Get to know your 2026 GIO NSW Under 19s Men
The GIO NSW Under 19s Men will be looking to reclaim the Under 19s Men State of Origin Shield after suffering a one-point defeat to Queensland in 2025. NSW will take the field at North Sydney Oval tonight looking for a better result in front of their hometown fans.
Coached by True Blue Josh Jackson, get to know your Men’s Squad below:
1. Toby Winter
Club: Newcastle Knights. Position: Fullback.
Winter is a Newcastle junior who has long been regarded as one of the club’s brightest young prospects. An Australian Schoolboys representative, he impressed during the pre-season before securing a long-term contract extension with the Knights through to 2029. His rapid rise this year has included an UNE SG Ball Cup Grand Final appearance and a NSW Cup debut. His skill, dynamic versatility, and pace make him an important attacking threat.
2. Jope Rauqe
Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Position: Wing.
Rauqe is a towering outside back who has already gained international recognition after being called into the Fiji Bati national squad during last year's Pacific Championships. At 191cm, Rauqe is a strong aerial threat and difficult to contain with the ball in hand. With 23 tries to his name and multiple hat-tricks in his debut Jersey Flegg Cup season in 2025, another big year is on the cards for the 19-year-old.
3. Dayne Jennings
Club: South Sydney Rabbitohs. Position: Centre.
Jennings has emerged as one of South Sydney’s most exciting young outside backs. An attacking threat with a handy kicking game, he was instrumental during the Rabbitohs’ run to the UNE SG Ball Cup preliminary finals. His development has already attracted the attention of Wayne Bennett having been named in the Rabbitohs' NRL squad in Round 15, while he continues to shine in the Jersey Flegg Cup.
4. Marcellus Iakopo
Club: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Position: Centre.
Iakopo is a powerful outside back who has impressed throughout his development. After progressing through the Penrith Panthers pathways system, he joined the Bulldogs academy and quickly established himself as a key member of their UNE SG Ball Cup side. His form earned him a promotion into the Jersey Flegg Cup, where he currently features in the centres and is known for his hard running and tackle-breaking ability.
5. Archie Mesritz
Club: North Queensland Cowboys. Position: Wing.
Mesritz only made the switch to full-time Rugby League this year after an outstanding schoolboy Rugby career. The former Nudgee College vice-captain helped guide his side to an undefeated First XV premiership before playing a major role in the Townsville Blackhawks' Mal Meninga Cup title-winning campaign. With genuine speed, he is one of the most dangerous outside backs in the squad and his explosive plays are a key feature of his game.
6. Onitoni Large
Club: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Position: Five-Eighth.
Large has rapidly progressed through the Sea Eagles system after joining the club from the Wests Tigers. The talented five-eighth earned a place in Manly’s top 30 squad in 2026 and has already gained valuable experience at The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup level. Combining with Joey Walsh in the halves during their 33-18 victory against Warriors in the NRL Pre-Season Challenge, the future is bright at the Sea Eagles as he develops alongside younger brother Ashton.
7. Carter Mareko
Club: Sydney Roosters. Position: Halfback.
Mareko is a naturally talented playmaker possessing a sharp running game, creative passing, and an intelligent kicking game. A key figure in the Roosters UNE SG Ball premiership-winning season, he was named Player of the Series before earning selection for NSW City where he also claimed Player of the Match honours after steering the side to a 66-0 win against NSW Country. The lethal combination of Mareko and Onitoni Large will be one to watch.
8. Ryda Talagi
Club: Parramatta Eels. Position: Prop.
The younger brother of Panthers playmaker Blaize Talagi, Ryda has established himself as a powerful front-row prospect. Ryda is a damaging forward who utilises his size and power to eat metres through the middle. He is also praised for his strong leadership in defence and has quickly risen through the Eels system. An Australian Schoolboys Representative, Talagi bypassed extended Junior Representatives duties and has already made the jump into Jersey Flegg Cup and The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
9. Diesel Hagan
Club: Newcastle Knights. Position: Hooker.
An explosive and highly touted dummy-half and one of the co-captains of the GIO NSW Under 19s Men's team, Hagan has become one of the standout young players in the Newcastle Knights system. The Upper Hunter region junior played a key role in the Knights charge to the UNE SG Ball Cup Grand Final, and has earned a rapid promotion to the The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup side as he continues to shine in the biggest season of his young career. Rugby League runs in the family, with father Ben Hagan coaching the Knights’ NSW Women’s Premiership side.
10. Christian Taupau-Moors
Club: Wests Tigers. Position: Prop.
Taupau-Moors has emerged as one of the most promising young forwards in the Wests Tigers system. The nephew of former Tigers forward Junior Moors, he is known for his powerful carries and ability to generate momentum through the middle. His development has been recognised as a centrepiece for Benji Marshall’s long-term roster rebuild with the club locking him in to 2028 after making his The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup debut last season.
