Paix suffers heartbreak for Qld U18s

RUGBY LEAGUE: Toowoomba junior Cory Paix played a hand in one of Queensland’s tries during the side’s narrow 16-10 loss in the U18s interstate match at the MCG on Wednesday.

Playing at hooker, Paix made the decision to run on the last tackle deep inside New South Wales’ territory in the ninth minute of play, and it proved a fruitful one for the young Maroons.

Paix found a surging Tino Fa’asuamaleaui close to the line, before he carried four players over the line to gift Queensland with the early lead and the only points of the first half.

New South Wales powered to a 10-6 lead inside 10 minutes of the second half, but not to be outdone, Queensland fought back to tie things up.

It wasn’t to be for boys in Maroon however, with a barnstorming try to New South Wales prop Stefano Utoikamanu sealing the game with five minutes to play.

Fellow Southern Suburbs junior Jake Simpkin was chosen in the squad to travel to Melbourne, but was not selected in the 17 to run out on the night.

The Toowoomba pair got the chance to rub shoulders with the likes of Greg Inglis and Andrew McCullough, taking part in an opposed training session with the Maroon’s Origin team on Monday.

Simpkin will get his chance to represent Queensland when he pulls on the U18s Schoolboys jersey in Kingscliff in July.