Gympie Devils star Haydin Elsebach crowned Queensland’s best a-grade playmaker
The votes are in for Queensland's top 100 nominees in the hunt to be crowned the best A-grade playmaker from regional rugby league competitions. SEE THE WINNERS
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
After hundreds of votes, Gympie Devils hooker Haydin Elsebach has been crowned Queensland’s best A-grade rugby league playmaker.
News Corp Australia compiled a list of 102 nominations of the state’s best and opened it up for public vote to unearth the most regarded star by clubs, fans and the community.
The Sunshine Coast rugby league star edged out fellow opposition with second place going to Stevie Ray Haenga-Albert (Kawana Dolphins) and a third place result from David Oakes (Nambour Crushers).
See how every player polled below
Elsebach, 24, said he was humbled to be voted among that state’s top players.
“It feels pretty special, it’s not something I was really expecting at the start of this year so it means a lot and validates the effort that I’ve been putting in,” he said.
“I did my ACL in pre-season last year and before that there was no competition due to Covid-19 so it’s really my first year with Gympie which makes the rehab and everything else very much worth it.”
Elsebach, who played three years of under-20s with North Devils after high school and a further two years with Easts Tigers, said he was happy with his attacking game style.
“I think I’m a pretty good running half, quick out of dummy half and I think that’s where I have a big impact on the game,” he said.
“I help tighten up the middle in defence as well but mainly just having a crack for the full 80 minutes.”
The civil engineer by trade thanked everyone who voted and said he still had some desire to play at the Intrust Super Cup level.
“If the opportunity came up with the Sunshine Coast Falcons I would definitely take it but I’m also pretty happy with where I am at the moment just with work and everything else,” he said.
Devils head coach Mick Buckley said Elsebach was a reliable player.
“He’s a very creative, courageous player and he’s not the biggest bloke going around but he puts his body on the line defensively and is electric out of dummy half,” he said.
“He’s a quality footballer and in my opinion he’s too good for this grade as he should be playing cup footy but it’s understandable with his work.
“He’s very coachable, a great team man, very unselfish and the boys love him obviously because when you have a player like that in your team it’s hard not to get around him.”
TOP 10 FINISHERS
1. Haydin Elsebach (Gympie Devils) – 38 votes
2. Stevie Ray Haenga-Albert (Kawana Dolphins) – 13 votes
3. David Oakes (Nambour Crushers) – 12 votes
4. Matt Duggan (Wattles) – 10 votes
5. Wade Fickling (Yeppoon Seagulls) – 10 votes
6. Jacob Reid (Rockhampton Brothers) – 8 votes
7. Jack White (Rockhampton Brothers) 8 votes
8. Theo Majid (Kangaroos) – 7 votes
9. Caleb Foster (Atherton) – 7 votes
10. Mitch Seri (Herbert River Crushers) – 6 votes
All clubs and coaches were approached for comment before the time of publishing.
SUNSHINE COAST
Dan Moevao (Noosa Pirates)
With more than 14 years’ experience at an A-grade level, playing across competitions in Canterbury New Zealand, Cairns, Mackay and now the Sunshine Coast, the dual threat big man that holds an excellent running and passing game has been a standout performer for the Pirates in recent years. The ‘old school’ lock and five-eighth draws a healthy comparison to Manly Sea-Eagles star Josh Schuster.
Daniel Marjanovic (Beerwah Bulldogs)
Hometown hero Daniel Marjanovic has reached new heights in recent seasons following a pre-season with the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2020. The crafty five-eighth is a positive and direct playmaker that has good ability to put those outside him on a pedestal.
Stevie Ray Haenga-Albert (Kawana Dolphins)
In a team full of creativity and flair Haenga-Albert has made a huge impression on his Kawana teammates and opposition players. The New Zealand-born player slots in anywhere necessary for the Dolphins and picks his opportunities to take on the defensive line extremely well.
Zack De Jersey (Caloundra Sharks)
De Jersey has remained a shining light for his Caloundra team with the ability to take on the line at speed and create solid opportunities for his outside teammates.
Haydin Elsebach (Gympie Devils)
The former Easts Tigers playmaker has brought a wealth of experience and starpower to the Devils in recent seasons. The talented dummy half commands respect at the back of the play-the-ball and more often than not will put the opposition in two minds.
Jackson Moule (Maroochydore Swans)
A new face to the ever impressive Swans outfit that has added even more attacking flair and composure to their backline this season. The former Caboolture star has taken Maroochydore’s spine to a new level as his work with the ball in hand continues to put opposition players on the back foot.
David Oakes (Nambour Crushers)
Highly touted Nambour playmaker David Oakes has been a prominent figure within senior Sunshine Coast rugby league for more than eight years. The man with the magic boot and the colourful on-field chat is a terrific organiser and his work on the ball dictates the flow and pace of the game from start to finish.
GOLD COAST
Michael Burgess (Tugun Seahawks)
This is one determined playmaker. Unafraid of taking the line on for frequent runs, his kicking game has been a trademark of Tugun’s attacking play.
Keanu Te Kiri (Tugun Seahawks)
Backed with a strong build and damaging running game, Keanu Te Kiri is the perfect foil for his halves partner Burgess. Has gone through something of an on field turn around after previous lean seasons, but since coming back into the top side in 2022 impressed so much that he was parachuted into the Gold Coast Vikings representative side.
Jack Rogers (Ormeau Shearers)
To be the competition’s leading point scorer is one thing, but Jack Rogers’ ability to keep an Ormeau side in the finals hunt – in their first year back in the competition – has been profound. His efforts to lead the way and take down heavyweights Mudgeeraba and Southport in recent weeks have been top tier.
Connor Toia (Ormeau Shearers)
The former Burleigh Bears Queensland Cup playmaker has been the perfect foil to Rogers’ running game. Connor Toia’s composure has been a great balancing act, and the Shearers look a far more daunting prospect when both men are on the field.
Dallas Wells (Mudgeeraba Redbacks)
His form for the Redbacks has been at the heart of many shock upsets throughout the season. Dallas Wells will be eager to turn his form into further Queensland Cup appearances, having played his one and only game for Burleigh in 2020 before the competition was shut down following the Covid-19 outbreak.
Jay Melrose (Mudgeeraba Redbacks)
Has shown a strong running game at five-eighth alongside the composed Wells. Jay Melrose will carry extra responsibility leading into the finals, with his knack for scoring close to the line a key threat – his six four pointers equal sixth in the competition.
Zane Harris (Southport Tigers)
The Southport and Gold Coast Vikings halfback has proven to be the full package since returning from stints in NRL systems with the Roosters and Sea Eagles. A strong running game backed with a pinpoint general play kick has been a highlight even in a star studded outfit.
Jaman Rio (Southport Tigers)
Has floated between halfback and fullback throughout the year and rarely put a foot wrong. Jaman Rio’s strong running game and instincts have been pivotal for the Tigers premiership quest.
Campbell Pirihi (Helensvale Hornets)
The captain of the Hornets has been brave in a side with just one win for the season, playing between halfback and fullback at various stages. Kicks goals to boot.
Leighmon Hohaia Katene (Helensvale Hornets)
He is young, he is versatile and he is exciting. The way Leighmon Hohaia Katene plays the game adds a layer of thrill each time he touches the ball. With Pirihi next to him controlling the game, the pair could blossom into a powerhouse long-term partnership.
George House (Burleigh Bears)
A stalwart of the Bears’ A-grade line up with similarities to Jamal Fogarty both for the way he plays and his passion for Indigenous advocacy off it. Already with premierships in his cabinet, his poise in the throes of a contest have been instrumental in Burleigh’s quest for back-to-back titles.
Matiu Stone-Dunn (Burleigh Bears)
His selection comes courtesy of his versatility, which has enabled him to play at five-eighth, centre, fullback and off the bench throughout the year – both for the A-grade and Queensland Cup sides. The Mackay product balances out the side well when in the number six jersey, particularly around the composure offered by House and fullback Kurtis Rowe.
Nash Geyer (Currumbin Eagles)
The son of a Melbourne Storm legend (and his club coach) but in a very different position. Nash Geyer’s father, Matt, became a stalwart on the flank for the NRL powerhouse, but his son has blossomed into a strong running five-eighth with a bright future.
