Initial WA squad selected for U16 National Championship

[Pacman]

Good luck boys - Train the house down!!

Declan Edmonds (Palmyra)
Blake Woodward (Palmyra)
Ben Tata (Palmyra)
Tahere Reha (Palmyra)
Chad Ross (Palmyra)
Trey Moloney (Palmyra)
Taine Oakley (Palmyra)

Isaac Cavu (Joondalup)
Torongare Reedy (Joondalup)
Clay Uyen (Joondalup)
Lorenzo Mario (Joondalup)
Jordan Kempton (Joondalup)

Eli Greaves (Southern Lions)
Isaiah Kuru (Southern Lions)
Jonathon Savea (Southern Lions)
Walt Ungerer (Southern Lions)

Samuel Maurangi (Perth Bayswater)
Serge Sapsford (Perth Bayswater)
Peter Vili (Perth Bayswater)
Jack Weir (Perth Bayswater)

Tatenda Allan (Wanneroo)
Steven Bereczky (Wanneroo)
Jayden Ngamanu (Wanneroo)
Macey Robertson (Wanneroo)

Ethan Williams (Wests Scarborough)
Adrian Folkard (Wests Scarborough)
Ford Hemi (Wests Scarborough)
Nick Peters (Wests Scarborough)

Nicholas Jooste (Cottesloe)
Asti Miller (Kalamunda)
Falcon Baigent Peni (Rockingham)
Aaron Ruru (Mandurah)
Sam Offer (Nedlands)


Head Coach: Dwayne Nestor
Manager: Dane Lazarus
Asst Coach: Grant Oakley
Asst Coach: Arno Visser
Physio: Clare Thomson-Boston


By RugbyWA Media Unit 7/18/2013

The initial Western Australian squad has been selected ahead of the National Under 16 Championship at Riverview College in Sydney.

The Championship, which will be held from Monday, 30 September to Friday, 4 October, is the first opportunity for states to go head-to-head at an underage level with each side to play three round robin matches and a final.

The squad will commence their preparation next week and a travelling squad of 23 players will be announced on Wednesday, 18 September to contest the National Championships.

Head Coach Dwayne Nestor says the carnival is an opportunity for the state’s premier Under 16 players to test themselves against high quality peers from across the country.

“This is an important step in our development pathway for these young players,” he said. “It is a learning experience for the players; the pace and physicality will be at a level these boys have not played at before.

“It’s an eye-opener for a few people but it’s also a great opportunity for others to stand up and walk away knowing they can match it with the best in Australia.”

In 2012 Western Australia finished fifth out of eight sides, setting this year’s squad a tough challenge against strong opposition, including the traditionally dominant Queensland and NSW outfits.

Nestor says competing at the youngest of the state age-group carnivals provides a healthy challenge for players and coaches alike.

“Every time RugbyWA sends a team away we want to be competitive,” he said. “As we don’t have anything to go on, we look to create the best environment for these players to prepare and compete as well as they can.”

The Western Australian training squad was selected following the week-long State Under 16 Championship at McGillivray Oval, with South prevailing over North, 2-1, in the three-game series.

[PeterM]

Well done lads congrats on your achievement in being selected but please don't think you have achieved anything yet the hard work is just beginning.

Wonder what is going on down at Tompkins park with 7 Palmyra players being selected

[Pacman]

Wonder what is going on down at Tompkins park with 7 Palmyra players being selected

Palmyra obviously have a strong coaching structure around the 15-17 age group with both their U16 & U18 top of their tables.
A few clubs who usually fill plenty of spots in state sides over the past few years haven't contributed much at all this time round - that's rugby I guess.
Of note though: Kala and Arks usually have a few; I wounder how league's (Kala Bulldogs) going down in the Sth East corridor, strong at the moment??

