ozyscott
03-10-2009, 08:50 PM
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/10/03/83811_cowboys.html
Local young guns in showdown
ANTONY STEWART
October 3rd, 2009
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2009/10/02/JUSTIN-JJ151162-365200.jpg
THERE will be a North Queensland showdown in the NRL's under-20s grand final in Sydney tomorrow afternoon, but there won't be a Cowboy in sight.
Former Townsville players Justin O'Neill and Robert Lui will go head-to-head when their respective teams, Melbourne and the Wests Tigers, battle for the silverware. But they won't just be on opposite sides of the field.
O'Neill, a Hughenden product before he began boarding at The Cathedral School, revealed he was one of the men issued with the task of shutting No. 6 Lui down.
''I've definitely got to look out for him in the grand final,'' he said. ''I'll be opposing him, we've done our video so I know what I've got to look out for.''
The teenagers played alongside each other in Townsville at Centrals when O'Neill was 15, but the centre said he did not expect that to give him too much of an advantage tomorrow.
''It was a bit too long ago, he's probably had a bit more coaching so he's probably progressed as a player
,'' he said. There's no doubt 19-year-old Lui has lifted his game to another level since those days. His rise through the Tigers' ranks since being signed as a 15-year-old culminated in his more-than-solid first-grade debut in round 23, eventually playing three NRL games.
While not quite at that stage yet, O'Neill's rise to prominence has still been impressive.
Earlier this year he played for the Storm's losing under-18 SG Ball grand final team before being elevated to the NYC team and establishing himself as a first-choice centre. Like Lui, O'Neill was first spotted as a 15-year-old after Storm talent scouts watched him playing for Townsville Brothers during the Tassell Trophy in Cairns. From a kid who dreamed of flying down the field as a North Queensland Cowboy or Brisbane Bronco, he was all of a sudden looking up to Billy Slater and Greg Inglis.
''Melbourne became an opportunity for me and it's been great,'' O'Neill said.
''I have enjoyed it down here and I haven't regretted anything.''
The only thing that could make it a better year would be to claim the title.
Melbourne finished the regular season in third place, the Wests Tigers in fourth, while they each enjoyed one win against each other during the 26-round regular season.
O'Neill, who did not play in either game, said it would be hard to pick a favourite.
''The Tigers have come from behind and surprised everyone,'' he said. ''I don't know if they are the team to beat, it's a grand final and everyone steps it up in a grand final . . . so it'll be a good game.'' His phone has been buzzing with North Queensland well-wishers and O'Neill would love to repay their support with a title - even if it does go back to Victoria.
Local young guns in showdown
ANTONY STEWART
October 3rd, 2009
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2009/10/02/JUSTIN-JJ151162-365200.jpg
THERE will be a North Queensland showdown in the NRL's under-20s grand final in Sydney tomorrow afternoon, but there won't be a Cowboy in sight.
Former Townsville players Justin O'Neill and Robert Lui will go head-to-head when their respective teams, Melbourne and the Wests Tigers, battle for the silverware. But they won't just be on opposite sides of the field.
O'Neill, a Hughenden product before he began boarding at The Cathedral School, revealed he was one of the men issued with the task of shutting No. 6 Lui down.
''I've definitely got to look out for him in the grand final,'' he said. ''I'll be opposing him, we've done our video so I know what I've got to look out for.''
The teenagers played alongside each other in Townsville at Centrals when O'Neill was 15, but the centre said he did not expect that to give him too much of an advantage tomorrow.
''It was a bit too long ago, he's probably had a bit more coaching so he's probably progressed as a player
,'' he said. There's no doubt 19-year-old Lui has lifted his game to another level since those days. His rise through the Tigers' ranks since being signed as a 15-year-old culminated in his more-than-solid first-grade debut in round 23, eventually playing three NRL games.
While not quite at that stage yet, O'Neill's rise to prominence has still been impressive.
Earlier this year he played for the Storm's losing under-18 SG Ball grand final team before being elevated to the NYC team and establishing himself as a first-choice centre. Like Lui, O'Neill was first spotted as a 15-year-old after Storm talent scouts watched him playing for Townsville Brothers during the Tassell Trophy in Cairns. From a kid who dreamed of flying down the field as a North Queensland Cowboy or Brisbane Bronco, he was all of a sudden looking up to Billy Slater and Greg Inglis.
''Melbourne became an opportunity for me and it's been great,'' O'Neill said.
''I have enjoyed it down here and I haven't regretted anything.''
The only thing that could make it a better year would be to claim the title.
Melbourne finished the regular season in third place, the Wests Tigers in fourth, while they each enjoyed one win against each other during the 26-round regular season.
O'Neill, who did not play in either game, said it would be hard to pick a favourite.
''The Tigers have come from behind and surprised everyone,'' he said. ''I don't know if they are the team to beat, it's a grand final and everyone steps it up in a grand final . . . so it'll be a good game.'' His phone has been buzzing with North Queensland well-wishers and O'Neill would love to repay their support with a title - even if it does go back to Victoria.