Players to watch: Queensland's Under 19 Origin next crop

Queensland young guns to watch

Cooper Bai

Most recently featuring for the Gold Coast Titans in the new NRLQ competition, Bai joined the Titans as a full-time train and triallist for the 2025 season. Son of PNG and Melbourne Storm great Marcus Bai, the Burleigh Bears junior, who is now assigned to Tweed Seagulls, plays in the forwards as a lock, unlike his father who made a name for himself on the wing.

Jennifer Kimber

Hailing from Moranbah, Kimber – who can play fullback, centre or wing – took part in the open trial with the North Queensland Cowboys in November and impressed so much that she was given a development contract with the club. A key part of Mackay Cutters Under 19 Harvey Norman winning team last year, she was also honoured as the club’s player of the year this season for her tryscoring efforts to help the team secure a semi-final berth. 

Zac Garton

Signed to the NRL Dolphins, powerful second-rower Zac Garton became the club’s first Australian Schoolboys representative when he was selected to face off against teams from France and Papua New Guinea last year. A Gympie Devils junior – the same club that developed Tino Fa’asuamaleaui – Garton has also played for the Queensland Under 17 Country team.

Takoda Thompson

Rising Gold Coast Titans rookie Takoda Thompson was signed to Karyn Murphy's squad for the next two seasons after eye-catching performances for the Sunshine Coast Falcons where she claimed back-to-back player of the year honours with their Under 19 Harvey Norman Women’s team. The forward joined the Gold Coast’s female academy at the start of 2025.

Sam Hynes

Raiders staff have been impressed with the work ethic and attitude of rising forward Sam Hynes who performed strongly in the Under 19 SG Ball competition. Praised as a hard worker, Hynes has also taken part in the Under 21 Jersey Flegg. Playing as a prop, the Raiders have a new Queensland ‘big red’ coming through the ranks.

Fleur Ginn

Representative football is nothing out of the ordinary for new Eels NRLW signing Fleur Ginn, who won gold at the 2023 Global Sevens Tournament with the Australia A rugby sevens side. She also helped secure another gold medal at the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games. Ginn, who plays as an outside back, has also previously represented Queensland at schoolgirl level.

Prestyn Laine-Sietu

The talented Cronulla Sharks centre was named the club’s junior representative player of the year earlier this season for his contributions to helping their SG Ball side qualify for the finals. Representing the Queensland Schoolboys on multiple occasions, Laine-Sietu was recruited from the Redcliffe Dolphins where he also played lock and has recently been playing for the Sharks in their Under 21 SG Ball side.

Reegan Hicks

Contracted to the Brisbane Broncos, former Redcliffe Dolphins Harvey Norman Under 19 star Hicks has got plenty of playing experience despite her young age, also playing in the BMP Premiership for Norths Devils last year. The Stanley River Wolves and Beerwah Bulldogs juniors returns to line up as co-captain and keen for another crack at the Blues after representing Queensland in this game last year. Coach Maia Tua-Davidson will be counting on the back-rower’s experience to help guide the side.

The 2025 Under 19 Origin matches will take place at Sunshine Coast Stadium this Thursday and you can follow all the action on NRL.com's live blog.

Tickets for Thursday's Under 19s Origin are available from NRL Tickets.