State of Origin Under 19s: Young guns to take centre stage
The game's brightest young stars are set to take over North Sydney Oval when the historic venue hosts a State of Origin Under 19 double header on Thursday night.
The Under 19 women will kick off proceedings at 5.45pm before the Under 19 men follow at 7.45pm.
The event has long acted as a launch pad for superstardom, with a host of NRL and NRLW players progressing through the junior Origin pathway.
Ethan Strange, Rob Toia, Indie Bostock and Sienna Lofipo are among the talent to step up after starring in this arena in the past few years.
The NSW Under 19 women are out to continue a two-game winning streak in the clash, while Queensland have their sights on a first victory since 2023.
Emerging Rooster Logan Fletcher impressed for the Blues in last year's 26-10 win and she is set to line up in the centres on Thursday night.
Playmaker Javon Andrews kicked a sideline conversion to secure Queensland a thrilling one-point victory in the men's contest 12 months ago, with the Blues still hurting from the tense loss.
Hayden Watson came off the bench for the Maroons in last year's win and he will wear the No.7 jersey alongside Cowboys product Taj Lateo as the visitors look to go back-to-back.
Team News
NSW Blues Under 19 Women v Queensland Under 19 Women, Thursday 5.45pm at North Sydney Oval
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for NSW U19s is number 1 Mia VaotuuaFullback for QLD U19s is number 1 Torah Luadaka
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Winger for NSW U19s is number 2 Liesl HopoateWinger for QLD U19s is number 2 Gabriella Savage
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Centre for NSW U19s is number 3 Anastasia LeatupueCentre for QLD U19s is number 3 Tia Molo
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Centre for NSW U19s is number 4 Logan FletcherCentre for QLD U19s is number 4 Lilliana Nati
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Winger for NSW U19s is number 5 Freedom Crichton RopatiWinger for QLD U19s is number 5 Sienna Ibrahim
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Five-Eighth for NSW U19s is number 6 Skye SpencerFive-Eighth for QLD U19s is number 6 Mia Byrnes
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Halfback for NSW U19s is number 7 Kiara McGregorHalfback for QLD U19s is number 7 Lilianah Lewis
Forwards
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Prop for NSW U19s is number 8 Emily McArthurProp for QLD U19s is number 8 Harlem Walker
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Hooker for NSW U19s is number 9 Tori ShiptonHooker for QLD U19s is number 9 Enah Desic
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Prop for NSW U19s is number 10 Taylah FalanikoProp for QLD U19s is number 10 Kiara Wright
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2nd Row for NSW U19s is number 11 Lacey Cross2nd Row for QLD U19s is number 11 Keira Rangi
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2nd Row for NSW U19s is number 12 Fontayne Tufuga2nd Row for QLD U19s is number 12 Deleni Paitai
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Lock for NSW U19s is number 13 Khyliah GrayLock for QLD U19s is number 13 Amanii Misa
Interchange
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Interchange for NSW U19s is number 14 Ava JonesInterchange for QLD U19s is number 14 Okalani Compton
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Interchange for NSW U19s is number 15 Ella WalkerInterchange for QLD U19s is number 15 Lorren Ieli
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Interchange for NSW U19s is number 16 Stella LewisInterchange for QLD U19s is number 16 Elishama Suavai
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Interchange for NSW U19s is number 17 Tahlia O'BrienInterchange for QLD U19s is number 18 Ace Pollock
Reserves
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Replacement for NSW U19s is number 18 Irae SaveaReplacement for QLD U19s is number 17 Brianna Toopi
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Reserve for NSW U19s is number 19 Tyra DymockReserve for QLD U19s is number 19 Lacey McLaren
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Reserve for NSW U19s is number 20 Aaliyah SoufanReserve for QLD U19s is number 20 Cianna Faulkner
Match Officials
- Senior Review Official: Todd Smith
Last updated:
Blues: Seven players return from last year's victory over the Maroons, with Eels youngster Khyliah Gray to start at lock and captain the side. Parramatta teammate Fontayne Tufuga will line up in the back-row, while Dragons talent Tori Shipton starts at hooker. Skye Spencer and Kiara McGregor are set to link up in the halves, with Roosters talent Mia Vaotuua named at fullback.
