The Gosford Kariong club has been well recognised by the Central Coast rugby league selectors throughout 2015 with nine local juniors earning a place in the various divisional sides.
Current Storm halfback Nick Rodrigues is the most recent inductee, having been selected in the Coast’s under-13 development squad. Nick’s achievement follows the club’s heavy representation in the division’s under-16 team that managed to reach the semi-fi nals at the NSW Country Championships held at Muswellbrook over the Queen’s birthday long weekend. Captained by lock/ hooker Lachlan Bell, the side also featured; Tom Bateup, Eden Longford and Lachlan Smith, all of whom were vital members of last winter’s Storm under-15 team. Earlier in the season, former Gosford tyros John Connolly (U14) and Ryan Bender (U15) also represented the Coast, while Tyson Potger (U16) was a member of the Centurions’ Matthews Cup squad. Added to this vast array of junior achievement is the selection of former Gosford Giants junior and current Terrigal fi rst grade second rower Bladen Baird in the Central Coast’s senior representatives squad that reached the semi-fi nal stage of the 2015 Country Championships. Mid June club action has been highlighted by the ongoing success of the Storm under-13(2)s who have extended their recent winning streak to four, following an impressive 26 to six victory over the Colts at Kincumber. The Gosford under-15(1) s have notched their fi rst win of the season, fi ghting back from an early defi cit to score a gutsy 22-12 victory over Erina at Carrington St. First half tries to Toutai Aho and Noah Brown gave the Storm a 12 to 6 advantage at the break before the game was sealed via a blindside mousetrap play which resulted in Logan Campbell burrowing across the line with 10 minutes remaining.
Media release, 13 June 2015 Andrew Stark, Central Coast Rugby League