Templeman takes top gong but eyes off team glory

RUGBY LEAGUE: Former Coast product Patrick Templeman has sent a message to NRL clubs chasing a young gun.

RUGBY LEAGUE: Former Coast product Patrick Templeman has sent a message to NRL clubs chasing a young gun.

The Bulldogs discard picked up the Intrust Super Cup's Courier Mail Medal as the competition's best and fairest player this season and the 22-year-old former Maroochydore junior says he's keener than ever to taste success.

"It was tough to watch the grand final (Intrust Super Cup decider) this weekend... but individually it hasn't been too bad at all this season," Templeman said.

A former Coast representative, Templeman linked up with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs but was released, unable to crack the first-grade side despite strong performances in both the under-20s and NSW Cup sides.

Templeman linked up with Wynnum-Manly Seagulls this season and put in a star turn at both five-eighth and fullback to take the Seagulls into week one of the finals, before they were bundled out by Easts.

Templeman said he was eager to cement his place in the side again next season and was set to return to training in a fortnight, as he looked to build on the stel

lar season he's had.

"Last year I would've said fullback but I'd rather play five-eighth now with the way Wynnum-Manly are set up and how JB (coach Jon Buchanan) has us playing," Templeman said.

Despite his brief brush with the NRL, Templeman said the dream was well and truly alive to cement himself as an elite footballer.

"Yeah it's definitely still alive but I can only do what I'm doing and if that comes along I'll take it with both hands," he said.

Of paramount importance for Templeman was to add another grand final trophy to the cabinet for the club, a reward for the loyal fans that pack the 'Chookpen' each week.

"I'm determined to win a grand final next year," he said.

As for this weekend's NRL Grand Final, Templeman said he didn't mind who took the honours, as long as the game was a thriller, although he said the efforts of Intrust Super Cup graduate Jake Granville had been inspirational for the Cowboys this season en-route to the decider.