20 Ipswich Jets Connell Cup, Meninga Cup, HN U17s, U19s squad players to watch in 2025
Future NRL stars, young guns with a booming kicking game and proven game changers – the talent from the Ipswich Jets has everything as we reveal the up-and-comers shaping up as weapons next season. Here’s 20 reasons to attend the North Ipswich Reserve in 2025.
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A trio of exemplary rugby league rookies from Ipswich were among the players to watch for the Ipswich Jets in the 2025 junior representative season.
Ipswich State High product Bill Fraser, Ipswich Grammar old boy Nathan Fraser and St Peter Claver College dummyhalf Lachie Coburn will warm their engines for the Meninga Cup under-19s by completing a pre-season stint with club’s Queensland Cup side before rejoining the Meninga squad in the new year.
Watch for Nathan’s unearthly work ethic, the leg drive of middle forward Bill and the pinpoint service of hooker Lachie in the under-19s age group.
In the Connell Cup under-17s and Harvey Norman girls under-17s and under-19s age groups, there are plenty more reasons to make a visit to the North Ipswich Reserve in 2025.
The exciting Ira Yeatman (Connell Cup), the trusty Ariana Henderson (Harvey 19s) and promising forward Emilee George (Harvey 19s) also looked in store for bumper club campaigns.
Read on for 20 reasons you should watch the Jets’ junior representative teams battle it out in the top-flight statewide competitions next year with our players to watch season preview.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
CONNELL CUP
IRA YEATMAN
Speed. Grit. Flaire.
These are three things Ipswich State High Year 10 outside back Ira Yeatman has in abundance.
The fullback or playmaker was a thrilling performer in the Broncos sponsored Walters Cup school competition where he used his slight build to his advantage.
HARRY VIDLER
The young forward from the Fassifern Bombers has been on fire in 2024 and he will use his fine form in both codes as a springboard into the junior representative season for Ipswich.
A high quality performer for St Edmund’s College in both First XV rugby and First XIII league, edge forward Vidler was also a key exponent for Eddie’s at the Confaternity Shield carnival in Townsville.
He can kick goals as well as hit a telling line.
LANE EDMONDS
Ipswich Grammar’s humble dual-code rookie was a league boy at heart but over the spring he made a thud playing the 15-a-side game.
A true blue performer for the South East Queensland under-16s at the Emerging Reds Cup (rugby tournament) staged at Ballymore, Edmonds displayed all the right qualities.
The tough, uncompromising team-man was in everything playing rugby, where last year he captained the Queensland Reds Under-15s at one stage.
INNOCENT BARUANI
Humble forward leader Innocent Baruani was at times a man among boys in the Walters Cup Year 10 league competition and in clubland where he is a prime mover for the mighty Goodna Eagles under-16s.
Baruani’s older brothers Velonte (Ipswich SHS, 2024), Kulu (Ipswich SHS, 2022) and Munga (Keebra Park SHS, 2022), pacy outside backs, have helped train him up and big Innocent may just be the most promising of all.
Time will tell but if the leadership and positioning of the 16-year-old edge forward during the school season is anything to go off then he could be in for a big season in green.
TOMASI VAITAI
Supporters of the Ipswich Jets pathway teams may already be familiar with 16-year-old middle forward Tomasi Vaitai after the Keebra Park State High student’s strong campaign earlier this year.
A staple in the Connell Cup side in 2024, Vaitai is back hungry for more in 2024, his senior year at Keebra Park.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs scholarship holder, who has a blend of Tongan and Samoan heritage, lets his actions on the field do the talking.
Off the field he is a well respected Year 11 student who was awarded the Hampo’s Youth Foundation Grant, an award named in honour of the late Liam Hapson, a former Keebra Park SHS student and coach.
MENINGA CUP
ISAIAH PENE
The Jets’ Meninga Cup will lose a bit of backline firepower in the absence of Amaziah Murgha and Junior Saifiti but they gain plenty in fast-footed fullback Isaiah Pene.
The headgear wearing Ipswich State High talent was as big a threat as any in the Langer Reserves competition this year and provided he makes the cut, he will loom as a big danger for Ipswich.
Safe under the high ball, Pene knows his role back to front and like all good fullbacks, he is an attacking weapon.
NATHAN FRASER
There were whispers that Fraser would transition to rugby for Sunnybank in the Colts 1 competition after he made an impact for the Jets in the Meninga Cup earlier this year.
Instead the flame-haired Fraser was a must-have for the club as a future Queensland Cup prospect.
The highly thought of utility back can play hooker and in the halves and is a defensive terrier whose workrate is no doubt setting a high standard for his peers in pre-season.
MARLON FROST
A Coffs Harbour product, Frost broadened his horizons this year when he moved into the dorms at Ipswich Grammar School where he went on to be a First XV winger.
A high-class performer on the rugby 7s pitch, Frost has speed, finesse and a strong pass across both ways which always helps.
His First XV teammates Mostyn Bowen and Brock Coombes are also in the pre-season squad.
TAYSHON FOLEY
A returning centre of the 2024 team that made it to the preliminary finals before falling to eventual premiers Tweed, Foley returned to league in style this season after missing 2023 with a shoulder injury.
