Titans stars picked for NSW Country honours

FIVE Northern Rivers Titans players have been selected for NSW Country following standout performances at the state rugby league championships.

Brothers Caleb and Connor Ziebell will be joined by centre Adam Walker, second-rower Jacob Kernick and halfback Toby Marks in the NSW Country squad.

Titans coach Wayne Forbes has also been appointed to an assistant coaching role after guiding the team to the final of the NSW Rugby League Championships last month.

The players will take part in the annual NSW Country v City clash at Brookvale Oval in Sydney on Saturday, May 17.

“I think this is the most we’ve had selected since the championships moved away from the under-23 format about four years ago,” Forbes said.

“This year we had great performances at the representative level from a lot of our guys, and I’m sure we’ll give it a good crack again next year.

“There is only one game as part of the NSW Country campaign this year, so the boys will be keen to play well.”

Walker, a talented centre from Murwillumbah, has been selected for the second straight year.

The Ziebell brothers have had strong success at representative level, with Caleb a former NSW Country player of the year.

Kernick and Marks, who play for Byron Bay, will represent NSW Country for the first time. Both players were dual-registered with the Tweed Seagulls for Queensland Cup last year.

“Kernick was the leading try-scorer throughout the country championships,” Forbes said.

“He had two or three long-range efforts where he ran about 90 metres, which is pretty impressive for someone his size.

“We’ve had a few coaches’ meetings and I’m just keen to learn as much as I can.”

Several local juniors and support staff have also been recognised.

Jed Flatley was picked in the NSW Country under-18 team, while Eden Humphreys, Nixon O’Connor, Dallas Russell and Jaylon Russell were named in the under-16s.

Gus Bourne, Shaun Creswell, Nick Forrester and Peter Thierjung will be involved as coaches, managers and trainers across the junior age groups.

In the women’s competition, Lillie-Lee Mumford, Starbella Tonkin and Elsie Wilkinson were named as regional emerging talent selections.