Leota: 'It would mean to world to me and my family to play for Queensland'
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Souths Logan Magpies speedster Israel Leota is soaking in every experience after returning to rugby league less than two years ago.
The talented 18-year-old, who scored a try for the Brisbane Broncos during their trial against Wynnum Manly Seagulls at the weekend off a pinpoint cross-field kick from Josh Rogers, is part of the Queensland Under 19 squad for this year and is relishing the opportunity.
"I was pretty happy because I had a goal to make this squad... when I got the message saying that I made the squad, I was excited, but I've still got a long way to go," Leota said.
The squad is full of players Leota has played with and against including Benjamin Te Kura, Souths Logan teammate Blake Mozer and former school mate Matua Brown.
The Ipswich Grammar graduate, who is on a Broncos Academy contract and enjoys learning from Jordan Pereira at the club, played rugby league for Logan Brothers between the ages of eight and 12 before trying his hand at rugby union and Aussie rules.
"I switched codes. I went to union for a year because I was going to a GPS school and I switched and played some AFL," Leota said.
"I only came back to playing league when I was 16, went to Souths Acacia Ridge to play with my mates and now I'm here."
The winger/centre starred for Karmichael Hunt's Souths Logan Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup premiership-winning side in 2022 and represented Queensland Under 17 City on Hostplus Cup grand final day.
"K was our coach... that was good. A big idol I grew up watching. Being coached by him, and winning the premiership with him, was surreal," Leota said.
"He taught me a lot of basics and a lot of things that really helped me understand, just getting back into it."
Leota said playing for Queensland Under 17 City, and continuing to learn from Queensland Maroons greats, was quite the experience.
"The experience with all of the fellas, watching them, idolising all these players.... coming in and getting coached by them was pretty surreal experience," Leota said.
The young gun said his short-term goals were to make his Hostplus Cup debut for Souths Logan and play for the Queensland Under 19 side, but his ultimate, longer-term goals were to play NRL for the Broncos and don a Maroons jersey.
“It would mean the world to me and my family for me to play for Queensland,” Leota said.
“As a young kid growing up, every young kid from Queensland wants to play for the Broncos and Queensland if the opportunity comes. That would be the ultimate.
“All of the sacrifices my parents made for me to be here today. I would love to give back to them for all they've done for me.
“To do that, I’m going to have to do what all these FOGS tell us… make the sacrifices, do extras behind the scenes when people aren't watching.
“Both of my parents are New South Wales supporters. But me and my two sisters are Queensland supporters. If I get the chance to play, they're going to have to go for Queensland.”
With the football season looming, and a “mentally challenging and physically challenging” Broncos pre-season nearly behind him, Leota said he was excited to see what 2023 would bring.
