Elizabeth Downs rugby league player Tylor Black to train with NRL club Manly

TYLOR Black will next week move a step closer to becoming just the second player from SA in the NRL.

Elizabeth Downs rugby league player Tylor Black will head to Sydney next week to train with NRL club Manly. Picture: Dean Martin

TYLOR Black will next week move a step closer to becoming just the second player from SA in the NRL.

The Elizabeth Downs resident has been invited to spend five days training with the Sydney-based Manly Sea Eagles as he aims to fulfil his lifelong dream of a career in rugby league.

"I'm really excited," the 15 year old says.

"I was stoked that I got that call and now I just can't believe it.

"I was just speechless when I found out."

Black, a hooker or half-back for Dry Creek-based Eels Rugby League Club, was selected to train with Manly as part of Rugby League SA's junior player pathways program.

He will work with Manly's under-16 side and play trial matches against Newcastle Knights and a Perth representative team.

"I'm kind of nervous because the kids I'm going to be up against will be big, but that's never stopped me in my life.

"It'll be good to try to get to their standard."

Black, who was born in Queensland and moved to SA aged seven, says he hopes to follow in the footsteps of Manly front rower Brenton Lawrence.

Lawrence grew up in Adelaide's northern suburbs and played his junior rugby for Central Districts.

Craigmore High student Black attracted the attention of talent scouts when he became the first Croweater selected for the Australian under-15 merit side in 19 years after excelling at the national titles in Canberra in July.

"Personally I just want to become a better rugby league player," he says.

"I know that I'm good with people so hopefully I'll be able to make good friends over there and hopefully keep those friendships."

Black, who has represented SA for the past four years, says he has been "running, running, running" in a bid to improve his fitness before heading to Sydney.

He hopes an impressive showing will lead to more opportunities at NRL level so he can emulate his late father Glenn, who played under-20s for Canberra.

"If they do see something, I'd have to stay over there and I'm willing to accept that and move and leave all my friends behind.

"My dad brought me up on rugby league since I was little and I just want to do as well as he did."