Scott Bunt (Currumbin Eagles)
His kicking game has been crucial for Currumbin staying in the fight against far more experienced sides, with his work off the tee crucial in their first win of the season against Tugun. Has taken his chance moving up from reserve grade in recent seasons with aplomb.
Aaron Booth (Runaway Bay Seagulls)
Injuries have cruelled much of his 2022 campaign, but when Aaron Booth is on the field Runaway Bay look like a far more damaging side. His short kicking game in particular has been threatening with each attempt.
Bayley Loughead (Runaway Bay Seagulls)
Has played in the outside backs throughout the season, but alongside Booth, Bayley Loughead will be out to combine his elusive running with ball in hand with finesse heading into the finals. As players have fallen around him with injuries – and for some Queensland Cup call ups – Loughead has been a constant figure for the Seagulls and emerged as a handy Mr Fix It type player, even playing hooker as recently as this week.
BRISBANE
Jai Taepa (Brighton Roosters)
A young halfback who came through Melbourne Storm system as an under-20s player, Taepa has been a tremendous asset for the Roosters. As well as being elusive, quick off the mark and slick on his feet, he has a very good passing game and is renowned for his skills.
Brayden Torpy (Carina Tigers)
Torpy is a tremendous half for the Tigers who organises the troops around him. Individually he is a strong ball runner with a good kicking game and he complements those skills with awareness of teammates around him.
Jack Walters (West Brisbane Panthers)
The son of Brisbane Broncos coach and playing legend Kevin Walters, Jack Walters is a street smart playmaker. The apple has not fallen far from the tree, with the brother of NRL player Billy a renowned “smart operator’’ around the club when it comes to play-making.
Brad Campbell (Normanby Hounds)
Campbell is a man of many talents at the Hounds. Not only does he give the side confidence as a captain and with his competitive nature, but is also an organising supremo who gets his team to the right positions on the ground with his kicking game. He generally leads by example.
BUNDABERG/FRASER COAST
David Woodbridge (Hervey Bay Seagulls)
Young halfback who plays above his weight. His kicking game is perhaps his strength and continues to impress judges of the competition.
Will Wathall (Hervey Bay Seagulls)
One-time Wynnum under-20s hooker who has displayed his pace off the mark throughout the season. Has the ability to be a fixture in the team for years to come.
Brendan Grills (Waves Tigers)
From a famous footy family, the young halfback had his struggles with confidence last season but has found a new gear in 2022. He does whatever task is asked of him and his game has benefited as a result.
Sam Tobin (Waves Tigers)
A playmaking utility who has made a home at hooker this season, Tobin is proving a fast learner as well as a quick runner from dummy-half. Has overcome ankle and shoulder injuries in recent seasons to be a vital cog in 2022.
Zac Dann (Past Brothers)
A tough country player who plays well above his weight and isn’t afraid to put his body on the line. Integral player to the team who leads by example. Can fill in at halfback as well as fullback.
Bryden Blair (Past Brothers)
A 17-year-old halfback who is playing in the local A grade competition against men. Naturally gifted player with plenty of skill and ability already leading a team around the park, a young man with huge potential and ability.
CAIRNS
Jermaine Pedro (Atherton)
Experienced leader with and without the ball, Pedro is generally at the heart of every Atherton success.
One of the best players in the CDRL on his day, Pedro has the experience and know-how to lead his team to glory.
Caleb Foster (Atherton)
Another experienced head at Atherton, Foster’s combination with Pedro has grown over the years and was behind the Roosters’ superb start to 2022.
Can do any job that is required, but his experience and ability to work with his halves partner and control the tempo of a game are his biggest attributes.
Jordan Biondi-Odo (Brothers)
The former Northern Pride utility has added a new dimension to his game since becoming a playing coach at Brothers.
Years of experience and time in the state competition coupled with a dominant forward pack gives Biondi-Odo the edge on the field.
Patrick Lewis (Brothers)
Biondi-Odo’s right-hand man in 2022, Lewis has grown into a handy five-eighth after being used in the centres in recent years.
