Meet the Irukandji: Regional Queensland Gridiron’s 39-man 2024 National Championships squad profiled
A years-long quest for regional Queensland to play at the national gridiron championships has finally come to fruition. Read profiles for all 39 selections from Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Rocky.
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A years long quest for regional Queensland’s gridiron stars to stand on their own two feet at the national championships has finally come to fruition.
The Regional Queensland Irukandji, coached by Cairns’ Warren Lee, will make their debut on the Australian stage in 2024 in the national second division.
Reef Bowl champions Townsville have led the way with 18 selections in the final squad, with grand final rivals Cairns not far behind with 13.
Mackay’s Mavericks were rewarded with seven selections and Rockhampton one.
This masthead has gone in depth to profile all players in the 39-man squad hoping to make the region’s mark on Australian football.
QUARTERBACKS
#4 Brendon Kruger, Cairns
Cool under pressure, sensational game awareness with a laser accurate pass.
#11 Aaron Davies, Townsville
The Cyclones quarterback was sacked just once all season. His 6’5 frame came in handy when under pressure because few defenders were able to bring him down one-on-one. After shrugging off a tackler, fifth-year veteran Davies would get rid of the ball safely and keep Townsville from going backwards on the field. Not renowned for his athleticism but quick enough to surprise an unsuspecting defense. Davies is always looking for the big play downfield.
#1 Josh Robinson, Mackay
Robinson crossed to the Mavericks after the Gladstone team collapsed. Has a long and accurate arm and isn’t afraid to throw his shoulder around. Another strength of Robinson’s game is his willingness to take contact, can take big hits and is comfortable running the ball.
RUNNING BACKS
#7 Lucky Bagayawa, Townsville
A four-year veteran with the Cyclones with four Reef Bowl championships and two Reef Bowl MVP awards to show from it. The smallest running back in the Irukandji’s room but is also arguably the quickest. The shifty back excels as an east-to-west ball carrier. Not the type the outrun a defense for 60 yards but will consistently pick up first downs and is downright deadly on the goal line. He has five touchdowns to show from his last two Reef Bowl appearances.
#22 Eric Phillips, Cairns
Small in stature, giant in heart. The fullback packs a punch when blocking.
#26 Jake Leumann, Cairns
Size, speed and agility. Has these in abundance.
WIDE RECEIVERS
#2 Kris Wilkins, Cairns
Strong hands and explosive speed.
#5 Murugu Kiumbura, Townsville
A former Canadian high school footballer who joined the Townsville Cyclones when he moved to Australia this season. Blessed with good size and speed, Kiumbura shook off the catching yips to become a long range touchdown machine. ‘MK’ was unlucky to miss out on winning Reef Bowl MVP after posting an instrumental 150 yards and a touchdown on three catches in the decider. He was named Townsville’s most improved player for the season instead.
#12 Tobias Drahm, Cairns
Explosive speed and never quit attitude.
#14 Will O’Neil, Townsville
O’Neil has returned to football this season after a year-long break from the game. The slot receiver excels on the shorter routes where it routinely takes three defenders to bring him to the turf. O’Neil was an invaluable contributor in the Cyclones’ run to the Reef Bowl and has enough versatility to chip in at other positions too.
#17 Saige Webber, Mackay
Having picked up gridiron as a result of his love for the Madden game, Webber has gone on to become the best player in Mackay, crowned the club’s MVP this season. Webber is an explosive player that can catch the ball in traffic and scores plenty of touchdowns. Had the most receptions and most yards gained for Mackay. Is tremendously versatile at local level given he is also the Mavericks kicker and back-up quarterback.
#25 Brodie Robinson, Cairns
Absolute competitor, speed and hands for the AFL.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
#51 Lloyd Williams, Cairns
Powerful, aggressive and measured. Leader of men.
#53 Roger Tait, Cairns
Built like a tank but can move like a Corvette.
#59 Peter Lyngcoln, Cairns
Big, Bald, Bearded and Burly, the kind of bloke every rugby team wants and needs, and so does Gridiron.
#60 Joe Kearney, Cairns
Great build for his position with an impressive work rate and ethic.
#62 Connor White, Townsville
The Cyclones centre has fought back from two years out of the game recovering from an ACL tear. In his time away from the game White qualified as a referee. A veteran player who always hits his marks before seeking out more work.
#70 Wayne Swensson, Townsville
A product of Western Australia who made a cross-continental shift when Covid struck and found a home with the Cyclones. The mauling guard has been the finest lineman Townsville has seen in a number of years and was named the team’s captain in 2024. His calling card on the field is an ability to win the first block before working upfield into the second level to blast clear running lanes for Townsville’s arsenal of backs.
#76 Ralph Mapley, Mackay
Mapley enjoyed a stellar rookie season with the Mavericks taking home multiple club awards, including rookie of the year. Coach Brad Somerville said he couldn’t have asked for more from a first-year player, he’s very strong and is also a quick learner.
#88 Tarryn Smith, Townsville
Smith tore his bicep on the opening play of the opening drive of the season for Townsville but has worked hard in rehabilitation to be fit for the Irukandji’s maiden tournament. Initially a blocking tight end, the 6’5 (195cm) and 110kg Smith has shifted infield to become a permanent fixture at the tackle position. His route-running and catching skills can still be deployed as an eligible receiver in jumbo sets.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
#8 Jarrod Langdon, Townsville
A veteran of the Townsville Cyclones glory days who will come out of football retirement to be a part of the Regional Queensland representative side. Langdon took this season off but was eligible for selection because he played the season before. Langdon will be a rock on the interior of the Irukandji’s defensive line.
