Queensland Jumpers For Hooking Duo Paityne and Xavier

Boom rugby league hookers Paityne Johns and Xavier Kerrisk are the toast of Mackay after earning Queensland representative jumpers.

The St Patrick’s College students created some type of record when they were both selected in the Maroons’ Schoolgirls and Schoolboys squads for the upcoming Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Championships to be staged at Redcliffe from June 30 to July 7.

Mackay can now boast two of the best young hookers in the State with the crafty Kerrisk – an Emerging Queensland Under 18s inductee - under contract to the North Queensland Cowboys and pocket dynamo Paityne keen to join the Cowboys’ NRLW ranks.

The promising pair along with gun five eighth Jaxon Purdue are now unavailable for St Patrick’s during the Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Rugby League Confraternity Carnival that kicks-off on June 26 at St Laurence’s College in Brisbane.

But the talented number nines – who are products of the Mackay Cutters’ Development system - are two players to watch at the National titles.

Team captain Paityne was a stand out for the Capricornia region at the State Schoolgirls Championships on the Gold Coast – earning Player of the Match awards in victories over the Darling Downs.

She was joined by St Patrick’s colleagues in lock Gracie Watt, half back Keely Pitt, second rower Shaylee Hazledine and forwards Ciara Thomson and Chelsea McLeod.

The 17-year-old rake has four major goals in 2023 – to help Queensland win a national womens schoolgirls title; earn selection in the Australian Schoolgirls squad; help the Mackay Magpies clinch an A Grade Junior League premiership and to secure an NRLW contract with the North Queensland Cowboys.

She began her career with the Magpies mixed teams as a 10-year-old before entering the girls ranks and was soon a regular in the Capricornia rep sides and Cowboys Academy.

Paityne has proved a revelation during the past 12 months – impressing keen judges with her guile, vision and speed around the rucks and ability to lift teammates with her tremendous work ethic.

Her leadership qualities shone like a beacon at last year’s inaugural Confraternity Games Girls Carnival in Mackay when she steered St Patrick’s to the Shield decider against champions Marymount College at BB Print Stadium.

The talented Johns was named St Patrick’s Most Valuable Player by tournament officials and has also featured prominently in the Cutters Under 19s Harvey Norman Women’s squad.

Paityne was blooded in the Cutters’ BMD Womens Premiership squad as a Development Player this season and is sure to attract interest from talent scouts at the National Schoolgirl titles later this month.

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Rising hooker Paityne Johns will represent the Queensland Schoolgirls at this year’s National titles at Redcliffe