u19 Origin players contracted to
Author : Michael Carayannis and David Riccio NewsCorp Sport
u19 Origin players contracted to
State of Origin 2023: Every Queensland and NSW U19s player’s NRL contract status
The future is looking bright for NSW and Queensland, as some of the hottest young NRL talents prepare to face off in Under-19s State of Origin.
We rate every young star and reveal their contract status in our interactive.
ted Wests Tigers, Dragons and Bulldogs fans will receive a window to a brighter future when the best and brightest young talents from either side of the Tweed face off in the traditional under-19s State of Origin game next Thursday night.
Also competing in the contest will be much-hyped NRL rookie Samuela Fainu.
The NSW prop will line-up alongside his highly-touted brother and five-eighth Latu against a Queensland side boasting a hot Brisbane prospect in hooker Blake Mozer.
The Saturday Telegraph experts Brent Read, Michael Carayannis and David Riccio rate each under-19s player and where they’re at in their journey to NRL stardom.
NSW U19 NRL CONTRACTED PLAYERS
1. Chevy Stewart
Age: 18
Club: Canberra Raiders
Position: Fullback
Contract status: 2026
Joined Canberra this season from Cronulla and already inked a long-term extension. Has been playing fullback at NSW Cup which has kept former regular NRL player Xavier Savage on the wing.
2. Savelio Tamale
Age: 18
Club: St George Illawarra
Position: centre
Contract status: 2024
Signed with the Dragons this year after being part of the NSW Waratahs squad. Started the season playing at SG Ball before progressing to Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup.
3. Ethan Strange
Age: 18
Club: Raiders
Position: Five-eighth/halfback/centre
Contract status: 2025
Poached from the Roosters SG Ball squad last year, Strange has made fast work of his arrival at the Raiders by progressing through the grades to play NSW Cup this year. Valued for his ability to play as a dangerous utility.
4. Joshua Feledy
Age: 18
Club: Wests Tigers
Position: Centre
Contract status: 2025
Manly junior who made the switch to the Tigers where he captained Balmain’s SG Ball team. Has scored 10 tries from 13 games for the Tigers Jersey Flegg team this year.
5, Ethan Ferguson
Age: 19
Club: South Sydney
Position: Centre
Contract status: 2025
Made a mid-year switch from Newcastle. Is the cousin of South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell. Made his NSW Cup debut for South Sydney last week.
6. Latu Fainu
Age: 18
Club: Manly
Position: Five-eighth
Contract status: 2025
Signed the game’s richest contract for a teenage. Has been given permission to leave Manly with the Dolphins, Tigers and Canterbury making a play for his services.
7. Ethan Sanders
Ethan Saunders 2023 SG Ball Cup Grand Final Man of the Match (Photo : Steve Montgomery)
Age: 19
Club: Parramatta
Position: Halfback
Contract status: 2024
One of the most sought after players on the open market. The Eels want to keep him but have to fend off interest from a host of clubs with the Raiders leading the way. The Panthers withdrew their interest.
8. Jake Clydsdale
Age: 18
Club: Raiders
Position: Front row
Contract status: 2025
The younger brother of former Knights, Raiders and Sharks hooker Adam, Jake is a front-row talent from Scone who was named the Raiders Players Player in the SG Ball last year.
9. Billy Scott
Age: 18
Club: Penrith
Position: Lock/hooker
Contract status: 2025
A talented lock who can also play hooker, Scott was a member of the Panthers’ all-conquering SG Ball side last season. Signed with Penrith for a further two seasons.
10. Samuela Fainu
Age: 19
Club: Manly
Position: Prop
Contract status: 2024
Like his brother, has also been granted permission to leave the Sea Eagles 12 months early. Will be part of a package deal with Latu. Made his NRL debut this year and has played five games.
11. Charlie Guymer
Age: 18
Club: Eels
Position: Centre/Backrow
Contract status: 2024
Named the Eels best back in the SG Ball in 2022, Guymer is a powerfully built centre who boasts leadership qualities as a captain. The Eels believe he could develop into a backrower in the mould of Kurt Capewell.
12. Harrison Hassett
Age: 18
Club: Penrith
Position: back row
Contract status: 2025
Hassett knocked back a mega-offer from the Dolphins last year to sign an extension at Penrith. The back rower was a schoolboy star and a first grade debut seems a matter of when not if.
13. Myles Martin
Age: 19
Club: Newcastle
Position: Lock
Contract status: 2024
The Bathurst product captained Newcastle’s SG Ball grand final side this year.
On an NRL development deal until the end of next year.
14. Joash Papalii
Age: 18
Club: Bulldogs
Position: Fullback/half
Contracted status: 2025
Seriously talented fullback who has risen from the Bulldogs junior nursery of the St John’s Eagles.
Papalii was the Bulldogs 2022 SG Ball Player of the Year with the gong a continuation of his many honours that includes being named Players Player in last year’s Australian Schoolboys win over Fiji.
15. Nicholas Tsougranis
Age: 19
Club: St George Illawarra
Position: Second row
Contract status: 2025
A St George junior who has progressed through the grades. Co-captained St George’s SG Ball squad this year before making his NSW Cup debut in round 14.
Sam Tuivaiti
16. Sam Tuivaiti
Age: 18
Club: Eels
Position: Forwards
Contract status: 2025
A cross between Junior Paulo and Marty Taupau, Tuivaiti is a destructive ball-carrier who has developed out of Westfield Sports High.
He began the year in SG ball before stepping up to Jersey Flegg.
17. Luron Patea
Age: 18
Club: Penrith
Position: Prop
Contract status: 2025
Patea was the Panthers’ SG Ball player of the year and the captain of the club’s Harold Matthews team. Signed until the end of 2025.
