Rotorua's Doug Unuwai is hoping his team's season success will rub off in his rugby league career.
The 16-year-old is one of 74 players from around the country drafted into an elite rugby league training camp which started this week near Rotorua.
The camp at Tui Ridge Park will test the young athletes' fitness and skill levels as well as gather former New Zealand league players such as Ruben Wiki, Tawera Nikau and Tony Kemp to give the players an insight into what it takes to make it to the next level. The three-day camp will culminate in a trial at Puketawhero Park tomorrow.
Unuwai, who plays for Pikiao 16s told The Daily Post he hoped his league career would be as successful as his team's season.
"We were going good, we were undefeated before our last game before the holidays. We lost to Taupo Phoenix. I'm hoping that success will tie into this camp," he said.
It is the first time the Te Arawa and Ngati Pikiao descendant has been involved in such a camp and he is enjoying the environment.
"It's a good opportunity to make in [my] career. It's good to be able to be involved with guys like Ruben. I've met him a couple of times and he is inspirational."
Unuwai who plays halfback, standoff or hooker, said his dream was to play for an NRL side and to represent his country.
"League is my passion and I want to make it into the NRL and to go hard and play for the Kiwis."
His favourite NRL team was the St George-Illawarra Dragons, he said, but if it came to playing for them or the Warriors it was a no-brainer. "It would be the Warriors, because I'm from New Zealand."
Unuwai would like to model his game on Warrior James Maloney.
"I watch all the halfbacks ... But I like James Maloney, he's doing it pretty well."
Kiwi legend Wiki said New Zealand had a lot of great young players like Unuwai and it was important to get them into a camp.
"The depth is huge ... compared to when I was growing up. When we picked the Kiwi side [in the past] there was only about 25 players, now there are hundreds. This is where it really starts to give these guys a taste of what's to come."
The 16s trial kicks off 10.30am and the 18s at 12.15pm.
16s Squad: Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Wellington), Kauri Aupouri (Wellington), Howard Brown (Counties Manukau), Kadince Christensen (RL Northland), Pita Dillen (Counties Manukau), Paul Faga (Mid Central), Lafu Feagaiga (Counties Manukau), Jiordan Fidow-Kele (Southern), Dominique Folomu (Auckland), Tauturu Hapuku (Counties Manukau), Watson Heleta (Counties Manukau), Joshua Ioane (Auckland), Darren Kingi (Counties Manukau), Jarrad Kumeroa-McKenna (Mid Central), Kenneth Lafaele (Auckland), Tuimoala Lolohea (Auckland), Peter-James Los'e (Mid Central), Jared McIlwrick (Southern), Joshua Minhinnick (Auckland), Troy Mohr (Wellington), Brodee Palmer (RL Northland), Rhys Poingdestre (Mid Central), Cedric Raihe (Upper Central), Reubenn Rennie (Counties Manukau), Ellis Samania (Counties Manukau), Tulsa Saumamao (Auckland), Ezra Togia (Wellington), Tyson Tuitama-Fuimaono (Wellington), Paul Tuli (Counties Manukau), Tony Tumusa (Auckland), Semisi Tyrell (Counties Manukau), Douglas Unuwai (Upper Central), Vann Wallace (Auckland), Jules Webley (Southern), Parahi Wilson (Upper Central),
18s Squad: Sheldon Akavi (Wellington), Ernest Alo (Counties Manukau), Miro Atera (Counties Manukau), Ionah Atoni (Wellington), David Bhana (Auckland), Trent Bishop (Counties Manukau), Sione Feao (Counties Manukau), Thoren Fidow-Kele (Southern), David Fusitu'a (Auckland), Kahi Harawira (RL Northland), Marcel Ikinofo (Auckland), Axl Kingi (Upper Central), Jean-Luc Knox (Wellington), Tamatererewa Koopu (Upper Central), Samuel Lisone (Counties Manukau), Makahesi Makatoa (Mid Central), Gustav Mason Lino (Auckland), Shawn Masters (Counties Manukau), James Matheson (Southern), Connor Mau'u (Auckland), Hokianga Morunga (Wellington), Allen Mulia (Counties Manukau), Eric Newbigging (Counties Manukau), Isaac Robinson (Mid Central), Kurt Robinson (Wellington), Kieron Rollinson (Upper Central), Kouma Samson (Auckland), Visesio Setefano (Counties Manukau), Simeona Seumanufagai (Wellington), Turanga Shelford-Morrell (RL Northland), Michael Sio (Auckland), Leesin Stockman (Auckland), James Taylor (Auckland), Alfred To'Omalatai (Southern), Francis Toetu (Counties Manukau), Honeti Tuha (Counties Manukau), Jaylen Tupaea (Upper Central), Kruz Tupou (Counties Manukau), Mitchell Vincent (Southern)
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