League looking for SA 'rookies'

SEVERAL NRL clubs have backed a South Australian Rugby League initiative to create a pathway to elite competition for Adelaide youngsters.

SEVERAL NRL clubs have backed a South Australian Rugby League initiative to create a pathway to elite competition for Adelaide youngsters.

SARL high-performance manager Kelso McEwen will take the Rookie Search Pathway program into schools to give young talent a chance to explore their rugby league capabilities.

The Sydney Roosters, Cronulla and St George/Illawarra are keen to be involved, as well as the Illawarra junior arm of the merged club.

McEwen will put the schoolboys through a series of physical and skills tests and those selected will enter a program involving fortnightly training sessions as a group as well as two 20-minute weekly individual skills workouts.

After 12 months, those players who achieve set standards will be invited to NRL club camps.

``We are not asking these kids to change sports - so if they are involved in footy, soccer, cricket that is well and good,'' McEwen said. ``The idea is to get these kids in a program and show them our game.

``It is about creating a pathway in SA - there has to be to be an opportunity for them to become professional.''

McEwen confesses there is no tougher market for rugby league in Australia than SA.

But he said Gold Coast Titans forward Brenton Lawrence was a prime example of what could be achieved by SA youngsters.

After playing for Central District and representing the Australian schoolboys team, Lawrence drove to Canberra to trial with the Raiders. He spent several seasons in the lower grades in Canberra as well as a stint playing regional rugby league before being signed by the Titans.

``We want to make the pathways to the NRL visible,'' McEwen said.