OUR NEXT NRL HOPE?
COAST WHIZ BEST IN STATE:
SOUTH Coast may have just unearthed their next David Fifita or Ash Taylor after Blake Mozer was effectively crowned the best under-15 player in Queensland.
The Keebra Park hooker was named player of the carnival after the State Schoolboys Under-15 Championships, which wrapped up in Ipswich on Sunday when South Coast claimed a 17-14 victory in the decider over Metro North.
Such was his impression at the 12-team tournament, Broncos-contracted Mozer then won selection in the Queensland Maroons squad for the June 29 to July 5 National Championships.
Mozer will be joined in Redcliffe by semi-final man of the match Blake Rauporo and fellow South Coast talents Joe Gray, Nick Hilton, Joseph Shannon, Josh Lynn and Tim Seilaff-Burns.
Mozer’s recognition as one of the best young players in the state comes with good history; rising Bronco and fellow Keebra Park product Fifita also took out the honour in recent years.
The championships have also proved an invaluable pathway for Corey Norman, Jordan Rankin, Ryan James, Ash Taylor, Kodi Nikorima and Daly Cherry-Evans.
“Blake was technically very good, winning his tackles with good control in the middle and not overplaying his hand in attack,” South Coast team manager Darren Hart said of Mozer, whose brother Billy is contracted to the Bulldogs and won state under-18 selection.
“He does the basics well consistently and that maturity helped secure not only his own selection but earned him player of the carnival.”
Fullback Seilaff-Burns also caught the eye of Hart.
“Tim had an exceptionally strong carnival with strong carries from the back that either lead to opportunities on our edges or saw him break the line,” he said.
“He was pivotal in ensuring that our defensive line was strong.”
Kobe Mackay, Beau Liddle and Te Haeata Takamore were selected in the Queensland Whites outfit which is essentially a second squad which will also head to the nationals.