NSW Schools - Trial Games and Selections 2013

[extract from http://austschools.rugbynet.com.au/default.asp]

COMBINED STATES TEAM SELECTION INFORMATION

The Combined States team to compete at the Novotel ASRU championships will be announced next Tuesday 25th June.

Any player not selected in their State teams are eligible for selection. ASRU or ARU selectors have been present at selection trials.

Once All State teams have been settled, the Combined States team will selected. Players will be contacted by phone after 3pm on Monday if they have been selected.

The 23 man squad will assemble at St Ignatius' College Riverview for a pre-championship camp on Thursday 27th June and will remain in residence throughout the Championships.

COMBINED STATES MANAGEMENT:
MANAGER: Kieran SMITH (Dubbo College, Senior Campus NSW
COACH: Jay TREGONNING (Illawarra Grammar School NSW)
ASSISTANT COACH: Luke BOWER (Cranbrook School NSW)
PHYSIOTHERAPIST: Mark GRIVAS (Bathurst Physiotherapy NSW

Harrison in eligible through injury in his pathways year. That has to be devastating for him.

Any results from the 16s today?

Please find a snippet below from yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald. I hope it isn't all true and the boys made the choice for themselves (which IMHO was a no-brainer anyway)!

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/l.skin=text-only

Hard call on youngsters
Roosters winger Taane Milne and Parramatta forward Tepai Moeroa have been forced to withdraw from the NSW Under-18s team because their school won't release them. The pair, who are also highly regarded rugby union prospects, attend Newington College and told officials they couldn't play in the curtain-raiser to Origin II because of school commitments. Moeroa, who is a Penrith junior, holds the NSW Athletics under-13s, -15s and -17s shotput records. Jamal Idris still holds the under-9s record.

I agree with you Strokeside 100% why aren't the JRU doing something ? If the ARU want these Lads they should be able to sort out their league contracts by either paying out or other means etc.. NRL Clubs can offer contracts at a young age at 17. The NRL Club sees the Potential of this Lad and signs him early so no one else can grab him, the NRL Clubs like to sign long contracts like 3 year deals to secure that player but if someone big came along, they would just pay off the contract and be done with it. Each Individual contract is different in terms of $$$$$ and clauses etc. I know 4 NRL Clubs at the moment chasing a lad who has just been picked in the NSWSRU Team, he is already with a NRL Club but that has not deterred these clubs and this lad wants to concentrate on his School Union and see what happens at the end of this year as he loves it. Until the JRU and ARU provide a better pathway, talented Lads will look at NRL pathways, even though they love playing Union but they know they have a strong chance of playing 1st grade NRL, they have Security, the NRL provide training/ education courses, they get the Media Exposure, they travel as well as games to NZ etc. And Rep Selections. Compared to going through the Colts system and working up to grade, risking more injuries and maybe nothing. There are so many opportunities in Rugby compared to the NRL and certainly a much better skilful game, which like us all here, love, but the JRU and ARU need to have a better system in place as you are going to have Talent Scouts from league watching the JRU games as well and homing in on specific players.

The kids need to "pick and stick"
If you want the ARL money,don't take the ARU trip.

You want the ARU to pay out the next 2 years of his contract,give him a 2 or 3 year contract,and send him to the UK for 6 weeks?
Don't hold your breath.
Maybe you should read some of the many articles Phil Gould has written about the career length of the average NRL player.

My goodness.
I'm sold - but i wish he was at Easts.

No school gets all the blame or all the credit.
That type of humility usually comes from home in my experience. has he got a younger brother? They keep feet firmly on the ground.

Hugh, George, Lee, anyone know where the NSW teams are training this week? Last year it was Sydney Uni and Rat Park is it the same this year??

that would be all you'd need to keep it all in check!

Or indeed the Emus

Yes. But.

About thirty years ago I had a conversation with an 18 year old who wanted to repeat Year 12 (no Pathways back then). He'd played Australian Schools and there was a big tour the next year, and he was young enough to be eligible. I told him he'd be crazy to do it. First, however high the standard you reach, it's still school football. If you're going to be an elite player, why linger on the springboard when you could be progressing through the club ranks, playing a higher standard? Plus, I said, what if you break your leg in the first game? That's a year of your life wasted.

I don't say that any of this applies to Williams. But it seems to me that sometimes the emphasis on representative football misses the point. It's a great credit to the boys who reach a high level of representation. But it needs to be kept in perspective. It's a shame Williams won't play rep football this year. But, longer term, he can still have a good career in the game if he keeps at it.

In relation to the NSW 1st XV - Mitchell Short is the scrum half for Scots (TSC) not Shore.

N1 and N2 players are to assemble at St Ignatius College Riverview at 10:00am on Sunday 23 June for team briefings and medicals. Players are to bring swimmers, towel, training gear with runners, and water bottle and lunch.