Juniors part of strong tradition

What started off as 22 junior rugby league players from Young in Group 9 representative trials last month has been narrowed down to 16 following the release of the final 20-man squads.

In the last stages of the trials Young had nine juniors in both the Under 13s and 15s trials, with another player competing in the Under 14s.

Being development squads, the Under 12 players already had their team list finalised one week prior to that of their older teammates.

By the end of the trials held at Greenfield Park in Albury, Young in total boasted three players in the 12s, all nine in the 13s, one in 14s and three in the 15s.

However the large number of players is nothing unusual for the local club, according to Young Junior Rugby League Club president Nick Hall, who said numbers were on par with previous years.

“These 16 players join a long and strong tradition of juniors doing well in rep sides,” he said.

“They will have exposure to other players, coaches and skills to prick their interest a little.

 “I think we’re well represented.”

Young’s final numbers in the Under 12s include Harry Fitzpatrick, Liam Carnley and Cooper Powderly in the Northern Pool squad.

Group 9 officials also decided to alter the Under 13s rep sides into development squads during the last trial matches, which saw James Schiller, Nick Hall, Jacob Lucas, Bailey Steed, William Hills, Henry Berry, Oliver Pettit, Jack Staff and Thomas Fletcher selected in the Northern Pool squad.

Jonty Langfield will continue to fly solo for Young in the Under 14s, while Connor Hall, Jake Baker and Will Canellis made the cut in the Under 15s.

“Every year we have a couple of kids in each age group selected,” Hall said.

“We want them to know we’re proud of them, whether we have one or 16.” 

He said there were a number of juniors who were close to selection and were “unlucky” by just missing out.

“That number could have easily gone from 16 to 25 or 30.”