Meet the stars of Kirwan and Iggy Park 2023

Meet the players who will take the field the season, from representative stars like Kirwan’s Kaiden Lahrs to the up-and-coming youngsters like Sitiveni Afu (IPC) and Taakoi Benioni.

Click here to watch the livestream of Kirwan v Iggy Park at 4.45pm on Wednesday

IGNATIUS PARK COLLEGE 2023 RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM

1. Jack Prior

Iggy Park’s 2023 fullback is a superb organiser of the college’s defensive line. His running game is a threat out the back of shape and he possess a safe pair of hands. Prior has made his senior A Grade debut for Souths Bulls and represented the Blackhawks in the Mal Meninga Cup.

2. Sean Weir

A Queensland Schoolboys representative centre in rugby union, Weir has shifted out from the Ignatius Park centres to cover the loss of Fijian speedster Iowani Cavuilati. Weir is a Mr Fix-It for the college, capable of lining up anywhere on the field. Weir was a chance at being moved into the middle forwards, such is his versatility. Weir played in the halves in the Cowboys Challenge team last season.

3. Izaya Leedie

An x-factor with the ball in hand, Leedie is a classy carrying threat with bite in his tackle. After representing the Blackhawks in the Under-18s Mal Meninga Cup Leedie was called up to represent southwest Queensland at the Queensland Schoolboy nationals, having just missed a berth in the NQ squad.

4. Zy Gall

Gall is a mystery package in the Ignatius Park backline because he does not play in the RLTD club competition. It is not through a lack of skill. Gall is a dump truck tackler and showed off that fearsome defensive ability with a punishing tackle against St Patrick’s College in the opening round.

5. Andre Corradini

Another rugby union talent, Corradini represented the region at the Queensland state championships alongside Sean Weir. Corradini brings size to the flank, playing a Murray Taulagi role in carting the ball out of the danger end. Still developing his rugby league nous but has proven a quick study.

6. Hayde Munro

A Burdekin lad playing his role for the Western Lions under-17s, Munro leads the side around with the field with ease. Alongside Prior, Munro is the primary voice of the team and is no slouch with his back to the tryline – a common theme in Zeb Kyle’s 2023 squad.

7. Marcus Bell

An Australian Emus touch representative, there are shades of Shaun Johnson about Bell’s approach to halfback play. Devastating footwork and sharp playmaking ability are his strengths, and sparking Ignatius Park’s attack will be his primary domain. Iggy Park missed his services in the opening round defeat to St Patrick’s.

8. Nelson Kennedy

A Blackhawks Under-18s bookend who was called into the North Queensland representative team at late notice. Capable of churning out big minutes, Kennedy was a brick wall at the heart of the Ignatius Park pack.

9. Colby Thompson

A robust defender who has found form in the running game by picking his moments to strike.

10. Wyatt Lourigan

A superb athlete, Lourigan’s speed and running game saw him picked for both the Blackhawks Under-18s and the North Queensland representative team. In an exciting sign, he is improving with every minute on the field.

11. Jack Bragg

Toughness personified. Another player with a representative rugby union pedigree, Bragg is a well-balanced right-edge backrower in attack and defence. He rushed back from the state rugby title weekend to take his place alongside his teammates for round one of the Aaron Payne Cup.

12. Jonah Raidaveta (c)

The Cowboys-contracted backrower is Ignatius Park College’s captain and a big body on the left edge. When Raidaveta’s head is in the game there are few more damaging backrowers. Asserting his aggressiveness remains his challenge but the former Rugby Sevens weapon from country New South Wales has all the talent to make an impact.

13. Sitiveni Afu

The youngest players in the team, 16-year-old Sitiveni Afu shapes as a long-term weapon at Aaron Payne Cup level for Iggy Park. Afu’s carrying his greatest strength in the core, where he hopes to fill the shoes of outstanding 2022 middle forwards Jamal Shibasaki, Henry Teutau and Jermaine Stanley. Coach Kyle backed the youngster to thrive against the biggest opposition packs.

14. Jake Brewer

A Souths Bulls champion under-17 hooker from last season with a touch football background, Brewer will bring a like-for-like substitution to starter Colby Thompson.

15. Connor Sadler

One of Queensland’s most outstanding junior cricketers, Sadler is following in the footsteps of elder sibling Cody to make his mark on Iggy Park’s rugby league program as well. Sadler plays his U17 club football for Norths but has also debuted for Centrals in the U19 competition. His frame is filling out and his aggression is well suited to the combat of forward play.

16. Oakland Stowers

A middle forward off the pine, coach Zeb Kyle said Stowers’ role was to build momentum when his opportunity arose on the bench.

