Lawson Creighton re-signs with Queensland through 2024; George Blake and Wilson Blyth join full-time squad, Spencer Jeans re-signs
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Flyhalf Lawson Creighton has re-signed with Queensland Rugby through 2024 after an impressive debut Super Rugby season.
The Brothers product won the 2022 Rookie of the Year award and collected 14 caps for his state, including five starts against Kiwi opposition in the number-10 jersey.
Creighton will feature for Brothers against the University of Queensland in this Sunday’s StoreLocal Hospital Cup preliminary final at Bond University.
Reds General Manager – Professional Rugby Sam Cordingley said: “Lawson did a terrific job directing the team on the field under difficult circumstances during the latter part of our Super Rugby Pacific season.
"Whilst he is a very versatile player, his focus will be on continuing to develop as a flyhalf at the Reds over the next two years.
"We are pleased that Lawson has chosen to remain in Queensland."
Creighton said: “I’m really excited to be staying at Ballymore for the next two years.
“I learnt a lot in my first season of Super Rugby and I’m looking forward to developing my game at flyhalf the next two seasons.
“We’ve built a great culture and team at the Reds and we’re all committed to growing stronger and improving on and off the field in 2023.”
With the ability to play multiple positions across the backline, Creighton debuted in Round 1 against the Melbourne Rebels and would go on to miss just one game in Queensland’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
The 23-year-old Brothers product featured in the National Rugby Championship for Brisbane City and spent a season in Japan with the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights before his elevation to the Queensland squad in 2021.
The qualified electrician’s promising start to his career was rewarded with a call-up to the Australia A squad for the Pacific Nations Cup in Fiji earlier this year.
Joining Creighton in the squad for 2023 will be Bond University trio Spencer Jeans, George Blake and Wilson Blyth, with Blake and Blyth elevated to the full-time squad after spending this season in the Developing Squad.
Born and bred on the Gold Coast, Jeans was both a Queensland and Australian Schoolboy representative during his time at The Southport School (TSS) and received Bond University’s prestigious John Eales scholarship in 2019.
After graduating from the Reds Academy to the top squad last pre-season, the 21-year-old debuted against the New South Wales Waratahs in Round 2 of Super Rugby Pacific and played five games in his maiden campaign.
Blake, 21, was part of TSS’ First XV premiership winning side alongside current Reds teammates Zane Nonggorr and Wilson Blyth.
Born in Raratonga in the Cook Islands, the 21-year-old joins fellow hookers Richie Asiata, Matt Faessler and Josh Nasser in the Reds squad and will stake his claim for a Super Rugby debut in 2023.
Blake’s schoolmate Blyth, the younger brother of Reds lock Angus, is another Reds Academy graduate to make the jump to the full-time squad.
Blyth was vice-captain of TSS’ 2019 premiership winning side, and has impressed for Bond University in the Hospital Cup this year.
Lawson Creighton
Position: Flyhalf
Height: 185cm
Weight: 90kg
Born: 21/07/1998
Place of birth: Brisbane
Senior Club: Brothers
School: Padua College
Queensland debut: 2022 v Melbourne Rebels, Suncorp Stadium
Queensland caps: 14
Spencer Jeans
Position: Scrumhalf
Height: 175cm
Weight: 80kg
Born: 19/10/2000
Place of birth: Gold Coast, Queensland
Senior Club: Bond University
School: The Southport School
Queensland debut: 25/02/2022 v New South Wales Waratahs, Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Queensland caps: 5
George Blake
Position: Hooker
Height: 184cm
Weight: 113kg
Born: 11/06/2001
Place of birth: Raratonga, Cook Islands
Senior Club: Bond University
School: The Southport School
Queensland debut: –
Queensland caps: –
Wilson Blyth
Position: Lock
Height: 199cm
Weight: 104kg
Born: 08/04/2001
Place of birth: Tugun, Queensland
Senior Club: Bond University
School: The Southport School
Queensland debut: –
Queensland caps: –