The under 18s roster was declared recently and the announced list looks like a rol-call of some of the most exciting talent from the local competition.

The Roosters, Bulldogs, Devils, Sharks, Bay Tigers and Cooma all had inclusions, while just three names on the list feature from outside the area.

James Grant and Callum Bower-Scott will pull on the jumper for the Roosters, while Matt Parsons, Blake Cavanagh and Jordan Martin have all been named out of the Devils. 

The Bulldogs boast huge numbers with six separate players named in the squad including Trent Casey and speedster Kyle Shepherdson.

Group 16 rugby league has put a renewed focus on representative play with first graders going far in the competition last season. 

However, officials said this year could see a very different line-up than previously for the seniors. 

Incoming Group 16 president Allan Wilton said we would no longer see the likes of Ryan Apps, Joe Bobbin or Moruya’s playmakers in the open side as CRL moves to an under 23 format. 

The restructure was formalised late last week at the Country Rugby League AGM, with the new format to align more closely with the Australian Rugby League Commission’s (ARLC) Pathways model and structures.

CRL CEO Terry Quinn believes the new format will provide greater opportunities for regional players to progress through the Rugby League pathways to higher honours.

“Whilst the decision to restructure the Senior Men’s Country Championships was difficult, we believe the new format will provide a greater opportunity for regional players to progress through the Rugby League pathways into the Intrust Super Premiership and NRL,” Quinn said.

“The 19-23-year-old age bracket is our peak participation range for senior football and traditionally players outside of this age range have a lesser chance of progressing through the pathways unless they’re already playing, or have played, in higher levels of competition. “

“By restructuring the format to under-23’s we are giving more players in our peak participation range the opportunity to advance their Rugby League careers.”

The decision to increase the senior men’s Country Championships to under-23’s was made to allow for a greater number of players who don’t make the under-20’s to still have the opportunity to play a higher level of football and progress through the pathways.  

It is also hoped that the under-23’s format will allow late maturing players a pathway to higher honours.