In a fitting reward for what was an outstanding 2017 campaign, five Sharks SG Ball team members have been included in the NSW Under 18’s train on squad, while team captain James Roumanos was also named SG Ball Player of the Year.
The announcements came following the SG Ball Grand Final, won 30-22 by the Parramatta Eels, with centre Bronson Xerri, halves Jaemon Salmon and Luke Metcalf and backrower Teig Wilton joining Roumanos in the extended NSW squad.
All five named, if they hadn’t already cemented places in the NSW squad, would have done their chances no harm with strong performances in a losing effort in the Grand Final.
For Roumanos, his Player of the Year accolade, was a reward for a highly consistent season and was well deserved by the Sharks SG Ball leader.
The five Sharks will now train with the extended NSW squad with a team then to be selected from that group ahead of the second State of Origin game to be played in Sydney.
A NSW 16’s squad was also named, with three Cronulla players announced.
Halfback Thomas Demeio, centre Douglas Levi and lock Damon Smith were included in the train-on squad, with a team to be named to play Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on May 31.
Finishing first and second in their respective competitions following the nine round regular season, with the Matthews Cup Sharks bowing out in week two of the finals and the Ball side losing the competition decider, the efforts of both should be congratulated.
A number of SG Ball squad members can now be expected to push up and train on with John Morris’s NYC Under's 20 team in the coming weeks.
