League: Aussies challenge youth again

Rotorua's rising league stars will get their chance to show just how good they are when they take on a New South Wales invitational side on Saturday.

It's been a big week for youngsters wanting to make their mark in league, last Thursday Ngongotaha Chiefs 15s showed their class thrashing Sydney club Avalon Bulldogs, a feeder club to the NRL side Manly Sea Eagles, 38-14.

Avalon Bulldogs coach Craig Womersley said he was impressed with the Ngongotaha team and expected the game to be a hard one knowing the talent New Zealanders had in the sport.

"At this age New Zealand Rugby League players are far more advanced than our Australian sides in terms of speed and size and Ngongotaha was no different to that expectation, so we knew it wouldn't be easy."

Although he believed Ngongotaha was the stronger of the sides, he was quick to praise his team for their efforts.

'It's hard when you tour because of how many games you play in a short period so I was really impressed with how the boys played and although we didn't get the win, we enjoyed the experience."

Stand-in Ngongotaha coach Damian White said tours were always hard on players and the Australians were always well drilled and determined.

"Going into the match we knew the Australians would bring their best game. It was not an easy win for us but Ngongotaha proved that in the end, they were there to play also."

He added any chance to put league in the limelight was an opportunity to promote the code.

"We love playing these Australian teams, because it gives us an opportunity to showcase our talent, the sport, and our country."

Saturday will be another chance for Rotorua to show off their league talent with a number of players included in an Upper Central Zone under-16 and under-18 sides set to take on their age group counterparts.

It's the first time since 2008 squads from New South Wales country rugby league have played in Rotorua.

Upper Central Zone general manager Sash Stosic said it was a chance for youngsters from the region to pit their skills against an international side.

Both matches will be played at Puketawhero Park with the under-16 kick-off at 12.40pm and the under-18 game to start at 2pm.

Upper Central Zone squads:

Under-16:

Morgan Harper, Tukuaterangi Tapara-Tukiwaho, Tony Matautia, Nikora Rangi, Isaak Pederson, Hutana Coffin, Brian Turia, Utah Tane, Jaz Flavell, Josiah Vaevae, Hiko Sam-Turner, Harlan Collins, De Jae Adlam, Aragon Paekau, Waikato Forbes, Ezekiel Cooper-Tetevano, Dylan Clark, Blake Nahu, Hohepa Perewiti.

Under-18:

Tumate Whitiora, Devon Toa, Tupara Tupara, Isaiah Cooper-Tetevano, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Freedom Carson, Liam Predergast, Mac Carson, Aden Inglis, Tiki Harawira, Baiden Sommerville, Wiremu Wirihana, Braden Jones, Shaquille Jakeman, Moseses Mafi, Lincoln Murray, Shayde Perham, Reginald Matekohi, Codey James