Canberra Raiders Jack Wighton Queensland teenage signings Keyran Pene plus 40 where are they now Queensland kids in the NSWRL junior reps

The Raiders have more than a dozen Queensland rookie hot shots on their books, including prospects in the centres, halves and No. 13.

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They are all wet behind the ears Academy players but could follow in the footsteps of current Queensland young guns Xavier Savage (Cairns), Corey Horsburgh (Landsborough) and Adrian Trevilyan (Townsville) by bursting into the top side this decade after doing an apprenticeship.

The Raiders association with Queensland rugby league players is a long and successful one.

In team No. 1, 1982, North Queensland born hooker Jay Hoffman (Brisbane Brothers Queensland resident hooker) was in the club’s first ever side, who went on to become a two-time Clubman of the Year.

Then came Queensland Origin champions like Mal Meninga, Sam Backo, Steve Jackson, Gary Coyne, Steve Walters, Peter Jackson and so on, and even today Woodridge SHS alumni Josh Papalii leads the way.

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So who were some of the rookies who could help Canberra fill a gaping hole left at either centre, five-eight or lock following Wighton’s decision to leave for South Sydney.

We name a Super Six prospects below, along another 40 Queensland kids who played in pathway competitions this season for NRWRL-based club.

Canberra’s best Queensland rookies

Keyarn Pene (five-eight of centre)

Pene is a real wildcard. He was originally signed by Canberra in 2022 as a centre after scouts watched him play up in his age group in the Connell Challenge under 16 competition at Norths Devils. But this year he moved to five-eight where he again shone, making him an even more educated and well rounded player. He has agility, is a good mover who has great hands.

Jaycob Kingston-Francis (centre)

The Raiders swooped to sign the Wynnum Manly junior when he was playing lock for the Seagulls under 16s side last season. But the Mabel Park SHS Langer Trophy player has moved to centre this season in the Seagulls Meninga Cup side. Ironically he has always been a Raiders supporter and his idol is Joseph Tapine

Maika Poese (winger, fullback)

A fullback or winger from St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace, he played Connell Challenge under 16s for the Brisbane Tigers in 2021-22, and upgraded to the Meninga Cup under 18s this season. He made his GPS First XV rugby debut on the wing for Terrace last season and will be a key player for Terrace the Brave this year.

Kesaia Su’a (centre)

Su’a was signed by the Raiders from St Paul’s College in Auckland and will play for Ipswich SHS in the Langer Trophy this season. The youngster plays every match with the thoughts of his grandparents, Nia (grandma) and Pana (grandad), in his heart and playing away from them is the one regret he has in an otherwise successful move to Ipswich. But he loves the atmosphere at Ipswich and now he has bypassed the early nerves of moving to a new country, he was starting to blossom as a player.

Loto Salei (No. 13)

Salei was captain of the Norths Devils Mal Meninga Cup side this season and will be playing in his second season of Langer Trophy with Wavell SHS, a famous Queensland rugby league school. Salei is originally from Christchurch and then lived in Alice Springs before moving to Cairns. But a desire to stretch his rugby league education led to him moving to Wavell SHS where he was one of the best players in last season’s competition. This year he was named an emergency in our Meninga Cup Team of the Year, a huge achievement given the strength of the state wide under 18 competition.

Jalen Afamasaga (halves)

Afamasaga was the halfback in Ipswich SHS’s unbeaten run through last season, which included three premierships – the Langer, Phil Hall Cup and National championship.

Noted for his quick hands and footballing nouse, the Springfield junior is more a tradesman than a shooting star blazing through the junior ranks. “Jalen is a quality young man who works very hard to be successful,’’ said his Ipswich coach Joshua Bretherton.

“He was a pleasure to coach. He will be successful at whatever level he goes on to play. He has vision and an ability to communicate with people around him in attack and defence.’’

Keahn Skipps (five-eight)

Skipps is a Burleigh Bears junior who was recently named in the Queensland under 18 emerging State of Origin squad. There was times this season when he paired in the halves with Jalen Afamasaga (mentioned earlier) in Canberra’s SG Ball side. Skipps is sharp, quick with his hands and feet and that he has been recognised by the state selectors will shock no one. He can also kick goals.

Other outstanding Queenslanders in the Raiders system include:

Prinston Esera (centre)

Esera is an x-factor talent who came through the Wavell SHS system where he played three years in the Langer Trophy.

