Campbell Magnay, 17, to make starting NRC debut for Queensland Country against North Harbour Rays

CAMPBELL Magnay is too young to drink but he will be chasing a maiden winning toast for Queensland Country in his run-on debut.

Campbell Magnay is a 6'4 17-year-old and the youngest player in the National Rugby Competition. Naturally, rugby league clubs are chasing him. Photo Adam Armstrong.

CAMPBELL Magnay is too young to drink but he will be chasing a maiden winning toast for Queensland Country in his run-on debut in the curtain-raiser to Saturday night’s rugby Test at the Gold Coast.

Country is winless after two outings in the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship and Magnay could be the strike weapon his team needs to jolt it into some forward momentum.

IN DEMAND: NRL clubs keen to snare young gun Campbell Magnay

The 17-year-old saw only the final 10 minutes of the side’s first-up loss to New South Wales Country and he was left off the bench in the narrow defeat in Canberra.

Campbell Magnay, 17, will make his starting debut for Queensland Country this weekend.

Needing a win against the North Harbour Rays to inject some confidence into the inexperienced outfit, coach Steve Meehan will give the tall redhead an opportunity to create some linebreaks.

“Providing Campbell with his first start will give him an opportunity to show us his skill set and to see how he combines with an experienced Super Rugby and Test level centre in Anthony Faingaa,” Meehan said.

A week after the birth of his first child, Faingaa’s brother Saia will have his first NRC start for Country while Sam Grasso takes over at halfback for the injured Scott Gale (ankle).

A ticket to South Africa and Argentina is the lure for Wallabies contender Will Genia who will start for Brisbane City against NSW Country on Saturday in Lismore.

If the halfback can wow Test selectors with a bustling 80-minute performance it might prove sufficient to earn a Wallabies recall for Rugby Championship clashes with the Springboks and Pumas.

Queensland Country team to play North Harbour Rays

Queensland Country (1-15): Fred Burke, Saia Faingaa, Greg Holmes (vc), Dan Gorman, Rubin Fuimaono, James Turner, Beau Robinson, Ben Adams, Sam Grasso, Matt Brandon, Todd Winkley, Anthony Faingaa (c), Campbell Magnay. Tom Pincus, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.

Reserves: Ryan Freney, Campbell Wakely, Haydn Hirsimaki, Sam Fattal, Jack de Guingand, James Tuttle, Sam Johnson, Giles Beveridge.

Brisbane City team to play NSW Country

Brisbane City (1-15): David Faeo, Andrew Ready, Sef Faagase, Tim Buchanan, Dave McDuling (c), Adam Korczyk, Liam Gill, Jake Schatz, Will Genia, Jake McIntyre, Lachie Turner, Samu Kerevi, Toby White, Chris Kuridrani, Brando Va’aulu.

Reserves: Pettowa Paraka, Matt Mafi, Sam Talakai, Marco Kotze, Chazz Mahina, Nick Frisby, Jack Mullins, Junior Laloifi.

Originally published as Campbell Magnay, 17, to make starting NRC debut for Queensland Country against North Harbour Rays