JACK Matthews might come across as a gentle giant but he is a potent force on the football field.
The talented 17-year-old, who weighs in at 108kg, has been selected to tour Fiji as part of a combined Group 6/Group 7 under 18s squad at the end of the month.
He has also been invited to trial for St George/Illawarra after being 'scouted' during a recent game at Albion Park.
Jack, who attends Ulladulla High School, has been playing league since the under 11s and has been an important part of the Bulldogs' under 18s squad this year.
The former Group 7 representative has also played interchange for the club's reserve grade squad.
He has also excelled on the rugby union field in recent years, touring New Zealand in 2007 with the National Indigenous Rugby Union team.
He was named in the NSW squad last year but a corked thigh prevented him from making the national side.
Jack has represented Ulladulla High School in rugby league, rugby union and touch football.
He plays men's and mixed touch football and has represented the Milton Ulladulla Touch Association in the state knockout for the past four years.
He told the Times that he preferred league because he gets to play a more important role - rather than just clearing the ball all the time as was the case in union.
Jack started training with the NSW Country Rugby League Academy Program at the end of last season and is looking forward to the Fiji trip.
He has fond memories of his trip to New Zealand with the National Indigenous Rugby Union team - although recalls a 100-point flogging at the hands of some rather large Maori boys - and believes he will return from Fiji a better player for the experience.
Besides taking part in coaching clinics and games during the week-long trip, Jack and his team-mates will also be visiting a number of remote villages and distributing rugby league gear including old jerseys, boots and socks.
Jack is currently in the second year of a two-year traineeship with the NSW Police Service as part of a pilot program designed to channel more indigenous students into the police force.
On top of his sporting and school commitments he also spends a significant amount of time working at the police station in Nowra and attending TAFE in Wollongong as part of the program.
The money he has earned as part of the program is helping to fund his trip to Fiji.
And if life for the youngster isn't busy enough he also a member of the Bunnan indigenous dance troupe which performs at local events and schools.
He has also completed a Department of Sport and Recreation indigenous leadership program and is an instructor in traditional indigenous games.
Jack said he would be interested in turning his passion for rugby league into a profession and would be particularly keen doing it with the Dragons because it is the team that he follows.
The trials will be held the day before the Group 7 grand finals.
Jack thanked a number of people for their support to get to Fiji including his mum, nan and uncles, cousins John and Henny Williams, Cunjurong Point Score, Gary Cox from LJ Hooker in Ulladulla, the Mollymook Golf Club, the Milton Ulladulla Bowling Club, the Milton-Ulladulla Ex-Servo's, Bob and Trish Ryan from the Heritage Guesthouse in South West Rocks, Buey from Premier Coast Metal Roofing, McCarroll Motors in Mudgee, the Ulladulla Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter