2022 QRSSL Players to Watch, May 21-24

A Dolphins star schoolboy signing and a quicksilver Broncos recruit are among 50 teen league star players to watch at the state schoolboy championships.

Redcliffe Dolphins player Joseph Pouniu. He and his brother Brian will be Players to Watch at the QRSSL championships. Picture, John Gass

The cream of the crop of Queensland rugby league schoolboy talent will feature at this weekend’s annual QRSSL (Queensland Rugby State School League) championships staged on the Gold Coast.

It is the same tournament which has unearthed many of the code’s biggest names – Darren Lockyer, Cameron Smith, Allan Langer, Kerry Boustead, Steve Renouf – all of whom were named in last season’s Queensland State Secondary Schools Association’s Team of the Century.

RELATED LINKS

DOLPHINS SIGN ORIGIN 18s FORWARD

MENINGA CUP TEAM OF THE SEASON

Top of the tree talent at this year’s tournaments includes Dolphins signed backrower Brian Pouniu (Sunshine Coast) and two Brisbane Broncos-signed halves, Karl Oloapu (Met North, Wavell SHS), Jye Gray (South Coast, The Southport School) and Cowboys signing from Rockhampton’s The Cathedral College, Kurt Fisher (Capricornia).

Is there a better schoolboy talent than Oloapu or a faster footballer over 15-20m than Gray? Probably not.

Broncos-signed Gray, a Burleigh Bears junior, is coming off a bumper Meninga Cup season where he starred running off Blake Mozer in Souths Logan’s premiership victory, while Oloapu was outstanding for Norths Devils this season.

A young North Lakes Kangaroos junior Brian Pouniu aged six in 2014. Pic: Josh Woning.

NRL newcomers in waiting the Dolphins have struck a significant recruitment blow at junior level by signing edge forward Brian Pounui who, along with Ipswich’s David Leota (Canterbury signed), is one of the hottest under 16 forward prospects in the state.

Redcliffe Dolphins player Joseph Pouniu. Picture: John Gass

Brian Pounia, a back rower, played up in his age group to play Connell Challenge (under 16) alongside his older brother Joseph Pounia who was the Redcliffe Dolphins Connell prop. Joseph is signed by the Titans.

In many ways Brian Pouniu is a Dolphins pin-up recruit because he is a local junior who hails from the North Lakes Kangaroos in the heart of the Dolphins’ catchment.

Ironically both Oloapu and Bounty Boulevard State School product Rob Toia, now with Nudgee College, are Redcliffe juniors but are signed by the Broncos and Roosters respectively.

But the Dolphins have younger Pouniu and the club’s recruitment at senior and junior level is well and truly making inroads despite being initially behind the eight-ball given the club has only been given 18 months to get cracking before its NRL debut in 2023.

Magpies and Marsden SHS centre Devonte VAIVELA.

The Cathedral College prospect Fisher (Capricornia district) is another giant backrow prospect who has been snapped up by the North Queensland Cowboys.

Standing at 199cm in height, the Cowboys think so highly of him that they signed him to a three year deal.

The Cathedral College's Kurt Fisher finds open in 2022.

Among our Players to Watch list includes Marsden SHS pair Devonte Vaivela (Broncos signed) and Chris Faagutu (Wests Tigers signed), both who helped Souths Logan win the Meninga Cup premiership.

Josiah Pahulu (Ipswich SHS) who was the best prop in the Meninga Cup this season. Pahulu is a proud Springfield Panthers junior.

Coach Josh Bretherton and Josiah Pahulu. Ipswich SHS. Thursday May 12, 2022. Picture, John Gass

Rob Toia, who like the Pouniu brothers has links back to the North Lakes Kangaroos region, is a white hot centre talent signed by the Roosters who attends Nudgee College. Toia was rated No.2 best schoolboy behind Broncos signed Deine Marnier after we observed Meninga Cup, AIC and GPS First XV rugby competitions in 2021.

Burleigh Bears Arama Hau, head tapped, is a young gun from Keebra Park SHS.

Then there is the Dolphins signed Michael Roberts (PBC SHS), Arama Hau (Keebra Park SHS, Burleigh), Northern wing tearaway Tekelu Men, Gold Coast Titans star junior Keano Kini (PBC SHS), Kyran Sheppard (Northern Pride) and Matt Hill (St Brendan’s College) who had a bumper Meninga Cup campaign with Capras.

Matt Hill of St Brendan's College.

Hau, who plays No. 13, is an enormous raw talent from Keebra Park SHS while Hill is an outside back linked to the Melbourne Storm.

After playing in the under 18 Meninga Cup, Hill was elevated to play in the Capras’ colts side (under 21s) against Norths Devils over the weekend.

Norths Devils player Tyreece Tait gets a try. Picture, John Gass

RELATED LINKS

SOUTHS LOGAN WIN MENINGA CUP PREMIERSHIP

NRL GREAT COACHING IN THE LANGER TROPHY

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Under 18s

Metro North: Karl Oloapu, Tyreece Tait, Robert Toia.

Metro East: Chris Faagutu, Devonte Vaivela, Haizyn Mellars, Louruce Brown

South Coast: Jye Gray, Keani Kini, Michael Roberts, Arama Hau, Seth Nikotemo, EJ Finau.

Northern: Elijah Joe, Tekelu Mene, Henry Teuta, Elekana Suavai, Jerrimiah Matutia, Terell Anderson, Jama Shibasaki, Kaiden Lahrs

Haizyn Mellars is a Player to Watch. Picture, John Gass

Metro West: Josiah Pahulu, Israel Leota, Xavier Aota, Stanley Huen, Caleb Johnson, Tru Fotu

Sunshine Coast/Wide Bay: Tom Morcom, Chris Simpson, Joseph Pouniu, Brooklenn Mundraby-Grogan, Tulloch McLellan

Capricornia: Matthew Hill, Bailey Cavanough, Mutua Brown, Mack Nixon, Liam Doherty, Kurt Fisher, Matt Watts, Xavier Kerrisk.

Peninsula: Kyan Sheppard, Tait Coghlan

Darling Downs: Lyhkan King-Togia (Dalby SHS), Bailey Nash, Harrison Schwenke

Redcliffe junior playing for Norths Devils – Broncos signed Karl Oloapu. Picture, John Gass

Other young Players to Watch include talents like: Carter Welfare, Nixon Pasese, Jared Horne, Ray Puru, Coby Black, Bailey Trew, Prestyn Laine-Sietu, Benson Tau, Duquan Taleapa, Adaquix Luke, Mark Nosa, Javon Andrews. Brian Pouniu, Zac Garton, Zac Herdegen, Noah Law, Marley McLaren, Dallas Ingram, Wailer Whaiapu, Sunny Kama, Zan Harrison, Marlie Barry, Kaiden Lahrs.

GPS First XV Rugby match between Nudgee College and Brisbane State High School. Nudgee #13 Robert Toia. Saturday, August 1, 2020 – Picture: Renae Droop

Originally published as 2022 QRSSL Players to Watch, May 21-24