NRL dream alive among CQ NRL junior squads
Jack White is off to Brisbane with the U13 and U14 CQ NRL Bid Teams to compete against some of Queensland's best junior rugby league teams. Photo: Chris Ison / The Morning Bulletin Chris Ison RUGBY LEAGUE: "Remember, you are Central Queensland. Be proud."
Rockhampton's Jack White and his team mates were left to ponder CQ NRL Bid chairman's Geoff Murphy's words on leaving the city's airport yesterday , destined for Brisbane.
White, part of the CQ NRL Bid junior development squad, listened intently as the chairman saw the 13s and 14s teams off, ahead of their four-day South-East tour.
The teams will play two games of league each, against teams from top football schools, Brisbane's Marsden State High School today , and Gold Coast's Keebra Park State High School tomorrow .
The 14-year-old St Brendan's College student was part of the inaugural junior development program 13s team last year, and this year will line up as half back for the 14s team, who have had a positive build-up to the tour.
"We've had a really good preparation - we were in camp a few weeks ago here in Rockhampton where we trained over four days. The teams were picked on how we trained and performed at the camp," White said.
The camp was hugely beneficial for the development squad, who has expanded this year to include both a 14s and 13s contingent, coached by Lionel Harbin and Sid Domic respectively.
"I picked up a lot of new things, the squad bonded really well - a lot of us knew each other already from last year so that helped," White added.
That tight bond, and a strong, hard-working forward pack will be the 14s artillery against their opposition.
While the CQ teams are not sure what to expect from Marsden SHS, they are anticipating a tough, physical encounter from Keebra Park, who the 13s played last year.
"Keebra Park gave us a hard time last year, they have some big boys down there, but I think our boys will do well and give them a good run for their money," White said.
The CQ 13s team received a big reality check last year when Keebra Park exploded out to a 20-0 lead, but CQ fought their way back to win, 20-28, boosting the squad's confidence.
CQ NRL Bid business and community development manager Walson Carlos, who flew to Brisbane yesterday with the squad reiterated Keebra Park would be a challenge physically, but CQ should match them with speed and agility.
"Keebra Park is one of the best (if not the best) rugby league schools in Queensland which has seen players such as Benji Marshall and Ben Te'o come out of their programme. They have a great rugby league programme which filters down through the grades," Carlos said.
The dream of having a CQ NRL team was very much alive in the development squad, he added.
"If we are to have a CQ NRL team in two, three or four year's time, these kids will be coming into their prime, and we would love to see them go on and play at in the 20s, or NRL level," he said.
- Michelle Curran
- 17th Oct 2012 3:05 PM
Jack White is off to Brisbane with the U13 and U14 CQ NRL Bid Teams to compete against some of Queensland's best junior rugby league teams. Photo: Chris Ison / The Morning Bulletin Chris Ison RUGBY LEAGUE: "Remember, you are Central Queensland. Be proud."
Rockhampton's Jack White and his team mates were left to ponder CQ NRL Bid chairman's Geoff Murphy's words on leaving the city's airport yesterday , destined for Brisbane.
White, part of the CQ NRL Bid junior development squad, listened intently as the chairman saw the 13s and 14s teams off, ahead of their four-day South-East tour.
The teams will play two games of league each, against teams from top football schools, Brisbane's Marsden State High School today , and Gold Coast's Keebra Park State High School tomorrow .
The 14-year-old St Brendan's College student was part of the inaugural junior development program 13s team last year, and this year will line up as half back for the 14s team, who have had a positive build-up to the tour.
"We've had a really good preparation - we were in camp a few weeks ago here in Rockhampton where we trained over four days. The teams were picked on how we trained and performed at the camp," White said.
The camp was hugely beneficial for the development squad, who has expanded this year to include both a 14s and 13s contingent, coached by Lionel Harbin and Sid Domic respectively.
"I picked up a lot of new things, the squad bonded really well - a lot of us knew each other already from last year so that helped," White added.
That tight bond, and a strong, hard-working forward pack will be the 14s artillery against their opposition.
While the CQ teams are not sure what to expect from Marsden SHS, they are anticipating a tough, physical encounter from Keebra Park, who the 13s played last year.
"Keebra Park gave us a hard time last year, they have some big boys down there, but I think our boys will do well and give them a good run for their money," White said.
The CQ 13s team received a big reality check last year when Keebra Park exploded out to a 20-0 lead, but CQ fought their way back to win, 20-28, boosting the squad's confidence.
CQ NRL Bid business and community development manager Walson Carlos, who flew to Brisbane yesterday with the squad reiterated Keebra Park would be a challenge physically, but CQ should match them with speed and agility.
"Keebra Park is one of the best (if not the best) rugby league schools in Queensland which has seen players such as Benji Marshall and Ben Te'o come out of their programme. They have a great rugby league programme which filters down through the grades," Carlos said.
The dream of having a CQ NRL team was very much alive in the development squad, he added.
"If we are to have a CQ NRL team in two, three or four year's time, these kids will be coming into their prime, and we would love to see them go on and play at in the 20s, or NRL level," he said.