#10 Adan Stephens, Townsville
A winger for Teachers West and the Burdekin Roosters in Townsville’s A Grade rugby union and rugby league competitions, Stephens’ speed, height and relentless motor have turned him into a weapon at defensive end for the Cyclones. A youngster with outstanding character, Stephens’ has a pre-game tradition of dispensing red hot pickled chillies to teammates. He was responsible for the Cyclones’ 2024 motto ‘unending,’ which will be engraved on the team’s championship rings. His nickname? ‘The unending chilli pickle.’ Obviously.
#69 Wayne Dykes, Mackay
The defensive tackle is one of the Mavericks captains. The old boy always puts in 110 per cent effort every game and is very hard to get past on the running game.
#87 Kyle Watson, Mackay
Watson earnt his selection in the Irukandji squad after he was named Mackay’s defensive player of the year. Had more sacks than any Mavericks player and reading the play well is one of his greatest assets.
#96 Lolovai Towler, Townsville
The Rock with hair. Towler, in his age-37 season, has a motor that teammates describe as flat-out ridiculous. A massive individual and leader for the defense who can operate as a defensive end or tackle equally well. Towler gives offensive lineman kittens because he has the speed to run by them, the power to run through them, the finesse moves to shed most blocks and an engine that keeps him on pursuit 24/7.
LINEBACKERS
#5 Robbie Chelepy
The ever-consistent Chelepy has been a standout for the Wolverines. Has a very fast reaction time when it comes to decision-making, be it in offense or defense. Has the ability to read the play as it happens and adjust his movements rapidly to shut down or open the play. His throwing capabilities as a qaurterback are a marvel to watch with quick, short passes that narrowly miss oppositions. Chelepy has excelled at quarterback but can walk the walk on defense as well, bursting out of the line to stop a play or even create loss of yards to the offense. He was selected primarily as a linebacker.
#13 Bradley Manoi, Cairns
Good read then speed to the ball, hits hard. Voice of an angel.
#21 Mitch Whittick, Townsville
An immortal of the Cyclones club who has played every position on the field since the club’s foundation season in 2015. Whittick took a year off this season but will raise the standards of everyone else around him. The qualified physiotherapist was a member of the Outback under-19s support staff but is a talented linebacker or safety in his own right.
#27 Jimmi Thompson, Townsville
Townsville’s star linebacker always seems to know what play the opposition is running. His secret? He actually does. Thompson’s hearing impairment is his superpower on the gridiron. Significantly deaf, Thompson is an expert lip reader who can decipher playcalls by reading the opposition quarterback’s lips, enabling him to swing into action before plays can even develop. His football brain is complemented by a willingness to put his full body weight into every tackle. Can also chip in as a running back.
#29 Billy Mills, Townsville
Mills has blossomed from a bit-part player at the Cyclones to the quarterback of the Cyclones defense as its middle linebacker. This season saw the biggest jump of Mills’ development yet. The Army trooper scored one of Regional Queensland’s greatest big man touchdowns in a 50-yard ‘pick six’ interception on his first ever touch of a football in live action last season.
#45 Angus Ramsay, Townsville
Townsville’s ‘war dwarf’ has no sense of self-preservation whatsoever, and fittingly is responsible for seismic tremors all along Queensland’s coastline when his shoulder pads find opposition ribcages. The former junior national championship competitor is Townsville’s enforcer-in-chief and can slot in to the defensive line or as a path-clearing fullback.
#85 Lachlan Campbell, Mackay
Campbell is a rookie player that enjoyed his first gridiron season after making the switch from rugby union. He’s quick across the ground, hits very hard and can read the play well.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
#3 Gage Stanley, Mackay
Stanley is one of the Mavericks finest talents and has been for some time now. He’s a young and strong player with exceptional closing speed and exceptional game awareness. Has shut down the majority of receivers that played against him this season.
#9 Jaymen Drahm, Cairns
Agile, aggressive and fast.
#23 Braedan Mitchell, Townsville
Regional Queensland’s eminent lockdown corner, who can ice opposition receivers out of the contest in man coverage and ballhawk with the best of them from zone. Mitchell has led the league in interceptions in three straight seasons. Not just a weapon in the air, the cornerback can also cut down runners in the open field. A high character individual with a genuine hunger to learn the dark arts of defensive play.
#33 Dylan Watts, Townsville
The teenage safety/linebacker hybrid brings athleticism and sure tackling to the position despite his football IQ still being on the raw side. Watts shapes to be a core piece of the Cyclones and Irukandji’s backfield for years to come as he develops into the all-round weapon teammates believe he will be, in only a matter of time.
#42 Kyle Reynolds, Townsville
The founding father of Townsville gridiron in 2015 and still the club’s player-coach a decade later. Reynolds was bitten by the football bug in Canberra and was instrumental in organising the city’s first 11-a-side football team. Reynolds also played a key role in the formation of the Irukandji, which he rates as the finest achievement of his career. After starting out as a free safety Reynolds made a successful switch to running back but has since transitioned back to the secondary, where he can dish the hits out instead of taking them as Townsville’s featured ball carrier.
#47 Ryan Worlsey, Townsville
A Townsville junior product that coach and safety partner Kyle Reynolds rates as the greatest success story of his coaching career. “He has worked harder than anybody I have ever seen to be a good football player and he 100 per cent is (a good player),” Reynolds said. “He might not put the biggest hits on but he makes the tackle. He’s always where he needs to be, reads the game well. He stands up for what the team is about and is consummate clubman. He puts in a body of work that cannot be ignored.”
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Originally published as Meet the Irukandji: Regional Queensland Gridiron’s 39-man 2024 National Championships squad profiled
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