Three Trans-Tasman Test matches will be played today and in a statistic that highlights the important nature of the Intrust Super Cup for nurturing talent; 14 players from the competition are set to feature in the Junior Kangaroos v Junior Kiwis match.
Four of these players will be representing the Junior Kiwis, with a further 10 players representing the Junior Kangaroos in the Under 20s match up.
- The match is the first of three games being hosted tomorrow (Saturday, October 13) at Mt Smart Stadium and will kick off at 12.05pm (QLD time)
With the cessation of the NYC Under 20 competition last year; more NRL clubs have been looking to challenge their players by testing them in the state-based Cup competitions.
As a result, rugby league fans have seen players such as Jake Clifford, Kotoni Staggs, David Fifita and AJ Brimson make successful transitions into the NRL in 2018, after spending a large part of their season in the Intrust Super Cup.
Remarkably Fifita started the 2018 season the Under 18 Mal Meninga Cup with Souths Logan’s title winning side; while Staggs too experienced premiership success with the Redcliffe Dolphins Cup side after starting the year in the Under 20 Hastings Deering Colts competition.
This is a real positive for the Intrust Super Cup, as it highlights the high quality competition in that it can help develop the skills of players so they are ready-made for the rigours of the NRL.
The influx of young talent into the Intrust Super Cup this year also paid dividends for the Queensland Rugby League, with the Queensland Under 20s successful in their quest to lift the Darren Lockyer Shield for the first time in the interstate game.
This year, there are 10 Queensland representatives in the Junior Kangaroos; the first time in history Queensland have featured more junior representatives in the Junior Kangaroos side than New South Wales. *
Intrust Super Cup Under 20 Trans-Tasman Test representatives
Junior Kiwis:
Kelma Tuilagi (Easts Tigers), Emry Pere (Northern Pride), Jordan Riki (Norths Devils), Peter Hola (Northern Pride)
Junior Kangaroos:
Corey Allan (Souths Logan Magpies), Enari Tuala (Northern Pride), Gehamat Shibasaki (Norths Devils), Murray Taulagi (Northern Pride), Jake Clifford (Northern Pride), Pat Carrigan (Wynnum Manly Seagulls), Kotoni Staggs (Redcliffe Dolphins), Louis Geraghty (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Thomas Flegler (Souths Logan Magpies), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Easts Tigers).
*(Note: Corey Horsburgh has not played for an Intrust Super Cup side; while Staggs is NSW eligible.)
