Collins, 12, from Seaham, has league in his blood.

His father, Stuart Collins, played for the Newcastle Knights in the 1990s and his older brother, Cooper, 14, is also a talented footballer.

Harper made the switch from hockey and soccer to league three years ago and has not looked back.

Now he been selected for the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association’s (PSSA) rugby league team which will play in the national championship in Melbourne next month.

“It feels pretty good to be selected for the NSW team,” Harper said.

“I was a bit surprised to be picked for centre, but it’s good.”

Harper, vice captain of Seaham Public School, was selected for the Hunter region rugby league team after zone trials.

He represented the Hunter at the PSSA championship at Salamander Bay in June.

During this championship, Harper was picked by NSW rugby league selectors to attend a camp near Sydney in the July school holidays.

He was one of just 34 players to be selected for the camp. From the camp, Harper was selected for the NSW team.

Harper was also asked to trial for the Hunter’s PSSA rugby union team.

He was chosen by selectors to play for NSW in the PSSA rugby union championship, to be held two weeks after the league championship.