Rugby league: Final aim for Stallions under-17s

QUICK: Rotorua's Hayze Perham (left) will captain the Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions under-15 side at the NZRL National Youth Tournament in Rotorua this week. PHOTO/BEN FRASER A-110813BF26

The next generation of NRL stars could be on display in Rotorua this week as the national under-15 and under-17 competition gets under way.

The NZRL National Youth Tournament starts today at Puketawhero Park and runs until Friday.

Eight teams are entered in both the under-15 and under-17 competitions including the Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions under-15s and under-17s.

The Stallions under-15 side finished runners-up to Counties Manukau last year at the national tournament. Stallions under-15 coach Gary Peacham said they had the potential to make the final again this year.

"I think they can make the final, I'm quietly confident.

"We are missing a couple of key players who had to pull out for whatever reasons, but the final is a realistic opportunity for us," he said.

"Hopefully we get some good home support down there."

The under-15s are in a relatively tough pool with the Auckland invitational side, Central and defending champions Counties, who they play first up today at 10.45am.

"The best time to get Counties is first up, they are going to be strong," Peacham said. "But we are more concentrated on us rather than the others."

Rotorua's Hayze Perham will captain the Stallions under-15 side at Puketawhero Park this week.

Each team will play one match each day this week with the under-15 games lasting 25 minutes each way and the under-17 games 30 minutes each way.

Peacham said, on the back of a good showing this week, he hoped to see some of his players invited to the under-16 New Zealand performance camp next year.

The under-15s played a preseason match last weekend against the Northern Swords in Whangarei, winning 28-14.

The Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions under-17 side play their first match today against the South Island Scorpions at 10.15am on field three.