State of Origin: Blues’ generation next to make their own name
- From: The Daily Telegraph
- 6 days ago December 07, 2014

NSW Under 20 Development Squad pictured from left, Liam Coleman, Robert Jennings, Lachlan Croker, Jackson Hastings, Anthony Moraitis, Joey Lussick, and Matthew Lodge are the young blood of past and present NRL stars. Picture: Braden Fastier. Source: News Limited
THE future of the NSW Blues could rest with the names of the past — as the next-generation of State of Origin stars strive to make headlines of their own.
For more than 40-years, surnames like Hastings, Coleman, Croker, Moraitis, Jennings and Lussick have become part of both rugby league and sporting vannacular.
On Saturday, there was a certain sense of nostalgia among the swarm of young talent on show during the NSW under-20s pathway camp at Narrabeen, as those famous names returned hoping to once again to become household chatter.
Among the 34-players to take part in the two-day camp were Jackson Hastings, the son of former Eastern Suburbs Roosters legend Kevin Hastings and Liam Coleman, the son of former South Sydney captain Craig Coleman.

NSW Under 20 Development Squad pictured from left, Liam Coleman, Robert Jennings, Lachlan Croker, Jackson Hastings, Anthony Moraitis, Joey Lussick, and Matthew Lodge are the young blood of past and present NRL stars. Picture: Braden Fastier. Source: News Limited
And just like his dad, Liam is a halfback.
The nephew of 318-game Canberra Raiders competitor Jason Croker, Lachlan Croker, was also chosen to be part of the camp led by his uncle’s former Green Machine teammate, NSW coach Laurie Daley.
Robert Jennings, the hugely talented brother of current Blues centre Michael Jennings was there.
So too the younger brother of Parramatta and City Origin prop Darcy Lussick, Joey Lussick.
And instead of cheering home racehorses like his uncle, young Cronulla centre Anthony Moraitis, the grandson of Melbourne Cup winning owner Nick Moraitis, also relished the opportunity.
While Daley conceded the Blues ‘family ties’ was an asset and that they were ‘’all very talented’’, he was quick to add that the pathways camp was a crucial part of the development and identification process required, if NSW were to reaffirm their dominance over Queensland well into the future.

NSW coach Laurie Daley with Trent Merrin and Josh Morris. Source: News Corp Australia
He also revealed that the camp, originally designed by former NSW coach Ricky Stuart, had begun to prove itself as a successful stepping stone towards featuring in the toughest contest in rugby league.
“It doesn’t neccessrily garaunatee you selection in NSW Origin,’’ Daley said.
“But if at some stage you are lucky enough, then this camp prepares the players for what to expect.
“There’s expectations as an Origin player we talk about to the boys in camp and if you look at how quickly things can happen, we had Alex Johnston, Dylan Walker and David Klemmer in this camp last year and they played for Australia in the recent Four Nations.
“The year before that we had Boyd Cordner, so we’ve had a couple already go on and play representative football, a year or two after the camp.
“So you’ve got to be ready when it comes and that’s a large part of what this camp is designed for.’’
Originally published as Blues’ gen next to make their own name
Replies
Can't wait to see him start next year in the 20's for the eels.