Gold Coast-based Seth Chapman is experiencing the full pathway possibilities of the KDL Property Group Emerging Reds Cup.
The skilful fullback was a two-try force today when his South-East Queensland Under-16s team beat Queensland Country 31-22 at Ballymore Stadium.
The Player-of-the-Match for the victors played at the 2023 edition when representing Queensland Country.
"Everything goes up a skill level when you play in the ERC," Chapman, 16, said after the win on Day Two.
"I think everyone enjoys this being a tournament and getting to play against different teams and boys from different places.
"Being able to play at Ballymore is another big attraction."
Since the 2023 edition, Chapman has headed to Toowoomba Grammar School to board and play in the GPS rugby competition.
A full-on role in the 16As this season had the added thrill of one game off the bench for the Firsts.
Chapman's easy moves included a big dummy and left-foot step for his second try and a 31-15 lead.
SEQ No.8 Ryker Smith, the son of Wallabies great George Smith, positioned himself out wide for another try which he ran in unopposed.
Country had a chance to steal the match but a missed penalty goal and conceding an attacking breakdown close to the tryline to a fine Jedd Gill pilfer thwarted them.
For Country, tall Townsville winger Tom Tugai showed his skills on attack. A strong gallop over the final defender for his first was the best of a hat-trick of tries.
Today is Day Two of a tournament that casts the net over more than 200 talented rugby youngsters from across the state in the Queensland Rugby Union's premier under-age tournament. The final day will be played on Thursday.
In the other U16s match, Brisbane Grey shaded Brisbane White 22-19 in a close tussle.
Powerhouse centre Kyron Arthy was a standout for Brisbane Grey with two tries under his distinctive green headgear.
The grey-jerseyed boys had a greater variety to their game with a strong scrum and the deft kicking of flyhalf Chilli Tonelli-Smith.
It was a clever Tonelli-Smith chip kick over the advancing defence that gave Arthy the chance to swoop on a bouncing ball and scoot 60m to score.
That try gave Brisbane Grey a 15-5 jump. In the second half, centre partner Sangwani Chinula dished a neat ball to Arthy who turned it into gold with a veering, inside angle to the tryline.
A late Dylan Goodwin try closed the scores to 22-19 for a White side well served by flyhalf Richie Taulagi and lock Denver Bradford.
"I love both rugby codes but dedicated this year to rugby and making this team," said Arthy, who played for Brothers from Redcliffe State High.
"We're just clicking as a team like we've known each other for ages. You listen to the talk, play to the structure and just put in your all."
In the Under-14s, South-East Queensland White held off the Brisbane Junior Rugby Union 27-26 who closed to a single point with the late try by backrower Eli Paris.
Try-scoring flanker Chase Jackson was high-energy throughout for SEQ White.
Centre Suisami Aveau was Player-of-the-Match for victors South-East Queensland Gold who tamed Queensland Country 24-12.
The Gregory Terrace schoolboy gave a sense of what all the boys at the ERC are feeling.
"You get to experience these big games, these fields and the atmosphere of the crowd in the grandstand," Aveau, 14, said.
