The Queensland Country Heelers senior and colts squads have been named for 2019, ahead of their representative program, which will take place over the coming weeks.
The senior Heelers squad are set to make their return to the Southern States Carnival in Adelaide for the first time in a number of years next week, as the team come into camp on Wednesday 25 September before their first game next Friday.
The Heelers Colts will embark on a tour of New Zealand to Christchurch this year, with the team heading away from Tuesday 1 October to Sunday 6 October.
The 2019 Heelers senior squad has seen a large turnover of players, but experienced head coach Rob Johnston is looking forward to the challenge of bringing the group together.
“We have lots of new faces this year, it’s a new look team which makes things exciting,” said Johnston.
A total of seven players from Teachers Wests in Townsville have been selected, as well as a further two players from the Brolgas, seeing Townsville boast the largest representation from the regions.
“We have lots of boys from Townsville, the Darling Downs and Sunshine Coast in the team. They all performed well during the Country Championships and given the short nature of our program, we have to look at combinations and the Teachers Wests boys build up the bulk of the Townsville side.
“We also have some players returning to the Heelers program after a few years away. John Vinson has been playing Premier Rugby for Wests and Charlie McKill has been away in Scotland, so it’s great to see them both back and wanting to play for Country.
“It’s been a few years since we’ve been to Adelaide, it’s something different and it’s a good chance to play different opposition.”
2019 Queensland Country Heelers senior squad:
Grant Burchmann * - Frenchville Pioneers | Central Queensland
Lewayne Barret * - Teachers West | Townsville
Josh Fletcher - Teachers West | Townsville
Brandon Luto * - James Cook University | Townsville
Jesse Kautu - JCU Mariners | Far North Queensland
Angus Small * - Teachers West | Townsville
Martin Brennan * - Teachers West | Townsville
Cameron Griffin * - Burdekin | Townsville
Daniel Chorley * - Teachers West | Townsville
Curtis Rayment * - Teachers West | Townsville
Josh Lamb * - Teachers West | Townsville
James Turvey – Maroochydore | Sunshine Coast
Kauri Westrupp * - Caloundra Rugby Club | Sunshine Coast
Charlie McKill – Noosa | Sunshine Coast
Jed Walters * - University of the Sunshine Coast | Sunshine Coast
Mat Macauley - University of the Sunshine Coast | Sunshine Coast
Eseki Moce * Caloundra Rugby Club | Sunshine Coast
Lachlan Tullock – Goondiwindi | Darling Downs
Rob Taylor * - Toowoomba Bears | Darling Downs
Sam Jobling – Goondiwindi | Darling Downs
Will Jackson * - Toowoomba Bears | Darling Downs
Todd Daniels – Dalby | Darling Downs
John Vinson - University Of Queensland Gatton | Darling Downs
Yoni Meron * - Goondiwindi | Darling Downs
*Denotes debut selection
Staff:
Head Coach: Rob Johnston
Assistant Coach: Stu Beakey
Assistant Coach: Mic Jarroush
Physio: Jon Moses
Manager: Dan Bowdler
2019 Queensland Country Heelers U19s:
Matthew Waudby – Caboolture | Sunshine Coast
Morehu Patu - University of the Sunshine Coast | Sunshine Coast
William Fox – Caloundra | Sunshine Coast
Hugh McNamee – Dalby | Darling Downs
Remy Livingston – Noosa| Sunshine Coast
Aj Woulf - University of the Sunshine Coast | Sunshine Coast
Matthew Kelly – Noosa | Sunshine Coast
Joshua Wienand – Cairns Brothers | Far North Queensland
Harry Langbridge – Noosa | Sunshine Coast
Jasper Mellish - University of the Sunshine Coast | Sunshine Coast
Jimmy Ngutlik - FNQ Thunder
Nathan Thomson - University of the Sunshine Coast | Sunshine Coast
Lythanial King-Togia – Dalby | Darling Downs
Mitchell Duncan – Noosa | Sunshine Coast
Dharzell Roberts - Northern Beaches Mudcrabs | Far North Queensland
Max Hemming - Northern Beaches Mudcrabs | Far North Queensland
George Perry - University Of Queensland Gatton | Darling Downs
Isaac Talbot – Maroochydore | Sunshine Coast
Jock Hansson – Noosa | Sunshine Coast
Harry Krogh – Caloundra | Sunshine Coast
Jordan Sylvester – Noosa | Sunshine Coast
Harry Willocks - Teachers West | Townsville
Tom Taylor - Darling Downs
Malachy Grealy - Toowoomba Rangers | Darling Downs
Staff:
Head Coach: Brent Timms
Assistant Coach: John Brown
Development Coach: Francis Lando
Physio: Sang Sek Yoon
Manager: Robert Brennan