11. Christopher Petrus
Club: Parramatta Eels. Position: Second Row.
A physically imposing second-rower who hits the line with power and determination. Recruited into Parramatta Eels development system in 2025, Petrus has shifted from a superstar winger at UNE Harold Matthews Cup level into an impactful member of the forward pack. The Australian Schoolboys representative who is also of proud Papua New Guinean heritage, Petrus has made rapid development into the senior ranks at Parramatta while still eligible for Junior Reps.
12. Darcy Smith
Club: Sydney Roosters. Position: Second Row.
Named as the other co-captain for the GIO NSW Under 19s Men, Smith captained the Roosters to the UNE 2026 SG Ball Cup premiership and is highly regarded for his natural leadership qualities. A strong line-runner with an immense work rate, the hardworking back-rower has led several representative teams throughout his junior career, including NSW City. Now featuring in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, Smith continues to develop as a future star of the game under the guidance of UNE SG Ball Cup coach and true Blue Boyd Cordner, who he shares many similar attributes with.
13. Thomas Dellow
Club: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Position: Lock.
Dellow is a skilful lock forward who continues to rise through the Sharks system. Earning the honour of captaining the Australian Schoolboys side, he was also named Player of the Tournament at the ASSRL National Championships and remains one of the club’s most highly rated prospects. Contracted until the end of 2027, Dellow has stepped up to Jersey Flegg Cup after a strong junior representatives campaign and will be on the radar at the club for The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
14. Toby Batten
Club: Dolphins. Position: Five-eighth/Halfback.
From Nambucca Heads on the NSW Mid North Coast, Batten is regarded as one of the best up-and-coming playmakers in the country. After joining the Dolphins pathways system, he has been a consistent performer in the Mal Meninga Cup and continues to progress through the club’s ranks. A former Australian Schoolboys and North Coast Bulldogs representative, Batten has already featured in NRL trials this year and is currently part of the Dolphins’ extended Queensland Cup squad.
15. Roman Tuaimau
Club: Canberra Raiders. Position: Second Row.
Highly regarded for his high defensive work rate and damaging running style, Tuaimau is an exciting forward prospect who has committed to his development at the Canberra Raiders. Fast and skilful with his footwork, the young forward grew up playing soccer before making the switch to Rugby League. Tuaimau earned selection for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2025 and is showing rapid development in Canberra’s senior system.
16. James Finegan
Club: Sydney Roosters. Position: Second Row.
Finegan is carving out his own Rugby League journey coming from a well-known sporting family, with his father Owen a former Wallabies legend. The edge forward was named Sydney Roosters UNE SG Ball Player of the Year in 2025 and has continued to impress in the 2026 season. Having most recently scored a grand final double to help the Sydney Roosters claim back-to-back UNE SG Ball Cup premierships, he has been rewarded for his stellar junior representatives form with an NRL train-and-trial contract.
17. Eddy Cayless
Club: Sydney Roosters. Position: Lock.
The son of former Parramatta Eels captain Nathan Cayless, Eddy has emerged as one of the Roosters’ most promising young forwards. A tireless worker throughout the middle, he has featured across UNE SG Ball Cup, Jersey Flegg Cup and The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup during his development. His performances earned him a train-and-trial opportunity with the Roosters NRL squad for the 2026 pre-season as the rising lock forward possesses an incredible Rugby League pedigree and is quickly progressing as a future star.
18. Cameron Bamblett
Club: Parramatta Eels. Position: Fullback/Five-eighth.
Bamblett is a highly versatile back-line star developing through the Parramatta Eels. Initially from the Penrith Panthers system, his versatility, explosive running, game-changing vision and exceptional ball-playing ability makes him the ultimate utility back having played time at both fullback and five-eighth. The former Australian Schoolboy representative had an outstanding season at fullback for the Eels UNE SG Ball Cup side and been fast-tracked into the Jersey Flegg Cup.
19. Ashton Large
Club: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Position: Hooker.
Still only 17, Large has already completed two NRL pre-seasons with the Sea Eagles. The talented hooker captained some games for the UNE SG Ball Cup side this season and is known for his vision and creativity around the ruck as well as a strong on-field combination with his older brother Onitoni. His impressive Junior Representatives season was recognised when he claimed the Jake Trbojevic Award for the Junior Male Player of the Year, and Players’ Player for the 2026 season.
20. Talmage Brown
Club: Penrith Panthers. Position: Prop.
An exciting young forward developing through the Penrith Panthers pathways system, the St Dominic's College product is highly valued for his unrelenting, hard-running style in the middle. Rewarded UNE Harold Matthews Cup Player of the Year at the Panthers in 2025, he has continued to shine having just played a valuable role in their UNE SG Ball Cup side. Still only 18 years old, Brown already spent time training with Penrith’s NRL squad and is pushing towards a debut in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
Click here for tickets to tonights Under 19s State of Origin at North Sydney Oval.