Palmyra – 7
Joondalup – 5
Wanneroo – 4
Southern Lions – 4
Perth Bayswater – 4
Wests Scarborough – 4
Cott – 1
Kala – 1
Neddies – 1
Rocky – 1
Mandurah – 1
Soaks – 0
UWA – 0
Arks – 0

[NTT]

Paly are very strong at U/16 level as are Baysie. Unfortunately it seems to be a lean year down Kala and ARKS way.

[Delphy]

Palmyra are listed as having 7 players but in fact have 8. Sam Offer moved over from Nedlands when that club couldn't field an U16 team.

The Palmyra team are unbeaten, routinely post 50-0 wins (in fact higher but the mercy rule limits the true picture) and have a percentage of 1,243.24%!!

There has been a lot of discussion in these forums about the difficulty in retaining boys into senior rugby. A lop sided competition like the U16 can't be helping.

Imagine being a boy from the Uni team (0 wins 21.79%) or Kalamunda (1 win 16.50%). In 2014, with all the pressure from exams and the like, do you really want to back up for another season of being smashed?

On the other end of the spectrum, how do the Palmyra boys (or the boys from the other stronger teams) develop to their maximum potential when they are not getting tough, competitive rugby week in week out?

We have a relatively small competition in Perth. Is there a way that RugbyWA can identify and assist the struggling teams within the competition? For example "Club X, we see your U15 team is not competitive this year, we are sending out a development officer for the next 4 Thursday trainings [or insert other option/s here] to help.

PS - I watched the Kalamunda U16's get beaten "50 - 0" by Palmyra. They fought right the way to the end, despite being massively outgunned. Very impressive character.

PPS - Where are all the Wests Scarborough boys playing, given they don't have an U16 team?

[westies man]

Joondalup and those that got dispensation are playing 18's

[GIGS20]

I know some Paly boys are playing PSA rugby because they say the standard of competition is higher (usually kids playing up a year level) Surely that's a first isn't it?

[DinkyDi]

This comes back to the push to change U18 and U20s to U17 and U19.

16s playing in 17s works and will retain the kids longer followed by a step up to U19s which most will handle. Once they turn 18, they are a senior player and if good enough will be available for grade.

[Bunny]

Both Palmyra and Wanneroo are doing very well in the 16s and 18s competitions this year. Looks like they are doing something right at their clubs with the coaching and retainment. Hopefully it will transfer into the senior grades in the coming years. A sign of things to come with the stronger clubs being outside the western suburbs?

[westies man]

Roodogs 18's got done on Sat by you guessed right.the mighty West's

[Bunny]

From what I have heard in the past GIGS the PSA boys don't have a lot of choice in the matter as to whether they play club or school. School wins. Maybe a school age eligible team from the best club (Palmyra this season given current tables) vs top team from PSA (Hale) would show which competition is stronger. I know where my money would be.

[GIGS20]

Incorrect Bunny, at least in my school there are plenty who play club. some make a choice either way.

The only requirement on a boy is that he is involved in a sport....Not sure whether that means one winter and one summer or whether one sport a year is enough. If the boys are required to play a winter sport and are in year 10, 11 or 12 it won't matter which sport they pick there's a possibility of a clash with club fixtures.

At least one that I know of, eligible for state selection has chosen to play Firsts PSA (up a year) rather than club because of the standard of the comp.

[Bunny]

Maybe it depends how 'persuasive' the sports master is if they know you can play rugby. Is it the standard of the school or the standard of the club you are talking about rather than the comp? Any comment on the outcome of a Hale vs Palmyra game?

[The Oracle]

My understanding is that there will a few more Palmyra players in the State U16 team when the final squad is announced.

A number of Palmyra's better players were not available for the recent Regional competition.

I also understand that there are four Palmyra players that are playing PSA rugby in lieu of Club rugby this year because the school has put the squeeze on them.

[NTT]

PS - I watched the Kalamunda U16's get beaten "50 - 0" by Palmyra. They fought right the way to the end, despite being massively outgunned. Very impressive character.

?

Thank you. I'm their coach. Good bunch of boys despite the results. Will be better next year when i get a bigger squad hopefully. Most games we only have 12-14 players but they always fight it out.