Coast duo's wish: Flegg first, then NRL
STEVE McPhee and Paul Ivan have a common New Year’s resolution for 2007 – impress Parramatta’s Jersey Flegg officials and take a giant step toward achieving their NRL dream.
The Sunshine Coast Falcons players will head down to Eels training from January 8, in a bid to earn a contract to play for the club in the country’s premier under-20 rugby league competition.
Second rower McPhee has impressed for the Falcons Colts in 2006 while Ivan, a big and mobile outside back, has been a mainstay in the club’s FOGs Cup backline. Both caught the attention of Parramatta scouts when representing Wide Bay at the under-19 state championships in Toowoomba this year.
The 19-year-olds will attend Eels training until mid-February before playing in three trials matches in an attempt to secure a contract. McPhee was named Wide Bay’s player of the carnival at the state championships after a man-of-the-match performance against South West.
Ivan also scored a try in the Queensland under-19 side’s 32-16 win over Papua New Guinea in a curtain raiser to State of Origin Two at Suncorp Stadium in June.
“It’s a new challenge and I’m looking forward to it,” McPhee said.
“I’ll probably miss home when I get down there, but it’s something you have to do to make it (in the NRL).”
Colts coach Brad Henderson believes both players have got what it takes to make it in Jersey Flegg, but stressed their challenge was a difficult one.
“It’s an odd way of doing it so close to the season, usually contracts are signed, sealed and delivered by now,” he said.
“But if they see anything they like they’ll hang onto them and try and develop that. They’ve got two months to show what they’ve got.
“Steve is such an athlete, and he’s one guy who I’d like to see do well, because he’s got such a good work ethic.
“He’s got fast feet, which is a key, and technically he’s strong in defence.”
Henderson is also convinced Ivan wouldn’t be out of place at Jersey Flegg level, so long as he brings his ‘A’ game.
“If anyone’s capable of playing a big game it’s Paul, but he needs to develop his consistency a bit more,” he said.
“He’s such a big guy, and down there what he will need to do is work out of his own end and do some of the hard yards as well.
“He played very well in that Origin curtain raiser against some very high quality players, and that all comes down to the big game mentality Pauly has.”
STEVE McPhee and Paul Ivan have a common New Year’s resolution for 2007 – impress Parramatta’s Jersey Flegg officials and take a giant step toward achieving their NRL dream.
The Sunshine Coast Falcons players will head down to Eels training from January 8, in a bid to earn a contract to play for the club in the country’s premier under-20 rugby league competition.
Second rower McPhee has impressed for the Falcons Colts in 2006 while Ivan, a big and mobile outside back, has been a mainstay in the club’s FOGs Cup backline. Both caught the attention of Parramatta scouts when representing Wide Bay at the under-19 state championships in Toowoomba this year.
The 19-year-olds will attend Eels training until mid-February before playing in three trials matches in an attempt to secure a contract. McPhee was named Wide Bay’s player of the carnival at the state championships after a man-of-the-match performance against South West.
Ivan also scored a try in the Queensland under-19 side’s 32-16 win over Papua New Guinea in a curtain raiser to State of Origin Two at Suncorp Stadium in June.
“It’s a new challenge and I’m looking forward to it,” McPhee said.
“I’ll probably miss home when I get down there, but it’s something you have to do to make it (in the NRL).”
Colts coach Brad Henderson believes both players have got what it takes to make it in Jersey Flegg, but stressed their challenge was a difficult one.
“It’s an odd way of doing it so close to the season, usually contracts are signed, sealed and delivered by now,” he said.
“But if they see anything they like they’ll hang onto them and try and develop that. They’ve got two months to show what they’ve got.
“Steve is such an athlete, and he’s one guy who I’d like to see do well, because he’s got such a good work ethic.
“He’s got fast feet, which is a key, and technically he’s strong in defence.”
Henderson is also convinced Ivan wouldn’t be out of place at Jersey Flegg level, so long as he brings his ‘A’ game.
“If anyone’s capable of playing a big game it’s Paul, but he needs to develop his consistency a bit more,” he said.
“He’s such a big guy, and down there what he will need to do is work out of his own end and do some of the hard yards as well.
“He played very well in that Origin curtain raiser against some very high quality players, and that all comes down to the big game mentality Pauly has.”
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