NSW and Australian forward Jake Trbojevic says the selection of four Manly players in the Emerging Blues squad will be of great benefit to the Sea Eagles.
Blues Coach Brad Fittler today announced a 38-man squad including Manly’s Lachlan Croker, Jack Gosiewski, Brian Kelly, and Luke Metcalf.
The squad, chosen from 13 NRL clubs, will assemble at ANZ Stadium on Saturday, January 13, for a session with NSW True Blue Origin legends ahead of the 2018 season.
Twelve months ago, Jake Trbojevic was named in the Emerging Blues squad before going on to make his NSW debut this season.
“The fact that people are looking at you in that representative environment is a massive confidence boost,’’ Trbojevic said.
“When our boys go into the Emerging Blues camp, they will hear the stories of what it means to play for NSW and the pride that goes with wearing the jersey
“It is a good experience and it will be a great learning curve for them. It will also give them another goal of playing Origin football, and the best way to do that is to play well for the Sea Eagles early next season.”
Kelly’s selection caps off a huge first year at Manly after the talented centre represented Country Origin and was named the Sea Eagles’ Rookie of the Year.
New Manly recruits Croker (five-eighth), Gosiewski (back-row), and Metcalf (half) have been impressive since pre-season training started in early November.
The 2018 Emerging Blues squad (in club and alphabetical order) is:
Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos), Tevita Pengai Jr. (Brisbane Broncos), Michael Lichaa (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) Nick Cotric (Canberra Raiders) Jayden Brailey (Cronulla Sharks) Kyle Flanagan (Cronulla Sharks) Jessie Ramien (Cronulla Sharks) Lachlan Croker (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles) Jack Gosiewski (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles) Brian Kelly (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles) Luke Metcalf (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles) Curtis Scott (Melbourne Storm) Brock Lamb (Newcastle Knights) Daniel Saifiti (Newcastle Knights) Connor Watson (Newcastle Knights) Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers) Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers) Moses Leota (Penrith Panthers) Bevan French (Parramatta Eels) Tepai Moeroa (Parramatta Eels) Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels) Kyle Schneider (Parramatta Eels) Jake Hazard (Sydney Roosters) Latrell Mitchell (Sydney Roosters) Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters) Angus Crichton (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Tyrell Fuimaono (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Campbell Graham (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Matt Dufty (St George Illawarra Dragons) Jai Field (St George Illawarra Dragons) Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra Dragons), Reece Robson (St George Illawarra Dragons), Hame Sele (St George Illawarra Dragons), Jacob Liddle (Wests Tigers), Bayley Sironen (Wests Tigers), Moses Suli (Wests Tigers), Alex Twal (Wests Tigers)