Foley, great in the air and slippery in tight spaces, was a fine performer for Ipswich SHS who cruised through the Langer Trophy unbeaten before missing out on a third successive grand final berth when Marsden SHS bumped them out in the semi-final.
He is a genuine cross-field kick option who formed a wonderful edge partnership with the prolific Saifiti (wing).
REECO KIRK
Watch for the towering torpedo kicks from playmaker Reeco Kirk which will resemble those of Bulldogs NRL star Matt Burton.
Kirk troubled opposition fullbacks in school footy when he sent the ball spiralling in the air with his big right boot but he is no one trick pony.
The support play, short kicking game and dummying game the Goodna Eagles junior offers will add plenty next to capable playmakers Corey Elder, Tiger Campbell and Fraser if needed.
The sharp service of dummyhalf Harrison Hill will be a great starting point.
HARVEY NORMAN UNDER-17S
JAZMYN BRENNAN-ROWE
One player can make a big difference in the under-17s competition and Jazmyn Brennan-Rowe and her sister Tamika could offer the one-two punch that powers Ipswich through games.
Also a referee, Jazmyn has a low mistake rate which compliments her classy distributing game in the halves.
A Met West representative in rugby 7s, Jazmyn will have her hand on the trigger for the Jets girls.
EMILEE GEORGE
A promising forward coming through the ranks at Ipswich SHS, George has had high achievers like Sky Faimalie, Shalom Sauaso and Ariana Henderson to look up to in the school’s rugby league program.
With the help of expert coaching, George was picked in the hotly contested Queensland 16 Years schoolgirls team that contested the national championships in Port Macquarie in the winter.
The Jets forward pack will be in good hands with Norths Tigers junior George leading the charge.
EMILY JACKWITZ
Jackwitz has been one of the top discovery players of the year after starting 2024 with a bang playing for the Jets’ under-17s.
Jackwitz was key for Ipswich in the club season for Ipswich SHS, who were crowned national champions.
Tough defence, fast decision making and smart spatial awareness on her wing were trademarks of hers, as well as the ability to cross the stripe.
EMALINI WAQAIRATU
Waqairatu had the honours of captaining Ipswich in the inaugural season of Harvey Norman under-17s earlier this year.
The hard working Met West school sport representative is back for seconds in 2025 where she will be a forward leader capable of setting the tone.
During the short 2024 club season, the Bremer State High edge forward impressed with her attitude and leadership. On the field she displayed great skills.
ELLA O’DEA
Coming off a season of highs with Ipswich SHS where she mixed it with and against the best in the state, O’Dea will be eager to leave her mark again in 2025.
A trusty type, O’Dea was awarded the Best Forward award in 2024 after a high-class three game season.
The Met West Under-15-16 Years select was a starter in Ipswich SHS’s 28-6 triumph over Hills Sports High which crowned them national champions.
HARVEY NORMAN UNDER-19S
ARIANA HENDERSON
Henderson has unfinished business with the Jets after last year her Harvey under-19s fought hard for their wins and scrapped even harder in their losses.
Through and ups and downs, Henderson led the side as captain and the club will have the inspiring leader back again in 2025.
The versatile Ipswich State High product can fill in here, there and everywhere and in a long, gruelling season that will come in handy.
As a centre, edge forward or No. 13, one thing remains the same with Henderson and that is her effort.
Watch for her defensive authority as well.
KAIAH HANSELL
Utility back Kaiah Hansell scored not one, not two but three tries in Ipswich State High’s 28-6 taming of Hills State High School that claimed the NRL National Schoolgirls title.
She played wing in that game, but she is equally at home in the halves pulling the strings or offering supreme service out of dummyhalf.
SIFA LEAPAI
A teammate of Hansell’s in Ipswich State High’s opens girls team this year, Leapai shapes as one of Ipswich’s premier middle forwards.
Taking the ball forward and shedding tackles is Leapai’s bread and butter and last year her fearless deeds for the Jets earnt her selection in the bumper Queensland Country Under-17s representative side.
That followed her selection in the City representative team in 2023.
She is a go-forward queen who her teammates can look to in the middle third of the field.
ZEBADIAH LATU MULUMULU
Mulumulu will offer the finishing touches for the Jets on the end of backline shifts in 2025.
The Samoan utility was a regular tryscorer for Ipswich earlier this year and could be in for another big campaign where she could be used in a variety of positions.
Another highly versatile player, Mulumulu is another proud Goodna Eagles product.
ELLA-JAYE HARRISON-LEAUNOA
Last but certainly not least is the high-class Ella-Jaye Harrison-Leaunoa from Ipswich State High.
2024 was a big year for the Goodna Eagles playmaker who, shortly after winning the NRL National Schoolgirls title, made her Fetu Samoa international debut.
Harrison-Leaunoa came off the bench in Samoa’s 34-12 victory over the PNG Orchids in round 4 of the Pacific Championships.
The former Queensland City Under-17s representative five-eighth is only two years into her rugby league journey and in such a short time has achieved so much.
2025 is another chance for the ball-running pivot to make an impression.
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Originally published as 20 Ipswich Jets Connell Cup, Meninga Cup, HN U17s, U19s squad players to watch in 2025
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