Western Clydesdales young stars named in under-17 Queensland Country side

The upcoming under-17 Queensland City vs Country game will have a Western Clydesdales flair to it, with seven players selected in the sides for this weekend’s game. See what all seven QLD Country reps had to say here.

Western Clydesdales 2024 under-17 Queensland Country reps Joseph Litidamu, Braithen Scott, Brodie Hilt, Shaun Elara, Pypah Ferguson, Tayla Horrobin and Mia Byrnes.

The Western Clydesdales will have a strong contingent of representatives in this weekend’s under-17 Queensland City vs Country game with seven Cyril Connell Cup and Harvey Norman players set to line up for Queensland Country.

Shaun Elara, Braithen Scott, Brodie Hilt, Joseph Litidamu, Mia Byrnes, Tayla Horrobin and Pypah Ferguson have starred for the Clydesdales junior rep sides and will now have the chance to take their game to the next level.

Western Clydesdales BMD Premiership coach Mitch Sargent was delighted to see so many players from the development program selected and believes it proves the future is bright for the Clydesdales.

“The club is really excited and over the moon for these players to get an opportunity to represent Queensland Country on Saturday,” he said.

“Something that is really proud for our club is to start to see our junior development system really striking with young talent coming through and we are really proud of it.

“It is a credit to the team that helped get these players individually into this position and how good they went as an under-17s Cyril Connell Cup team and our Harvey Norman girls.

“It is a team game and those teams got these people into this position and they are lucky enough to get the rewards out of it this Saturday.”

One of the main strategic plans for the Clydesdales when they first entered the Hostplus Cup in 2023 was to ensure that within five years, 80 per cent of the players in their Hostplus Cup and BMD Premiership sides were local and with several players shining in the first stages of development with the club, Sargent believes the club is moving in the right trajectory to achieve that goal.

“Jason (Alchin - Western Clydesdales Hostplus Cup head coach) is on the same page as myself now as the open women’s coach, (we are) really proud to see these young players get an opportunity and want to play and represent the Clydesdales at the highest level,” Sargent said.

“Now that we have a pathway to pursue a career in rugby league in two three years time, these players will be the ones representing our Clydesdales teams at the top level of the game and that will be a really proud moment.

“At the moment they have got to learn and develop and give time and be patient to make sure that when they get a chance they’re ready to take that opportunity.”

Sargent also expects this opportunity to spur on all the players from the Harvey Norman under-17s and Cyril Connell Cup sides who weren’t selected for the Queensland Country team to know that they can also make it.

“I know first things first, they will be proud of their teammates making this Queensland Country team,” he said.

“It gives players hope and that is the best thing you can have as a sportsperson is a bit of hope and a bit of drive to make sure they pursue the best they can so they get an opportunity down the track to hopefully wear a Queensland jersey or an NRL or NRLW jersey in the future.”

See what all seven of our Queensland Country representatives had to say here.

Clydesdales player Pypah Ferguson. Picture: John Gass

Pypah Ferguson

This is the second time the Harvey Norman under-17s captain has been named in the squad and she is delighted to play alongside two of her teammates this year.

“It is so good when I got the email, I was so excited to play for Country again and go in camp,” she said.

“It was such a good experience last year and I am excited to go back with a new bunch of girls and play good footy again.

“It is so exciting having two girls from our region getting into it, I am so keen for this year and getting to play some good footy with them at that high level.”

Ferguson is also excited to learn from some of the best in the business with Maroons coach Tahnee Norris and former Maroons and Jillaroos star Meg Ward involved in the camp.

“It was a great camp last year and it was good to get the win against the City girls,” she said.

“There is a big rivalry in camp so to just go back again this year and hopefully get the win again and play some good footy and keep growing especially with Tahnee Norris and that helping out coaching with us.

“Getting someone like Tahnee Norris and Meg Ward and all that into camp along with us, it is so exciting and they have much to tell you and learn from.”

Tayla Horrobin

“It is pretty unreal, it is good to represent the region and just show what we’ve got and it is pretty exciting,” Horrobin said.

The fullback turned second-rower said she there was a mix of nerves and excitement ahead of heading into her first representative camp, but with captain Ferguson also selected, Horrobin believes her presence will provide a major boost.

“It is pretty good, she has just given us the confidence to go out there and show us what to do and lead us round the park,” Horrobin said.

In terms of goals for the weekend, she just hopes to represent the region with pride.

Mia Byrnes for the Western Clydesdales. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Mia Byrnes

“It feels amazing, I have been working so hard,” Byrnes said.

Brynes is a true reflection that the Clydesdales represent more than just Toowoomba and are a club for the entire South West as she hails from Texas but is now currently boarding at The Glennie School.

“I have played since I was seven, so I have played for a long time, always loved it,” she said.

“I played with the boys when I was in under-10s then came up here to play for Souths Tigers and I really started to love it playing just with the girls.”

The scintillating fullback was a class above this junior rep season and was one of the star players not just for the Clydesdales but across the entire competition.

“I’d love to play starting position fullback, any position really, just keen to get out there,” she said.

Joseph Litidamu

The 17-year-old centre was at the forefront of the Clydesdales’ Cyril Connell Cup charge and is excited to test himself at a higher level.

“It is pretty good to get picked, it was a little bit of shock,” he said.

“It is pretty good to represent not just the town but the Clydesdales too.”

The young gun hopes to play the best he can this weekend but is particularly looking forward to lining up alongside three Clydesdales teammates.

“It’s pretty good to play alongside them, it’s going to be good and fun too,” Litidamu said.

Brodie Hilt

“(I am) really excited, just keen to go down there to camp and get a good experience out of that and improve my footy,” Hilt said.

“It is pretty good to have four boys from the Clydesdales make it, it just makes it a bit easier and more comfortable to go down to camp, we bonded pretty well.”

The Cyril Connell hooker is one of the leaders out on the field for the Clydesdales and is excited to develop his game further.

“Just to learn more about my position so I can play better footy and get looked at more and move on from there,” he said.

Hilt said one of the secrets to the success for the Clydesdales this season as they made an impressive run to the semi-final, was the workrate and heart of the squad.

“You always have to put everything you got out on the field and work hard for your mates too,” he said.

Western Clydesdales players Brodie Hilt, Braithen Scott and Shaun Elara. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Braithen Scott

“It is a massive achievement, I think it just comes off the back of the hard work us and the boys have been putting in this year and we got rewarded for it which is good,” Scott said.

“You want to play the highest footy you can, you want to be playing your best footy at that level.”

Scott said the chance to potentially wear the number six or number seven jersey for Queensland Country is an opportunity which he would cherish.

“It would be massive, this is the best country side that they could pick and it feels a massive privilege that I can be picked or selected to be a part of it,” he said.

As for his goal for the weekend, Scott has only one thing on his mind.

“Every time you step on the field you want to win, that’s what footy’s about, you love winning and you hate the losses,” he said.

Shaun Elara

Elara was one of the standout players this Cyril Connell Cup season, with countless barnstorming runs and crucial tackles and he is excited to test himself at a higher level alongside some of his closest mates.

“It is going to be good, played most of the season with them and go to school with them, it is going to be great,” he said.

Elara said the key to making the impact he does as a lock or front rower is to keep things as simple as possible.

“I just want to go and make sure everything is simple and try to do my best to win the game,” he said.

He also has his sights on making the Queensland state championships and is planning on improving his fitness to ensure he can make the side.

“I want to make Queensland state champs, that is one of my main goals this year,” Elara said.