Schneider plays at hooker for Parramatta, where he is contracted til 2020. Photo: NRL
Schneider plays at hooker for Parramatta, where he is contracted til 2020. Photo: NRL

Central Coast junior has ambitions to play first-grade in the NRL

WHILE  NSW prepare to tackle a ravenous Queensland outfit in the annual State of Origin series opener on Wednesday night, behind the scenes the team’s future is looking brighter by the minute – and it’s led by a Central Coast junior.

Kyle Schneider of Lake Haven was captain of the under-16 Blues squad that toppled Queensland last year in the curtain raiser to Origin one, and he’s a chance to do it again when the under-18 preliminary side gets trimmed down to 17 ahead of game two next month.

It would be the latest achievement in a string of on-field success stories for the Hills Sports High student, who recently captained the Parramatta Eels SG Ball side to state championship honours with a 30-22 win over Cronulla in the final.

“During the season and the final we knew our defence had to be the best part of our game. We knew we could score tries, it was just a matter of preventing them,” Schneider said.

Kyle led Parramatta to a 30-22 win in the SG Ball final. Picture: Sue Graham

“Personally, as well across the year I felt I really nailed my leadership skills as captain to keep the team on track and focused.”

The result proved once again that the Eels may well be at the forefront for youth development – the 17-year-old was also part of the undefeated under-16 Harold Matthews side of 2016.

Almost 60 per cent of that squad made the leap to SG Ball this year, meaning the majority of that team will stick together and challenge for back-to-back titles next year.

They’ll also be chasing their second straight national title next time around, after going on to beat the Queensland championship-winning Western Mustangs 48-12 in the Australian final the following week.

Kyle Schneider captained the Parramatta Eels SG Ball side to state and national honours this season. Photo: Bryden Sharp

“We only had two recovery sessions during the week in the lead-up and a ballwork session the night before just to make sure our bodies were fresh and ready to go to get the last job done,” Schneider said.

“It sits very highly in my list of achievements because it’s a privilege to be a part of and win these types of games.”

Now in camp for the emerging Blues, the former Wyong Roos and The Entrance Tigers junior is learning from the best in his quest for consistency and growth.

“The camp is really good – we’re working on the basics because in Origin those are the things that need to be done best to win,” he said.

Schneider guided NSW to victory last year.

“We’ve had Anthony Minichiello, Andrew Johns, Danny Buderus, Mark O’Meley, Paul Sironen and Freddy Fittler in and around the camp which has been good too.”

It’s personalities like those that are shaping Schneider as a footballer and, more importantly, a captain, but he’s always been a strong-willed player.

“The leadership role at my age is a huge honour and something I’m really proud of, but being a leader is in my personality no matter which environment I’m put in,” he said.

“To captain a team to a state and national final is great but it’s a team effort that gets us there from the coaches and players to the parents and everyone behind the scenes.”

While his focus is on the here and now, each step the teen makes at club and representative level is a small piece in a much larger puzzle.

“The big goal is to play National Rugby League to start with and then build up to play first-grade State of Origin as well,” Schneider said.

“It’s good to make these teams along the way because it helps you develop further as a player and a person but my performances obviously have to be consistent to earn the NRL contract and Blues cap.”

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/sport/central-coast-junior-has-ambitions-to-play-firstgrade-in-the-nrl/news-story/0fab6dc77960c7ff8d2a6b8afcc8736f

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  • Looks like he has all the right boxes ticked.
  • 3320943901?profile=original

  • I know those at the head of our recruitment group rate this kid as our no. 1 junior.
  • 3320946483?profile=original

  • We should lock this kid up for a long time now
    • Bit harsh Paul, what crime did he do?

    • Its interesting in this article as I went to the local papers web site to find it as in the print edition I thought was a lot to try and print it besides the coloured background made it impossible to even consider scanning it.

      What alerted me to post it was a paragraph that is NOT in the web edition, in fact it looks like a different read between the two pages, in the local paper it centers on the aspect that he is a local from Lake Haven, and then points to him receiving a local sports star award that searchers for local youngsters to achieve their goal, in the under 18 category local sports star category.

      The big thing that caught my attention was the with his promoting how great the club was  and to bein the eels system and how it works, More than happy, is what he says.  It goes with the following.

      The eels didn't waste any time locking in the talented hooker and signed him to a 3 year contract, he signed that at the start of last year, which was extended by 2 years until the end of 2020, -----  Schneider, is more than happy to be there.  He also added that he did not feel any more pressure to be named captain and state rep teams.

      I thought the DT version was more, and yes it was/is but certainly it left out some vital areas in my opinion especially for eels supporters.

  • Maybe Rob Schneider can become our Russel Crowe. 297928616?profile=original

    • Fuuny you say that, i was just chatting to Russel in the dog park, hes got a brand new little blue cattle dog puppy called chief, lovely thing, pity Russel is such an arrogant kent lol.

      A few of us guys were talking RL, his puppy pulls itself up to our dogs as he had it on a lead.

      We were talking about the game tonight, i said to Russel, 'whos your tip tonight' he replied 'i couldnt give a fuck' lol

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