Bundaberg, Fraser Coast and Gympie rugby league players to watch in 2022

Whether they’re the first to score tries or make the best tackles, these are the junior and senior rugby league players to watch in 2022.

Rugby league clubs across the Wide Bay have a remarkable amount of talent.

From senior players trying to tap into the QRL, to juniors making development squads, we look at the top Gympie, Bundaberg and Fraser Coast stars to watch this 2022 season.

Tom Morcom – Waves Tigers Junior Rugby League

Waves Tiger Tom Morcom after he received a prestigious call-up last year to play centre for the Brisbane Broncos under 16 side.

The Broncos played against the North Queensland Cowboys side in Rockhampton, winning 30 to 10, with 15-year-old Tom making waves after scoring a try in the game.

Tom Morcom was selected to play centre for the Brisbane Broncos Under 16 team to play in Rockhampton last year.

Braxton Boon – Hervey Bay Seagulls Juniors

Braxton’s talent shone through last year, honing his skills as a back for the Hervey Bay Seagulls Under 13’s side.

13-year-old Braxton Boon was awarded best back last year at the Hervey Bay Seagulls.

Known for his good kicks, Braxton also played in the RISE rugby league development program.

He took home the award for Best Back for the ‘Gulls in last year’s club awards night.

Cooper Fraser – Gympie Devils Juniors

Young gun Cooper began playing rugby league for the Gympie Devils when he was six.

Now 11, he had a stellar year in 2021, representing the Gympie Zone Under 11’s rugby league team in Hervey Bay.

Cooper Fraser has played for a number of representative teams and will continue to play in the Sunshine Coast competition.

He was then selected for the Wide Bay u11 representative team to participate in the state carnival in Townsville where he was chosen as man of the match for one of his games.

This year, he’ll continue to be a part of the Under 12’s Devils team to participate in the Sunshine Coast competition.

Ruby Kross – Gympie Devils Juniors

Gympie Devils junior star Ruby has played a number of games for the club, but has also played for the Under 15’s girls Wide Bay team and went to Cairns for the Queensland trials in 2021.

Ruby Kross was lucky enough to get selected for the Wide Bay team and went to Cains for the Qld trials in 2021.

Matt Craven – Easts Magpies, Bundaberg

After scoring 15 tries during the regular season, it was no surprise Matt Craven received the player of the year award for Bundaberg Rugby League’s A-Grade last season.

The young captain played every game throughout 2021 and successfully showcased his versatility in the field in four positions at fullback, second row, five eighth and lock.

Craven is a nephew and former protégé of Brothers’ master coach Andrew Hamilton.

Matt Craven gets over the line for another try for the Magpies.

Elih Bell – Gympie Devils Juniors

Elih Bell, 12, started at the club in the Under 6’s before progressing to junior midi modes.

Elih made the Wide Bay school boys team and travelled to Cairns to be part of the school boys state championship where he won a medal for player of the game.

12-year-old Elih Bell plays for Gympie Devils Junior Rugby League.

Travin Baumann, Hervey Bay Seagulls

Second-rower Travin Baumann won the Best and Fairest award for the Seagulls last year after a consistent season.

He is just one generation of the Baumann family who has starred for the club in recent years.

Travin Baumann won the best & fairest award for the Hervey Bay Seagulls last year.

Trent Seeds, Easts Magpies, Bundaberg

There’s no doubt 24-year-old Trent Seeds is one of the best on the circuit at Salter Oval.

The East Magpies Centre was the leading tryscorer for last year’s 2021 4BU/HITZ FM Bundaberg RL A Grade competition with 17 tries across the entire season.

Trent Seeds dives over the line to score for Eastern Suburbs.

Caleb Berthelsen – Hervey Bay Seagulls

15-year-old lock Caleb Berthelsen had a phenomenal time on the rugby league field last year, being awarded Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the Hervey Bay Seagulls.

15-year-old Caleb Berthelsen was awarded MVP last year for the Hervey Bay Seagulls.

Charlee Benton – Gympie Devils

Charlee was only in her first season of Rugby League when she was chosen for the school district mixed team and school girls district team.

Following her school selection, Charlee made the Wide Bay Girls U11/12’s team and went onto represent Wide Bay in the State Championships in Townsville last year.

Charlee made the Wide Bay Girls U11/12’s team and went onto represent Wide Bay in the State Championships in Townsville last year.

Shaun Ezzy – Western Suburbs Panthers

Rampaging front-rower Shaun had a sensational year at Salter Oval in 2021, barging down the field to take out the Western Suburbs Panther’s A Grade Best Forward and Best Player of the year awards.

The Panthers will welcome back Shaun Ezzy for 2022.

Jamal Nelson – Hervey Bay Seagulls

Jamal is another star athlete to watch on the Fraser Coast’s rugby league circuit.

The 15-year-old was awarded Best Forward last year in the Under 15’s side and was promoted to a leader position for the Under 16’s this season.

He’s also had experience as a Wide Bay representative player.

15-year-old Jamal Nelson was awarded best forward last year for the Hervey Bay Seagulls.

Flynn Purkis – Western Suburbs Panthers

Talented forward Flynn Purkis won the award for Under 18’s Best Forward for the Western Suburbs Panthers last year.

Flynn Purkis has been resigned for the 2022 season for the Panthers.

The club have welcomed the 18-year-old back for another season, announcing his signing back in November.

Lachlan Wilton – Gympie Devils Juniors

Gympie Junior Rugby League player Lachlan Wilton was privileged enough to be selected in the Sunshine Coast Falcon’s Under 16 Cyrill Connell training squad in September 2021.

105 players trialled and the group was narrowed down to a group of 40 being selected for the pre-season squad.

Lachlan has also previously been selected for the Wide Bay School Boys Rugby League team.

Lachlan Wilton was privileged selected in the Sunshine Coast Falcon’s Under 16 Cyrill Connell training squad.

Ethan Taylor – Gympie Devils Juniors

Ethan Taylor played for the Nambour Crushers for three years, receiving MVP (most valuable player) and in his three years also received best back award.

Ethan was also chosen for the Sunshine Coast Falcon’s Under 16 Cyrill Connell training squad in September 2021.

Lachlan and Ethan have been training three days a week at various training facilities on the Sunshine Coast.

Ethan Taylor was privileged selected in the Sunshine Coast Falcon’s Under 16 Cyrill Connell training squad.

Originally published as Bundaberg, Fraser Coast and Gympie rugby league players to watch in 2022