Hostplus Cup rugby league’s leading recruits for Jets and Brisbane region clubs

Hostplus Cup player movement for 2025: Who will be the leading recruits for Norths, Redcliffe, Ipswich, Souths Logan and the Tigers? Revealed here.

Peter Hola - formerly of the Cowboys - will play for Norths Devils. Picture : Evan Morgan

Who were the leading recruits coming to your club for the 2025 Hostplus Cup rugby league season.

In this story we take a deep dive into the key signings by Souths Logan, Redcliffe, Norths, Brisbane Tigers and Ipswich.

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Wynnum Manly were also active in the recruitment market but were holding cards close to their chest before outlining key acquisitions in January.

So here were the key additions to your local club for next season.

NORTHS

Poasi Manu

The damaging prop will know his way around the northern suburbs - after all he attended Padua College as a schoolboy.

Poasi Manu as a Storm contracted playing at the Falcons. Picture: Nicola Anne Photography

Poasi Manu is a big and mobile forward who’s always ready to attack hard on the playing field. A younger brother of Storm premiership player Sika, is a big, mobile unit who brings cut and thrust to the Devils. He could be one of the signings of the season.

Ben Stevanovic

If Norths wanted to bring rugby league IQ and experience to the halves, then Ben Stevanovic should be a bumper signing. Lured up from the North Sydney Bears, Stevanovic also has considerable NSWRL Cup experience with both the Magpies and Sea Eagles.

North Queensland Cowboys training at Hutchinson Builders Centre. Peter Hola. Picture : Evan Morgan

Peter Hola

What a great addition to the Norths Devils this outstanding middle forward will be. A schoolboy prodigy from NSW who was signed by the North Queensland Cowboys, Hola played a dozen NRL games for that side before joining Canberra Raiders where he played three games during the last two seasons.

Matthew Milson

The Devils were getting plenty of experience - and skill - by linking up with this outstanding fullback whose Cup career has gathered considerable momentum playing for the Seagulls over the last two seasons.

Flashback to 2022 - Matthew Milson scoring for Norths Devils Picture: Liam Kidston

He returns to a club where, in 2022, he had a breakthrough C-Cup season, playing 16 games for the Devils before moving back to his debut club - Wynnum - for seasons 2024 and 2023.

Brandon Finnegan

A seasoned halfback with more than 70 Cup games experience from Souths Logan Magpies and the Cutters, Finnegan will bring plenty of smarts to the table in 2025 after breaking into the big league in 2021. He is a former junior coach at St Patrick’s College, Mackay.

Jackson Shereb. (Pictures by Julian Andrews).

Jackson Shereb

Another astute signing by the Devils is that of Shereb who is battle hardened after four seasons in the Dragons’ system. A second rower, he will give the edge plenty of thrust and add depth to the Norths’ forwards.

Jayden Smith

The brother of former Storm and current Roosters hooker Brandon, New Zealand born Smith returns to the club he was first introduced to while attending Wavell SHS. Smith is a honest as the day as long utility forward who will do a job all day long - and then after dark - for his side.

SOUTHS LOGAN

Latrell Siegwalt

Souths Logan have one of the signings of the season in fullback Siegwalt. The former Wagga Wagga wonder arrives after a breakout season in Redcliffe’s white hot 2024 side which saw him play 19 matches with the Dolphins.

Latrell Siegwalt playing for the Dolphins in the Queensland Cup. Source: Dolphins Instagram.

He was always a highly touted junior who was initially in the Canterbury SG Ball system

Teapo Stoltman

It is a home-coming for Stoltman, a well creditionalled edge player who came through the Marsden SHS system as a schoolboy. Stoltman would have benefitted from playing in the Manly Sea Eagles junior representative system.

Prinston Esera

Estera is another who is back to the future after returning from Canberra to play with his junior club. A strongly built edge player who grew up playing three seasons of Langer Trophy with Wavell SHS, Esera still has plenty of upside to his game.

Prinston Esera as a Raiders SG Ball player. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Cruise Ten

Ten has Souths Logan DNA all over him. A punishing back row forward, Ten is a former award winning junior Magpie who returns to the club after a stint across town at Wynnum Manly. Strongly built, Ten will give his all in matches.

Floyd Aubrey

A representative rugby union back, Aubrey switches codes to Souths Logan where he faces a big challenge at training and adapting in matches to the 13-a-man code. But he is a footballer with x-factor talent.

Floyd Aubrey playing rugby in 2024 in the Hospital Cup.

Calum Pereira

A skilled half from the bayside, Pereira helped Wynnum Manly’s Juniors into the BRL decider earlier this year against Beenleigh. It is a big move from Pereia to move away from his junior club of the Seagulls, but his addition will add depth and quality to the Magpies.

Korrbin Skelton and Tevita Wolske

Skelton is a big hearted middle forward with youth on his side. He hails from the Marsden SHS junior system and will do a job for his coach and teammates. He will not leave anything in the tank during his stints.