He is a beautiful mover, quite classy, who this season played Jersey Flegg in the same side as fellow Queenslanders like Shaun Packer (St Mary’s, hooker), Scott Billing (Marist College Ashgrove, second row).

Jaxon Yow (utility):

The Keebra Park SHS utility is a comeback king who has overcome a serious injury after he had a dislocated hip in 2021.

Noted for his energy, Yow is one of those kids who is great in the dressing room, whose smile is infectious.

He can play anywhere from the halves to centre and was a teammate in the backline alongside Jalen Afamasaga and Keahn Skipps this season in SG Ball.

+ Mark Tuialii played with Redcliffe Dolphins in the under 18 Mal Meninga Cup squad that won the grand final, and also in the Jersey Flegg with the Raiders this season. He can play centre or No. 13.

+ halfback Joshua James (NSW Cup and ex-Queensland 18s player)

+ back rower Loglan Lewis from the Gold Coast who plays in the NSW Cup and also in the Jersey Flegg.

+ SG Ball squad Tahrell Feaveai (Norths and Wavell SHS) who plays No. 13.

+ former St Brendan’s captain Owen Patti who plays hooker

+ A Queensland junior representative prop, Jayden Clarkson is a real tradesman, a hard working forward that does the simple things right. He is a Wavell SHS old boy.

Other Queensland teens who played in the NRWRL junior reps this season were:

Cronulla:

Jett Forbes (PBC SHS): Forbes is a speedster from the two-time premiership winning Palm Beach Currumbin teams.

Jacob Taulani (Redcliffe SHS): Taulani was one of the most improved players in schoolboy rugby league, an edge player.

Felix Faatili (Wavell SHS): A big, strong prop from Wavell SHS which has a long history of producing elite forwards such as Ashley Harrison, Adam Blair, Shane Tronc, David Wright, Darryl Brohman, Bob Cock and co.

Tre Fotu (Ipswich SHS): He hits like a Mac Truck and moves like one as well, Fotu was the Queensland schoolboys centre last season.

Storm:

Karauria Stokes-Mahara (Keebra Park)

An exciting outside back talent, powerful and quick, from the hotbed nursery of Keebra Park SHS. He is a shrewd signing.

Matt Hill (St Brendan’s Yeppoon): Hill is one of the best prospects from Central Queensland, a classy fullback or centre who played SG Ball this season.

K-Ci Newton-Whare (Coombabah SHS): The Storm had their eye on this towering prop from the northern Gold Coast catchment for some time. He gained SG Ball experience this season.

Canterbury

Damon Marshall (Ignatius Park): A highly respected No. 13, big and mobile, from the rugby league oasis of Townsville.

Naytan Iselin-Jansen (Wavell SHS): An exciting utility talent who can cover from No. 13 to fullback. Although eligible for SG Ball, he actually played Jersey Flegg. His brother Jahrel’ with the championship winning Meninga Cup Redcliffe Dolphins this season and is in the Met North 16-18 years side.

Mason Phillips (Wavell SHS): Phillips, a hooker, was one of the players of the Queensland under 15 team which contested last season’s national championships. He played Harold Matthews under 17s this season.

Kallum Weatherall-Stacey (Wavell SHS): Kallum is a genuine speed merchant, a real quick mover who frequently won track and field sprint medals at state championships.

David Leota (Ipswich SHS): Canterbury swooped to sign Leota in 2022 when he emerged as the best middle forward in the under 16 Connell Challenge competition. He played Harold Matthews this season.

St George

Joven Gyemore (Ipswich SHS): From the rugby league heartland of Cherbourg – Steve Renouf country – Gyemore is a genuine flyer with express pace.

Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga (Ipswich SHS): Tonga comes from the Land of the Giants, a huge mobile man who impacted off the bench during Ipswich SHS’s unbeaten season last year.

James Frazer (Ipswich SHS): A solid as a rock, dependably halfback or hooker from Allan Langer’s old school who was an unsung hero of Ipswich SHS’s match through last season unbeaten.

Roosters

De la salle Vaa (St Mary’s College)

The brother of Queensland 2022 Maroons under 19 captain Xavier Vaa, Vaa is a highly promising prop from Carl Webb country – Dalby, on the western Darling Downs.

