Aussies cast Commonwealth net wide
The Sydney Roosters may be providing the players for the Australian Commonwealth Games 9s squad, but their youngsters are drawn from a wider geographical pool than Sydney.
Bernard Lewis, a 16-year-old full-back, hails from Cairns in northern Queensland, where he plays for his local club when not with the Roosters.
Travis Edwards and Chad O’Donnell are from the area around Newcastle, NSW, while Jack Murchie plays for Ulladulla Bulldogs, over 200km south of Sydney.
There are also six players from New Zealand in the 15-man party. Most of these youngsters reside in Sydney, like Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck, brother of Roosters and Kiwi star Roger.
Others split their time between Australia and their home country. Poasa Faamausili is from Auckland where he plays for Glenora Bears, while back-rower Isaac Crichton is from Motootua and plays for Papukura Sea Eagles.
The Australian Rugby League decided to use the Roosters as their squad, after many of the national U-18 champions Townsville Stingers were called up for Queensland. Roosters, being New South Wales champions, were therefore used instead.
“Following their win in the SG Ball Final, which is for Under-18s, these players will in some cases train or play with the Roosters’ Holden Cup team, which is Under-20s,” explained Australia team manager Gareth Holmes, the Elite Programs Manager for the NRL.
“Others will remain in Sydney and play for a feeder Junior League club in the Roosters district.
“The boys from New Zealand are eligible for Australia Under-19s through first representation and residence,”
“All of these players will be hoping to represent the Roosters in the Holden Cup team either this year or be part of the pre-season for next year and hopefully be contracted with the club from there.”
Australia squad: ISAAC CRICHTON (Papukura Sea Eagles), TRAVIS EDWARDS (Singleton, Hunter Valley), LUKE CHEVEZ ELLIS (Sydney Roosters), SAMET ERTEN (South Eastern Seagulls), POASA FAAMAUSILI (Glenora Bears), RYAN KING (Wests, Illawarra), BERNARD LEWIS (Cairns), JOSEPH MANU (Sydney Roosters), JACK MURCHIE (Ulladulla Bulldogs), CHAD O’DONNELL (Maitland, Newcastle), REUBEN PORTER (Sydney Roosters), MITCHELL SUBOTIN (St Clair), JAYDEN THOMAS (South Eastern Seagulls), JOHNNY TUIVASA-SHECK (Sydney Roosters), MISIELI VAIKELI (Sydney Roosters). Staff: ANTHONY BARNES (COACH), SAM BOUZOUNIS (ASSISTANT COACH), SAMUEL KENNEDY (S&C), DARREN JONES (TRAINER), GARETH HOLMES (MANAGER).