Emerald product Toby Bretherton is excited to see the hard work of the Queensland Reds Under-16s team focussed on a fitting finale at Ballymore Stadium on Saturday.
The match against the NSW Waratahs is the final in everything but name as the climax to the four rounds of the Super Rugby U16s competition from 1:30pm AEST.
The romps against the Western Force (64-12), Victoria (69-0) and ACT Brumbies (62-10) may have sharpened confidence, teamwork and finishing but are no measure of what is in store against the strong Waratahs team.
"This is the game where we really see where we stand," said Bretherton, a boarder at Ipswich Grammar since the beginning of 2025.
"The games we have played have shown how connected we are as a team and that we turn up for each other. Now, we just have to get on with it against the Waratahs."
Bretherton said the experiences within the side from the two-game U15s series against the Waratahs last year are valuable.
"That U15s series was a real armwrestle, a win each, and it definitely showed us how lethal they can be if you let them. A lot of boys are back this year from that team," Bretherton said.
The 1.91cm backrower's capacity to make an impact as a ball-carrier, a lineout-winner and leader in defence have made him one of the most impressive in the U16s series.
He hasn't needed his blue headgear to stand out. Against the Brumbies U16s at Ballymore last weekend, Bretherton made a 45m run, on top of lock Zaine Gurney's initial 35m gallop, to set up a try for centre Digby Ioane that covered 90m.
"It works both ways," Bretherton said with a laugh," You might stand out if you do something well but if you make an error the headgear stands out as well."
Bretherton gave credit to flanker Hugh Stanbury, a non-stop worker under his red hair, for advice on captaincy.
"Hugh has shown me how to captain. For me, it's leading by my actions. It's a great forward pack to be around and we have a lot of guys showing the way," Bretherton said.
He is a proud Queensland country product.
"Emerald born and raised. It's a big part of me and I love the country. I always go back, work on a crop and cattle property and make some coin in the holidays," Bretherton said.
Ipswich Grammar spotted him from a long way out when he was a kid from the Nogoa Red Claws playing for Capricornia at the State Championships in U12s.
"Ipswich Grammar showed some interest nice and early. It's a really good school and it works for me," said Bretherton, who played eight times off the bench for the First XV this year as a No.8, flanker and lock.
"It's been great seeing a a guy like (Australia U18s lock) Jack Calleja at Ipswich Grammar. With the right dedication and hard work, you can chase your dreams.
"He's helped inspire me with what's possible. I've got my own footy dreams."
Hooker Kellam Joseph has been a big improver during the series while prop C'ezar-mayn Leota has been an explosive factor to go with his set piece strengths.
Smooth-moving fullback Will Jessiman and the strong-running Ioane, with his hustle on defence and support play, have been eye-catching in a strong back division.
Reds Head Coach Scott Gale said preparing to face the Waratahs required a step up that all the players had embraced.
"We've stressed the need to be a little more repeatable...as in being prepared to attack for longer periods to score points and being ready to defend for longer periods to keep them out," Gale said.
"Toby shows what we are about. He leads those effort areas like hustling onto the next job, leading our line speed in defence and so on."
The U16s is the climax to a bumper day of pathways rugby at Ballymore with the Reds Academy U14 Navy and Gold teams playing at 10:15am before the Reds and Waratahs duel at U15s level from 11:45am.
QUEENSLANDS REDS U16 vs NSW WARATAHS U16
Saturday 10 October
Kick-off: 1:30pm AEST, Ballymore Stadium
Livestream on rugby.com.au YouTube and Rugby Xplorer
Queensland Reds U16s
Player | School | First Junior Club
1 Marcus Grehan | St Joseph’s Nudgee College | Brothers Rugby Club Albion (Juniors)
2 Kellam Joseph | St Joseph’s Nudgee College | Brothers Rugby Club Albion (Juniors)
3 C'ezar-mayn Leota | St Joseph’s Nudgee College | Brothers Rugby Club Albion (Juniors)
4 Kane Kinnaird | Anglican Church Grammar School | GPS Rugby Juniors
5 Zaine Gurney | Brisbane State High School | Surfers Paradise JRU
6 Toby Bretherton | Ipswich Grammar School | Nogoa Red Claws JRC, Emerald
7 Hugh Stanbury | St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace | Easts RUC (Juniors)
8 Knight Tanielu | St Joseph’s Nudgee College
9 Tom Gibb | St Joseph’s Nudgee College | Brothers Rugby Club Albion (Juniors)
10 Raiden Tapuai | Brisbane Boys' College | Sunnybank JRC
11 Chris Williams | Anglican Church Grammar School | Sunnybank JRC
12 Joshua Andrews | St Joseph’s Nudgee College | Brothers Rugby Club Albion (Juniors)
13 Digby Ioane | Brisbane State High School | Sunnybank JRC
14 Daniel De Swardt | Ipswich Grammar School | Ipswich Rangers Juniors
15 Will Jessiman | The Southport School | Bulimba Riverside JRUC
Replacements
16 Nelsoni Takai | Brisbane State High School | Sunnybank JRC
17 Joseph Keke | St Joseph’s Nudgee College | Bulimba Riverside JRUC
18 Levi Afu | The Southport School | Palm Beach Currumbin JRC
19 Kian Van den berg | Toowoomba Grammar | USQ Saints RC
20 Hugo Vuchovich | St Joseph’s Nudgee College | Goondiwindi Junior Rugby Club
21 Harvey Bowman | Anglican Church Grammar School | GPS Rugby Juniors
22 Thor Welfare | St Joseph’s Nudgee College
23 Eli Mataia | The Southport School | Bulimba Riverside JRUC
27 Oliver Smith | St Jospeph's Nudgee College | Brothers Rugby Club Albion (Juniors)
2026 SUPER RUGBY U16
Queensland Reds 64 d Western Force 12 - Saturday 26 September - Viking Park, Canberra
Queensland Reds 69 d Victoria 0 - Tuesday 29 September - Viking Park, Canberra
Queensland Reds 62 d ACT Brumbies 10 - Saturday 3 October - Ballymore Stadium
