The rising stars of league set to feature in under-19 State of Origin profiled

The under-19s Origin returns for another edition at North Sydney Oval on Thursday night featuring a host of outstanding prospects rocketing through the NRL pathways on their way to the top.

Some of the biggest names in the game have done battle in this match and gone on to become household names not long after.

Robert Toia, Jack Bostock and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki all featured in 2022 before Ethan Strange in 2023 and Casey McLean a year later.

Meanwhile, Nathan Cleary, Cameron Murray, Latrell Mitchell, Stephen Crichton, Kalyn Ponga, Harry Grant, Cameron Munster, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui were all notable names during its time as an under-20s game.

Ahead of the under-19s State of Origin clash, we take a look at some of the best and brightest set to take the field across a number of categories.

The speed machines, the big boppers, the architects and dark horses, these guys are set for the big time.

NRL Ready

Onitoni Large (NSW)

Position: Five-Eighth

Age: 18

Club: Sea Eagles

Contract: End of 2027

The exciting No. 6 is seen as the incoming man after Luke Brooks and has lit up the park in the juniors so far for Manly. Made the shift to the Northern beaches from the Wests Tigers alongside his brother Ashton and boasts a slick running game and control that helped the SG Ball (under19s) side back into the finals for the first time in four years. Has made the quick leap into NSW Cup with four appearances already, where he is starting to form the combination with Joey Walsh in the halves that have fans excited for what’s to come.

Bishop Neal (QLD)

Position: Second row

Age: 18

Club: Warriors

Contract: End of 2028

Neal only managed two early appearances in this year’s SG Ball competition before a very quick rise up the ranks. The electric second rower only needed nine minutes to get on the scoresheet in his first appearance in the Warriors’ Jersey Flegg (under-21s) Round 1 side before scoring another on his way to a second promotion to NSW Cup. So quick has been his progression that he hasn’t left the side since Round 3. At just 18, he already has six tries in 10 appearances.

Speed Machines

Cameron Bamblett (NSW)

Position: Fullback / Five-eighth

Age: 19

Club: Eels

Contract: End of 2028

While he might be on the extended bench, we believe NSW coach Josh Jackson should find a way to inject the lethal and versatile spine player. Consistently our No. 1 pick in our top 25 players in this year’s under-19s competition, Bamblett’s crafty pace is second to none. In a fast version of the game in 2026, the 19-year-old has only benefited with his speed and ability to break ankles to help set up teammates or score himself. Bamblett finds space where this virtually isn’t any, and when there are tired bodies on the field, he’s exactly who you want to have the ball in hand.

Tyler Pereira (QLD)

Position: Fullback / Centre

Age: 19

Club: Titans

Contract: End of 2029

Queensland’s starting fullback will be crucial to introducing some pace into his side. The youngster with the flowing hair has climbed up the ranks as fast as he races down the field, recently signing a contract extension at the Titans to extend him a further three years beyond 2026. Extremely athletic and with a massive work rate, he has been turning heads in the NRLQ series and will look to turn even more as part of coach Darius Boyd’s side.

Big Boppers

Christian Taupau-Moors (NSW)

Position: Prop

Age: 18

Club: Tigers

Contract: End of 2028

The former Patrician Brothers Blacktown star brings all the power and punch through the middle for the Blues. With the experience of the NRL Schoolboys and NSW Cup level footy, Taupau-Moors isn’t shy of the big stage with his time against men much older than him. At 106kg, Taupau-Moors combines a damaging run with a massive engine that breaks down defences run by run. Also with a sneaky offload in his game, he will be hard to handle for Queensland.

Jackson Koina (QLD)

Position: Prop / Lock

Age: 19

Club: Eels

Contract: End of 2028

The son of former player Nathan Koina was a halfback in his junior days before developing into a bigger body, which has paid dividends so far. After forcing his way into the starting side, Koina took out Queensland’s MVP award in last year’s National Schoolboys thanks to his ferocious power and aggressive style that has transferred seamlessly to his move to the Eels in 2026. The captain of their SG Ball side has led by example, relentless both in attack and defence. Expect much of the same come Thursday night.

Architects

Carter Mareko (NSW)

Position: Halfback

Age: 18

Club: Roosters

Contract: End of 2028

New South Wales Rugby League’s SG Ball player of the series this year was well deserved, even despite missing the Roosters’ semi and grand final wins through suspension. Such is the pedigree of Mareko, who is a magician as the Roosters leading man. Boasting a supreme kicking game that can trap oppositions at the wrong end of the field, he’s also lightning fast when taking on the line himself and as deceptive as they come out of the hands.

Hayden Watson (QLD)

Position: Halfback

Age: 19

Club: Storm

Contract: End of 2030

Rare that a player returns for a second stint, but his call up in the 2025 series a year up has Watson well placed to steer the side around this time, also as captain. Has three tries in as many appearances since being elevated to the NSW Cup side in Round 10, including leading the helm in a 60-6 demolition of the Roosters in his first game. The halfback knows when to speed and slow the play down, is composed, and produces moments very few others are capable of. It’s no wonder the Storm have locked him up long term.

Underrated / Dark Horses

Diesel Hagan (NSW)

Position: Hooker

Age: 19

Club: Knights

Contract: End of 2027

A key to Newcastle’s push for glory in the SG ball grand final. Despite falling just short, the 19-year-old was a standout in the ruck with his ability to quickly shift into space and help propel the side up the field with his elite distribution. Not shy of the tough stuff without the ball, Hagan is also defensively sound similar to the NRL’s best in Reece Robson. Signed to Newcastle’s supplementary list for 2027, he is another already starting to make his mark at NSW Cup level.

