Teenage talent converges on national camp

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Teenage talent converges on national camp

Southern’s Rory Ferguson, who captained the NZ 16s against Samoa last year, heads the 2015 intake for next week’s NZRL National Performance Camp at Rotorua International Stadium.

The four-day camp will gather together about 80 of the country’s top teenage league prospects to learn what they’ll need to know, on the field and off it, as they embark on their professional and international careers.

For many of the older 18s players, this won’t be their first experience at this level. Ferguson, from Otago, led his national side to a nail-biting 32-26 win over the Samoans in Whangarei last November, played as a curtainraiser to the NZ Kiwis v Toa Samoa Four Nations clash.

Ferguson won the “Courage” award at the 2014 camp, scored two tries against Samoa and later took out NZRL 16s Player of the Year honours. Also returning are Upper Central’s Dylan Clark, MVP of last year’s 16s trial, and Wellington’s Enoch Tautolo, who was awarded the “Integrity” prize.

This year, that same crop of players have graduated to the 18s and will chase selection for a series against Australian Schools in Brisbane in September/October.

For the new 16s group, though, this camp will be a step up from their zone programmes and an early chance to catch the eyes of NRL club scouts, desperate to uncover the next great talent before anyone else.

While both age groups face trial matches at the end of their stay in Rotorua, the youngsters do not yet have an international fixture scheduled this year.

But the education won’t just be confined to on-field coaching. A major focus of this camp will be preparing players for the increased pressure on them to perform off the field, especially when it comes to signing contracts and relocating from home.

NZ Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney will address the teenagers when they arrive on Sunday, warning them what to expect as they enter the professional environment.

Other presentations will include careers advice from The Skills Organisation, media guidance from Maori TV presenter Te Arahi Maipi and what supplements to avoid from Drug Free Sport.

Players invited to the NZRL National Performance Camp (July 12-15) are:

16s

Daymon Abbey (Akarana), Hitaua Butler (Mid-Central), Dakota Edmonds-Taimani (Counties Manukau), Leicester Faaingaanuku (Southern), Potusa Fuilala (Counties Manukau), Chanel Harris-Tavita (Akarana), Carlos Henry (Akarana), Soane Hufanga (Akarana), Cameron Iopu (Akarana), Nevada Koro (Wellington), Keanu Laumatia-Paki (Counties Manukau), Montelle Leafa (Wellington), Joey Lose (Mid-Central), Lumafale Lualua (Wellington), Phillip Makatoa (Counties Manukau), Macane Marychurch (Akarana), Taelem McGregor (Upper Central), Israel Moki (Mid-Central), Etene Nanai-Seturo (Counties Manukau), Te Kahi Nathan (Northland), Hayze Perham (Upper Central), Javvier Pitovoa (Akarana), Joey Raukawa (Mid-Central), Cory Robertson (Mid-Central), Sheldon Rogers (Upper Central), Wiremu Ryan (Upper Central), Alfred Smalley (Counties Manukau), Elijah Sufia (Akarana), Joseph Taipari (Southern), Brody Tamarua (Northland), Dylan Tavita (Akarana), Jonty Timoti (Akarana), Starford Toa (Akarana), Siave Togoiu (Counties Manukau), Xavier Tutaki (Akarana), Caleb Uele (Akarana), Joshua Uta (Counties Manukau), Wesley Veikaso (Mid-Central), Oillie Watts (Southern), Mickey Williams (Akarana)

18s

Caleb Aekins (Northland), Tarquinn Alatipi (Wellington), Dylan Clark (Upper Central), Ezekiel Cooper-Tetevano (Upper Central), Luke Cummings (Wellington), Delaney Chaney (Akarana), Marvin Curry (Southern), Tristan Davis (Wellington), Whitiora Davis (Akarana), Vaipouli Edmonds (Counties Manukau), Maanaima Falani (Wellington), Josh Farrant (Akarana), Rory Ferguson (Southern), Jackson Ferris (Mid Central), Bostyn Hakaraia (Akarana), Shane Hannam (Akarana), Morgan Harper (Upper Central), Phoenix Hunt (Counties Manukau), Kenese Kenese (Counties Manukau), Fabian Kiri (Mid Central), Dean Kouka-Smith (Akarana), Lawrance Leupepe (Counties Manukau), Tuteauru Maipai (Akarana), Jerome Mamea (Akarana), Rory Marshall-Burton (Counties Manukau), Paea Mau (Akarana), Caleb McLean (Upper Central), Elijah Mercury (Counties Manukau), Peni Misinale (Akarana), Tele Nanae (Counties Manukau), Ethan Nukunuku (Counties Manukau), Isaiah Papalii (Akarana), Isaak Pederson (Upper Central), Troy Pulupaki (Akarana), Lewis Soosemea (Akarana), Enoch Tautolo (Wellington), Reuben Taylor (Upper Central), Wally Tepene (Upper Central), Ezra Tuli (Counties Manukau), Junior Ugapo (Akarana), Eddie Wulf (Akarana)

ends

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