Every year the NSW and QLD Cup competitions unearth the next wave of potential NRL superstars ready to make an impact in the top grade in the coming seasons.
From Souths Logan’s Latrell Siegwalt, who will join the Rabbitohs next season and teammate Coby Black, who is being touted as Adam Reynolds’ Broncos heir apparent to Newtown Jets halfback Niwhai Puru, who has his eyes on a Sharks debut.
These are the reserve grade stars set to make a splash in the NRL in 2026.
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Read on for the best QLD and NSW Cup players to watch out for in 2026.
COBY BLACK
Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt just delivered a premiership to Brisbane, but the future is equally bright at Red Hill when it comes to the duo’s heir apparent in Coby Black.
The young halfback is coming off a strong season with Souths Logan, where he scored six tries and kicked nine goals in 16 games.
The talented playmaker has already played a pre-season game for the Broncos last year and has worked with the Brisbane top squad for the last two seasons.
Still just 19 years of age, Black is a long-term project for the Broncos, who see him as their next No.7 when Reynolds and Hunt likely hang up the boots at the end of the 2026 season.
Having already starred for Queensland in the junior ranks, Black may to earn a Broncos debut at some point next season after being left in cotton wool this year, as the club looks to have a smooth transition from their veterans and unearth a halves partner for Ezra Mam.
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Coby Black has been earmarked for big things at the Broncos.Source: Getty Images
BLAKE MOZER
Black isn’t the only talented player coming through Brisbane’s ranks.
Mozer scored three tries in 12 games for Souths Logan in the 2025 QLD Cup after battling injuries over the last two seasons.
The dummy-half has already played nine NRL games for the Broncos after debuting in 2023 and playing eight games the following season.
Mozer is caught behind Ben Hunt, Cory Paix and Billy Walters in the Broncos’ dummyhalf pecking order, with the club looking at the potential to loan him out to another NRL team in 2026 to further his development.
Mozer is a junior Queensland captain and regarded as the Broncos’ next long-term hooker when Hunt retires, but his path to first grade is blocked in the short term as the club looks to cash in with another premiership in 2026.
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Blake Mozer could be loaned to another NRL club in 2026.Source: News Corp Australia
LATRELL SIEGWALT
The top point-scorer in the QLD Cup in 2025, Siegwalt was a points-scoring machine for Souths Logan last season after recording eight tries and kicking 75 goals.
Siegwalt, who used to play for Redcliffe before making the switch to Souths Logan last year, has since signed with South Sydney on a two-year deal for 2026 and will work with Wayne Bennett, Latrell Mitchell and Jye Gray to further develop his game.
The 24-year-old is a bit of a late bloomer having not tasted NRL action as yet, but one feels that could be about to change at the Rabbitohs next season.
The versatile Siegwalt can cover the back three, five-eighth and could potentially be a utility to add spark off the bench for the Bunnies next season.
Latrell Siegwalt will join the Rabbitohs in 2026.Source: News Corp Australia
DUDLEY DOTOI
The leading try-scorer in the QLD Cup in 2025 with a whopping 26 four-pointers in just 22 games for the Townsville Blackhawks.
Dotoi’s stunning season saw him named in the Queensland Cup team of the year as the best winger in the competition.
The 22-year-old has scored 37 tries in 36 games for the Blackhawks over the last two seasons and the NRL should be sitting up and taking notice.
The Papua New Guinea native has spent time in the Rabbitohs system and would be the ideal signing for the PNG Chiefs expansion side, but don’t be surprised if he gets an opportunity in the NRL well before 2028 and it could come as early as next season.
Townsville Blackhawks star Dudley Dotoi.Source: News Corp Australia
CODY RAMSEY
The forgotten man of the NRL hasn’t played an top grade game since the last of his 36 matches for the Dragons in 2022, due to a debilitating illness that threatened his rugby league career.
However, Ramsey was the comeback story of 2025, after scoring 11 tries in 24 games for the Dragons’ reserve grade side and helped lead them all the way to the Grand Final.
The 25-year-old was deservingly named in the NSW Cup team of the year at fullback, after a superb comeback season.
Ramsey has been signed by the Sydney Roosters for next season on a two-year deal and given he can play wing and fullback, he could make a stunning return to the NRL at some point in 2026.
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TOM RODWELL
The son of Dragons and Rabbitohs great Brett Rodwell scored 20 tries in just 22 games for the Roosters’ NSW Cup side last season.
Rodwell is a stocky winger with speed to burn and a damaging running game out of yardage, with 36 tries in 63 games for Newtown and the Roosters.
The 24-year-old was picked in the NSW Cup team of the year and is closing in on an NRL debut with the Roosters next season.
With Mark Nawaqanitawase moving back to rugby union in 2027 and Daniel Tupou coming to the end of his career, the Roosters have voids to fill on the wing and Rodwell could be the man to step up and replace them in the coming seasons.
Tom Rodwell in action for the Newtown Jets.Source: News Corp Australia
JONAH GLOVER
The Dragons playmaker is off to a new club in 2026 after a successful year with the Red V’s NSW Cup squad this season, leading them to a grand final.
It capped off a big year for Glover personally, with the 23-year-old scoring nine tries and kicking 95 goals on his way to a mammoth 226-point haul.
Glover formed a strong partnership with Lachlan Ilias and was named in the NSW Cup team of the year, after producing 21 try assists and 20 linebreak assists in a stunning season from the promising half.
The 23-year-old was considered unlucky not to earn his NRL debut last season but is set for a fresh start after signing with the Rabbitohs in 2026 and looks set to get a crack at first grade sooner rather than later and his game will only go to greater heights under Wayne Bennett and Cody Walker’s guidance.
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NIWHAI PURU
The talented halfback, like Glover, was one of the NSW Cup’s leading points scorers last year after recording 12 tries and kicking 78 goals for the Newtown Jets.
Puru’s brilliant campaign saw him rewarded with selection in the NSW Cup team of the year alongside Glover in the halves.
The 23-year-old has played for both the Panthers and Jets in reserve grade since his debut in 2021 and is ready to take the next step in his career.
Unfortunately, Puru is stuck behind Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall in the Sharks pecking order, but he is fast closing in on an NRL debut next season.
Niwhai Puru is pushing for a Sharks debut.Source: Supplied
TREY MOONEY
The Raiders’ enforcer played four games of NRL last season, but dominated the NSW Cup with six tries in 17 games for Canberra.
Mooney was named in the NSW Cup team of the year in 2025 and is ready for an extended run in first grade.
The 23-year-old was stuck behind the Raiders’ impressive front row pecking order, as they charged to the minor premiership in 2025.
Mooney was picked up by the Knights on a four-year deal from 2026 and has an opportunity to replace Leo Thompson in their front row rotation, as he looks to add to his 25 NRL games for the green machine since his debut in 2022.
Trey Mooney joins the Knights in 2026.Source: Supplied
NOAH MARTIN
One to watch ahead of next year as the Raiders look to build on a dominant regular season.
The impressive second-rower scored 15 tries in 19 games for Canberra’s reserve grade team last year to be named in the NSW Cup team of the year.
Martin also earned his NRL debut scoring two tries in six games in his rookie season under Ricky Stuart, in some impressive cameos off the bench.
The hard-nosed back-rower is a tireless workhorse and his strong running game is matched by his brutal defence.
Still just 20 years of age, Martin has a big future for the Raiders and will only get better with another pre-season with the top grade under his belt in 2026.
Noah Martin debuted for the Raiders last season.Source: Getty Images