There is plenty of motivation to do well this year for all the members of the Under 20 Emerging Origin squad – including coach Justin Hodges – with a win in the annual representative game still eluding Queensland.
However, the focus at this past weekend’s camp featuring up-and-comers of the game who are jostling for a place in the representative team being selected later this year was all about getting to know each other both on the field and off, and to use the chance to run through some key plays which would be used in the rep fixture later this season.
Held in conjunction with the QAS – the Under 18 Emerging Origin squad were also in camp at the weekend; taking the time to learn under coach Kurt Richards.
They also took part in similar sessions to the Under 20 squad, including a sports psychology workshop and a State of Origin talk with former FOGS Hodges, Prince and Under 20 team mentor Lote Tuqiri.
There are a number of exciting players to watch in the squad, including forward David Fifita who was able to overcome a number of injury woes early in season 2017 to captain his side to the national GIO Cup Schoolboys title.
Both the Under 18 and Under 20 camps wrapped up with an opposed session between the two squads on Sunday morning.
***Stay tuned to QRL.com.au to hear directly from Queensland Under 20 assistant coach Scott Prince and rising Under 18 player David Fifita.
Story --> Coach Hodges on a mission
Gallery --> Emerging talent put through their paces
Under 20 Emerging Origin squad 2018
Tom Flegler – Brisbane Broncos
Pat Carrigan – Brisbane Broncos
Sam Johnstone – South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tom Mikaele – Wests Tigers
Tom Skinner – Penrith Panthers
Eddie Blacker – Brisbane Broncos
Logan Bayliss - NQ Cowboys
Corey Horsburgh – Canberra Raiders
Apiata Noema – Gold Coast Titans
Louis Geraghty – Melbourne Storm
Nathan Barrett – NQ Cowboys
J'maine Hopgood – Penrith Panthers
Jake Clifford – NQ Cowboys
AJ Brimson – Gold Coast Titans
Lachlan Lam – Sydney Roosters (absent)
Gerome Burns – Brisbane Broncos
Murray Taulagi – NQ Cowboys
Enari Tuala – NQ Cowboys
Gehamat Shibasaki – Brisbane Broncos
Tristan Sailor – St George Illawarra Dragons
Kurt Wiltshire – NQ Cowboys
Corey Allan – Brisbane Broncos
Harry Grant – Melbourne Storm
Brent Woolf – Brisbane Broncos
Ronaldo Mulitalo – Cronulla Sharks
Michael Carroll – NQ Cowboys
Coach: Justin Hodges
Assistant Coach: Scott Prince
Queensland Rugby League Under 18 Emerging Origin squad (alphabetical)
Michael Bell
Bailey Biondi-Odo
Tanah Boyd
Geordie Brand
Ethan Bullemor
David Butler
Blake Campbell
Xavier Coates
Juwan Compain
Ben Condon
Thomas Dearden
Brock Diment
Ty Everett
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
David Fifita
Isaiah Lealiiee
Heilum Luki
Zakaria McGuire
Fanitesi Niu
Cory Paix
Jack Paterson
Antonio Sanele
Ioane Seiuli
Jake Simpkin
Sebastian Winters Chang
Coach: Kurt Richards
Main image: Tom Mikaele (Wests Tigers) takes part in Under 20 Emerging Origin drills with Apiata Noema and Corey Horsburgh.
