Papalii and Lee make emerging Maroons squad

Young Canberra Raiders stars Josh Papalii and Edrick Lee have had their undeniable talents recognised by being named in Queensland’s (QAS) Emerging Origin Squad for 2013.

The Maroons hierarchy will assess Papalii and Lee’s potential in Brisbane next month from January 25-27 when the 14-man squad will work with QAS rugby league director Wayne Bennett and current XXXX Maroons coach and former Raiders great Mal Meninga.

Papalii and Lee are some of the fresh faces in the squad along with Michael Morgan (NQ Cowboys), Ben Ridge (Gold Coast Titans) and Aidan Guerra (Sydney Roosters).

They will be joined by some of the most exciting young talent in the NRL. Dally M Player of the Year Ben Barba headlines the squad and will be joined by Justin O’Neill (Melbourne Storm), Dale Copley (Brisbane Broncos), Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles), Andrew McCullough, Martin Kennedy (Sydney Roosters), Josh McGuire (Brisbane Broncos), William Zillman (Gold Coast Titans) and Chris McQueen (South Sydney Rabbitohs).

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 sports 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.”

In addition to Papalii and Lee’s inclusions three junior Raiders players, Anthony Milford, Brenko Lee and Patrick Mago, have also been named in Queensland’s Junior Emerging Origin Squad for 2013.

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)