Tupou Francis (QLD)

Position: Lock / Prop

Age: 18

Club: Broncos

Contract: End of 2028

Francis is quickly rising up the ranks and garnering attention with standout performances in the Mal Meninga Cup and NRLQ series. A hard runner and hulking figure, Tupou’s running style is hard to tackle and his decision making with the ball is also elite. The strong lock batted away offers from rivals to remain at Brisbane, where he is highly regarded. Has been rewarded recently with a string of performances in the Hostplus Cup and could be the linchpin at the centre of Boyd’s side.

UNDER-19 WOMEN’S ORIGIN: THE MUST-WATCH STARS PROFILED

— Pamela Whaley

They’re the NRLW stars of the future who could make under-19s State of Origin history.

Every year the junior Origin games get even better as the rising talent from across both states get access to better coaching and more opportunities in the women’s game.

Amid some of the best young rugby league talent in the country, these are the gamebreakers, architects and speed demons who could light up North Sydney Oval for Queensland and NSW on Thursday night.

NRLW ready

Fontayne Tufuga (NSW)

Age: 19

Contract situation: Signed with the Eels through until the end of 2028, top 24 NRLW from 2026

Position: Second row/middle

She made her NRLW debut at the end of last season with back-to-back games off the interchange bench as part of a long-term career development after dominating the junior pathways system. As one of the most exciting young forwards in the country, she’s already competing against the best in the game and more NRLW time is to come with Parramatta this season.

Keira Rangi (Queensland)

Age: 18

Contract situation: Titans development contract until end of 2027

Position: Second row

A powerful forward on the verge of her NRLW debut, the Titans development star was enormous in the BMD Premiership in Queensland last year, topping the competition with 13 tries in seven games with Souths Logan. Although she’s only young, she’s shown she can handle the step up in class and will be one of the leaders against a powerful NSW pack.

Speed machines

Freedom Crichton Ropati (NSW)

Age: 18

Contract situation: Eels development deal for 2026

Position: Wing/centre

The niece of NSW Origin winger Brian To’o, the young Eels star was player of the match in the club’s Tarsha Gale Cup premiership win over Cronulla recently, adding to her fast-growing resume which also includes the 2025 Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale Cup titles. Very quick and hard to handle.

Gabriella Savage (Queensland)

Age: 18

Contract situation: Raiders NRLW development deal for 2026

Position: Wing/centre

She recently signed a deal with Canberra, where she lives with her older brother and NRL star Xavier. Speed clearly runs in the family, and she’s one of the most exciting young players in the women’s game at the moment. If she gets space she’ll be hard to catch on the edge on Thursday night.

Engine room

Khyliah Gray (NSW)

Age: 19

Contract situation: Supplimentary NRLW deal with the Eels for 2026

Position: Lock

Skipper of the NSW Origin under-19s team, Gray is one of best young forwards in the country right now. She led the Eels to another Tarsha Gale Cup title and was named player of the series earlier this year, and will be close to NRLW game time in 2026 year after signing a supplementary deal and some powerful performances for the club’s Harvey Norman premiership team.

Harlem Walker (Queensland)

Age: 19

Club: Broncos

Contract situation: Broncos top 24 for 2026

Position: Prop

The Queensland schoolgirls star has progressed through the Broncos academy and will be pushing for an NRLW debut this year after a few big losses in the pack. It comes off the back of a big season Souths Logan Magpies in the BMD Premiership last year last year with five tries in 11 games, for which she was awarded with a promotion to the club’s top 24 for 2026.

Architects

Mia Vaotuua (NSW)

Age: 18

Club: Roosters

Contract situation: Roosters top 24 for 2026

Position: Fullback/outside back

An exciting young fullback who has a big future ahead of her at the Sydney Roosters. they’ve invested in her development and rewarded them as a star of the junior pathways in recent years, including being named Lisa Fiaola player of the season last year and the competition’s top tryscorer two years running. Will be commanding and safe at the back for NSW on the end of Queensland’s kicking game.

Lilianah Lewis (Queensland)

Age: 17

Contract situation:Signed with the Titans through until the end of 2028

Position: Halfback

Too young to play NRLW just yet, but that doesn’t mean she’s not ready. The 17-year-old is a star of the future on the Gold Coast and has already made her mark on the BMD premiership, scoring a try, two try assists, a 40/30 and five tacklebreaks in her opens debut for Souths Logan last week. Will command the field on Thursday night if the pack can make enough space.

Dark horses

Skye Spencer (NSW)

Age: 18

Contract situation: Steelers, signed with Dragons through until 2028

Position: Five-eighth

On debut for NSW, Spencer could be a spark for the powerful backline if she’s given enough time. The Australian schoolgirls representative and Corrimal Cougars junior is a fast-rising star of the women’s game signed to the Dragons on a long-term deal as the manage her development. She’ll join the NRLW squad on a development deal in 2027 and the top squad in 2028.

Tia Molo (Queensland)

Age: 18

Contract situation: Broncos development deal for 2026

Position: Centre/second-row

A junior Orchids representative, Queensland netball star and niece to NRL forwards Francis and Michael Molo, the 18-year-old has been impressive through the Broncos pathways and has deceptive speed and athleticism that make her a versatile talent and hard to handle if the NSW edges underestimate her.