Dubbo duo Luke Gale and Matt Burton have long been touted as players with immense futures and the fact they have been selected for a NSW Country under 18s tour further strengthens those claims.
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Gale, a powerhouse second rower at the Macquarie Raiders, and calm and clever CYMS half Burton both depart for New Zealand on Saturday with the NSW Country under 18s, while the under 16s side will also go on the tour.
Both players were a key part of the Western Rams under 18s side which won this season Country Championships.
Being selected for Country is not just an honour, it is a sign of genuine talent and the proof is clear to see with 50 percent of players who have worn the gold, brown and white jerseys being signed by NRL clubs and playing SG Ball or under-20’s the following season.
Gale and Burton are well ahead of that, with each already linked with an NRL club.
Gale has already linked with the St George Illawarra Dragons while Burton is poised to make the move to the Penrith Panthers next season.
Both will also be key for the Country side which takes on the West Coast Rugby League on Tuesday, July 4 and Canterbury Rugby League on Saturday, July 8 while on New Zealand’s South Island.
“I’m really looking forward to the tour,” Country 18s coach Aaron Watts said.
“There were some exceptional performances throughout the Country Championships and we have a good spread of players from across Regional New South Wales in both sides.
There were some exceptional performances throughout the Country Championships.
- Country under 18s coach Aaron Watts
“It’s a great opportunity for these players to not only represent Country and play a higher level of representative football, but for many of them it’s their first time outside of New South Wales so it’s a wonderful experience for those involved.”
With Western winning both the 18s and 16s Championships, there is strong representation across the two NSW Country side with 10 Rams set to be on the flight to New Zealand.
The Dubbo duo is joined by Parkes gun Darby Medlyn, Forbes duo Charlie Staines and Jaiden Burke, Bathurst powerhouse Riley Cheshire and Blayney’s Joey Hobby.
In the under 16s, Warren product and Red Bend hooker Campbell Woolnough is joined by Bathurst Panther Nicholas Barlow and Parkes Marist star fullback Benjamin Glasheen.
Country sides winning seven of their past eight matches against opponents including Western Australia, Auckland Rugby League and the Samoan Residents in recent tours.
Country under 16s coach Gary Jones said the tour is an incredible experience which has a huge number of benefits.
“I was fortunate enough to be involved with the Country under 16’s when they toured Samoa last year and it was great to see how the young men responded to the challenge of playing and touring in a foreign environment,” he said.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