18. Jermaine McEwen
Age: 18
Club: Newcastle
Position: Back row
Contract status: 2026
The Knights have massive raps on McEwen, a member of their SG Ball side that made it all the way to this year’s grand final. A first grader in the making.
19. Jesse McLean
Age: 19
Club: Penrith
Position: centre
Contract status: 2025
The Australian Schoolboy is already part of Penrith’s top 30 .
Played in their premiership winning SG Ball side last year and has already featured in 13 NSW Cup games this year scoring seven tries.
QLD U19 NRL CONTRACTED PLAYERS
1. Mutua Brown
Age: 18
Club: North Queensland Cowboys
Position: Fullback
Contract status: 2025
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 (QLD under-18 competition).
Ridiculously quick and light on his feet.
2. Israel Leota
Age: 18
Club: Souths Logan Magpies/Broncos
Position: Wing
Contract status: 2024
Ipswich Grammar graduate who in an indication of his talent has been chosen for Queensland after returning to the game from two years away playing Aussie Rules and rugby union.
Coached at Souths Logan by his hero Karmichael Hunt.
3. Caleb Jackson
Age: 18
Club: Redcliffe Dolphins/The Dolphins
Position: Centre
Contract status: 2025
Progressing rapidly through the grades, Jackson made his QLD Cup debut earlier this year under coach Ben Te’o.
Capable of playing fullback, The Dolphins have high hopes for the young talent.
4. Mitchell Jennings
Age: 18
Club: Storm
Position: Centre
Contract status: 2025
A Beerwah Bulldogs junior with a huge future having been offered an NRL development contract by the prestigious Storm outfit.
Boasts a superb passing and running game.
5. Tim Sielaff-Burns
Age: 18
Club: Penrith
Position: Fullback/wing
Contract status: 2024
Sielaff-Burns was signed by Penrith for the SG Ball season and enjoyed a meteoric rise.
He has since been elevated to the Panthers’ Jersey Flegg squad and now finds himself pulling on his beloved Queensland jersey.
6. Stanley Huen
Age: 18
Club: Storm
Position: Five-eighth
Contract status: 2025
An aggressive defender with a strong running game, Huen has been a part of Storm’s junior pathways for the past three seasons.
A member of the club’s Jersey Flegg side, Huen is being mentored by none other than Cameron Munster.
7. Zack Lamont
Age: 18
Club: Cowboys
Position: Halfback
Contract status: 2024
Classy playmaker who idolises Johnathan Thurston and Darren Lockyer. A standout throughout his junior years, Lamont has progressed from QLD schoolboys to QLD under-19’s with his neat kick and running game a feature.
8. Ryan Jackson
Age: 19
Club: Redcliffe Dolphins/The Dolphins
Position: Prop
Contract status: 2025
Signed with the Dolphins from Wynnum Manly Seagulls. Was picked in the Queensland under-18 emerging squad last year.
Played 12 Queensland Cup games this year.
Age: 19
Club: Souths Logan Magpies/Brisbane Broncos
Position: Hooker
Contract status: 2025
In Brisbane’s top 30 squad.
Has been part of Brisbane’s academy since he was 13.
Won man of the match in the Queensland Cup grand final last year.
10. Ben Te Kura
Age: 19
Club: Souths Logan Magpies/Brisbane Broncos
Position: Prop
Contract status: 2025
Was picked in the corresponding match last year but lasted just nine minutes after a head clash.
Big middle standing at 205 centimetres which makes him as tall as Storm giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
11. Wil Sullivan
Age: 19
Club: Townsville Blackhawks/North Queensland Cowboys
Position: Second-Row
Contract status: 2025
Was picked in Queensland’s under-18 emerging side last year.
Has played six games for Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup this year.
12. Angus Hinchey
Age: 19
Club: Melbourne Storm
Position: Second-row
Contract status: 2025
Was signed from Norths Devils. Another player part of the under-18 Queensland emerging side.
Is a really aggressive player who loves defence.
13. Damon Marshall
Age: 18
Club: Bulldogs
Position: Forwards
Contract status: 2024
The Townsville prospect knocked back offers from the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs to sign a two-year contract with the Bulldogs this year.
Powerful ball carrier who won the SG Ball Coaches award in 2023.
14. Gabriel Satrick
Age: 18
Club: Storm
Position: Hooker
Contract status: 2026
Won the Peter Sterling Medal as the player of the finals series at the NRL Schoolboys Cup last year.
Was picked in the Australian Schoolboys team.
15. Chris Faagutu
Age: 18
Club: Wests Tigers
Position: Middle forward
Contract status: 2026
An ex-student of Cameron Smith’s old school of Marsden SHS, Faagutu is an explosive forward and previous squad member of both the Queensland and Australian schoolboys.
The Tigers belief in Faagutu is evidenced in the length of his current contract.
16. Michael Waqa
Age: 18
Club: Dolphins
Position: Prop
Contract status: 2025
On an NRL development contract.
A local Redcliffe product who joined the Dolphins on a train and trial deal during the pre-season.
Will move into the top 30 in 2025.
17. Jamal Shibasaki
Age: 18
Club: Cowboys
Position: Middle-edge
Contract status: 2024
Younger brother of NRL player Gehamat.
Captained Queensland Country under-17s team last year.
18. Mason Kira
Age: 18
Club: Cowboys
Position: Middle-edge
Contract status: 2026
Represented the Sunshine Coast in rugby league and rugby union.
He was previously contracted to the Storm.
19. Kai Simon
Age: 18
Club: Cowboys
Position: Outside back
Contract status: 2025
Has a strong boot.
Was picked for Queensland City under-17 team last year.
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