The robust Wolske returns to wear it all started as a schoolboy with Ipswich Grammar School. He made his Cup debut earlier this decade before dabbling in rugby.

Viliami Lea

Lea comes to Souths Logan from rugby union where he forged a career as a powerhouse winger. His 105kg-plus frame will come in handy bringing the ball back out of the danger zone, while his close to the line finishing will also come into play.

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Max Banditt

Banditt joins Souths Logan after breaking into the Hostplus Cup top side for Ipswich in 2024. A Swifts Ipswich local junior, Banditt arrives at Souths Logan having pin balled around the Tigers colts, the Blackhawks and a training stint with the Sydney Roosters. With 10 Q-Cup matches under his belt, Souths Logan were getting him at a good time.

Byron Johnson

An Australian University rugby league representative, fullback Johnson makes the move from the outer south west (Ipswich) to the inner south west base of Souths Logan. A smooth operator from the back or down the middle of the field, the 22-year-old is another returning to the club which saw him make his debut.

Kobe Martin

Now here’s a great signing. Martin arrived at the Magpies from the Seagulls where he helped the Wynnum Juniors into the 2024 BRL grand final.

Jodeci Baker Tiraha earlier this year training during the Cowboys 2024 pre-season. Picture: North Queensland Toyota Cowboys Media

Brisbane Tigers

Jodeci Baker-Tiraha

The Tigers have a good one here, with Tiraha adding speed and plenty of it to the roster. A fullback who can slaughter tired middle defence, Baker-Tiraha can also beat a man on the outside and has the ability to also play wing or centre. He has experience from the North Queensland Cowboys system.

Josh Smith

Another addition from north Queensland, Smith will also add additional strike to the Tigers outside backs after joining the club from Mackay Cutters where he was a regular starter in 2024. He has more than 50 matches experience after making his Cup debut in 2021.

Josh Smith has linked with the Tigers.

Mitchell Spencer

A tough second rower or No.13 from Canberra Raiders, Spencer is a strong edge player who was one of the best players in the NSWRL Cup. He can impact in defence or with the ball.

Tea-Rani Woodman Tuhoro

Woodman Tuhoro could be a wild card player of the season because of one thing - his speed. A winger, the New Zealand native arrives at the club after coming through Marsden SHS where he was spotted by the Storm before linking with the Knights junior league program.

Oscar Amosa

A New Zealand powerhouse, winger Amosa has been signed by the Tigers from Melbourne Storm. He is a proud former Samoan junior representative from Manurewa High School who can dent a defensive line with his runs. The Tigers will have plenty of outside back options after Setu Tu also linked with the club from the (New Zealand Warriors system), while also look for another winger, Fua Schwalger.

Sherwin Tanabi. Picture: DC Sports Photography.

Sherwin Tanabi

Tanabi will come off the long run when he plays second rower for the Tigers this season. Tanabi is a tough campaigner with experience playing Q-Cup for the Hunters, and NSWRL Cup for North Sydney.

Vaka Sikahele

A gifted hooker, the Tigers were getting the impressive No.9 and occasional No.13 at a good age (22 years). Tigers fans can expect to see plenty of him this season.

A remarkable photo when Jonathon Reuben played at Norths Devils. Picture: Liam Kidston

IPSWICH

Jonathon Reuben

Ipswich have a notable signing here in Rueben, a bustling wing talent who has vast Hostplus Cup experience and valuable learnings from a 2022 stint with the Dragons that included an NRL debut. He is an experienced campaigner who will be good for the young players.

Jonathon Reuben as a Dragons player in 2022. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Deijion Leugaimafa

A schoolboy prodigy with Ipswich SHS, fullback Leugaimafa spent three seasons in the South Sydney system before returning to Ipswich club league to help Brothers win the 2024 premiership. He will fit into the club like a duck takes to the Ipswich Nature Centre and is coming off a City representative jumper. He has the goal of making his Hostplus Cup for his home town club.

Hayden Molkentein

Another local returning to Ipswich is Molkentein who also had a stint with the South Sydney Rabbitohs. A St Edmund’s College old boy, he is an outstanding young centre who knows the lay of the land at North Ipswich Reserve.

Julian Christian

Another Ipswich junior, Julian Christian brings plenty of experience back to the club after playing 100 games of Hostplus Cup game - and winning a premiership with the Norths Devils. Christian was also a title winner with Innisfail Leprechauns during his journey, and the utility back will hope for more success at the Jets.

Jack Smith

A genuine try scoring machine, Smith is a self made outside back who brings with him a strong work ethic. He started his senior career in the BRL competition, earning promotion into the Tigers squad before spending two years at Souths Logan where he snared a Cup debut jumper.

Joshua Patson

The towering Patson will be in great conditions entering the season after initially starting the off-season train with the Titans after impressing for the Burleigh Bears. He has more than

50 games of Hostplus Cup behind him and knows how to find the try line.

