State of Origin U19 squads: NSWRL Blues teenager Oryn Keeley’s unusual tools for success

He’s a rugby league rising star who nearly quit after two shocking injuries. But a notebook and a six-minute time-out daily will see him suit up for NSW in the U19 State of Origin on Thursday.

Every time NSW U19 Blues player Oryn Keeley runs out to play the game he loves he says a quiet little thank you.

Each night the 19-year-old writes in a special book about the things that he is grateful for - three a day religiously.

At some stage each day he spends six or more minutes meditating.

SON OF NRL GUN MAKING OWN MARK

Young Newcastle Knights player Oryn Keeley. Pic: Newcastle Knights

“It has saved my life,” said the Central Coast bred Newcastle Knights young gun in the NSW U19s squad preparing to tackle Queensland’s top teenagers on Thursday at Leichhardt Oval.

“Meditation, it is a must for me. I haven’t missed it once in the last year.

“I had injuries and saw a counsellor and mum sent me to a meditation lady. It was hard at the start. But now I do six minutes a day, 11 minutes on game day.

“I used to have anxiety and my injuries hurt my mental health and put me out for two and a half years. This has really helped me.”

Keeley, 19, fractured his neck and then suffered a knee injury which required surgery, putting him out of the game for an extended period.

Oryn Keeley, back row second from right, has fought back from a number of setbacks during his budding career.

“I got a knee to my head, it was really wet day and my head was in front of the ball,’’ he said. “I was in the neck brace for a long while. I could walk but not move too much.

“Then there was Covid and I had no motivation, put on a lot of weight, 10kg, it was just fat really.

“I lost it all and came back so strong and ready and then two weeks out from last year my knee gave out and I had to have surgery.

“Now I’m back and I am so grateful to be in the Blues.’’

Keeley, who credits his mother and Knights fan Rachael for his love of the game, reminds himself just how grateful each day.

Young Newcastle Knights player Oryn Keeley in action after his comeback from injury. Pic: Supplied

“I have a grateful book. I want to reflect on the day and always be grateful for what I have,” he said.

“I write about mum, if I see her, a good training session, people around me, the beach the weather, food, my girlfriend Chloe.

“I want to be one of those people that’s always thankful for what I have.”

This week it’s being part of the Blues squad preparing to take on Queensland in the U19 State of Origin series.

“It means the world to me beings round so many great players, it’s a big reward for me,’’ he said.

“I’m a but crazy out there (on the field). I have a lot to say but I always try hard, really hard, for my team, run hard, tackle hard and make my team believe in themselves.’’

Sydney Roosters 2022 SG Ball hooker Tyler Moriarty is also in the squad.

NSW RUGBY LEAGUE U19 ORIGIN SQUADS

CABE NSW Men’s Under 19s: Paul Alamoti (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Michael Asomua (Canberra Raiders), Jack Bostock (Illawarra Steelers), Max Bradbury (Newcastle Knights), Oskar Bryant (Tweed Seagulls), Jack Cole (Penrith Panthers), Toby Couchman (Illawarra Steelers), Jaylan De Groot (Tweed Seagulls), Samuela Fainu (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Terrell Kalo Kalo (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Oryn Keeley (Newcastle Knights), Justin Matamua (Wests Tigers), Davvy Moale (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Trey Mooney (Canberra Raiders), Tyler Moriarty (Sydney Roosters), Brandon Morkos (Canberra Raiders), Larry Muagututia (Parramatta Eels), Jonah Pezet (Melbourne Storm), Charlie Thompson (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Brandon Tumeth (Wests Tigers), Thomas Weaver (Tweed Seagulls), Jacob Webster (Illawarra Steelers). Coach: Andrew Ryan.

Iesha Duckett has been named in the women’s squad. Pic: Sydney Roosters Media

Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Under 19s: Rosemarie Beckett (Parramatta Eels), Rueben Cherrington (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Iesha Duckett (Indigenous Academy Sydney Roosters), Alanna Dummett (Canberra Raiders), Chloe Jackson (North Sydney Bears), Ruby-Jean Kennard (Parramatta Eels), Jules Kirkpatrick (Newcastle Knights), Tiana Kore (Illawarra Steelers), Petesa Lio (Parramatta Eels), Milly Lupo (Indigenous Academy Sydney Roosters), Losana Lutu (Wests Tigers), Tahleisha Maeva (Parramatta Eels), Mia Middleton (Newcastle Knights), Tayla Montgomery (Indigenous Academy Sydney Roosters), Salma Nour (Illawarra Steelers), Andie Robinson (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Monalisa Soliola (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Jada Taylor (Indigenous Academy Sydney Roosters), Cassey Tohi-Hiku (St George Dragons), Chantel Tugaga (St George Dragons), Leilani Wilson (Indigenous Academy Sydney Roosters), Anneka Wilson (Indigenous Academy Sydney Roosters). Coach: Blake Cavallaro.

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Originally published as State of Origin U19 squads: NSWRL Blues teenager Oryn Keeley’s unusual tools for success