniels, Mahnihi Maurangi, Terell Anderson, Wade Johnson, Hayden Lammon, Sione Tuitopou

If there is anything about Baira’s selections which point towards the style of rugby league he wants to play, it is in those he has chosen as lock forwards.

Both Sean Bourke and Mahnihi Maurangi grew up as five-eighths, however as they have grown they have quickly been moulded into modern day middle men.

Baira said he planned to adopt a game plan which focused on spreading the ball, and having the ball playing ability of those two will be crucial to that.

“With Bourkey I like that good pass selection through as a lock where he can play halves as well. That also makes defences move and they have to think,” he said.

“With Mahnihi, I saw him grow up in Cairns and I’ve always seen him as a lock. He grew up as a five-eighth, but in the forwards he’s no nonsense and a strong defender with really quick feet.

“We will be moving the ball around, it’s the only way to get through defences now and putting players one-on-one with defenders. If they have quick and good hands they tip it on to a middle forward as well, and we can get some ruck speed through being smart around the ruck.”

On the edges, the pressure the likes of Wade Johnson put on opposing halves was something which stood out to Baira, while Terrell Anderson and Sione Tuitopou impressed for their staunch defence and slick hands.

nick.wright@news.com.au