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Gunnedah Red Devil Curtis Riordan has fast-tracked his path to success with selection in the Northern Inland Gold squad.
The year 9 student at St Mary’s College was chosen in a squad of about 20 players at the Armidale-based rugby union trials earlier this month.
“It’s exciting, I didn’t expect to get in,” Curtis said.
The juniors were put through their paces in fitness tests and skills sessions before wrapping up with trial games later in the day.
Curtis was one of three Gunnedah players to trial, Raymond Spradbrow and Tom Rankmore also attended, but the only one in the trio to gain selection.
A number 8 by preference but a handy loose forward in any capacity, Curtis thrives on the busy nature of his playing position.
“I like number 8 because you get do everything – run, pass, tackle, it’s just a good position,” he said.
At club level, his under-16s Devils side didn’t finish with the best results this season but ever the optimist, young Curtis seemed content to be simply out having a run with his mates.
“I just play for the fun of it and see where it takes me,” he said.
“It’s fun to play with my mates.
“(At the Devils) we didn’t win many games but we had a whole new team because a heap of players left last year.”
He also donned his first Central North representative jersey last season which admittedly was a much harder style of play than he was accustomed to.
Coach and mentor, Bronwyn McCabe, described Curtis as a quiet but very talented player who had the potential to go far given half a chance.
“If he applies himself and commits, I can see him going very high with his rugby,” Bronwyn said.
“He will end up being a good little player.”
Not surprisingly for a number 8, she thought his greatest asset was the breakdown.
“Being able to read the game and steal a ball out of a ruck, he’s brilliant at it,” Bron added.
“It’s always Curtis in those rucks.”
The summer season might be on its way but there will be little rest for the rising star as he continues his training with the Gold Cup squad in the off-season.
“They will have a lot of training over summer and they have to be pretty committed to that,” she said.
“It’s fairly full on training and they run off the NSW Waratahs program.
“They have a big tournament against the other Gold regions coming up and it goes from there.”