The next generation of potential Maroons superstars have flocked to Townsville for the Queensland School Sport Rugby League championships. These are the players to watch.
Hundreds of budding footballers will compete across two age groups – 14-15yrs and 16-18yrs – as they vie for the title of the state’s best region.
A Queensland team will also be picked at the end of tournament.
We’ve canvassed the teams and endeavoured to uncover the players who could be key to their region’s state title triumph.
14-15 YEARS
CAPRICORNIA
Harley Biles
A Brothers Rockhampton junior, Biles helped his club side to last season’s under 13 premiership win when he scored an early try. He is an exciting fullback, a baby of this age group but one who should relish the challenge of playing against the state’s best. Biles has been a frequent junior representative player since under 11s.
Jay Marsh
CQ Capras’ under-16 boys squad member Jay Marsh.
From rugby league rich Yeppoon, Jay Marsh is a chip off the old block in that he plays hooker – the same position as his dad, ex-Queensland and NRL dummy half PJ Marsh, and his older brother Braelan who is signed to the Dolphins Academy.
DARLING DOWNS
Harry Green
The young halfback has speed to burn and loves to take on the line when he has the ball in hand. A great communicator who expertly guides his teammates around the park.
Lucas Burrows
The captain sets the tone defensively with his high work rate and willingness to make the tough tackles. A solid all-round player who can seamlessly switch between lock and hooker.
MET EAST
Majah-Jose Peachey
Wynnum-Manly player Majah-Jose Peachey.
The Gold Coast Titans have swooped to sign this rampaging left edge forward who was one of the outstanding players of the Connell Challenge playing for Wynnum Manly. A Mabel Park SHS student and New Zealand born, he will be playing in his first school season after arriving late last year from Perth.
Tawa-Dean Simpkins
Simpkins is an outside back young gun in outstanding form after coming off a successful junior season with the Ipswich Jets. He has genuine wheels, but can also create for his rivals if required. But he is a finisher, first and foremost, and will be a Player to Watch in Townsville.
Tawa-Dean Simpkins is a dual-code weapon. Picture: Scott Powick Newscorp
Ezekiel Jones
Jones was one of the big improvers in the Connell Challenge under 16 rugby league competition this year. So well did the Wynnum Manly Seagulls hooker play, the Brisbane Broncos came knocking and signed him. Watch for him to continue his form at the state championships.
MET NORTH
Ethan Grimshaw
Grimshaw is an x-factor player because he has pace – and plenty of it. From Nudgee College and signed by the Dolphins, Grimshaw is the state 100m sprint champion for his age group and a national medallist. He gained experience this season playing Connell Challenge under 16s for North Devils.
Timahna Tandy
Tandy is a player to watch, a light on his feet young gun who plays eyes up footy. He has been selected at fullback, but could easily play in the halves given his ball skills and passing game. He is match hardened coming off a season with the Norths Devils in the Connell Challenge under 16s.
MET WEST
Jonah Afamasaga
Jonah is the younger brother of Jalen Afamasaga who was the halfback in last year’s Ipswich SHS national winning team. He is a calm headed half with a good kicking game, Jonah played in the Connell Challenge Norths side this season.
NORTHERN
Lincoln Baker
Baker will captain the Northern 14-15 team with halves partner Riley Carbone named as vice-captain.
The skilful playmaker had a standout campaign for the Townsville Blackhawks Cyril Connell Challenge under-16 side where he was also coached by Northern 14-15 coach Nathan Norford.
Norford described Baker as a great leader who is fast and talented, with a lot of potential.
Gausu Dau
The Bowen youngster is one of Northern’s most exciting junior prospects.
A verified weapon, Dau notched up 43 tries for the Bowen Seagulls under-14s in 2022 to lead the competition.
A younger relation of the talented Blackhawks outside back Dudley Dutoi, Dau will be one to watch from fullback during the championship.
Locklyn Thomas
Thomas has been selected as a prop for the Northern 14-15 schoolboys team and he is a big body that’s incredibly tough to bring down.
He plays both rugby league and rugby union and last year he played in the under-15 Emerging Reds Cup and was selected into the Reds Academy Development Squad, and made the move from Burdekin Catholic College to Kirwan High in 2023.
Thomas was the fourth highest try-scorer in the under-14s last year in the local rugby league competition with 25 tries for Burdekin.
PENINSULA
Noah Blooranta
A top-shelf playmaker who is the last man standing in Peninsula’s spine due to injuries, Blooranta was regularly among the Northern Pride’s best in during the Mal Meninga Cup.
