Kernick claims top honours in NSW Country jersey

A STRONG representative season has seen Byron Bay second-rower Jacob Kernick pick up a major award after playing with the NSW Country rugby league team in Sydney.

Kernick scored two tries and was Player of the Match in a 26-14 win in the City v Country game at Brookvale Oval.

It has been a big few weeks for the family with his sister Olivia Kernick leading the NSW Blues women’s team to a State of Origin series win over Queensland.

“She’s getting all the raps at the moment, but she deserves it,” Kernick said.

“We had a stacked Northern Rivers team this year and the guys playing up in the front row made it a lot easier for me.

“I did have a good preseason this year and I’m just trying enjoy my football.

“It was great to wear a country jersey, I remember watching Paul Gallen and all the NRL guys wear that jersey when I was a kid.

“I’ve never really had any aspirations of NRL, I just want to play well wherever I am, having a good mindset and being happy off the field can make you a better player.”

Kernick is originally from the Central Coast and made an immediate impact when he joined the Byron Bay Red Devils in Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League last year.

Five Northern Rivers players were part of the NSW Country rugby league team this season. Photo: SUPPLIED

He was one of five Northern Rivers players who was part of the NSW Country team this year.

There was a Tweed contingent in the squad with centre Adam Walker and front-rowers Caleb and Connor Ziebell part of the campaign, along with Byron Bay teammate Toby Marks

Northern Rivers Titans coach Wayne Forbes was also involved as assistant coach of the Country team.

Kernick can still play at a higher level this year as part of a dual registration with the Tweed Seagulls which allows him to play in the Queensland Cup.

The 25-year-old is one of the more experienced players in a young Byron Bay and hopes to help them off the bottom of the ladder.

“It’s been tough and it was probably always going to be a development year with the focus on the young blokes,” he said.

“We’ve still got Matt Croker, Logan Wylie, Jyde Dwyer and Toby Marks, the rest of the team are still teenagers.”