Sam Stephenson: 'I loved Greg Inglis when I was little'

Footy for Sam Stephenson started at Burleigh Bears aged seven and his talents landed him doing pre-season with Gold Coast Titans and playing for Tweed Seagulls in season 2024.

The Queensland Rugby League Emerging Origin squad member, whose dad Paul Stephenson played in the NRL for Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and Cronulla Sharks, said playing with mates and “the feeling of winning” were among the things that kept him in the game and striving to reach the top.

“Been at Burleigh since I was little… played Cyril Connell then Mal Meninga there, but have made the switch to Tweed this year because they’re with the Titans,” Sam said.

“It’s been really good.”

The 17-year-old, who was picked for the Queensland Under 17 City versus Country clash last year but was picked in the Junior Kumuls side at the same time, said he hoped for a big 2024 in Mal Meninga Cup.

“Want to make finals with Tweed, that’s the goal, and then take it out,” he said.

“Just love getting around all my mates and the feeling of winning, I love that.

“(Playing with Junior Kumuls last year) was mad… one of the best things I’ve ever done. So good. They love their footy so much over there, getting around them, and that’s where my mum’s family is from, so it was good to see where they’re from.”

The Palm Beach Currumbin State High Year 12 student, in 2023, was also part of the schoolboys' team who took out the Phil Hall Cup and went on to play at the National Schoolboy Cup.

“I want to take out school footy again this year but go that step further and win the national one because we lost that… to come back bigger and better this year would be good,” Sam said.

Wearing maroon – whether it be for the Queensland Under 19 side this year, or next, or for the Queensland Maroons in the future – would “mean everything” to the quiet achiever.

“I’ve always gone for Queensland ever since I was little, and to represent my family, that’d be the best thing ever,” Sam said.

“I loved Greg Inglis when I was little. I tried to base my game on how he played.”

Sam said to make those dreams a reality, he relied on those around him to continue to help him get better including his dad - the current football operations and wellbeing manager at the Titans, his coaches including Anthony Don and the players around him with more experience.

“Jojo Fifita has been pretty good… just trying to base my game off how he plays because we’re the same position and we have the same build,” Sam said.

“It’s good he gets me to learn my right lines and how to be defensively.

“Tino has been pretty good ever since he’s come back from his break… leading in the middle, bringing that energy to training.

“Anthony Don has been pretty good. He always pushes me to be better. He’s always going on with good advice for me. He says I’ve just got to get the ball and do my job.”

QRL pathways and performance head coach Nathan Cross said Sam “was outstanding in Mal Meninga last year as a bottom age player lining up in the centres”.

“He is a very strong carrier of the football who is equally as potent on either side of the field,” Cross said.

“I know the Gold Coast Titans were so impressed with him in the pre-season they extended his time with the NRL squad over summer.”