This match has just been made alot more interesting...
Titans to punt on 16-year-old
By James Hooper
August 10, 2008
THE Gold Coast intend to drop the biggest selection bombshell in 72 years by elevating the third youngest player in the 100-year history of rugby league to the NRL.
Titans coach John Cartwright will take the most adventurous punt of his coaching career by picking 16-year-old half-back Jordan Rankin for the clash against Newcastle.
A Year 11 student at Palm Beach, Currumbin, on the Gold Coast, Rankin is the Australian Schoolboys No7 and has trained with the Titans NRL squad since Wednesday.
Only Eastern Suburbs player Ray Stehr in 1929 and Wests' Jack Arnold in 1936 have made their first-grade debut at a younger age.
"He plays in the halves so it's a big ask for him. He understands the only chance of him playing was if he spent the whole week with our first-grade squad," Cartwright said.
"Physically he's not a man, he's a kid, but he's one of those ones where it's only a matter of time.
"I really don't want to throw him to the wolves but he's handled the under-20s on his ear. Since he's been there, they've won six out of six and he's got three players' player awards. I'll make my mind up after our final session on Sunday."
It is understood Cartwright will shield Rankin on the interchange bench to avoid the opening exchanges before blooding him.
Rankin is 16 years and 237 days and doesn't celebrate his 17th birthday until December 17.
The only other rookies to have tasted first grade at 16 in the past 20 years are Adam Ritson, who debuted for Cronulla in 1993, and Paul Mellor, who debuted for Souths in 1991.
Rankin was slated to appear for the Australian Schoolboys side against an English Academy outfit in Brisbane yesterday but was a last-minute withdrawal.
Last Saturday Rankin scored two tries and booted 10 goals to spearhead the Australian Schoolboys to a 68-6 win over England in Townsville.
Rugby league historian David Middleton said he had never heard of a Year 11 student playing first-grade rugby league.
"If he does play then he'll be the fifth 16-year-old in the 100-year history of the game, so it's certainly a remarkable achievement," Middleton said.
"He'll also be playing first grade the same year as he's played Australian Schoolboys, which is extremely rare. To put it in perspective, Brad Fittler played first grade the year after he played Australian Schoolboys, and I remember how special that was at the time.
"I've also never heard of a Year 11 student making his debut in the top grade.
"He is obviously a remarkable talent."
The gamble on Rankin comes as the Titans search for attacking options after losing captain Scott Prince with a broken arm during the State of Origin series.
Rankin has re-signed with the Gold Coast for a further three years.
Link:
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24156463-23214,00.html
