Queensland’s Rugby Pathway has continued to deliver the next generation of elite Rugby players after National Rugby Championship (NRC) trio Harry Wilson, Efi Ma’afu and Will Eadie were all handed a contract with the St.George Queensland Reds.
Hooker Ma’afu and winger Eadie have signed through until next season, while back-rower Wilson has put pen to paper through 2020 at Ballymore.
Wilson and Ma’afu are both expected to be selected in this weekend’s Bond University Queensland Country 23 to play the Western Force in Sunday’s NRC semi-final on the Gold Coast.
Reds Head Coach Brad Thorn said: “Efi’s a hard-worker who I worked closely with last year with Queensland Country and he’s developing nicely as a footballer.
“Both Efi and Will were also part of the Queensland U20’s side when I coached them last year, so it’s good to see two more players come through our Queensland Pathway.
“I’ve kept a close eye on Harry’s progress this season in Premier Rugby and with Queensland Country and he continues to work hard on his game which is pleasing,” Thorn said.
An Australian Schoolboys representative and a product of the Reds U20s Academy, Wilson was named the Queensland Rugby Union’s (QRU) U19s Player of the Year for 2018.
Originally from far-northern New South Wales where he played junior rugby with the Gunnedah Red Devils, Wilson moved to Brisbane aged 10 and attended high school at St. Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace.
In just his first year out of school, Wilson forced his way into the Brothers’ Premier Grade forward pack and went on to make his NRC debut for Bond University Queensland Country in Round 1 against the Vikings in Canberra this year.
The teenage back-rower also helped Brothers Colts to the 2018 Queensland Premier Grade title.
Fellow Queensland Country player, Ma’afu, has also had a strong NRC showing this season having played every game of the regular season in 2018 for Country.
During his debut NRC season in 2017 under Thorn as Head Coach, the barnstorming Wests hooker was a member of Country’s premiership-winning campaign.
A Reds U20s Academy member, Ma’afu has also been a member of the Junior Wallabies squad over the past two years which included scoring a try in Australia’s 41-15 victory over Argentina in the Fifth Place Final of the World Rugby U20s Championships earlier this year.
A standout at Australian Schoolboys level, Eadie’s speed and ability to finish on the wing has also seen him receive a Reds contract.
The University of Queensland flyer was a key member of Queensland’s U20 Championship-winning side in 2017 and was also a part of the McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City squad during 2018.
All three players are examples of the talent that exists within Queensland Premier Rugby, each player having starred for their respective club throughout the 2018 Hospital Challenge Cup, with both Wilson (Colts 1) and Eadie (Premier Grade) contesting grand finals.
Over the past four years, the NRC has assisted the development of a number of players across both of Queensland’s NRC teams, who have gone on to represent the St.George Queensland Reds, including Lukhan Tui, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Hamish Stewart, Angus Scott-Young, Moses Sorovi, and Filipo Daugunu.
The competition adds a third tier to the potential of Rugby players who have the opportunity to progress from club Rugby through to Super Rugby and Wallabies selection.
Queensland Rugby’s NRC strategy is central to the QRU’s long-term planning and desire to build sustainable success for all our elite Queensland teams.
Efitusi Ma'afu
Position: Hooker
Height: 178cm
Weight: 111kg
Born: 23/01/1998
Place of birth: Auckland
Senior Club: Wests Bulldogs
Junior Club: Wests Bulldogs
Representative Honours: Queensland Schoolboys (2015), Australian Schoolboys (2015), Queensland U20s (2016, 2017), Australian U20s (2017, 2018), Queensland Country NRC (2018)
Harry Wilson
Position: Back-row
Height: 195cm
Weight: 106kg
Born: 22/11/1999
Place of birth: Tamworth
Senior Club: Brothers
Junior Club: Gunnedah Red Devils
School: St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace
Representative Honours: Queensland Schoolboys (2016, 2017), Australian Schoolboys (2016, 2017), Queensland Country NRC (2018)
Will Eadie
Position: Wing
Height: 185cm
Weight: 87kg
Born: 4/7/1998
Place of birth: Brisbane
Senior Club: University of Queensland
Junior Club: Easts Tigers
School: St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace
Representative Honours: Queensland U18s 7s (2015), Queensland Schoolboys (2016), Australian Schoolboys (2016), Queensland U20s (2017), Brisbane City NRC (2018)
