With the representative season just around the corner, the Bowen Seagulls have proven their worth with selections in a number of teams across various age groups.
The Under 12s have three players heading off to play for North Queensland in the Qld State School Trials on the Gold Coast.
Bill Walpole was very proud of all the players that trialled for selection.
“Raheem Rolfe, Sonny Widt and Dudley Dotoi were the selected players,” Walpole said.
“The boys adapt and train well, and deserved selection. They are well mannered kids, and will come back with lots of experience to put to use within the team.”
While Rolfe (second row) has been with the Bowen Seagulls since his debut in the Under 6s, Widt (forwards) heralds from neighbouring town Collinsville and Dotoi (centres) joined the club from Mareeba.
Walpole said the boys were both excited and nervous about the opportunity to play representative football.
Halfback Jackson O’Grady is the sole Bowen representative in the Under 13s Townsville Stingers Gold side to play in the North Queensland championships, held in the first weekend of June.
Father and coach, Brenden O’Grady said Jackson’s commitment to the game is the stand out quality that earned him selection.
“He commits himself 100% to playing the game, at training, and he and his brother do lots of extra training at home.”
Jackson has been with the Bowen Seagulls since the Under 6s and is happy to be part of the representative team.
“I am looking forward to playing with kids I have never played with before.” he said.
O’Grady believes playing with other players who put in as much effort as Jackson will make him a better player.
Despite their position at the bottom of the competition ladder, the Bowen Seagulls Under 14s boast four Townsville representative players.
Jesse McDonnell (lock or five-eighth), Jackson Dyne (second row) Zac Wagstaff (second row) and Isaac Hawes (halfback) will all step up to play for the Townsville Under 14s in the North Queensland championships.
Coach Isaac Fatnowna said the experience will give the players opportunities to learn new things about themselves, and the chance to build on the skills they already have.
“We haven’t won a game yet, so I expect they will stand a bit taller, and grow in confidence. They will all be better players for the experience,” he said.
Fatnowna believes McDonnell earned his selection through his involvement in the game.
“He has his hands on the ball a lot, and is always looking to create half chances.”
“Zac (Wagstaff) will take at least two hit ups each set, and is a strong cover defender.”
Wagstaff has a ‘never-say-die’ attitude according to his coach, while Dyne has learned to use his size well.
“He has developed some strong techniques, particularly his line running,”Fatnowna added.
Hawes, the Bowen Seagulls Under 14 Captain, is the team’s Mr Reliable.
“He is a tenacious kind of player. He tackles the forwards with ease. He runs the ball well, and is always looking to create something,”Fatnowna said.
McDonnell, Wagstaff and Dyne will all don the Townsville Gold Stingers jerseys, while Hawes will be the starting half back for the Townsville Grey Stingers.
Fatnowna believes that Hawes is a natural leader.
“The opportunity for Isaac to lead a representative team around the paddock will help him grow as a player and is a great reward for what he has achieved this year.”
The Under 16s have two players representing Townsville in the North Qld Championships.
Lock Quinlan Kelly, and backrower Lachlan Freeman will benefit greatly from the experience according to coach Nelson Dotoi.
“The experience will help them with their style of game and bring out the best in them,” he said, adding that playing with other players and learning from other coaches will be of great benefit.
Kelly and Freeman earned their positions in the representative team through their strong defensive games.
“Their defensive work rate is great. They run lines well and take plenty of hit ups,”Dotoi said.
The boys are looking forward to the experience of being around the representative footy scenery.
