Under 19 State of Origin, Queensland Maroons, New South Wales Blues, junior representatives, NRL, NRLW, future stars, 2025

The Queensland sides will both be aiming to avenge last year's losses to their arch-rivals when the Origin Under 19s hits the Sunshine Coast on Thursday. The Queensland Under 19 Men's team, coached by former Maroons legend Darius Boyd, will see three returning players in Coby Black, who will captain the side this year, as well as Phillip Coates and Sam Stephenson, who have both also played for the Junior Kumuls. Broncos contracted half Black was featured last year as a player to watch and continues his progression, playing with Brisbane feeder club Souths Logan Magpies in Queensland Cup. For the Queensland Under 19 Women, there are four players returning with Mariah Brown, Reegan Hicks, Mercedez Taulelei-Siala and Caitlin Tanner suiting up again.

Related State of Origin Meet the Under 19s graduates who've gone on to make it big

Queensland young guns to watch Cooper Bai Most recently featuring for the Gold Coast Titans in the new NRLQ competition, Bai joined the Titans as a full-time train and triallist for the 2025 season. Son of PNG and Melbourne Storm great Marcus Bai, the Burleigh Bears junior, who is now assigned to Tweed Seagulls, plays in the forwards as a lock, unlike his father who made a name for himself on the wing. Jennifer Kimber Hailing from Moranbah, Kimber – who can play fullback, centre or wing – took part in the open trial with the North Queensland Cowboys in November and impressed so much that she was given a development contract with the club. A key part of Mackay Cutters Under 19 Harvey Norman winning team last year, she was also honoured as the club’s player of the year this season for her tryscoring efforts to help the team secure a semi-final berth. Zac Garton Signed to the NRL Dolphins, powerful second-rower Zac Garton became the club’s first Australian Schoolboys representative when he was selected to face off against teams from France and Papua New Guinea last year. A Gympie Devils junior – the same club that developed Tino Fa’asuamaleaui – Garton has also played for the Queensland Under 17 Country team.

Related State of Origin Queensland Under 19s women’s squad announced

Takoda Thompson Rising Gold Coast Titans rookie Takoda Thompson was signed to Karyn Murphy's squad for the next two seasons after eye-catching performances for the Sunshine Coast Falcons where she claimed back-to-back player of the year honours with their Under 19 Harvey Norman Women’s team. The forward joined the Gold Coast’s female academy at the start of 2025. Sam Hynes Raiders staff have been impressed with the work ethic and attitude of rising forward Sam Hynes who performed strongly in the Under 19 SG Ball competition. Praised as a hard worker, Hynes has also taken part in the Under 21 Jersey Flegg. Playing as a prop, the Raiders have a new Queensland ‘big red’ coming through the ranks.

Related State of Origin Queensland Under 19s men’s squad announced

Fleur Ginn Representative football is nothing out of the ordinary for new Eels NRLW signing Fleur Ginn, who won gold at the 2023 Global Sevens Tournament with the Australia A rugby sevens side. She also helped secure another gold medal at the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games. Ginn, who plays as an outside back, has also previously represented Queensland at schoolgirl level. Prestyn Laine-Sietu The talented Cronulla Sharks centre was named the club’s junior representative player of the year earlier this season for his contributions to helping their SG Ball side qualify for the finals. Representing the Queensland Schoolboys on multiple occasions, Laine-Sietu was recruited from the Redcliffe Dolphins where he also played lock and has recently been playing for the Sharks in their Under 21 SG Ball side. Reegan Hicks Contracted to the Brisbane Broncos, former Redcliffe Dolphins Harvey Norman Under 19 star Hicks has got plenty of playing experience despite her young age, also playing in the BMP Premiership for Norths Devils last year. The Stanley River Wolves and Beerwah Bulldogs juniors returns to line up as co-captain and keen for another crack at the Blues after representing Queensland in this game last year. Coach Maia Tua-Davidson will be counting on the back-rower’s experience to help guide the side.

The 2025 Under 19 Origin matches will take place at Sunshine Coast Stadium this Thursday and you can follow all the action on NRL.com's live blog.

Click here to read article