Sixteen-year-old Cooper Neilsen of Parkes said it was a great privilege to play for the Western Rams on the weekend, especially given his personal connection.
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The 19-strong Under 17s Rams Development Squad headed to Leichhardt Oval on Saturday to test themselves against the Balmain Tigers 17s Development Squad.
It was a match Neilsen – a third generation rep player in his family – never expected to be easy.
“The game itself was a tough match, the Balmain boys put on a pretty good show but our boys showed some unreal toughness and competitiveness in defense and attack to get through the game,” he said.
“We always expected the Balmain boys to be pretty big and strong, a lot similar to the Penrith boys last fortnight.”
While there was no official score, Neilsen said Balmain did manage to get a number of tries passed them compared to the Rams’ two.
But for Neilsen and many other junior players – it wasn’t about the points.
It was the experience and what they learned from the day’s play.
“Just playing at an historic ground such as Leichhardt is one thing I'll never forget, running out of the tunnel and looking straight at the famous scoreboard on Wayne Pearce Hill,” Neilsen said.
“And sitting in the strapping room and while I'm getting strapped Paul Sironen comes in, that's was another great highlight.”
One thing Neilsen learned from the match was to never underestimate the Balmain boys.
“They are committed to everything and showed us what contact was from start to finish,” he said.
“Also to play smart and complete sets, that's one thing [coach] Dave Elvy wanted from us as individuals.”
It’s not the first time Neilsen has played for the Rams – he was selected last year in the Rams Under 16s academy program with ex-Spacemen Jamie Szczerbanik as his coach.
“Obviously to play in a representative team is a great experience, to be part of a Western Rams squad – even though it's a development 17s side, it's still a great privilege,” he said.
“My father Mark played Western Division numerous times in Under 17s, 19s and first grade, he also captain the Under 19s to go on to make the NSW Country side.
“Also my grandfather Raymond was with the Country Rams back then, so to be in that third generation putting that jersey on was always going to be a great experience, especially at Leichhardt Oval.”
Neilsen first played rugby league as a six-year-old in the Under 7s in 2006 and has been playing ever since.
He loves meeting new mates in the sport and have fun while playing.
“It's always great seeing them down the track, even playing against them at club level trying to smash one another,” he said.
