The Junior Kiwis have named their final 18-man squad today ahead of their October 18 clash with the Junior Kangaroos in Auckland, including Eels players Zach Dockar-Clay and Josh Aloiai.
The Junior Test will be part of a double-header following the NZRL National Premiership final, and both the Junior Kiwis and Kangaroos will include two Eels players in their line-up.
It's the second Junior Test nod for Dockar-Clay, and the first for Aloiai, who were both part of the Eels Holden Cup side that fell just one win short of a Grand Final berth this season.
Despite missing out on a place in the final 18, winger Fabian Goodall was also called out for a fantastic season in the Blue and Gold with a place in the initial Junior Kiwis squad.
New Zealand Junior Kiwis:
Josh Aloiai (Parramatta Eels)
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Melbourne Storm)
Manaia Cherrington (Wests Tigers)
Zach Dockar-Clay (Parramatta Eels)
Addin Fonua-Blake (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Watson Heleta (Wests Tigers)
Sione Katoa (Penrith Panthers)
Danny Levi (Newcastle Knights)
Lamar Liolevave (Wests Tigers)
Sam Lisone (Vodafone Warriors)
Sam Manulelua (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Te Maire Martin (Wests Tigers)
Taane Milne (Sydney Roosters)
Kodi Nikorima (Brisbane Broncos)
Chance Peni (Newcastle Knights)
Joseph Tapine (Newcastle Knights)
Adam Tuimavave-Gerard (Vodafone Warriors)
Braden Uele (Sydney Roosters)
Coach: Brent Gemmell
Congratulations Josh and Zach on a fantastic season with the Junior Eels and capping it off with a selection in the squad. Both will be senior players in our NYC team next year and may see a few games in the NSW cup. Can't wait to see battle between our 4 players picked in the two teams.
Replies
Well he's still only 19 this year and many are expecting him to play most of the year in NSW cup, which would be a massive boost. He's certainly a good player but imo his two biggest downfalls are his size, and his ability to keep calm. His size is an obvious one, but as Forty pointed out earlier this year Zach has a habit of trying to rush his pass or kick. He can compensate size bu getting a good tackle technique and just by putting his body in front of an attacker.
If he can work on those two things then I think he'll make it.
I know it was only a trial but when he played hooker against Manly in the first half he was awesome to watch. He got into dummy half clapping his hands trying to get the player to get up quicker, he was pointing saying who was going to take the next run. You could tell he was more natural there than at half.