CYCLONES DOMINATE SELECTION
HE ENTERED the Cyclones ranks as a shadow, selected to simply gain experience in an elite environment.
However, Bailey Danielson has since completed a stunning transformation from fringe prospect to Queensland Country Championships representative, as a twist of fate forced him to become a focal point of the Gold Coast’s attack.
The Helensvale fly-half was drafted into the Glitter Strip’s colts outfit as a backup playmaker in last weekend’s South Queensland tournament, before injuries and athlete unavailability thrust the youngest player in the squad to the fore.
Such was the calibre of performances he put in, Danielson was named as one of 12 guns from the region to be selected in a unit made up of the best talent from the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Darling Downs.
Cyclones colts coach Shaun Cole lauded Danielson as “the find of the tournament”, particularly given his efforts followed an honest and vulnerable conversation about his own abilities.
“I said to Bailey we would take him up there and he would come off the bench in both games. The plan was to take him up, get him around the boys and get some experience for next year to take over and get more game time in the 10 jersey,” Cole said.
“The way things worked out … Bailey got more of an opportunity than we thought, and for a young fella he went out and absolutely killed it.
“For the first game he said to me prior that he didn’t really back his running game, so I remember telling him when he gets the opportunity run the ball, don’t worry about passing.
“The first time he touched the ball he went straight through and scored a try, and his confidence went through the roof.
“It’s good to see someone that probably wasn’t going to be coming with us, then we made that decision to take him and you could see the smile on his face after the first game. I know his family were absolutely stoked.”
In addition to the 12 young men chosen in the under-19s South Queensland side, 31 juniors between the under-14 and under-16 boys Gold Coast competitions will feature at the Queensland Country Championships to begin in Toowoomba on July 1.
Two stars of the Nerang Bulls’ top team – Will Bird and Josh Edmond – will take their place in the Open Men’s squad, while Zara Colless and
Ana Drotini will battle for starting berths in the women’s side.
Cole told the Gold Coast Bulletin earlier that the time had come for the region to take on a local Colts competition once again, in a bid to ensure the strong group of young talent was kept engaged with the 15-man code long term.
He said the brimming collective of players chosen for these representative honours was indicative that the demand was there, they now needed an avenue to develop each week, rather than being thrown into a firstgrade outlet that has lost three teams this year.