NZ Residents 16s and 18s to Play Australia Named

PRESS RELEASE

NZ Residents 16s and 18s to Play Australia Named

Auckland, New Zealand, September 19, 2013 - There are a number of familiar faces named in the NZ Residents 18s team, which play the visiting Australian Secondary School Rugby League (ASSRL) team at the end of the month.

One is Bunty Afoa, who was Vice Captain of the unbeaten NZ Residents 16s team which toured Australia in 2012, and was a member of the NZRL National Competition 15s Merit team in 2011. He is joined by Tuimoala Lolohea, Matiu Love-Henry and Ofahiki Ogden, who were all named in the NZRL’s National Competition 17s Merit team at the of the 2012 season. Lolohea, a current Vodafone Warriors NYC U20’s player, was yesterday named TNT Young Player of the Year at the annual Vodafone Junior Warriors awards.

Following the third annual NZRL National Secondary Schools tournament, the selectors have also included Semisi Havili and Faitotoa Faitotoa after their outstanding performances at the tournament along with Rotorua Boys’ High School's Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi.

Coach Tom Ball says that while his team is quite young, with many of them only seventeen, he believes they have selected a team that will be strong defensively and despite their youth many have solid National Competition and NYC experience.

“I was very impressed with the players at this year’s National Performance camp (in Rotorua). They’re very aware, thanks to the work that New Zealand Rugby League is doing, how important it is that they are as good off the field as on it. I thought the calibre of the players on and off the field was really high and that’s important when we’re putting together a touring team. I’m really looking forward to the series, which I know will be tough.”

The NZ Residents 18s played the ASSRL twice in 2011, winning the first 28 – 26 in a nail-biter, losing the second 16 – 40. The NZ Residents 18s play two games, the first as a double-header in Whangarei with the NZ Residents 16s, and the second in Auckland.

The NZ Residents 16s 19-man squad to play the visiting Queensland Academy of Sport has also been named. Coach Jeff Whittaker said that for the third year in a row he has been very impressed with the calibre of players available for selection and he is looking forward to the upcoming games. "I'm really looking forward to getting the players into camp as we prepare for our two matches. This concept is a great opportunity for the boys and for the development of New Zealand Rugby League.

"The National Performance camp in Rotorua back in July provided some really useful information and the testing was a fantastic guide. The levels are just getting better and better.

"I'm really pleased with the team we've named. Even though we have of a couple of players missing due to injury or availability we still have a number of good kids on the fringe who have missed out."

The NZ Residents 16s played one game against the Queensland Academy of Sport in 2011, a match which ended in a 14 all draw.
NZ Residents 16s v Queensland Academy of Sport
Monday, September 30, 2013
Toll Stadium, Whangarei
Kick off: 4.30pm
NZ Residents 18s v Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League
Monday, September 30, 2013
Toll Stadium, Whangarei
Kick off: 6pm
NZ Residents 16s v Queensland Academy of Sport
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Bruce Pulman Park, Papakura
Kick off: 2.30pm
NZ Residents 18s v Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Bert Henham Park, Otahuhu
Kick off: 12.45pm
The NZ Residents 16s are:

ENDS

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