Each year we see a new crop of youngsters emerge from the Queensland Premier Rugby ranks to star in the Allsports Physiotherapy Hospital Challenge Cup. 2021 was no different with a host of rising stars turning out for their respective clubs.
With the regular season now behind us and the finals series due to kick off on the 28 August, let’s take a look, in no particular order, at five of the top ‘Young Guns’ from this season.
Mosiah Christian – University of Queensland | Scrumhalf
Mosiah Christian has been on the Queensland Premier Rugby scene for a few years, but has had to bide his time behind the like of Scott Gale, Jacobus Van Eeden, Tate McDermott and Jordan Lenac at halfback.Having graduated from Brisbane State High School in 2017, the 21-year-old has come through the colts system at UQ and has previously been part of the Reds Academy.
This year Christian has been a regular in the starting line-up for the Red Heavies at scrumhalf, while also having started a match at flyhalf and on the wing.
With footwork and speed to burn, Christian has proved a dynamic attacking threat from the base of the ruck or scrum, while his ability to back up in support play has seen him score some cracking tries throughout the season. Keep an eye on him in the finals.
Jonte Connolly – Brothers | Backrower
Jonte Connolly is the latest product to emerge from Brothers’ Rohrig Elite Development Program stable, making his Premier Grade debut against Souths earlier this season.Hailing from St Columbans in Caboolture, Connolly was an aspiring athletics star before deciding to focus on Rugby. He approached Manny Cole-Manolis at Iconz Rugby and began putting in the extra work, which resulted in a TAS premiership for St Columbans and Connolly making the Queensland Schoolboys team.
After being introduced to Brothers through the Queensland Premier Rugby Sevens series, Connolly went on to join the clubs’ Colts program.
The Brethren have been a victim of their own success in recent years, with the likes of Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight and Ryan Smith all progressing through to the Reds, leaving a hole in the Brothers’ forward pack. Connolly’s performances this season has seen him make inroads in filling this VOID, providing attacking prowess with ball in hand while his height makes him a great line-out option as well.
Nixon Taramai – Bond University | Backrower
Hailing from Upper Hutt outside of Wellington, Nixon Taramai has been in-and-around the Bond program for a few years, but in 2021 he has been a powerhouse in the backrow for Bond University.Taramai’s physicality has seen him compete with some of the more established forward packs in the competition, and many a player would be able to attest to his defensive prowess, having been on the receiving end of one of his tackles.
Nixon is one of the players to come through the local Gold Coast club system, having progressed through to the Bond ranks from the Griffith University Knights.
Andrew Romano – Souths | Prop
Originally from Orange in Central-West NSW, Romano has made a home for himself in the Souths frontrow this season in just his first year out of school.After receiving a scholarship to attend Brisbane Boys College, Romano has been part of the Queensland Rugby pathway since 2019, having been part of both the junior and senior Reds Academy programs at Ballymore.
Having started the season in Colts, Romano has slowly worked his way into the Premier Grade starting side at loose-head prop, forming a crucial cog in the Magpies line-up, alongside many other aspiring young players who have emerged from Souths successful Colts program which saw them claim the Colts 1 and 2 titleS in 2019.
He started his Hospital Cup career with a bang, scoring three tries in his first three games for the Magpies.
Spencer Jeans – Bond University | Scrumhalf
A Gold Coast local through-and-through, 2021 has seen the rise of Spencer Jeans after he’s patiently waited in the wings for his opportunity at Bond University.Having joined the Bull Sharks ahead of the 2019 season after graduating from The Southport School, the Gold Coast Eagles junior starred for Bond in Colts whilst biding his time behind Harry Nucifora and Liam Dillon in Premier Rugby.
An injury to Dillon saw Spencer own the starting scumhalf spot at Bond throughout the season, and the Reds Academy star formed a solid combination with James Ambrosini in the halves.
At just 20 years of age, Jeans still has plenty of Rugby ahead of him and the young scrumhalf has high aspirations that he is striving for.
