Five of the most promising young Port Stephens league men have taken a giant step forward to realising their sporting dreams by being selected in the Newcastle and Hunter under 23 country championship squad.
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Aiden Bills, from the Karuah club, Liam Dooley, representing the Fingal Bomboras, Hayden Thompson, a born and bred Mallabula product, and Raymond Terrace duo Cain Roby and Cain Waterman are part of a 30-man squad featuring the best under 23 talent in the region.
The Country Rugby League tournament will be staged next March, where all five representatives will be out to impress selectors for a spot in a touring CRL squad to Fiji.
Renowned Terrace coach and mentor Brooke Roach, who has played a role in the pathways of at least three of the five players, said that the withdrawal of Newcastle Rugby League from the CRL had provided a great opportunity to players in the second tier competition.
“The five Port players range in age from 18 to 21 and have shown more than just talent, but great maturity on and off the field and deserve their selection,” Roach said.
“They have been playing against more experience players and impressed at club level. It is now there time to thrive and shine and show what they are really capable of. I have the utmost belief in these young men to blossom giving this opportunity.
“I can also say without a doubt that they have shown to be excellent role models,” Roach said.
For 18-year-old Aiden Bills, the selection was a complete surprise after completing his first year back in rugby league following a break away from the game to concentrate on his cricket.
“I played every game against some pretty tough opposition so I won’t be overawed, in fact I am quite looking forward to the training and hopefully securing a spot in the team.”
Enjoying the representative scene for a second consecutive year is 20-year-old Hayden Thompson, a no- nonsense forward who also enjoyed a stint playing rugby union before returning to his first love.
“Last year we didn’t perform so well because the team was sort of thrown together late in the piece, but this year we are better prepared,” Thompson said.
The Terrace’s Cain Waterman is a young footballer with big dreams, who has proudly represented his indigenous culture.
“It was a big thrill to be selected in a representative side … I want to go as far as I can in rugby league,” said the 20-year-old who has worn the Terrace, Myall Lakes and Wests Newcastle colours in recent years.
His Terrace teammate Cain Roby, a busy lock forward, is at age 20 a rising star for the club, while 21-year-old hooker Liam Dooley was a pivotal member of the Fingal Bay Bomboras as they raised the B and A grade trophies in seasons 2016 and 2017 respectively.
