Five of the Gold Coast's brightest young rugby league talents are set to wear the green and gold in October after earning national selection across the 2026 Australian Schoolboys and Schoolgirls squads.
Future Titans Jai Bilish and Kalani Patu and NRLW prospects Lilianah Lewis, Lacey McLaren and Mamele Misa will all face off against Papua New Guinea later this year - the club's next generation delivering a slew of impressive performances at last week's ASSRL National Championships in Coffs Harbour and turning strong school and club seasons into national recognition.
Bilish and Patu - the only two Queensland representatives in the side - will line up for the Australian Schoolboys, marking another proud step in their rise through the Titans' elite pathways system.
For Bilish, the honour comes as he continues to build towards a long-term future in Titans colours. The Palm Beach Currumbin hooker has developed through the Future Titans system since age 15 and is set to join the club's full-time NRL squad in 2027 before moving into the top 30 the following season.
Patu's selection gives the Titans another representative in the Schoolboys side and further bolsters the depth coming through the club's pathways, with the rising forward earning his place among the country's best school-aged players.
Titans NRL pathways manager Matt Keating expressed his pride in the pair's selection.
"It's a proud moment for the club and is a reflection of the strength of our pathways program," Keating said.
"Their [Jai and Kalani's] commitment, combined with their character and willingness to embrace every opportunity, has earned them Australian Schoolboys selection and the exciting part is that they're only at the beginning of their elite development.
"The Gold Coast Titans have seriously invested in building a genuine pathway and development opportunities for players in our region, and we want every young player in southeast Queensland and the Northern Rivers to know that the opportunity exists to wear the Titans colours and progress to the highest level.
"It's rewarding to see players at our club progress to one of the highest honours available at schoolboy level."
On the Schoolgirls side, Lewis continues a year that has gathered momentum with every opportunity. The emerging halfback has already stepped onto the Under 19s Origin stage for Queensland and secured her place in the Titans' NRLW future, signing on in Karyn Murphy's top squad for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
McLaren has followed a similarly sharp rise, bringing confidence and spark from the back after establishing herself in Queensland's extended junior Origin squad following a breakout campaign for Tweed Seagulls in the Harvey Norman Under 19 Premiership.
Misa adds further power to the national squad, with the Mabel Park State High School prop returning to the Australian Schoolgirls arena after first earning the honour in 2025, while also gaining valuable Harvey Norman Under 19 minutes with the Magpies this season.
Titans NRLW pathways manager Roy Leoni said the trio's national selection reflects the growing strength of the club's female pathways and the shared support helping young players progress across the Gold Coast and South East Queensland.
"It's a great reflection of the work being done across our NRLW pathways and a credit to the players, their families, clubs, schools and coaches who have all contributed to their development," he said.
"It's also a testament to the collaboration across our program, with our NRLW staff working closely alongside the high-performance, wellbeing and education teams to create the right environment for the girls to develop.
"Girls in our region can stay close to home, keep developing through their clubs and schools, and still access high-quality coaching, support and opportunities that allow them to test themselves against the best players in their age group.
"Our focus is on giving players the right experiences at the right time, while managing their overall load so they can continue to develop, stay healthy and enjoy their football.
"Having three girls selected is a really pleasing outcome and shows the pathway is heading in the right direction."
Together, the five selections point to the strength of the Titans' next generation, with each player forging a different path through the club's elite pathway while continuing to build towards the highest levels of the game.
The Australian Schoolboys are set to face the Papua New Guinea Junior Kumuls in October; whilst the Australian Schoolgirls will also meet the Papua New Guinea Junior Orchids in a highly anticipated curtain raiser for the annual Prime Minister's XIII tournament.