Hayden Rowbotham

A St Ignatius College, Townsville junior, the smart halfback arrives at the club having worked hard for his success. A FNQ product, Rowbotham worked his way through the BRL Valley Diehards where he was a Player of the Year, the Devils’ colts system before cracking a hard earned position in the powerful Norths Cup line-up. It is a work ethic which will be welcomed at Ipswich.

Nicholas Halalilo

Halalilo brings experience to Ipswich’s forwards that money cannot buy. He has learned his craft playing NSWRL Cup (Warriors), Q-Cup for the Capras and Pride, and even played in last year’s Pre-Season Challenge for South Sydney. Supporters will welcome him with open arms.

Justin Fai

Like Halalilo who we mentioned above, Fai is another experienced forward campaigner who has gathered considerable Cup experience since his debut in 2019 for the Tigers. Originally from Logan, Fai joins Ipswich after four seasons with Souths Logan.

Rashaun Denny

A centre of considerable experience, the former Norths Devils and Northern Pride edge footballer arrives on the scene featuring size, power, strong defence, pace and the ability to break tackles and score tries. He will look to add thrust to the outside back division of the Jets.

Victor Tereszko

A man mountain, he joins the Jets from Wynnum Manly Seagulls and will add plenty of thrust, leg drive and power to the Jets forward depth.

Zac Hetherington (right) celebrates his try for Ipswich Jets in 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Zac Hetherington

Back to the future. A robust running forward or a clever dummy half, Hetherington brings rugby league smarts to the ruck after plying his trade in the NSWRL club for the Bulldogs, and then the Wynnum Manly Seagulls. He played with Ipswich earlier this decade after growing up in the country where he played school league at The Cathedral College. His dad is former Queensland Origin No.9 Jason.

Declan Haydon

Fullback Haydon is another who will add depth to the outside backs after playing for Wests in the BRL competition and the Norths Devils.

Isaiah Vailallo

After breaking into the CQ Capras for his Cup debut match last season, No.13 Vailallo will be eager for more Hostplus Cup experience with his new club. He is rugby league wise after the young prop playing junior representative football at South Sydney.

Braden Whittaker

An Australian University Rugby League team selection, Whittaker arrives in Ipswich from just down the street after a season with Ipswich Brothers where he helped the club deliver a title. A clever handler, Whittaker originally made his way in post-school football with Wynnum Manly.

Oliver Pascoe

A scampering hooker, Pascoe is a tough little Roosters who played BRL for Bulimba and also for Wynnum Manly Juniors.

Kyle Schneider when he played for Northern Pride - he has linked with Redcliffe. Piicture Emily Barker.

REDCLIFFE

Kyle Schneider

The lively hooker had a bumper 2024 with the Northern Pride where he played 22 matches - after spending the 2022 and 2023 seasons embedded in the Cutters top side. Originally from The Entrance where he played with the Tigers, Schneider is a shrewd signing.

Nat McGaven

A Maroochdyore junior who played plenty of Cup footy with his local representative side (the Falcons) as a rookie, McGaven will bring considerable speed to the outside back division when he links with the 2024 grand finalist. McGaven joins Redcliffe from the Northern Pride.

Zac Miles

Another Sunshine Coast addition, the former Toowoomba Valley Roosters junior Miles will bring plenty of skill to the battle for No.1. He is a clever player who tends to play above his weight.

Dantorey Lui

Originally from Thursday Island and from the famous Cairns Brothers club, Lui has moved out of his comfort zone to challenge himself at the Dolphins. Redcliffe were getting the young halfback at a nice age because the 22-year-old has assembled 24 Cup appearances for Northern Pride over the last two seasons

Lopeti Mafi

A rampaging edge forward, Mafi arrives on the Peninsula fortified by more than 20 Cup games for the Western Clydesdales.

WYNNUM MANLY

The Seagulls have been active, but remain tight lipped about their new signings for 2025.

But Wynnum Manly supporters can expect to see three rookies from the Meninga Cup progress at some stage into the Q Cup 17 this season.

Broncos boys Beni Allen (prop) and Cameron Bukowski (hooker) along with Zane Ford (prop) were all good kids now not eligible for the Meninga Cup.

Allen got some Q Cup experience off the bench late last season, but a big off-season training hard could create a pathway toward many more matches next season.

Bukowski played 2023 Queensland schoolboys and 2024 U19 State of Origin while reliable, hard working middle forward Ford has also trained the off-season with the Broncos before rejoining the Seagulls.

Hostplus Cup Round 1

Saturday, March 8:

Ipswich Jets v Townsville Blackhawks (North Ipswich Reserve, 4pm)

Mackay Cutters v PNG Hunters (BB Print Stadium, 5pm)

Burleigh Bears v Central Queensland Capras (UAA Park, 5pm)

Tweed Seagulls v Wynnum Manly Seagulls (Piggabeen Sports Complex, 5pm)

Northern Pride v Brisbane Tigers (Barlow Park, 5.30pm)

Souths Logan Magpies v Western Clydesdales (Marsden State High School, 6pm)

Originally published as Hostplus Cup rugby league’s leading recruits for Jets and Brisbane region clubs