Queensland Schools have Alex Mafi from the 2013 Australian Schoolboys squad returning this year. Veterans returning from 2013 championships include big boppers, Richie Asiata and younger boppers Reece Hewatt and Shambeckler Vui.
Due to the slightly different schooling systems in Queensland, with many boys finishing school in their 17th year, there are 20 veterans from the 2013 under 16’s—15 from the victorious QLD Red team and five from the QLD Whites.
To add a bit of starch to their squads, there are a further eight players from the 2012 Under 16 tournament, including the lightning quick Joey Fittock, who crossed the Tweed to finish his schooling at The Southport School.
Nearly all of the QLD I side have previous Under 16 tournament experience, mostly with the Qld Red team which won the Under 16’s in 2012 and 2013.
They seem to have a monster tight-five which will be backed up with nimble loosies and a very pacy back line of ball runners and distributors.
While a little younger on average than the NSW teams, they will prove a real handful in Pool B and must look good for a place in the Gold medal match for Saturday. Keep an eye out for Mafi, Hewat, Fittock, exciting Harley Fox, “Cool Hand Luke” Alex Horan, and twinkletoes Clinton Setu.
QLD II may be written off by many, but they have six warhorses returning from the 2012 Under 16’s and five lads from last years U16’s. They seem to have a good balance of skills and experience, and it would be a risky proposition to take them lightly.
Like NSW II, many of these boys would not be out of place in the Ones’ team and they will be out to prove the selectors wrong. I like the look of their loose forwards and halves backed up by the bulldozer that is Asiata. Their match up with the back row and Fifita from NSW I will be a tantalising prospect.
Along with Asiata, keep an eye out for Angus Scott-Young, PJ Van Den Burg, Joshua Webb, Liam MacNamara, and Tyronne Hussey.
Western Australia is a young side which has a nucleus of players from the WA Under 17 team that recently took out the inaugural Junior Gold Cup [JGC] for that age group.
With 15 of these backing up for the Under 18 Championships, it will be interesting to see how they manage what will be a step up in skill and intensity.
Tevin Ferris (flanker) and Kauri Cudd (fullback) return from last year’s tournament. They both play in the Nedlands Premier Grade side and should add some firepower and starch. Our snouts say that the young No.10, Nicholas Jooste impressed in the JGC with his silky skills, excellent decision making and booming kick.
The boys from WA will probably be employing a physically imposing game from their piggies relying on Sam Offer getting through a mountain of work at set piece and in ball carries.
ACT has five players returning from their 2013 Opens squad including 2013 Australian Schoolboy Siuta Tai from Marist College, Pearce.
Also, they have eight players returning from the 2012 Under 16 team that impressively beat the fancied Sydney Juniors side. Expect to see a well-balanced and clinical game plan that favours set piece play which will be executed with precision.
They may struggle at the breakdown and in the lesser structured aspects of the game, and their opponents will be looking to exploit this. Players to watch are Tom Evans, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Siuta Tai, Harry Tyson and Patrick Rumble.
Victoria Schools have given us Christian Leali’ifano, Talalelei Gray and Ewen McKenzie. Last year they had Fereti Sa’aga in their team, and he has graduated straight into the Samoan U20 team this year, after touring the UK and Ireland with the 2013 Australian Schoolboys.
The days of Victoria being easy-beats at the Championships are long gone. Who knows who the nugget is that will be unearthed this year from the Vics but one thing is certain and that is that they will be big, strong and will play a physical game.
No prisoners will be taken by the Vics. They have five players backing up from last year, and 15 in this years’ squad have been to Nationals at Under 16 level. Players to watch are Ah-Mu Tuimalealiifano, Tom Blake, Ikapote Tupai, Matthew Euese and the charismatic RJ Sa’aga (Fereti’s brother).
Tala Gray – from St. Kevins College, Victoria – played for Combined States 2007
