THE GOLD Coast Suns Academy has been a talent production line of late, and Jai Murray is among the top-agers showcasing the program’s depth in 2025. A smooth moving outside runner, Murray already has VFL experience under his belt and is looking to crack the Allies squad this season.

The rugby league convert has a younger brother in the Academy, Taj, and is an avid Suns supporter. He spent a good chunk of the preseason training with Gold Coast’s senior group, drawing comparisons to Sam Clohesy for his work off the wing and half-back.

We spoke to Murray at the Queensland preseason testing event on Sunday.

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PRESEASON Q&A

Q: Jai, can you start off with your earliest memories of football and when you started to fall in love with the game?

JM: Honestly I was rugby league first as a kid, from Under 12s to probably Under 14’s. Then I started really getting into my footy. I probably started loving the game and really getting into it in Under 16’s. 

Q: What was behind the choice to pursue football over rugby?

JM: I guess my mates were more into footy. I still them juggled both but I’d say my footy mates really got me into it and they dragged me down to the club more, and more, and more, so I just started getting more in love with it really. 

Q: How has your preseason been?

JM: I’m feeling good. I was lucky enough to do the preseason with the AFL [group], so I’m feeling really good and really confident.

Q: Did any of the senior players take you under their wing?

JM: They’re all really nice, they’re all really approachable. No one player has taken me under their wing, but you can go up to them, ask any questions you want and they’ll give you their honest feedback, so there’s not really one to point out.

Q: What kind of learnings have you taken from that experience and your time playing VFL?

JM: Probably just the speed of the game. It’s so quick and it takes a bit of time to adjust to it, especially as a young academy boy coming up to train. It can be  tough to fit into the level, but I was pretty confident in myself that I could. But the speed of the game, it’s crazy.

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Q: You’ve played in a few different roles, where do you think you’ll fit in this year?

JM: I’ve been training with the backs right now, but me and ‘Cotts’ (Jarrod Cotton) have been talking – hopefully I’ll float through the wing a bit. So I think majority half-back and then float in and out of the wing, and maybe a little bit of midfield time.

Q: What are your strengths, and maybe some of the things you’re still working on?

JM: I’d say a strength for me is my composure. I feel like I can break lines with my kicking, especially on the half-back line. My work-on is my speed. I feel like I’ve definitely improved it, but it’s just translating it into games now and really just driving my legs. Another one is my overhead marking, just coming up third man into packs and taking the intercept.

Q: Is there a player you try to mould your game on?

JM: Not really, but I’ve got some comparisons to Judd McVee, even a bit of Sam Clohesy on the wing.

Q: What are some of the goals you want to tick off this year?

JM: Hopefully to make the Allies team and win the championship with them. Then in the Academy Series, hopefully just winning as many games as possible, if not all of them. I feel like we’ve got a really strong team so when we go down to Melbourne and travel, hopefully we win all the games and do the best we can.

Q: Are there any teammates you think we should look out for to have a big season?

JM: I’d say Max Hudson. He’s looking really good on track. Full back, can go forward too. Loves intercept marks, spoils, crashing the packs. He’s looking really fit, really strong, so I reckon he could be one to look out for.

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