The Greater Northern Tigers' excellent showing at the recent Laurie Daley Cup has been reflected in the makeup of the NSW Country under-18 side, with three Tigers named in it.
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Farrer alumnus Mark Simon, current Farrer student Mitchell Henderson and Denman's Luke Smith will line up for Country against City at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney next month.
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Tamworthian Simon, 18, a NSW Country under-16 representative, has been named at prop. While Tigers No 1 Henderson, whose family has a property at Dungowan, and Tigers back-rower Smith have been named on the bench.
Simon said he was "overwhelmed" by his selection, which he regards as another significant step in his bid to become an NRL player. His contract with Canterbury ends this year, and he hopes to ink a new deal with the club and play SG Ball next season.
"I'm pretty bloody happy," he said of his Country selection, adding:"I did a lot of hard work, and I'm very, very happy with how it's all turned out."
Henderson was sensational in the Tigers' 24-14 loss to the Central Coast in the Laurie Daley Cup finale in Sydney on March 27.
The Knights signing, 18, said he was "grateful" to be named in the Country side. It is his first Country selection.
"It's pretty high," he said of where this achievement stacks up against his other achievements in the game.
The Tigers captain played the Laurie Daley Cup at fullback, an unfamiliar position for him. He normally wears the No 6.
He said he "learnt a lot" about how to play fullback in a short period of time.
NSW Country: 1 - Ben Rumble (Illawarra South Coast Dragons), 2 - Kane Rushton (Monaro Colts), 3 - Michael Whitton (Central Coast Roosters), 4 - Matthew Wheatley (Monaro Colts), 5 - Darcy Leadbitter (Western Rams), 6 - Braye Porter (Western Rams), 7 - Jessi O'Neill-Petherbridge (Central Coast Roosters), 8 - Mark Simon (Northern Tigers), 9 - Tyler Moriarty (Central Coast Roosters), 10 - Daniel Peters (Central Coast Roosters), 11 - Keegan Kenny (Monaro Colts), 12 - Brody Briggs (Central Coast Roosters), 13 - Finnley Neilsen (Western Rams), 14 - Mitchell Henderson (Northern Tigers), 15 - Ryan Couchman (Illawarra South Coast Dragons), 16 - Lachlan Mears-Crabbe (Central Coast Roosters), 17 - Luke Smith (Northern Tigers), 18 - Peter Conroy (North Coast Bulldogs)
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