Caloundra SHS students Fletcher Clark, Kodi Lambert selected in Queensland under-12s schoolboy rugby league team

Two Sunshine Coast junior rugby league stars have taken huge steps towards their elite level dream with selection in the Queensland schoolboys team off the back of an ever-growing school excellence program.

Rising rugby league talent Fletcher Clark and Kodi Lambert. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Two rising Sunshine Coast rugby league talents have earnt their spots in the Queensland Representative School Sport (QRSS) 11-12 Years Rugby League Team after a series of impressive performances at the state championships in Burleigh last month.

Caloundra State High School students Fletcher Clark and Kodi Lambert were selected in the final 17-player squad that will be coached by Shane Allen (Buderim Mountain SS) and managed by William Pei (Keebra Park SHS).

The side will travel to Canberra in August to compete against ACT, NSW and VIC as the boys said they were extremely excited to take part.

“It’s pretty cool, we’ve been playing together for quite a while now and even though we don’t go to the same club we both really enjoy playing school and rep footy together,” Lambert said.

“We’ve got a pretty good bond.”

Caloundra SHS students Kodi Lambert and Fletcher Clark in action for the Sunshine Coast under-12 schoolboys rugby league side. Picture: Facebook.

Lambert plays his club footy for the Kawana Dolphins while Clark is a member of the Caloundra Sharks.

Clark, who generally plays as a five-eight, was selected at hooker for Queensland while Lambert was picked in the halves.

“It was different for me playing number nine but I enjoyed it because you get a bit more involved,” Clark said.

“I thought we both played pretty well but we were shocked and pumped when we got called for the Queensland team.”

Lambert and Clark said they were looking forward to the challenge.

“I wasn’t really expecting it but it should be fun to play with some other talented players, get some strong coaching and travel as a team,” Clark said.

“It’s going to be exciting but it’s also going to be tough with the other teams and players we’ll come up against,” Lambert added.

“I think we’ve got a good side with good coaches so I feel we’ll do pretty well.”

Rising rugby league talents Fletcher Clark and Kodi Lambert. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Caloundra SHS grade seven program of excellence coach Chris Charlton said it was a credit to the duo’s efforts.

Charlton, who was inducted as a life member for Metropolitan North School Sport in 2022, relocated to the Sunshine Coast earlier this year bringing with him some top-line junior schoolboys experience.

“I know the standard as I’ve seen or had dealings with a number of junior players like Kodi Nikorima, Francis Molo, Billy Walters and Billy Brittain that have obviously risen through certain systems and pathways,” he said.

“Fletcher and Kodi are obviously at that state standard as they are both good natural players and have matured a lot with their footy vision and knowledge.

“Off the field they are both good kids as well, really well mannered, shake your hands and look you in the eye and lead their respective classrooms well.”

Charlton praised the immense behind the scenes work of program co-ordinator Craig Monaghan and senior coach Toby Poole.

Caloundra State High School rugby league coaches, Craig Monaghan and Toby Poole. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“We worked really hard in that first six year launch of our program as we knew the success of our senior Langer Trophy and schoolboys representative players would bring other local kids to our school and put us on the map,” Monaghan said.

“For this year seven cohort to come through, qualify for the tier one Brisbane Broncos Challenge and now these two boys earn selection in the Queensland team is off the back of different senior team performances in the past five years.”

Monaghan said the program, which launched in 2016, has grown by 50 per cent in the past 12 to 24 months which also included the introduction of a female program in 2024.

“At the moment we have 220 students in total in the program but the hardest part is definitely having to turn away over half of the kids that apply given we can only take one classroom of 28 students each year,” he said.

“They’re all great kids so it’s hard to turn them away given we’re a school of choice but unfortunately we don’t have the capacity to fill two classrooms which is what we’re trying to build towards.

“We’re starting to cast that wider net of families and kids at our school from Tewantin, Noosa, Sunshine Beach, Morayfield and Redcliffe rather than just our local area which is nice and will help us further accommodate more students in the coming years.”

Caloundra SHS were also proudly represented in senior Queensland schoolboys teams by Zac Garton, Cooper Clarke (out injured) and Darius Birve at the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Championships along with Mountain Creek SHS student Jai Bowden.

Originally published as Caloundra SHS students Fletcher Clark, Kodi Lambert selected in Queensland under-12s schoolboy rugby league team