Langer Trophy signings: Where Queensland’s schoolboy rep stars are contracted

We reveal the NRL teams that have snapped up the Under-18 Queensland schoolboys ready to rock this year’s ASSRL Nationals, as the build-up to our exclusive live coverage of every game continues.

See where the Queensland Schoolboys of 2023 are heading.

Where are the Under-18 Queensland schoolboys ready to rock this year’s ASSRL Nationals headed in the NRL?

We reveal all here ahead of every match of the Kayo Stadium staged event being exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV across all News Corp Australia mastheads from July 1.

HERE’S A SUPER SIX FROM BOTH THE QLD BOYS AND GIRLS

FAMILY TIES INSPIRE ALEX LEAPAI’S RISE TO REP LEVEL

Following the conclusion of last year’s event, Queenslanders Chris Faagutu (Marsden State High School), Arama Hau (Keebra Park SHS), Keano Kini (Palm Beach Currumbin SHS), Liam Le Blanc (St Joseph’s College, Nudgee), Karl Oloapu (Wavell SHS), Josiah Pahulu (Ipswich SHS), Michael Roberts (Palm Beach Currumbin SHS) and Gabriel Satrick (Ipswich SHS) were selected in the Australian Schoolboys team.

Kini and Pahulu have since played for the Gold Coast Titans as has Oloapu with the Bulldogs.

So where’s the class of 2023 headed in the NRL?

Queensland Schoolboys

1 Mutua Brown (The Cathedral College, Rockhampton)

Mutua Brown. Picture: Evan Morgan

NRL club: Cowboys

Brown is one of the top players in his age group, an elite fullback who shone both for the Capras in the Meninga Cup and also in the Dolphins Cup schoolboy season. He’s quick.

2 Alton Naiyep (Ipswich State High School)

Alton Naiyep scores a try. Picture: Patrick Woods.

NRL club: Manly

Naiyep, from Ipswich SHS, was one of the best outside backs in the Meninga Cup this year and was rewarded with a contract mid-season. A centre or winger who runs with purpose, Naiyep has been outstanding in three games so far this year in the Langer Trophy.

3 Prestyn Laine-Sietu (St. Joseph’s Nudgee College)

Prestyn Laine-Sietu.

NRL club: Penrith

Laine-Sietu spent much of last season dominating his age group in rugby union (Nudgee College) but he is also a league powerhouse.

A backrower last year, Laine-Sietu made the Queensland Reds under 16s team and after a terrific Meninga Cup season with Redcliffe, the Penrith signed young gun is ready for the Nationals.

4 Sam Stephenson (Palm Beach Currumbin SHS)

Sam Stephenson. Picture: Evan Morgan

NRL club: Gold Coast Titans

The tall, rangy son of former NRL player Paul, PBC SHS student Stephenson has been a name on everyone’s lips coming through the juniors and continues to meet every challenge. A centre, he played two games in Langer Cup last year as a year 10 student and this year the 17-year-old is proving quite the handful.

5 John-Paul Donevski (Wavell State High School)

John-Paul Donevski,, NRL Dolphins League player 2023 Redcliffe QLD – Photo Supplied

NRL club: Dolphins

Originally from Patrician Brothers Blacktown in the Penrith district, Donevski is a tall, athletic outside back. He is versatile, fast and skilful.

6 Jaxon Purdue (St. Patrick’s College, Mackay)

Jaxon Purdue. Picture: Michaela Harlow

NRL aligned: Cowboys

Purdue is one of the big improvers in junior football over the last two years. The St Patrick’s Mackay student is a good instinctive running five-eighth. This year he made our News Corp Meninga Cup Team of the Year and would have been one of the first players chosen in the Queensland schoolboys.

7 Coby Black (Marsden State High School)

Coby Black from Marsden State High School. Picture: Richard Walker

NRL club: Brisbane Broncos

The 2022 Queensland schoolboys under 18 utility will run the 2023 schoolboys as starting halfback this season. Under the coaching of Jesse Maclean at the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls and Matt Hartigan at Marsden, Black has blossomed into the best halves prospect in Queensland for his age. He has multiple tricks up his sleeve.

8 Kaiden Lahrs (Kirwan State High School)

Kaiden Lahrs. Picture: Evan Morgan

NRL club: Cowboys

The son of former international Tom, Lahrs will be Queensland’s No. 1 middle man prime mover at the nationals. Tall, athletic and powerfully built, last year he became the youngest MVP award winner in the Kirwan SHS rugby league program. Not even Jason Taumalolo, Jeremiah Nanai, Sam Thaiday or Brandon Smith won the award as a 16-year-old.

