Cavanough moves north for exciting opportunity

South Burnett's Bailey Cavanough is excited to have made a big move north to chase his rugby league dream.

Growing up in Nanango, the barnstorming second-rower has ventured 500 kilometres up the road to Rockhampton in a bid to continue improving and further progress his career in Queensland Rugby League's player pathways.

"Yeah, it’s unreal. It’s been a big move but I’m looking forward to it," Cavanough said.

"It’s a brand new chapter up here so hopefully I can improve a bit, so we’ll see how we go."

After building a strong representative portfolio with the South Burnett Eagles, Wide Bay Bulls and Central Crows in recent years, the 17-year-old has undertaken an offer to attend The Cathedral College, and whilst making the move primarily for rugby league, Cavanough is also looking forward to the educational element of his final two years of schooling.

"I got an offer to go to TCC up here for footy, but I’m looking forward to the educational side of things as well," Cavanough said.

"I met with Mick Busby [TCC first grade coach] who talked to me about it and he wants to get me into the firsts’ squad and have a few trial matches and see how I go."

Cavanough has also impressed the coaching staff of the Central Queensland Capras' Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup squad upon relocating to the beef capital, and is set to play for Brothers in Rockhampton's under 17 junior competition which kicks off this Friday night.

Much like his Eagles team mate Lachlan Zelinski, who has taken up an opportunity with Wide Bay's Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup program, Cavanough has a long-term dream of playing in the NRL and is hoping the move will help him achieve that.

"The goal for me this year is to play for the Capras under 18s and make the TCC's firsts," Cavanough said.

"In the future, I'm hoping to make the NRL and am looking for a contract at the moment... so hopefully I’ll be lucky enough to play well up here and see what happens from there."