The 2021 season saw talent from the Intrust Super Cup shine, with 24 Cup players moving up to make their debuts in the NRL.

Players stepped up into the NRL from Round 1 through to the final round of the regular season in 2021, showing how time spent in Queensland’s statewide competitions, including the Hastings Deering Colts, can help prepare athletes to reach the top level of the game. 

Intrust Super Cup to NRL graduates 2021

1. Tyson Smoothy

Intrust Super Cup club: Sunshine Coast Falcons
NRL club: Melbourne Storm
NRL debut: Round 1 v South Sydney Rabbitohs

The Hastings Deering Colts player of the grand final in 2019, Smoothy returned from a stint with Penrith Panthers in 2020 where he played NRL Nines to re-join the Sunshine Coast Falcons, where he featured in Round 1 of the 2020 season. In Round 1 of the 2021 season, Smoothy made his debut for Melbourne Storm during their victory over South Sydney Rabbitohs, capping a stellar rise to the top.

2. Trent Loiero

Intrust Super Cup club: Sunshine Coast Falcons
NRL club: Melbourne Storm
NRL debut: Round 4 v Brisbane Broncos

Loiero started this year as he did last year, playing Cup for the Sunshine Coast Falcons. This season, he was able to put his experience of living in the NRL bubble with Melbourne Storm in 2020 to good use, slotting straight into the action during his NRL debut in Round 4 against the Brisbane Broncos. The Sunshine Coast junior went on to play four more NRL games this season, scoring two tries.


Let’s go Trent Loiero