Central Queensland players selected for Qld Country versus City under-17 games

The Central Queensland region will be well represented in playing and coaching ranks as the state’s best under-17 rugby league players get set to do battle.

Central Queensland will be well represented at the Queensland City versus Country rugby league showdowns this weekend.

Amanda Ohl is head coach of the Country girls team which includes Alenna Whipp and Lillian Yarrow, who played for the CQ Capras in the Harvey Norman statewide under-19 competition.

Gladstone’s Paul Brown is manager of the Country boys which includes Capras under-18 quartet Mack Nixon, Elekana Suavai, Tom Powell and Brock Hinds.

The girls game will be played at 12.50pm Saturday, the boys at 2.20pm in Brisbane.

CQ Capras player Elekana Suavai will line up with Queensland Country.

The players and coaching staff will also take part in a Queensland Academy of Sport hosted program from Tuesday through to game day.

Ohl said the “jam-packed program” would be a great learning experience for everyone involved.

She said for the players it would be a holistic approach, with a focus not only on football skills and performance but also things such as sleep, nutrition and recovery.

“It’s almost an educational tour for us as well, and it’s always good to keep learning.”

Ohl believes Country have the line-up to take it to their City counterparts and she’s expecting a big input from the two CQ products.

Lillian Yarrow playing for the CQ Capras under-19 team.

“Lilly at this stage will be in the front row,” she said. “She’s got great defence, and gives 110 per cent effort every time she plays.

“Alenna’s a little bull terrier, she just goes and goes. She’s a running half and I expect her to keep the forwards moving forward and to pick her time to run and take her opportunities.

“We’ve got some super stars of the future in our side.

“We’ve got the team to beat City, it’s whether or not they can pull it together and that’s my job, to bring them together as a team in the space of a week.”