Electrifying Country centre Tariq Tanner: 'I think we should go good'
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It has been quite the year for electrifying Queensland Under 17 Country Boys centre Tariq Tanner and his family.
The teen weapon - who "brings some aggression and good chat in the back line" - played for Norths Devils this year in the Auswide Bank Mal Meninga program after moving to Brisbane to attend St Joseph's Nudgee College.
Tariq made his Bundaberg Broadcasters A Grade Premiership debut in June with dad Dan Tanner, alongside his uncle Josh Tanner and under coach, another uncle Corey Tanner.
Now he has been picked for the Country side and cousin Caitlin Tanner will line up for the Queensland Under 17 Girls side when they play at Moreton Daily Stadium on September 24.
Tariq, whose family has been entrenched in the Western Suburbs Panthers club in Bundaberg for four generations, is also part of the the Brisbane Broncos Development Squad and put simply, just loves playing footy.
"I live in Brisbane now, I go to school in Brisbane, but I'm born in Bundaberg, from Rockhampton... Country - we're all close, we all relate a lot," Tariq said.
"I started playing rugby league in Rockhampton for Norths Knights, back home, went to TCC (The Cathedral College) and in Grade 10 I moved here to go to Nudgee College and play a bit of rugby union."
Tariq said he enjoyed his footy this year - both rugby league and rugby union.
"The season has been pretty good," Tariq said.
"Playing schoolboys... rugby union at school and league at Norths.
"Norths is a good community. Close to school. I know a lot of the boys - all from different schools, but all really close."
Queensland Rugby League Wide Bay area manager Bryce Holdsworth, who is the Country team manager, said he had watched Tariq develop during the past few years and he was excited to see what he could do on Saturday.
"Tariq brings some aggression and good chat in the back line," Holdsworth said.
"I coached Tariq at Crows level when he was 14. Was a strong centre then and he's moved onto Nudgee, in a couple of systems, and it's good to see him at this camp developing his skills further.
"He's definitely an asset to the Country side. Overall, in the future, our Queensland youngsters are looking pretty good."
Match: QLD City v QLD Country
Round 1 -
home Team
QLD City
away Team
QLD Country
Venue: Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe
Tariq said being picked for Country was an honour and he looked forward to ripping in against City.
"Hopefully I just do my work on the edge and do well defensively... try and stop a few tries," Tariq said.
"We're all from different areas, all over Queensland, but we've bonded heaps and we're all really close. I think we should go good. We don't like the City boys... we think they're all soft.
"Hopefully eventually I try and make an NRL squad. I just love rugby league. It's fun, playing with my mates. I enjoy it a lot."
The game will be live on QPlus.tv.
