MORUYA junior rugby league star Will Roqica will soon don the scarlet jersey made famous by Rod Wishart and Paul McGregor after he was selected in the Illawarra Steelers Harold Matthews Cup (under 16) team.
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The 16-year-old utility impressed Steelers’ talent scouts at trials held in Wollongong in December, and was picked for the 2008 side on the day, and notified later by letter.
It was an unexpected honour for Roqica; one that will put him in the sights of St George-Illawarra officials and open an opportunity to play in the club’s senior grades.
“I was pretty stoked because I didn’t expect it,” he said.
Roqica, who recently began year 11 studies at Batemans Bay High School, will be encouraged and monitored in his schooling by the Steelers.
“That will keep me focused,” he said.
He attended a photo session with the team at WIN Stadium yesterday, and will play his first match in the nine-week competition tomorrow.
His preferred position is lock, but he can cover a number of positions in the backs and forwards, and is likely to play in the centres for Illawarra.
He was due to play his first match last Saturday against Balmain but couldn’t make it because his grandfather, who normally drives him to Wollongong, was ill.
Roqica has been playing rugby league since he was eight, primarily for the Moruya-Tuross Sharks, and last year in the Batemans Bay Tigers under 16 side, which narrowly lost the grand final to Warilla.
He switched to the Tigers and the group seven competition to give himself more opportunities for representative selection, and he was named man of the match in the grand final.
For the past three years, Roqica has played in both the group 16 and group seven representative sides.
This is not the first time Roqica has been in the eye of people in football’s high places; last year he caught the attention of Brisbane Broncos’ scouts while playing for group seven.
“They said they would fly me up there and back, and gave me a hat and shirt, but I haven’t heard back from them,” he said.
Roqica’s former Moruya-Tuross coach and mentor John Cornall
has been watching his progress keenly and is delighted about this opportunity.
“I’m thrilled for the kid,” he said.
“He has the ability and the heart, and if he grabs the opportunity with both hands and applies himself, he’ll be right.”
Tigers’ coach Ted Canty also thinks there are big things ahead for Roqica.
“He’s a very good player and I’m proud of him,” he said.
“It is good to see him get this opportunity because he really puts in.”
