Angus Hinchey says he is a "blood Queenslander" but it is Sydney Roosters lock Victor Radley who is the player he most admires and wants to emulate when he plays for Queensland Under 17 City next month.
Angus, 17, can play back-row, lock or centre. He is a rugged line runner who also has ball playing ability and finesse for the game. Whatever position he lines up in, he will be a handful for the Country outfit in the blockbuster clash at Redcliffe on October 2.
It is Radley's toughness, skill and work ethic that Angus wants to replicate.
"Victor Radley is my favourite player, easily," Angus, who lined up for Norths Devils in the Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup this year, said.
"He plays to his strengths. I really like the way he moves the ball and uses his forwards and I try and take a lot of inspiration from that.
"Then there is the way he uses his weight and his tenacity in defence. Being strong in attack and defence, and working hard, they are all things he does and what I like to do as well.
"He seems like a real personality and a fun guy...someone to look up to."
Angus, who attends The Gap State High School, has not come through elite NRL academies to get where he is. He started off at Redcliffe and then joined Wests Panthers at Bardon up until last year. This season he linked up with Wests at Mitchelton to play with a group of mates. He has plied his trade in the grassroots and said it had been "a really good thing".
"I've had to work for everything that I have earned," Angus said.
"I take no credit away from the guys that are in those academies and programs. They have earned their spots, but me playing in teams that haven't been firing on all cylinders all the time has taught me to work hard and never give up on any play."
Angus is the son of Redcliffe premiership winner and former South Sydney and Parramatta forward James Hinchey, who now works as the NRL's strategy chief.
"He coached us at Wests from under 12s and it was really good," Angus said of his father's influence.
"A lot of the stuff that he is doing in development with the NRL, he has applied to us and I think it has made every player so much better.
"I appreciate that he takes the time out to teach us what he knows. It is based around your best effort and not on the result. If you work hard, everything will come off the back of that."
Angus said his City selection was a real vindication of the work he had put in and came at "just the right time".
"At the moment I am really training hard and enjoying my footy so this is a good opportunity that has popped up for me," Angus said.
"Now I am just looking to take advantage of it. City versus Country is a good rivalry, so I am looking forward to it.
"Sport is probably one of the best things you could do as a job. I'd love to push for the NRL. I am just going to keep working hard and see where it takes me."
