Image: Queensland Country Under 17 squad
Boom St Patrick’s College Mackay rugby league colts Xavier Kerrisk, Jaxon Purdue and Kai Simon were officially recognised in 2022 by earning Queensland Country Under 17 representative jumpers.
The talented trio – who enjoyed tremendous success at schoolboy and Junior League level this season – produced strong performances to help Country topple Queensland City 38-20 in the annual Under 17s challenge at Redcliffe’s Moreton Daily Stadium.
It was a fine achievement by the St Patrick’s students and North Queensland Cowboys scholarship recipients who captured the imagination of senior rugby league officials with their skill and durability during a hectic sporting calendar.
Wily hooker Kerrisk scored one of Country’s six tries and dynamic centre Simon bagged a personal tally of 14 points after potting seven goals.
The representative honours capped a big fortnight for the dynamic Simon and Kerrisk, who had earlier captained the Wanderers club to an Under 17s premiership win over Purdue’s Norths Devils in the Mackay & District Junior League competition.
All three were key players for the St Patrick’s College first grade team that reached both the Confraternity Shield and Aaron Payne Cup Schoolboy Grand Finals during a momentous 2022 campaign.
Emerging number nine Kerrisk and skilful half back Purdue will attend a special camp in Townsville during December as part of the Cowboys Young Bucks squad.
Other promising St Patrick’s rugby league colts invited include top forwards Liam Doherty, Matthew Watts, gun centre Kai Simon (Under 21 Young Guns) and lock forward Kayne Smith and classy utility back Will Shears (Young Bucks).
Simon is pictured back row second from right in this Queensland Country Under 17 representative team photo with Kerrisk and Purdue (seated second and far right).
The Cowboys will set up an Indentified Players Capricornia Academy to develop the skills and prepare emerging talent for the rigours of NRL football.
Identified St Patrick’s players will receive specialised league tuition during clinics from Cowboys’ full time coaching staff at the Mackay school grounds throughout the year.
The Cowboys would help develop these players’ core skills, game sense, techniques and physical ability to compete at a higher level.
By Chris Karas
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