Peter Benjamin Uini (Wavell SHS): Uini, a prop, played Harold Matthews under 17s for the powerhouse Roosters this season. He is in the Met North 16-18 years rep team.

Parramatta:

Apa Twidle (Marsden SHS): In his first ever season at fullback last season, Twidle was arguably Marsden SHS’s most improved player in the Lanfer Trophy last season. He has found a great balance between challenging the defence with his running and then using his pass.

Devonte Vaivela (Marsden SHS): A centre from Marsden SHS, he is a killer right foot step with explosive acceleration.

Joshua Lynn (Palm Beach Currumbin SHS): A Cooper Cronk type halfback who was the glue in Queensland Schoolboys march to the national championship premiership last season. His teammates included 2023 NRL debutants Karl Oloapu (Canterbury) and Keano Kini (Gold Coast).

Lance Fualema (Marsden SHS): Lance is an old school prop from Josh Papalii territory – Logan City. They breed tough in that neck of the woods.

Tuvaka Palu (Marsden SHS): The Eels’ talent scouts certainly made a beeline for Marsden SHS, with this young outside back yet another signing.

Wests Magpies

Christopher Faagutu (Marsden SHS): Here’s a name to watch out for. The 2021-22 Marsden SHS captain is a mobile No. 13 who made the Queensland and Australian schoolboys last season. He is exactly the type of kids who will wind his way through the Magpies system and into the NRL.

Mou Taumaletila-Maulolo (Marsden SHS): Another middle forward from Logan City, Mou Taumaletila-Maulolo has a big motor in the ruck, someone who keeps going and going.

Manly

Teapo Stoltman (Marsden SHS): A three season veteran of the Langer Trophy, Stoltman is a powerfully built outside back who has built up a great knowledge bank over the years.

Rene Bagon (Ipswich SHS): From the south west, the No. 13 was first signed by Manly from Forest Lake SHS before playing his senior football at Ipswich SHS where he took his game to another level, including helping Ipswich win three grand finals.

Xavier Sofeni (Ipswich SHS): A 2022 Met East and Brisbane Tigers Meninga Cup player, edge forward Sofeni was a member of the Sea Eagles SG Ball side this season.

Penrith

Timothy Sielaff-Burns (Coombabah SHS): Tim is a fullback a little in the mould of David Peachey, the former Cronulla champion. He is a long striding No. 1 and capable goal kicker.

Poutoa Hotere-Papalii (Wavell SHS): Poutoa Hotere-Papalii hails from the elite breeding ground of Aspley, an exciting outside back who can play fullback, centre or wing. He is noted for his defence.

Ahmani Leilua (Ipswich SHS): Ahmani Leilua, a Springfield Panthers junior, is exactly the type of person – and middle forward – you want in your side, a quiet achiever who does the little things right.

Del Wigmore (Keebra Park SHS): Another from Glen Campbell’s coaching stable (Campbell is now retired from the school) on the Gold Coast, Wigmore is middle or edge forward dynamo. Campbell is now retired but coached a small army of current NRL players through the Keebra Park SHS, including David Fifita and Payne Haas.

Illawarra

Lyhkan King-Togia (Dalby SHS): A terrific talent with agility and great hands, he can play hooker or five-eight. He is a bit of a Mr Natural.

Newcastle

Travis May: (PBC SHS) From the bosom of one of Queensland’s great breeding grounds comes this very talent utility back.

Kyle Colburn (Ipswich Grammar School): Colburn was a Knights GS Ball grand final winger, an outstanding outside back talent.

Kane Self (Ipswich): The Knights identified him early and his progress will be watched this season in the Langer Trophy after playing Harold Matthews in Newcastle this summer.

Souths

Liam Le Blanc (Nudgee College)

We are saving one of the best until last. From the Norths Devils catchment, middle forward Le Blanc was an unsung hero of Queensland schoolboy’s charge to last season championship win.

Haizyn Mellars (Marsden SHS): The son of former NRL player Vince, Mellars is an athletic winger with a great leap and sure hands which saw him represent the Queensland under 18 basketball side. He also has plenty of speed.

Balmain Tigers

Jordan Tut-Chapman: The Wavell SHS winger is a noted teammate with great finishing qualities who had a run for the Tigers this season in SG Ball.

Originally published as Ten Qld kids to help the Raiders – plus 40 “where are they now’’ Qlders in the NSWRL junior reps