A Cairns premiership rugby league player returned to the UK to chase his dream
A Cairns Far North Queensland Rugby League premiership player is on the verge of making his dream become a reality after scoring a spot in the Super League in the United Kingdom.
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A Cairns Far North Queensland Rugby League premiership player is on the verge of making his dream become a reality after scoring a spot in the Super League in the United Kingdom.
Cairns Brothers’ James Evans, who was part of the 2024 premiership for Brothers returned to the UK for university just days after the four point victory over Ivanhoe Knights.
Evans said it was a big couple of days.
“I came back to England on the 11th of September just a couple of days after the final and joined Leeds Beckett University on the 16th of September,” Evans said.
“From there I played for the university and we have just finished the season undefeated with 10 wins and the finals coming up.
“It was from university that Wakefield scouted me and I’ve had a few weeks training with them now and a trial game against Warrington last Saturday (February 1).
“The trial match was great, scores were even at the end but I played really well especially defensively with some good reads and cut offs.”
The 19-year-old moved from the UK to Cairns at the beginning of 2024 where his coach from the London Broncos put him in touch with Brothers Head of Football Tim Rumford.
Rumford said it is exciting to see him get his opportunity.
“That’s part of our mission as a club is to be a true development club,” Rumford said.
“We are part of the pathway with the Pride and leading into the Cowboys in the NRL level or any club.
“We want to see our players come through our system, enjoy their time here and progress in that, doesn’t matter if they are an English fella or an Australian fella or a Kiwi or a Tonga.
“Or wherever they originate from, we want them to come to our club and enjoy themselves and give them the best possible opportunity to develop and progress.
“And what happened with James is a great example of that, he came here at 18-years-old and played a little bit in Super League Academies and been inside development systems and wanted a bit of change.
“He came out here with us and our coaching staff with Jordan and the boys really took him under their wing and his development here in Cairns he just accelerated.”
Evans has played league since he was nine but it almost wasn’t the path he chose as a junior.
“I’ve played league ever since Under 9s but also played union as well,” Evans said.
“So I played league in the summer and union in the winter.
“I stopped league for a few years at around 13 to focus on union at London Irish but got released from there due to injury.
“I then joined London Broncos scholarship towards the end of the season and played two years of academy and reserves winning Players Player of the Year and Coaches Player of the Year for academy and reserves before heading to Cairns.
“My dad got me into league as he used to play professionally back in the day as well.”
Evans sits on a reserves contract and will continue to play reserves this season with opportunities to push into first team.
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Originally published as A Cairns premiership rugby league player returned to the UK to chase his dream
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