NSW v Queensland U19 State of Origin: Maroons fan switches teams after making Blues squad
This rising star of rugby league gun has been barracking for Queensland for years. But that’s about to stop ahead of Thursday’s U19 State of Origin clash.
Local Sport
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Footballer Luron Patea has been barracking for the Queensland Maroons alongside his dad for years.
But that’s stopping after the talented teenager received a call-up to the NSW U19 side for the Blues Origin clash with Queensland this week.
A head-turning rugby player who has been in both the NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies Academies, Patea last year toured Japan with the Australian schoolboys rugby team and represented the Brumbies in the U19 national rugby championships.
But a year on the former Penrith Emus player from St Clair has made a whole-heartened commitment to rugby league, ripping it up for the Penrith Panthers and named their Player of the Year with Billy Phillips at the end of the 2023 SG Ball competition.
“Penrith have been really good to me and I decided I wanted to better myself as a player with them,” he said of his time with the Panthers junior sides.
“I’m just playing league now. The opportunities up here are really good and I really like it.’’
Patea moved from New Zealand to Australia in 2013 and started playing rugby union as it was the sport his father Ron played in New Zealand, England, Wales and eventually and Australia for assoted clubs.
His father is also why he started barracking for Queensland, not NSW, in rugby league.
“He played in Brisbane for a while. I was just a kid and I just supported every team he did,” he said.
“I guess not anymore. I guess I have to change my team now.
“All my family except my old man go for NSW.’’
Patea has three Penrith Panthers teammates in the NSW side taking on Queensland in Harrison Hassett, Jesse McLean and Billy Scott.
CABE NSW UNDER 19s MEN’S STATE OF ORIGIN
Jake Clydsdale (Canberra Raiders), Latu Fainu (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Samuela Fainu (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Joshua Feledy (Wests Tigers), Ethan Ferguson (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Charlie Guymer (Parramatta Eels), Harrison Hassett (Penrith Panthers), Myles Martin (Newcastle Knights), Jermaine McEwen (Newcastle Knights), Jesse McLean (Penrith Panthers), Joash Papalii (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Luron Patea (Penrith Panthers), Ethan Sanders (Parramatta Eels), Billy Scott (Penrith Panthers), Chevy Stewart (Canberra Raiders), Ethan Strange (Canberra Raiders), Savelio Tamale (St George Illawarra Dragons), Nicholas Tsougranis (St George Illawarra Dragons), Sam Tuivaiti (Parramatta Eels) Coach: Andrew Ryan.
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