17. Kynan Purdy

Purdy is a ball-running half/outside backs option who has forged strong chemistry with Hayde Munro at the Western Lions. The Year 11 gets into the line well when he has the ball and started the season in the No.7 jersey with Marcus Bell unavailable.

KIRWAN STATE HIGH SCHOOL 2023 RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM

1. Ben Roebuck

A silky player who brings calm and composure to the Kirwan fullback jersey. Still young and developing, Roebuck is a player to watch both this year and next.

2. Aisake Manna

Missed the opening round of the Aaron Payne Cup after sustaining a minor injury at the Queensland state championships. Manna is a Fijian sprint champion who moved to North Queensland to attend Kirwan, alongside centre Eparama Kikau. There aren’t many in the Payne

3. Cohen Dittmann

The Cowboys Challenge fullback from a season ago was selected on the wing for the Queensland U15 team and gets the chance to move infield for his Year 11 season. Dittmann relishes the physicality like the best redheads too. His defensive reads are outstanding. An NQ representative.

4. Eparama Kikau

A relative of Viliame Kikau, Eparama is learning the subtleties of rugby league but starts with an extraordinary advantage in his physical gifts. Kikau is a brilliant athlete who has benefited from some exposure to rugby league before moving to Australia. An NQ representative.

5. Anthony Iorangi

A talented footballer with x-factor in spades. Selected on the wing because of his height but capable of covering a number of positions. Iorangi has a strong background in touch football and has good skills.

6. Logan Brookes

Named in some team sheets as Logan Deininger but goes by Brookes. The five-eighth blitzed Mareeba SHS for a hat-trick in the opening round of the Aaron Payne Cup to earn comparisons in style to Cameron Munster. Brookes plays what is in front of him and has the intuition and footwork to take advantage of those opportunities when they present. A serious talent to twatch.

7. Preston Cassidy

After serving an apprenticeship on the fringes of the Bears last year, Cassidy has earned his shot at the famous No.7 jersey in 2023. A level-headed playmaker that has grown up around the sport, Cassidy is a well-suited foil to the flashy brilliance of Brookes. Theirs is a combination that could take Kirwan far.

8. Kanye Pua’avase

The younger brother of Kirwan 2020 state champion prop D’Jazirhae (Miah) Pua’avase, Kanye is an outstanding prop talent ready to make his own name at the school. Pua’avase was selected for North Queensland in the Queensland State Championships with good footwork, soft hands and the toughness needed to excel in the front row.

9. Braith Dowson

A hooker in outstanding form from the North Queensland side. Unlucky not to earn higher honours and ready to prove selectors wrong in the Aaron Payne Cup. He’s a top defender and brings creativity out of dummyhalf. Coach Norford said his style of play was reminiscent of former Peter Sterling medallist Adrian Trevilyan, who signed with the Raiders after leading Kirwan to the national championship in 2019. Can create and take chances for himself.

10. Kaiden Lahrs (c)

Is the hype around Kaiden Lahrs justified? Those at Kirwan can’t believe you’d ask. Lahrs is rated one of the finest forwards the North Queensland powerhouse has ever produced. The youngest MVP in school history last season, Norford says there isn’t much to say about the outstanding athlete and leader: just sit back and enjoy the show.

11. Elijah Tapau-Taylor

Definitely a talent with the attributes of a quality player. Tall and powerful with the ball skills to match. Tapau-Taylor is a threat in attack but holds his own in defence.

12. Taakoi Benioni

A different style backrower, the Year 11 student is all about the effort with every interaction. Not the same size as many of the other backrowers running around but more than makes up for his smaller stature with relentless play.

13. Loranzo Fono

Rated highly by coaches. Fono makes the most of his low centre of gravity to generate power through his carrying and thumping tackles in the middle.

14. Cohen Emmi

Hailing from the Cassowary Coast, Emmi is already an A Grade representative for the Tully Tigers. Coaches are excited to see him bring the skills that have taken him to the senior stage turned against oppositions in the Aaron Payne Cup. He can bring some spark off the bench as a running No.9.

15. Jeffery Ross

One of the biggest boppers in the squad, Ross has found the fitness to sustain his powerful actions on the pitch and will be a key carrier in the middle forwards.

16. Marley Helion

A ball-playing middle who brings leg speed to the forwards. Not as large as other middle forwards but more than makes up for it with his intensity.

17. Diesel Taylor

Diesel by name and nature, Taylor was a Queensland U15s representative last season. A tough country lad who never shies away from contact and is always putting up his hand for the hard work.