ACCORDING to Country Rugby League (CRL) regional manager David Skinner there’s nothing better than playing league in front of a big crowd.
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And although there are limited opportunities for country folk to do this, seven of Young’s junior rugby league players earned their chance and will play in a curtain raiser for the NRL trial match at Griffith next month.
Nick Schiller, Jake Walker, Nick Boland, Will Canellis, Braigon Forde, Patrick Smith and Casey Wall - representatives of the Under 16s and Under 18s CRL Riverina Academy - will compete in trial matches before First Grade Melbourne Storm and Canberra Raiders come head-to-head at E W Moore Oval on Saturday, February 7.
The Academy trial matches, organised in conjunction with CRL, are aimed at developing younger players.
“There’s nothing better than playing in front of a big crowd - it’s an atmosphere we get limited opportunities to have in country life, so this might be one of those times - if they kick on with their footy - they’ll get the opportunity to kick on with the big crowds, but this is just a sweet taste to start,” Skinner said.
“This is just one of those things - you do well in Academy, make the regional side and make a contract as an 18 or 19-year-old.
“Those kids would be dying to get themselves a spot in the Bidgee Bulls side (regional).
“From Young’s perspective we’ve had a few kids win the championships in the Under 18s - about three years ago people like Patrick Schiller, Nayah Freeman.. they got opportunities to go to NRL clubs out of that.”
The Riverina squads will have their work cut out for them during the trial match as they come up against one of the benchmarks of CRL, Western Academy.
“They’re one of the most successful at winning Country Championships in NSW,” Skinner said.
“They’re a great benchmark for us - we know it’s going to be a quality game.”
But Skinner has complete faith in the junior squads who he describes as “well behaved, level headed kids who keep their head down and work hard on the field”.
“They all have various attributes about their game which means they will have the opportunity to stand out,” Skinner said.
He believes it’s a great opportunity for Casey Wall and Jake Walker to show the Raiders they will be strong candidates for the Raiders Under 18s in 2016.
Skinner said Canellis is a great unit and is in good condition, Boland will use this chance to step up to another level, Forde’s size will catch the eye of scouts, and Smith’s ability to run 40 metres in under five seconds will play in his favour.
“Nick Schiller... The bit I never like saying about Nick is he has that family category which puts him under a bit of pressure. We won’t label him - he will play under his own merits. It’s an opportunity for him to play under his own steam and prove himself as a player in his own right.”
Schiller’s Academy selection marks the first time he has played in a representative side.
He is looking forward to playing a higher level of football and having the opportunity to get noticed by professional clubs. He’s also excited to watch his favourite NRL team live.
“They’ve played all grades - First, State of Origin and for Australia - so you look up to them a lot more than other players,” Schiller said.
“It’s not often NRL clubs come out to these areas to play, and there’s some big names playing too so I dare say there will be a big crowd...hopefully I don’t stuff up too much.”
The Academy will play their next match against Melbourne Storm in Albury on the 21st, followed by a match in Wollongong on the 28th against St George.