Wighton and Cornish tipped to be 18s halves.
Selectors give Massey that sinking feeling
BY JON TUXWORTH
11 May, 2011 07:15 AM
While Raiders coach David Furner resists making wholesale changes to his side, calls for more of the club's young talent to be given a chance are growing louder.
Toyota Cup custodian Nathan Massey was solid on debut for the Raiders on a wet Brookvale Oval on Monday night but drops back to the under-20 competition for Saturday's Melbourne match to make way for Country fullback Josh Dugan.
Toyota Cup coach David Hamilton is convinced a handful of his players would cope with the intensity of the NRL if given an opportunity in the top flight this year.
Halfback Sam Williams has played three first grade matches this year, and second-rower Josh Papalii, who turns 19 on Friday, is another Hamilton believes has the quality to succeed at the elite and demanding NRL level.
''I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him, and there's a couple of other boys not far off,'' Hamilton said. ''[Prop] Shannon Boyd's probably another 12 months off and [second-rower] Paul Vaughan's been playing the house down week-in, week-out.''
Likewise, Raiders players competing in the Queensland Cup for Souths Logan are pressing their claims for NRL selection.
Back-rower Sam Mataora was promoted from the Souths Logan side and made the most of a chance in the NRL, registering 78m from 10 runs, three tackle breaks and 22 tackles in just 42 minutes of game time against Manly.
''Sam went well and you have to give Furnsey some credit there,'' Hamilton said.
''He was the one that blooded these boys in the first place and he's still going back to them, so that's a feather in his cap.''
Souths Logan has won three of seven matches in the Queensland Cup this season.
Coach Mark Beaumont said second-rower Jarrad Kennedy was the clear Magpies candidate pressing for NRL selection.
Former Warriors prop Mark Ioane also excelled up north early before sustaining a knee injury, while out of favour halfback Mick Picker scored three tries in last week's loss to Ipswich.
''Jarrad's been very consistent, but whether he's up to that step [NRL] having not been there before [is unclear],'' Beaumont said.
''Maybe a year of Queensland Cup will do him the world of good.''
Beaumont added he couldn't fault the attitude of dropped first graders Travis Waddell and Daniel Vidot against Ipswich.
''Daniel carried the ball strongly, and played solidly without being outstanding,'' he said.
Canberra's future halves prospects in particular look extremely promising. Aside from Williams, the Raiders also boast five-eighth Jack Wighton (Toyota Cup) and halfback Mitch Cornish (SG Ball).
Wighton scored four tries in a win over the Titans last month,
and he and Cornish are tipped to be the halves pairing for this year's NSW under-18 side.
Raiders halfback Matt Orford last week compared Williams's temperament to that of a young Cameron Smith, who he played alongside at Melbourne.
''To have a temperament like Cam Smith is a fairly big rap, but it's a great quality to have as a halfback,'' he said.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/new...that-sinking-feeling/2159223.aspx?storypage=0