His kicking game complements Biondi-Odo’s, while his ability to read the play and react in the moment makes him a dangerous ballplayer.
James Frazer (Edmonton)
He played only two games for Edmonton but the teenage rising star showed he was more than ready to mix it with the big boys.
Frazer, who left the Far North to finish school in Ipswich, is a complete player destined for the highest levels of the sport.
Tremayne Bowie (Edmonton)
The man has had the number six on his back for each of Edmonton’s three wins this season, and it’s easy to see why.
He’s not afraid to run the ball but has the vision and kicking game to work his underfire side into attacking positions at will.
Aaron Jolley (Innisfail)
One of the most consistent leading men during his time in the CDRL, Jolley is a jack of all trades who has found a newish home in the halves.
With plenty of experience at hooker and fullback, the move to the halves has allowed Jolley to lead the Leprechauns to one grand final and has them on track for another deep finals run.
Sterling Addo-Nona (Innisfail)
A promising young playmaker who has divided his time between his club and the Northern Pride in 2022, Addo-Nona has plenty of A-grade experience despite his youth.
A handy ballplayer who isn’t afraid to throw caution into the wind, Addo-Nona is a five-eighth on the cusp of breaking through to the next level.
Rhylee Herd (Ivanhoes)
The older and more experienced of the Herds, Rhylee is among the first picked for an Ivanhoes side knocking on the door of finals.
Rhylee, who has also played at fullback, has plenty of pace, a solid kicking game and a boot which has left plenty of defenders clutching at air.
Regan Herd (Ivanhoes)
Playing alongside his brother in A-grade for the first time in 2022, Regan made his way into the top team and has proved he belongs.
Regan is similar to his brother in that they both played fullback and have that elusive footwork and pace at their disposal, and is developing into an A-grade playmaker.
Theo Majid (Kangaroos)
An experienced customer who has thrived in his change of scenery, Majid may well be the missing piece for a Kangaroos’ tilt at the trophy.
Majid’s ability to read a game and his decision-making have lifted Kangaroos into a genuine premiership threat this year.
Will Treston (Kangaroos)
The young playmaker who spent a few years in rugby, Treston’s greatest strength is his boot, either in-play or from the tee.
Take nothing away from his ability with ball in hand, he can spy an opportunity like no other and has excelled alongside Majid.
Hubert Elu (Mareeba)
A livewire utility who has just as easily worn the No. 6 on his back as he has the centre or fullback positions.
Elu is a newcomer to Mareeba this year but has found an occasional home in the halves because of his dominance with the ball: give him the Steeden, and he’ll make things happen.
Shaun Stephens (Mareeba)
The youngster has shared his time between the Gladiators and Northern pride this season.
Viewed as a playmaker to watch into the future, Stephens is learning on the job and growing into a quality A-grade player.
Eddie Daniel (Mossman-Port Douglas)
Arguably the best halfback in the CDRL, Daniel can manage a game like no other.
He has an outstanding kicking game, great vision, brilliant footwork and a burst of speed which has allowed him to burn plenty of defenders.
Robbie Amber (Mossman-Port Douglas)
Another experienced Shark, Amber is adept in the halves and at hooker – virtually any position he gets his hands on the ball and influences the play.
Amber is another tough customer with good vision and a neat pass who has set up plenty of four-pointers in his time.
Ritchie Lowe (Southern Suburbs)
An experienced campaigner but newcomer to this competition, Lowe has had the keys to Suburbs for much of the year.
A tough competitor not known for stepping back, Lowe has the footwork and kicking game to change a game on a dime.
Cephas Chinfat (Southern Suburbs)
A regular CDRL Gold Medal finalist at fullback, Chinfat has found another gear since a switch to five-eighth.
The Cockatoos captain thrives with responsibility, and now he’s taken a more hands-on role in this squad, he’s been able to showcase every part of his developing game.
Col Wilkie (Tully Tigers)
Among the most accomplished players in this competition, the former Northern Pride player and Italy international returned to help rebuild the Tigers.
Experience, which Wilkie has in spades, can’t be taught, but it has informed his decision-making on the field and helped lift his teammates.
