Words of advice for best Bears
THERE was five Cowboyscontracted youngsters who helped Kirwan High lift the Phil Hall Cup on Thursday, after a thrilling 24-20 win over Palm Beach Currumbin.
One of those players, Jeremiah Nanai, will start with the Cowboys first-grade squad at the start of November, while the other four will head to feeder club Townsville Blackhawks to play under-20s.
Those four include Bears skipper Clay George, joint man-of-the-match Cruz Smith, Ragarive Wavik and Ty-ty Baira Gela.
But Cowboys football operations manager Glenn Hall said that did not mean other players who helped lift the trophy should give up hope.
Former Kirwan player Darryn Schonig is testament to doing the hard yards long after the final bell has rung on his schoolboys career. The nuggety forward is on the verge of playing finals football with the Melbourne Storm.
Hall said a trial by fire in the senior grades of local league can be the perfect initiation for future NRL players.
“All kids are under the watchful eye of scouts, you never get to an age where you aren’t under the gaze of a club,” he said.
“That is the message those kids need to understand.”
“There is an apprenticeship to be done, playing local league, A-grade and Queensland Cup. You need to play against men, guys that are better than you, guys that are cranky and pissed off and want to rip your head off.
“It is a good education, especially for young forwards, but also young backs, on how to protect themselves.”