A product of Atherton, the five-eighth is an easy choice for captain thanks to his relaxed and unfazed approach, while his crisp passing ability and quality kicking game will keep Peninsula in contests against higher-fancied opponents.
Cameron Nelson
A larrikin off the field but a genuine, hardworking lock who gets his job done on it, Nelson is among the top forward prospects coming out of Far North Queensland.
Tully’s Cameron Nelson. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE
He plays A-grade for Tully Tigers in the FNQRL, is coming off an appearance for Queensland’s Clontarf Origin side and is linked with the Cowboys.
He’s a tough, aggressive body in the engine room who won’t back down from any challenge.
SUNSHINE COAST
Taj Burke
Another kid that has a lot of talent. Burke punched above his weight for the Sunshine Coast Falcons Cyril Connell Challenge side this season as a starting second rower. He knows his role well and can bring a lot of focus to his attacking skills.
Jett Ryan
A damaging front rower who came across to Caloundra SHS in the last 18 months. He made the Sunshine Coast team this year and is just really aggressive, tackles with intent, runs the ball hard and is an all-round leader for the teams forward pack.
Lorenzo Silva
A bottom age kid that has excelled to make the team and will be a key component of the Redcliffe forward pack. A player on the rise and will put his talents to the test this year and next.
WIDE BAY
Parkka Perotta-Dowling
An athletically gifted centre with size, safe hands and speed to burn, Perotta-Dowling will captain Wide Bay in his second season in this team.
Parkka Perrotta-Dowling has been a leading talent through his junior years.
The Bundaberg-based centre is a good leader and skilful footballer who will bring size to the outside backs.
Kevin Weribone
The fullback will be out to impress in his first campaign for Wide Bay’s representative school team.
An elusive, fleet-footed and safe custodian who scored plenty of tries on the wing for the Bulls’ Cyril Connell Challenge side, Weribone brings a good turn of pace to the back.
16-18yrs
CAPRICORNIA
Mutua Brown
Brown is a thrilling prospect signed by the North Queensland Cowboys. He is coming off a strong season with CQ Capras in the Meninga Cup where he was named fullback in News Corp’s Team of the Season. Originally a FNQ product, he is quick and has great natural ability.
CQ Capras’ under-18 squad member Mutua Brown.
Jaxson Purdue
The Mackay product was one of the best players in the recent Meninga Cup competition where he was named first emergency in News Corp’s Team of the Competition. He took his game to another level last year at both club and school level, and continued to show improvement this season for the Cutters. From the famous St Patrick’s College, he has a great combination with hooker Xavier Kerrisk and will complement the halves pairing alongside Tyler Melrose.
Tyler Melrose
From the Capricorn Coast, Tyler Melrose is a halfback blessed with speed and footy IQ. He combines his pace, dummy and step when he has the ball at hand. These traits make him very dangerous when he is playing at the line. He is always prepared to take the line on.
CQ Capras’ Tyler Melrose.
MET EAST
Saxon Innes
The Brisbane-Broncos signed rookie from Marsden SHS has finally had a chance to play his favourite position – fullback – after several years switching between No. 1, wing and centre. Originally from the northern Gold Coast, he looked like a Rolls Royce playing during the Meninga Cup with Wynnum Manly and will be a danger at the schoolboy championships.
Cam Bukowski
Watch for this hooker from Villanova College to bring his forwards onto the ball by engaging defenders when he moves from the ruck. He had an outstanding Meninga Cup campaign with Wynnum Manly where he triggered breaks or made them himself. His father Gary played in the NRL for Wests Magpies (now merged to make Wests Tigers).
MET NORTH
Mereki Warradoo
Wavell SHS’s Warradoo will be one of the younger players at the championships. Last season’s 14-15 years Queensland schoolboys fullback, the Wavell SHS student is a dashing No. 1 with flair, footwork and pace. A Moreton Bay local junior, he has been signed by the Dolphins.
Queensland’s Mereki Warradoo. Picture: Tertius Pickard
John-Paul Donevski
A Dolphins recruit from the western Sydney schoolboy scene, John Paul spent the summer training with and playing for the Redcliffe Dolphins Meninga Cup squad which won the competition. He is a fleet-a-foot fullback, winger or centre who has class touches.
Jahrel Iselin-Jansen
Jahrel is one for the little black book. A halve who will be feeding an all-star three quarter line featuring Broncos signed Tyreece Tait, Dolphins contracted John-Paul Donevski and Penrith signed Prestyn Laine-Sietu, Jahrel is making an impact after returning to the code last year following a two season break to play touch football. He is a natural athlete and rugby league player. Watch this space.