Braithan Ketchell (Tully Tigers)
There’s been a few options used in the halves this season but Ketchell’s recent debut has allowed him to take his game to another level.
Ketchell has repeatedly shown why he is linked with the Cowboys’ development system, with glimpses of a potential top-line player shining through despite the team’s on-field struggles.
Charles Murgha (Yarrabah)
A fierce but smart competition, veteran Seahawk Murgha has shown no sign of slowing down despite his age.
A cerebral operator who has played alongside or against most men in this competition – and, in some cases, their fathers – over his long career, Murgha can turn a game with his kicking game or willingness to chance his arm.
Coleridge Dabah (Yarrabah)
Suspension has ended Dabah’s season rather early but there is no doubting his talent with the ball in hand.
Dabah has it all – a good kicking game, speed, a brilliant step, and elusive footwork – and his cabinet of premierships and player of the grand final awards proves he can deliver when it matters.
TOOWOOMBA
Hayden Lipp (Gatton Hawks)
Lipp’s leadership and ability to expertly guide his team around the park has been a key part of the Hawks this season. His kicking game is second to none and his passing game is equally impressive.
Regan Wilde (Gatton Hawks)
The perfect foil to Lipp. Wilde is a lockdown defender with crisp passing.
Cory McGrady (Highfields Eagles)
McGrady has it all – great leadership, defence, kicking and passing skills, pace and a brilliant football mind.
Nick Bainbridge (Highfields Eagles)
A fearless competitor who excels in broken play with his ability to press home any small advantages his team gains.
David McGrady (Goondiwindi Boars)
Has a ‘bag of kicking tricks’ most halves would be envious of – meaning he can apply pressure and get his team out of trouble with his boot. McGrady is also adept at steering his teammates around the park in attack.
Michael Hazard (Goondiwindi Boars)
Plays well above his weight and loves bringing down bigger runners in defence. Runs out the full 80 minutes and uses his fitness to great effect late in games.
Mitch Wilson (Warwick Cowboys)
Wilson’s towering bombs have put plenty of players under pressure this season. Doesn’t shy away in defence either.
Michael Bloomfield (Warwick Cowboys)
Like Wilson, Bloomfield puts in the effort in defence which makes the Cowboys hard to beat every week.
Joel Currie (Valleys Roosters)
The fleet footed five-eighth is elusive in attack, works hard and directs traffic with the best of them.
Brock Diment (Valleys Roosters)
A lot of players have worn the halfback jersey at Roosters this season but Diment has been the most consistent. Can change a game with the perfect pass and always keeps the opposition guessing.
Cedrick Paniani-Orika (Oakey Bears)
A side-stepping half who keeps the opposition guessing and has great line speed.
Ben Cook (Souths Tigers)
A fantastic game manager who offers and creates plenty in attack and knows how to steer his forwards round the park.
Ben Howard (Souths Tigers)
A great kicking game and can play across multiple positions if needed.
Tom O’Sullivan (Pittsworth Danes)
A great game manager with a solid kicking game.
Jordan O’Shea (Pittsworth Danes)
Like his teammate, O’Shea knows how to direct his team and does the little things right.
Sam Betros (Brothers)
Loves to take on the line and delivers the perfect pass when needed.
Zac Albert (Brothers)
An instinctual player who loves to attack.
Matt Duggan (Wattles)
You’d be hard pressed to find a better half in the state. Duggan has been one of the TRL’s top players for years – regularly sacrificing his body as he runs into the line to help get his team on the front foot.
Travis Burns (Wattles)
The former NRL star can turn a game in the blink of an eye with a 40-20 kick, a pass that puts someone into a gap or few words as captain.
Dylan Taylor (Dalby Diehards)
Fearless in attack and defence, Taylor has a never say die attitude that makes him a fierce competitor.
Travis Babington (Dalby Diehards)
A great reader of the game that finds his forwards with the best pass at just the right time.
TOWNSVILLE
Ty Carucci (Brothers)
A big five-eighth whose strength is his running game. He controls his side’s attacks well and is a senior leader at the club. A good ballplayer, Carucci has dominated in finals football for the past four to five years and stands up well in big games.
