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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n More than 220 schools and 290 clubs comprise the NRL, the majority of which will be on show when Magic Round kicks off from Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.<\/p>\n After a deep dive into each players\u2019 background by this masthead, we reveal which talent production factories stand above the rest.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Schools<\/p>\n Cameron Bukowski had become accustomed to making history before he stepped out for his NRL debut, in which he became the third alumni of Brisbane\u2019s Villanova College to reach the level.<\/p>\n The 20-year-old has offered a glimpse into his versatile skill set \u2013 one seen in him back at school, as he delivered the school its first title while playing out of position at halfback.<\/p>\n The school is one of more than 130 with one current NRL representative, with NSW\u2019s Patrician Brothers College in Blacktown the country\u2019s most prolific production factory with 26 active players.<\/p>\n And one cheeky bet during his school days inspired a rapid rise to the NRL for Bukowski, culminating in his Broncos\u2019 debut against Wests Tigers in round seven.<\/p>\n \u201cI used to say to go down the short side every now and then. In rugby union you follow the ball, so a lot of times if we went wide the opposition would chase you \u2026 but wouldn\u2019t think to put two on the short side to defend,\u201d Bukowski\u2019s Villanova coach Michael Cahill told this masthead.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was one round where I said [to Bukowski] I\u2019ll give you $20 to go the short side. I had to get them out of the rugby union mindset, and we scored a 70-metre try.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was crazy, where he and Roman Dunne just went back and forward. That sort of sealed that we won the comp … the first time in the history of the school.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201c[But] as soon as I met him, he really stood out with his really physical defence.\u201d<\/p>\n It is his defence which has captured attention and has him primed for a long career in Broncos colours, with teammate and Ignatius Park alumni Tom Duffy declaring his overall skill set was on show since the preseason in which they \u201cwent to some pretty dark places together\u201d.<\/p>\n Having also played cricket and rugby union at the school, Bukowski \u2013 who is recovering from a collarbone injury \u2013 continues to help mentor the next generation.<\/p>\n \u201cI still talk to him, he\u2019s been gone from the school for two years and I call him in to do little sessions with the boys here and share his knowledge and experience,\u201d Cahill said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a great player, but an even better person.\u201d<\/p>\n There is every chance more will join Bukowski and five other alumni of the region\u2019s Associated Independent Colleges in making the jump to the NRL.<\/p>\n Changes to the Dolphins Cup \u2013 the Central Queensland and Wide Bay premier schoolboys competition \u2013 will allow those schools (Villanova, Iona College, Marist College Ashgrove, Padua College, St Edmund\u2019s College, St Laurence\u2019s College, St Patrick\u2019s College, St Peters Lutheran College) to compete for a place in the finals and national schoolboys tournament.<\/p>\n Clubs<\/p>\n Jye Gray is a long way removed from the fields of Runaway Bay, having defied the notion he was too small to thrive at the top level to become South Sydney\u2019s leading fullback option.<\/p>\n The north Gold Coast-based Seagulls have become one of the nation\u2019s leading talent producers, bettered only by St Marys Saints in Penrith. But Gray is perhaps the only one who proved arguably the greatest coach of all time \u2013 Wayne Bennett \u2013 wrong.<\/p>\n Not that he insinuates that\u2019s the case, despite forcing the master mentor to back track on his 2025 declaration that State of Origin powerhouse Latrell Mitchell was the Rabbitohs\u2019 first choice custodian.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it was about proving him wrong, I think it was just about putting my best foot forward and when the team needed me last year, just about doing a job for the team,\u201d Gray said.<\/p>\n \u201cI got the opportunity and will try to take the opportunity when I get it. Nothing is given, I know that, so I have to keep putting my best foot forward.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cI\u2019m just grateful for the opportunity that Souths have given me, and obviously to Wayne for [his] belief in me. I came to Souths three years ago straight out of school, and everyone took me in with open arms, and now it\u2019s home.\u201d<\/p>\n Such has been Gray\u2019s form, returning from a shoulder injury emphatically with 226 running metres against the Sharks to tune up for South Sydney\u2019s Magic Round clash with the Dolphins, Rabbitohs teammate Campbell Graham has declared his speed and agility made it \u201cundeniable you need to have him in the team\u201d.<\/p>\n Gray is joined by the other eight Runaway Bay graduates (AJ Brimson, Jesse Arthars, Blake Mozer, Tanah Boyd, Taine Tuaupiki, Jahream Bula, Jayden Berrell, Amare Milford) currently in the NRL, highlighting an emphatic talent production line to eclipse the nearly 300 Australian and New Zealand grassroots outfits represented in the competition.<\/p>\n New Zealand has become an area of growth for the game, with more than 20 junior clubs across the ditch featured among contracted NRL players \u2013 including Broncos fullback Hayze Perham\u2019s Pikiao Warriors.<\/p>\n Perham, off contract at season\u2019s end, missed last year with a ruptured ACL and started 2026 as the third-string No.1 behind Reece Walsh and Jesse Arthars.<\/p>\n The 26-year-old starred in his first starting appearance since 2023 against the Bulldogs \u2013 running for 115 metres and throwing two crucial passes for tries \u2013 and revealed his best form was ahead of him having fed off Walsh\u2019s influence.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cHe probably finished the year in the best form anyone has ever been in. Even though he\u2019s a bit younger and cheekier, to learn off him is amazing,\u201d Perham said, while declaring his desire to remain in Brisbane.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were definitely times midway last year when I thought I wasn\u2019t going to do it, and it might\u2019ve been the end of the road. A knee [reconstruction] is not an easy thing to go through under any circumstance.<\/p>\n \u201cBut when they [the Broncos] came forward to my manager and said they wanted to keep me on for another year when I hadn\u2019t even touched the field yet was a huge uplifting moment for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Jarome](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777319833_763_08014a2c4b60a752fad6a0ce00c81bdce2a765d6.jpeg\")
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Rabbitohs fullback Jye Gray.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Jason](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778161155_467_c7a9f7964ce0404bdd0ef40f4c86f6a3c4a49549c2e614e24fbf27ae542459bc.jpeg\")
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