9. Xavier Kerrisk (St. Patrick’s College, Mackay)

Xavier Kerrisk. Picture: Michaela Harlow

NRL club: Cowboys

Not unlike his school mate and club five-eight Jason Purdue, Kerrisk is another instinctive player with an uncanny ability to know when to follow the big boys through the ruck. He is a good running hooker.

10 Mason Kira (Mountain Creek State High School)

Mason Kira. Picture: Patrick Woods

NRL club: Cowboys

The Cowboys talent scouts don’t overrun the SEQ corner looking for talent but when they sign a kid, they are good ones. Cowboys latest NRL big hit Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is an Ipswich SHS alumni for example. But they have snared Kira from the Storm, a tough as teak mobile middle forward who will love with a capital L the challenge of playing for Queensland.

11 Zac Garton (Caloundra State High School)

Zac Garton. Picture: Evan Morgan

NRL club: Dolphins

From Caloundra SHS’s proud rugby league system, Garton is a rugged, thickly set mobile edge back rower who we believe will be one of the eye-catching players of the championships. He is seasoned, helping Redcliffe win the Meninga Cup premiership and now playing in the Langer Trophy for his school.

12 Jett Bryce (Keebra Park SHS)

Jett Bryce. Picture: Evan Morgan

NRL club: Brisbane Broncos

The Broncos have a good one here. Bryce is a high work ethic edge forward who thrives on contact. He is also a telling defender and those who have not played with him before will relish having him as a teammate. He was one of the most improved in the Meninga Cup this season playing for Wynnum Manly.

13 John Fineanganofo (Redcliffe State High School)

Loka Toia and John Fineanganofo of Redcliffe SHS.

NRL club: Dolphins

Fineanganofo was one of the most influential players in the Meninga Cup under 18 competition this season, helping Redcliffe win the club premiership.

The Dolphins academy signed rookie plays five-eight or No. 13, but can easily play on the edge and is a noted ball playing, creative footballer.

14 Cameron Bukowski (Villanova College)

Villanova College student Cameron Bukowski. Thursday February 2, 2023. Picture, John Gass

NRL club: Brisbane Broncos

Bukowski is a talented sportsman who scores runs in AIC First XI cricket for Villanova College, and captains the Wynnum-Manly Mal Meninga under 18s.

A hooker, he can also kick goals.

The No. 9 spot at this carnival was hotly contested with Harrison Hill, Mitch Rogers and Jai Cameron, among other very talented hookers missing out.

15 Aholoka Toia (Redcliffe State High School)

Aholoka Toia. Picture: Evan Morgan

NRL club: Dolphins

Toia is what this competition is all about – rewarding a blue collar worker for their work ethic and improvement. He is no Flash Dan, but the middle forward gets through a mountain of work and he helped Redcliffe win the Meninga Cup premiership. Slightly unheralded – but certainly not by us – Toia is the brother of 2022 Queensland under 19 centre Rob Toia who is with the Roosters.

16 Alex Leapai (Mabel Park State High School)

Alex Leapai from Mabel Park State High School. Picture: Richard Walker

NRL club: Gold Coast Titans

A 114kg, 193cm tall athlete who will play middle forward, Leapai will be one of the best big men at the championship with his driving runs and ability to unload in contact. Watch for his post contact metres to chew up yardage for his side.

17 Lauloto Salei (Wavell State High School)

Lauloto Salei from Wavell State High School. Picture: Richard Walker

NRL club: Canberra Raiders

The Wavell SHS back row is another success story who sacrificed a lot in moving from Alice Springs to North Queensland and then to Brisbane looking to maximise his league ability. A natural leader, Salei is a mobile No. 13 capable of playing edge.

18 Presley Folau (Keebra Park SHS)

NRL club: Brisbane Broncos

An edge forward, Folau made our 2022 Walters Cup Year 10 season as a reserve prop and is in his first year of Langer Trophy as a Year 11 student. He is a hard working versatile athlete who played his way into the hotly contested Queensland side after shining for the South Coast team in its state championship winning effort.

19 Will Semu (Marsden SHS)

Marsden SHS's Will Semu (left).

NRL club: Gold Coast Titans

Semu has been one of the impact players of the Langer Trophy after returning to his best form this season. A centre or winger, he was so good as a Year 10 student that he made our Langer Trophy Team of the Season reserves bench. It is great to see him back in business.

20 Dominique Sandow (Ipswich State High School)

Ipswich trio Cayleb Johnson, Dominique Sandow and Tyler Peckham-Harris after their clash with Wavell State High. Picture: Nick Tucker

NRL club: Unsigned

The nephew of former NRL match winning halfback Chris Sandow, Dominique has beautiful ball skills and can pick his moment to perfection when entering the front line in attack.

He’s got long strides, is a tall customer and plays the ball very quickly. His communication in defence is also valued from the back.

Originally published as Langer Trophy signings: Where Queensland’s schoolboy rep stars are contracted