Junior stars to shine at State Championships
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There’s no disputing the future is bright for Queensland Rugby League.
Tweed’s success at the recent National Under 18 Championship and the Under 18 victory in their interstate challenge match against NSW certainly shows that Queensland knows how to breed future stars.
But as the saying goes; everyone has to start somewhere, and one of the carnivals that best provides the opportunity to put that immense junior talent on display is the QRL’s Junior State Championships.
This week, more than 260 players from across the state will converge on Sunshine Coast Stadium for their opportunity to impress in the 2019 tournament.
In the past two years, the Queensland Under 18 representative teams have featured 10 players to have taken part in the tournament, including young Brisbane Bronco Tom Dearden, who played a key role as SEQ White’s halfback when they won the Under 16 Boys championship in 2017.
Junior State Championships 2017 - runaway try
This year, the four-day bonanza of rugby league will kicks off on Thursday (July 4) and will feature the best Under 14 and Under 16 boys and girls junior talent from the Northern, Central and South East Queensland regions.
The carnival will also give high performance staff an opportunity to cast their keen eyes on the action, with talent identification for future Queensland Academy of Sport squads in both the boys and girls division.
"In previous years, we've seen the likes of Brisbane Broncos halfback Tom Dearden and Queensland Under 18 fullback Reece Walsh feature in the championships, opening the door for further talent to put their case forward," QRL Regional general manager Glenn Ottaway said.
"With a chance to be selected in one of many QRL emerging player programs, the opportunities are endless for the players who excel over the next four days."
After a landmark deal with Sunshine Coast Council, the event will call Sunshine Coast Stadium home for the next three years.
“Sunshine Coast Stadium is arguably one of the best sporting precincts in Australia, playing host to a number of state and national sporting events, so it's very exciting for it to be home of our junior championships for the next three years," Ottaway said.
"All in all, it makes for a fantastic four days of high quality action at world-class facility."
All games at Sunshine Coast Stadium will be live streamed on QRL.com.au and the QRL - Queensland Rugby League Facebook page.
Team lists will be posted on QRL.com.au tomorrow.
QRL Junior State Championship - 2019 draw
Thursday, July 4
| Time | Grade | Game |
|---|---|---|
| 10am | Under 16 Girls | Central v SEQ |
| 11am | Under 14 Boys | Central v SEQ Green |
| 12pm | Under 16 Boys | Central v SEQ Green |
| 1.15pm | Under 14 Boys | Northern v SEQ White |
| 2.15pm | Under 16 Girls | Northern v SEQ |
| 3.15pm | Under 14 Girls | Central v Northern |
| 4.15pm | Under 16 Boys | Northern v SEQ White |
Friday, July 5
| Time | Grade | Game |
|---|---|---|
| 10am | Under 14 Boys | Central v SEQ White |
| 11am | Under 14 Girls | Central v Northern |
| 12pm | Under 14 Boys | Northern v SEQ Green |
| 1pm | Under 16 Boys | Northern v SEQ Green |
| 2.15pm | Under 16 Boys | Central v SEQ White |
| 3.30pm | Under 14 Girls | Central v SEQ |
| 4.30pm | Under 16 Girls | Central v Northern |
Saturday, July 6
| Time | Grade | Game |
|---|---|---|
| 10am | Under 16 Girls | Northern v SEQ |
| 11am | Under 14 Girls | Northern v SEQ |
| 12pm | Under 14 Boys | SEQ Green v SEQ White |
| 1pm | Under 16 Boys | SEQ Green v SEQ White |
| 2.15pm | Under 16 Boys | Central v Northern |
| 3.30pm | Under 16 Girls | Central v Northern |
| 4.30pm | Under 14 Boys | Central v Northern |
Sunday, July 7
| Time | Grade | Game (Field 1) | Grade | Game (Field 2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9am | Under 14 Girls | Northern v SEQ | Under 14 Boys | 3v4 Final |
| 10am | Under 14 Boys | 1v2 Final | Under 16 Boys | 3v4 Final |
| 11am | Under 16 Girls | Central v SEQ | ||
| 12pm | Under 16 Boys | 1v2 Final | Under 14 Girls | Central v Northern |
