The Queensland Country Heelers senior and U19s squads for 2018 have been named, following the culmination of the Queensland Country Championships in Townsville over the weekend.
Senior head coach Robert Johnson (Darling Downs) and colts coach Brent Timms (Sunshine Coast) had the opportunity to watch the best players from North, Central and South Queensland compete against each other over the weekend, and have selected players from across the state to represent the Heelers.
“We’re really happy with the squad we have picked,” said Johnson.“We have lots of new players and a few guys that haven’t played for a few years through injury like Tom Vinson.
“We have a young frontrow but this is an exciting chance for them to learn in a tough environment.
“We have a great spread of talent from across Queensland and we are all very excited to get together and play some good honest tough Country Rugby.”
The 2017 Queensland Country Heelers program produced a number of exciting young prospects who have since made their way into the Queensland Premier Rugby competition this year.
Former Burdekin Cane Toads fullback Shane Kennedy has been a regular starter for Easts premier grade at fullback, while Maleny’s Matt Gicquel has been a standout for GPS at flanker.
Other players currently featuring in Premier Rugby who have emerged from the Heelers include Norths frontrower Wilson Enoka (Noosa), Wests backrower John Vinson (Charters Towers), Souths lock Sam Von Blackensee (Maroochydore) and Bond University lock Jameson Smith (Griffith University Knights).
Queensland Country Heelers 2018 senior fixtures:
Monday 25th June - Open Heelers play Ellesmere at Dunsandel Rugby Football Club Christchurch, Kick off 7:00pm (NZ time).
.Wednesday 27th June – Heelers play North Canterbury at Hagley Oval Mandeville Christchurch, kick off 3:30pm (NZ time).
Saturday 30th June – Heelers play NSW Country at Riddles Oval Goondiwindi, Kick off 3:30pm.
Queensland Country Heelers Colts 2018 fixtures:
Thursday 28th June – Queensland Country U19s play University of Queensland at St.Lucia, kick-off is 6:30pm.
Saturday 30th June – Queensland Country U19s play NSW Country U19s at Riddles Oval, kick off is at 2:15pm.
Queensland Country Heelers Team 2018
Name
Reigon
Club
1. Jay Schulte
SQ
Goondiwindi Emus
2. Blair Morgan
NQ
Brothers Townsville
3. Kris Nielsen
NQ
Teachers West
4. Hugh Huppatz
NQ
Teachers West
5. Sam Tweedy
SQ
Goondiwindi Emus
6. Emil Grant
NQ
Brothers Townsville
7. Sam Hogarth
SQ
Dalby Wheatmen
8. Mitch Planten
SQ
Coolangatta Tweed Barbarians
9. Tom Vinson
NQ
Teachers West
10. Josh Fletcher
NQ
Teachers West
11. Brandon Mayhew
SQ
Noosa Dolphins
12. Harry Hawker
SQ
Goondiwindi Emus
13. Jack Finigan
SQ
Helensvale Hogs
14. Billy Bulley
NQ
Brothers Townsville
15. Josh Lamb
NQ
Teachers West
16. Jack Cook
SQ
Goondiwindi Emus
17. James Turvey
SQ
Maroochydore Swans
18. Paul Tema
CQ
Gladstone Goats
19. Trent Owen
NQ
Teachers West
20. Daniel Carman
NQ
North Ward
21. Kai Lowah
NQ
JCU Mariners
22. Sean Finigan
SQ
Helensvale Hogs
23. Will Gilbert
SQ
Goondiwindi Emus
24. Ben Edwards
CQ
Frenchville Pioneers
25. Jesse McGilvary
SQ
Surfers Paradise
26. David Grant
SQ
Noosa Dolphins
Robert Johnson
Coach
Stuart Beakey
Assistant Coach
Dan Bowdler
Manager
Jon Moses
Physio
U19 Queensland Country Heelers Team 2018
Name
Reigon
Club
1. Lachlan McKecknie
SQ
St.George
2. Jimmy Ngutlik
NQ
Barron-Trinnity Bulls
3.Ethan Wikaira
SQ
Noosa Dolphins
4.Thomas McAneney
SQ
Noosa Dolphins
5.Declan Maguire
NQ
Brothers Townsville
6.Declan Meredith
NQ
Barron-Trinnity Bulls
7.Kade Tennyson
SQ
Chinchilla
8.Harry Wright
SQ
Maroochydore Swans
9.Will Christie
SQ
Noosa Dolphins
10.Brachlan Harris
NQ
Barron-Trinnity Bulls
11.Robert Newsome
CQ
Frenchville Pioneers
12.Nicolas Aylward
SQ
Noosa Dolphins
13.Harry Willocks
NQ
Teachers West
14.Matthew Kelly
SQ
Noosa Dolphins
15.Tim England
NQ
Barron-Trinnity Bulls
16.Matthew Connor
SQ
Caboolture Snakes
17.Jack Andreassen
NQ
Brothers Townsville
18.Clayton Clinch
SQ
Toowoomba Rangers
19.Joe Gilbert
SQ
Goondiwindi Emus
20.Dale Whalley
NQ
Brothers Townsville
21.Henry Mckinnon
NQ
Teachers West
22.Jeremy Smith
SQ
Bond University
23.Cooper Dingle
SQ
Roma Echnidnas
24.Cody Bell
NQ
Northern BeachesMudcrabs
25.George Andreas
SQ
Toowoomba Bears
Brent Timms
Coach
John Browne
Assistant Coach
Robert Brennan
Manager
Leigh McCarthy
Physio