Addo Waiagna (Brothers)
A number seven with a great kicking game who also knows the right time to bring his centre into the game. Waianga gets around the field really well and can dominate sides with his running game, which is another big strength.
Aaron Solari (Herbert River Crushers)
Born and bred in Ingham, Solari was part of the Cowboys under-20s program and is one of the best halfbacks in the Townsville competition. His strength is his running game which allows him to take the line on and his team benefits from that when he is at his best.
Mitch Seri (Herbert River Crushers)
Veteran captain-coach who has played 18 seasons in A-Grade in the Townsville competition. Had a decent playing career with the Northern Pride and Townsville Blackhawks. Might not have the speed any more but is able to use his footy smarts to get his team around the park, using his tactical kicking game.
Mitch Gray (Centrals Tigers)
A good young half who has a tremendous kicking game in general play. He also has great ball skills and has a superb partnership with his number 7. Gray is also a great communicator on the field.
Scott Evans (Centrals Tigers)
A mature halfback who performs well under pressure and is strong in defence. His combination with the number seven at Centrals allows him to control his team around the park.
Sam Martin-Savage (Western Lions)
A product of the Penrith under-20s, Martin-Savage also had around two years with the Blackhawks. Described by his captain-coach and halves partner as being in the top three of the Townsville competition with tremendous ball-running skills and a top defensive game.
Jacob Bourke (Western Lions)
A captain-coach who was part of the Cowboys under-20s program in his younger days. The veteran now uses his organisational skills to get the best out of his halves partner and the rest of his team. His kicking game is still one of his strengths.
Ethan Edwards (Norths)
A former National Schoolboy champion with Kirwan State High School in 2019, Edwards has played both five-eighth and halfback throughout a lean season for the Devils, forging a skilful scrumbase combination with Cowboys young gun Zack Lamont.
Zack Lamont (Norths)
The prodigious Cowboys-contracted playmaker has won the battle for the Devils’ No. 7 jersey since returning from Queensland Under-18s and Blackhawks duties. Lamont, a Sunshine Coast junior formerly contracted by the Storm, was spotted playing for Easts and Churchie in Brisbane’s prestigious GPS First XV competition.
Curtis Dempsey (Burdekin)
Dempsey hadn’t played a full match in the halves since he was a teenager but a late representative shift to help plug a Foley Shield hole for Townsville has seen him return to the role at club level as well. Dempsey has played two matches at five-eighth and another two at halfback, making him the second-most utilised half at the Roosters this season.
Izaak Toby (Burdekin)
In a revolving door of playmakers at the Burdekin, former Ipswich Jets junior Izaak Toby has emerged as one constant. Toby has started half the Roosters’ season at halfback, where his pacy 165cm frame has troubled defenders.
ROCKHAMPTON/GLADSTONE
Wade Fickling (Yeppoon Seagulls)
With a physique more reminiscent of an ‘80s footballer, Fickling is proof that good things can come in big packages. With a skill set resembling some of the greats of the game, his sleight of hand and football intellect means he’s of the first picked for any Seagulls’ side.
Sam Lollo (Yeppoon Seagulls)
Lollo is one of the most dynamic players in the Rockhampton A-grade competition. He is just as at home finishing off a slick backline movement with an electrifying turn of foot as he is bamboozling middle defenders with exquisite football and a tenacious drive that makes him one of the most feared ball carriers in the competition.
Cyron Tull (Fitzroy/Gracemere)
A young gun who can manufacture something out of nothing. Tull thinks outside the box and plays with no fear. His skill is matched by his speed and strength. He is currently the second-highest point scorer in the Rockhampton A-grade competition.
Yoren Major (Fitzroy/Gracemere)
A senior player whose maturity and experience is vital to the Fitzroy/Gracemere Sharks. He’s the type of player who likes to let his football do the talking. He is a calming influence on the field and is the player his teammates look to when they need that special play.
Kazzi Doyle (Norths Chargers)
A young player with a bright future, Doyle has quickly developed into the premier number six in the Rockhampton A-grade competition. After making his A-grade debut in 2021, he swept the competition’s awards, winning Rookie of the Year and the prestigious Ollie Howden Medal for Rocky’s best and fairest player, a feat never before achieved in the history of the awards.
