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Queensland Country name 35-man NRC squad

Queensland's Anthony Faingaa will captain Queensland Country (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
1st August, 2014
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Queensland Country have named a 35-man squad for the inaugural season of the National Rugby Championship (NRC).

Captained by Reds and Wallabies centre Anthony Fainga’a, the squad has current Reds Saia Fainga’a, Mike Harris, Greg Holmes, Ben Lucas, Beau Robinson and JJ Taulagi all taking part. The team will also have Wallabies squad members James Slipper and Rob Simmons, though both are consistently in the Wallabies starting 15 and would be unlikely to feature.

Queensland Country have a bye in the first round of the competition and will commence their inaugural season in a grudge match with the NSW Country Eagles on 30th August.

Coach Steve Meehan was positive about the selection of Fainga’a as captain of the side.

“Anthony already has leadership experience as a senior member of the Reds’ squad and will captain the team.”

The allocation of Reds players was determined by the pathways the players took to reach the provincial squad, with Beau Robinson country aligned because of his background in NSW country rugby.

17 players within the Queensland Country squad where either born or brought up in Country Queensland or have passed through the Country pathway on their way.

12 capped Queensland Reds players have been named in the 35-man squad including Anthony Fainga’a, who was recently the vice-captain of the Reds in their Super Rugby clash against the Melbourne Rebels. The other Reds include Anthony’s twin brother Saia, Blake Enever, Scott Gale, Mike Harris, Greg Holmes, Sam Johnson, Ben Lucas, Beau Robinson and Jamie-Jerry Taulagi, as well as current Wallabies Rob Simmons and James Slipper.

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Current Reds assistant coach Steve Meehan will take charge of the team, with fellow Queensland assistant Nick Stiles taking charge of Brisbane City. Meehan will be joined by assistant coaches Peter Wilkins, Garrick Morgan and Tim Sampson.

Meehan believes, like many of the coaches before him, that the squad presents a good mix of provincial and club players.

“The team selected has a good balance of Reds players, wider training squad members and some of the best talent from club rugby,” Meehan said.

“The growth and development of the players who have joined the squad from Premier Rugby clubs will no doubt be enhanced by having 12 capped Reds to contribute to their development as Rugby players.

“The NRC will act as an addition to the already existing Queensland Rugby pathway which will help us further nurture and develop Queensland talent, exposing them to the pressure and demands of a professional Rugby program.”

Strong performers in Queensland club rugby have been rewarded with selection, with Giles Beveridge topping the try tally this year and sharpshooter Tom Pincus the highest point scorer.

James Tuttle (18) and Campbell Magnay (17) are the youngest two players in the squad.

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“I’m looking forward to working with players who have been selected from club Rugby,” Meehan said.

“Selection in the Queensland Country squad could potentially launch the careers of developing players, it is for them to take advantage of the opportunity.”

Queensland Country Squad

NAME DOB CLUB
PROPS
Fred Burke 23/5/1989 (25) GPS
Haydn Hirsimaki 2/5/1998 (26) Sunnybank
Greg Holmes 6/11/1983 (30) Reds/Sunnybank
Kirwan Sanday 13/2/1991 (23) Easts
James Slipper* 6/6/1989 (25) Reds/Bond University
HOOKERS
Saia Fainga’a 2/2/1987 (27) Reds/GPS
Ryan Freney 8/9/1987 (26) GPS
Tonga Ma’afu 20/3/1992 (22) Norths
LOCKS
Cameron Bracewell 21/3/1988 (26) Bond University
Blake Enever 12/10/1991 (22) Reds/Easts
Sam Fattal 14/1/1994 (20) Easts
Rubin Fuimaono 9/11/1980 (33) Bond University
Jack Payne 13/9/1994 (19) Brothers
Rob Simmons* 19/4/1989 (25) Reds/Sunnybank
BACKROW
Ben Adams 23/4/1990 (24) Sunnybank
Jack de Guingand 6/11/1991 (22) University of Queensland
Lolo Fakasilea 10/6/1995 (19) Sunnybank
Mitch King 30/8/1990 (23) GPS
Beau Robinson 13/8/1986 (27) Reds/Souths
James Turner 25/3/1988 (26) Souths
HALFBACKS
Scott Gale 24/10/1994 (20) Reds WTS/University of Queensland
Sam Grasso 2/6/1991 (23) GPS
FLYHALVES
Mike Harris 8/7/1988 (25) Reds/University of Queensland
James Tuttle 13/5/1996 (18) GPS
CENTRES
Anthony Fainga’a 2/2/1987 (27) Reds/GPS
Sam Johnson 19/6/1993 (21) Reds WTS/GPS
Clynton Knox 27/12/1992 (21) Brothers
Campbell Magnay 10/11/1996 (17) GPS
Uarotafu Setu 22/2/1987 (27) University of Queensland
OUTSIDE BACKS
Giles Beveridge 2/7/1994 (20) Brothers
Pierce Fitzgerald 24/8/1992 (21) Brothers
Ben Lucas 30/12/1987 (26) Reds/Sunnybank
Tom Pincus 28/5/1992 (22) University of Queensland
Jamie-Jerry Taulagi 18/6/1993 (21) Reds/University of Queensland
Todd Winkley 5/3/1991 (23) GPS

* denotes Wallabies allocated player

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