Titans duo named in Emerging QLD squad

iSelect Gold Coast Titans duo Ben Ridge and William Zillman have been selected in the Queensland (QAS) Emerging Origin Squad ahead of a three-day camp in late January.

Ridge is one of five newcomers to the QAS Emerging Origin program, a key component of the Maroons’ recent Origin success.

Other fresh faces are Edrick Lee (Canberra Raiders), Michael Morgan (NQ Cowboys), Aidan Guerra (Sydney Roosters) and Josh Papalli (Canberra Raiders).

The 14-man squad, which includes Dally M Player of the Year Ben Barba, will work with QAS rugby league director Wayne Bennett and current XXXX Maroons coach Mal Meninga from January 25-27.

Next year will also see the introduction of a Junior Emerging Origin squad, which brings together Queensland’s best young players who will be vying for spots in Queensland’s Under 20 Origin team to play New South Wales.

The development squad includes six players who are not eligible for selection in the annual game due to their age.

Several of these players took part in last season’s Under 20s match and selectors have opted to involve them in the January 17-20 QAS camp to further bolster their representative experience.

Queensland Rugby League (QRL) chief executive officer Robert Moore said the QAS program had been a vital cog in the pathway for elite players for many years.

“In the past few seasons alone the likes of Matt Gillett, Ben Te’o, Dave Taylor, Dane Nielsen and Jharal Yow Yeh have made the step from the QAS program into the Origin team,” Moore said.

“There is no doubt that their transition into one of sport’s toughest and most competitive arenas has been helped by their involvement in the QAS Emerging Origin program.

“The State Government and the QAS have always been big supporters of rugby league and this is reflected by the introduction of an Under 20s development squad that will utilise the QAS’s state-of-the-art facilities early next year.”

QAS EMERGING STATE OF ORIGIN SQUAD 2013

Ben BARBA - CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Justin O’NEILL - MELBOURNE STORM
Edrick LEE - CANBERRA RAIDERS
Michael MORGAN - NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Dale COPLEY - BRISBANE BRONCOS
Daly CHERRY-EVANS - MANLY SEA EAGLES
Andrew McCULLOUGH - BRISBANE BRONCOS
Martin KENNEDY - SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Ben RIDGE - GOLD COAST TITANS
Josh McGUIRE - BRISBANE BRONCOS
Aidan GUERRA - SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Josh PAPALII - CANBERRA RAIDERS
William ZILLMAN - GOLD COAST TITANS
Chris McQUEEN - SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
* Training Camp at Queensland Academy of Sport – January 25-27 (2013)

QLD JUNIOR EMERGING ORIGIN SQUAD 2013
Caleb TIMU - BRISBANE BRONCOS
Corey OATES - BRISBANE BRONCOS
Chris GREVSMUHL - NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Hymel HUNT - GOLD COAST TITANS
Kurt MANN - MELBOURNE STORM
Ian RICCARDI - PENRITH PANTHERS
Anthony MILFORD - CANBERRA RAIDERS
Travis PEETERS - BRISBANE BRONCOS
Francis MOLO - BRISBANE BRONCOS
Zac SANTO - NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Kierran MOSELEY - PENRITH PANTHERS
Patrick MAGO - CANBERRA RAIDERS
Soape PALAU - BRISBANE BRONCOS
Patrick KAUFUSI - NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Moses MBYE - CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Cameron CULLEN - BRISBANE BRONCOS
Brenko LEE - CANBERRA RAIDERS
Joseph FORRESTER - BRISBANE BRONCOS
John FOLAU - PARRAMATTA EELS
Billy BRITTAIN - MELBOURNE STORM
Ben HAMPTON* - MELBOURNE STORM
Luke KEARY* - SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Dylan NAPA* - SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Korbin SIMS* - NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Lachlan MARANTA* - BRISBANE BRONCOS
Aaron WHITCHURCH* - BRISBANE BRONCOS
*Ineligible for U20 State of Origin team in 2013
* Training Camp at Queensland Academy of Sport – January 17-20 (2013)