Maroons: The Titans and Broncos will be heavily represented on Thursday night, with Gold Coast talent Lilianah Lewis named at five-eighth alongside halfback Mia Byrnes. Titans youngster Torah Luadaka is set to start at fullback, with club teammate Enah Desic named to captain the side in the No.9 jumper. Brisbane duo Deleni Paitai and Amanii Misa have been named in the starting forward pack, while Tia Molo is set to line up in the centres.
NSW Blues Under 19 Men v Queensland Under 19 Men, Thursday 7.45pm at North Sydney Oval
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for NSW U19s is number 1 Toby WinterFullback for QLD U19s is number 1 Tyler Pereira
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Winger for NSW U19s is number 2 Jope RauqeWinger for QLD U19s is number 2 Siosaia Poese
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Centre for NSW U19s is number 3 Dayne JenningsCentre for QLD U19s is number 3 Alize Clarke
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Centre for NSW U19s is number 4 Marcellus IakopoCentre for QLD U19s is number 4 Kingston Seve
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Winger for NSW U19s is number 5 Archie MesritzWinger for QLD U19s is number 5 Joseph Litidamu
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Five-Eighth for NSW U19s is number 6 Onitoni LargeFive-Eighth for QLD U19s is number 6 Taj Lateo
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Halfback for NSW U19s is number 7 Carter MarekoHalfback for QLD U19s is number 7 Hayden Watson
Forwards
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Prop for NSW U19s is number 8 Ryda TalagiProp for QLD U19s is number 8 Jackson Koina
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Hooker for NSW U19s is number 9 Diesel HaganHooker for QLD U19s is number 9 Amare Wynyard
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Prop for NSW U19s is number 10 Christian Taupau-MoorsProp for QLD U19s is number 10 Cody Starr
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2nd Row for NSW U19s is number 11 Christopher Petrus2nd Row for QLD U19s is number 11 Bishop Neal
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2nd Row for NSW U19s is number 12 Darcy Smith2nd Row for QLD U19s is number 12 Frank Howarth
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Lock for NSW U19s is number 13 Thomas DellowLock for QLD U19s is number 13 Tupou Francis
Interchange
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Interchange for NSW U19s is number 14 Toby BattenInterchange for QLD U19s is number 14 Ellyjah Birve
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Interchange for NSW U19s is number 15 Roman TuaimauInterchange for QLD U19s is number 15 Chaev Kolone
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Interchange for NSW U19s is number 16 James FineganInterchange for QLD U19s is number 16 Taylan To'a
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Interchange for NSW U19s is number 17 Eddy CaylessInterchange for QLD U19s is number 17 Jett Ryan
Reserves
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Replacement for NSW U19s is number 18 Cameron BamblettReplacement for QLD U19s is number 18 Adaquix-Jeramiah Watts-Luke
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Reserve for NSW U19s is number 19 Ashton LargeReserve for QLD U19s is number 19 Samuel Williams
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Reserve for NSW U19s is number 20 Talmage BrownReserve for QLD U19s is number 20 Kobi Floro
Match Officials
- Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
Last updated:
Blues: Emerging Sea Eagles playmaker Onitoni Large and Roosters young gun Carter Mareko will line up in the halves, with Newcastle talent Diesel Hagan to wear the No.9 jumper. Ryda Talagi, younger brother of Panthers gun Blaize, will start in a front row also featuring Tigers product Christian Taupau-Moors. Knights young gun Toby Winter has been listed to start at fullback in an electric backline also featuring Cowboys youngster Archie Mesritz and Bulldogs' Fijian talent Jope Rauqe. Eddy Cayless, son of former Eels star Nathan, will come off the bench.
Maroons: Hayden Watson will wear the No.7 jersey 12 months after he came off the bench in his state's tight victory, with Cowboys youngster Taj Lateo to line up at five-eighth. Frank Howarth, younger brother of Storm star Jack Howarth, has been named in the back-row alongside highly-touted Warriors talent Bishop Neal. Redcliffe product Amare Wynyard is set to start at hooker, with Titans talent Tyler Pereira listed at fullback. Adaquix-Jeramiah Watts-Luke, son of World Cup winning hooker Issac Luke, has come into the extended squad.
Witness the next generation of NRL and NRLW stars live in the State of Origin Under 19 at North Sydney Oval. Tickets are available from just $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Click here to get yours today.
