QRL TV caught up with Under 16 Maroons rake Jake Simpkin in camp before their curtain-raiser to the Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, July 12.
Simpkin has played for the Southern Suburbs Tigers in Toowoomba since Under 10s and his family would be at Suncorp to watch him run out in the Maroon jersey.
He said he:
- Was benefitting from Kurt Richards' coaching and mentoring
- Enjoyed lunch with the senior Maroons and was starstruck by his idol, Johnathan Thurston. "It's pretty surreal seeing him in there."
- Aspired to an NRL career
The Under 16s lost a close one to NSW last year, 12-10.
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