Raiders' regionSEVEN talented teenagers from the Riverina are about to a play a form of sporting Russian roulette as they fight to secure a foothold on which to establish an NRL career with the Canberra Raiders.
The young players from Cootamundra, Gundagai, Wagga and Young have each landed a spot in the Raiders train-on squad for the S G Ball competition, but there are "no guarantees" they will make the cut for the team in 2012.
Raiders media manager Ben Pollack yesterday revealed Blake Dean (Gundagai), Sam Jennings-May (Cootamundra), Ryan Miller (Cootamundra), Dane O'Hehir (Gundagai), Paul Schiller (Young), Trent Schubach (Wagga) and Aaron Wynne (Wagga) all needed to defy the odds to clinch a place in the team.
Pollack said the group of Riverina born and bred players faced a challenging three-month campaign before the team was finalised in February.
"It's a large squad of 40-plus players and it will eventually be culled to 25," Pollack said yesterday.
"It's a lengthy process and there are no guarantees."
Pollack said the 45 aspiring NRL stars would have to compete fiercely against each other on and off the field to have a shot at clinching a position in the team for the under-18 years S G Ball competition.
"(Players) will be assessed on how they play in two or three trial games and on such things as their application to training," Pollack said.
For the Riverina players, the grind will start when they take part in an induction program in Canberra on November 7.
In the coming months, the players will undergo a rigorous training regime, which will include two sessions a week in Canberra and a personal fitness program for use at home.
Along the way, the players will have the chance to play in a series of trial games against S G Ball teams from other NRL clubs in December and January.
Pollock yesterday made it clear competition will be cut-throat, with the reward a possible contact with the Raiders.
The emerging players are following a tried and true path to their ultimate goal.
Over the years the Riverina has been a football gold-mine for the Raiders, with such rugby league luminaries as Laurie Daley, Brett Mullins, Simon Woolford, Brad Clyde and David Barnhill making the transition.
Of the 16 NRL clubs, Canberra will have by far the heaviest representation of Riverina players in the S G Ball competition.
In addition, Jarryd Cook (Cootamundra), Jono McNamara (Tumut) and Sharne Robinson (Wagga) have been named in the Raiders’ under-16 Harold Matthews Cup squad.
Pollack said the majority of the Harold Matthews Cup players were from Canberra because of school commitments.
Source: The Daily Advertiser
Topic: Raiders SG Ball trials for young prospects