MET WEST
Anton Naiyep
Naiyep thumping progress has landed him a contract with NRL glamour club Manly. The
Ipswich SHS premiership winner was one of the best outside backs in the recent Meninga Cup under 18 competition. Under the guidance of his school coach (Josh Bretherton) and his club coaches (Shane Harris, Meninga; Jye Jye Tuaimau-Gadsdon, Connell Challenge), Naiyep has developed his game from being a finisher to a powerful edge runner who consistently beats tackles with his fearless running. Naiyep is originally from PNG who started at Ipswich SHS as a Year 8 student.
David Leota
David Leota cops a high shot from the defence. Picture: Thomas Lisson.
He’s back. After starring as a 14-15 years Met West player, Leota has continued to progress and will be pushing for state selection in the 16-18 years. A member of Canterbury’s Harold Matthews premiership winning team, the middle forward from Goodna Eagles in Ipswich is a powerful run with great leg drive.
NORTHERN
Aisake Manna
A lightning-fast winger who hails from Fiji, Manna only needs half a gap to blitz past the defence with his blistering pace.
Reports coming out of Kirwan suggest Manna is even faster than Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was at the same age.
Northern coach Steve Lansley said he was excited to see what the winger can do over the championship.
“We’re hoping that he sees some open space,” Lansley said.
“He’s quite quick, so we’d love to see him find the space to use that speed.”
Lachlan Erba
Herbert River playmaker Lachlan Erba. Picture: Cameron Bates
Erba will steer Northern around the park from the halves with his top-notch organisational skills.
The multi-sport talent has a background in high-level touch football and squash and was a part of the Townsville Blackhawks under-18 squad in 2023.
Erba’s vision and communication will be at the fore to give his team the direction they need.
The Herbert River playmaker was also presented the Junior Sports Award at the Hinchinbrook Shire Council 2023 Australia Day Awards.
Kaiden Lahrs
Schoolboy rugby league sensation Kaiden Lahrs will skipper Northern and his natural leadership skills will be on display throughout the tournament.
Lahrs also captained Northern previously in the 14-15 state championship and is the current Kirwan Bears skipper.
The big prop knows how to use his size to his advantage and will be a regular ball-carrier as Northern try to bash their way through opposition defence.
SOUTH COAST
Seve Kingston
The best outside back in his age group who the Dolphins swooped to sign as soon as he became eligible. He is a long striding fullback, athletic with that x-factor about him. He helped Keebra SHS to its Renouf Shield premiership win last season, scoring three tries.
Israel Lotaki
Lotaki was Kingston’s partner in crime during Keebra Park’s surge to last season’s Renouf premiership. A left side centre, he is a dynamic, powerful runner with explosive acceleration. When he teams with Kingston, look out.
South Coast 14-15s
SUNSHINE COAST
Mason Kira
Sunshine Coast Falcons Mal Meninga Cup player Mason Kira. Picture: Patrick Woods
Kira was a standout for the Sunshine Coast Falcons Mal Meninga Cup side this season, earning him a spot in the Queensland under 18 Emerging Origin squad. He’s a big, strong, fast, skilful player in that middle forward or back row position.
Finn Lawson
Finn Lawson in action for the Sunshine Coast Falcons. Picture: Phil Bradeley Sports Photography.
The ‘ultimate utility’ has burst onto the Sunshine Coast and Queensland rugby league scene in recent years pulling on a jersey at hooker, halfback, five-eight, fullback and even out on the sting. Lawson made the Queensland and Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union team in 2022 after never even playing the sport. He will again prove to be a handful and look to steer his side around the park.
John Fineanganofo
A ball playing five eight or lock who was one of the players of the recent Meninga Cup competition. He helped Redcliffe to win the under 18 club competition in April and along with Jayden is a great chance to earn a Queensland jersey.
WIDE BAY
Thomas Morcom
A gun centre already in the crosshairs of the Broncos, Thomas Morcom is a big, strong ball-runner who runs good lines and creates opportunities.
He endured an injury-plagued Mal Meninga Cup campaign during which he played only half of the games, but was clearly a standout for the Wide Bay Bulls.
Blaine Watson
Blaine Watson is a rising talent in the forwards.
A hard-working and damaging prop with the ability to quickly find his front and get away quick play-the-balls.
Locked in to a development contract with the Raiders, Watson is a dream front-rower for any coach, with that high workrate combined with his ability to make metres, will play a key role in laying the platform for Wide Bay.
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