Sport
28 July, 2025
FNQ’s rising hockey prodigies
FIVE rising hockey stars from Far North Queensland have been named in Queensland’s U14 boys teams after standout performances at the state championships in Rockhampton earlier this month.
Hayden Donnelly (Kewarra Beach), Hugh Ferguson (Caravonica) and Benjamin Fry (Redlynch) have been named in the Cutters team, while Jacob Berry-Porter (Atherton) and Samuel Comer (Bayview Heights) will suit up for the Sabres.
Both Queensland squads will take to the field from October 5 to 11, alongside the nation’s best young players. The national tournament will be held at the Queensland State Hockey Centre, with players also attending a Brisbane Blaze home game on October 10, an experience that promises to inspire the next generation of talent.
Ferguson and Comer earned their selections after standout performances at the Queensland State Championships held earlier this month in Rockhampton.
Playing for Cairns 1, the duo helped their team secure third place in Division 1, with Ferguson netting an impressive nine goals and Comer contributing five.
Donnelly and Fry competed with Cairns 2 in Division 2, where Fry’s shot-stopping efforts saw him named goalkeeper of the tournament, a major accolade at state level.
Cairns talent featured heavily in the tournament awards, with local player Nathan Brierley also recognised as the rising star of the championships.
The Queensland U14 teams – Cutters and Sabres – were selected from more than 20 regional and metropolitan squads, with a shadows list named as reserves.
As the countdown begins to the national titles, Cairns’ young guns are gearing up to make their mark on the big stage, flying the flag for Far North Queensland in one of the country’s most competitive junior tournaments.