Tristan Hagenbach (Norths Chargers)
An absolutely electrifying player. Hagenbach had several years out of the game but is back on the park, recapturing the form that made him an automatic selection in rep sides as he progressed through the grades. Hagenbach has a wonderful skill set that sets him apart from most halves, and is a wonderful defender.
Jacob Reid (Rockhampton Brothers)
As good in defence as attack, Reid always gives 100 per cent when he runs out for the Brethren. He has an uncanny knack of being able to create something special when his team needs it.
Jack White (Rockhampton Brothers)
White is Brothers’ ‘Mr Dependable’. Calm under pressure, he has great ball skills and is solid in defence and is not afraid to take a hit-up when required. He boasts a raft of experience which shows in every aspect of his game.
Blayton Vea Vea Youse (Emu Park)
A young player with a bright future, Vea Vea Youse continues to get better with every outing. Solid across the board, his passing game is outstanding. Was a member of the Rocky Rustlers team which won the 47th Battalion for the first time this year.
Angus Dorante (Emu Park)
An experienced campaigner who is a model of consistency at every level he plays. Was an instrumental member of the Rocky Rustlers outfit that won the 47th Battalion for the first time this year, and was named in the Men’s Merit Team.
Algon Congoo (Gladstone Valleys)
With plenty of rep experience under his belt, Congoo is an integral part of Valley’s line-up. He is powerful, deceptive and has plenty of speed which combined make him a well-rounded player and a handful for opposition teams.
Jackson Hoyland (Gladstone Valleys)
At just 19 years old, Hoyland is still learning his craft but he is showing plenty of potential. He’s a nifty player which makes him hard to tackle. He makes plenty of line breaks and possesses a brilliant kicking game. He has a mature head on his shoulders for someone so young.
Lyncoln Rebel (Brothers Gladstone)
A great team player, Rebel is not the biggest talker, preferring instead to let his actions do the talking. He is lightning quick off the mark, often catching the opposition napping. He has a great kicking game and is very accurate with the boot. He’s a team player who his teammates love to play with.
Harrison Rideout (Brothers Gladstone)
Rideout is a hard-running five-eighth who plays like an extra lock for Brothers Gladstone. He is rock-solid in defence and can tackle all day. An all-round tough 80-minute player.
Voting closes at 10am on July 29.
Originally published as Gympie Devils star Haydin Elsebach crowned Queensland’s best a-grade playmaker
Meet the six Cowboys Young Guns graduates destined for big things
They are the fresh-faced Cowboys recruits with the future at their feet, but for now these Young Gun graduates still have a few lessons to learn. Read more about the six prospects ready for their next step.
Read more
Caslick Cup queens: 30+ Rugby 7s players to watch this season
Round 1 of the Charlotte Caslick Cup kicks off at Bond University this Saturday, with Queensland’s best Rugby 7s talent set to descend on the Gold Coast. Here is 30+ players to watch with each team’s excitement machines named. FULL LIST
Read more
REPLAYS: Queensland Schools Premier League Grand Finals
A crazy goal from halfway, a one touch, left-footed marvel and a save that has to be seen to be believed ... it’s been quite the day at the home of Wynnum Wolves. Catch the REPLAYS, read the match reports.
Read more
Players to Watch: 50+ excitement machines set to light up All Schools rugby 7s
The All Schools Rugby 7s tournament has unearthed star sisters Teagan and Maddison Levi. Who’s up next? Named here are more than 50 real deal x-factor players to watch in this weekend’s bumper event. FULL LIST
Read more
800+ names: Top BMC, Tav’s batters and bowlers ranked
Stat kings: Who are the leading run scorers and wicket takers in Queensland cricket’s elite Taverners Under-17s and Brisbane Metro Cup Under-16s competitions? 800+ players ranked here in our interactive tables.
Read more
POLL: The best rugby league clubs in regional Queensland
Rugby league clubs from Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Cairns, the Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Mount Isa feature in our list of the best local clubs in regional Queensland. Have your say on which club is the best in regional Queensland.
Read more